If I'm enjoying this time here in Africa, I'm in a really good place.
If I'm enduring this time in Africa, I'm also in a really good place.
I must say that I am both.
These past few months have been the most stretching time I have had in a long while. Let me share a few details that will help give illustration to that statement:
In this last week alone, the following things have happened to me:
1 My camera broke
2 The ATM machine swallowed my credit card (don't worry, I got it back..the next day..talk about a nervous night)
3 I have been swarmed by mobs of sweaty, dirty kids more than the entire time I have been here, kids that like to jerk arms and legs, pull hair, spit, punch, slap and etc. etc. etc.
4) I have bruises, scrapes and cuts ALLLL over my body in various places, some I don't even know how I got.
5) I tried for 4 days in a row to get on the internet to check my bank account, send emails and other stuff, and each time I walked into the computer place, I was greeted with a shaking head (which means the internet connection is down)...
This is just some of the stuff that has happened.
Before this week though, my ipod was stolen, and I borrowed a friends ipod touch, which was also stolen because I left it on our front porch. So I am responsible for 2new ipods. AHHHH
Every day that I am tested and tried, I have a choice to make. I have felt like crying almost every day this week. But it's my choice to act on that, or to just do the complete opposite thing and just laugh. That second choice goes against every fiber of every emotion in me.
Every day that has stretched me, I have overcome by just laughing. I would much rather be happy than be angry. I know my Father and He always takes care of me. I know that everything is all going to work out. So when stuff like the above happens, I have started to just find it funny. It's been a real blessing to know that He has shaped my character so much in just 2 months that I could go from being anxious and freaking out to just laughing.
When I have a frustrating day, I just laugh. And I know that the next day will be better. But then......the next day is just like the last. It's frustrating and trying AGAIN. So I smile and choose to be positive, thinking the next day will be better...no. It's frustrating. That has been my week. Every day.
But my Father has given me a gift. It is the gift of His presence, in me and around me, every day, all the time. And all that comes with it. All the fruits of the Holy Spirit. He has poured so much grace on me to endure, but not only to endure. He has given me grace to soar. Nothing can seperate me from the love of Christ. Even little trials like I have faced here. So why let stuff like this bring me down? I have every reason in the world to be full of joy, hope and peace at every second of every day.
Anyway, I know there is a reason He chose to bring me here. And I am so glad I obeyed Him. He has taught me so much, and grown me so much. I can't imagine what would have happened if I had said no to this. Some days I look out at the ocean (which you can see from wherever you are on the base) and I think I can't believe I almost didn't come here. Wow, what a journey it has been.
So.......a little more than 2 weeks left. I'm so excited to come home. And I know I am bringing with me SO much. See yall then!
PS.---the title of this blog has nothing to do with the content :) It's just something Heidi said in class the other day. And I had no title. So there you go. :)
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
IT'S JULY!
I can't believe it! My first month in Africa is complete. What a crazy whirlwind experience. My weekend outreach has been one of the highlights. Showing the Jesus film in remote mountain villages, going around from house to house praying for the sick and oppressed, and loving on hearts that need Jesus. All ages.
I've had many other experiences as well, and hundreds of stories building up in my heart that I can't wait to tell. Here are a few:
I have been making great friends among the Mozambican pastors. These young men are incredible. When I was 17 I read Rolland and Heidi's book 'Always Enough'. In this book there are many stories about the children they found and rescued from extremely horrific circumstances. I have actually had the opportunity to meet several of these children who are now no longer children! Yesterday I met a young man around 26 or 27 whose name is Ernesto. He is in the book! He was resuced when he was 12 years old off the streets. I read his story when I was 17 and wept. Meeting him face to face, is such a picture of the LOVE of God! We talked for about half an hour sitting at a little cafe called Tropical. He is just beaming with life and hope. He's going to school and then going to be an evangelist.
Mozambique has only just recovered in the last 4 or 6 years from the decades of war and natural disaster that went on for years. One day a few weeks ago I was on a boat ride and one of the Mozambicans who was rowing it looked around at the ocean and then started smiling and he looked at me and said 'Now the war is over and we are free. Now Jesus is in Mozambique.' It blessed my heart so much!
The other day I made a peanut butter and jam sandwich on one of our leftover breakfast rolls for my lunch. (Rice and beans get a little monotonous) So I went out on to the back porch to eat it when I felt like God was telling me to just pause for a moment. So I did, and I heard 'When was the last time you actually thanked God for your meal' And honestly, I don't remember ever thanking the Lord for my meals. We always pray before dinner and everything, but when I bow my head I do it out of routine and it never even crosses my mind that GOD HAS GIVEN ME DAILY BREAD. God has provided for my needs. And as I sat there looking at my sandwich I said 'THANK YOU, LORD'. And felt so much thankfulness welling up inside me. I'm so used to always eating, and when you grow up in a culture where there is always an over abundance, you just expect there to be lots of food all the time. It never occurs to you that the LORD has given this. He has provided for me. It made me sad that I have lived for 21 years and never even thought about the Lord who is my provider and sustainer and who gives me daily bread. In my case, way more than just my daily bread. He has blessed me so much.
I'm out of time for now, but I will try to get back and write another post as soon as I can. One month to go! Love you all and see you in August! :)
I've had many other experiences as well, and hundreds of stories building up in my heart that I can't wait to tell. Here are a few:
I have been making great friends among the Mozambican pastors. These young men are incredible. When I was 17 I read Rolland and Heidi's book 'Always Enough'. In this book there are many stories about the children they found and rescued from extremely horrific circumstances. I have actually had the opportunity to meet several of these children who are now no longer children! Yesterday I met a young man around 26 or 27 whose name is Ernesto. He is in the book! He was resuced when he was 12 years old off the streets. I read his story when I was 17 and wept. Meeting him face to face, is such a picture of the LOVE of God! We talked for about half an hour sitting at a little cafe called Tropical. He is just beaming with life and hope. He's going to school and then going to be an evangelist.
Mozambique has only just recovered in the last 4 or 6 years from the decades of war and natural disaster that went on for years. One day a few weeks ago I was on a boat ride and one of the Mozambicans who was rowing it looked around at the ocean and then started smiling and he looked at me and said 'Now the war is over and we are free. Now Jesus is in Mozambique.' It blessed my heart so much!
The other day I made a peanut butter and jam sandwich on one of our leftover breakfast rolls for my lunch. (Rice and beans get a little monotonous) So I went out on to the back porch to eat it when I felt like God was telling me to just pause for a moment. So I did, and I heard 'When was the last time you actually thanked God for your meal' And honestly, I don't remember ever thanking the Lord for my meals. We always pray before dinner and everything, but when I bow my head I do it out of routine and it never even crosses my mind that GOD HAS GIVEN ME DAILY BREAD. God has provided for my needs. And as I sat there looking at my sandwich I said 'THANK YOU, LORD'. And felt so much thankfulness welling up inside me. I'm so used to always eating, and when you grow up in a culture where there is always an over abundance, you just expect there to be lots of food all the time. It never occurs to you that the LORD has given this. He has provided for me. It made me sad that I have lived for 21 years and never even thought about the Lord who is my provider and sustainer and who gives me daily bread. In my case, way more than just my daily bread. He has blessed me so much.
I'm out of time for now, but I will try to get back and write another post as soon as I can. One month to go! Love you all and see you in August! :)
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Day 3
Well after 2 days of traveling and 2 days adjusting I am finally sitting down at the internet cafe to write this post.
I don't even know how to start! Africa..Africa.....is absolutely crazy. It is beautiful but trying me and stretching me at every second. So many times I have already asked myself "Why did I come here again?"
It's hard to take a shower. The shower floor is about as big as a medium cardboard box. The rod for the curtain is squared which means I have to slide each ring one by one around the corner until the curtain is closed. The water is cold and I only have 2 minutes to shower.
It's hard to sleep. I am on the top bunk and I have to fling my mosquito net over my head to get in bed. My sheets ar covered with sand and grit that I somehow always drag into bed despite brushing off my feet..and my mattress is slanted so I always feel like about to roll off. We only have one small floor fan which of course is on the floor..LOL. So it is crazy hot at night.
It's hard to walk. I'm constantly dripping in sweat which is very uncomfortable when I'm wearing a skirt down to my ankles.
It's hard to brush my teeth with a water bottle, and it's hard to remember not to throw the toilet paper in the toilet (already messed up several times..that was gross) and it's hard to remember to bring my silverware and water to all my meals.......
So now that I've written about how hard it is, I will just say.......all of that is nothing compared to stuff like this:
Laughing with the Mozambicans at meals while we teach them words in English and they teach us words in Portuguese.
Climbing up and down steep hills carrying a cute little African on each hip...this is a great workout by the way :)
Sitting out on the porch with so many beautiful people from all different countries, laughing at all the different accents
Getting wrecked by Jesus.
More to come whenever I can get back to the internet cafe!!
I LOVE MOZAMBIQUE <3
I don't even know how to start! Africa..Africa.....is absolutely crazy. It is beautiful but trying me and stretching me at every second. So many times I have already asked myself "Why did I come here again?"
It's hard to take a shower. The shower floor is about as big as a medium cardboard box. The rod for the curtain is squared which means I have to slide each ring one by one around the corner until the curtain is closed. The water is cold and I only have 2 minutes to shower.
It's hard to sleep. I am on the top bunk and I have to fling my mosquito net over my head to get in bed. My sheets ar covered with sand and grit that I somehow always drag into bed despite brushing off my feet..and my mattress is slanted so I always feel like about to roll off. We only have one small floor fan which of course is on the floor..LOL. So it is crazy hot at night.
It's hard to walk. I'm constantly dripping in sweat which is very uncomfortable when I'm wearing a skirt down to my ankles.
It's hard to brush my teeth with a water bottle, and it's hard to remember not to throw the toilet paper in the toilet (already messed up several times..that was gross) and it's hard to remember to bring my silverware and water to all my meals.......
So now that I've written about how hard it is, I will just say.......all of that is nothing compared to stuff like this:
Laughing with the Mozambicans at meals while we teach them words in English and they teach us words in Portuguese.
Climbing up and down steep hills carrying a cute little African on each hip...this is a great workout by the way :)
Sitting out on the porch with so many beautiful people from all different countries, laughing at all the different accents
Getting wrecked by Jesus.
More to come whenever I can get back to the internet cafe!!
I LOVE MOZAMBIQUE <3
Sunday, May 22, 2011
A Taste of This Summer
Here's a sneak peek. More to come in this next week!
I'm going HERE!!
To live on THIS BEACH!!
With beautiful children like THESE!
And do stuff like THIS!
And see sights like this every evening!
More to come......
P.S.--- 5 DAYS until I board a plane! =D =D =D
I'm going HERE!!
To live on THIS BEACH!!
With beautiful children like THESE!
And do stuff like THIS!
And see sights like this every evening!
More to come......
P.S.--- 5 DAYS until I board a plane! =D =D =D
Saturday, May 14, 2011
2 WEEKS
I am leaving for Africa in exactly 2 weeks! WEll, OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have absolutely no idea what I am about to step into. God is about to rock my world! Excited, scared, happy, full of anticipation......
I'm learning how to be fearless. He is making me brave!
I have absolutely no idea what I am about to step into. God is about to rock my world! Excited, scared, happy, full of anticipation......
I'm learning how to be fearless. He is making me brave!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
One month left ...
It has been so amazing to see so many different hands sowing into this for me! I LOVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD! I love how we all share, we all help eachother and we all lift eachother up! I love my family all over the world.
I am leaving May 28th, all my flights are booked and payed for and everything is good to go!
Some things I am still working on:
1) My visa to come in the mail
2) $2,000 school tuition that must be payed THIS SUNDAY MAY 1ST
3) Getting all my neccessary supplies and figuring how to pack them all under the strict weight limits
4) Travel and medical insurance (have to have these)
5) Neccessary medications, etc.
And a lot of other stuff that needs to be done..trips like this take so much work and preparation. I am not worried or anxious, which is strange for me. But I know the details are going to be fine. Everything is all going to work out. How do I know this? Because this is the path HE has led me on, and since I am in His will entirely, He's gotta take care of it all. And because I know His nature, and He's faithful.
I'M GETTING SO EXCITED. I CAN'T WAIT TO TAKE MY FIRST STEP ON THAT AFRICAN SOIL AND PICK UP THOSE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN AND DANCE ON THE BEACH! Oh thank You Jesus for taking me on this adventure!
I am leaving May 28th, all my flights are booked and payed for and everything is good to go!
Some things I am still working on:
1) My visa to come in the mail
2) $2,000 school tuition that must be payed THIS SUNDAY MAY 1ST
3) Getting all my neccessary supplies and figuring how to pack them all under the strict weight limits
4) Travel and medical insurance (have to have these)
5) Neccessary medications, etc.
And a lot of other stuff that needs to be done..trips like this take so much work and preparation. I am not worried or anxious, which is strange for me. But I know the details are going to be fine. Everything is all going to work out. How do I know this? Because this is the path HE has led me on, and since I am in His will entirely, He's gotta take care of it all. And because I know His nature, and He's faithful.
I'M GETTING SO EXCITED. I CAN'T WAIT TO TAKE MY FIRST STEP ON THAT AFRICAN SOIL AND PICK UP THOSE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN AND DANCE ON THE BEACH! Oh thank You Jesus for taking me on this adventure!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Here I Go Again
Getting ready to get on another plane next month and leave again. This time it's a lot farther away from home. AFRICA. For 3 months.
I'm so scared to leave again when I know it's only a season and I just want a place and community where I can stay and call home. Florida was wonderful and amazing, for 20 years. Missouri was incredible and all I could ever ask for. and I never wanted to leave. It was way too short. Now the Lord is leading me elsewhere, into another season. And then it's going to end. My heart gets tied to every season, and then they end. It breaks my heart. But there's always another season coming.
So I step out in spite of my fears, and brace myself to fall right into His arms. He has called, and He is faithful. I don't know what's going to happen, but I never do. I've got to learn how to accept that. You see, I'm always going to be passing through. I am just a pilgrim. The LORD has given me a Pioneer heart. While I wait for the man who is going to walk with me into the unknown, I have to go alone. While I wait for my Pilgrim man, I have to pilgrim alone. But I am NOT alone. I'm never going to know where I'm going, or where He's going to call me/us next. But if we keep our eyes on Him it's OK. He's our security. He's our safety. We never go alone.
I am not going to Africa alone. By myself, yes. But He is with me. He's never going to leave me. I've got to learn to lean on Him and Him alone. People will come and go in my life. ALWAYS. Some day family members may die and leave me here. When I'm married, my husband won't always be with me, there will be times we are possibly seperated, in other parts of the world.
In this season He is teaching me to find my security in Him. ONLY Him.
God alone is the only one who isn't going anywhere. He is unchanging. Everything in life always changes, but He doesn't. He is the First and Last. He's constant and He is a ROCK. When I'm spinning He is my anchor. He is the only one that isn't leaving me. I cling to the LORD with all that I am, and step out, into the unknown, into His arms.
Sweet Jesus, stay close to me......
I'm so scared to leave again when I know it's only a season and I just want a place and community where I can stay and call home. Florida was wonderful and amazing, for 20 years. Missouri was incredible and all I could ever ask for. and I never wanted to leave. It was way too short. Now the Lord is leading me elsewhere, into another season. And then it's going to end. My heart gets tied to every season, and then they end. It breaks my heart. But there's always another season coming.
So I step out in spite of my fears, and brace myself to fall right into His arms. He has called, and He is faithful. I don't know what's going to happen, but I never do. I've got to learn how to accept that. You see, I'm always going to be passing through. I am just a pilgrim. The LORD has given me a Pioneer heart. While I wait for the man who is going to walk with me into the unknown, I have to go alone. While I wait for my Pilgrim man, I have to pilgrim alone. But I am NOT alone. I'm never going to know where I'm going, or where He's going to call me/us next. But if we keep our eyes on Him it's OK. He's our security. He's our safety. We never go alone.
I am not going to Africa alone. By myself, yes. But He is with me. He's never going to leave me. I've got to learn to lean on Him and Him alone. People will come and go in my life. ALWAYS. Some day family members may die and leave me here. When I'm married, my husband won't always be with me, there will be times we are possibly seperated, in other parts of the world.
In this season He is teaching me to find my security in Him. ONLY Him.
God alone is the only one who isn't going anywhere. He is unchanging. Everything in life always changes, but He doesn't. He is the First and Last. He's constant and He is a ROCK. When I'm spinning He is my anchor. He is the only one that isn't leaving me. I cling to the LORD with all that I am, and step out, into the unknown, into His arms.
Sweet Jesus, stay close to me......
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