1) Well, the biggest news is that we leave on MONDAY for Mozambique! On Monday we will pile into a taxi and drive to Maputo, Mozambique to begin our outreach phase. Yesterday we began practicing skits that we will use during our children’s programs or if we are asked to run a church service. I am really excited, but it still feels a bit surreal, especially that it is coming so soon. We are still in great need of prayer for our trip—1) many of us are still need financial support. (If you are able to help, look at my last post for how to support us!) 2) after 3 months of class and community outreach, we are in need of physical and spiritual rest 3) that our plans will be God’s plans. As we prayed, we got the Parable of the Prodigal Son. We are focusing on the son’s return to the father and the father’s joy and celebration in that return! Please pray that we continue to be sensitive to God’s guidance in our planning. 4) safety in traveling! Mozambique is about 2 hours away and Uganda will be about a 5 hour plane ride, but continual prayer for our safety even while traveling in the country.
2) Last week a group of 10 came from New Hope church in Wiley, Texas to join us on the base. Their pastor, Keith, led our class last week in learning how to make change stick! There were four key things—a) God must initiate the change, b) we have to be obedient to follow, c) live out the change within a community and d) our attitudes must be ready and willing to change. The teaching really challenged me to consider whether God or my own will initiates changes in my life. God made us all creative individuals so I think sometimes I become a little creative in how I want to change, but when I look back I can see it’s only been the changes from God’s heart that really stick!
3) This past weekend the New Hope team organized a soccer tournament for the children in the two communities we work in—Mbonsweni and Kobokweni. We started the morning off with the church service then went to a large soccer field where they played soccer and netball and the younger kids had their face painted and played with hula-hoops! It was a beautiful day and great to see the two communities come together.
4) Facebook’s new change has made it impossible to use at the property. The internet connection is so slow that we can look at things but we can’t write messages or make comments or do anything! Well, as we say here, t.i.a.—this is Africa.
5) Monique and I have switched out the jazzercise video for Billy’s Celebrity Tae Bo. At first, I just felt hopeless from my lack of coordination, but with a little bit of practice, I think Monique and I are on our way to being Tae Bo masters. It’s still not the same release as running, but it keeps me moving! Plus, I have to be ready to give my brother some competition in running after he is done with his marathon. Psh! Who ever thought he would get to run one before me? (just kidding bro, you know I love you!)
6) We have our visas for Uganda! We took a group trip to Pretoria last Monday. When we were there I had to get a photo taken for my visa, but I wasn’t allowed to smile. The photo looks like my mug shot. I don’t really understand why you can’t smile for it. Does Uganda only want people who look like they are out to kill to come to their country?
7) Sickness has plagued the base. I think almost every single one of us has been sick at least once these last two-weeks either with a cold or things coming out one end or the other in an unhealthy way. I was so excited because I thought, by the grace of God, that I had escaped it, but Sunday night it hit me. I am doing better now, but there are still a few sick so prayers for our health, especially before outreach, are appreciated.
8) I learned my lesson about sunscreen. After the community stay, my hair was in braids from the girls and my whole entire head burned. Then last week, I noticed my head was incredibly itchy only to find that my entire scalp was peeling! I’m thanking God that He has blessed me with a friend like Monique who spent a good hour peeling my head for me so I didn’t need to walk around all flaky. My lesson learned—even if I have to smear sunscreen all in my hair like shampoo, I will do it to avoid the pain of a burned head.
No comments:
Post a Comment