I have to tell you that I still do not have the proper cord to offload my camera pictures, so all pictures on this site were taken by my lovely house parent, Mark Mozely.
Cheers!
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Photos from Mozambique
Our Beds for 3 months (I got the top bunk=))
Babies are carried by capulanas
A shot of a nearby village
Another village shot, you're doing well if you have a tin roof
I love this picture; he's a boy from the base
Everything in Mozambique is carried on one's head
Caught dancing!
Feeding the children at noontime daily
Look at those eyes!!!
Jordyn, my roomate, being prayed for
Full of joy
One of my 'house mums'
Singing away
One word: beautiful
The shot of the year
Wimbi beach
Village children on Wimbi
An amazing sunrise
Monday, July 30, 2007
Joys and Frustrations
Well, it has been awhile… I know that Melissa is probably very, very busy with her wonderful new baby, but if you’re reading this Melis – I can totally say that I feel exactly the way you said you did in the villages – I’ll go from wanting to give almost everything away to thinking about souvenirs and what I would want to eat when I get home. It doesn’t help that we have a 5-star resort across the road on the beach and that they’ve now allowed the base’s school students (us) to visit and dine and relax on their clean, crowd-free beach with volleyball net… I actually felt physically sick when I went there to sit and read yesterday – it’s not that I think that enjoying something clean and peaceful is wrong but, I thought: why us and not them? I guess another question would be whether the people who are not used to that or perhaps may not know how to appreciate it in a way that would not upset the owners even want to go there; perhaps things like that are not the important parts of life, perhaps these things only give momentary pleasure. I have been visiting local houses, tiny mud and bamboo and grass-roof houses, and the ones I’ve been to are well-kept and appreciated by their owners, and there is joy and peace there. They have found community and family regardless of what their surroundings may look like.
I wish I could take pictures of the surrounding places we have visited but it isn’t really safe to carry a camera in the villages. One place I previously mentioned, Artur’s house, has an amazing view and is in an area with less traffic along it’s tiny trails (they’re all enclosed by bamboo fences). It is very peaceful. We have been there 3 times now and every time, very unexpectedly, they feed us. I worry that this leaves others in the family unfed for that meal, and we (the visitors) have usually already had lunch or a recent meal at the base, but to refuse would be extremely rude – the Mozambicans take much pride in their hospitality, and they should because it is very wonderful. I did get into trouble though the first time we ate there because I ate with my left hand; I tried to explain that this wasn’t a problem in Canada and we eat with both of our hands – I don’t know if that made the situation better or worse, they probably think Canadians are disgusting for using both hands! (for sanitary reasons). The issue passed though and they have invited us back…. One exciting thing that happened last week is that we visited a cook’s house (Jordyn and I have been working in the kitchen 3 times a week and have built friendship with some national workers). On our visit the cook asked us to pray for his heartburn, which we did, and he said it was “normale” afterwards. We then got asked to pray for his sister-in-law, auntie, and sister. His sister had a stomach problem – I just kept saying to God “prove the witchdoctor wrong” – she said that is was cured afterwards. A few days later we talked to the cook again, and he said his chest was still better but that he had a headache that day – we prayed for it 3 times and then he said it was gone. Soon after, back at our house, we were talking to a housemate who mentioned offhand that her head ached so we jumped on it and prayed – it took awhile, 10 minutes or so, but it went away completely! This REALLY excited me because I know that I can trust her word and I don’t always know with the nationals – they don’t really show how they feel on their face (it is cultural) and sometimes I don’t know if they just ask for prayer because they want a blessing (which is just fine, God can bless away!) , and also the language barrier makes communication hard.
Last Thursday we also visited the city’s hospital (one of four, I believe) – it didn’t shock me like I thought it might. It was clean, a little crowded, with 8-10 simple beds in a room that would hold 4-6 in our hospitals. There is absolutely no electronic equipment here. We were in the children’s ward handing out fruit and juice and offering prayer. Many family members visit and sit with the patients; the ones we saw were all 2 years old and under. A few didn’t want prayer because they were Muslim, and some had to receive translation from another visitor as our translator/leader only spoke Portuguese and not the local tribal dialect. Most accepted prayer fairly readily – you have to understand that there were almost no Christian churches in this area before the organization I am with right now came here 4 and a half years ago. Now there are over 700 churches, so the spread of prayer and hope and Jesus has been very fast. Back to the hospital, one baby we prayed for I thought felt feverish as it had malaria and after praying she felt like a normal temperature to the touch. I was like “Oh God, let that be a miracle and that the malaria is gone!” - there is a very high death rate here for children under 5 years of age.
One thing I am struggling with is how to love the very difficult to love. The village children who visit daily can be very hard to deal with – one of them who is probably 14 years of age thought it would be funny to tell me that it is good to hit me with a rock and then proceeded to attempt to do so. It then went to hitting me with a small stick and then later threatening me with a stick that had a nail driven through it. While it wasn’t severe or injuring, those actions were NOT okay – that was the first time I have raised my voice and spoke firmly. I tried to explain that he was a good boy but that those actions were not good, I want to impress a positive belief into his self worth instead of the anger and punishment he always sees. Sometimes it is hard to deal with and you just want to run away from it all.
Actually, that (what I just said) would be my only prayer request – I’m not at the end but I do feel very tired, so prayer for energy would be great. And prayer for that boy, his name is Seleman. He comes here daily for a reason, and I think the reason goes beyond having physical needs met. I want him to know love, God’s love in a realistic way through friendship.
Our teams have been set up for the extended outreach, for which I have been accepted. My team will be going to the province of Nampula, only a 5-6 hour drive away (the other teams have 11-19 hr drives so I am thankful!). We will be in tents the majority of the time and visiting villages, moving every one to two days. We’ve been told we will take every 3rd or 4th night off to keep our stamina up. The dates are August 10-24 so I won’t be contactable during that time. Please pray for us as we’re leaving the open heaven over the base and venturing into territory that is not our own=).
Well, that’s it for now! I hope everyone is doing really well, that my sister is taking care of my place and not keeping the family upstairs awake late into the night=) – or that my living room will be painted flaming pink on my return; actually flaming pink would be kind of fun, clashing but fun. I need to find out if the Schaitel’s now have an addition to their family!!!!! I miss you all!!!!!
Love.
I wish I could take pictures of the surrounding places we have visited but it isn’t really safe to carry a camera in the villages. One place I previously mentioned, Artur’s house, has an amazing view and is in an area with less traffic along it’s tiny trails (they’re all enclosed by bamboo fences). It is very peaceful. We have been there 3 times now and every time, very unexpectedly, they feed us. I worry that this leaves others in the family unfed for that meal, and we (the visitors) have usually already had lunch or a recent meal at the base, but to refuse would be extremely rude – the Mozambicans take much pride in their hospitality, and they should because it is very wonderful. I did get into trouble though the first time we ate there because I ate with my left hand; I tried to explain that this wasn’t a problem in Canada and we eat with both of our hands – I don’t know if that made the situation better or worse, they probably think Canadians are disgusting for using both hands! (for sanitary reasons). The issue passed though and they have invited us back…. One exciting thing that happened last week is that we visited a cook’s house (Jordyn and I have been working in the kitchen 3 times a week and have built friendship with some national workers). On our visit the cook asked us to pray for his heartburn, which we did, and he said it was “normale” afterwards. We then got asked to pray for his sister-in-law, auntie, and sister. His sister had a stomach problem – I just kept saying to God “prove the witchdoctor wrong” – she said that is was cured afterwards. A few days later we talked to the cook again, and he said his chest was still better but that he had a headache that day – we prayed for it 3 times and then he said it was gone. Soon after, back at our house, we were talking to a housemate who mentioned offhand that her head ached so we jumped on it and prayed – it took awhile, 10 minutes or so, but it went away completely! This REALLY excited me because I know that I can trust her word and I don’t always know with the nationals – they don’t really show how they feel on their face (it is cultural) and sometimes I don’t know if they just ask for prayer because they want a blessing (which is just fine, God can bless away!) , and also the language barrier makes communication hard.
Last Thursday we also visited the city’s hospital (one of four, I believe) – it didn’t shock me like I thought it might. It was clean, a little crowded, with 8-10 simple beds in a room that would hold 4-6 in our hospitals. There is absolutely no electronic equipment here. We were in the children’s ward handing out fruit and juice and offering prayer. Many family members visit and sit with the patients; the ones we saw were all 2 years old and under. A few didn’t want prayer because they were Muslim, and some had to receive translation from another visitor as our translator/leader only spoke Portuguese and not the local tribal dialect. Most accepted prayer fairly readily – you have to understand that there were almost no Christian churches in this area before the organization I am with right now came here 4 and a half years ago. Now there are over 700 churches, so the spread of prayer and hope and Jesus has been very fast. Back to the hospital, one baby we prayed for I thought felt feverish as it had malaria and after praying she felt like a normal temperature to the touch. I was like “Oh God, let that be a miracle and that the malaria is gone!” - there is a very high death rate here for children under 5 years of age.
One thing I am struggling with is how to love the very difficult to love. The village children who visit daily can be very hard to deal with – one of them who is probably 14 years of age thought it would be funny to tell me that it is good to hit me with a rock and then proceeded to attempt to do so. It then went to hitting me with a small stick and then later threatening me with a stick that had a nail driven through it. While it wasn’t severe or injuring, those actions were NOT okay – that was the first time I have raised my voice and spoke firmly. I tried to explain that he was a good boy but that those actions were not good, I want to impress a positive belief into his self worth instead of the anger and punishment he always sees. Sometimes it is hard to deal with and you just want to run away from it all.
Actually, that (what I just said) would be my only prayer request – I’m not at the end but I do feel very tired, so prayer for energy would be great. And prayer for that boy, his name is Seleman. He comes here daily for a reason, and I think the reason goes beyond having physical needs met. I want him to know love, God’s love in a realistic way through friendship.
Our teams have been set up for the extended outreach, for which I have been accepted. My team will be going to the province of Nampula, only a 5-6 hour drive away (the other teams have 11-19 hr drives so I am thankful!). We will be in tents the majority of the time and visiting villages, moving every one to two days. We’ve been told we will take every 3rd or 4th night off to keep our stamina up. The dates are August 10-24 so I won’t be contactable during that time. Please pray for us as we’re leaving the open heaven over the base and venturing into territory that is not our own=).
Well, that’s it for now! I hope everyone is doing really well, that my sister is taking care of my place and not keeping the family upstairs awake late into the night=) – or that my living room will be painted flaming pink on my return; actually flaming pink would be kind of fun, clashing but fun. I need to find out if the Schaitel’s now have an addition to their family!!!!! I miss you all!!!!!
Love.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
A bunch of things
Hmmm… what to say after so many days? I wish I kept a daily journal so that everything could be recorded, so that I could remember it all. I don’t really have the time and discipline for that though. Sunday a friend of mine and I visited a student pastor’s house – he lived not far away. The view (on a hill) from the house – and the houses are all very close together with bamboo fences and tiny paths in the village which were steep because of the incline – the view was amazing, the place was surrounded (in the distance) by sea on three sides, and the water here is so blue it is just beautiful. Jordyn and I ended up missing church because of this visit… we left before so that we could invite the pastor’s mother to church, but she was at the market when we arrived so we waited for her return, which ended up being late morning. Artur (the 4th yr student pastor) and his brother (who is a 2nd yr student pastor) are 19 and 14 yrs old. Do any of you know any 14 year old pastors?!?! Their other siblings were waiting at home when we arrived – one girl and two boys. As we waited for their mother we communicated through broken Portuguese and English, and Artur taught us some Makua, the local tribal language, as well as the Mocambique hino nacional (national anthem). I found out it takes 1-2 months to build a Mozambican house (which is made of bamboo, mud, and has a grass roof); 1 day to weave and rope a Mozambican bed onto its frame; and 2-3 days to weave a basket that they sift beans and rice in. They have a papaya tree, a coconut tree, and bean vines. The babies have cords around their waists which I’m told are witchdoctor fetishes. The baby’s rattle – a ring of keys (at least not rusty ones – one of the older children (3 or 4?) kept putting dry beans into the baby’s hand [choking hazard?] – hey, there isn’t that kind of concern here, it’s like the children are born streetwise or something – when we were on outreach I saw a baby playing one foot away from an open cooking fire, with the mother right beside preparing the meal,… I digress). We plan on visiting again Wednesday, which is tomorrow.
This is the Makua I have down: Salama (Hello/How are you); Mohavo (How are you); Quihavo (I’m good); E Tu Eomana (Nice to meet you); Oquilevelele (I’m sorry).
I really shouldn’t start a third language when I don’t have the second one down yet….. (my first being English and I do believe that one is at least fluent=)).
When we returned from the village to the base for the lunch meal I lent my Portuguese-English phrasebook to Artur. Jordyn and I stopped in the kitchen after lunch and ended up washing 400+ places while they fed everyone (there is open invitation for lunch on Sundays for anyone who comes). Let’s just say we were rewashing and rewashing those plates=), well, some of them. I guess we didn’t wash fast enough, because they were only giving us half to wash and were just reusing the other dirty plates. We kind of felt like our washing them was pointless. Dinner that night was in our own home, by choice, we fried up plantains and carrots with salt and some with sugar (plantains with ketchup taste just like French fries!), and we also had popcorn and watched a movie on a laptop – the first movie that wasn’t curriculum since I’ve been here: Catch Me If You Can with Leonardo DiCaprio.
Oh, to let you know, I started Malaria meds 6 days ago and have gotten better so one can only suppose that is what my sickness all these weeks has been, though a very low grade malaria because I wasn’t out of it like you’d think I would have been (I did get a blood test but it was negative, though they say the test isn’t very reliable).
I’m doing well and enjoying it all!
Also, if you’d like to see photos of our time here in Pemba my friends have a website with pics www.liquidmyrrh.org
I also wanted to write about something said in class since I keep saying I will…. One of the truths that has hit me since being here and hearing speakers (just a side: Stacey Campbell has been here the last few days and we’ve had her teaching, which has been really awesome; it’s more fun to hear her in Africa because… its Africa!) okay back to what I was saying, the truth that has hit me has to do with the freedom that I’ve always thought should have been within Christianity but never felt it was said. Let me explain. That you can only love when you know love, you don’t work to make yourself love someone – it’s called falling in love because that is the amount of effort it takes. And it is the same with you and Jesus. Next truth, that he is the perfect Savior. That means that if I am lacking in anything he will save me, he will give it to me. I don’t have to work really hard to muster up faith, that is a gift he will give me. He perfectly saves if we let him do the saving and wait for it with trust.
Also good to hear was another teacher’s talk about Hinduism; Hindus see so much supernatural – walking on water, levitation, and their response is: so what? To them, the action has to have a purpose otherwise it is pointless, and what is so great about that mindset (to me) is that it puts the supernatural – ‘the tricks that awe’- on the back burner to what God should and is really about: love. It is love that Jesus came and did what he did, it is love that he even gives miracles, or anything else. Rolland says it takes as much miraculous power to give someone the faith to believe as it does to raise a dead person to life. It is as much of a miracle. And as much of a gift. Faith isn’t something we ‘drum up’, it is given by God, we just ask for it. Sometimes we don’t even ask – surprise gifts are always the really fun ones to receive anyways=).
This, THIS, is what I really wanted the most in life, these truths – these confirmations, it is what I came looking for, truth that actually sets one free. I’m free, and I’m crying.
This is the Makua I have down: Salama (Hello/How are you); Mohavo (How are you); Quihavo (I’m good); E Tu Eomana (Nice to meet you); Oquilevelele (I’m sorry).
I really shouldn’t start a third language when I don’t have the second one down yet….. (my first being English and I do believe that one is at least fluent=)).
When we returned from the village to the base for the lunch meal I lent my Portuguese-English phrasebook to Artur. Jordyn and I stopped in the kitchen after lunch and ended up washing 400+ places while they fed everyone (there is open invitation for lunch on Sundays for anyone who comes). Let’s just say we were rewashing and rewashing those plates=), well, some of them. I guess we didn’t wash fast enough, because they were only giving us half to wash and were just reusing the other dirty plates. We kind of felt like our washing them was pointless. Dinner that night was in our own home, by choice, we fried up plantains and carrots with salt and some with sugar (plantains with ketchup taste just like French fries!), and we also had popcorn and watched a movie on a laptop – the first movie that wasn’t curriculum since I’ve been here: Catch Me If You Can with Leonardo DiCaprio.
Oh, to let you know, I started Malaria meds 6 days ago and have gotten better so one can only suppose that is what my sickness all these weeks has been, though a very low grade malaria because I wasn’t out of it like you’d think I would have been (I did get a blood test but it was negative, though they say the test isn’t very reliable).
I’m doing well and enjoying it all!
Also, if you’d like to see photos of our time here in Pemba my friends have a website with pics www.liquidmyrrh.org
I also wanted to write about something said in class since I keep saying I will…. One of the truths that has hit me since being here and hearing speakers (just a side: Stacey Campbell has been here the last few days and we’ve had her teaching, which has been really awesome; it’s more fun to hear her in Africa because… its Africa!) okay back to what I was saying, the truth that has hit me has to do with the freedom that I’ve always thought should have been within Christianity but never felt it was said. Let me explain. That you can only love when you know love, you don’t work to make yourself love someone – it’s called falling in love because that is the amount of effort it takes. And it is the same with you and Jesus. Next truth, that he is the perfect Savior. That means that if I am lacking in anything he will save me, he will give it to me. I don’t have to work really hard to muster up faith, that is a gift he will give me. He perfectly saves if we let him do the saving and wait for it with trust.
Also good to hear was another teacher’s talk about Hinduism; Hindus see so much supernatural – walking on water, levitation, and their response is: so what? To them, the action has to have a purpose otherwise it is pointless, and what is so great about that mindset (to me) is that it puts the supernatural – ‘the tricks that awe’- on the back burner to what God should and is really about: love. It is love that Jesus came and did what he did, it is love that he even gives miracles, or anything else. Rolland says it takes as much miraculous power to give someone the faith to believe as it does to raise a dead person to life. It is as much of a miracle. And as much of a gift. Faith isn’t something we ‘drum up’, it is given by God, we just ask for it. Sometimes we don’t even ask – surprise gifts are always the really fun ones to receive anyways=).
This, THIS, is what I really wanted the most in life, these truths – these confirmations, it is what I came looking for, truth that actually sets one free. I’m free, and I’m crying.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Ok, so the title option on my blog is not working for me right now, oh well, here's the little thing I have to say anyways:
The solution to pollution is dilution. I did a wound care workshop yesterday and discovered that antiseptics are actually very damaging to healing tissue. The doctor said that the best thing is .9% saline solution and washing the wound once & very thoroughly (and then covering for two days minimum – longer in a dirty environment). .9% is about 2 tsp of salt in a litre of water. Just thought I should let you all know in case you’re on the street and need to bandage some one’s skin wound!
Cheers.
The solution to pollution is dilution. I did a wound care workshop yesterday and discovered that antiseptics are actually very damaging to healing tissue. The doctor said that the best thing is .9% saline solution and washing the wound once & very thoroughly (and then covering for two days minimum – longer in a dirty environment). .9% is about 2 tsp of salt in a litre of water. Just thought I should let you all know in case you’re on the street and need to bandage some one’s skin wound!
Cheers.
Hello All.
So much has happened in the past week I almost don’t know where to begin!!!=) There was a wedding this past Saturday (07.07.07) which had a lot of significance – two long-term workers at the organization got married and have a nice 6 month leave to start their marriage off. I spent Friday morning voluntarily decorating the 3 wedding cakes and a birthday cake with another girl, that was very fun! We even had an icing gun and I did take pictures; mom you would have been proud=). We spent the morning of the wedding hunting down some beautiful tropical flowers to decorate the beach where the ceremony would be. After almost burning my back and getting a bit of sunstroke, I headed down to watch the ceremony. The feast afterwards was for 2,000-3,000 people (no one ever really knows the exact number around here!) from the surrounding area, they had handed out invitations everywhere, and though the food did run out and they had a mini-riot, it actually went pretty smoothly according to those who have orchestrated prior large events here. As far as what we’ve been doing on weekdays, it’s been a lot of class time, which is soon to change so that we can have afternoons free to go into the villages and visit friends, or do hospital visits, and they’ve just received permission for jail visits that they may organize. I do want to post some things that I’ve been learning but haven’t brought my notes with me today so will have to wait on that. Last night we watched a documentary on Mother Teresa and there has been a catholic nun visiting the base for a few weeks. The nun spoke after the film, which was very insightful and very gentle and very full of love – it is beautiful to sense the love and peace and other fruit from a life so devoted to ones God, and her purity of heart and purpose humbles me. When I first was looking into humanitarian aid work I first thought of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries for Charity in Calcutta and wondered if I could join their work in some way without becoming a nun (the nun part was the only thing I didn’t really want to do=)). I really enjoyed the evening because of the interest I had already had in it all. By the way, the way that we watch movies here is outside – a small white screen is hung on the porch of one of the compound houses and a couple in my house brought a projector (by request) so we set up outside in the dark on mats and lawn chairs. Dan, think “The Blessing” but in more of a camping mode…=).
Today one of our teachers is leaving, she is going to Russia next to speak at a similar school there (it is short-term as well). They gave her many many gifts to symbolize her life and what they see and want to bless in her life. A boat – that she needs a team to row it with her; candlesticks – to be a light and give leadership; a wall hanging of a painted village – that the village she leaves (Pemba) goes with her; a cane – a sign of authority and long life. It was very cool. We also washed the pastor’s school students (200 people) feet today and prayed for them, it was wonderful to bless them – and this is definitely a place in the world where daily foot washing is an actual necessity!!
Please pray for my body – I have not shaken the sickness I got three days into the school, it goes in bouts and I do generally feel well except for a cough and a sinus thing that comes and goes. The doctor thought it was bronchitis but after 5 days of antibiotics I haven’t seen improvement so I’m going to look into it again. I also woke up yesterday with a problem in my neck, I’ve lost some mobility in it and it is very painful to move about especially lying down, I can’t turn over or really move without a lot of pain. There is a massage therapist here and she has worked on it once so far. I have been sensing things a lot more spiritually and am wondering if that might be why I am also being hit with more health problems, so any prayer would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Well, that’s all for now. I was supposed to go on an outreach last weekend but it was cancelled, I don’t have much other news though, other than all is well and moving along. I can’t believe that we only have 4 more weeks left (before the extended outreach where we travel for two weeks straight). I find out tomorrow if I’ve been accepted for that, if you’d like to pray for that as well.
So much has happened in the past week I almost don’t know where to begin!!!=) There was a wedding this past Saturday (07.07.07) which had a lot of significance – two long-term workers at the organization got married and have a nice 6 month leave to start their marriage off. I spent Friday morning voluntarily decorating the 3 wedding cakes and a birthday cake with another girl, that was very fun! We even had an icing gun and I did take pictures; mom you would have been proud=). We spent the morning of the wedding hunting down some beautiful tropical flowers to decorate the beach where the ceremony would be. After almost burning my back and getting a bit of sunstroke, I headed down to watch the ceremony. The feast afterwards was for 2,000-3,000 people (no one ever really knows the exact number around here!) from the surrounding area, they had handed out invitations everywhere, and though the food did run out and they had a mini-riot, it actually went pretty smoothly according to those who have orchestrated prior large events here. As far as what we’ve been doing on weekdays, it’s been a lot of class time, which is soon to change so that we can have afternoons free to go into the villages and visit friends, or do hospital visits, and they’ve just received permission for jail visits that they may organize. I do want to post some things that I’ve been learning but haven’t brought my notes with me today so will have to wait on that. Last night we watched a documentary on Mother Teresa and there has been a catholic nun visiting the base for a few weeks. The nun spoke after the film, which was very insightful and very gentle and very full of love – it is beautiful to sense the love and peace and other fruit from a life so devoted to ones God, and her purity of heart and purpose humbles me. When I first was looking into humanitarian aid work I first thought of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries for Charity in Calcutta and wondered if I could join their work in some way without becoming a nun (the nun part was the only thing I didn’t really want to do=)). I really enjoyed the evening because of the interest I had already had in it all. By the way, the way that we watch movies here is outside – a small white screen is hung on the porch of one of the compound houses and a couple in my house brought a projector (by request) so we set up outside in the dark on mats and lawn chairs. Dan, think “The Blessing” but in more of a camping mode…=).
Today one of our teachers is leaving, she is going to Russia next to speak at a similar school there (it is short-term as well). They gave her many many gifts to symbolize her life and what they see and want to bless in her life. A boat – that she needs a team to row it with her; candlesticks – to be a light and give leadership; a wall hanging of a painted village – that the village she leaves (Pemba) goes with her; a cane – a sign of authority and long life. It was very cool. We also washed the pastor’s school students (200 people) feet today and prayed for them, it was wonderful to bless them – and this is definitely a place in the world where daily foot washing is an actual necessity!!
Please pray for my body – I have not shaken the sickness I got three days into the school, it goes in bouts and I do generally feel well except for a cough and a sinus thing that comes and goes. The doctor thought it was bronchitis but after 5 days of antibiotics I haven’t seen improvement so I’m going to look into it again. I also woke up yesterday with a problem in my neck, I’ve lost some mobility in it and it is very painful to move about especially lying down, I can’t turn over or really move without a lot of pain. There is a massage therapist here and she has worked on it once so far. I have been sensing things a lot more spiritually and am wondering if that might be why I am also being hit with more health problems, so any prayer would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Well, that’s all for now. I was supposed to go on an outreach last weekend but it was cancelled, I don’t have much other news though, other than all is well and moving along. I can’t believe that we only have 4 more weeks left (before the extended outreach where we travel for two weeks straight). I find out tomorrow if I’ve been accepted for that, if you’d like to pray for that as well.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Stop for the One
Maybe I should be more angry, that it would feel more real when I express my resulting feelings in seeing all I see in Mozambique. Am I happy or do I really trust God enough to believe he will AND wants to provide for all the needs I see here? Why some and not others? Why the timing that is chosen? If people don’t want to be ‘converted’ or told that they view spirituality or life in the wrong way (and I don’t think we should tell them that at all!) then what do we have to offer? Can they see our joy, our love, our hope, our belief that we are cared for and circumstances will get better, that these things are otherworldly, or do they just pass it off as that fact that we are white, rich and don’t need to worry about where our next meal comes from? Do I even believe those things? Is it otherworldly or am I just relying on my own ability to survive? I know the money that I have at the moment came through others donations for my trip, so that would be God’s provision.
One thing that one lady told me that gave me clarity is that the poor, especially in the villages where they’re secluded from the outside world, don’t see themselves as “poor”, just that they have suffering. They’re not looking for a cement house or a car, they just don’t want to suffer.
I don’t want them to suffer either – a lot of the things they suffer from (lack of nutrition, need of medical aide) are very much beyond my grasp to even give. Then the questions lead to: Who gives this? Jesus? Me/us? Jesus through me/us? Probably all of the above. And we’re told (or I have been all my life) that God cares more about the spirit of a human than the physical, to be healed/made whole spiritually is better or more important. I can see how a lack of physical needs met would lead anyone to be more inclined to seek after the spirit since life becomes desperate, but I don’t feel peace about it, not yet. I’m at a place now too where I kind of don’t care if I have the answers or not – so many people think they have the answers or say they do or maybe they don’t feel completely that way but they have a part and they offer that answer and even put action to it – for example, the organization I’m with right now, or even someone high profile like Bono who has given his voice with weight to millions worldwide with his efforts to put any sort of death blow to poverty and world hunger, AIDs, etc, but even with that level of influence and power – has there been change? How much? I’m not saying that only a little change is not good – any bit of change is good!!! I’m saying that if those with power don’t have answers, how can I?
The motto at this organization is “Stop for the One” – it is hard and humbling to know that you can only do something for one person, though I see first-hand at the moment how that grows. And stopping for one can change that one person’s entire life. For example, one of the directors adopted Mozambican sons used to be a bandit – now he’s a pastor and hugely influencial, he’s even been to America to speak.
So, stop for the one – I don’t really know the full implications of that, but I can’t be proud about it as it is so little (still, I can’t deny my hope of knowing that while it is so little, it is also – somehow – so much.)
Kari
One thing that one lady told me that gave me clarity is that the poor, especially in the villages where they’re secluded from the outside world, don’t see themselves as “poor”, just that they have suffering. They’re not looking for a cement house or a car, they just don’t want to suffer.
I don’t want them to suffer either – a lot of the things they suffer from (lack of nutrition, need of medical aide) are very much beyond my grasp to even give. Then the questions lead to: Who gives this? Jesus? Me/us? Jesus through me/us? Probably all of the above. And we’re told (or I have been all my life) that God cares more about the spirit of a human than the physical, to be healed/made whole spiritually is better or more important. I can see how a lack of physical needs met would lead anyone to be more inclined to seek after the spirit since life becomes desperate, but I don’t feel peace about it, not yet. I’m at a place now too where I kind of don’t care if I have the answers or not – so many people think they have the answers or say they do or maybe they don’t feel completely that way but they have a part and they offer that answer and even put action to it – for example, the organization I’m with right now, or even someone high profile like Bono who has given his voice with weight to millions worldwide with his efforts to put any sort of death blow to poverty and world hunger, AIDs, etc, but even with that level of influence and power – has there been change? How much? I’m not saying that only a little change is not good – any bit of change is good!!! I’m saying that if those with power don’t have answers, how can I?
The motto at this organization is “Stop for the One” – it is hard and humbling to know that you can only do something for one person, though I see first-hand at the moment how that grows. And stopping for one can change that one person’s entire life. For example, one of the directors adopted Mozambican sons used to be a bandit – now he’s a pastor and hugely influencial, he’s even been to America to speak.
So, stop for the one – I don’t really know the full implications of that, but I can’t be proud about it as it is so little (still, I can’t deny my hope of knowing that while it is so little, it is also – somehow – so much.)
Kari
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Words can never fully express...
I feel that I have so much to say – I have left posting for too long! I wasn’t able to get to the internet as I was on outreach this past weekend, which was absolutely amazing and eye opening all at once. Classes have been good as well, but I will leave writing about that for another post. Outreach was a wild 2 hour drive out of the city area to a remote village that has no running water or electricity. All the houses are mud huts with grass roofs – these people are ingenious and can make shelter out of nothing, as they have nothing. All the children, and even adults were malnourished, it was hard to see. The signs are a distended stomach and lighter colored head hair. At night when we set up floodlights for the film you could see the dirt being kicked up by the wind and it definitely explained the reason why we were so extremely dirty after only three days. Our reason for visiting the village was a spiritual focus, there are other outreaches that include medical teams but we didn’t have one along at this time. The village has a church and a pastor that is connected to the organization I am with, and that is how we were invited to come and show the film about Jesus. We also visited houses in the village in the daytime and talk to people and if they wanted – pray for healing. These people lack even basic medicine so their main complaints seemed to be caused by worms/parasites and skin problems like scabies. We did see a few healings for prayer – one lady came back the next day and told us her baby we prayed for was better. God is still good in the midst of suffering.
My favorite moment was sitting with the village women sifting through rice to remove any husks for our lunchtime meal. They showed us how to do it and then taught us some of their songs, and asked us to teach them a Portuguese song – we didn’t know any but enjoyed learning theirs. One thing about visiting was that our Portuguese didn’t really help us, most of the people only speak Macua.
The Saturday afternoon we got our group together and prayed for the village, for the spiritual atmosphere, and really felt a shift – it was amazing! That was the most lasting thing that I think we could have left for them. Ultimately there is not much we can do in our own humanness, which is why we are so heavily relying on God to see provision occur.
My favorite moment was sitting with the village women sifting through rice to remove any husks for our lunchtime meal. They showed us how to do it and then taught us some of their songs, and asked us to teach them a Portuguese song – we didn’t know any but enjoyed learning theirs. One thing about visiting was that our Portuguese didn’t really help us, most of the people only speak Macua.
The Saturday afternoon we got our group together and prayed for the village, for the spiritual atmosphere, and really felt a shift – it was amazing! That was the most lasting thing that I think we could have left for them. Ultimately there is not much we can do in our own humanness, which is why we are so heavily relying on God to see provision occur.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
T I A
Well the above acronym was coined my some one, I’m not sure who, but it is definitely used a lot here: “This Is Africa”. Usually mentioned when organization, scheduling or plans completely change or fall apart=). For example, on Monday they asked the students who had already arrived (everything began on Tuesday) to move 400 cases of 12x1.5L waterbottles from one room in their Water store back to the original room – a car had gone through the wall and required repair. We assembled and got it done only to return to the houses and be asked to again go back to the water store (a good 5 min walk on the base) to bring 30 cases for new people – a truck was supposed to come down and we would load it. We got there and waited, and waited and waited, finally a call was made to discover the truck was not coming. We are told the plan is cancelled, start walking back, and then are stopped and told that they still need the water, could we please carry it back (walking) to the houses? We begin but thank goodness another truck is there and the driver allows us to load it, but it took all morning to complete everything and our other plans for internet were postponed. TIA!
Sorry for the Delay!
Hello All, sorry that I’ve delayed writing – it takes time to reach any of the internet cafes and time is sometimes something we do not have. All shops close from 12 – 2 , the hottest part of the day, and our classes usually extend until 330, sometimes beyond. We, women especially, should not be out of the base after dark and definitely not alone! So, as the nearest internet (available at the moment) is a 10 min walk, I haven’t been there until now. I have been to the beach three times though – it is just across the road and is gorgeous. Whenever we visit the beach the village children (those who do note live on the base but come visit everyday) tag along, hanging onto your arms and asking your name – I’ve had t learn basic Portuguese very quickly. What else can I tell you? When I arrived I sprayed my mattress, mozzie net and bedding with an insecticide called permethrin (harmless to humans). I have had three nights alone in the house I live in which is now filled with 8 people and there is still room for two more – the toilet didn’t work and the water stopped running the day after I arrived but it is back up now. UFriday I tried eating with my hands for the first time and enjoyed the food more that way!! It is very hot food though and burns your fingertips unless you let it cool down a bit ( and I use hand sanitizer first).
Almost everyone is here now (all 150 of us) from all over the world – South America, USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Iceland, Netherlands, Africa, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. After spending the first two days with about 17 people, it has been a bit overwhelming. Funny, as I sat writing what I wanted to say on my porch I was being paranoid about mosquitos, though I can’t say that I’ve seen a single one since my arrival. I am wearing DEET right now and I’m sure my parents will be glad to hear that I haven’t missed an anti-malarial pill yet=).
The sun rises at 5 AM, which means that at 505 you have birds chirping, dogs barking and a kid playing the harmonica. Earplugs are my closest ally in the night.
Nothing is as difficult as I expected except maybe the bathrooms! – they don’t clean up too well and the shower leaks everywhere (we also get poisonous frogs in our drain) – water on the floor turns the fine red African dust to mud. The houses have tiled floors and the windows, though glassless, are covered with screening and bars and curtains. I spent the first few days helping the staff set up, we sewed mozzie nets with holes, moved boxes of bottled water, and lawnchairs. I also helped serve the lunchhour meal to at least 400 people last Sunday – the villagers are invited to it every Sunday – the food even ran out and we almost have a riot! Quite the experience.
Town was another experience to remember. I went with three other girls in a taxi an hour before sunset – we only went to the main supermarket but did not realize it was a 10 minute walk from the centre of town where we were dropped off. I don’t think I’ll try that again unless it is a larger group. Town today is better and we have Mozambican with us who has helped us barter for our wares.
Haven’t seen nearly as many bugs as I thought I would and am quite surprised. I have heard that there are many more on the outreaches and that they are very big. The only residents in our house are small spiders and cockroaches.
The organization I am with houses, with three meals a day, about 200 orphans and feeds the village children that come (perhaps 100 or so more) once a day – the village children have homes to go back to every evening.
My transition have been very seamless. I feel born to rough it=). Our conditions don’t bother me and showering only twice a week doesn’t bother me. It is not as hot as I expected, unless your dancing like a madwoman under the church tent during egreca. The dancing and their singing is a wonderful experience (which I keep saying about everything!). The Mozambican pastor’s school at the base has class daily and they have music leaders that led our first meeting in song. They sang a capella in an echo format and danced for a long time – it is extremely fun and an honor to join them.
Nat, I have one thing to say – thank you for persuading me to bring crocs, my feet would not be the same otherwise. And the shakes have been a daily blessing so far as I hadn’t ventured to breakfast until a few days ago, I was sleeping in.
Health has been pretty good – I need more fiber in my diet though=). I have a small head cold at the moment so I’d love prayer for it.
That’s all for now, Ate Logo!!
Also, please forgive the spelling mistakes if any, I haven't time to look over what I typed.
Almost everyone is here now (all 150 of us) from all over the world – South America, USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Iceland, Netherlands, Africa, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. After spending the first two days with about 17 people, it has been a bit overwhelming. Funny, as I sat writing what I wanted to say on my porch I was being paranoid about mosquitos, though I can’t say that I’ve seen a single one since my arrival. I am wearing DEET right now and I’m sure my parents will be glad to hear that I haven’t missed an anti-malarial pill yet=).
The sun rises at 5 AM, which means that at 505 you have birds chirping, dogs barking and a kid playing the harmonica. Earplugs are my closest ally in the night.
Nothing is as difficult as I expected except maybe the bathrooms! – they don’t clean up too well and the shower leaks everywhere (we also get poisonous frogs in our drain) – water on the floor turns the fine red African dust to mud. The houses have tiled floors and the windows, though glassless, are covered with screening and bars and curtains. I spent the first few days helping the staff set up, we sewed mozzie nets with holes, moved boxes of bottled water, and lawnchairs. I also helped serve the lunchhour meal to at least 400 people last Sunday – the villagers are invited to it every Sunday – the food even ran out and we almost have a riot! Quite the experience.
Town was another experience to remember. I went with three other girls in a taxi an hour before sunset – we only went to the main supermarket but did not realize it was a 10 minute walk from the centre of town where we were dropped off. I don’t think I’ll try that again unless it is a larger group. Town today is better and we have Mozambican with us who has helped us barter for our wares.
Haven’t seen nearly as many bugs as I thought I would and am quite surprised. I have heard that there are many more on the outreaches and that they are very big. The only residents in our house are small spiders and cockroaches.
The organization I am with houses, with three meals a day, about 200 orphans and feeds the village children that come (perhaps 100 or so more) once a day – the village children have homes to go back to every evening.
My transition have been very seamless. I feel born to rough it=). Our conditions don’t bother me and showering only twice a week doesn’t bother me. It is not as hot as I expected, unless your dancing like a madwoman under the church tent during egreca. The dancing and their singing is a wonderful experience (which I keep saying about everything!). The Mozambican pastor’s school at the base has class daily and they have music leaders that led our first meeting in song. They sang a capella in an echo format and danced for a long time – it is extremely fun and an honor to join them.
Nat, I have one thing to say – thank you for persuading me to bring crocs, my feet would not be the same otherwise. And the shakes have been a daily blessing so far as I hadn’t ventured to breakfast until a few days ago, I was sleeping in.
Health has been pretty good – I need more fiber in my diet though=). I have a small head cold at the moment so I’d love prayer for it.
That’s all for now, Ate Logo!!
Also, please forgive the spelling mistakes if any, I haven't time to look over what I typed.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Welcome
Welcome family and friends
I've never had a blog before... this is kind of exciting. And so is the prospect of my trip, the countdown is now at '24 days to go' - that..... is really soon.
I'd like to let you all know that the title of this blog means "To have much Faith" in Portuguese(at least that is what a translation site on the internet told me =) - I may be corrected once I get there). Portuguese is the national language of Mozambique.
With so many uncertainties in my trip (though I aim to be as prepared as I can be, I really cannot fully prepare for this), I must and will go in "much Faith", believing that all will be well and I will be taken care of in every way.
My trip-planning originated in a desire to see the poorest of the poor (the country could have been any one). I decided on Mozambique because the organization I will be with has beautiful, sincere people leading it, and these people listen to God's voice. I am excited to see what they do, how they love and honor the national people, and to experience a new culture. I will be at a training school that focuses on cross-culturalism and integration, loving Jesus and loving others, and locally assisting those in need. They also house hundreds of orphans on their base, so I will be spending time with many kids!!! I hope they don't mind that I won't know a bit of their language! Actually, I borrowed a "teach yourself: beginner's portuguese" from the library yesterday; we'll see how much I retain in 24 days!!!
I've never had a blog before... this is kind of exciting. And so is the prospect of my trip, the countdown is now at '24 days to go' - that..... is really soon.
I'd like to let you all know that the title of this blog means "To have much Faith" in Portuguese(at least that is what a translation site on the internet told me =) - I may be corrected once I get there). Portuguese is the national language of Mozambique.
With so many uncertainties in my trip (though I aim to be as prepared as I can be, I really cannot fully prepare for this), I must and will go in "much Faith", believing that all will be well and I will be taken care of in every way.
My trip-planning originated in a desire to see the poorest of the poor (the country could have been any one). I decided on Mozambique because the organization I will be with has beautiful, sincere people leading it, and these people listen to God's voice. I am excited to see what they do, how they love and honor the national people, and to experience a new culture. I will be at a training school that focuses on cross-culturalism and integration, loving Jesus and loving others, and locally assisting those in need. They also house hundreds of orphans on their base, so I will be spending time with many kids!!! I hope they don't mind that I won't know a bit of their language! Actually, I borrowed a "teach yourself: beginner's portuguese" from the library yesterday; we'll see how much I retain in 24 days!!!
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