February times.

Hello all. I am so very sorry that I dont write out what is going on more! I will try to do better. So I dont have too much on my mind at the moment but I will tell you what has been going on around here! 
First off language class is still in session 5 hours a day and I am trying my hardest to soak up all I can before classes end (which I have no clue when that will be). I have learned a lot since I have been here including a ton of language. I have learned how to give my testimony in Portuguese which I got to give in church a couple Sundays ago. I have also learned better how to read and formulate sentences in Portuguese these tools helped me when I got to teach Sunday School for the children this past Sunday. Although my language is not super well enough that I could ask tons of questions, so my wonderful friend Wanne helped me out in the area. However about Sunday School, what an amazing experience. I got to teach children the story of the Paralyzed man who was healed by Jesus. The church they were at is a new church and most likely none of them have ever heard this story. Humbling isnt it, How many times have we heard this story? I think without ever looking it up most of the people I know could tell me the general idea. But these children have never heard this wonderfully amazing Bible stories. Their eyes were glued to the book and it was a really neat experience. I plan on helping with that class every week that I can! So keep that in your prayers! These kids are hearing about the life of Jesus for the first time. This will impact their lives for eternity. 


Also I got to see the Jesus Film for the first time this past week. We went out to a place where there was no road really, and I could never get back there even if I tried. The film was set up and lots of people made their way to see the film that told about Jesus' Life. Incredible. This one film has been made into many different languages and here in Mozambique is used quite frequently to share the Gospel with people! It was a neat thing to see. 


Also Valentine's Day was this week and man am I blessed to have people that love me here. I got flowers and chocolate and we went to a fancy dinner (which if you lived here you would see that that is almost impossible). But there is one place that is nicer than the others. It is in one of the tallest buildings in Quelimane and so we got to look out over the whole town and the water. It was so nice. I am blessed to live here with these people. 


Other than those things life is pretty calm here for now. We are making more friends slowly and learning new things, like how to drive (I havent really taken a chance at that yet, but my roommate Jessica drives so we now have a car to use!). Everyday I find new things to like about Quelimane. Its not too bad of a place really! : ) I do know that I can not wait until we get to dive into University Ministry. We have no idea what that looks like at the moment but soon hopefully we will! 


Keep in prayer Suzanna and her beautiful daughters as well as Carla and her family! These women have already made such a huge impact on my life and I am blessed that God allows me to be a part of their lives daily! Also we have two men in March coming to do a leadership teaching for some of the pastors, so keep that in your prayers as well! 


Everything is well... so I will write later! : ) Thank you everyone for your prayer and support! 

Nosso Deus nunca falhará!

So its probably not news to many people that learning a new language is difficult. Especially when you are like me and are used to having a lot of friends around to talk to. Here... its is different. To make friends I have to think so hard about what I am going to say and then try to say it in the best portuguese I can muster up. Then after that I have to pretend that I understood all the words the person said back to me and try to respond. Sometimes it just ends in "Im sorry, I am learning portuguese and only know a little." But despite this I have managed to try and connect with this one young lady who works at a supermarket (minus the super part) that I frequently go to. I started with hello, then the next week I started with I like your shirt where did you get it? I did this kind of thing for this whole month every time I would see her. Until one day she asked me to go shopping with her! I was in shock that she would want to be my friend when we could barely speak to each other. Well the bad news is I never got to go shopping with her, and yes I was sad but God still had a plan for us. I got her phone number one day and began to text her messages of hello, how are you and have a good day! And then one day she sent me a message saying the same kind of thing. I was so happy... although it did take me about 2 hours to figure out what the whole message said because our internet was down! haha. So the morning she sent me that was this past Sunday and this Sunday being the first Sunday that I did not go to church in the morning. We were planning on going to a church in the evening. Well what I awesome opportunity to invite her. How remarkable it is to me that God planned this out that we would not be in church when she text me but that we would be going to church later. So I decided I would try to figure out how to invite her to church! I did... and well... GOOD NEWS... She said yes!  :) I was overjoyed. This was our first time at this church but when we got there it was mostly college age men and women and it was a church that was evidently on fire for Christ. I wanted to cry. I was so happy that there was a place here like that, catering to the young generation of believers. I was in awe of what God put together...and all he asked of me was to invite her to church. Thats all. And the rest He took care of on his own. 
This reminds me of the two stories in the bible. The first being of Joshua when they are crossing the Jordan river and all God asks in order for them to get across is to put their feet in the water. And also the story of Peter walking on the water and Jesus only asked him to take that first step. God doesn't ask too much of us. He asks that by faith we follow Him, that we trust and obey Him in what He asks of us. It is amazing how God shows Himself so amazingly when we just do what He asks of us. We serve a big God who never fails. 
Praise God! 


So... Jamila is the girls name that I have befriended. She is muslim and it was her first time in this church. So continually keep her in your prayers as I continue that relationship! 


Also another prayer request is for Suzanna who has triplet girls who just turned ONE! They are all three a little under the weather, one of them has malaria so please keep them in your prayers! Their names are Alicia, Tomme, and Alda (im not positive that is how they are spelled). Here is a beautiful picture of them! 

 

 
                  

Alicia is up top... then Tomme is bottom left, and Alda bottom right.  

Here is their cute birthday cakes... they all three blew out the candles at the same time! : ) 

                           

Looking on the bright side...

This town is crazy when I think about it sometimes. But it is nice, and when people get to know you they are super nice and do super nice things for you! Man the other day, I was really searching the town for some coke zero and i was just sure that the entire town had run out, sad! So the last store we went to was called Jumbo and they didn't have any but I proceeded to ask the guy that worked there if he ever got any in and he said no. Then I must have looked pretty sad (playing the Shoney's card)  because he then said, hold on..... he got on his phone called someone and said come back this afternoon and I will have a case for you! WHAT??? REALLY?? that was my response. If people do that in America then I have already forgotten, but I was so shocked and excited! So wonderful... its really the little things that make me most happy over here! 
So anyways little things like finding coke zero, and dove body wash just can make your day here. The people here make this town not so bad. They are so kind and I can tell that when I actually learn more of the language there will be many friends to be made! : ) 
Also I know it is almost Christmas and everyone may be wondering how I feel about spending Christmas in Africa? I will say this, the heat... helps in not thinking that it is actually Christmas. So I don't think it will be too tough this year. Yes I will miss all the traditions but it is also an experience I would never want to change! : ) Plus who wouldn't want to go to the beach two days before Christmas? 


Everything is going well here. Its hot, everyone pray for rain to cool it down. 


I love you all! Miss you all! and hope that everyone has the best Christmas! 

Igreja

Church in Mozambique is quite a different experience. First make sure you don’t forget your water or your handheld fan… then when you get there make sure you sit on the correct side (women and men). Next sit down on, what in most cases for me has been, a cut down palm tree.  Then wait for Sunday school to start, try to understand what is being said in Portuguese,   try to figure out when you are supposed to stand and sit, try to keep flies off of you, try not to pass out from the heat,  and make sure you drink lots of water! But while being exhausted from all this,  you find the most beautiful singing,  a wonderful message, the whole congregation memorizing bible verses as a body,  children memorizing a verse and reciting it for the congregation and above all else, a lot of Love and passion for Christ…….

How many of you have ever attended a church service, not feeling so well or being upset and having the whole church stop the service and immediately pray for you?

I would say never until I got to Africa. I had it happen to me once in West Africa, when I was homesick, a young lady got up during the service and dedicated a song to me and a prayer. Then in Mozambique I was feeling sick during the service and had to leave and when my friend came out to take me home she informed me that they stopped to pray for me and that’s why it took her a little longer to get outside.

Wow.  For me? Why? But then I realized it had nothing really to do with me but with God’s love shown through the church and the body being one, when one part of the body is hurting or sick  it effects the others. Right? I think so. I am amazed here at the amount of Godly servants who truly do everything they can to serve the Lord and others.  It is incredible to feel that kind of Godly love from a church that you have only been to once! Their concern and love for people overflows through the doors! How many of us including myself would ever think to get up and dedicate a song or pray for someone without it being in the bulletin? When someone is hurting in the congregation shouldn’t the rest of the body feel it?  I have learned so much already from Africans. Yes its hot, its hard, and very frustrating but when I stop looking at the hard things the good things just jump out at me! 

Lets learn Portuguese...

So as anyone could guess... language learning is difficult. Not always super difficult but when you talk to someone not only do you have to translate what you want to say into words... but you have to actually know what they are saying to you. That is a LOT to think about just for a simple "How are you?" conversation! Shew. After one conversation you are mentally exhausted. However getting down and thinking you can not do it is not the way to go. During my first week of language study God used two different devotionals to speak to me. The first being from Oswald Chambers... "The way we continually talk about our own inability is an insult to the Creator."Wow. How true though, that when we even begin to believe or even think that we are incapable, what does that say about the God who created us in His image. Everyday shouldnt we wake up and believe that we are created in the likeness of God and whatever we face today we can conquer because we are made by the most excellent Creator! : ) How encouraging to read this during my first few days here. I would just challenge everyone who reads this to think about a place in your own life where you feel incapable.. and just trust that God can do all things, so through Him you can do all things! : ) Along these same lines I am reading a book by Beth Moore written with missionaries all around the world! I was reading one of the devotions and it was about a family learning language. (of course) and the verse to go along with it was this... "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus... and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross." Phillipians 2: 5, 8
This verse also spoke greatly to me. Not only should I not say, "I cant do this," but I should also have an attitude of Christ all the time. Granted this is very difficult for the flesh, but God will help you if you ask!

I have found language to be frustrating but also very rewarding when you can say things such as, "Do you know Jesus?" (Voce conhece a Jesus Cristo?) and Jesus gives me hope, strength, peace, and eternal life! (Jesus me da esperanca, forca, paz, e vida eterna!) Being able to talk about the things that are most important... and the things God wants me to tell people while I am here, is very rewarding to have learned these things already and I can already attempt to tell others about Jesus! : )

Praise God! Gloria a Deus!

Here is a picture of my other language professor Carla!

What I know so far

So I wanted to finally write and let everyone know how this place is... what I am up to and such! So first off I got here and was so happy to finally be in a place I could call home! My house is wonderful. It is in the middle of the city and in walking distance to pretty much everything I need. It is nice to live here with the wonderful tropical breeze everyday.... however that doesnt mean it isnt super hot! Everyday it is so so hot. The breeze helps however. So my town is like a small city, with palm trees. I walk out my front door and there is the main street through town! We have a bakery right beside the house so every morning and evening it begins to smell like fresh bread! YUM! Everyone who knows me, KNOWS that bread is definitely my favorite food! Needless to say the guys in the bakery know me well, and every time I leave they say see you tomorrow! haha. I also like to go in there because they help me with my portuguese! God has certainly put some amazing people in my path so far! I will tell you about a few of them....

First off the missionaries that are already here have been nothing but wonderful since we have arrived! They take care of us, and if we have a problem with the house, they immediately come to help! It is pretty incredible the amount of time they spend serving us!

Next is our wonderful language converser, Suzanna. She comes in the morning and just helps us with conversational portuguese! She helps us also get around town and get things we need! It is so nice to have someone who knows the town, knows the prices, and knows the people! It has been neat to learn about her and her family as well! She is a wonderful mother to 4 children... three of them being newborn triplet girls! Two of them are identical. I found this interesting also bc several people know that my cousin Ansley has triplet boys with two being identical! So thats cool! Today with Suzanna we took her babies to be weighed at the hospital! That was interesting to see. It was also interesting to walk from her house to the clinic with each of us carrying one baby plus we each had an umbrella... not to mention it is over 80 degrees. haha. Not many strollers here, plus if they had one the roads arent quite made for them. : ) However we made it, and I probably lost a few pounds getting there. haha. All that to say this, it is so interesting to be part of a culture that has not found the easiest way to do everything. They do what they have to and it is beautiful actually. Also keep Suzanna in your prayers. Having triplets is tough, especially here, plus she is studying the bible frequently with one of the missionaries here so just pray for continual growth with her relationship with the Lord.. and for her children to follow Christ as well! Here are some pictures of two of the triplets plus Suzanna!

Also we have been teaching Suzanna how to play Uno! She asks us to play everyday now! : ) 

So we also have this incredible neighbor who cooks for us and sends us snacks a lot! She makes chamussas which are the BEST and pizza, and man what an incredible woman! Her family is muslim, so I hope and pray that God would use us in her life as a strong witness! 

So in a small town, you start to see the same people! They recognize you and you begin to make connections! I like living here, although its a challenge, I can see it being a good place to call home for the next two years! 

<3 You should come visit! 

Coming soon....

Hey everyone!! I am finally at home in Quelimane. I will be blogging soon! I have been super busy and I am in language school 5 hours a day! However I promise I will give more information as soon as possible! Check back in a few days!! : ) Love to all! 


Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouragement! It has been so great to hear from people and know that people back home are praying for me! Thank you again!