Jessie's Update


May 21, 2010

Hello Everyone!

I feel like the last few weeks have been a whirlwind and it only seems to be getting worse!  Let me try to catch you all up on all that has happened since I last wrote...

Since I last wrote, I’ve left the hospitality department, which was full with their new long term staff and started working in Mercy Ministries.  I work with an amazing Mozambican lady named Manuela, she has one of the kindest, purest hearts of anyone that I’ve ever met.   In the last two months as we’ve been working together, we’ve seen money miraculously multiplied!  We get a budget which we use to help those who need it with; mats to sleep on or a rope bed, a door for some of the women in our program whose houses get broken into and their food gets stolen, for medicine, fixing the wheelchairs of our physically challenged ones, for the occasion funeral and so much more.  In March, the money was multiplied over 10%, just what we needed for all the requests we had in March.  In April, it was multiplied again!  I must have counted the money and receipts 5 times at the end of March, trying to figure out what had happened.  But money had gone out for everything we had receipts for and it was more than we’d gotten in our budget.  Yay God for His provision, for taking care of the poorest ones, I was so excited and floored by His goodness!

In Mercy Ministries we’ve also starting to fix roofs that were severely damaged in the rainy season.  Some of them we will have to replace all together as they literally fall on the ones sleeping under them.  I’ve really been enjoying it, going into the villages to visit the women’s houses.  They’re so excited to show me their houses, not just their roofs but also where they live.  Most times we drive but sometimes we haven’t had a car so if it’s close we walk through the villages together.  I love the time to connect with the women, to just be able to love on them.  They are so precious, so thankful for that someone has taken the time to actually see them.  And every time I can feel the joy of the Father as I stop for the one in front of me. 

I’ve also taken two trips down to South Africa for visa reasons since I last sent out an update.  My first trip to South Africa I got a 6 month visa but with the stipulation that I had to leave Mozambique every 30 days. Which is not at all what I’d hoped for!!!  The embassy in South Africa who gave it to me made a horrible mistake, but they wouldn’t do anything to fix it for me.  So after many tears and having to choose to forgive the guy multiple times, I felt like I was supposed to come back to Pemba and see if Immigration in Pemba could help me. But, in the last year, my passport was filled up and I had no more pages left for stamps so after 30 days, I had to go back to South Africa to get more pages in my passport.  Which thankfully happened without any problems.  I was nervous after all the other issues I’ve had with visa/passport things. 

And finally, Rui & I also have some really exciting news!!!  We Got Rui’s Interview Date for His Immigrant Visa!!!! 

Our interview is on June 29th in Johannesburg South Africa.  All his paperwork is in and accepted, (Thank you Jesus!!!) he just has to get a physical exam the week before the interview, complete with a chest x-ray, some blood tests and some vaccines. We’ve waiting so long for this and prayed so hard that it would come, but now it seems like it’s happening so fast! We have about three weeks in Pemba left, then we will make our way through Maputo, saying goodbye to family and friends, to South Africa where the doctor and interview are.  Please pray for us in this bittersweet time!  We have three weeks to say goodbye to our Pemba family, not knowing when we will see any of them again.  As well as pack up our house, 4 ½ years of my life and Rui’s entire life in two 20kg suitcases which is turning out to more complicated than I thought it could be.  Also, Rui is desperately trying to finish a house that he’s been building for one of our newly married Iris girls. We really want to finish well and leave well.  We covet your prayers during this transitional and extremely exciting time! 

Blessings to all of you, heavenly blessings of joy and provision from Father God.  May you be wrapped in His goodness and captivated by Him!

Forever His,
Jessie 

March 8, 2010

Hello again from Pemba!
 
   As I think about how confusing my life is right now, and how uncertain plans are, I’m really not sure what to write as an update.  So here’s where we are as the Manjates… 
 
   We are still waiting to hear about Rui’s visa.  But now there are complications in the timeline of waiting.  The biggest is my visa to Mozambique, it ends on April 7th.  Last time I tried to renew my visa here in Pemba I got called to immigration and told I cannot enter Mozambique on a visitor visa anymore.  (I have almost three years of living in Mozambique on a visitor visa.  I’ve been entering on a 30 day visitor visa, which gets renewed twice in Pemba, giving me 90 days before I have to leave and do it all again.  It cost about $1000 every three months for the airfare, visa, food and lodging.)   If I want to come back, I have to come back on a resident’s visa.  It shouldn’t be a problem to get now that I’m married to a Mozambican.   But I’m not planning on staying as a resident in Mozambique.  I’m just waiting however long it takes for Rui’s interview to happen.  They don’t give a resident’s visa for a couple months stay.  More to the point, I don’t have the money to fly down to South Africa and come back again. 
 
   Another piece of the puzzle is my plane ticket is for May 1st.  That is the latest that I could move it back, if I don’t fly then I will lose it.  I still owe on my credit card for the ticket and having already changed it, I’m hesitant to lose it all together and buy another.  At the same time, I am not willing to fly back to the US and be separated from my husband for months, not knowing when his visa is or when he’ll be able to fly to the US.  And that is the last piece of the puzzle, and our biggest question, when will Rui be able to go to the States? 
  
   Also, please continue to pray for my health.  I’ve still been having trouble with infection and my body is having trouble fighting it off.  I’ve had to take antibiotics twice in the last month which is not normal for me.  I was very sick one weekend after taking an antibiotic, it felt like last time when I’d gotten so sick for months.  Thankfully we figured out I was reacting to the antibiotic, I switched to another and as soon as the first one was out of my system I quickly improved. 
   While there are all these questions and concerns about where we’ll be in the next month and how things will work out, we’re going on with daily life here in Pemba.  I haven’t had much work since another couple joined me in the hospitality department.  Which means I have more time to hang out with our kids!  :o)  I’ve been able to load up my landrover with kids and go swimming at the beach, bring them over for cookies and movies, be climbed all over in the toddler house, sit around and watch them play soccer…  I’ve really been enjoying my time in the last month, taking time out to play with the kids.  I’m trying to soak in as much of them as I can before I have to leave.
 
        I pray that you all are well and enjoying the overflowing goodness of our Father!
 
Forever His,
Jessie

Praise Report!!!!
My medical insurance covered the test I had done in South Africa!  I just had to pay for my airfare there and back.  Thank you Father!!!! 
 

 

January 26, 2010

 

Hello again from Pemba!  It has been over three months since my last update and for that I apologize!  Some of you have received updates from my mother and I’m very grateful she sent them out.  Thank you to all to prayed for me during this time! 

 

   I have to start with our wedding day!  I’ve attached some pictures too.  :o)  It was amazing!  We felt so loved by our Pemba family, and surprisingly, everything went very smoothly!  I was so blessed to have my parents with me, and a couple of my best friends who traveled here to be in the wedding.   Rui’s brother and his best friend from Maputo were able to come, as well as his father at the last minute!  What a blessing to have his dad here for our special day!  The ceremony was performed by Heidi Baker and Charles Stock with a beautiful beach as our backdrop.  On a day full of joy we were surrounded by parts of our families, our Pemba family and friends.  It was more than I could have hoped for!

 

   We went to a small island up north for our honeymoon.  The hotel where we were supposed to stay was very disappointing, and the next day we ended up moving to another hotel which we really enjoyed.  They only had an opening for one night though, so we ended up cutting our honeymoon to 3 days and returning home early.  But we moved into our new house together and had some extra time to relax in our new home before starting back to work. 

 

   I ended up not returning to work because I got very ill.  I had a very serious UTI, possibly a kidney infection, and on top of that, I got malaria.  The malaria hit me very quickly and very hard, I honestly don’t remember much of that first week.  Poor Rui, when we should have been enjoying being newlyweds, he was working, covering my job in hospitality, and caring for a very ill wife.  And I was sick for over 8 weeks.  I didn’t respond the antibiotics that I was on, in fact, we tried four different ones and I didn’t respond to any of them.  After about 6 weeks of being ill, with unexplained symptoms and no way to diagnose and treat my problems in Pemba, I flew to South Africa.  I was there for two weeks.  I went through two doctors, many humbling tests and still did not get a diagnosis.  We found out my spleen was enlarged and my liver wasn’t functioning right, which explained the nausea and vomiting.  (In the weeks of being ill I’d lost about 30lbs)  But they couldn’t tell me why my liver and spleen weren’t working right.  While in South Africa, all I did was rest and get fed nutritious food, so I started gaining back my strength.  After two weeks I returned to Pemba, on the condition that I didn’t improve, I’d have to fly to the States and have more in depth testing done.  Thankfully I continued to improve! 

 

   Since coming back from South Africa all infection is gone, the pain in my spleen is gone (unless I’m too active) and I get stronger ever week.  It was a really hard couple months with all the uncertainty, not knowing what was wrong with my body, the meds not working…especially when it looked like I might need to fly back to the States and Rui couldn’t come because his visa is still being processes.  Our trust in God was really put to the test, it was a crash course of learning to stand together and choosing to believe that He is good in the midst of everything.  But things keep getting improving, and after that start to our marriage, we figure it will only get better!  We’re expecting seven times what the enemy stole from us in our first months of marriage!  Thank you to everyone who prayed for us and stood with us, we couldn’t have made it through without you!

 

   I was back from South Africa for about a week when Rui left for Maputo.  (Every year some of our southern kids make the 3 day trip in the back of a flatbed truck to spend the holidays with their families and this year Rui was one of the drivers.)   I didn’t think I was going to be able to go because of my health.  Rui usually stays with his family but with my health the way it was, especially my immune system, I couldn’t stay in a village.  Heidi found out about our situation and arranged a wonderful place for us to stay while we were there.  What an amazing blessing!  I flew down the next week and Rui and I were able to be together for Christmas, New Years and his birthday on January 6th.  It was so good to be together and I was able to continue resting and gaining my strength back.   For the first time since getting married, I was well enough for us to be able to go out and do things as a couple.  The highlight of the whole trip for me was meeting Rui’s grandmother.  She’s 101 years old, which is amazing for a Mozambican!  And she looks really good for her age!  She’s really sweet and you can tell she and Rui have a special relationship, even though I don’t understand when they talk because she only speaks Xangana (her tribal language) which I don’t speak.  But she’s the sweetest 101 year old that I’ve ever met!  :o)    

 

   Now we’re back in Pemba, and I’m working in our hospitality department.  Actually, I’m running the department as everyone else is on break.  But we have very few visitors in the next couple months so it shouldn’t be too overwhelming.  I’ve been able to work on some projects around the visitor center, getting things ready for the craziness the summer months always bring.  Rui is working with me in hospitality as well as still doing stuff with our kids.  And we are still waiting for Rui’s visa to be processed and to be contacted about his interview.

 

     I pray that you all are well and full of the joy of heaven!

 

Forever His,
Jessie

 

October 9, 2010

Hello again from Pemba!

It’s hard to believe that another month has gone by, and it’s already time to send out another update. I had a really good time in Maputo visiting with my friends. And I had a good time in South Africa, especially once I got a new visa for Mozambique! I got it without any problems or questions, which I think is a miracle considering the issues I’ve had at that particular embassy. I got to visit with old friends in South Africa too, which made it nice. Thanks to all of you who prayed for my visa!

Things are in transition once again! The couple that leads hospitality is leaving Pemba the day after my wedding, so they’ve been training a replacement. I’ll be helping her in hospitality once I get back from my Honeymoon. I was given off the two weeks before my wedding to finish getting everything together, and enjoy my mom and friend Heather being here! They came in about two weeks before the insanity and, we’ve had fun hanging out, doing wedding planning, and seeing the sites of Pemba. Ok, so there really aren’t many sites but they did go shopping with me and we went to the beach :o) Heather and I made an attempt at snorkeling, but it wasn’t very successful. Though we got some good pictures of starfish.

The biggest thing on my mind is the wedding! Only 8 days to go as I write this, hard to believe it’s come up so fast! The rest of our family and friends arrive next week, including my roommate from South Africa, Rui’s brother and my Dad! :o) And things look like they will all come together in time. It’s been crazy planning a wedding here in Africa, things come up that you’d never have to deal with in the States. For example, Flowers. In America you talk to a florist, tell them what you like, and they deliver the bouquets the morning of. In Pemba, we don’t have flowers. We just don’t. So while I was in Maputo, I went to the street corner where they sell flowers that are brought up from South Africa. I picked out the type of flower I want, how many, what colors, wrote a list (all in Portuguese which was a challenge!) and gave it to the lady that was selling them. Left money with a friend who will go to that corner with a copy of my list and get all flowers, then go to the airport and hand over the 12 bunches of flowers to someone flying up to Pemba that day. We’ll pick up the flowers at 1 Friday afternoon from the airport, then we’ll make them into bouquets Friday night in time for the wedding on Saturday. But it’s stuff like that that makes the wedding interesting! Keeps me on my toes. So, now we only have 8 days left and then whatever happens, happens. And in Pemba, you never know what will happen! :o)

I pray that you all are well and overflowing with the blessing of heaven!

September 9, 2009

Hello again from Pemba!

The center is quiet now, the mission’s school has ended, our large turnover of visitors has slowed to a trickle, and our bible school has ended. While I like all the excitement of the busy times when we’re bursting at the seams with people, I love the quiet. It feels like more of a family time, where life slows down and time is spent just being. There’s now time to pile the truck full of kids and run to town to do some personal shopping. For them it’s a real treat to drive around and help you shop. Of course, getting cookies, fruit or soda doesn’t hurt either. :o) And I always seem to spend more money when they go with me, wonder why that is. ;o) There’s time to visit our toddler house and get crawled all over by our littlest ones. And, I’m happy to say, all our babies are now walking! There’s time to sit on a porch and just talk with the kids, playing silly games and just being someone who loves them. So while I like the busy times, I love the quiet family times too. Even if our family is over 200 people!

One highlight of this last month was my birthday! :o) I made it through another year, and it was a good one. It makes me excited for the next year and all the changes that are coming. I had a good relaxing day with a nice lunch out with Rui. But I loved my birthday dinner. My neighbors were house-sitting an amazing house with an incredible view of the Indian Ocean. We had a feast, steak, sausage, chicken, mashed potatoes, fresh salad, and bread followed up by lemon squares. A real difference from rice and beans! There were 7 of us and it was so good to just be together, having good food and an even better view. And they didn’t know it was my birthday until that night, which really made it feel like a family meal. It was lovely!

I am on my way to Maputo and South Africa once again to do the visa thing. I’m still coming in on a visitor visa and I’m praying for favor as I ask for yet another! I already have 11 visa/visa extensions in my passport from Mozambique. I will be stopping in Maputo to visit some friends and see some of the kids that have moved back down there. I’m excited to see them! Rabia, who I used to work closely with, has had a little boy, Paulo and I can’t wait to meet him! I’ll be gone a total of 10 days between travel, visiting Rabia and getting spoiled at my one of my favorite places in South Africa! I’m hoping to get some good rest as well as be able to go shopping for some wedding stuff while in South Africa. I’m excited about some fresh fruit, hoping for some strawberries!

Wedding plans are in full swing, and I have to admit they take up more of my time then I thought they would. The good thing about being part of the Pemba family is there are so many people here with so many gifts and they’re all pitching in to help make the day special! Five and a half weeks and counting til the big day, just over three weeks until my mom and friend come! :o) Time is flying by!

I pray that you all are well and overflowing with the blessing of heaven!

August 12, 2009

Hello again from Pemba!

We have had an amazing and crazy summer in the Hospitality department!  I am so thankful for our team, I don’t know how things would have been if just one person was missing from the team!  There were days when we took a large team to the airport, frantically sorted donations, slung around boxes of water, stripped and remade beds, and welcomed another large team in, just a few hours later.  We have seen well over a hundred people come through in the last two months. 

It’s been fun to get to know people as they come and go again.  We’ve had amazing teams and individuals come to speak to the missions’ school and others just to serve with us.  I love when I get the chance to sit with our visitors and see what impacts them, how God is moving in their lives using things here in Pemba.  One sweet young girl was changed sitting in the dirt for two weeks, loving on our kids.  (I have to say that’s still my favorite place!)  I’ve also enjoyed getting to know the women who do the cleaning around the visitors’ compound, being able to pray for them when they’re sick or when a grandmother died. 

As part of my job one week I got to lead an outreach to the prison.  One of our missionaries started it up about a year ago and was unable to go because of malaria.  (She’s all better now)  Some of our visitors get the chance to go every week so I got to take them, along with a local pastor who co-leads the ministry.  It was so much fun, I loved it!!!  Their worship welcomed us in as we arrived at the gate.  The men were so happy and hungry for God.  One of our visitors gave his testimony, another entertained them with soccer stunts and then shared and encouraged them as well.  It was an amazing and powerful time, I felt so blessed to be a part of it!  And to think, that’s what I get to call work.  :o)

Rui and I are in the middle of wedding plans.  Things are going okay I guess, but it’s really hard to plan things here in Africa!  Things can change so much in a week, even more so in the 10 weeks to the wedding!  I’d really appreciate your prayers, that everything comes together smoothly and we have a fun time celebrating with our Pemba family.  Also for the finances to feed all our guests.  (We’re trying to keep it down to only 350.) 

I want to thank you all for praying for my sleep.  I’ve been sleeping much better, waking up rested and ready for my day!  It’s been a big difference as I don’t have to fight through my day being exhausted.  Thank you so much!

July 8, 2009

Greetings from Pemba! 

I have been back in Mozambique for about a month now and it’s been good.  My travel went really smoothly so thank you for your prayers!  I was worried after my last trip to the States…
Coming back to Pemba I changed jobs.  I’m really enjoying working in the hospitality department with two amazing couples.  I love being part of this team!  I felt like they kinda took me in and I’m so glad they did!  We’ve split up the responsibilities but we all help each other get things done so it’s great!  And I’ve had the freedom to start rebuilding relationships with the kids, to just hang out with them and enjoy who they are.  I like it!

Some amazing news; Victor has turned three!  I remember when he came to the center, he looked about three months old, though he was really ten months.  He was such a tiny sweet little thing!  Now he’s turned three, running around and playing all the time.  He’s still a quiet sensitive boy, but he’s doing really well. 

Three months to go until my wedding!  We talked to Rui’s family and decided to have the wedding up here in Pemba.  His dad agreed to come up and we’ll bring whoever else of the family that we can afford to bring up as well.  My parents are also coming, as well as a really good friend from the States and my old housemate from South Africa.  I’m really excited!  I get to get married here on the beach with my friends and all the kids around me.  I didn’t really know anyone in Maputo and honestly, we didn’t have money to do a wedding in Maputo.  It will hopefully be much cheaper here, we won’t have any rental fees and we can do a simpler meal without it embarrassing the family.  (It’s a huge deal in Maputo to have everything done properly and fancy.)  So, Heidi Baker will be performing the ceremony at the Maringanha beach on October 17th where we will be surrounded by friends, some of our biological family and our Iris Pemba family.  It’s going to be fabulous!

Thank you once again for all your love, prayers and support.  I pray God richly bless you, over and abundantly more than you could even imagine!  I want to close with the words of Paul:
“and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”   Ephesians 1:18-19

June 10, 2009

It was difficult getting back to the States this April, but I made it!  I was too sick to fly and had to delay my flights for two days while I took some strong antibiotics and recovered enough to fly.  When changing my flights, they were messed up causing flights and airlines to be switched at the very last minute.  We were running through airports, frantically trying to get through security, immigration, and ended up missing some flights adding hours to the trip.  It took over 32 hours to get back to the States  from South Africa, usually an 18 hour flight.  I had a friend come and visit me in Pemba right before I left, and we flew back together.  What a blessing to have her with me during such a difficult journey.  My old roommate met me in South Africa and took me immediately to the doctor.  Even in the midst of all the pain and stress, I could clearly see how God provided for me with people around who truly loved me and took care of me.  While we missed flights, we were on others in minutes.  I was reminded of the Jason Upton song… “In the midst of suffering, there’s a God worth worshiping.”  God is good and faithful, and He is worth worshiping. 

   So getting back to my parents started doctor’s appointments and tests, specifically for my liver.  All my tests came back normal, and I was given a clean bill of health.  Thank you Jesus!  And I want to thank all of you too, for all your love and prayers during this time. 

   I’ve had an amazing time in the States.  My boyfriend, Rui, came to visit and meet my family.  We had met through friends in Pemba over a year ago.  He’s from southern Mozambique and now works for Iris in Pemba.  He’s a wonderful man who’s hungry for God, with an amazing heart.  We had alot of fun together and got to enjoy being together in a peaceful, safe environment, away from the stresses that come from working at a ministry in a Muslim province.  We had time to soak in all we could at church.  We got to do some fun things with my family like go to the Zoo and the circus.  It was Rui’s first visit to the States, and it was so fun to watch Rui discover new things, like a little boy.  It’s been a really special time.

The big happy news: Rui asked my father if he could marry me, and we got the blessings of both our families.  We’re planning a wedding in October in Maputo, where Rui’s family is from in Mozambique.  We’ll have a wedding here as well, when Rui can get a visa and come back over to the States.  We will let you know and hope that some or all of you can join us on our special day.  :o)

   So now I’m on my way back to Pemba, I should get back on the 13th.  I’m excited to be going home and see the kids!  I love seeing their faces when I go back and getting all the hugs.  I have resigned from working with the Children’s department and moved to the Hospitality department.  I have stepped out of the place of provider for the kids; holding the keys to the armezen and handling the money.  In the past months it’s like I’ve been the vending machine, push the button enough times and you’ll get school supplies, shoes, clothes, school fees, birthday presents…  It got to the point where I didn’t want to walk on base, because I’d be bombarded with needs. I was feeling like I was losing the relationships.  So I have stepped out of that place and into a place where I will have more freedom to build relationships.  I’m excited about this new season and what God will do.  And if you’re coming to visit Pemba, I’ll be able to host you!  :o)

I pray blessings and grace on your families.  Be blessed and full of His love!

Jan. 30, 2009

As I write this I’m on the night bus traveling from Pretoria, South Africa up to Maputo, Mozambique and from there I will go home to Pemba. 
My roommate has finished her three years at Iris and has gone home to South Africa.  Bala (the dog) and I went with her. Bala got to stay, and I get to go home to an empty house.  While it’s really good for Nikki and Bala it’ll be just a little lonely for me. However, I am happy for the both of them.  They are both doing well: Bala has alot more room to run around, Nikki is studying full time to finish her degree. She got a job, a good job, in the first week that she was home.  I’m sure they will miss me though!  :o) 
So, the last thing Nikki and I did as ‘housies’ was drive down from Pemba to Pretoria.  The trip is almost 2000 miles, and it takes three and half days hard driving with road conditions here.  We took 8 days, stopping along the way for a couple nights at an island with the oldest buildings/fort in Mozambique.  We took some great pictures there!  We also stopped a couple nights further south and Nikki went diving with sharks!  (ok, whale sharks that don’t have teeth and eat plankton but still, they’re huge!)  We visited some friends in Maputo and had a really good time, even relaxing time on the way down.  I’m glad we did it!  And then I had a week and a half at Nikki’s parent’s house to relax, go shopping for things I can’t get in Pemba, watch a movie in the theaters, and visit an orphanage.  I really needed a break, it’s been a long couple of months. 
My five months of running the Children’s Center has come to a close.  Emelyn, the director of the Children’s Center, is back and she has taken over the job.  It’s a relief not to be the only one, but at the same time, after five months, it might take some getting used to.  I have to figure out what my new position will be as things once again shift and change.  Even after three years there’s so much change here that nothing ever seems to be a constant or stable. 
Thank you for your prayers, especially over the last five months and for the babies as they were sick and in and out of hospital.  The babies are all doing better, smiling again and gaining back the weight they lost. 
Thank you as well for your continued prayers. 
Blessing!

Jan. 20, 2009

I am now in South Africa!  I drove down with my roommate who has finished her three years at Iris and is moving on.  It is our last hurrah together after 2 ½ years of being roommates and close friends.  In some ways I feel like I’m losing a sister, and I’m a little scared to go back to a lonely house with an empty room. 
 
We took 8 days to drive down (instead of the 5) visiting two places along the way we’d never been to before; Ilha de Mozambique, an island just off the coast that used to be the capital and first defense when the Portuguese were in power and Inhambane, a large tourist area, but where you are able to go diving with whale sharks.  (I didn’t go but my roommate did.  Don’t worry. They don’t have teeth and eat plankton, but they are very large!) 
 
We traveled with our dog, Bala, who has moved with my roommate to South Africa.  Now she has to learn her 5th language, Afrikaans. (She gets yelled at mostly in English, but also Portuguese in our house, as well as Makua and Shangaan when she’s out running around.)  She did really well. She’s a good dog, and I’ll miss her.  But I know that she will have a better life in South Africa. 
 
So now I am in South Africa at my roommate’s parent’s house taking a break.  I can sleep in which is amazing!  But, after the last 5 months of pretty much being on my own in the Children’s Center, especially over Christmas, I can use the rest.  And I got a haircut, ate some cheesecake, and saw a movie. I’m getting spoiled here and I like it!
Check out Niki's web blog for more pictures on the road from Pemba to Pretoria.


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!   

Christmas: Part 1, December 13th;

 

I’ve been incredibly busy getting things ready for Christmas.  Heidi likes to give out the gifts every year and since she wasn’t here on the 25th we did our presents on the 13th of December.  It takes me over a month and a half to gather everything together, count it all to make sure that I have enough of everything, buy whatever else I need and actually put the presents together.  That meant I had 12 days less than I thought to get all the gifts ready.  Hearing that news caused some stress, but with some amazing help, I was ready on time!  The kids get clothes for Christmas so that’s what make it so complicated, trying to get all the sizes right.  The girls are the hardest but I had a fantastic person helping me and so things went really well.  Because of all the donations that we had received each child got an amazing gift of new clothes, new underwear (a very special thing here!), toys, candy and cookies.  They were amazing gift bags, I would’ve liked one myself!  While it’s a lot of work, it’s worth it for me when I see the kids’ faces full of excitement and joy as they receive their gifts.  I love to see them the next day in their new stylish clothes walking around with their favorite toy.  Makes me happy and all the stress of getting everything together fades away.  

Christmas Eve;
There is nothing like a candlelight Christmas Eve service here in Pemba.  It’s a lot different than in the west.  It’s not at all quiet and holy, with everyone solemnly holding their candle and quietly singing ‘Silent night, holy night’.  Here it’s a crazy night of passionate singing and wild dancing, of fighting the losing battle of trying to keep your candle lit as the kids run around trying to blow it out.  Here we celebrate the birth of Jesus in true Mozambique style.  I love it!
Alcelmo is 7 years old and he has two clubbed feet.  He gets around really well, still able to walk, even run and play.  He’s been around town for the last couple months, he ‘guards’ my car and I ‘pay’ him with a bread roll or box of juice.  I found out that he’s been sleeping on the streets for the last couple weeks after his grandmother died.  So on the 24th the new children’s director and I went to investigate his situation.  He didn’t even know where his mother lived, we had to pay a random man to take us to her house.  In short, his family didn’t want him, didn’t know he was sleeping on the streets and didn’t care.  So we brought him home with us and now he’s part of our Iris family.  The first week can be really hard for new kids, especially if there is something obviously different about them that other kids can pick on.  Christmas Eve was his second day at the center, I was looking for him to see how he was doing.  I finally saw him up at the front, candle in one hand, end of a microphone in another, singing and dancing his little heart out.  It was my favorite part of our wild night, a little boy taken off the streets, so full of life and joy, at home there in the midst of all the craziness that is our family.  
Christmas: Part 2, December 25th;
I personally think this was our best Christmas yet!  On Christmas Day our kids got another present, one sponsored by the children of a church in a small town in the States.  Our kids were so spoiled this year!  After the gifts on Christmas morning, we all went to the church because our visitors had prepared a skit of the Nativity story.  They did an amazing job, I think it’s the best Nativity play that I’ve ever seen.  The church was quiet, everyone sitting and watching, enthralled by the play.  They even used one of our horses, Joseph leading Mary through the church on the back of it, which the kids just loved!  It’s one thing to read a story, it’s another thing to see it acted out.  It was incredible and my favorite part of the whole day.  
After the play we went and ate our chicken lunch as a family; our kids, our Tias, the missionaries, our visitors and some mission school students.  When that was done, it was time for the community.  We fed about 2400 people, and all the children got a present.  Only at one point did it get a little alarming when we had about 400 people pressing to get out the door.  (We could only have one open because we had to mark everyone’s hands or they’ll come back for 2nds, 3rds or even 4ths.)  But we quieted it down, and got some order with everyone working together.  Everyone who came was fed and went away happy.  It went really well but it was a long day.  
That night there was a barbeque for the missionaries.  After a long, hard day of playing, serving food, being trampled, even stopping some fights, it was good to sit down and just be together.  It felt like our family time.  Later that night I went and laid on the beach with my dog and two friends.  The stars were incredible, it was so peaceful there, with the sound of the ocean, staring up at the stars.  I feel closest to God at night when I can stare up at the stars, it reminds me of who He is.  It was a great way to end my Christmas Day, basking the marvelousness of my Savior, celebrating His birth, enjoying his creation.  
I pray you all had an amazing Christmas celebrating the birth of Christ with your families.  Blessings to you all!

Dec. 19, 2008

Greetings once again from Pemba! I’m so glad that I’m able to send out monthly emails and I hope you are too!  :o)

What a busy month! 
We said goodbye to our Children’s Director as she and her family moved back to Maputo.  Nine of our southern kids went with her, returning to their families (the family’s situation has changed and they are able to care for the kids now) or being received into homes where one or two of them will be cared for in a small family environment.  While I know it’s good for everyone involved I still miss my friend and coworker as well as the kids.  I’ve been able to talk to them and everyone is happy and doing well.  I’ll see them in January when I come back up from South Africa so that makes it easier. 
I’ve been getting ready for Christmas which comes early for us this year as Heidi won’t be here on the 25th.  I have 12 days less to prepare but I should be done in time.  I have an absolutely amazing helper.  Still, it takes a lot of time to prepare for the festivities!  I have over 325 gifts to prepare when all the different group are combined. 
And we have good news, our family has grown!  We have received 5 children in the last month.  That’s really unusual for us, and two of them are babies.  While it makes me sad the reasons why the children come to us, I am happy that they are here and cared for.  I love seeing their now happy faces as they run around playing with the rest of our family.  :o)  So we welcome Rosario, Marcelino, Crimildo, Clebio, and Cardial into our Iris family and into the Father’s love.  Bem Vindo Familia Nova!  (Welcome New Family!)
We also had a team come and put together a playground.  It was so much fun to watch the kids play on it!  We had a dedication where all the kids came to play on it.  I loved it!  I’ve included some photos from the dedication, hope you enjoy them!
My Visa Situation:
I had to leave Mozambique beginning of December to get a new visa.  I went to Tanzania because I’ve never been there and it was the cheapest ticket I could get.  The earliest flight that I could get back to Pemba was 4 days later so I decided to visit Zanzibar while I was there.  (It’s an Island off of Tanzania and is somehow part of Tanz with its own president.)   It was absolutely beautiful!  I loved wandering around the old town and learning about all the history and culture that’s there.  It was a big trading stop and so is a jumble of cultures in religion, dress, food, architecture.  It was a little lonely going by myself but I’m glad that I went.  It’s somewhere that I’d always wanted to go and I’m glad that I did.   
In all that’s been going on I’ve been learning to only carry what’s mine to carry.  There’s a lot of weight that could be on my shoulders with the changing of directors, re-integrating kids, receiving new kids, preparing for Christmas, running of the center, paperwork, and all the random things that come up in a week.  It can be really overwhelming if you look at it all.  But as I’ve been looking at the one thing in front of me that God has given me to do at that moment, the stress of all the other things is no longer pressing in all around me.  I’ve been able to step back and relax more even in the midst of all the craziness that is my life here. 
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30 
His yoke truly is easy and His burden is light.  Thank you and blessings on you and your families!

Dec. 8, 2008

I just returned from my trip to Tanzania to renew my visa - Dec. 2nd through Dec 6th. I was able to realize a personal dream in visiting the island of Zanzibar. I went to Stone Town and took a "Spice Tour." More details to come.

Nov. 6, 2008

Hello again! 
 
It has been forever since I’ve been able to send out an update!  My computer crashed and died in the beginning of August causing me to lose all my addresses and the ability to communicate with the outside world.  I now have a new laptop and feel like I’m finally back in touch with the world.  Please let me know if you were on my update list or if you know of someone that was missed.  Also if you would like to be removed and no longer receive my updates.  Thanks for your help and patience with this!
 
And now, a brief look into the last three months and the craziness that is my life now :o)
 
August, September, October:
My months were busy!  I spent a lot of time running around just trying to take care of daily life here with the kids.  There are hospital runs when a kid is sick, school runs at least twice a day, sometimes four times, buying material such as laundry soap, bath soap, cleaning supplies, etc… buying flip-flops and giving them out, problem solving with the kids and aunties, and so much more. But then of course, my favorite part of my job, spending time with the kids.
 
We have weathered an outbreak of mumps and chicken pox in the last two months.  Our poor little toddlers are really cute with their spots still healing from chicken pox.  And God protected our 10 month old, it’s amazing that she didn’t get it!  We also had a boy have an operation here in Pemba, it was successful and he recovered well, Praise God!  (The hospital here scares me, I’ve seen too many simple things go wrong and people die or be scarred/crippled for life.)
 
September 2nd was my birthday.  I spent the day with the kids; we actually had a birthday party on the beach for all of our kids with birthdays in the months of September and October.  All our kids where there, swimming, playing soccer, hanging out and enjoying the beach.  It was a fun day.  They counted to 25 for me and sang happy birthday in Portuguese.  But my favorite part was when I knelt there in the sand and they all gathered around me to pray for me.  I’ll never forget all those little hands pressing down on me and the fervent voices asking God to bless me and thanking Him that I was there with them. 
 
At the end of September I went to Maputo (the capital of Mozambique located in the south) for a friend’s wedding and for a small break.  It was amazing!  The wedding was beautiful, especially the bride.  And in Maputo, the weddings last allday, there’s even a party the next day.  It was so much fun, especially since some of my friends and the older kids from here went down for the wedding.  I was only gone 5 days, but I had so much fun wandering around Maputo and being with friends without the stress of working and living in Pemba. 
 
Present:
I’ve continued to work with the kids; we now have 182 ages 7 months to 22 years.  We actually got 6 new kids in the last month.  One of them a baby boy (the 7 month old) with the best cheeks ever, so squishy and chubby and kissable!  The kids keep me really busy especially when the other missionary on the kids’ team was away for two months.  She was back for about two weeks and is now in the States on her furlough.  Sometimes I feel like a single mom of 182 kids, especially when they need something.  One of our older boys calls me Grandma.  When I asked him why, (I’m only 25 after all!) he said it’s because I have so many kids. 
Things are going well, the kids are healthy now and are done with school for the year.  Some still have to take the government exams, but the school year is over.  Yeah for school vacation!  But it also means that I need to find things for them to do to keep them out of trouble. ;o)
 
 The weather here has turned very hot as we head into rainy season, our summer.  I don’t remember it being this hot last year so it looks like this summer is going to be scorcher!  But with summer vacation I can take some kids to the beach for a mid-day swim and call it work.  :o)  There are usually more cases of malaria in this season, please pray for protection for the kids and the staff.
 
We are in the middle of a transition right now with our children’s staff.  Our current director is moving back home to Maputo in December and our new one is still being trained.  She has off this month and will come back in the beginning of December when our current director leaves.  Please pray for the two of us that are here this month as we try to prepare for Christmas and the two of us that are here next month as the new director begins in her new position.  I also have to leave in the middle of this to renew my visa so your prayers are needed! 

July 20, 2008

 
Tete…
 
Imagine waking up in your tent to the semi-loud noise of a large group of people gathering outside.  And the moment you start to unzip your tent, numerous heads that were standing just outside the church waiting for you to emerge turn your way.  You step out of your tent and all heads turn your way and most of the talking, the noise that woke you up, ceases as all eyes watch you walk to the latrine.  Thankfully, no one follows you to the latrine, though it has happened before.  But as soon as you’re done and down the path just a little bit on your way back to your tent in the church, all eyes are once again on you. Small children who had been playing in the path run and hide behind their mothers.  All day long there are faces staring at you. At one time you count twenty. Another time you stop counting at 70.  Men, women, children, the grandma’s.  It gets really hard after awhile. You start longing for the kids who know and love you, who shout your name when they see you, the ones who’s faces light up because you’re there and run over to give you a hug. 
 
It’s hard to even know where to start to tell about my adventure across Mozambique to the Tete province.  To borrow a quote from Veggie Tale, “I laughed. I cried.  It moved me Bob.” 
 
It was a hard trip but a good trip.  We had three pretty intense days of driving, about 12 hours every day, to get to the city of Tete, in the province of Tete where we met the provincial Iris pastor.  I wish I had a video of the road conditions.  Some are paved roads, some are paved roads with potholes every three feet or closer, some are dirt road and some are adventurous dirt roads.  I was totally shocked at one road where we were driving over small trees, with just tire tracks to guide us.  Another was just tire marks in the sand, which led through a small stream.  We did have some trouble with the battery of Nikki’s truck on the way back to Pemba.  For three days we had to push start the car until we were finally in a town large enough and bought a new battery.  And on the whole 12 hours of driving the 2nd day it let off this horrible rotten egg smell. It was awful!  Oh, but the places that little truck has taken us safely by the grace of God!!! 
 
The provincial pastor was amazing.  He had lists of all the orphans, even broken up into districts with accurate numbers.  He had the information about who the children were living with, how the parents died and when, when the approximate birth date was...  I was worried that we would have to hunt for the kids on the list, but Pastor Jeronimo would send out a caller and most of the kids would be at the village church with their caretaker
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