On June 8th, Mike and I are traveling to Bangladesh with six other men and women. We will be in Bangladesh for the entire month of June working in villages located in the north. Each day, we will travel to a different village and work in schools, hospitals and hostels.
Please begin to pray that the Lord will open hearts in Bangladesh and begin to move in the villages that we will be visiting. Please also pray that he will suppress our fears and provide for us financially!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
We're Back!
We touched US soil on Monday afternoon. As soon as we arrived, my family was waiting with a Swahili welcome sign and then took Mike and I to Mi Cocina. I have never tasted such satisfying food and sweet tea! Mike and I came home and crashed immediately! And now it seems that we are back to normalcy. Mike is back at work, the laundry is done, the refrigerator is stocked, and the yard is mowed. But it isn't the same. Mike and I both miss Africa like crazy.
Our trip was better than we expected. It was alm
ost as if Mike and I fit in Morgoro. Mike spent most of his time working with some of the members of the church digging the foundation for a high school dorm. Alex Mwagalale (the pastor of Morogoro Baptist) has established a special high school about 20 miles outside of Morogoro for students that need to leave the village for their safety. There are 35 boys and girls that range from the ages of 15 to 21. They live at the high school and attend classes from 8 to 2. Mike and the Tanzanians worked to build a new dorm for some of the students. The labor wouldn't have been so intense if they had a backhoe- but they didn't. They had a tool similar to a large ice pick. They successfully removed stumps (I think the Americans removed 1/2 a stump and the Africans 7) and built the trenches to pour the foundation for the dorm. Building the dorm and working with the Africans really strengthened the friendship between the men. By the time we left, Mike had new African brothers. As a departing gift, Mike gave each one an Afr
ican bracelet (a manly one) to remind them of the time they spent together. Mike received an email yesterday from his friend Minja, expressing his appreciation for their new friendship. Minja told Mike that it was very hard to say good bye, but every time he looks at his bracelet he thinks of the blessings from the Lord.
I spent most of my time at Paduka (the high school) teaching English and Geography. It was very interesting to see the look on the kids faces when I showed them pictures of the ocean, the moutains, and New York City. Although they live only one hour from the ocean, they have never seen it. Most of them have never been outside of Morogoro. Spending time with the kids was such a blessing. They have so much joy, with so little worldly possessions. Food is scarce and water has to be fetched twice a day from a hole 3/4 of a mile away (in the mountains). They wash their clothes in buckets on Saturday, and iron all of their clothes with metal and hot coals. They have maybe two shirts and one skirt- and maybe one pair of shoes. Their water is contaminated and they get typhoid and malaria often. They cook on coals, and wash their pots with sand (a scrubbing agent) and precious water. They work every afternoon and Saturday to "trim the environment" or clear fields. They hope to someday plant some crops and have a place to play soccer. They know that their conditions are poor, but they know that their reward is in Heaven. They love the Lord with a passion that I have never experienced. I wish you could witness their worship for just one minute- because it would change your life. They cry out to the Lord in thanksgiving! As an American, I don't know if I could cry out to the Lo
rd in thanks, given those circumstances. But as we see it as a lack of clean water, and lacking a kitchen, and lacking this or that- they see it as a blessing to even have water, or even have a place to live! Their perspective is far above mine.
Mike and I went to Africa hoping to teach them something. But we found that they taught us more than we will ever understand. We learned about hard work, perseverance, patience, thanksgiving, worship, praise, fellowship- and most of all, JOY. The relationships that we built over there are everlasting. Of course, we would love to return to Morogoro next year, but on the Lord knows what is in store. Everything can change in a years time. But we do take comfort that even if we don't see any of our friends again on earth, we will spend eternity with them. And I guarantee you that the people of Morogor will be blessed in eternity. Kay Shelton shared this verse with me on the trip, and I think it is a perfect illustration of the people of Morogoro.
"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether live in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me stength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. "
Phillipians 4:11-14
I have never gone more than 24 hours without eating, and I have never woken up wondering if there will be food available to me. But this is a concern for the people of Morogoro daily. There concerns are truly life threatening. They worry about food and water, we worry about saving extra money or buying a new gadget. Maybe we can't pay our satellite bill or can't bu
y extra clothes, but the Lord has always blessed us with food, clean water, shelter and clothes.
Yesterday, I found myself viewing people in a new light. I want to see people the way that the Lord sees them. All too often I look at people's things, and not their heart. Imagine what our life would be like if we looked at everyone's heart? I don't know...
I really wish I could summarize for you the kind of love that exists in Morogoro. Pictures can't explain it. Mike and I were very blessed to have spent the time that we did with the people. But I beleive that we were so blessed because the Lord called us, and we responded. The Lord does not call everyone to Africa. He calls people to China, Mexico, Dallas, Colorado, your neighborhood...the list goes on. But I have learned that when the Lord calls you, and you respond, he will bless you. Don't ge me wrong, parts of the trip were difficult. I felt fear like I had never felt before. I seriously thought I w
as going to die twice (I'm very imaginative...I doubt I was ever in TRUE danger). But I am so so so thankful that I went. My relationship with the people of Morogoro, our mission team, my husband and the Lord has all been strengthened. Thank you all for your loev and support. We felt your prayers while we were gone and could not have completed this trip without you.
We love you all and pray that God will bless you! Mungu awabarik!
Our trip was better than we expected. It was alm
ost as if Mike and I fit in Morgoro. Mike spent most of his time working with some of the members of the church digging the foundation for a high school dorm. Alex Mwagalale (the pastor of Morogoro Baptist) has established a special high school about 20 miles outside of Morogoro for students that need to leave the village for their safety. There are 35 boys and girls that range from the ages of 15 to 21. They live at the high school and attend classes from 8 to 2. Mike and the Tanzanians worked to build a new dorm for some of the students. The labor wouldn't have been so intense if they had a backhoe- but they didn't. They had a tool similar to a large ice pick. They successfully removed stumps (I think the Americans removed 1/2 a stump and the Africans 7) and built the trenches to pour the foundation for the dorm. Building the dorm and working with the Africans really strengthened the friendship between the men. By the time we left, Mike had new African brothers. As a departing gift, Mike gave each one an Afr
ican bracelet (a manly one) to remind them of the time they spent together. Mike received an email yesterday from his friend Minja, expressing his appreciation for their new friendship. Minja told Mike that it was very hard to say good bye, but every time he looks at his bracelet he thinks of the blessings from the Lord.I spent most of my time at Paduka (the high school) teaching English and Geography. It was very interesting to see the look on the kids faces when I showed them pictures of the ocean, the moutains, and New York City. Although they live only one hour from the ocean, they have never seen it. Most of them have never been outside of Morogoro. Spending time with the kids was such a blessing. They have so much joy, with so little worldly possessions. Food is scarce and water has to be fetched twice a day from a hole 3/4 of a mile away (in the mountains). They wash their clothes in buckets on Saturday, and iron all of their clothes with metal and hot coals. They have maybe two shirts and one skirt- and maybe one pair of shoes. Their water is contaminated and they get typhoid and malaria often. They cook on coals, and wash their pots with sand (a scrubbing agent) and precious water. They work every afternoon and Saturday to "trim the environment" or clear fields. They hope to someday plant some crops and have a place to play soccer. They know that their conditions are poor, but they know that their reward is in Heaven. They love the Lord with a passion that I have never experienced. I wish you could witness their worship for just one minute- because it would change your life. They cry out to the Lord in thanksgiving! As an American, I don't know if I could cry out to the Lo
rd in thanks, given those circumstances. But as we see it as a lack of clean water, and lacking a kitchen, and lacking this or that- they see it as a blessing to even have water, or even have a place to live! Their perspective is far above mine.Mike and I went to Africa hoping to teach them something. But we found that they taught us more than we will ever understand. We learned about hard work, perseverance, patience, thanksgiving, worship, praise, fellowship- and most of all, JOY. The relationships that we built over there are everlasting. Of course, we would love to return to Morogoro next year, but on the Lord knows what is in store. Everything can change in a years time. But we do take comfort that even if we don't see any of our friends again on earth, we will spend eternity with them. And I guarantee you that the people of Morogor will be blessed in eternity. Kay Shelton shared this verse with me on the trip, and I think it is a perfect illustration of the people of Morogoro.
"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether live in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me stength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. "
Phillipians 4:11-14
I have never gone more than 24 hours without eating, and I have never woken up wondering if there will be food available to me. But this is a concern for the people of Morogoro daily. There concerns are truly life threatening. They worry about food and water, we worry about saving extra money or buying a new gadget. Maybe we can't pay our satellite bill or can't bu
y extra clothes, but the Lord has always blessed us with food, clean water, shelter and clothes.Yesterday, I found myself viewing people in a new light. I want to see people the way that the Lord sees them. All too often I look at people's things, and not their heart. Imagine what our life would be like if we looked at everyone's heart? I don't know...
I really wish I could summarize for you the kind of love that exists in Morogoro. Pictures can't explain it. Mike and I were very blessed to have spent the time that we did with the people. But I beleive that we were so blessed because the Lord called us, and we responded. The Lord does not call everyone to Africa. He calls people to China, Mexico, Dallas, Colorado, your neighborhood...the list goes on. But I have learned that when the Lord calls you, and you respond, he will bless you. Don't ge me wrong, parts of the trip were difficult. I felt fear like I had never felt before. I seriously thought I w
as going to die twice (I'm very imaginative...I doubt I was ever in TRUE danger). But I am so so so thankful that I went. My relationship with the people of Morogoro, our mission team, my husband and the Lord has all been strengthened. Thank you all for your loev and support. We felt your prayers while we were gone and could not have completed this trip without you.We love you all and pray that God will bless you! Mungu awabarik!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Words from Jessica
Jessica sent me this email today...so I will let her do the talkimg
We made it to germany. I dont have a phone to call but the guy let me use his internet to email. We are in a really nice house, it is 3 stories and a basement....which is HUGE for germany. we are on the top floor in our own apartment. the flight was really good. no turbulance. tomorrow we will be tourists in the town. I am STARVING constantly. When we got to the house, the mother had pizza and bread for us to eat. I am so sick of my bars and i havent had meat since i left the U.S. except for the chicken with the feathers and lungs. I am hoping tomorrow to get some sausage or something with substance. We have a wedding on saturday, church Sunday and coming home Monday. We are ready to be home, but its nice to visit with the Germans. We picked up on swahili so much in Tanzania, now we have to pick up on German. We have found ourselves using swahili words and people just staring at us.
We made it to germany. I dont have a phone to call but the guy let me use his internet to email. We are in a really nice house, it is 3 stories and a basement....which is HUGE for germany. we are on the top floor in our own apartment. the flight was really good. no turbulance. tomorrow we will be tourists in the town. I am STARVING constantly. When we got to the house, the mother had pizza and bread for us to eat. I am so sick of my bars and i havent had meat since i left the U.S. except for the chicken with the feathers and lungs. I am hoping tomorrow to get some sausage or something with substance. We have a wedding on saturday, church Sunday and coming home Monday. We are ready to be home, but its nice to visit with the Germans. We picked up on swahili so much in Tanzania, now we have to pick up on German. We have found ourselves using swahili words and people just staring at us.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Homeward Bound
Jessica and Mike have made it safely to the airport in Dar Es Salaam. Their plane left at 3am their time. But they got to the airport about 9:30 pm their time. It is very unsafe to travel by night there and it takes 3 hours to travel by car to the airport so they left Morogoro early to avoid traveling at night. So as I type this they should be airborne to Etiopia were they will land at 6:45 am. They will then have a layover in Etiopia until 10am where they will board another flight to Franfurt, that will land at 435pm. They will then have until Monday the 26th in Germany where they will leave and arrive back at DFW at 225pm. Lots of traveling and lots of layovers. I am sure they will be exhausted by the time they arrive at their house Monday.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Safari Success
Well their safari adventure today was a success. Jessica said while they were out exploring they saw elephants, zebras, hippos, baboons, giraffes, and lions. Yes and all of these were in the wild!!! She said they got about 30 feet away from everything. Luckily they weren't chased by anything and I don't think that they got lost. But what a cool experience!!! The only time they got a little nervous was when they were near the lions, which would scare me too.
The cook at their hotel approached Jessica and told her how much she really enjoyed her being there and she gave her a dress. Of course these people make so little money so to give a dress was a HUGE gift. Jessica gave her a gift in return...so sweet!!
I wish there was more to report, but that's it folks...until next time.
The cook at their hotel approached Jessica and told her how much she really enjoyed her being there and she gave her a dress. Of course these people make so little money so to give a dress was a HUGE gift. Jessica gave her a gift in return...so sweet!!
I wish there was more to report, but that's it folks...until next time.
Monday, July 19, 2010
DIY Safari
It's hard to believe that Jessica and Mike will be leaving Thursday morning to start heading home from Africa. They still won't get back to Dallas until Monday. But when I talked to her today she really wasn't ready to leave. It's hard to believe that this village has no access to the outside world. The people there don't have computers or phones in their homes and there is no mail service. So once they leave, there will be no more communication. She says that they have all gotten very attached to the girls they have been working with. The girls don't want Jessica and the other ladies to leave. Today they gave them the book that they had received from a teacher at Lesa's school and the girls went crazy when they got them. Jessica said you would have thought that it was Christmas. Everyone there is so over the top with their emotions.
Church yesterday was three hours of shoulder to shoulder sitting. Two hours of the service was in Swahili, but that it was not a dull moment there was singing and dancing and praising God. How great it is to know that you can still worship the Lord even if you are half way away the world, in a culture that is so far removed from what you know. Our God can work His wonders anywhere he sees fit.
Now to clarify the safari that Jessica will be going on. All of the men our going into the jungle to visit with some tribes. So the women in the group, Jessica included, and their bodyguard are going to drive around in their jeep and try to find animals in their native habitat....basically this is a DIY safari.
I know that they have had a great time spreading the word in Africa and I can't wait to see all the pictures and hear all the stories.
Church yesterday was three hours of shoulder to shoulder sitting. Two hours of the service was in Swahili, but that it was not a dull moment there was singing and dancing and praising God. How great it is to know that you can still worship the Lord even if you are half way away the world, in a culture that is so far removed from what you know. Our God can work His wonders anywhere he sees fit.
Now to clarify the safari that Jessica will be going on. All of the men our going into the jungle to visit with some tribes. So the women in the group, Jessica included, and their bodyguard are going to drive around in their jeep and try to find animals in their native habitat....basically this is a DIY safari.
I know that they have had a great time spreading the word in Africa and I can't wait to see all the pictures and hear all the stories.
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