It's the little things. :)
"Set me free from my prison that I may praise your name."Psalm 142:7
Please pray for people who are imprisoned all over the world, not only in literal jail cells, but also remember to lift up those ensnared by cords of sin (Proverbs 5:23). Ask God to remind people of the truth we shared with the men in Boane prison: there is hope!
His name is Jesus.
Christmas on the Compound
Christmas was spent on the compound with three other missionary families. It wasn't a white Christmas by any means, unless you consider the fact we were all mulungos (white people). But at least it wasn't brutally hot. My first Christmas away from family made me realize being together in person is less important than being together in spirit. Do you think it's possible to be together in person, and still be worlds apart? I do. I also think it's possible to be worlds apart and still be together in spirit. I may not have been there to sit around the tree, listen to Grandpa read the nativity story, or exchange gifts with relatives this year; but I still felt loved and I still felt a part, knowing I was with them in spirit.
South Africa
Dave and Ann Dedrick surprised Kyla and I with a priceless 3-day trip to South Africa. Does that sound like a prize puzzle getaway from Wheel of Fortune? It pretty much was! We drove around a mountainous region called Sabie and hiked around (and beneath) a waterfall!
bridal veil fallsDay two took us into Kruger National Park where we stayed overnight. Getting up before dawn, we tried our luck at spotting some big cats at sunrise, which we did! We saw an abundance of wildlife including the endangered Wild Dogs and all the Big 5 (Elephant, Leopard, Lion, Rhino, and Water Buffalo).
Thank you Dave and Ann!
zebra
Ann: He looks angry!Me: You can tell when they're upset when their ears start flapping.
Ann: His ears are flapping!
monkey grooming our truckThe final journey of Christmas break came in the form of a one-week trip to Beira. Kyla accompanied me on a 16-hour bus ride half way up the coast of Mozambique to assist Dr. and Mrs. Meyers prepare for second semester at Beira International School. There were many memories made that week. Some were good. Some were great. Some were not worth repeating. But the most unique memories involved the bus ride there and back.
Beira sunsetOur double-decker, charter buses drove through the night to avoid traffic. We left at 3 PM and arrived the next morning at 7 AM. We stopped at a very Mozambican restaurant for dinner around 9 PM. Everyone got off the bus and made a beeline for the rundown bathroom stalls, including myself. But the overcrowded boy's room was a little much. Three sweaty men, two urinals, and little more than one square yard was too claustrophobic for me to urinate in peace…so I held it.
the boys roomBy this time my bladder was tired of being flexible. It was probably close to 1 AM when we stopped a second time. I assumed it was another potty break - and I really had to go! A lady sitting a few seats in front of me grabbed her bags and headed outside. Mostly everyone, including Kyla, was sleeping. This mama was the only one to get up, but I didn't think much of it until after I followed her outside. She went right, so I walked about thirty yards to the left. As I was preparing to relieve myself on the side of the road with the cover of darkness in the middle of the African bush, a loud hydraulic release hissed from behind me. I turned to see the bus door closing! The vehicle started rolling away without me, but thankfully, I was awake enough to run it down. As I re-boarded the bus, I happily discovered a bathroom on the first level! When I got back to my seat I found Kyla (still sleeping) and my cell phone (still sitting on my bag) right where I left them. I'm glad I don't know how the story could have ended!
Our return trip was even more ridiculous! We sat in the bus waiting to leave for about 30 minutes, sweating our tails off. The delay was worth it when we realized they were fixing the AC. But two hours later we found ourselves at an early, unplanned pit-stop. I didn't think much of it until I heard the word, pneu, which means, tire.
"Are you serious?" I thought.
I jumped out of the bus to check it out. Sure enough - we had a flat. The guys were taking lug nuts off the massive wheel. It looked like a pretty legitimate tire change until I saw somebody under the bus messing around with the jack. It was broken.
flat tire. broken jack.I asked the driver if I could flag down trucks to find a good jack to use. My offer, like the pictures I was taking earlier, wasn't appreciated. I waited a little longer before asking again, to which I got the go ahead.
The first truck I flagged down turned left and drove up to a small community convenience store. I followed on foot as Kyla stayed with our bags on the bus.
PAUSE.
When living in Africa, you quickly learn - nothing happens quickly. Disorder and ambiguity are inconveniently consistent. You learn to deal with it, but it CAN be frustrating at times, especially when trying to track down a working jack in the bush.
UN-PAUSE.
I reached the truck and asked the guys who were unloading if they had a working jack. They sent me to the driver, who sent me to his boss, who sent me back to the driver, who was now conveniently out of sight. I went back to the boss and was directed to another worker who directed me outside and had me jump in his truck, because he apparently knew someone who had a jack. We drove about a mile down a road overly-crowded with people and goats. Many people instantly spotted the white man and proudly announced it to those who did not. We pulled up to a shop to find that the owner did not have a jack after all.
Thankfully, our next stop was the last. We found a working jack at a brick-maker's house. It happened to be propping up a tractor at the time, but we found wood to replace it before putting it in the truck and heading back to the bus. The runaround was complete!
The first truck I flagged down turned left and drove up to a small community convenience store. I followed on foot as Kyla stayed with our bags on the bus.
PAUSE.
When living in Africa, you quickly learn - nothing happens quickly. Disorder and ambiguity are inconveniently consistent. You learn to deal with it, but it CAN be frustrating at times, especially when trying to track down a working jack in the bush.
UN-PAUSE.
I reached the truck and asked the guys who were unloading if they had a working jack. They sent me to the driver, who sent me to his boss, who sent me back to the driver, who was now conveniently out of sight. I went back to the boss and was directed to another worker who directed me outside and had me jump in his truck, because he apparently knew someone who had a jack. We drove about a mile down a road overly-crowded with people and goats. Many people instantly spotted the white man and proudly announced it to those who did not. We pulled up to a shop to find that the owner did not have a jack after all.
Thankfully, our next stop was the last. We found a working jack at a brick-maker's house. It happened to be propping up a tractor at the time, but we found wood to replace it before putting it in the truck and heading back to the bus. The runaround was complete!
arriving with a working jackI brought the working jack to the guys who were still messing around with the broken one. They started cranking away, lifting the bus bit by bit. But they stopped when someone noticed an important detail...they didn't have a spare tire!
Tired, sweaty, and sick of searching for jacks, I couldn't take any more. I retreated to the bus and plopped down in my seat until the heat forced me out again. About an hour later, the tire arrived and was replaced successfully. The lesson I learned that day was not to assume a professional bus line that carries two men specifically for maintenance purposes would be equipped with a working jack or spare tire in the case of a flat. It took 19 hours to get home, but we made it safe and sound! Praise God.
Tired, sweaty, and sick of searching for jacks, I couldn't take any more. I retreated to the bus and plopped down in my seat until the heat forced me out again. About an hour later, the tire arrived and was replaced successfully. The lesson I learned that day was not to assume a professional bus line that carries two men specifically for maintenance purposes would be equipped with a working jack or spare tire in the case of a flat. It took 19 hours to get home, but we made it safe and sound! Praise God.
patience is a virtue, Paradise is a stretch(see top left corner of windshield)
Yep, things are pretty exciting over here. I appreciate your prayers and support! Here are some specific ways you can be praying for the ministry in Mozambique:
1. Sports ministry (March 12-16)
Pastor Mark Wible from a large church in Waco, Texas is bringing a sports ministry team to run a basketball skills camp in mid-March. Morning and afternoon sessions will provide young people with the opportunity to learn basic basketball skills. At the end of the week, we will present the gospel via testimonies from team members and local ministers. Please pray for smooth logistical planning (visas, passports, flights, schedules), safety, and servant hearts.
Pastor Mark Wible from a large church in Waco, Texas is bringing a sports ministry team to run a basketball skills camp in mid-March. Morning and afternoon sessions will provide young people with the opportunity to learn basic basketball skills. At the end of the week, we will present the gospel via testimonies from team members and local ministers. Please pray for smooth logistical planning (visas, passports, flights, schedules), safety, and servant hearts.
2. Mission Team
Continue to pray for our team as we face transition with the departure and arrival of missionaries.
3. Intentionality
With 4 1/2 months left in my one-year commitment with OMS, I am really praying hard that God would help me make the most of these final chances to serve Him completely. I want to be intentional with all of my relationships. I long to take advantage of every opportunity He provides to share His love with those around me.
4. Provision from flooding
The rains that hit us last week washed out many streets and houses. Some families have lost their homes and must rebuild or relocate. With rumors of another weather system coming up from Australia with reported cyclone-like strengths, further protection for people here is a serious concern.
Thank you for your prayers! They are powerful and effective.
How can I be lifting you up?
