What a day.... what a day today was. This morning we got up early and went out to the orphanage (the mother teresa orphanage that is out by the dump on the outskirts of town) at 7:30 am. We spent the morning re-painting the entire babies nursery and playing with the kids outside. At first when I was going to the orphanages it was really challenging for me. I actually dreaded going. But God has really used the experience to teach me many things like patience, contentment, love, meeting immediate needs, diligence and sacrifice. He has opened the door for me to have a friendship with this Irish girl named Suzanne who has been here and comes with us four days a week to the orphanages. I really feel God urging me to spend time with her and share with her about what He's done in my life. I'm excited to see what the next few weeks brings. So anyways- this morning we were at the orphanage with the team (which brings even more new and intersting dynamics) and I spent the morning with the kids. I realized that it has been getting so much easier for me and I actually enjoy so much being there now. This little girl Marguerita just clung to me all morning laughing and hugging me and singing with me.

So we worked past lunch and then ate a quick lunch (oh yeah- I don't think I've eaten any African food since I've been here. The lady we live with is brazilian and so are the Thorps) and then left for an area outside of the city called Machava. There we split into groups- most people stayed at the church to work with an english class and teach VBS to the kids. Brooke and I and a few others went out with Jim and the other pastor to visit some people in the village and invite them to church. So I went with the african pastor and another guy. It was really awesome. I like the village areas better than the city I think. As we were walking through the small winding dirt roads and even driving into the area it reminded me a lot of the the scene in the constant gardener when the woman visits the village with all the children. We visited three houses- none of the men were at home but the women and children were. You always have to ask permission first to enter their yard and then they go inside and bring chairs out for you sit down. Then we just talked with them. We asked them if they went to church and if so where. Many people say they are christians or go to church but they really don't- so it's good to ask questions. Then the pastor asked them about Jesus and if they had a relationship with Him. He asked them if they died today- if they were certain that they would go to heaven and be collected by Jesus. He told them that God wants us to have a relationship with us deeply and that if we say with our mouth believe in our hearts that he died to forgive our sins and will save us so that we can be in heaven with him forever. The coolest part for me was that the pastor was speaking all of this in portuguese to them... but I was understanding all of it. And I was even able to say some things to some of the women in Portuguese about God and how he loves us.... and then the pastor asked me to pray in portuguese and I did it!!! It was really cool to be able to connect with those people. I was so thankful that I could somehow speak and understand the portuguese better.

We spent Monday and Tuesday at Kruger National Park in South Africa and it was AWESOME!!! I feel like God gave me a million kisses... We saw so many incredible animals including leopards and lions and even an elephant who almost charged our car! It was the perfect break- filling us up to come back here to Maputo and work some more.

"Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator
of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

More beach pictures.... Me, Brooke, and Rachel.

Here in Maputo, unfotunately most of my daily actvities can't be caught on film (or I guess digitally) because it is unsafe to take my camera out in most places. I wish I could show you pictures from the orphanage to even begin to describe to you what a day there looks like and how many kids there are with their big tummies and smiles, open sores and shaved heads, and the little baby that looks like an old woman on a babies body because her skin sags and she has a head full of tight, curly hair. And I wish I could take pictures of the tin houses and tire fences that we visit to teach kids bible stories and songs twice a week. I want you to see the busy streets and the way they make "muffler trees" all over town by hanging up used mufflers for sale on a coat stand. But I can't I can only describe them to you. Here is one photo that I was able to get of a woman in a small village near the beach...

These are all of the countries that I've visited up to this point... look closely some are very tiny!

Ahh... the beach, one of God most amazing creations. This is Macaneta, a beach on the Indian Ocean a couple hours out of the city. One of the things that amazed me about it was that it was completely empty... that could be due to the fact that we did go on a Monday and had to cross a very slow ferry to get to it... but still amazing. I must say that one of the best feelings is charging into a new ocean... you have no idea how cold it's going to be or how hard the waves are going to crash down on you for the first time, but it's always an adventure!

Today I stole away amidst the busy-ness of the day to have a date with a cup of chai, a hammock, and a good book. This is about the most relaxing combination of things that I can think of : ) I spent so much time with kids this morning at the orphanage that it was so nice to just chill out, soak in the sun and not move. We have this awesome open air-roof thing that has a couple hammocks and from it you can look down onto busy streets and out acrossed the skyline and rooftops. It's kind of fun to be up above the trees and just look down on things.

I'm starting the book, "Surprised by Joy" by CS Lewis and although I haven't read much yet, I'm very intrigued by the title. Before I even got to the second page I realized that I was lost in my own thoughts about Joy and what it is, where it comes from and how it is manifested in our lives. I think joy is something that God gives us often and in small things... it's kind of a state of being rather than an emotion... But at the same time, I think the joy that God gives me evokes emotion- like when I see his creation- a beautiful waterfall, and it gives me joy, I feel something emotional. Well, at any rate... I'm excited to learn more about what CS Lewis has to say about it. I know that it's a blessing that God wants to bestow on us and I don't want to miss out!

Hi! Welcome to my summer site for travel stories, pictues, and a more informal look into what's going on in my life. I created this site mainly to keep up with all of you- my friends! So check up on me and leave me a note and tell me what you're up to!