Say Uncle!

We are livin' large in Joburg! What a different world to be in the inner-city. I can't wait to share pictures of the village in Zambia where we stayed in comparison to this.

We don't know what to do with ourselves here! We had CORNFLAKES and REAL milk for breakfast! And if we want pizza... we can CALL and order it!  But apparently not after 9pm - last night was an epic fail with a bunch of crazed, hungry girls. :) (Did I mention we haven't had cheese for a month in Zambia?)

I love being here in Joburg and can't wait to fill you in on the anti-human trafficking training we've been participating in as we plan on taking it to local schools. But I also want to remember and share with you important and transforming moments in Zambia.

Mpulungu and the villages around Lake Tanganyika in Zambia are what you might picture when you think of Africa - babies running around half-clothed with distended stomaches poking out, beautiful land sprinkled with poverty and straw huts, crazy markets with live chickens running around and women and children carrying unbelievable loads on their heads. I LOVED it.

We were working with a ministry called Good News II, whose mission was to Light the Lake. They have several different areas of ministry based in Mpulungu, the "big city" around the lake apparently. Only 1% of villagers living around the lake are Christian and Good News II has missionaries living in some of the villages along to lake planting churches.

These villages... unbelievable.

The lake is absolutely breathtaking, but has nothing on the people or the simple way they live. We were able to do a community stay and spend time getting to know the people and learning from the missionaries. Life is so different there.

While in Zambia, we had a "holiday", or a day off... There's not a lot to do in Mpulungu once you've swam in the lake (fully clothed), walked through the market with everyone staring at the mzungus (white people), and enjoyed a cold drink. So we set off on a 2 hour boat ride to a resort along the lake with trusty, loving and absolutely wonderful Uncle Reinwold driving the boat. (Sister, you would LOVE Uncle Reinwold. But maybe not as much as Rhonda Harvey would.)

Some of the team chose to relax on a sandy beach for the day and enjoying paddle boats. Sidenote: the entire time we were in Zambia it was HOT and we were very, very physically active. Lying on the beach sounded like heaven...

BUT... my mother raised me not to pass a good adventure! (I believe her words are, "I can sleep when I"m dead." but I'm striving to be a little more normal than her.)

So, the rest of us continued on in the boat for a few more minutes to a tiny beach village along the lake- where I immediately started dancing and playing Simon Says with a bunch of PRECIOUS children. We were setting out on a great adventure: Hiking Kalambo Falls! It's the second highest waterfall in Africa, and we were starting from the boat and going all the way up.

I thought I was going to die. After the first hour of climbing STRAIGHT up wobbly rocks, my lungs were heaving and my butt and thighs were ready to quit. And there, an HOUR STRAIGHT UP, was a village. A village!!!

I couldn't believe it. How did they get water? There was no way you could carry water up where we just came from and we were still an hour from the falls. What did they eat? (Only what they grow.) How did they sustain themselves? So many questions...

The children ran after us screaming, "Mzungu... sweeties?" They wanted candy. I realized they must only get to taste sugar or have a treat if white hikers happened to come by with something sweet to give.

So many thoughts and questions...

An hour later, the falls were UNBELIEVABLE! We had hiked to Tanzania! The other side of the falls - no wider than the Guadalupe River - was Tanzania! It was unbelievable! We swam in the falls and drank the water. So clean and beautiful.

We hiked down another way - STRAIGHT down through more similar and isolated mountain villages until we came to a beach village along the Tanzanian border. And there was Uncle Reinwold!

Later, I was chatting with Uncle Reinwold, hearing his story and his love for God. I shared with him my disbelief in seeing the villages half way up the Kalambo Falls hike. He shared with me that there are so many more villages in the mountains that don't have hiking trails through them. Some never see mzungus or anyone besides their own villagers. In fact, later that week, I visited a village whose mother brought children to look at my skin - some cried because they'd never seen white skin. (And, for the record, my arms were at their all-time most tan for the month we were in Zambia. Winter in Joburg is bringing me back to mzungu status, however.)

My mind was reeling with questions and disbelief. No wonder ancestory worship and witchcraft prevails and oppresses in Zambia, especially along the lake. That's all they know.

We base our realities off of what we see- cultures, world news, media, relationships. It feels like we have the whole world at our fingertips. (especially now that you have an iPhone, Sister!)

But what about them? Their reality is based off what they know - and they know nothing outside of their tiny village on Lake Tanganyika. Africans are incredible spiritual people - and all they know to worship is their ancestors.

What if you have never even had the option to hear the name Jesus Christ?

We can acquire as much knowledge or as much of anything as we want. But they can't.

We can raise the money. We can take a break from our jobs, our school and our delicious, delicious queso (mmmmmmm)... it's easy. They have to know!

Uncle Reinwold looked straight into my eyes on the boat ride and said, "I don't have money. It's my joy to serve the Lord by driving you on this boat. I can't do what you can do. Part of why you're here right now is to learn this lesson. To go tell people who can come to come. To go tell those villagers who Jesus is. You CAN tell them. They can know. There are so many who don't."

They don't have to live the same way we live. I'm glad they don't. But they can live with freedom from oppression of worshipping ancestral gods and putting hope in witchcraft. They can know the Ultimate Father who is their portion, their sustainer, their protection and their deliverer.

If we speak... If we let them KNOW... they'll never have iPhones, but they'll have HOPE. And an unconditional, everlasting LOVE and ETERNAL LIFE.

He's Got the Whole World (cup) In His Hands

Greetings from Jo'burg!

We're here right spank in the middle of the city staying at a YWAM base and a ministry called The Joseph Project. I'm no city girl, but I am absolutely thrilled to be in the inner-city for the next few weeks and felt my heart both swelling and breaking as we went on a prayer walk through the city this morning.

We are in walking distance to some of the World Cup arenas and a short drive to many others. In less than a month the nations will pour in and this city will fill up. We walked around the stadium and prayed this morning and now I'm inviting you to join me in prayer.

One of the issues I feel most compelled to share with you is on human trafficking. The government has decided to shut down schools for 5 weeks of the World Cup. So, while parents are still at work, their children will be walking around... laughing, playing and innocent targets for trafficking predators. The leader on base told us that there are already secret brothels being set up and tickets... TICKETS... being sold promising visitors a couple of games and a few children to keep them entertained in Jo'burg.

The school near the Joseph Project has allowed them to come in and train the 1700 children in what human trafficking is to raise awareness and has opened up the school to the ministry to use during the 5 weeks if they want to run a day program to keep the children safe. The ministry would love to and 600 children have expressed interest, but there are no workers! The ministry only has a staff of 15! Please pray that YWAM outreaches or other workers for His harvest will flood South Africa as the nations pour in.

This could be a chance for the light and love of Christ to flow through a nation that was once previously ripped about my prejudice and hatred, but the workers have to come! 

I am excited to learn more about Jo'burg, pray with you and tell you more as we go. Tomorrow we will continue praying over the city, tour a Jo'burg museum and prepare for outreach opportunities our team will participate in during the week. Tonight we're heading to a local church to speak on the Holy Spirit and are hoping to really connect with the church as we will be there several times this next couple of weeks. Our time here is short, so please pray that we are able to forge deep and meaningful relationships. 

I've been so grateful for this transitional week between Zambia and Jo'burg... I think I've been in some stage of culture shock since January, but what better place to rely on Jesus? He's shown me in this past week especially, that, for a girl whose felt homeless for the past 5 years, He's given me more of an experience of Home- belonging, being loved and known - than many people ever know. I am so thankful and feel like understanding that Truth... that Home is in me as the Holy Spirit dwells in me... has been monumental in adjusting to and learning to love each new place and all the new people we've encountered.

Thank you for being a part of my Home - for knowing me as I go on this crazy journey with God. Your following along, praying with me and for me, and just sharing in the stories with me means so much. I am so thankful for you in my life.

Hope to write more soon!

Love from Lusaka!

Ahhhh!

I'm just going to start with a scream because I know I'm going to want to scream in 12 minutes when my internet runs out. There are so many people to email, so many stories to share, pictures, faraway hugs... so many things!

Basics... let's stick to the basics...

I LOVE YOU! I've felt your prayers!

We've just had an incredible... AMAZING... WONDERFUL month in what I'm sure is the hottest and most beautiful part of Zambia. God never stopped speaking through His creation, His children and my team here.

Currently we are in Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia, staying at a YWAM base until we fly to Jo-Burg, South Africa on Thursday morning. We hope to be able to connect again there, but will be there until May 31 (Lily's Happy Birthday!!!)

I wanted to thank you for your prayers and pass along what was one of the biggest joys to me once I trudged through 300 emails: My church Home is coming!

Thank you for your prayers and love. I can't wait to tell you more!

Please pray for our health and travel safety as we are recovering from a really intense month and preparing for two more week of intense outreach doing human sex trafficking awareness, street evangelism and a youth camp in South Africa's capital city.

Halfway there!

Muleshani! (That's hello in Bemba)

I'm in Zambia!

This is just a quick update for my prayer warriors and for Debbie Ginn to let you know we've made it halfway! God has been going CRAZY in providing for us, and we have been continuously surprised since arriving in Lusaka, Zambia with great food, amazing people, a wonderful hotel, a great night's rest, and lots of financial blessings. We are checking out now and getting ready to load up for 24 hours on a bus.

Please pray for safe travels. Several of us are having a gammet of health issues -which are much more difficult to manage on a bus. But we're in this for the long haul! The people of Zambia are beautiful and it's a beautiful day. We are welcomnig the adventure!

Thank you for your prayers. We feel them! Keep 'em coming!

One Last South African Adventure!

12 hours till take-off...

But we just HAD to squeeze one last adventure in before we left for two months of the unknown, the uncomfortable, and walking with an unstoppable God.

This adventure's name was Mt Legagot. We got up early for a sunrise climb to take in one last deep of the beauty of South Africa. Check it out.

At the tip-top... it was STRAIGHT up. Yes, we're sore.

But we did it!!

The View Was Amazing!

This is the beginning of my, "I'm dancing on the mountain" song...

I promise... We'll try to keep this PG.

Everybody likes dancing on mountains!

And Jumping!

And Cartwheeling!

Needless to say, we had fun.

We took lots of silly pictures, checked oursleves for ticks and saw more beauty than we could prepare ourselves for. But Mt Legagot was just a taste of what's ahead. So many times during that climb we couldn't see the path and had no idea where we came from or where we were going. But we had a leader who knew the way. And we sang songs. And we knew that the view from the top was worth it. It is an honor and a joy to go with these brothers and sisters to Zambia and Johannesburg because I know that we will climb this together... and have lots of great pictures along the way.

Please continue praying that the way we love each other will look like the way Christ loves us. That's the best way to do this missions thing. The best way to bring homes to orphans is to be Home.

"Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." - John 14:23

The Blog You've All Been Waiting For...

I'M IN LOVE!

You all knew it was coming....

Head Over Heels...

Take My Breath Away...

I'm sure you want the whole story.

His name is Lifa. (Sounds like leaf-uh)

He's a great kisser.

We can't get enough of each other.

Whenever we see each other, we run with open arms and huge smiles.

We both love guavas.

Does anything else matter?

That's my man!

And he's already "potty-trained", or should I say that he already knows when to go outside butt-naked to squat when he's gotta go. :) I stayed with Lifa during my community stay a few weeks ago and since then, I can't stop thinking about him! His parents abandoned him and so now he lives with the family I stayed with. I said goodbye to him this Wednesday at the feeding program.

Talk about emotional! I hated to say goodbye, but can't help but feel hopeful for him to be taken into such a loving and providing family. They don't have much money, but there is plenty of love to share! And I know I'll see him again when we come back in June.

It also got me excited for Zambia and Johannesburg. I can't wait to meet more of God's precious children and to share with them and celebrate with them the love of a Father To The Orphans. The One who adopted us into His Home, His Kingdom and His Love that is more than we'll ever need.

It will be hard to leave knowing they will still have an abundance of physical needs, but that's where faith comes in. I hope and pray I can share stories with you as we go, but if there's no way to connect to you while we're away, you can count on tons of stories and pictures when I return!

I'm leaving Tuesday morning at 4am our time - that's 9pm Monday night if you're in Texas - for Zambia. We'll fly back from Zambia to Johannesburg, South Africa on May 13 and participate in an orphan ministry there until May 31.

Keep praying for us! We feel every prayer! Our team had an amazing and stretching week practicing responding to and obeying God. We feel more ready and expectant than ever for God's Goodness to shine through in Zambia and Jo-burg. Pray for our communication, unity and that we stay engaged with the Holy Spirit as we go out. I love you so much and hope to talk to you soon!

And now...

Back to me and my man.

Mom, Can I Keep Him?

Getting Ready for Outreach

Hello everyone!


I’m sure you have guessed by now that the Outreach Prayer Paper Chain is getting very short. (If you don’t know already, you should know that paper chains are a part of every major or minor event in my life. And I’ve been known to make them for other people’s life events too whether they want them or not.) We’re removing one link a day on which we’ve each written a prayer topic or Scripture to meditate on as we countdown for take-off!

Communication update: We still do not have internet on base. We are currently typing up blogs and emails and then copying and pasting when we are able to go somewhere with internet access. I’m hoping we will have connection on base before we leave so that I’ll be able to answer personal emails, Skype, and be able to connect with each of you before I go. I don’t know if we’ll access to internet while we are there, so if you don’t hear from me for four weeks: Don’t worry. Pray for me.

Our team is getting so excited. Pillow-talk this week in the girls room has been all about Zambia and about the ways that we all feel like we’re just “us” and not really changing, but can see God’s powerful and gracious movement in each other’s lives daily. Last night we got ourselves so excited, we couldn’t even handle the dark anymore. We had to turn the light back on!

We had a really big week this week talking about, walking through and entering new levels of relationships with one another. I’ve been learning so much about myself in encounters and reflections on relationships here. One of the most powerful lessons this week was a message that God has really been imprinting in my heart since I arrived: The power of language.

I’ve started to understand that to an even higher degree the impact language has on our attitudes and how it creates our realities. Lessons I’ve heard time and time again, but become so much more real in a time where I’m surrounded by so many languages and by people coming from so many different flavors of reality. I felt like we got endurance training this week for our 2-month outreach ahead when we add even more languages, realities and life as we know it gets flipped upside down once more.

I want you to know everything I know about our upcoming outreach and the details will follow. But first, I want to ask for your words. Please speak the Truth to one another every day for the next two months while I’m in Zambia and Johannesburg. Speak specifically about what the Bible says God’s plan for the nations is and about what you believe God wants for our team and for those we encounter on this outreach. Say it aloud around the dinner table, in small groups, in church, in the car on the way to school or work, in the line at the grocery store (I dare you!).

Sidenote: I just realized Jimmy Needham’s “Speak” is playing in my earbuds right now. Perfect song to listen to while you read.

Now for a few details so you can know some specific ways to pray.

Instead of a 45 hour bus ride, we’ve found out that it’s actually cheaper (and so much shorter) to fly to Zambia! Woohoo! Our African students will be going on their first plane ride… Pinkie’s going to get loud!

We’ll leave our base EARLY on Tuesday, April 13th for a 5 hour bus ride to Johannesburg where we’ll catch an 11:00am flight that, after one layover, will arrive in Lusaka, Zambia. From Lusaka, we’ll take another bus to Mpulungu where we’re staying on Lake Tanganyika. We’ll all stay in one house (SO EXCITED!) right on the dock of the lake, right next to the boat we’ll take to access communities around the lake.

The ministry is called the Good News Ministry and serves the communities around Lake Tanganyika, one of the Great Lakes of Africa, that cannot be accessed easily by car. The vision of Good News Ministry is to see people living around Lake Tanganyika brought into the Kingdom of God, worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth. Their approach is to impact the people living around Lake Tanganyika with the love of Christ through prayer, evangelism/church-planting, training, and meeting social needs to reach the goal of having a holistic ministry so that the spiritual and physical needs of the people are met.

Lake Tanganyika creates the border between Congo and Tanzania and is populated greatly by undeveloped communities making a living on fishing. ONE PERCENT (that’s 1%, .01, not a lot) are Christian, they have very low literacy levels and cannot live off agriculture as there is no fertile soil nearby.

We will be working with the Good News Ministry for four weeks. Their orphan school is on holiday for the month of April, but is hosting half-day programs so that the children will be able to eat 2 meals/day.

We will spend two weeks eating breakfast and lunch (pap, beans and more pap…MMmmmm) with the children and hosting their morning programs. We’ll work on literacy and homework with the students, paint signs and stencils for the new school building, and host games, crafts and dramas. We’ll be running the entire program from 7am – 12pm.

April 21-26th we will be a part of a youth camp and will be staying on-site with the youth. Other activities we’ll be a part of are teaching adult literacy, prison ministry, children’s and youth ministry, and participating in building a medical boat.

Every morning we’ll be starting our personal quiet time by 5:30am and our day will be action packed until after dinner. Kelly and I are in charge of planning our dinners and going to the market to buy supplies. Any verrry simple recipes that we might be able to cook in Zambia, send ‘em on!

After four weeks in Zambia, we are crossing our fingers and hoping to visit Victoria Falls on our way to outreach in Johannesburg. We could also use prayer for details to align for our 3-week outreach to Jo-burg. I don’t have any details to share because we don’t have them yet. Speak about God’s plans for us in Jo-burg, the capital city of South Africa. I am hoping to be able to update blogs and emails from there.

I hope you’ll be excited with me! Pray for us as we plan dramas, stories and sermons to share. Also, please pray for us to be open to creative ways to share God’s Truth to Bemba-speaking Zambians and multi-lingual South Africans.

I hope to update again before we leave, but if I am unable to, know you will be in my thoughts and prayers as well! We leave on April 13th!

And now for a bonus! My wonderful, wonderful friend Nicci mailed me a memory card on which my team and I loaded all the videos we could make. We sent it back to the States and she loaded up a YouTube account, so you can see a bit more of what our life has looked like here in South Africa. You can go to http://www.youtube.com/CompassionDTSKruger to see us!