As we entered the yard there were 2 children sitting on a crate watching us carefully as we entered their space. A Gogo comes from the house to greet us. With her was a small child- about 3 years old. In just the few steps that I took towards her her chin began to quiver. Her breathing deepened and fat tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. She started to cry. She was terrified. Had she ever seen a white person this close? Her Gogo tired to console her and then encouraged her to come a welcome the visitors. So, with all her might she walked toward the 3 visiting white people. She stopped in front of each of us and rigidly extended her little hand. We all gently bent to her level to shake her sweet little hand.
We then entered the home of the patient. It was quite cluttered, it didn’t smell nice. Elizabeth lives with her son who is gone during the day and returns at inconsistent times in the evening. As we entered the bedroom I noticed the neatly made, empty, queen size bed. Instead of occupying this bed Elizabeth was lying on a mattress on the floor. She was covered in blankets and when she peeked her head out, through her fatigue, she opened her right eye to view her visitors. She was unable to open her left eye as it (and the surrounding area) was an open sore from shingles. She was pleased to see the home-care team visiting her again. She was eager to have her bath but she was hungry and she wanted to eat first. Her friend (a faithful neighbor who cares for Elizabeth and 8 orphans) prepared her some porridge. When Elizabeth finished her breakfast Laura and I bathed her frail body. She didn’t have the strength to help at all. I feared hurting her as I assisted her to sit up so we could put clean clothes on her. As we changed her soiled sheets Laura started humming her favorite Seswati song, I joined in and soon the 3 of us were singing in Seswati what translates to be “You are the Only One.” It was in that moment that I realize…this is what life is all about! This is why I am here!
When we finished the bed bath we headed to the river to join the others to wash (by hand in small basins) her soiled clothes and bedding. After over an hour of bending and scrubbing the wash we head back up the hill with heavy, wet blankets and clothes ready to dry on the line. Thankfully it is sunny today with a bit of a breeze. The clothes will dry well today.
One visit, one bath, one load of laundry and I am exhausted. Then I think about what the rest of the day holds for Elizabeth and this Gogo. She’ll have to change Elizabeth soon and the children will soon be hungry. How fortunate Elizabeth is to have this Gogo caring for her. What a desperate situation. Elizabeth needs antiretroviral medication along with her TB treatment but who will monitor that she takes the tablets? Where do we go from here I wonder? What can be done?
Today we showed Elizabeth and the Gogo neighbor that they aren’t alone. Today Gogo doesn’t have to give Elizabeth a bath or do the wash. After she tucks her children in tonight she’ll sleep well. Then, she’ll wake to do it all again tomorrow…

Refinement

This morning I am sitting in the main building here at ASM working on putting together a "country portfolio" about Mozambique. As I gather information and anticipate the next 9 months of my life I hear a group of people singing praises- they must be having a meeting upstairs. It would be unusual to start off a meeting without prayer and praise to God. I have been reminded lately of how God is surely the provider of all things. It is Him alone who has the power to do all things. Like they say here, "without Him I am rubbish!"
Yesterday at our weekly Hands at Work meeting we heard a message about being honest with others and ourselves- really humbling ourselves and admitting our shortcomings. I also want to be honest with my experience here. It has been wonderful, absolutely wonderful but not always easy! Last week I had a bit of a shake up as I was in a car accident. PRAISE GOD no one was hurt. Myself and the 8 others that were in the car I was driving walked away, unharmed. GOD WAS WITH US! Our God of provision watched over me then and also reminded me that I need to ask for His protection in everything, everyday!
As things have settled down from last week I have gotten a glimpse of what is to come. I will be challenged beyond comfort over the next 9 months. Last night as I went to bed I wanted to whine and complain- I was homesick and wanted to talk to my friends and family back home- anyone who really KNOWS me (but the phone lines haven't been working here for about a week). Instead God gently reminded me that He has called me here. He is with me just waiting for me to cry out to Him and find the comfort I am looking for in Him. God's taking care of me here as much as He ever has when I am at "home".
Over the next 2 1/2 weeks I will be focusing more on the nursing aspects of being here. I will be going to a few different clinics, doing a number of home-visits and going to a couple different hospice centers. Please pray for me to have the strength I will need when I hear sad stories and see desperate situations. Also if you can remember to pray for the people of Zimbabwe- we have been praying desperately for them.
I don't write any of this to cause anyone to worry. It's me being honest. I am truly doing wonderful! Still overjoyed to be here- I am encouraged by something everyday. Even my bad days here are great (Deanna, you were right?:).
To conclude, an encouraging Word that was shared with me last week:

For the eyes of the Lord search throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

May you wake this morning to a joyful day!

Thanks

Hi- This is just a quick message to thank all of you for your faithful prayers. I ask that you keep on praying and even pray more! God is sure faithful and I am confident that the joy and protection I am receiving here is due to the faithfulness of prayer that I know is going on for me. Thank you!
This is a picture of me and some of the "Young Moms" that we have worked with a bit.

On a Lighter Note....

This week Hands at Work is having its Africa Conference here at ASM. The project directors from all over Africa are here with us. It has been great to meet all of these faithful ones who are really on the front lines of serving (day after day, year after year!). The week has been filled with brainstorming and vision planning for Hands at Work and strategizing as to how the organization can effectively care for 100,000 orphans by 2010. Not an easy task. None of this has any easy answers. It has really showed me the immensity of the problems here and depth of what needs to be done and the complexity of doing it!
As is expected when there are many different cultures together there will be some good laughs with cultural misunderstandings.
One evening when we were singing praise and worship being led by a Nigerian man we had quite a misunderstanding. Most African songs are simple, short phrases repeated over and over. We all joyously sang this song, “Lord, lift me higher (sounding like “higha”), lift me higha…” As we repeated the verses he would shout out the phrase for the next verse and repeat that one for a while. Well…when he shouted out one verse, there was an immediate muffled chuckle when all of us (who don’t speak Nigerian English) heard him say, “Lord, give me sausage!” It took some time before our minds translated the phrase and we realized that we were not actual asking for sausage but for success! We have been laughing about sausage all week!
Next, (this is just the start of our first Mozambiquen Portugese misunderstanding I am afraid) a group of us were sitting visiting with the 2 men from Mozambique. Laura asked Carlos what the biggest challenge he faces in Mozambique is. Then she added a second question and said, “what is the word for challenge in Portuguese?” To Laura’s ears she heard Carlos respond “Dares a few (there’s a few with a Mozambiquen accent)”. So Laura responded, “Oh, I just need to hear one.” Then again Carlos says, “Dares a few.” Laura was still confused and she asked again- “Oh, no, I just need to hear 1 of the challenges.” Finally the rest of use realized what was going on and clarified to her that the word for challenges in Portuguese is desafio, sounding like “dares a few.” Oh, we all laughed!
My embarrassing language stories are to come! I am surely no natural at speaking anything but English so continued prayers that I can learn to communicate in Portuguese are very welcomed! Also, I have now learned that at the hospital we will work at 1 day/week there is no English spoken and a few of the doctors speak French! Oh, Mom, I pray your French education genes step up and help me out!
It’s been a great week and the time is going quickly. About a month from now I will be packing my bags and Laura and I will be heading off to Mozambique. After meeting and talking with Carlos and Santos we are very excited to go be part of Rubatano Home-based care near Chimoio, Mozambique.

What a week!

This is my friend (in front of her house) that I stayed with when I lived in the community. She still doesn't have her electricity hooked up in her home for fear it will just be cut again.



Her precious, sweet daughter and me. She's the wiggle worm that I shared the bed with when I stayed with them:)



Walking home! This captures life here.


I am not sure how to start this message. This week has been a challenge...We have spent a lot of time just reading the Scriptures and reflecting on why we are here; why we are called to be here. It all seems so clear, and simple, when I hear the eloquent words of George, the founder of Hands at Work. I have had many Scriptures revealed to me regarding things in my life that I need to change- areas I fall short. There are many ways my Western thinking has drifted from the Scriptures and God’s heart. Our culture teaches us things and as a result we form attitudes that aren’t how God desires us to think, live and exist.
Ezekiel 16:49 says, "Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, over fed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy." Oh, the similarities between Sodom and North America/the Western world. When you start asking God to reveal Scripture to you regarding the poor and oppressed it is everywhere. Even so, it is so easy to want to ignore this area of God’s heart. It makes us uncomfortable and may require us to be sacrificial or give up something. Psalm 9:18 says, “But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.” James 1:27, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Seems pretty clear, huh? But how do we do it? We love and we serve! “For God so loved the world that he GAVE his one and only Son… (John 3:16)”. Love may not be easy; it is a decision- “Love is patient, love is kind….(1 Cor. 13)”. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? (1 John 3:16,17)”
The heart of God is to love and serve! I am convinced the world could be a different place if we each gave of our hearts and lovingly served others. “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).”
Oh, what an exciting journey we are on...hope to hear from you soon! Love you!

Kruger National Park

I love ZEBRAS!!



I love ELEPHANTS!



I love GIRAFFES!





Last weekend we spent a great day at Kruger National Park. I LOVED it! I loved driving around and searching for these magnificent animals. After gazing at the zebra for a while I eagerly shared that "I LOVE zebras." Later when we saw the elephant I shouted, "I LOVE elephants!" Not long after we saw the giraffe and, again, I responded, "I just LOVE giraffes!" We all had a good laugh as my enthusiasm switched from one creation to the next depending upon what we were gazing at the moment! It was fantastic. What majestic animals they are. We also saw hippos, wildabeasts, impala, wart hog, sable, monkeys. What a creative, beautiful God!

I hope to have sometime later this week to sit down and gather my thoughts and share a bit of what I have been learning recently. It is heavy on my heart. It is deep- it is the truth! I need to share it. We had a wonderful day today just learning and hearing stories from the founder of Hands at Work. I am slowly learning what it means to have a servants heart but also learning how far I have to go. What a great place to be- being molded by the potter's hands! Talk to you soon....

Happy Easter!

The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted! He is the God who pays back those who harm me; he subdues the nations under me and rescues me from my enemies. You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents. For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing joyfully to your name! Psalm 18:46-49

Happy Easter! I have been thinking of all of you today. Missing you but I also have the blessed assurance that, many of you right along with me, will soon be worshiping the Lord and praising in reverence of this special day! It is such a special thing to know that Christians all across the world gather together on this day to remember the foundation of our faith!
We woke this morning to a nice rain fall. It has since cleared and we will join some young couples this evening for dinner. It has been a wonderful, relaxing weekend. Yesterday we went to Kruger National Park where we saw lots of wonderful African animals. I will try to post those pictures tomorrow. God’s creation continues to stun me- I had a GREAT day!
That’s all for now! Have a blessed Easter and keep seeking Him. He IS alive and doing miraculous things, everywhere!

Never Give Up

On Monday we went out again to make home visit in a nearby village. Again, I was awe struck by what I saw. Each time we go out on home visits I am learning, understanding and appreciating the effectiveness of this ministry more and more. We saw a couple of the same patients that I had seen last week. A couple were feeling much better and it was a delight to see their spirits lifted and a renewed twinkle in their eye.
One of the patients, a young woman with AIDS was no better. She continues to decline- emaciated and appearing to lack any desire to keep living. My heart broke as I realized at this stage we pray for her heart. Lifting her up to the Lord for mercy that she doesn’t have to keep on in pain and suffering- trusting the Lord that she knows Him or if not that He will grab a hold of her heart and that she may soon joyfully join Him in heaven- dancing, free from pain and any further heartache. Walking away from a visit like this I leave feeling quite solemn. But, that lasts only a moment. As we return to the “care center” and all the volunteers gather together to sing and pray hope is renewed. Today we join in singing one of my favorite songs here in South Africa. It’s a beautiful display of life here; the hearts, strength and mind-frame of these strong people. The words are simple but a testimony of life:
Never give up (never sounding more like ne-vah- with their gorgeous voices)
Never give up
Never, never, never, never, never...
Never give up
I say never, never give up
The words are few but the depth is to the core of what they believe and how they survive.
So, whatever you are facing today. Know that I am here in South Africa singing, "Nev-vah give up" and faithfully praying for you.

Also, thanks so much for your faithful prayers, letters and emails! You keep me encouraged. Thanks! Bless you!

Driving!

I have successfully and safely driven a standard VW minibus on the left-hand side of the road (that is where I was suppose to drive:). Yes, I was a bit nervous but it was time to gain a bit more independence. So far so good! The driving is a bit different here but, like many things, I am learning to adapt!
I hope you are having a blessed weekend!

Just a glimpse

I love seeing things become clear in my life. This week I have, again, had reassurance. The last 3 years of my life have come full circle. I have worked as a hospice nurse for such a time as this...
I got a glimpse this week of what exactly I will be doing as a nurse when I go to Mozambique in May. We shadowed some home-based care visits this week. While I enjoyed the visits and got eager to be ready to be more actively involved in caring for patients I also felt challenged. The first patient we saw was a granny who was sitting on her mat outside eating her lunch. She had had a stroke and as a result has left-sided weakness. As the local nurse spoke with her and the family I sat there thinking what we could do for her. What would I do for a similar patient in the States? Unfortunately there isn’t much to do no matter where you may be. But here it seemed more unfair. She had no pain medicine for her aching shoulder, no option of physical therapy to try to regain any strength. I felt helpless. Then the local nurse looked to us and asked if I had any words of encouragement for her. After about 30 seconds of silence Laura says, “Sure. Ya, Dara do you want to do that?” (Thanks Laura!) My initial thought was this, “No, I have nothing to encourage her with. This seems hopeless and besides, who am I to encourage her? I am a white person who met her 3 mintues ago. I have the world at my finger tips and I have never walked a day in her shoes with a hungry stomach and a family to care for.” I had nothing to say. I was praying, I was begging God to give me words. I am sure I didn’t say anything profound but I did realize one thing. I need to know my God better. I need to be able to be encouraging in what my Western eyes see as a hopeless situation. I need to shed my Western standards and see the world through the eyes of an African and more importantly through God’s eyes. I need to be ready, strengthened and willing to do what may seem simple and insignificant to me- it could be huge in the Lord’s eyes. Jesus sat with widows, Jesus listened to children and Jesus was just present with the suffering. I often won’t be able to “do” enough, but I can love. I can let my light shine because I do know there is hope. I do have good news to share.
I pray that over the next 8 weeks as I prepare to go to Mozambique that I will grow and be better prepared for times like this. I need to be ready to answer hard questions, to pray bold prayers and to be Jesus to these people with such great needs. I need to expect the Lord to meet me here and do great things.
This is one story. There have been and will be many more. We also saw a young girl dying of hiv/aids- giving up on life and refusing to take antibiotics to treat her opportunistic infection. We saw orphans living alone with no food, granny’s with no clean water. In the midst of this God is showing me hope in His word…
The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, have never abandoned anyone how searches for you. For the needy will not be forgotten forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed. Psalm 9:9, 18
I am doing great. In the midst of the heartache lives are being changed, God is present and working. I am learning a lot about the culture and growing along with the others who are all eager to do our part and make the most of this next year.
We do also have lot of fun. Cooking meals together and spending the evenings playing Uno and Taboo is my new social life. I am happy- right where I want to be!