just because

Nede's just got a way.
She loves people,
And in turn,
They love her.
She's found her way into the heart of one of the guards at the clinic,
And he in ours.
This week he presented Nede with a bag of oranges.
Just because.
Just because they care about each other and smile deeply when they see each other.
And, in response, Nede gave up her sugar cane someone had given her just moments before.
Something she'd been asking for for days.
She passed her beloved sugar cane on to her dear friend.
Her dear friend, just because.
Just because they know what it means to love another.
And this, this brings great joy to my heart.

aids, malaria and diarrhea

He asked how it felt to be back working at the clinic.
I responded, "Well, I'm back to the world of AIDS, malaria and diarrhea."
I guess I knew it would happen,
When life slowed down enough and I was able to reminisce over the last 5 months of pure bliss.
It's quite weird though, isn't it?
Going from the land of plenty to now, where I'm debating and making decisions for babies, teeny tiny babies.
This week I held twins,
One 1.8 kg (3.9 lbs),
The other, 2.2 kg (4.8 lbs).
Mom died.
Now an auntie and an old granny are responsible.
They were well.
I sent them off, with milk for a week, to their home.
Probably a mud hut.
I remember the suburbs,
our family Christmas.
The zoo.
The aquarium.
Shopping.
Lattes.
Dinner out.
The pictures, the memories.
I'm still feeling quite jovial.
Still living in a state of gratefulness.
I still, after over 5 years, wonder how I mesh these two worlds--
One world of easily "forgetting" about the other,
The other always wanting to be part of the former.
My battle between flesh and my desires and
Living out what the Lord has revealed to me.
For now I believe I needed that family time,
the spoiling,
the JOY!
To hold these teeny, tiny babies again--
with hope.
Remembering that I've seen the Lord do miracles in my life over the last 6 months.
Reminded that He is my loving Father who gives good and perfect gifts,
in His time,
So that I,
remain grateful, faithful and leaning on Him!

(A mural that's been painted at the clinic property, a beautiful view for those passing by)

back "home"

We've made it back to Mozambique. After spending about a week in southern Moz at the beach we ventured the 1000km back to our home in Chimoio. Nede, as usual, has just taken everything in stride. Within minutes of our arrival home she was wearing her tu-tu, had most of her clothes out of her closet and was outside "cooking" in the dirt. Our guards welcomed us with open arms and Nede's been at a new school for 2 days and loved playing basketball and cricket yesterday!
We're still awaiting our internet to be connected at our house so, more when that happens. In the meantime, pray for us as we readjust and start facing the challenges before us once again.

happy easter

We go rejoicing and remembering each and every blessing that these last 4 months have held.
We go praying that this is a time of new beginnings and fresh starts.
We go with sadness in our hearts, looking forward to those waiting for us on the other side.
Yes, we go rejoicing--
Remembering the glory of Easter morning and that Jesus is alive in our hearts!
He goes before us.
We go rejoicing...

(Please pray for traveling mercies and strength saying goodbye to my family at the airport, that Nede will be able to handle it with braveness (and her mom)!)

the final days

The last few weeks have been busy as have been all the others. It's been another wonderful period of time with friends and family. We're 4 days and counting until our return to Mozambique. That comes with many different feelings. I suspect that there will be many tears over the next few days as we continue to say goodbye to our many beloved family and friends. It won't be easy for Nede (or me) to say goodbye to her Meme, Grandpa, Auntie, Uncle and cousins. Please pray for strength for both of us. The most daunting thing for me is the return to the unknown. Not knowing when we'll get to return to the States, not knowing what lies ahead BUT as I look back over the last 5 months I see fingerprints of my loving father all over them and it gives me courage to move forward.

 Here's a picture journey of the last couple of weeks--
 Lots of time with friends and family:

 My niece and 4 nephews were baptized and the quads celebrated their 3rd bday:

 A wonderful trip to Michigan:

A hair makeover with the help of 5 in Michigan (white mom doesn't know what she's doing):

Finally a finished product after most of the day today:

Some serious play:

 And cherished friends who I hate to leave:

Thank you all for your presence with us here in the States over the last few months. It's been the greatest period of my life and I'm overflowing with gratefulness! Please continue to keep in touch-- email or skype. We may be further away in miles but you all are so near to my heart. Please keep praying for us and know how deep our love is for you. We are so, so blessed! We go trusting in Him...

a huge thanks

A huge thank you to all who joined us last Thursday to fill Nede and me up with your love and support. It was a BEAUTIFUL evening. I was so moved by the people who drove hours, yes hours, to see us. Thank you. Thank you everyone! I was blessed by your presence. It was a beautiful time of encouraging, strong, courageous words being spoken over the journey ahead of Nede and me! Thank you! 

tapestry II

Last August I wrote the following post about a tapestry.
Last night I was given a tapestry inspired specifically by the journey Nede and I are on. It was created for us by a friend, one I hadn't met until receiving this gift. I believe it was prayed over while the wool was spun and dyed and woven together. It's a masterpiece I will treasure forever. It will be a constant reminder of the people who have so blessed my life and a special reminder of these treasured months I've had in the States. These  months have been especially about reconnecting and cherishing friendships. It's been a whirlwind but I've rejoiced in every day of it! As I unwind from another fantastic night with yet a different group of friends, I am moved by the honor it is that so many, so many! people are with us. The love and support that's been poured over me (us) by old friends, new friends and faithful family is worth a lifetime of love! It's been such a special time. Such. A. Special. Time. My tapestry was gorgeous before but now, after this time, the colors are vibrant, I'm walking taller, I'm renewed and refreshed. I continue to smile and end each day thanking the Lord for the journey I'm on, the tapestry of my life that's being woven and the friends that make it a masterpiece! Thank you treasured friends!!! ALL MY LOVE!!!!

(Post from August 2012)

Several times I have thought of my life as a tapestry. A woven treasure with different people making it a divine piece of art. Each person adds something different to my life, sharing their colors at the perfect time in different places. Some people have been steadfast friends for years and years. Others have been more sporatic, coming and going in my life as time and the course of life obliges causing a dotted effect, adding to the beauty. There have been some that are long and steady threads that saw me through some of the hardest times, but time with them was always my most joyous. There are others that I was blessed to walk along side while they went through challenging times. Still there are others that walked with me for very brief periods but their impact on me was a bold color that still lights up my life upon reflection. Of course there's my family, immediate and extended, that are steady-- not always frequent encounters but always there, always praying, always in my heart. And then there's the Nede thread that I never went looking for but now is of utmost influence. It may have started off as a gentle pastel but is now growing breadth and radiance as she grows and influences my life more and more with each passing day.
Now, since living in Mozambique, the threads are often shorter-- the daily encounters are concentrated in shorter periods of time as often occurs in a transient environment of the expatriot world. So far, some of these relationships have been of utmost importance to me and my little family here. Nede and I have had some of the most incredible people walking with us through some quite difficult times.

Even though some threads seem to be changing directions and even feel to be off my tapestry, the impact they've made in strengthening the fibers of my being will never disappear. It seems if I were to construct this tapesty today, there would be a fade of color, not that the relationships are gone, they're just more out of touch, the shades are growing fainter as the distance takes away from the vibrancy of the art.

As much as I hate these times of change and adjustment I do stand in awe-- in awe of the support and love that I've had around me in so many different times and places of life. The number of deep, cherished relationships that I have in my life are of most worthy praise and gratitude.  

Of course there are a few fibers that I wish I could change in my tapestry-- relationships that I wish I had handled differently, relationships that had to end or change because of distance and heart issues, I wish they  were still adding to the design. I guess this may be part of the beauty though-- living and learning, allowing myself to be changed by each perfect weave. 

I suppose one day I'll be able to illustrated this in a more tangible way. I hope I can because the number of beautiful threads that pour into me is one incredible rainbow. And now, in a time of gray, I pray for that sunny spring day to come where more colors will enter my life and walk with me continuing to color and creating a dramatic tapestry that helps to construct me.
Dear friends who have come and gone, thanks for pouring into me. Thanks for loving me, believing in me, walking with me, drying my tears and encouraging me to keep on keeping on. Your rays of love paint my sky with hope. WE LOVE YOU!

i L-O-V-E this

fun in MN

 Some highlights of our return to Minnesota:

 Some bonding with Uncle Trev 

 Nede's usual response to her favorite thing in America? "Snow!"

Building Saturday at Home Depot, quite fun! 

Drama from cousins, always funny!

SILENT AUCTION

7pm, March 7th!

Vision of Glory Lutheran Church

13200 Highway 55

Plymouth, MN 55441

Come early to partake in the SILENT AUCTION of Mozambican Capulanas 

(African fabric-- great for table clothes, skirts, aprons, carrying your baby, towels, or pretty much anything you can think of!)

Program, coffee and fellowship to follow!