some things

I figured some of you would want to know the ins and outs of whats going on here in Pemba, Mozambique with me so this should give you some insight :)

I'm taking an INTENSE mission's school with Iris Ministries, who primarily work in Mozambique with orphans and in raising up pastors who shepherd thousands of Churches all across the nation and since all pastors are reuqired to aid orphans, Iris is taking care of several thousand orphans.

I arrived off the plane on Mozambiquan soil on Tuesday the 14th of October after spending the night in Johannesburg, South Africa, having a beautiful experience with a native there who showed me, my traveling partner, Autumn, and 4 other Iris school mates, who met up with me in Atlanta, around Jo-burg and paid for all of our dinners. Christ started showing me His love before I even arrived at the school.

The first few days I felt so out of place, not sure of anything, really. But then we left for Beira on the 18th, on a 3 day journey there and 3 day journey back, on the back of a flat bed truck in 110 degree weather, to help out at a national conference. It was insane and I loved every minute of it. All the students got to know each other so well, squished in and sweating on each other, as we passed through villages, seeing pot bellied babies stunned at what white people look like and watching the African brilliant sunsets. And while I was there, God closed and bound up the wounds from my Mom's death and I heard God say "It is finished". I had 5 prophetic words given to me by pastors about God taking me out of the valley of sadness into His destiny and calling He has for my life. It is such a beautiful journey to be on, in His heart for me. I'm just discovering His amazing love for me. He is so in love with me. He's relentless.

Since we've been back, which was October 30th, here are some things I've learned.

T.I.A. This is Africa. It's our excuse for things that cannot be explained, like why it took us so long to GET to Beira, but so much shorter on the way back. Or when we run out of water for days and have to wash out of buckets of water from the well. Or when I'm trying to have a relaxing time on the beach across the street from the base where I live and get harassed by a guy trying to sell me jewelry who tells me that Jesus doesn't love me if I don't buy his stuff. Or when we have rice bellies and have to work it off everyday at Shara, Heidi's personal assistan's, work out class. T.I.A.

People really do need Jesus here in Africa. I had this idea in my mind before I got here that I'm gonna hold little African babies and everything is going to be alright since they're sooo in poverty. But the thing is, at least here, they're perfectly fine in their "poverty". As long as they have a way to get a bit of food in their bellies before the day is done, they're fine. They love their grass and mud huts, and just because they don't have a TV or Starbucks doesn't mean they need the world to save them. They love life more than we do in America. But they desperately need Jesus because of the darkness that is in their hearts. I've already experienced some of the darkness and witchcraft when I prayed for a blind man and he was healed, all of his sight was restored and he came to know the Lord through it, and I got so sick the day after that happened. It's really intense spiritual warfare. Crazy.

The sun comes up SO early here. 4:30. It's ridiculous. It gets so hot that you can't sleep past 6:30. I have the top bunk in a small room with 3 other girls. I'm learning that I'm VERY easy to live with in comparison to others. I adjust really well and am so thankful for that. It makes living in Africa an enjoyable time.

We go to the open market and supermercado once a week as a house and buy food for us. So fun. We get to barder down the prices and have African guilty pleasures, like coffee and chocolate. All the people in the school are amazing and some of my favorite people are from Switzerland. There are 18 nations that make up the school of 110 people. It's so interesting getting to know everyone!

I'm involved with a hip-hop dance group. We just performed on Friday at the local prison and 9 people came to the Lord and one of the leaders of Iris and I prayed for a blind man who was healed and accepted the Lord and lead the prison in a time of worship and dance. It was so beautiful because he said, "Once I lived in darkness, but I now live in the Light." I love Jesus' analogies and metaphors. I also am starting to work with the fair trade center they have here with long term missionaries who are from WEST CHESTER!! I'm gonne be teaching the kids art classes and showing them how to take pictures, and how to look at different perspectives. More about that later. God is bringing all of my gifts, dancing, singing, drawing, leading, into the light and is giving me purpose for them. I can't wait for the dreams He has for me to be fulfilled!

The school is so intense. We have classes and activities all day long during the week and spend so much time with the orphans. I'm getting to know a few of the teenage girl orphans here who live on base and their hearts are so beautiful. I also help out with village feedings, who feed 500 children a day, once a week. I love my alone times with my Husband though, and so far, they've been my most FAVORITE times, apart from sitting on front porches with all my friends while playing guitars and djembes while sipping on instant coffee and tea and munching on crackers and peanut butter and just felowshipping. God's heart beat is getting louder and louder. I hope you all are experiencing it more and more as the days become closer to the day we will see Him face to face. This is an excerpt from an email my beloved Aunt Sue sent me and encouraged me for the week. Be blessed, all. I miss you but I never want to leave :)

"Sing, sing, sing! As a bird clings to the branch and sings so you sing. The bird expects nothing in return. The bird only gives out what it has been given. So freely you have been given and freely you must give. Sing, sing, sing.

There is healing and a life-giving flow that will come to you and will become as cool, spring waters bubbling up and bringing refreshing wherever it goes. Some will sink into the ground and stir to life the seeds that were planted long ago. Some will cause feet to dance that never knew they could. Some will lift up hands weary and weighed down with care. Some will cause the blind to see. Some will cause hearts to break and replace the stone with flesh. Some will gently lift the cast down faces to the sonshine. Some will pour the balm of Gilead upon old wounds and love will heal them and even remove old scars. Sing, sing, sing.

You are so loved. We are more than proud of you...we do not have words in this language to describe how proud of you we are. For, dear one, you have chosen Whom you will love. There is no greater or better choice than that. Be ravished by His Love and give it back to Him in your evening sacrifice."

Hallelujah!! AMEN!
Until next, may His shalom be in your hearts. His peace He has given to us. Use it.
Michelle