Fashion, Fun, Food and Talent at COZV

We love to have fun here at Zion.  Sometimes we are just crazy but laughing is good for the soul, we enjoy the moments of love and laughter.  One of the ways we enjoy each other is eating together as a family.  The traditional African braii is always so delicious: Chicken, pap and cabbage.  Even our guests Becky and Kate enjoyed with us. 

     

After the braii we had showed off our talent. There was singing and lots of dancing.  Rebecca (one of our volunteers) taught the children many dance moves.  She even sang a beautiful song with one of our girls, Efa. The beautiful ballet was to the music “Give Me Jesus”. 

        

             

          

Then for more fun and laughter, we had a fashion show!!!  Hysterical… 

                        

           

Even the staff and yes, Mama Lorna participated!  Rebecca and I even modeled matching mother/daughter dresses and Liseli and I had matches ballet dresses.  Too funny!!!

            

                    

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.  Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”  The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.  Psalm 126: 2, 3

Happy Birthday Lorna

I am very blessed to be celebrating my birthday for the third year in a row in Namibia!  I was very blessed with many joyous celebrations. 

It started a couple of days before my birthday when the inside staff called me to come.  I did not have any idea of what was going on.  But they made me sit and then they all came and circled around me singing in their language.  Then they blessed me and sang Happy Birthday and gave me a heavy box with strict instructions not to open it until 19 Oct. 

On Saturday, Oct 19, I had coffee and a wonderful morning with my most wonderful husband and friend.  He got me a new shatangi (the type of traditional skirt they wear here) with beautiful bright butterflies.  I was excited to open the box from the staff.  It was a whole set of dishes with beautiful lime green and brown and cream.  It really means a lot to me especially when I know that the people here do not have extra money and that they would spend it on me to make my day special.

Our 2 volunteers, Rebecca and Amanda came with really sweet cards, a coupon book for massages and hair “styling” and a new dress.  On Saturday I always do “Bible Study” for our children and many of the village kids also come.  During the prayer time, all the children were handed either flowers or a branch of greens.  After the prayer I was presented with a gift from the Ebners.  The gift was a vase made here locally.  Then all of the children lined up to give me the branches for the vase along with a sweet hug.  Then they sang Happy Birthday.  Lena helped a few of the girls to make pancakes in a press that tasted really yummy!! 

                   

                                           

The celebration did not stop.  That evening, the girls baked chocolate cupcakes.  So I got to make my BIG wish and blow out one candle.  It was very nice and I enjoyed the cake along with the rest of the children and volunteers.  The funniest part was when they sing “how old are you now?  How old are you now?”   Uggg…. do I really have to answer.  So I sang back, “I am blank years old now, I am blank years old now.”   I received many personal, homemade, sweet birthday cards from the children that I will read again and again.  Sweet memories from children I have grown to know and love. 

                                 

On Sunday we took the children to the local church in the village.  It was quite a long walk but everyone managed.  There was only one part that is still water but someone had made a nice “bridge” that allowed us to cross with no problem getting wet. 

                        

One of our staff is one of the pastors there.  He had all the October people stand up.  So, yet again, I got enjoy that Happy Birthday song.  Thank goodness they did NOT sing “how old are you now?”!!!!!!! 

                                

God continues to teach me many things and in spite of my age, I continue to learn:)  Maybe I am slower than I used to be but I keep trying.  I am so thankful for my family in the states and here in Africa.  I am surrounded by God’s love and His Blessings are more than I could even count.  

3 Years of Service at Zion

On Saturday October 12, 2013 we celebrated three years serving at Children of Zion Village in Namibia Africa.

We would have never imagined ever being full time missionaries and living in Africa!  It is still sometimes a bit surreal.  But, when God clearly calls we must follow.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.  1Timothy 1:12

We have had many challenges and many blessings but we know that those whom God calls to a specific task He always enables.  When the Lord sees we have been faithful in a little, He gives us more-and His “more” will always stretch us.  We would find it easier to stay where we are but then we would stop growing with God.  So God puts us in places of greater service where we will fail unless we develop a greater trust in Him than we ever had before.  He calls us to our knees over and over.  But along with every challenge comes God’s perfect enabling.  He is ready and willing and able to meet every need we will face as we step out in obedience and faith.  He will grant us strength, wisdom and discernment.  Since we have come to Africa, we have experienced God in ways we have never know before and we know we will continue to experience this unexplainable love and grace. 

The volunteers, staff and children prepare a wonderful evening of fun in celebration of 3 years at Zion. The children prepared dances, a big bon fire was lit, letters of thanks were written and read by each child, a cake with 3 candles to represent the 3 years was baked for each of us, there was funny story telling and balloons, signs of love and prayer.  We are truly Blessed by God and by our large family here in Africa. 

                                

        

                                            

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.  Psalm 23:1

Ghana 2013 Global Mission Consultation

“Discipling All Peoples in Our Generation”

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore, all of you, and disciple all peoples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.  Matthew 28:18-20

Have you ever felt a burden for a task?  When you have felt that burden have you done anything about it? 

As members of the Regional Leadership team for The Mission Society (our sending agency) we were invited to attend the Ghana 2013 Global Mission Conference.  We were excited to meet others from around the continent and globe.  We were excited that we can feel a connection because of a burden to reach people for Christ.  We were excited to hear stories that encouraged us and helped to “spur us on”.  We were excited to worship in praise of what God, our heavenly Father, is doing and we were excited to hear what others are doing to build His Kingdom. 

But, such an experience also leaves many questions.  Are we doing all that we can be doing to advance the Kingdom of God?  Certainly we are not!  Why??  Well, the reasons and excuses are many.  Then the real questions come.  Are we willing to change?  Are we willing to sacrifice?  Are we willing to disciple lives and take the time to pour our lives into them one on one?  Are we willing to see a vision and know that with God there are NO limits to what He can and will do? 

Jesus tells us to go into all the world and make Disciples.  Have we been faithful to this assignment?  Have we been obedient?  If everyone was faithful, how long would it take to deliver the message to the world?  Probably not very many years.  BUT, there are still at least 800 unengaged, unreached people groups in the world.  Just like when you are angry or are hungry, if you do not do anything about it, nothing will change. 

We see in Matthew 4:15 that there are people who live in darkness and do not know right from left.  Who is light?  JESUS!  “I am the light.”  In order for there to be light in darkness, Jesus relocated.  He had to dwell among them.  And, he said to them “Follow me.”  He did not say, “follow the program” or “follow the directions.” He said, “follow Me.”  He did not offer an empty, abstract syllabus, He offered HIMSELF. We must also offer ourselves to others that we see are living “in the dark.”  Relocation can just mean leaving your house not necessarily moving to a different country.  Now, you can do it! 

Will you be challenged?  YES!  Will you be Blessed?  YES, YES!!  Don’t quit!  Don’t give up!  You may never see the fruits but you have planted the seed and God will take it from there.  You say, I do not see who I should disciple.  If you put your chin on your chest, you will see your shirt.  If you pick your head up, open your eyes and you will see the people that need Jesus.  Once you see them are you willing to follow the task of intentionally teaching and discipling individual lives in the manner Christ has shown us?

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”  Then I said, “Here I am!  Send me.”  Isaiah 6:8

     

                       

Celebration of a young, beautiful life

Thank you for your prayers!  We had a tough week but God has given us strength and has humbled us in the midst of the loss of a young life and confusion over what could have happened. 

Julia (22 years old – 2 Feb 1991 – 26 July 2013) had been attending NAMCOL and taking classes there until this term when she started having some problems seeing properly.  She went to the hospital and they treated her and she was there for a week.  The treatment/surgery helped and her uncle said that she was recovered from that.  Some of our children had just spoken to her the weekend prior to her death and they said she was fine except for some trouble they knew she had been having with her eyes. 

Last Monday she complained of “body aches and pains.”  On Tuesday she started vomiting and they took her to the clinic nearby the village.  She was sent back to the village on some medications (very typical).  Then Wednesday she was really out of it and could respond to her name but could not answer any questions.  They transported her to Katima hospital.  She was admitted to ICU.  On Thursday night, one day later, she passed away.  Her diagnosis was severe pneumonia.  We hear this is a common cause of death because it is misdiagnosed because the people cannot seem to describe properly what they are feeling. 

We took “shifts” along with our staff, in going to the village where our Inonga Julia was staying.  The men sit out under the big tree.  The ladies stay in a mud house to mourn until after the funeral.  When we went we did not know what we would be doing and only knew we were going to serve and pray and whatever they ask of us.  Mostly what we did was sit and listen, sit and talk, sit and cry, sit and pray.  It reminded me that we can do this ANYWHERE in THE WORLD!  There were thin mattresses on the mud floor where the ladies were sleeping and sitting day and night.  Others, like us, would come and cook and serve and wash dishes.

On Thursday, the day before the funeral I had the most humbling experience.  Some of the ladies went to the hospital morgue.  Since I was in the village with Rebecca (one of our volunteers) and 2 of our staff, I transported some of the ladies to the hospital, which meant we were obviously there too.  They were coming to wash the body of Julia.  I would have never imagined doing this but given any opportunity, I try to take every opportunity because I feel that I am in that situation for a reason – a reason from God.  So, I went into the morgue (which is the back of the hospital) where they pulled the body out of the cold and unwrapped the white clothes.  We were all given masks and gloves.  There was obviously one lady that was in the “lead.”  They started with water and a bar of soap at Julia’s head and we washed her all the way to her feet.  Then we dressed her in new clothes and shoes.  She looked so peaceful and so beautiful.  We lined the small, hard coffin with a flowered sheet and then a thick, warm blanket and lower her into it.  When we started the process, the ladies ask me to pray.  Honestly, I was not sure what to pray at a time such as this.  But, I prayed first  that what came out of my mouth was from God and not my thoughts or my desires.  During the time of washing and dressing we sang songs of praise and it was such a beautiful sound.  A memory so personal and intimate and humbling, I will never regret or forget. 

Yesterday Julia was buried in Zambia, where she was from.  Because we still do not have our passports back from getting the work permit stamp (ugg… ) we could not cross the border.  But we were blessed by staying and cooking and caring for the children so the rest of the staff could attend. 

The verse the family chose for the program was:  Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”  Psalm 91:1 

Please continue to pray for the family including the Zion children and staff family and us as we know she is resting in the arms of Jesus.  It reminds us of how precious each day is that God gives us.  It reminds us that when someone is hurting we must go… we must be there… to do what God has called us to do – pray, listen and love.  Is God calling you to help someone in need today?  Will you respond? 

                   

                                               

Mafuta Preschool joins Zion preschool for learning and fun!

As you have read, Children of Zion supports a local feeding center by taking food each week.  We have also been blessed to be able to help the preschool there with some supplies.  The preschool has grown significantly and last year we invited them to join the Zion preschool for a day.  This year they have been asking and asking when they could come again.  During the flood time it was impossible to transport them but now the road is very dry.  So, we set a date and the planning began.  It started with songs and fun inside. 

     

Over 50 beautiful faces everywhere!!

            

       

After songs and dance and a video about loving others and being kind, we moved to the tables for coloring “Love your neighbors as yourself” and a snack.  Some did not know what an apple was but they really enjoyed them.

                    

Then, outside to the river.  Many have not seen the river even though we see it everyday.  When the teacher teaches about the fish and boats in the river they cannot understand, but when they see it then they can really know.  After talking about the river and the fish and God’s creation, we played some games. 

      

Time to load the 3 cars to return the children.  What an awesome blessing these beautiful lives were!!  Already cannot wait to see them again!