You know how when you have your mind so set on something....its all you can think about.....but in the midst of the worrying "how am I going to be able to do this?" "how do I get there" "what if...", God keeps hinting at something else so totally different to what you think you want to and should be doing and then you ask yourself "have i just been wasting my time making my own plans when in the end it is God who directs my paths?" Well if not, it's okay....just wanted to put it as a rhetorical question because my English teacher says that it grabs the audiences attention. And you are the audience........is your attention grabbed?? lol.
Well that is exactly what has been going on with me lately. I thought I knew what I want to do and I can't really say it on my blog because in the odd chance that I really do end up doing it, everyone would know and then I'd have to kill ya! ;) Just kidding.
All my life God has been telling me that I'm supposed to be in Missions work and I thought well...now we're in Africa, being missionaries.....is this what He was talking about? Maybe now that I'm here, I'm doing what He's called me to do and then after school I can do what I want. Now that I go to a really good school, where doors and possibilities have been opened and maybe will be opened where before I would have never had them. e.g....getting a scholarship to a prestigious university after schooling here. These are thoughts that have been running through my head and honestly I have been so stressed lately because I know what I want to do, but I've been telling myself that I don't know what God wants me to do. But all along, He has been hinting it....missions, missions, missions.
I personally don't see myself in Africa in the future, after school, though if God specifically tells me to be here I will. The place that has always been on my heart is South America, maybe even Mexico. Every time I talk about it I get this feeling in my heart, I can't explain it, it's like a yearning, a desire to be there. Before we came to Africa, my dad had always wanted to go to South America for missions work, but God led him and our family to a totally different place, somewhere we never once imagined we'd be and I know His purposes for my parents, maybe even us, are at work every day here.
With the thing that I want to do , there is no yearning, I want to do it because it sounds exciting and I'd get to travel a lot and learn other cultures and ways of life, but with missions work, being an Ambassador for Christ, I would get all the excitement, though I know from experience, it isn't always fun or easy, plus the travel, plus learning other ways of life, while also taking part in the advancement of God's kingdom. That is the most important thing that could ever be done.
My mind is set on doing something....but my heart is yearning to be in South America. The Holy Spirit has confirmed this to me in so many ways.....through other people, through my journal entries that I have recently looked over from 3 years ago......and simply through the fact that I want to walk in His perfect will for my life. I feel Him pulling me one way, and yet I still try to pull another and I don't even know why. Maybe I'm stubborn, maybe afraid, maybe confused. I just pray that each day I become closer to Him and I pray that He will open doors where they need to be opened in order for His purposes to be put to work in my life. I don't want to do something without Him in the centre. I want to be where He wants me and though I do not know exactly where it is, He will show me in His timing.
Please pray for me. God has already opened doors for me to be able to go to South America on a missions trip, we know some really cool missionaries there. I need to raise support to be able to do it though. Please ask the Lord if He would use you to help support me.
God bless!!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Holidays with new adopted family members!
Jacci is officially a Rehmeyer. She has accepted and signed the terms of the Declaration of Initiation Contract of Dual Familyship last week and is now our adopted big sister. Seriously you should have seen the 'ceremony' HILARIOUS! We had it behind our house by the pool and Nathanael was playing the drum, Joelle was doing a weird chant like thing like on Finding Nemo, and Danielle was randomly floating around on a raft in the pool. My parents were standing there solemnly with a plastic sword and the declaration. Yeah right....we were all laughing so hard we couldn't even stand up straight. All that to say....she's been part of the family this Christmas, basically she is always at our house or I'm always at hers. But she lives all the way in Manzini so it's been cool to spend so much time with her because during school I can't really go to manzini.
Last week she put together, along with her Swazi friends, Ncobile, Zanele, Zwagele, and Cynthia, a Christmas party for the ladies that work at the AIM care points. They are wonderful women. They cook for the children and they also make beautiful purses which are sold as a means of making money so they can take care of their families since being a cook is voluntary. The two days before the party we went shopping for the food which was going to be made for the party as well as gifts for gift bags and then a few bigger ones to be raffled. The day of the party, the girls woke up really early , God bless 'em, and began cooking. They made chicken stew, coslaw, and beet root salad. It was all really good. There were about 40 women in total at the party. The best part, besides what Jacci shared with the women about being obedient to God like Mary was, was the game. What was the game?? Musical chairs. How was it played?? HILARIOUSLY! I was in charge of the music and most of the time I was laughing so hard I couldn't even stand up straight. So there is this lady, Ruby...she is the cutest old person I have ever seen in the whole world. She is 78, and she takes care of her 5 grandchildren as if they were her own. She is full of life and energy and the love of Christ and it is evident in everything she does and says. Her and another lady were the last ones in the game, with one chair left. When the music started, Make Ruby picked up the chair and walked away with it. It was funny. You just should have been there. So all went well and 40 ladies were blessed thanks to Jacci, Zwagele, Ncobile, Zanele, Cynthia, and of course God who made it all possible and a day to remember.
Our other adopted family member is a wonderful lady by the name of La Salet. (not sure if I'm spelling it right) She is Portuguese and has lived in Swaziland most of her life. She pastors a church in Tabenkhulu (the sugar cane company) and lives there as well, in the middle of the sugar cane fields. Her house is so nice and she has air conditioning.......an alien species in these parts. But that's not why we love her. We have known her for quite a few months now and each time we go to see her, we love her more and more. To describe her for all that she is is impossible. She's just too sweet, caring, loving, and Christ-like to explain. She is our adopted grandmother in Swaziland. Her husband passed away almost a year ago and her two sons are grown, one in England, and one married in South Africa, so she really enjoys it when we come see her. Its not just any old visit when we go. She does everything to the fullest and makes everything as nice and relaxing as it can be. She can cook.....and that is most definitely an understatement. You cannot say no to her, simply because she does not understand no. When she asks you if you want something more to eat.....you say yes because even though you are so full you feel like you are about to explode, she'll put it on your plate and then tell you to go for 3rds. She asks us to spend the night every time we go and Joelle has spent a week with her. She loves it, she gets spoiled and kissed, and hugged, and fed and boy does she take it all in. So anyways....summary.....she pastors a church there, and the church is BEAUTIFUL....another under statement. All of the people who work at the church have taken on her personality and it's so funny because in my experience, Swazi's aren't very emotional, huggy, kissy people. She is and she rubs off on everyone because that's just in her nature. SO when you go to her church you get hugged and kissed by everyone...only to walk to the front and get a big lipsticky smooch by La Salet herself....the chief kisser. lol. She has such a big heart and she dreams big.....really big.
We were able to see this yet again in the Christmas play the youth at her church put on a few days before Christmas. The set was beautiful, painted, colorful, just beautiful. The play was quite long, like 2 hours, but it sure didn't feel that long because it was so good and every moment of it you were either laughing, crying, or in awe of how amazingly put together, thought out and acted it was. They had only been preparing for two weeks, and it was seriously better than any play I have ever seen anywhere. We weren't expecting that because at most churches here, they don't have the resources, the set, the materials, and the people who are willing to give so much of their time to make it a success while also blessing the children in the process. It was The Christmas story from Zacharias in the temple all the way to Mary and Joseph heading to Egypt after Jesus was born.....but the African way. I think it is the closest thing I have ever seen to the real thing. I can definitely imagine it being just like they showed it. To fully appreciate it and feel the way myself and my family feel about it, you just have to come here for a few days and experience life here, the Swazi way. Then we'll show you the play and it will leave you speechless. I cannot explain it any more because I can't put into words how amazing it was and how amazing that church is. I thank God for La Salet's heart and for what He is doing through her in that community.
So anyways......we spent Christmas day with La Salet and then stayed 2 nights there with her. We were only planning to stay one night but, she talked us into it. Right as were about to leave, she would be like " Oh you need some coffee before you go" or " it's about to rain and you don
t want to drive in the rain". And the funny thing is....it started raining....STORMING. We were like " you prayed for that to happen huh?, it was always your plan to convince us to stay another night" She was like "Yup." I think she wants us to move in. My dad loves it down there, even though it is like 105 degrees in the daytime, because it is so relaxing and away from the city and all the stress that comes with it. He said he just wants to move down there and be a litchi farmer. ( a yummy fruit that grows here) Of course just joking, because the only litchi tree we saw was in La Salet's yard and I don't think he could make much profit from one tree. But hey! if he wants to try.......lol.
On Christmas my family, Jacci, Sandra, and Rajni went to her house and she had a HUGE meal set out. There was : prawns, prawn curry, rice, chicken, turkey, honey glazed ham, salad, samusas, apple turnovers, and cake. All delicious. Her son Sergio was there from England along with his friend, Justin from SA. That night we played a really fin game, Dutch Blitz, with everyone and then me, Jacci, and Rajni watched DeJaVu (spelling?) I love that movie. The rest of the time was spent relaxing, talking, eating, sleeping, and making necklaces. That's one of her many hobbies, and they are very pretty. Oh and another quick random story....the other day before the Christmas play we were driving to her house and we saw a black mamba on the road. My dad stopped and we all looked at it and he didn't pick it up, surprisingly because he always does, because they are really dangerous snakes. Then we saw a monitor lizard a little ways down the road....but it was dead. Tear tear.
So yea....we just came back from her house this morning....and she still wanted us to stay. We love her so much and I am so thankful that God has put her in our lives.
Last week she put together, along with her Swazi friends, Ncobile, Zanele, Zwagele, and Cynthia, a Christmas party for the ladies that work at the AIM care points. They are wonderful women. They cook for the children and they also make beautiful purses which are sold as a means of making money so they can take care of their families since being a cook is voluntary. The two days before the party we went shopping for the food which was going to be made for the party as well as gifts for gift bags and then a few bigger ones to be raffled. The day of the party, the girls woke up really early , God bless 'em, and began cooking. They made chicken stew, coslaw, and beet root salad. It was all really good. There were about 40 women in total at the party. The best part, besides what Jacci shared with the women about being obedient to God like Mary was, was the game. What was the game?? Musical chairs. How was it played?? HILARIOUSLY! I was in charge of the music and most of the time I was laughing so hard I couldn't even stand up straight. So there is this lady, Ruby...she is the cutest old person I have ever seen in the whole world. She is 78, and she takes care of her 5 grandchildren as if they were her own. She is full of life and energy and the love of Christ and it is evident in everything she does and says. Her and another lady were the last ones in the game, with one chair left. When the music started, Make Ruby picked up the chair and walked away with it. It was funny. You just should have been there. So all went well and 40 ladies were blessed thanks to Jacci, Zwagele, Ncobile, Zanele, Cynthia, and of course God who made it all possible and a day to remember.
Our other adopted family member is a wonderful lady by the name of La Salet. (not sure if I'm spelling it right) She is Portuguese and has lived in Swaziland most of her life. She pastors a church in Tabenkhulu (the sugar cane company) and lives there as well, in the middle of the sugar cane fields. Her house is so nice and she has air conditioning.......an alien species in these parts. But that's not why we love her. We have known her for quite a few months now and each time we go to see her, we love her more and more. To describe her for all that she is is impossible. She's just too sweet, caring, loving, and Christ-like to explain. She is our adopted grandmother in Swaziland. Her husband passed away almost a year ago and her two sons are grown, one in England, and one married in South Africa, so she really enjoys it when we come see her. Its not just any old visit when we go. She does everything to the fullest and makes everything as nice and relaxing as it can be. She can cook.....and that is most definitely an understatement. You cannot say no to her, simply because she does not understand no. When she asks you if you want something more to eat.....you say yes because even though you are so full you feel like you are about to explode, she'll put it on your plate and then tell you to go for 3rds. She asks us to spend the night every time we go and Joelle has spent a week with her. She loves it, she gets spoiled and kissed, and hugged, and fed and boy does she take it all in. So anyways....summary.....she pastors a church there, and the church is BEAUTIFUL....another under statement. All of the people who work at the church have taken on her personality and it's so funny because in my experience, Swazi's aren't very emotional, huggy, kissy people. She is and she rubs off on everyone because that's just in her nature. SO when you go to her church you get hugged and kissed by everyone...only to walk to the front and get a big lipsticky smooch by La Salet herself....the chief kisser. lol. She has such a big heart and she dreams big.....really big.
We were able to see this yet again in the Christmas play the youth at her church put on a few days before Christmas. The set was beautiful, painted, colorful, just beautiful. The play was quite long, like 2 hours, but it sure didn't feel that long because it was so good and every moment of it you were either laughing, crying, or in awe of how amazingly put together, thought out and acted it was. They had only been preparing for two weeks, and it was seriously better than any play I have ever seen anywhere. We weren't expecting that because at most churches here, they don't have the resources, the set, the materials, and the people who are willing to give so much of their time to make it a success while also blessing the children in the process. It was The Christmas story from Zacharias in the temple all the way to Mary and Joseph heading to Egypt after Jesus was born.....but the African way. I think it is the closest thing I have ever seen to the real thing. I can definitely imagine it being just like they showed it. To fully appreciate it and feel the way myself and my family feel about it, you just have to come here for a few days and experience life here, the Swazi way. Then we'll show you the play and it will leave you speechless. I cannot explain it any more because I can't put into words how amazing it was and how amazing that church is. I thank God for La Salet's heart and for what He is doing through her in that community.
So anyways......we spent Christmas day with La Salet and then stayed 2 nights there with her. We were only planning to stay one night but, she talked us into it. Right as were about to leave, she would be like " Oh you need some coffee before you go" or " it's about to rain and you don
t want to drive in the rain". And the funny thing is....it started raining....STORMING. We were like " you prayed for that to happen huh?, it was always your plan to convince us to stay another night" She was like "Yup." I think she wants us to move in. My dad loves it down there, even though it is like 105 degrees in the daytime, because it is so relaxing and away from the city and all the stress that comes with it. He said he just wants to move down there and be a litchi farmer. ( a yummy fruit that grows here) Of course just joking, because the only litchi tree we saw was in La Salet's yard and I don't think he could make much profit from one tree. But hey! if he wants to try.......lol.
On Christmas my family, Jacci, Sandra, and Rajni went to her house and she had a HUGE meal set out. There was : prawns, prawn curry, rice, chicken, turkey, honey glazed ham, salad, samusas, apple turnovers, and cake. All delicious. Her son Sergio was there from England along with his friend, Justin from SA. That night we played a really fin game, Dutch Blitz, with everyone and then me, Jacci, and Rajni watched DeJaVu (spelling?) I love that movie. The rest of the time was spent relaxing, talking, eating, sleeping, and making necklaces. That's one of her many hobbies, and they are very pretty. Oh and another quick random story....the other day before the Christmas play we were driving to her house and we saw a black mamba on the road. My dad stopped and we all looked at it and he didn't pick it up, surprisingly because he always does, because they are really dangerous snakes. Then we saw a monitor lizard a little ways down the road....but it was dead. Tear tear.
So yea....we just came back from her house this morning....and she still wanted us to stay. We love her so much and I am so thankful that God has put her in our lives.
Christmas Parties Etc....
Shelly,Jacci, Zinty, and me at the Mbabane Christmas PartyI know I know....I haven't kept my end of the deal up. I thought I would be able to just chill at home and be bored out of my mind these holidays....but actually timehas been flying by because we've been so busy and its really freaking me out!! I don't want to go back to school. Everytime I think about having to go back I get so sad...God please give me joy about school and endurance...emotionally.
So the first few weeks of December were the Childrens Cup Christmas parties. There are 11 carepoints in Manzini, 2 in Mbabane, 1 in Tabenkhulu and 1 in Mozambique. There were 4 parties in all....the one in Manzini being the largest with over 2000 kids. It was awesome because we rented a big field at a local school and their were kids EVERYWHERE! The buses just kept coming. A team from Celebration Church in Texas was here as well as a doctor from Arizona, Rajni. They helped with all of the parties and were just AMAZINGLY AWESOME people. I was so sad when the Texas team left because it's like really cool relationships start to develope and then they have to leave. But the cool thing is is that even though on earth , I may not have the chance to hang out with some of the people I meet....one day in heaven we will all be together. So these relationships God is creating are just getting us ready for eternity where all believers will be together. And Rajni......Wow she's just .....Rajni. No words are good enough to describe how awesome she is. The day she arrived here, she came to our house and she was totally different than what I expected her to be. She is so easy to be around and so fun to talk to. It is impossible to have a dull conversation with her. She is leaving tomorrow and we're all sad. I just hope that one day I'll get to see her again somewhere...either in the US, here, or in another continent since we both want to travel the world. Anyways....short update on cool people i've recently met and gotten to know.
So the parties all went well...
Manzini: It started off rainy and cold and we were worried because it was supposed to have the largest number of kids. The buses started rolling in and we stood on guard as they stampeded down the hill next to the field. I started out at the space walks....wow it was difficult because we had to make sure only 10 kids got on at a time and they were only on for 1 minute. Since I only know a few words in Siswati, it was rather difficult, but I picked up a few words that were necesary for this mission. Hamba!- Go. Puma!- Get out. Bambe- Hold on, wait. I know more than just that...not much more but a few phrases. ;) We served hot dogs, chips, and this weird soda drink that tasted like kids tylenol syrup. Lizette came and helped as well. There was also face painting, relay races, a worship tent, and other games here and there.
Tabenkhulu (Mapheveni): IT WAS SHISA-(hot)- wow. The sunburns were bad for all the malungus (white people) but it was really fun. This is the newest carepoint and the farthest away (in Swaziland). The community the carepoint is for is very p
oor and in need. Thabenkhulu is a sugarcane company, and mapheveni is a community where all the outcasts or rejects from the sugar cane company live. So they are in major need of food, love, and Jesus. One of the poorest areas of Swaziland. It is so cool to see all that God is doing there through childrens cup and Pastor La Salet...I'll talk about her later. Talking about how awesome she is could take up a whole blog in itself.
Mbabane: As far as orginization goes, this one ran the smoothest. I did facepainting for most of this one. We had it at a soccer field close to where we live. The kids were split into groups (they were at the other parties as well but at the manzini one, it was a little chaotic because of the weather and at the Mapheveni one the area was too small to proper
ly divide them into groups.) The Mbabane party was great because the area was huge and there wasn't an overwhelmingly large amount of kids. The kids did a christmas program that they had been working on and it was really good. Again...hot dogs....they were looking pretty funny by this party. And you know the funny thing?? We still have hundreds of them left....in our freezer....I'm telling you if I ever see, smell, taste, imagine, walk by, touch another hot dog I might just die. Not really because I usually really like them....but they have scarred me for life. I will never thoroughly enjoy another hot dog again.
I heard that the party in Mozambique went well...Thank you Jesus! Unfortunately I couldn't go, there wasn't enough room. Jacci, Patrick, Christy, and Zinty took the Texas team.
So all in all the parties went well....except for a few minor disputes and frustrations amongst the cooks and elders but I won't go into that because I don't fully understand it myself. All glory and thanks to God for being there with us and with the children and for blessing them and making it a success.
So the first few weeks of December were the Childrens Cup Christmas parties. There are 11 carepoints in Manzini, 2 in Mbabane, 1 in Tabenkhulu and 1 in Mozambique. There were 4 parties in all....the one in Manzini being the largest with over 2000 kids. It was awesome because we rented a big field at a local school and their were kids EVERYWHERE! The buses just kept coming. A team from Celebration Church in Texas was here as well as a doctor from Arizona, Rajni. They helped with all of the parties and were just AMAZINGLY AWESOME people. I was so sad when the Texas team left because it's like really cool relationships start to develope and then they have to leave. But the cool thing is is that even though on earth , I may not have the chance to hang out with some of the people I meet....one day in heaven we will all be together. So these relationships God is creating are just getting us ready for eternity where all believers will be together. And Rajni......Wow she's just .....Rajni. No words are good enough to describe how awesome she is. The day she arrived here, she came to our house and she was totally different than what I expected her to be. She is so easy to be around and so fun to talk to. It is impossible to have a dull conversation with her. She is leaving tomorrow and we're all sad. I just hope that one day I'll get to see her again somewhere...either in the US, here, or in another continent since we both want to travel the world. Anyways....short update on cool people i've recently met and gotten to know.
So the parties all went well...
Manzini: It started off rainy and cold and we were worried because it was supposed to have the largest number of kids. The buses started rolling in and we stood on guard as they stampeded down the hill next to the field. I started out at the space walks....wow it was difficult because we had to make sure only 10 kids got on at a time and they were only on for 1 minute. Since I only know a few words in Siswati, it was rather difficult, but I picked up a few words that were necesary for this mission. Hamba!- Go. Puma!- Get out. Bambe- Hold on, wait. I know more than just that...not much more but a few phrases. ;) We served hot dogs, chips, and this weird soda drink that tasted like kids tylenol syrup. Lizette came and helped as well. There was also face painting, relay races, a worship tent, and other games here and there.
Tabenkhulu (Mapheveni): IT WAS SHISA-(hot)- wow. The sunburns were bad for all the malungus (white people) but it was really fun. This is the newest carepoint and the farthest away (in Swaziland). The community the carepoint is for is very p
oor and in need. Thabenkhulu is a sugarcane company, and mapheveni is a community where all the outcasts or rejects from the sugar cane company live. So they are in major need of food, love, and Jesus. One of the poorest areas of Swaziland. It is so cool to see all that God is doing there through childrens cup and Pastor La Salet...I'll talk about her later. Talking about how awesome she is could take up a whole blog in itself.Mbabane: As far as orginization goes, this one ran the smoothest. I did facepainting for most of this one. We had it at a soccer field close to where we live. The kids were split into groups (they were at the other parties as well but at the manzini one, it was a little chaotic because of the weather and at the Mapheveni one the area was too small to proper
ly divide them into groups.) The Mbabane party was great because the area was huge and there wasn't an overwhelmingly large amount of kids. The kids did a christmas program that they had been working on and it was really good. Again...hot dogs....they were looking pretty funny by this party. And you know the funny thing?? We still have hundreds of them left....in our freezer....I'm telling you if I ever see, smell, taste, imagine, walk by, touch another hot dog I might just die. Not really because I usually really like them....but they have scarred me for life. I will never thoroughly enjoy another hot dog again.I heard that the party in Mozambique went well...Thank you Jesus! Unfortunately I couldn't go, there wasn't enough room. Jacci, Patrick, Christy, and Zinty took the Texas team.
So all in all the parties went well....except for a few minor disputes and frustrations amongst the cooks and elders but I won't go into that because I don't fully understand it myself. All glory and thanks to God for being there with us and with the children and for blessing them and making it a success.
Sac races at the mbabane christmas party. The kids had a blast!
Monday, November 12, 2007
The Phone-call...
So...Tori asked me to say something for a chick night my church (HPC) was having for the middle and high-school girls last Friday night. I said yes after a little hesitation because I was soo scared. But I was at the Survivor thing for my class, camping so I convinced my teacher to let me take my phone and we found a place where there was good service for when they would call. The plan was that they were going to call me at 3 AM Swazi time, Saturday morning and I had been worrying about what I was going to say all week, Lizette was going to come outside with me and hold the flashlight. So I prepared something to say and a phone call came at 2:54 AM, I picked it up, but then it disconnected. (tori just emailed me and told me that they realized no one had international service on their phones at the service so they got Jean Ohlerking (meemaw) to call me and tell me what happened..but unfortunately it didn't come through)
I walked around the campsite a bit but no one called back....it was REALLY cold outside and I was half asleep, all I wanted to do was return to my cozy sleeping bag and get 2 more hours of sleep before they woke us up to hike, but I felt the Lord speaking to my heart, telling me to stay outside. I told Lizette, who was sleep-walking I think lol, that she could go back to sleep, that I was going to walk around for a while.
I was kind of sad at first, I was scared but looking forward to speaking, but as I sat there looking at t he stars I realized that I wasn't supposed to speak. I had planned something and was so sure of what I was going to say, but in my heart...I didn't believe what I was saying and God knew...He wanted to show me a few things that morning. I guess He's been trying to speak to me for a while, but I've been too busy to listen. It took a disconnected phone-call at 3 in the morning in a quiet place where the only people awake were me and God, for Him to get through to me.
As I sat there I began to sing, and then weep because He reminded me of my purpose here, my mission field...my friends...the 89 people sleeping in their sleeping bags all around me. My heart broke because I love them so much and if I love them that much...I can't even imagine how much God does, and how His heart breaks to see them hurting...longing...searching for the one person they need to save them and love them, but who they are so against accepting...Jesus.
I began to pray for them and to pray that God would help me and speak through me and open doors to witness to them. You know...a few days ago I was wondering why I'm here, again, and how can I even be considered to be a missionary when I'm not really involved with my parent's children ministry, what I thought was the reason I was here. I go to school just like all the other girls that I was going to speak to. I would say I live a normal life...school, soccer and more soccer, but the thing is...It is soo much harder to witness and share Christ's love with smart teenagers at an International World College where there are so many different backgrounds and religions, than at a care point where the children are starving for love and are so ready to accept Jesus into their hearts. It is hard, and we (teenagers) are STUBBORN!! ;)
So, that night, God reminded me of my purpose and that there is so much more work to be done, so many hearts to be softened, and so many more seeds to be planted. Although I didn't get to speak, it actually turned out to be a good thing because my heart was in the wrong place. I had forgotten my task and ignored God's calling in my life. I'm telling you, I have never felt the presence and love of Christ so strongly as I did at 3 Am Saturday morning and I pray that I never get that busy and caught up in useless things again that I can't hear God speaking to me.
God knew what He was doing...and He blessed another girl that night at Chick night, who got to speak and share what God has done in her life...which is AMAZING!! I wish I could have been there! But God had something else in mind for me...a one on one chat session under the clear Swazi sky. God is awesome!
Tori...see, no worries! You're the best, I LOVE YOU!! ;)
I walked around the campsite a bit but no one called back....it was REALLY cold outside and I was half asleep, all I wanted to do was return to my cozy sleeping bag and get 2 more hours of sleep before they woke us up to hike, but I felt the Lord speaking to my heart, telling me to stay outside. I told Lizette, who was sleep-walking I think lol, that she could go back to sleep, that I was going to walk around for a while.
I was kind of sad at first, I was scared but looking forward to speaking, but as I sat there looking at t he stars I realized that I wasn't supposed to speak. I had planned something and was so sure of what I was going to say, but in my heart...I didn't believe what I was saying and God knew...He wanted to show me a few things that morning. I guess He's been trying to speak to me for a while, but I've been too busy to listen. It took a disconnected phone-call at 3 in the morning in a quiet place where the only people awake were me and God, for Him to get through to me.
As I sat there I began to sing, and then weep because He reminded me of my purpose here, my mission field...my friends...the 89 people sleeping in their sleeping bags all around me. My heart broke because I love them so much and if I love them that much...I can't even imagine how much God does, and how His heart breaks to see them hurting...longing...searching for the one person they need to save them and love them, but who they are so against accepting...Jesus.
I began to pray for them and to pray that God would help me and speak through me and open doors to witness to them. You know...a few days ago I was wondering why I'm here, again, and how can I even be considered to be a missionary when I'm not really involved with my parent's children ministry, what I thought was the reason I was here. I go to school just like all the other girls that I was going to speak to. I would say I live a normal life...school, soccer and more soccer, but the thing is...It is soo much harder to witness and share Christ's love with smart teenagers at an International World College where there are so many different backgrounds and religions, than at a care point where the children are starving for love and are so ready to accept Jesus into their hearts. It is hard, and we (teenagers) are STUBBORN!! ;)
So, that night, God reminded me of my purpose and that there is so much more work to be done, so many hearts to be softened, and so many more seeds to be planted. Although I didn't get to speak, it actually turned out to be a good thing because my heart was in the wrong place. I had forgotten my task and ignored God's calling in my life. I'm telling you, I have never felt the presence and love of Christ so strongly as I did at 3 Am Saturday morning and I pray that I never get that busy and caught up in useless things again that I can't hear God speaking to me.
God knew what He was doing...and He blessed another girl that night at Chick night, who got to speak and share what God has done in her life...which is AMAZING!! I wish I could have been there! But God had something else in mind for me...a one on one chat session under the clear Swazi sky. God is awesome!
Tori...see, no worries! You're the best, I LOVE YOU!! ;)
Waterford Form 4 Survivor 2007
This past weekend, my whole class (about 90 students in all) went to Malolotja nature and wildlife reserve to have a survivor weekend. We were split up into 10 groups and had to give all of our bags to the counselors to lock up in a roon. They didn't want us to be eating anything except what they brought for us and knew that most of us had brought our own snack supply. We were only allowed into our bags to get our shower stuff and sleeping bags (they monitored what we took out, which was good because a few of the guys had brought a lot of alcohol) I had brought some good snacks too, DARN! ;)
The reserve is HUGE, with endless green mountains and zebra and wildebeest and lots of monkeys. We had 10 survivor challenges the first day, and had to hike at least 2 miles to get to some of them. Some of them were deep in the woods and it was like we were in the jungle or something, we got lost a few times. My favorite challenges were swimming across the dam and going into a gold mine to look for 'treasure'. There were bats in the cave and it was so scary in there, especially with Ralph saying the whole way 'This is like a scene from the Texas Chainmsaw Massacre'....thanks Ralph. lol.
My team was called the HIllbillies...guess who came up with that name? ;) For dinner the first night each group was given 5 potatoes, an onion, half a bag of froxen veggies, a few slices of roast beef, and a packet of soup. They told us to make our own dinner, so we made stew. It actually turned out very good...especially since I smuggled out some spicy seasonings from my bag. Hey, I'm from Louisiana...gotta have some spice!!
On the second day...they woke us up at 4:30 in the morning and said we were leaving at 5 to go for a hike. We hiked from 5 till 10 ...at least 20 kilometres, up and down huge hills...it was AWESOME! We stopped at a beautiful waterfall for half an hour and swam. It was cold, but so much fun!
When the bus dropped us off in town for our parents to fetch us, we were like zombies.....the parents were like...whoa what did they do to you? TALK ABOUT TIRED! It was really cool to be able to hang out with friends and learn how to work as a team. I really enjoyed it. I'll post some pics when I get them.
The reserve is HUGE, with endless green mountains and zebra and wildebeest and lots of monkeys. We had 10 survivor challenges the first day, and had to hike at least 2 miles to get to some of them. Some of them were deep in the woods and it was like we were in the jungle or something, we got lost a few times. My favorite challenges were swimming across the dam and going into a gold mine to look for 'treasure'. There were bats in the cave and it was so scary in there, especially with Ralph saying the whole way 'This is like a scene from the Texas Chainmsaw Massacre'....thanks Ralph. lol.
My team was called the HIllbillies...guess who came up with that name? ;) For dinner the first night each group was given 5 potatoes, an onion, half a bag of froxen veggies, a few slices of roast beef, and a packet of soup. They told us to make our own dinner, so we made stew. It actually turned out very good...especially since I smuggled out some spicy seasonings from my bag. Hey, I'm from Louisiana...gotta have some spice!!
On the second day...they woke us up at 4:30 in the morning and said we were leaving at 5 to go for a hike. We hiked from 5 till 10 ...at least 20 kilometres, up and down huge hills...it was AWESOME! We stopped at a beautiful waterfall for half an hour and swam. It was cold, but so much fun!
When the bus dropped us off in town for our parents to fetch us, we were like zombies.....the parents were like...whoa what did they do to you? TALK ABOUT TIRED! It was really cool to be able to hang out with friends and learn how to work as a team. I really enjoyed it. I'll post some pics when I get them.
Now there are 3 teenagers in the Rehmeyer house...oh boy!
Danielle turned 14 NOvember 2nd and Nathan turned 13 this past saturday. Me and lizette baught a joint gift for Danielle and I wasn't sure what to get Nathanael, so we took him to lunch after school last wednesday. Here are some pictures.
First : lizette, nate, me, and Jacci
Second: Me and Jacci
Third: Nathanael and Ralph
Fourth: Lizzy and Nate
Fifth: Desert
First : lizette, nate, me, and Jacci
Second: Me and JacciThird: Nathanael and Ralph
Fourth: Lizzy and Nate
Fifth: Desert
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Exams are over...form 5 has just begun....oh my!
So you would think I would be so relieved after 2 weeks of exams and staying up till 2 30 in the morning studying....but its kind of hard to be when the teachers just make us go right back to tests and essays and.....you know the usual. No mercy...at all! lol.
Exams finished last week Thursday. We had 12 in all. This week we have been getting them back and for some subjects, this is a very unfortunate even depressing event. ;) So heres the update on my academic results for this years exams:
English language- A
English literature- A
Math- B (hey i didn't even get to finish..it was like 30 pages....ok fine no excuses ;)
History- A
Biology- A
Physics- A
Chemistry- A or B...not sure yet because I got a B on my first paper and an A on the next.
Spanish- A
P.E Studies (yes its different than P.E.)- A
Music Theory and Listening- well.....um its after B and before D...so i guess that makes it a C?? hehe. Sorry i cant distinguish between Bach and Handel, or a fugue and a sonata, or a minor 3rd harmonic and a ...okay you get the point....music theory is very hard for me.
Music Composition- A
So that's the update. Oh and my music composition is a song, a solo on the guitar called "How Can I Run?" It's a Christian song, the second one I've written this year....every time we have to write a composition I freak out, but then when I am worshiping God on my guitar...its like He just gives me the words and it all comes together perfectly. My music class is going to Pretoria in 2 weeks, I'm so excited! Were playing at the British embassy and there are only 8 people in my class so we're pretty close, it should be fun. I love my school....we're always doing something fun.....when the teachers aren't trying to sabotage us with homework. ;)
This weekend, my whole form (form 4) is going camping for a survivor weekend. It should be...um...interesting. Not sure what we'll be doing but I'm sure it wont be too dangerous/survivorish because we have ALOT of whiny girls in my class.....including me sometimes. ;)
Danielle just turned 14 last Friday and Nathanael will be 13 Saturday. Me and Lizette are taking him out to lunch tomorrow since we won't be here this weekend. Lizette is practically like our sister so we do joint presents for my siblings. lol. For Danielle's birthday we had a HUGE party at my house Saturday night....everyone from Children's Cup came and other missionaries we are really close to. I love it when we all get together.....it just makes me feel soo happy to be around the people I love, especially since it is so easy to get homesick.
I spent Friday and Saturday with Jacci...it was soooo much fun. I love hanging out with her...she is like my big sister. And she says shes 'adopted' me as her sister. So I officially am NOT the oldest in my family anymore, i refuse! lol. We went to the gym in Manzini, it was soo much fun I love gyms! Its also cool to know that someone else loves to exersize as much as I do. I just LOVE it! And I'm not crazy, i promise! So yea...I love Jacci to death!
Now's about the time I just start rambling about nothingness, because I don't know what else to talk about. So I think I'll wrap things up. You know what I've been craving? Waffle house. Oh my.....that just sounds soo good right about now. OKay....im rambling. lol. I'll try and write more soon and maybe next time I'll have something of importance to talk about besides my waffle house cravings and horrible grades...;)
God bless!!!!
Exams finished last week Thursday. We had 12 in all. This week we have been getting them back and for some subjects, this is a very unfortunate even depressing event. ;) So heres the update on my academic results for this years exams:
English language- A
English literature- A
Math- B (hey i didn't even get to finish..it was like 30 pages....ok fine no excuses ;)
History- A
Biology- A
Physics- A
Chemistry- A or B...not sure yet because I got a B on my first paper and an A on the next.
Spanish- A
P.E Studies (yes its different than P.E.)- A
Music Theory and Listening- well.....um its after B and before D...so i guess that makes it a C?? hehe. Sorry i cant distinguish between Bach and Handel, or a fugue and a sonata, or a minor 3rd harmonic and a ...okay you get the point....music theory is very hard for me.
Music Composition- A
So that's the update. Oh and my music composition is a song, a solo on the guitar called "How Can I Run?" It's a Christian song, the second one I've written this year....every time we have to write a composition I freak out, but then when I am worshiping God on my guitar...its like He just gives me the words and it all comes together perfectly. My music class is going to Pretoria in 2 weeks, I'm so excited! Were playing at the British embassy and there are only 8 people in my class so we're pretty close, it should be fun. I love my school....we're always doing something fun.....when the teachers aren't trying to sabotage us with homework. ;)
This weekend, my whole form (form 4) is going camping for a survivor weekend. It should be...um...interesting. Not sure what we'll be doing but I'm sure it wont be too dangerous/survivorish because we have ALOT of whiny girls in my class.....including me sometimes. ;)
Danielle just turned 14 last Friday and Nathanael will be 13 Saturday. Me and Lizette are taking him out to lunch tomorrow since we won't be here this weekend. Lizette is practically like our sister so we do joint presents for my siblings. lol. For Danielle's birthday we had a HUGE party at my house Saturday night....everyone from Children's Cup came and other missionaries we are really close to. I love it when we all get together.....it just makes me feel soo happy to be around the people I love, especially since it is so easy to get homesick.
I spent Friday and Saturday with Jacci...it was soooo much fun. I love hanging out with her...she is like my big sister. And she says shes 'adopted' me as her sister. So I officially am NOT the oldest in my family anymore, i refuse! lol. We went to the gym in Manzini, it was soo much fun I love gyms! Its also cool to know that someone else loves to exersize as much as I do. I just LOVE it! And I'm not crazy, i promise! So yea...I love Jacci to death!
Now's about the time I just start rambling about nothingness, because I don't know what else to talk about. So I think I'll wrap things up. You know what I've been craving? Waffle house. Oh my.....that just sounds soo good right about now. OKay....im rambling. lol. I'll try and write more soon and maybe next time I'll have something of importance to talk about besides my waffle house cravings and horrible grades...;)
God bless!!!!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
I know . I know....im hopeless at this blog thing. My bad. ;)
Okay so ....i know I NEVER write anymore....facebook is just so much easier. ;) I need to though, but the thing is I dont know if anyone even reads them anyways so I'll make a deal with you....whoever you are....if 3 or more people let me know somehow...in response to this blog that they actually read them ( i know 2 people do) then I will make it a point to TRY and blog weekly. I promise.
Nothing much is happening now, just school and exams which are stressing me out like crazy. Kristen just left...so were all pretty sad about that. Oh and there is this lady...Jacci, who works with Childrens Cup and I just met her like last week. She is sooooo awesome! She has been helping me out with espanol and yea shes just amazing! Im so happy I met her.
I've learned that although sometimes God takes away the people I love, He always puts someone else in my life who is so amazing, and even if He doesn't...He never goes anywhere. He is continuously teaching me to put all my hopes and trust in Him and not in people...because I tend to do that a lot. I have to remember that He is a jealous God and he alone deserves my trust.
So yea...thats basically it for now. The soccer season starts next week, Im pretty excited about that. So I will write soon IF people read my blog. lol. ;)
Later gater!!
Nothing much is happening now, just school and exams which are stressing me out like crazy. Kristen just left...so were all pretty sad about that. Oh and there is this lady...Jacci, who works with Childrens Cup and I just met her like last week. She is sooooo awesome! She has been helping me out with espanol and yea shes just amazing! Im so happy I met her.
I've learned that although sometimes God takes away the people I love, He always puts someone else in my life who is so amazing, and even if He doesn't...He never goes anywhere. He is continuously teaching me to put all my hopes and trust in Him and not in people...because I tend to do that a lot. I have to remember that He is a jealous God and he alone deserves my trust.
So yea...thats basically it for now. The soccer season starts next week, Im pretty excited about that. So I will write soon IF people read my blog. lol. ;)
Later gater!!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
The famous words- I can't do it.
This is exactly what I have been saying over and over again the past few days. It seems like everyone I get close to and come to love here, leaves. I guess that comes with being a nissionary kid, but I didn't think it would be this hard to say good-bye. I was thinking maybe I should try not to get to attached to people, but I'm glad I built these relationships, ones that wouldn't exist if I weren't here.
There was this couple here, Nate and Crystal, from Las Vegas. They had been here for almost 6 months and work with Youth For Christ. They are an amazing couple, and have two sons, Judah and Micah. ADORABLE BOYS! I just met them within the past 3 months, and Crystal was descipling me and Lizette, so we were/are really close and I love crystal to death! She just found out last week that she has cancer, so they had to move back to the U.S. It seems so sudden, and unexpected. They were confused and sad to leave but know that God has bigger plans, so they are trusting Him and being the strong Christians that they are through it. I look up to Crystal soo much for being so strong and faithful, she is so scared, but chooses to trust God. I wish I could take her place, but I know God has a huge plan and many good things, though we cannot see them now, will happen through this. Thank God, the cancer is almost 95% curable and they caught it at an early stage. SO please help me pray for her and her family. They left a lot of their stuff here, because they hope to be back when the treatment is over. It was so hard to say good-bye.
Also, Kristen and Charles are leaving and it makes my heart hurt just thinking about it. I can't picture living here without them here to run to when I was having a spiritually low time or going through struggles at school. They are like my youth pastors, and have become that to MANY people at my school, like Lizette. She loves them just as much as I do. It seems like all the people who have helped make us the Christians we are and have encouraged us in our walk with Christ are being pulled away and quite frankly, I'm scared to death. I can't do it on my own. I dont know what to do. I know God has amazing plans for their lives and I pray He blesses them abundantly, wherever He leads them next. They could never know the impact they have had on me and lizette's lives. We love them sooo much. We have cried so much together already, when they actually do leave........I donno. I really feel like giving up....but maybe this is a time where we have to learn to lean on Christ alone and grow in Him rather than lean on others to keep us strong.
Lizette put it nicely in this conversation we had yesterday:
Lizette says:
I feel so sad, maybe God wants us to lean on him but i feel as though all the people that were encouraging us to be who we are and be proud for Christ are leavng and they're leaving us in the big bad scary world......
Gabby says:
i know exactly how you feel lizzy, i feel the same way
Lizette says:
And as much as i was close to Crystal and Nate, my heart is breaking for charles and kristen
Gabby says:
im scared honestly, im so scared for them and for us. i cant do it great now im crying again
Lizette says:
Me too Gabby i don't know where we should go from here. I'm crying too
Lizette says:
I'm so sad i just wish i could see what good could come of this. This is probabaly a test for us too so we need to start praying b4 school everyday and just ask God to strengthen us and help us through because i'm not sure where we should go from here...
Lizette says:
And i think you and me should start taking the larger part of responsibility for our bible studies and make some changes to help other people just like N&C, C and K helped us
So yea....its been rough, but God is still good. God is still good. My mom told me yesterday morning that when God shuts one door, He always opens another. Me and Lizette had been praying for God to send us someone to desciple us and that could teach us more about God and the bible, and then we met Crystal and she asked if she could desciple us. It was such an answer to prayer. We were soo excited. Thats why its been so hard because we thought God had put her into our lives and now she is gone. And we love her soo much. So I had basically given up hope when she left Monday. But last night my parents got a call from a lady in the states who wants to come here and work for Childrens Cup. She is a nurse so she can help my mom with the medical side, which is exactly what she has been praying for. Then she told my mom that she desciples teenage girls, or somehting like that, and my mom almost stated crying. I get goose bumps just thinking about it. God is soo awesome. When I told Lizette today , she teared up.
I am going to miss Crystal and Charles and Kristen sooo much and I wish they didnt have to leave. Atleast with Crystal, they will probably be back when she is better. Charles and Kristen, I dont know. I love these people so so much. No one will ever take their place in my heart, but God had made more room for other people so I need to move on and trust that He will take care of us and Crystal, C and K.
Jesus, please heal Crystal completely and give her strength as she goes through treatment. Give Nate strength and wisdom as he takes care of his family and bless them abundantly.
Please be with Kristen and Charles and give them peace and strength as they take the next step in life. Help them to carry Swaziland around with them in their hearts and remember all the precious moments spent here. I know you will touch many peoples lives through them, as you did with mine. Thank you for sending them here and thank you that you have a perfect plan for all of us. Amen.
There was this couple here, Nate and Crystal, from Las Vegas. They had been here for almost 6 months and work with Youth For Christ. They are an amazing couple, and have two sons, Judah and Micah. ADORABLE BOYS! I just met them within the past 3 months, and Crystal was descipling me and Lizette, so we were/are really close and I love crystal to death! She just found out last week that she has cancer, so they had to move back to the U.S. It seems so sudden, and unexpected. They were confused and sad to leave but know that God has bigger plans, so they are trusting Him and being the strong Christians that they are through it. I look up to Crystal soo much for being so strong and faithful, she is so scared, but chooses to trust God. I wish I could take her place, but I know God has a huge plan and many good things, though we cannot see them now, will happen through this. Thank God, the cancer is almost 95% curable and they caught it at an early stage. SO please help me pray for her and her family. They left a lot of their stuff here, because they hope to be back when the treatment is over. It was so hard to say good-bye.
Also, Kristen and Charles are leaving and it makes my heart hurt just thinking about it. I can't picture living here without them here to run to when I was having a spiritually low time or going through struggles at school. They are like my youth pastors, and have become that to MANY people at my school, like Lizette. She loves them just as much as I do. It seems like all the people who have helped make us the Christians we are and have encouraged us in our walk with Christ are being pulled away and quite frankly, I'm scared to death. I can't do it on my own. I dont know what to do. I know God has amazing plans for their lives and I pray He blesses them abundantly, wherever He leads them next. They could never know the impact they have had on me and lizette's lives. We love them sooo much. We have cried so much together already, when they actually do leave........I donno. I really feel like giving up....but maybe this is a time where we have to learn to lean on Christ alone and grow in Him rather than lean on others to keep us strong.
Lizette put it nicely in this conversation we had yesterday:
Lizette says:
I feel so sad, maybe God wants us to lean on him but i feel as though all the people that were encouraging us to be who we are and be proud for Christ are leavng and they're leaving us in the big bad scary world......
Gabby says:
i know exactly how you feel lizzy, i feel the same way
Lizette says:
And as much as i was close to Crystal and Nate, my heart is breaking for charles and kristen
Gabby says:
im scared honestly, im so scared for them and for us. i cant do it great now im crying again
Lizette says:
Me too Gabby i don't know where we should go from here. I'm crying too
Lizette says:
I'm so sad i just wish i could see what good could come of this. This is probabaly a test for us too so we need to start praying b4 school everyday and just ask God to strengthen us and help us through because i'm not sure where we should go from here...
Lizette says:
And i think you and me should start taking the larger part of responsibility for our bible studies and make some changes to help other people just like N&C, C and K helped us
So yea....its been rough, but God is still good. God is still good. My mom told me yesterday morning that when God shuts one door, He always opens another. Me and Lizette had been praying for God to send us someone to desciple us and that could teach us more about God and the bible, and then we met Crystal and she asked if she could desciple us. It was such an answer to prayer. We were soo excited. Thats why its been so hard because we thought God had put her into our lives and now she is gone. And we love her soo much. So I had basically given up hope when she left Monday. But last night my parents got a call from a lady in the states who wants to come here and work for Childrens Cup. She is a nurse so she can help my mom with the medical side, which is exactly what she has been praying for. Then she told my mom that she desciples teenage girls, or somehting like that, and my mom almost stated crying. I get goose bumps just thinking about it. God is soo awesome. When I told Lizette today , she teared up.
I am going to miss Crystal and Charles and Kristen sooo much and I wish they didnt have to leave. Atleast with Crystal, they will probably be back when she is better. Charles and Kristen, I dont know. I love these people so so much. No one will ever take their place in my heart, but God had made more room for other people so I need to move on and trust that He will take care of us and Crystal, C and K.
Jesus, please heal Crystal completely and give her strength as she goes through treatment. Give Nate strength and wisdom as he takes care of his family and bless them abundantly.
Please be with Kristen and Charles and give them peace and strength as they take the next step in life. Help them to carry Swaziland around with them in their hearts and remember all the precious moments spent here. I know you will touch many peoples lives through them, as you did with mine. Thank you for sending them here and thank you that you have a perfect plan for all of us. Amen.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
You're my Kentucky Rounda!
This picture is at my house, its Beau, me (shorty), and Chris. Beau is like my brother, he is in my class at school and his family is like my second family here. They are also american, well half, (his dad is from New Zealand and mom from Alaska/New Mexico) Chris was visiting him from Alaska a few weeks ago so we hung out a bit.
I just got a ride down from school with the headmaster (principal, he was going to town anyways) because i dont feel well. My ear hurts soo bad. Everyone has been sick lately. Even our dog is sick, we think she got stabbed the other night so now she has stitches. Last week was midterm break, so we only had school on monday and half of tuesday. The rest of the week I chilaxed with Lizette and Aissa and played soccer and did homework. I never knew it was possible to have so much homework. I could sit at the table from 8 AM to 8 PM and do homework for 2 days straight and still not have it all done, ha these teachers are so heartless. lol
This past sunday, my soccer team , Imbabatane, went to Maputo, Mozambique for a game against a womans club team there. I think it was the most interesting experience of my life. We were gone all day, it takes like 2 hours to get there and we played at 3. The place we played was way back in a very poor area of maputo. It was kindof scarry back there, i must say. The "field" was like a giant sand box and the lines were made with water. It was so hard to run and those Mozambiquans sure can run. lol. They beat us 4-0, but I still enjoyed it a lot. Ill never forget it. Around the field were shacks and houses and there was a very old/torn up school infront of it. We changed in the school. The bathrooms were definately a new experience, one that I dont think I ever want to do again. There were no doors, just a hole in the ground and it stank so bad. I think it was the fastest ive ever used the bathroom in my life. I held my breath the whole time. My team was just laughing at me. lol. All in all , it was a great day. My dad drove us there and back, im so thankful to him for always driving us everywhere.
Tomorrow, is the 24 hour run fundraiser for my school. We formed teams of 35 and have to run (in different slots) for 24 hours. Its compulsary to be there, so why the teachers are still giving us homework I do not know! lol. Should be interesting.
Next week friday, my school soccer team is going to MIS (Maputo International School?) for an indoor soccer tournament. I can't wait for that.
Charles went to the States yesterday so keep him in your prayers as he travels. Him and kristen have made such a huge impact on a lot of young people's lives here. ALOT. So many people at Waterford love them and look up to them, including me. Everyone keeps asking me whe the next youth night is, they love them. It would be sooo cool to have a youth like at HPC , Refuge Swaziland lol. That would be pretty tight!
Well....Thats all I can think of for now. Please pray for my school and friends.
You're my Kentucky rounda!- this is from a song by a south african artist, Pitch Black Afro, and in it he says "youre my kentucky rounda" like the KFC rounders....anyways I just thought it was funny. Dont ask , im feeling a little random today.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
The past month or so...
Wow...so today all of the music students at my school went to the European Union Delegate's meeting to perform while they were eating and during the breaks between the speeches. We went to the German Embassy Estate in Ezulwini Valley...talk about BIG!! There were so many important people there. It was scarry. And It was soooo formal!!! I had to wear a dress and high heels..which is extremely rare!! My friends who didn't go, were like WHOA, you should dress like a lady more often. Thanks guys. lol. SO me and my friend Aissa wrote a song, she plays piano and I play guitar. It is a Christian song and has "Jesus" in it so we were a bit worried at first about even showing it to our teacher, but he liked it, so we played it. I was sooo nervous! But it went well. The food was good too. lol. School is killin me, I have so many testes this week and a history report due next week that I have not even started on yet! AHHHH!
A few weeks ago, the girls in my form went to Shewula, a small community near the Mozambique border. We spent Friday night there and did community service at 3 of the schools in that area. It was sooo cool! We got to split into groups and play with the kids. My group had the 8 year olds. There were about 40 of them. They were adorable!! The place we stayed at had 4 cabin things, and the rest of us put up tents. Talk about interesting!! It was so much fun to hang out with all of the girls though. We talked most of the night....GIRL TALK!! It is so cool to be able to go to places like that and help out and play with the kids, we at Waterford, are so privileged. I hope to go back sometime. I'll post some pictures soon.
There was a youth night last Friday night. It went really well. Please pray that God opens doors for us to be able to have them more regularly. Also...at my school, some,e teachers and students have started a G.A.P. (gender awareness project) to encourage homosexuals to come out and not be scared to be who they are. They want our school to be more tolerant to other lifestyles etc. There is even a whole week coming up dedicated to GAP and we all have to participate. I don't know what that will be like. I wish we could have a Christian week, that would be awesome. Anyways..please pray for my school and I don't even know really....it seems satan is having his way in a lot of things , maybe for strength for the Christians. I think during this time, Christians are going to be attacked because they assume that we are not going to agree with what they are bringing into the school. We don't agree, we are intolerant of the sin, but we still love the people. After all, God still loves us when we sin. I don't see why they can bring GAP into the school because they are being intolerant of people's religious beliefs, but do they care?? no, not really. Oh well....God is in control and hopefully He will work through us during this time. There are sooo many hurting people at my school. Please pray for two girls in my class...Anna and Nadja.
Oh yea...I'm playing basketball now and i LOVE IT!! I still love soccer the most but I really like basketball. It all started at a Concrete Hoops camp here in Swaziland, put on by a group of Canadian coaches. It was awesome and now I can't stop playing. Weird i know.
That is all I can think of at the moment. School is keeping me extremely busy and stressed. I miss everyone! God bless!!!
The group pic is our Concrete hoops group with our coach, Rachel, at my school (waterford hosted the camp) And the other picture is Tyrone (canadian coach), me, and Rachel. I got the most improved player award! lol.
The other picture is me, and my two best friends here: Lizette and Aissa, at Spur (restaurant in SD)
A few weeks ago, the girls in my form went to Shewula, a small community near the Mozambique border. We spent Friday night there and did community service at 3 of the schools in that area. It was sooo cool! We got to split into groups and play with the kids. My group had the 8 year olds. There were about 40 of them. They were adorable!! The place we stayed at had 4 cabin things, and the rest of us put up tents. Talk about interesting!! It was so much fun to hang out with all of the girls though. We talked most of the night....GIRL TALK!! It is so cool to be able to go to places like that and help out and play with the kids, we at Waterford, are so privileged. I hope to go back sometime. I'll post some pictures soon.
There was a youth night last Friday night. It went really well. Please pray that God opens doors for us to be able to have them more regularly. Also...at my school, some,e teachers and students have started a G.A.P. (gender awareness project) to encourage homosexuals to come out and not be scared to be who they are. They want our school to be more tolerant to other lifestyles etc. There is even a whole week coming up dedicated to GAP and we all have to participate. I don't know what that will be like. I wish we could have a Christian week, that would be awesome. Anyways..please pray for my school and I don't even know really....it seems satan is having his way in a lot of things , maybe for strength for the Christians. I think during this time, Christians are going to be attacked because they assume that we are not going to agree with what they are bringing into the school. We don't agree, we are intolerant of the sin, but we still love the people. After all, God still loves us when we sin. I don't see why they can bring GAP into the school because they are being intolerant of people's religious beliefs, but do they care?? no, not really. Oh well....God is in control and hopefully He will work through us during this time. There are sooo many hurting people at my school. Please pray for two girls in my class...Anna and Nadja.
Oh yea...I'm playing basketball now and i LOVE IT!! I still love soccer the most but I really like basketball. It all started at a Concrete Hoops camp here in Swaziland, put on by a group of Canadian coaches. It was awesome and now I can't stop playing. Weird i know.
That is all I can think of at the moment. School is keeping me extremely busy and stressed. I miss everyone! God bless!!!
The group pic is our Concrete hoops group with our coach, Rachel, at my school (waterford hosted the camp) And the other picture is Tyrone (canadian coach), me, and Rachel. I got the most improved player award! lol.
The other picture is me, and my two best friends here: Lizette and Aissa, at Spur (restaurant in SD)
Monday, April 23, 2007
Back from Holidayzzz
Howdy folks! We just returned from Margate, SOuth Africa Saturday. Margate is a little town near Durban, right in the beach. It is soo cute! This place reminded us so much of being in the States, it was almost unreal! There were malls (some better than any I've ever been to in the U.S.....sorry) , restaurants ( can't touch the restaurants in U.S....oh YEA), and hm....there were a lot of ice cream parlours. lol. The beach was beautiful and our hotel was very nice. It even had air conditioning and cable TV...now THAT'S new!!
We went deep sea fishing, swimming with dolphins, hiking, shopping, and to a snake farm which had southern U.S. alligators. I just assumed they were from Louisiana, so I spent a lot of my time by their cage to talk Southern to 'em, maybe make 'em feel a little more at home. Oh yeah! We also ate a lot of ice cream, not as good as Baskin Robins, but it was good.
We are out of school for a month! Yayyy. But I already have a daily schedule for the whole break. I can't live without schedules, I just can't. That's normal right........guys??.....guys?!? No, its fine, I know I'm weird already. haha. Most of the Childrens Cup team is in Mozambique right now with the Elevate team. I really wish I could go and hang out with them, but I can't. I have soccer and an orthadontist appointment in South Africa wednesay and then a church camp this weekend. So sad.
I am reading "more than a carpenter" by Josh Mcdowel. It is really helping me with situations at school and now I can see for myself why the Bible is true and how it all came about and the evidence for Jesus being the One, and the resurection and other things. I like it a lot. I really am into apologetics and learning about the history of Christianity and the Bible. It is very interesting. Anyways...That is all that's going on at the moment. I'll write more soon.
gabby
We went deep sea fishing, swimming with dolphins, hiking, shopping, and to a snake farm which had southern U.S. alligators. I just assumed they were from Louisiana, so I spent a lot of my time by their cage to talk Southern to 'em, maybe make 'em feel a little more at home. Oh yeah! We also ate a lot of ice cream, not as good as Baskin Robins, but it was good.
We are out of school for a month! Yayyy. But I already have a daily schedule for the whole break. I can't live without schedules, I just can't. That's normal right........guys??.....guys?!? No, its fine, I know I'm weird already. haha. Most of the Childrens Cup team is in Mozambique right now with the Elevate team. I really wish I could go and hang out with them, but I can't. I have soccer and an orthadontist appointment in South Africa wednesay and then a church camp this weekend. So sad.
I am reading "more than a carpenter" by Josh Mcdowel. It is really helping me with situations at school and now I can see for myself why the Bible is true and how it all came about and the evidence for Jesus being the One, and the resurection and other things. I like it a lot. I really am into apologetics and learning about the history of Christianity and the Bible. It is very interesting. Anyways...That is all that's going on at the moment. I'll write more soon.
gabby
Monday, April 09, 2007
Government Hospital Visit
Today my family celebrated Easter together. A day late, but we were in Tabenkhulu(sp?) yesterday, so we decided to do it today. We colored Easter eggs and then ate them and then made cookies. Very interesting I know. Don't worry I'm not just blogging to say that, what I wanted to talk about is my experience at the Mbabane government hospital this evening. We went to Spar and got some lolly-pops and chocolates to bring to the kids in the hospital. I had never been there before, so I didn't know what to expect. Oh..... my..... goodness.
The first two rooms were occupied by at least 15 kids each and their mothers or whoever was sent to take care of them. Yeah....they have to make sure a family member or friend goes with them to the hospital, because if they don't the child probably won't get fed, bathed, or even taken care of, much less a check-up. There were kids from the age of just a few months, to 10....I'm guessing. With injuries such as : burns from hot pourage, broken legs, injuries caused by car accidents, pneumonia, HIV related illnesses, and some with the flu but dying from it. As soon as we started to hand out the sweets, the mothers all rushed up to ask for one for themselves, lol. We spoke to all of the children, wished them Happy Easter and took some pictures. My mom prayed with a lady and her son, who has pneumonia, the lady was very scared. There is a mentally retarded boy that has lived there all of his life, who was going around helping all of the children and talking to us, he is so sweet.
The third room is where the abandoned children stay. We spent the longest time in this one. I fell in love with a little boy, John, he is soo adorable. I had to hold the lolly pop for him to lick it because he is only a few months old and doesn't even have any teeth yet. He smiled at me the whole time. The abandoned children are soo desperate for love and they just want to be held. When we left, they cried. I almost cried. They are mostly all healthy, just don't have anyone to care for them. I wish I could take all of them! One of our friends, Robin Pratt, runs an orphanige here called Sandra Lee. She usually takes the children in the abandoned ward, but has no more space and has to wait for another home to be built. For now she has to refrain from going to the hospital, because she knows she will want to take them all home with her. I can't wait till these kids get to go with her. They just have to sit in their cribs all day long and most all of them were wet, dirty, and stinky from not being taken care of. Just sad. I hope to go back there soon and visit these kids. They are starving for love and attention and it is so good to know that God has a plan for each one of their little lives.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Sorry.
Hey, I'm really sorry my last blog turned out to be so long. I just realized how long it was when I didn't even feel like reading all of it. Please read it though. lol. I just got carried away!
My friend, Tabby, sent me this picture. They put together a soccer reunion party for me in Louisiana. It was really nice to hang out with these girls, they're some of the best friends I've ever had.
-> Val, Me, and Tabby.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Outside of my ...Bubble.
Were in Easter break now, we got out Thursday and wow, that day was the roughest day I've had yet. Spiritually, emotionally, just plain rough. I called my mom , in tears, before the day was over asking her to come get me because I was so confused and ashamed that I was broken inside, so easily. I felt like a failure. I had 3 conversations come up from 3 different religious backgrounds, all going against Christianity.
First, it was my history teacher who is …well I really don’t know. She is American, but HATES America, and she never really teaches us History, we usually end up talking about homosexuality, global warming, or how she hates Christianity. She goes to an Anglican church, but only because she 'likes the ritual thing and the smell of the incense . She says she believes in God but "not the whole Jesus thing". She basically was going on about how the Bible isn't accurate because the Catholic church picked and chose what should be in it many years ago, so of course nothing contradicts itself, everything that did they took out. She said," If there is a loving God, why would he make it so there is only one way to heaven , through Jesus. What about all the "good" people in the world. I sure don't want to believe in a God that condemns people to hell just because they were brought up in a different religion. What's the point?"
SECOND: After what happened in history class,Lizette and myself went to tutor period, enxious to be able to tell our tutor what happened and thinking that she also believed the same as us, she would be able to encourage us. Lizette and I were especially hurt/shocked by what happened here, because we thought she believed the same as us. Turned out, we were very wrong.
After we told her what our history teaches was saying, she asked us," Why are you getting so upset? You know what you believe , so don't worry about it"
SO then we said , " But it's hard not to worry about it because we don't want people to not go to heaven, isn't it our jobs , as Christians to witness?"
Then she said, "How can we judge where someone is going? That is Gods decision and I think He will decide justly."
I agree with that completely, and we weren't judging, we just assumed that since our history teacher does not believe in Jesus as her Lord and Saviour and doesn't the Bible say that "Jesus is the way, the truth , and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him.", that right now, if that is what she truly believes, well.....you know.
So then our tutor ( she is Catholic) told us that she believes that there is no hell, hell in the bible represents earth and what we have to go through, so we all will end up in heaven one day no matter what religion you come from because when we see God face to face we will be able to ask for forgiveness and go into heaven. SO basically she said that, they in their Catholic faith, believe that God is loving and therefore would not condemn anyone to hell just because they didn't follow Jesus or accept Him as the only way. I was so sad, because I thought that she was a Christian. I know not all Catholics believe that because Lizette is Catholic and she is one of the most radical Christians I know who definitely knows Jesus is the only way. My heart felt like it dropped after hearing this, I called my mom and could not stop crying. Lizette remained strong, as usual, to encourage me and remind me of how much Jesus loves me. I love her.
AND THEN...to top off my wonderful day,one of my Hindu friends was telling us how she is alive to seek forgiveness for the sins of her past life and there is no real heaven or hell. Hell is here on earth. She was wearing this red necklace and said her grandma did a ritual and prayed over the necklace so that she won't receive anymore "evil stares from people at school". And she has a god for everything. etc. My friend Ziyanda was trying to ask questions that would make her think and open a door to be able to witness to her. She kept asking me to help, but I just felt like crying. I felt so horrible that I could say nothing and here Ziyanda was trying so hard and becoming more and more discouraged, I just felt like giving up right then and there.
Sometimes I wish I could go back to my little bubble in Hosanna, where I never was challenged for my beliefs and I never had to worry about whether my friends were saved or not because they had the chance every Wednesday in chapel. I know God has a plan for me here at Waterford, but what if I’m not helping? I feel like I’m not doing anything to help God’s kingdom , but at the same time, I’m slipping farther an farther into doubt. Its sad how people change what the Bible says to fit there own agenda. Like ….”why should God only accept you into heaven if you have a relationship with Jesus, lets make it so that if you’re a “good person” you get in.” Isn’t that like idolatry, creating your own God. ??
And it seems that they are happy with what they believe, so how can I help. I can show love, but so can they. Nothing I say will change their minds. My mom told me “ You are not superwoman, you can’t change the world by yourself.” I know that. I know that I need to just trust God and pray, but I just don’t want my friends to go to Hell. I want everyone to be in heaven with us. Someone asked me, “why do you even care so much?? If you know where you’re going , why worry about where everyone else is going?” For some reason, I just cannot think like that. It sure would be easier, but it doesn’t seem right. What do you do in a place where Christians are a joke and considered intolerant? I guess that's the world though. All we can do is pray that God would use us to change one person at at a time to bring glory to His name. I'm not even worthy enough to be in this position, but Jesus loves me and wants to use me. I just pray that I don't let Him down. I don't want to doubt like Thomas, I want to be so sure of my faith that NOTHING in the world could make me doubt.
I love rainbows, like Mrs. Susan, I absolutely love them. The past three days there have been such beautiful rainbows over Mbabane. I almost cried when I saw one on Thursday (but didn't have anymore tears left), God is so amazing. His love overwhelms me. I don't know why I ever doubt, when I feel His love so strongly in my life. He is continuously reminding me that He will never leave me, His promise remains true, I will never walk alone. Even at Waterford, even in this world. HE WILL NEVER LET YOU WALK ALONE! NEVER.
Don't you wish you knew all the answers to questions that non believers ask you? I know I do. But I don't and even though I can study and learn apologetics, I will NEVER have all the answers. This battle is one walked by faith. God, help me not to be like Thomas, but to have faith in every circumstance. John 20:26 - "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Give me the words to say, and quiet my spirit when I feel like exploding (e.g crying ). Direct my every conversation and my whole being. I am fully yours.
Ephesians 6: 10-20. My prayer.
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
First, it was my history teacher who is …well I really don’t know. She is American, but HATES America, and she never really teaches us History, we usually end up talking about homosexuality, global warming, or how she hates Christianity. She goes to an Anglican church, but only because she 'likes the ritual thing and the smell of the incense . She says she believes in God but "not the whole Jesus thing". She basically was going on about how the Bible isn't accurate because the Catholic church picked and chose what should be in it many years ago, so of course nothing contradicts itself, everything that did they took out. She said," If there is a loving God, why would he make it so there is only one way to heaven , through Jesus. What about all the "good" people in the world. I sure don't want to believe in a God that condemns people to hell just because they were brought up in a different religion. What's the point?"
SECOND: After what happened in history class,Lizette and myself went to tutor period, enxious to be able to tell our tutor what happened and thinking that she also believed the same as us, she would be able to encourage us. Lizette and I were especially hurt/shocked by what happened here, because we thought she believed the same as us. Turned out, we were very wrong.
After we told her what our history teaches was saying, she asked us," Why are you getting so upset? You know what you believe , so don't worry about it"
SO then we said , " But it's hard not to worry about it because we don't want people to not go to heaven, isn't it our jobs , as Christians to witness?"
Then she said, "How can we judge where someone is going? That is Gods decision and I think He will decide justly."
I agree with that completely, and we weren't judging, we just assumed that since our history teacher does not believe in Jesus as her Lord and Saviour and doesn't the Bible say that "Jesus is the way, the truth , and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him.", that right now, if that is what she truly believes, well.....you know.
So then our tutor ( she is Catholic) told us that she believes that there is no hell, hell in the bible represents earth and what we have to go through, so we all will end up in heaven one day no matter what religion you come from because when we see God face to face we will be able to ask for forgiveness and go into heaven. SO basically she said that, they in their Catholic faith, believe that God is loving and therefore would not condemn anyone to hell just because they didn't follow Jesus or accept Him as the only way. I was so sad, because I thought that she was a Christian. I know not all Catholics believe that because Lizette is Catholic and she is one of the most radical Christians I know who definitely knows Jesus is the only way. My heart felt like it dropped after hearing this, I called my mom and could not stop crying. Lizette remained strong, as usual, to encourage me and remind me of how much Jesus loves me. I love her.
AND THEN...to top off my wonderful day,one of my Hindu friends was telling us how she is alive to seek forgiveness for the sins of her past life and there is no real heaven or hell. Hell is here on earth. She was wearing this red necklace and said her grandma did a ritual and prayed over the necklace so that she won't receive anymore "evil stares from people at school". And she has a god for everything. etc. My friend Ziyanda was trying to ask questions that would make her think and open a door to be able to witness to her. She kept asking me to help, but I just felt like crying. I felt so horrible that I could say nothing and here Ziyanda was trying so hard and becoming more and more discouraged, I just felt like giving up right then and there.
Sometimes I wish I could go back to my little bubble in Hosanna, where I never was challenged for my beliefs and I never had to worry about whether my friends were saved or not because they had the chance every Wednesday in chapel. I know God has a plan for me here at Waterford, but what if I’m not helping? I feel like I’m not doing anything to help God’s kingdom , but at the same time, I’m slipping farther an farther into doubt. Its sad how people change what the Bible says to fit there own agenda. Like ….”why should God only accept you into heaven if you have a relationship with Jesus, lets make it so that if you’re a “good person” you get in.” Isn’t that like idolatry, creating your own God. ??
And it seems that they are happy with what they believe, so how can I help. I can show love, but so can they. Nothing I say will change their minds. My mom told me “ You are not superwoman, you can’t change the world by yourself.” I know that. I know that I need to just trust God and pray, but I just don’t want my friends to go to Hell. I want everyone to be in heaven with us. Someone asked me, “why do you even care so much?? If you know where you’re going , why worry about where everyone else is going?” For some reason, I just cannot think like that. It sure would be easier, but it doesn’t seem right. What do you do in a place where Christians are a joke and considered intolerant? I guess that's the world though. All we can do is pray that God would use us to change one person at at a time to bring glory to His name. I'm not even worthy enough to be in this position, but Jesus loves me and wants to use me. I just pray that I don't let Him down. I don't want to doubt like Thomas, I want to be so sure of my faith that NOTHING in the world could make me doubt.
I love rainbows, like Mrs. Susan, I absolutely love them. The past three days there have been such beautiful rainbows over Mbabane. I almost cried when I saw one on Thursday (but didn't have anymore tears left), God is so amazing. His love overwhelms me. I don't know why I ever doubt, when I feel His love so strongly in my life. He is continuously reminding me that He will never leave me, His promise remains true, I will never walk alone. Even at Waterford, even in this world. HE WILL NEVER LET YOU WALK ALONE! NEVER.
Don't you wish you knew all the answers to questions that non believers ask you? I know I do. But I don't and even though I can study and learn apologetics, I will NEVER have all the answers. This battle is one walked by faith. God, help me not to be like Thomas, but to have faith in every circumstance. John 20:26 - "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Give me the words to say, and quiet my spirit when I feel like exploding (e.g crying ). Direct my every conversation and my whole being. I am fully yours.
Ephesians 6: 10-20. My prayer.
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
No more shortcuts for me.
So...It is wednesday again and honestly...not much has happened since last wednesday. School closes tomorrow for Easter Break , so that is exciting.
There are no words to describe the way I'm feeling right now, except for empty. Empty. That's perfect. I NEED to spend time with God, I NEED to get into the Word. I WANT to feel Him in my life like I used to....before school stated. And I know, that is NO excuse. I get so involved with my school work and stressing over tests, that I forget and procrastinate doing my Bible study. I dont know why I care so much about school......I guess it is not really a bad thing, but I need to set my priorities straight : GOD, School, and then soccer. If I want to be all that God wants me to be and if I want His plan for my life to happen, I need to do this. Starting now. Jesus please forgive me for not putting You first. I want more of You and less of me.
Yestersay i 'bout had a heart-attack!! I was walking along this short-cut, path thingy to get to the office from where the bus drops me in town, and I was listening to my music, so I wasn't really paying attention to what was going on around me. There was this guy , who looked high on drugs and drunk at the same time, um.....going to the bathroom in the bushes. Next thing I knew, he was jumping at me and HE WASNT EVEN DONE GOING TO THE BATHROOM!! OH MY GOSH! I have neverrrr run so fast in my life!! Thank God I jumped to the other side of the path just in time, phew. My heart was racing. It is kindof funny...in a weird way now that I think about it, I mean I almost got peed on by a drunk guy. WHEN DOES THAT HAPPEN?? Not often. DISCUSTING. eww. So...moral of this story is...DONT TAKE SCARRY SHORTCUTS, USE MAIN ROAD WHERE THERE ARE NORMAL PEOPLE (hopefully). wow. lol.
Anyways...That's all for now. I would upload some pictures but it isn't working for some reason. Later.
There are no words to describe the way I'm feeling right now, except for empty. Empty. That's perfect. I NEED to spend time with God, I NEED to get into the Word. I WANT to feel Him in my life like I used to....before school stated. And I know, that is NO excuse. I get so involved with my school work and stressing over tests, that I forget and procrastinate doing my Bible study. I dont know why I care so much about school......I guess it is not really a bad thing, but I need to set my priorities straight : GOD, School, and then soccer. If I want to be all that God wants me to be and if I want His plan for my life to happen, I need to do this. Starting now. Jesus please forgive me for not putting You first. I want more of You and less of me.
Yestersay i 'bout had a heart-attack!! I was walking along this short-cut, path thingy to get to the office from where the bus drops me in town, and I was listening to my music, so I wasn't really paying attention to what was going on around me. There was this guy , who looked high on drugs and drunk at the same time, um.....going to the bathroom in the bushes. Next thing I knew, he was jumping at me and HE WASNT EVEN DONE GOING TO THE BATHROOM!! OH MY GOSH! I have neverrrr run so fast in my life!! Thank God I jumped to the other side of the path just in time, phew. My heart was racing. It is kindof funny...in a weird way now that I think about it, I mean I almost got peed on by a drunk guy. WHEN DOES THAT HAPPEN?? Not often. DISCUSTING. eww. So...moral of this story is...DONT TAKE SCARRY SHORTCUTS, USE MAIN ROAD WHERE THERE ARE NORMAL PEOPLE (hopefully). wow. lol.
Anyways...That's all for now. I would upload some pictures but it isn't working for some reason. Later.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
We are M.O.O. and M.O.O. are WE
Alright, Ive made a promise and I must keep it.........mee-maw. haha. So it is wednesday and Im at the office listening to the rain outside. Ahhh Swazi weather...gotta love it! SO last Wednesday was my 16th birthday..OH YEAH! SWEET SIXTEEN! No hectic dance party or anything like that...just school. But my day was great. My friends at school made me a poster and sang happy birthday to me in assembly...kindof embarrasing, the rest of the 500 students were like WHO CARES SHUT UP! I love my friends. Then, we my mom had a little party for me that night for all the Childrens Cup staff. And of course....the Ohlerking tradition....they all sang happy birthday to me in the most horrible, off key, loud, painful, but funny way you could imagine. And Trinity coloured me a beautiful picture, though I am still trying to decide if the object on the page is supposed to be me or .....a tree. trin is awesome! Then I got a lot of emails, which made it even better.
School is going okay. Just seems like the work and studying never ends, guess thats life though. Maybe I should just be a stay at home mom.....okay no, wouldnt work out for me. Thank God for them, but I just always have to be doing something.
Our youth group at school is still growing and we voted on a name a few weeks ago. Um......were called the M.O.O............mount of olives. Its okay I guess....but I wanted something catchy like H2O or RAMP or REFUGE (oh yea...representin HPC), but oh well....MOO we are and we are MOO. Yipee. BUT ANYWAYS.......we were supposed to be having a youth worship night at school this Friday...but everything fell through and we had to cancel it. I was soo sad because everyone had been looking forward to it and we were hoping that it would be a life changing event, but then Charles saved the day! DUH-NUH-NUH-NUH!!!!!! So, we are still going to have a youth night Friday, but at a different venue and its going to be cool. Basically I have two days to spread the news and plan how to get people there and home again. PLEASE PRAY! Transportation is the biggest problem when trying to have an event here. urg. Please pray that it goes well and that God moves , even though it is kindof a last minute thing. God is in control.
You know what?? I really want to go to South America. Yeah ...I do. I dont know why, but its been on my heart for a long time now. Ecuador or Peru or anywhere really. I dont know what God has in mind for my life, but I wonder why I feel such a longing to be there. In His perfect time. Just wait, Gabby.
I always have to tell myself just to chill and stop planning my life, when its not even my own to plan.
So...soccer is going well. We won a tournament this past weekend and my school team also won a tournament this past weekend. My school also had a 21k half marathon in sunday (from the Oshoek border to the top of the Waterford hill.....OUCH), but since I had a soccer tournament later that day, me and 3 other girls formed a relay team and each ran 5.1k's. It was fun, and I wasnt tired for my soccer games so all was well.
Thats all for now. My dad really wants to go home. My mom isnt home so it looks like he has to come up with something for dinner. Hes really excited ( wink wink). Until next time,
We are MOO. haha.
School is going okay. Just seems like the work and studying never ends, guess thats life though. Maybe I should just be a stay at home mom.....okay no, wouldnt work out for me. Thank God for them, but I just always have to be doing something.
Our youth group at school is still growing and we voted on a name a few weeks ago. Um......were called the M.O.O............mount of olives. Its okay I guess....but I wanted something catchy like H2O or RAMP or REFUGE (oh yea...representin HPC), but oh well....MOO we are and we are MOO. Yipee. BUT ANYWAYS.......we were supposed to be having a youth worship night at school this Friday...but everything fell through and we had to cancel it. I was soo sad because everyone had been looking forward to it and we were hoping that it would be a life changing event, but then Charles saved the day! DUH-NUH-NUH-NUH!!!!!! So, we are still going to have a youth night Friday, but at a different venue and its going to be cool. Basically I have two days to spread the news and plan how to get people there and home again. PLEASE PRAY! Transportation is the biggest problem when trying to have an event here. urg. Please pray that it goes well and that God moves , even though it is kindof a last minute thing. God is in control.
You know what?? I really want to go to South America. Yeah ...I do. I dont know why, but its been on my heart for a long time now. Ecuador or Peru or anywhere really. I dont know what God has in mind for my life, but I wonder why I feel such a longing to be there. In His perfect time. Just wait, Gabby.
I always have to tell myself just to chill and stop planning my life, when its not even my own to plan.
So...soccer is going well. We won a tournament this past weekend and my school team also won a tournament this past weekend. My school also had a 21k half marathon in sunday (from the Oshoek border to the top of the Waterford hill.....OUCH), but since I had a soccer tournament later that day, me and 3 other girls formed a relay team and each ran 5.1k's. It was fun, and I wasnt tired for my soccer games so all was well.
Thats all for now. My dad really wants to go home. My mom isnt home so it looks like he has to come up with something for dinner. Hes really excited ( wink wink). Until next time,
We are MOO. haha.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Can you hear me now? GOOD.
Stephanie my wonderful cousin, this is for you. I LOVE YOU. lol. I had the most splendid tim.......OKAY ENOUGH WITH THE FUNKY ENGLISH! I've been around too many British people lately. lol. I loved hangin out with you and samantha. I will never forget our swing mishaps and nathanaels encouraging words "You have to strive!". or whatever he said. Yall are the best cousins anyone could hope for. PLease come visit us. I LOVE YOU> haha.
Now that that is over with, whats been going on? Oh, bible study at school has been growing with each new week. Nathanael preached yesterday on being "Souled out to the world or Souled out for Christ". It was really good. I was so proud of him. All of the older students were impressed because hes probably the youngest person there and he preached to them. It was really cool. LIzete is planning a youth event for the youth by the youth. PLease pray that God guides us with that and that He is there in everything from the planning to the actual event, if it happens.
School has been rough. Im struggling with a few subjects. My birthday is next month yay! Sweet 16. I asked my parents for a car......you can guess the answer. I think I'll take a couple friends on our next vacation as my party/preasent. Were going to Durban after this term.
Well....I have to go to my next class. Ill write more soon. LATER!!
Now that that is over with, whats been going on? Oh, bible study at school has been growing with each new week. Nathanael preached yesterday on being "Souled out to the world or Souled out for Christ". It was really good. I was so proud of him. All of the older students were impressed because hes probably the youngest person there and he preached to them. It was really cool. LIzete is planning a youth event for the youth by the youth. PLease pray that God guides us with that and that He is there in everything from the planning to the actual event, if it happens.
School has been rough. Im struggling with a few subjects. My birthday is next month yay! Sweet 16. I asked my parents for a car......you can guess the answer. I think I'll take a couple friends on our next vacation as my party/preasent. Were going to Durban after this term.
Well....I have to go to my next class. Ill write more soon. LATER!!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Bak in SD!!
Hi everyone, SOOOO....It seems I have a lot to catch up on. The U.S was great, but I got homesick for Swaziland about 2 weeks before we left. Its good to be home. I love Swaziland , I really do. The last few weeks we were in Louisiana. Spending time with family was fun. I got to hang out with my best friend, Angelle because they had just moved back from Minnisota while we were there. Definately some unforgetable moments. Shes awesome. We also got to spend time with family in Alabama and Pennsylvania. Well, School started last week. Im in form 4 , now. Nathanael started Form 1 , so he now goes to Waterford with me. Its nice having a bus-buddy, lol. Watching the Form 1's is quite funny though. They're always lost or think they're late etc. Hes getting used to it though. It kinda grows on you. The classes I chose to take are: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Music, P.E. Studies (different from P.E), HIstory, Math, English, and Spanish. So I;m taking the maximum amount of classes you can take. The least is 7 I think. I have no free periods and soccer every afternoon, so this homework thing isn't going to work out. lol. Just kidding, homework comes first, of course! ;) So actually, I've been stressing because I need to drop a subject, but I dont know what, because I dont know what I need to take to go into Sports Medicine or just Medicine. Actually, I was thinking about joining the army because I dont really know what I want to do and ......okay, I guess thats not a very good reason. lol. Im praying that God shows me what to do. I've been playing soccer a lot since we've been back and just catching up with friends. A few day after we got back, I went to a water park in South Africa called Badplaas, with my friend Lizette and about 7 other girls. It was fun, especially beating all those mean South African girls in volleyball. Well....I really miss Patrick and Charles and Kristen. Life just isn't the same without them here. I simply cannot wait for them to return!!!! All of my friends at school are asking where they are because they want another youth event. lol. Well.....not much else has happened..atleast not that I can think of. I'll write more soon. I HAVE SOO MUCH HOMEWORK!!!
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