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.

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.