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!! ;)
Monday, November 12, 2007
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!!!!
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