On Thursday, we went to the hospital and prayed over men that were in the orthopaedic wing. Many of them had had surgeries or injuries that was causing them to be bed ridden. We split up into two teams and was able to pray, talk with, give bananas and pictures some of the girls had drawn on base to them. It was a great time to see them encouraged.
We also went back to the Bocaria on Friday. Cheyenne, Shantae, and I with other visitors walked around the neighborhood to pray for people that were sick. Anna went to the top of the dump to pray. This time we weren't as taken back by their living situations, but instead were able to focus on the needs there and ask for God's Kingdom to come and change the area.
We also spent time on base just hanging out with the kids. We went to Catherine's dorm; she has mainly 4 and 5 year olds which include some of the kids we've been spending a lot of time with. We colored a butterfly and made cross necklaces with them. We also went to the girls dorm again to color with them, paint their nails, and make things with gimp. It's been so much fun we are sad to see it come to an end.
On Saturday night we went to the prayer hut to worship. God really spoke to the girls their. On Sunday, we had a group time where we shared some of our favorite moments over the last few weeks as well as what God has been doing in our lives. I don't want to give away the stories, but I can assure you that God is changing live here.
Today is our last day, so we are spending it just hanging out with the kids and playing. We wake up at 4am tomorrow to travel to Krueger National Park for our Safari. After that we begin our trek home.
Prayer requests:
Safe travels over the next 3 days
No lost luggage
Great health as we travel
We will see you all in a few days and can't wait to share pictures and talk to you about the wonderful things God is doing in Mozambique!!
Monday, July 8, 2013
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Street Ministry and Machave
I just want to start of by saying how humbled I am being here. I've heard stories of how some of the children ended up living here and I am so moved to see how the long term missionaries accept and love new children immediately. These children have been abandoned, given up on, and left behind by their families. The missionaries welcome them with open arms and love them so unconditionally. It's wonderful to see how Jesus is working here and how love is just given away so freely.
On Tuesday, Brieonna, Shantae, Cheyenne, Anna, and Keisha went on street ministry. They were split into two groups and went to two different prisons. Keisha, Brieonna, and Shantae went to one and two of the inmates accepted Christ. Anna and Cheyenne went to the other and Cheyenne prayed over the inmates and was sharing what God was putting on her heart. After that, they went to the abandoned house again. Anna taught and the presence of God was strong. Cheyenne again prayed over a girl that lived there and the girl was very happy with the prayer.
On Wednesday, we went to Laura's Dorm which houses about 27 boys. We had a group of about 9 boys and we made cross necklaces with them and made some fun things with the gimp. It was great to get to get to interact with this group. We also made friendship bracelets with the girls in their dorm. It was less chaotic than the time with the gimp so it went smoothly. Cheyenne and I went to the Machave Iris Base with a group of other visitors to drop off donations there. It's outside the city of Maputo. This bases houses about 90 children that are 4 or older. They have a building that has a hair and nail salon and a sewing room that teaches the girls skills they can use when they get older. It was a beautiful base with many different tree and flowers. It was very peaceful there.
We are having a great time as our time dwindles down. Please continue to pray for us.
Prayer requests:
Keisha's eye: It has been swollen and watery for a few days
Brieonna's throat: It has been sore today
Homesickness
Obeidence in the spirt
Monday, July 1, 2013
Bocaria and Shopping
It's been a few days since the last time I was able to post, and in those few days we've done quite a bit. On Friday, all six of us went to a place called the Bocaria. It has a cool name, but it's the city dump. There are many people that live at the bottom of the trash mountain and during the day, they climb to the top or dig through the hill looking for things that can be recycled or used for the different businesses they have. It was Heidi Bakers first church when she came to Mozambique. Five of us went to the top and prayed for many adults and children. Brieonna went with the other half to pray for people in the community surrounding the dump. I prayed for one lady who was searching for fake hair that was thrown out. She was putting it all back together to sell. Others wanted prayer for their families or their businesses. It was heartbreaking to see how they lived and what they did every day. When a new dump truck came in, many would run to it to be the first to go through it. Brieonna got to pray for a man that could not walk. Once the team was finished praying, the man stood up! We then went back to the little church and sang worship songs, introduced ourselves and said something that was encouraging to the kids and adults. We also gave out bread and beans to the children and baby clothes to the little guys. Most of us are going to back this Friday. Iris does many of the things that we've done on a weekly basis so we will get a second chance to do some of the ministries.
On Saturday we got to go into the city to some shopping for our friends and families. I guess you'll have to wait and see if you're one of the lucky ones :) We also got to eat down by the beach. It was great to eat chicken and french fries. It was a change from the rice and bread we've been eating most days. We also go to put our feet in the Indian Ocean. That was pretty neat!
Saturday evening we attended a weekly youth service. They really know how to dance and get into the spirit of worship. We all worked up a sweat following along with the others that already knew the moves.
Sunday was church and then we just hung out with the children jumping rope and coloring. It was a nice relaxing day.
Today, Anna, Keisha and I helped pack 68 boxes of food and supplies for families in the community. They get a new box every two weeks. It has 2 bags of rice and sugar, 1 bag of beans, washing detergent for dishes and clothes, cooking oil and soap. It was hard work, but I can see how this project blesses those in the area. The girls have been having a blast just hanging out with the kids. Cheyenne has taken a liking to the nursery and has been playing with the little babies, feeding them and putting them down for naps.
We are all growing in our relationship with God in different ways!
Prayer Requests:
I have a small sinus infection that I would like to not have.
Anna's hands - they are improving but aren't 100%
Car sickness when we travel to the different ministries
Continued growth and risk taking
Deeper positive interactions with the kids at the base
To get as much out of this mission as we can in our last week here
Thanks for your prayers and support! We love and miss you!
Crystal
On Saturday we got to go into the city to some shopping for our friends and families. I guess you'll have to wait and see if you're one of the lucky ones :) We also got to eat down by the beach. It was great to eat chicken and french fries. It was a change from the rice and bread we've been eating most days. We also go to put our feet in the Indian Ocean. That was pretty neat!
Saturday evening we attended a weekly youth service. They really know how to dance and get into the spirit of worship. We all worked up a sweat following along with the others that already knew the moves.
Sunday was church and then we just hung out with the children jumping rope and coloring. It was a nice relaxing day.
Today, Anna, Keisha and I helped pack 68 boxes of food and supplies for families in the community. They get a new box every two weeks. It has 2 bags of rice and sugar, 1 bag of beans, washing detergent for dishes and clothes, cooking oil and soap. It was hard work, but I can see how this project blesses those in the area. The girls have been having a blast just hanging out with the kids. Cheyenne has taken a liking to the nursery and has been playing with the little babies, feeding them and putting them down for naps.
We are all growing in our relationship with God in different ways!
Prayer Requests:
I have a small sinus infection that I would like to not have.
Anna's hands - they are improving but aren't 100%
Car sickness when we travel to the different ministries
Continued growth and risk taking
Deeper positive interactions with the kids at the base
To get as much out of this mission as we can in our last week here
Thanks for your prayers and support! We love and miss you!
Crystal
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Outreach Amazingness!
The last few days have been full of outreaches in and out of the base. On Tuesday, Keisha, Shantae and I went on a street ministry to pray for people. Our first stop was two different jails. Keisha and Shantae went to one, and I was grouped with a team from South Africa to go to another jail. We sang a worship song and gave a short word on forgiveness and being loved by God. Afterward, we got to pray for each person in the jail. Some cried, some accepted Jesus as their Lord, and some just thanked up for the bread and beans. It was a powerful time though. The teams then joined together and we went to an abandoned house where teenagers and young adults live. The house did not have a roof and there was garbage everywhere. When we arrived, many came out to worship, dance, and pray with us. The Mozambiquans gave a word and again we prayed for them. They also received bread and beans. It was a great outreach.
Yesterday, Cheyenne and I went to a special needs center. When we first arrived, there were many children in wheelchairs, high chairs and beds facing a TV that had Smallville playing. The workers told us we could take the children on walks or play with them on a mattress they laid out for us. The children were so happy to get attention from people. Two young girls could not walk on their feet, but there were very proficient at getting around on their knees. They were chasing another girl that went with us that was from another team. Cheyenne held one little boy that could not walk and I also held a little girl that could not walk and was very scared of everything. By the end of the time though, I had her smiling and laughing. It seems that the workers care for their very basic needs, however, they do not provide any sort of physical therapy. The children were all very stiff. Please pray for this center to receive a physical therapist so they can gain use of their arms and legs.
Anna, Keisha, and Brieonna also went on a street ministry yesterday. They went to an a park in the middle of the city, Maputo. They had worship and prayed as well. Many people did not show up for a while. Near the end of their time there, they came out for the bread and beans. Pray for an outpouring of wanting to know Jesus in this area.
We have also had many fun time inside the base. Yesterday, we took visors, sidewalk chalk, and butterflies to the 4 - 6 year old house. They are transitioning from the baby house to the dorms. They were so happy for us to be here and were laughing and giggling with us as we did the crafts. There were about 12 children here and we were told about half of them are HIV positive. Pray for healing of these little children. They are so precious and wonderful!
The team also went into the girls dorm on Tuesday to do gimp with them. That was a CRAZY time. Every girl would take a few pieces, go hide them, and try to come back for more! They use gimp to make items to sell in the base shop, so I understand why they were so excited to get it, but at the same time is was very chaotic for us to hand out the gimp. We want to do this again, but we have to organize it a bit better.
We are all holding up very well, and God is using us in unique ways! We miss and love you all!
Prayer Requests:
Continued unity of the team
Cheyenne's Health
Obedience and taking risks to try something new
3 babies - they are in the hospital and very sick (one had heart surgery)
Divine healing of the HIV on the base
Yesterday, Cheyenne and I went to a special needs center. When we first arrived, there were many children in wheelchairs, high chairs and beds facing a TV that had Smallville playing. The workers told us we could take the children on walks or play with them on a mattress they laid out for us. The children were so happy to get attention from people. Two young girls could not walk on their feet, but there were very proficient at getting around on their knees. They were chasing another girl that went with us that was from another team. Cheyenne held one little boy that could not walk and I also held a little girl that could not walk and was very scared of everything. By the end of the time though, I had her smiling and laughing. It seems that the workers care for their very basic needs, however, they do not provide any sort of physical therapy. The children were all very stiff. Please pray for this center to receive a physical therapist so they can gain use of their arms and legs.
Anna, Keisha, and Brieonna also went on a street ministry yesterday. They went to an a park in the middle of the city, Maputo. They had worship and prayed as well. Many people did not show up for a while. Near the end of their time there, they came out for the bread and beans. Pray for an outpouring of wanting to know Jesus in this area.
We have also had many fun time inside the base. Yesterday, we took visors, sidewalk chalk, and butterflies to the 4 - 6 year old house. They are transitioning from the baby house to the dorms. They were so happy for us to be here and were laughing and giggling with us as we did the crafts. There were about 12 children here and we were told about half of them are HIV positive. Pray for healing of these little children. They are so precious and wonderful!
The team also went into the girls dorm on Tuesday to do gimp with them. That was a CRAZY time. Every girl would take a few pieces, go hide them, and try to come back for more! They use gimp to make items to sell in the base shop, so I understand why they were so excited to get it, but at the same time is was very chaotic for us to hand out the gimp. We want to do this again, but we have to organize it a bit better.
We are all holding up very well, and God is using us in unique ways! We miss and love you all!
Prayer Requests:
Continued unity of the team
Cheyenne's Health
Obedience and taking risks to try something new
3 babies - they are in the hospital and very sick (one had heart surgery)
Divine healing of the HIV on the base
Monday, June 24, 2013
Zimpeto is full of joy!
So after two days of traveling and then sleeping for 14 hours straight, we finally are in the groove of ministries. It's been an amazing time so far. The six of us have met so many great children and missionaries.
We went to church yesterday. The worship was amazing. All the children and young adults get up and dance in the front and they have moves for many of the songs. Anna, Keisha, and Cheyenne jumped right in. There is so much joy in the hearts of the people here. The afternoon was spent playing with the kids and taking a walk to the local gas station to pick up some snacks (chocolate) and juice. We also bought a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables. Its all so delicious!
Today we went to the staff worship and again everyone was dancing and singing with all their hearts. There is a special needs house here that has about 8 children in it. They come to this worship and they were dancing with us. There is a boy that was born without eyes and a few of the children can't walk or talk. We prayed over them and just loved on them during the worship. After worship, we played with bubbles and the two and three years olds were laughing and running around trying to pop them! It was a lot of fun. We then tried to teach the older boys and girls how to jump double dutch. I think a few of them are going to get it soon! We are having a blast playing with the kids, eating lots of rice and bread and just getting to know everyone here.
One funny story, after sleeping 14 hours we were still a little off. They have sirens here that signal what time it is for the kids (wake up, eat, and bed time). Well the bedtime one went off and Shantae and Brieonna were asleep. That siren woke them up, they got up, showered, and dressed and were waiting outside our room to go to breakfast. They were positive it was morning and time to get up!
Prayer requests:
Unity for the team
Continued health
Anna's hands (her exzema is acting up)
Adjustments to a new culture and activities
Listening to the Holy Spirit for guidance and being obedient
Thanks for reading! Comment so we know you're praying for us!
We went to church yesterday. The worship was amazing. All the children and young adults get up and dance in the front and they have moves for many of the songs. Anna, Keisha, and Cheyenne jumped right in. There is so much joy in the hearts of the people here. The afternoon was spent playing with the kids and taking a walk to the local gas station to pick up some snacks (chocolate) and juice. We also bought a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables. Its all so delicious!
Today we went to the staff worship and again everyone was dancing and singing with all their hearts. There is a special needs house here that has about 8 children in it. They come to this worship and they were dancing with us. There is a boy that was born without eyes and a few of the children can't walk or talk. We prayed over them and just loved on them during the worship. After worship, we played with bubbles and the two and three years olds were laughing and running around trying to pop them! It was a lot of fun. We then tried to teach the older boys and girls how to jump double dutch. I think a few of them are going to get it soon! We are having a blast playing with the kids, eating lots of rice and bread and just getting to know everyone here.
One funny story, after sleeping 14 hours we were still a little off. They have sirens here that signal what time it is for the kids (wake up, eat, and bed time). Well the bedtime one went off and Shantae and Brieonna were asleep. That siren woke them up, they got up, showered, and dressed and were waiting outside our room to go to breakfast. They were positive it was morning and time to get up!
Prayer requests:
Unity for the team
Continued health
Anna's hands (her exzema is acting up)
Adjustments to a new culture and activities
Listening to the Holy Spirit for guidance and being obedient
Thanks for reading! Comment so we know you're praying for us!
Monday, June 17, 2013
We leave on Wednesday!!
Freedom Outreach is sending 6 girls to Mozambique! We will be be heading to Zimpeto to work along side Iris Ministries. The team includes Anna Altemus, Keisha Jackson, Breiona Miller, Cheyenne Glasco, Shantae Hall and myself.
We have been preparing for this trip for two years. We had bi-weekly meetings, fundraisers, and outreaches to help get us to this point. God had provided and we are ready to go!
If you would like to know more about where we are going and what we will be doing check out the link:
http://www.irisminzimpeto.org/
I hope to be able to update weekly or twice a week. Check back often for updates and prayer requests! Thank you for your support and prayers.
Please pray for the following:
Safety as we travel for 2 days: We leave from Newark, NJ, head to Paris, France, then to Johannesburg South Africa, and ending in Maputo, Mozambique.
Team Unity: That we get along for three weeks, support each other, and love each other at all times.
Luggage: That it arrives with us and gets through customs with no problems.
Health: That we all stay healthy the whole time!
We have been preparing for this trip for two years. We had bi-weekly meetings, fundraisers, and outreaches to help get us to this point. God had provided and we are ready to go!
If you would like to know more about where we are going and what we will be doing check out the link:
http://www.irisminzimpeto.org/
I hope to be able to update weekly or twice a week. Check back often for updates and prayer requests! Thank you for your support and prayers.
Please pray for the following:
Safety as we travel for 2 days: We leave from Newark, NJ, head to Paris, France, then to Johannesburg South Africa, and ending in Maputo, Mozambique.
Team Unity: That we get along for three weeks, support each other, and love each other at all times.
Luggage: That it arrives with us and gets through customs with no problems.
Health: That we all stay healthy the whole time!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
It was a hot one!
Sorry I didn't blog last. We had an extended worship time and they rushed us right to bed. However, yesterday was a hot one. At Belgica, we stained a fence all morning. And we were in the sun most of the time we were staining. All 5 of us worked on the fence while the 4 from Virginia installed the banister they made yesterday. Our staining turned out pretty good if you think using 3 different colored stains is the right way of staining. Our fence has a beautiful gradient of cherry, walnut, and oak. After lunch, our group had a lot of fun walking around the community handing out more rice and beans and invitations to the party in the park today. We practice our Spanish and we were laughed at many times and were extremely thankful when they spoke English. We talked with one man that had all of us say at least one thing in Spanish and another man that lived in Lancaster, PA for a part of his life! The meeting last night discussed "labels.". Labels we put on ourselves, labels others put on us, and how we should give them over to God. It was again another challenging message afterwards, all three groups had a fun extended worship and prayer time. We are having a blast! Thanks again and keep praying for us!
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