First Month

This first month has gone by faster than we could have imagined. We have been very busy getting our life here going and other a few hard days we are blessed to have had a smooth start.

Last week our whole team spent several days on a team retreat at Lake Kariba which borders Zimbabwe and Zambia. We had time to get to know one another, relax, and review what all has been happening in Mumena over the past years. With three new families (including Jason and I) joining the existing team, it was a much needed time together that we greatly appreciated our supporting churches making possible for us.

Since then Jason and I have been busy bees continuing to get situated at our new home in the bush. I am getting used to (kind-of) making everything from scratch, riding my bike with a long skirt on, and checking the walls and floor for termites daily. Jason has been getting set up for a 4- H project he is venturing to start with the school here. He has some really great plans for it that he will blog about sometime soon so I won't give away too much information... But lets just say...there are already some really cute goat kiddos that will be the first teaching tools of the program.

Also this week, we were given our church plant assignments. Jason and I will be working with a church near the roadside, which is very close to Mumena, as well as a church a good drive away pretty far into the bush. Since the farther away church is not accessible from a vehicle during the rainy season (because of the road conditions getting there) we will not be visiting there for another couple of months. But we are very excited to get started building relationships with the members of the church at the roadside. It is a great church to invite the teachers we are living near and those Jason will work with in Ag to come to because it is within walking distance. Please keep these churches and our work with them in your prayers.

Speaking of prayers, thank you to those of you who prayed fervently for the snake bite scare with Jason. This is also something he will write about later but I will say, God was in control that day and the outcome was 100% an answer to prayers. We are already encountering intense times where our faith is being challenged and I hope that we continue to grow while we strive to rely on Him.

Hopefully sometime this month I will upload pictures of our house and surrounding areas, so be looking forward to that. Hope you have a happy February!

We found this little critter on the road at the team retreat

Funny little first update from Zambia!

After a very long journey we have gotten settled in at our little house in Mumena. I will be able to post pictures of it at some point, it is still needing a few finishing touches before the grand tour. What a blessed first week...The weather is wonderful; a cool rain comes through pretty much everyday. Reuniting with friends we made previously has been very fulfilling. When Jason and I were here in the summer of 09' we were not married so our Zambian friends get really excited when we point to our house and say, "we are married now and live just over there." 

Thank you for all of your prayers for safe travel, we had a seamless trip getting here. The only mishap happened the night we arrived in Mumena. After about an hour of unpacking I realized I was missing a bag, then not 10 min after realizing that, Jason got very quiet, held his hand up to me and said "um...go in the other room." Of course I knew exactly why.... a snake. I have an irrational fear of snakes, but considering we live in the land of mambas, puff-adders, and cobras, my fears aren't too far fetched in my opinion. I got my torch and walked very briskly to get help. By the time help got there Jason had already picked the snake up and opened its mouth up to make sure it wasn't a black mamba. Luckily it was a mole snake. I never actually saw it, which I am assured is for the best. Out of the four American missionary families that have lived in Mumena over the past 5 years Jason and I are the first to have a snake in our house. We think it came in on his backpack while we unloaded the truck. the good news is, the snake is gone and my missing luggage made it to Mumena within less than two days. I think we are going to have a lot of fun the next couple years and it is kind of neat that our first adventure story happened the very night we got here. 

Please keep praying for our adjustment these first months. More updates hopefully coming soon!

P.S. A visual of our new life in Mumena....Jason at the very top of a HUGE avocado tree in our back yard knocking down avocados the size of honey due melons as I run around the base of the tree trying to catch them with a camp chair.... : )

Light up the sky

In about a week Jason, Jeremy, Whitney and I will be on a plane headed toward Zambia. It is a little surreal at this moment. We have already said many goodbyes in Texas and have more to say now that we are back in Chattanooga until our departure next week. I have neglected our blog because of the craziness of the past month, travels, holidays, and lots and lots of to-do lists. Seems like I set out to get 10 things done many days but only succeed in checking a few things off the list. But I have faith that everything will be okay even if I do not get to put as many check marks down each day as I would like. 

Our last training module with The Halbert Institute was just great. We grew a lot as an apprentice team over the weekend and were greatly blessed by the sessions our supporters attended. Thank you to those of you that prayed for that time, our prayers were definitely answered. 

We said goodbye to Texas early early Christmas eve morning. Jason drove the first few hours then woke me up to take over. He fell fast asleep immediately so I had a some alone time on my hands. I started to get a little sad thinking about how I will miss so many friends and loved ones in Texas. I had my ipod on shuffle and just as I started to let the sad feelings overwhelm me the song "Light up the Sky" by The Afters came on. Some of the chorus lyrics are...

You light, light, light up the sky

You light up the sky to show me that you are with me

And I, I, I can't deny

No I can't deny that you right here with me

You've opened my eyes

So I can see you all around me

You light, light, light up the sky

You light up the sky to show me that you are with me

As this song was playing the sun was rising...and it was the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen.  I took this picture with my phone so I could remember this amazing moment when I was reminded no matter where we are or where we are going, God is is with us. 

"...great is your faithfulness" Lamentations 3:23

I hope this is encouraging to at least a few. Please be in prayer for our families as we get so close to leaving them and finish our sweet goodbyes. Blessing to everyone for the new year!

Roanoke Days

So, we have been in Roanoke for the past weeks with my family and it has been so great! Time is flying by, can't believe we are almost a month away from leaving for Zambia. One special blessing about being in Ft. Worth is that Jason and I have been able to talk about Zambia with one bible class so far, and hopefully a couple more from The Hills Church of Christ. They helped support our one-time cost fund through their Greater Things campaign so we have just been really excited to have time to spend with another loving, supportive, and missions minded church who is partnering with our team.

We are looking forward to all that is planned for the last couple of weeks here, more time with friends and family, shopping for last minute supplies (I love shopping for anything, even the mundane i.e socks, slime bike tubes, and travel toilet paper), the supporters module with Halbert Institute of Missions, and of course the family Christmas which we will have early since Jason and I will be in Chattanooga on the 25th.

While I have been keeping myself pretty busy catching up with friends and preparing for goodbyes Jason has been working at the ranch with my Dad doing what he loves to do. Today they "worked" calves, which gave me the perfect opportunity to take pictures of the precious little babies. If only they could stay small and cute for forever, but then again that wouldn't be too good for the cattle business I suppose. I will leave you with a few pictures from today.

I hope everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit and enjoying December!

Prayer Partners

Over the past months many have committed to being prayer partners for our team during the time leading up to our departure and time on the field in Zambia. Frequently we will give updates on current and ongoing prayer requests. We greatly appreciate you remembering our team in your prayers!

Thankful for Thanksgiving

I am thankful for thanksgiving because it gives us an opportunity to think about what we are thankful for. This thanksgiving I am thankful for oh so many blessings, my wonderful husband, church family, my friends, and for my supportive and loving family. God is good, All the time!

"Give thanks to the LORD for he is good; his love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

The trip from Chattanooga to Roanoke and vice-versa seems to get longer and more tiring every time we make it...please note we arrived 10 min before Thanksgiving lunch started, perfect timing?  It was a whirlwind of a day but it's great to be home. We have 4 giant dogs (3 weimaraners and a great dane) and a jack/rat terrier here at my parents house right now so it is quite the circus but I love it and I am happy to be here!

I will probably introduce you to more pets during the month we are here but for now meet "Sorrely" (pronounced sar-lee). He is quite the character to say the least.

I hope everyone had the chance to take time to be thankful yesterday and be reminded of the abundant blessing our Lord showers us with. Happy day after Thanksgiving!

Sand Mountain

Jason and I have been up to Sand Mountain several times over the past month and I have loved going  because it is quiet and the scenery is beautiful. So I thought I would share a little bit of the loveliness with you...

 

Also, if you read this blog you will be wanting to keep up with our teammates/brother and sister-in-law's blog.Click here to check it out. 

Have a wonderful Saturday!