shopping list

Hey People,
SO, I am definitely bored. SO I wanted to tell you some of the food I miss like mad.
Twix!!!
Hamburgers (not even the real kind, the burger king make you fat kind)
steak (I worked at outback, what can I say?)
salad
french fries
milk shakes
twix
Nonnie's yummy pasta (the unfortunate part of that situation is that she isn't even MY grandma...)
and the list goes on...
Friends, I tell you. next to the whole washer and dryer and having my own car thing, food is something I miss. And you of course!! because anyone who just read through that totally random blog entry is definitely my friend. I love you guys!! Sar

Another report!! Fun fun fun!

This has week has been filled with danger, mystery, and excitement.... ok, not really, let me explain!

Our big kids have started walking to school in gondola recently because they were taking for granted the privileges they have. So they began walking. This 20 minute walk is taking about 2 hours for these guys, and as the person responsible for them I am determined to find out what they are doing for the extra hour and forty minutes. One evening last week I decided it was time to do a little spy work. So I got some snacks, plenty of water, and set my self up in the bushes trying not to be seen. This sounds like an easy task... but then, I'm white. So it was a little obvious. Also, I am terribly afraid of snakes, so every time I heard the bushes rustle, I would jump out like a crazy person and run, most of the time it was nothing. One time it was a mouse. I was there for about 1 1/2 hours. It was pretty hot and I finished all my snacks within the first 20 minutes. I didn't end up seeing anything there that those big ones were doing, but I did see all the littler ones walking home! I didn't discover too much on my spying trip, but I did get several really strange looks from the villagers going home for the night, and really itchy. But I always get kind of strange looks, and the itching stopped, so it wasn't bad at all!

The rest of the week was pretty normal. The second week of the English service at church was good. We had less people than the week before. I am praying for our numbers to double every week!! I am feeling pretty good, just recovering from malaria, so some little headaches. I am eating well. Thank you for all of your prayers.

I love you guys!!! I can't wait, soon I'll be home and I can tell you all my silly stories in person! Today one of the kids was looking at my arm hair and she said, sheesh auntie Sarah, it's too much, it's like uncle Abner!!! (not in english of course) oy!! I love you tons!!!

Sar

report 2-14-06

This week has been pretty much average. The normal struggle of getting the kids to study, and do devotions, and clean, and work, and stay out of trouble, and the list goes on. We have started to have devotions together as staff, students, and kids. That is definitely good for the kids as well as the students.

In my spiritual life I have been struggling to keep myself "afloat" lately. These days I fight to do devotions, fight to pray, fight to even get my thinking off myself. I have been really pouring my heart out to God in my journal, I feel like David, why don't you hear me, God? Why are you so far away? All my energy is spent chasing kids around yelling at them to do what they are supposed to do. A couple of nights ago in devotions we were having group prayer (something I have never experienced in such a way as they do it here, everyone walks around and prays LOUD and claps and dances and does whatever else). These times always distract me, not being used to it so much. I was finished praying and I was looking at the kids (I know, you aren't supposed to do that), and I was watching this one girl, and she was crying, literally crying before God. We were only praying for school, and she was crying. I was like, God these kids, these lazy, stubborn, obnoxious (certainly not all of them or all the time, but at the time how I felt about some of them) kids can pray this way. Why can't I? What is wrong with me? Why can't I get over myself and just pray like I mean it? Why do I have to be so "traditional"? Why am I pretending to be all "spiritual" when right now I don't even feel like it? Why can't I let myself be broken before God in front of people? Then I started to cry. Needless to say it was a good time of refreshment for my dry spirit. Devotions are still a battle, I still have to fight to have time for my own spiritual nourishment, but I am fighting harder now.

I have also been reading out of the Teen Missions Library. All of those missionary stories and such. And I have been reminded in my own life to look for God's hand in everything. One thing I have been noticing lately is water. It is really dry here these days, and my water gets finished quicker than I'd like. I have noticed though, the last few times, the water stays until the exact day it rains and I can collect more. Last week I was supposed to be out of water, then I found one 5 liter jug FULL!! Then when that one was empty I was going to have to go to the bore hole, and I looked down sadly at my jugs and the very one I had poured the water out of before was half way full! I can tell you, I was definitely praising the Lord!! That lasted me through the end of the day and the next morning it rained!! I know that it was definitely God giving me the extra water!! I have been noticing more than ever the little things like that, things that I may have just dismissed as forgetfulness before, now I am seeing, it's not me... God is taking care of me. I praise Him for His power!!

Another refreshing spring in my life has been the start of the English service at church. It just started Sunday, but I am SO excited about it! I have been sitting in churches for months like a bump on a log. Not understanding much, not knowing all the songs, not being fed at all. Now we are singing English songs, hearing the Word in English. Even just after one service I am feeling refreshed! Even in this spiritual valley, I am amazed at the way God is working in my life, that I was too blind to see before! Praise God for his ability to take the spiritual blinders off.

Saturday I started to get Malaria, again. It seems like a monthly thing for me. It's been about a month since last time. yuck! But this time isn't so bad. Clarissa has been giving me some food, since my appetite has gone and I am too tired to prepare for myself. Thank the Lord for her and Simon's generosity and care for the staff. Other than that I am ok.

Thank you for your prayers, please continue to pray for me.
In Him,
Sarah

Happy Valentines day Everyone!!! Hope you are having a great day!!!

ramblings

Hey guys! Hows stuff that side? Here it's ok... I am sitting with Kate on my lap while she talks and kicks the keyboard every few seconds. People, I miss you like mad. I can't wait to come home and give you all huge hugs. I have been kinda homesick lately... I know, I have been gone for 8 months, you'd think that was about over... but no. Anyways, I have thought of another thing to remember when walking with a bucket on your head... watch out for snakes in front of you, cause if you see one to the side and jump you will definitely drop your bucket, and it will definitely break and get water all over you. Kind of like the goat thing, but more dangerous!! Yesterday I had a huge scare... There was a snake in my house... only it wasn't a snake, it was a broken hair-tie that was sitting on my lovely pile of nappies... I almost had a heart attack. There have been lots of snakes lately... and in houses too!! yikes!! Anyway, I have to go grocery shopping. fun stuff!! I have to see my shoprite boyfriend. (I really have boyfriends wherever I go, don't be so surprised people!!) . It is actually the uncle of Katie, and everyone wants a white person, and the fact that his neice is my daughter makes it an easy in for him (he thinks!) . Anyway, gotta go!! Love you guys!!
Sar

Top 10 things to remember when you are carrying a bucket on your head for a long time

10. definitely put something between the bucket and your head!
9. wear clothes you don't mind getting pretty wet.
8. try to find a lid, it helps with #9.
7. try to find someone to go with you just in case you die on the way.
6. If you can get past the place where you feel like you are going to die, you'll probably make it.
5. carry a small bucket.
4. If you can carry it to the side... it helps... except your arms get tired.
3. when your arms get tired, for heavens sake, don't take them down.
2. That tingling will probably stop at some point, but don't take the arms off the bucket.
1. watch out for goats... sometimes I think they are trying to knock you down (especially if they are tied, they get that rope across the road and down you go!!)!

I hope these little tips have been helpful to you all... the next time you have a bucket on your head, I am sure you will recall these little suggestions!

2-6-06 report

It has been a good two weeks since my last report. The kids have started school and we are left with just a few kids during the day. But that doesn't mean there is any lack of excitement around here.

Because of all the rain we have been having, the well water is all muddy. So I have been making the daily trek to the bore hole. It's really not too far. The first time I went alone (without Katie) but since then, I have taken her. The kids have decided I am a real African and that now I have to stay in Africa. Everyone is also asking me to fetch water for them, for which they receive an emphatic no! The water has been thankfully starting to clear again so at least I can now cook, bathe, and wash with it. And the rains are starting up again, and the rain water works great for all of those things too!

With the start of the school year we have a few new kids going to school! That is so exciting for them. They get up super early (they go to school in the Afternoon) and then they bathe by 10:30 and are dressed up in all their school clothes at least a hour before they are supposed to leave! New scholars are so funny! Also we are really forcing the kids to study this term. We have study time scheduled every day. My group of kids is 8-9th grades. It is really alarming to me to see how the education system is in Mozambique. I had them doing speed drills with simple addition, multiplication, and division. It took me 47 seconds to do the 100 problems. It took them between 4 and 9 minutes!!
Crazy!! So now we are practicing, especially simple math, every day!! We have a daily battle to get the kids to come, though. Please pray for us as we struggle to help these kids with their studies.

My health is good. I have had a little bit of headache lately, but I think it's just from heat. I am eating ok, mostly cooking for myself, eating with the kids some. I have been eating a LOT of peanutbutter!! :-) It reminds me of my team!!

I hope everyone is well there! New Pics everyone!!Check it out!!http://photobucket.com/albums/d55/SnapsFromAfrica/