TELL ME THERE'S A HEAVEN

Before going to Mozambique God put this song on my heart. Since coming back he makes my heart ache with this song. I just wanted to share it, it was part of make poverty history,supported by save the children, shelter and oxfam.

To me it is a cry to make sense of all the unfairness in the world, one line "tell me there's a reason why i'm seeing what i do" I feel it has been put on my heart to share as God keeps prompting me with it. There is a reason why we see what we do, because with Gods help we can all make a difference. Tell me there's a heaven? begs a response that it is true, that one day Gods justice will prevail through all the suffering.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2mp8BUNT-Q

Their weakness was turned to Strength - Hebrews 11:34

Well, we are all home safe and sound after an incredible journey. We set off on Thursday morning after visiting the boys, Martin gave them all medals to say that they were all winners because they were on Gods team - even the guard at the gate wanted one! What a re-assurance, however hard things get - we are on the winning team. We sang to them - 'Jesus' love is very wonderful' along with actions! (although from the picture it looks more like a version of YMCA!!) and they sang farewell to us and prayed for us, a very emotional moment. We were planning to be at the airport for 11.30am, but let's remember we are still on African time. At about 12 lunch was ready! although it was lovely our minds were not focused on food but on flights, the last time for boarding was 12.20pm when the gates close as the flight was at 1pm. After lunch we had presents given, some lovely shirts reminding us of the beautiful country we were leaving, and then, just when we thought it was safe to leave....speeches, then more speeches, thankfully Pastor Bonga cut one short, it was now 12.15pm, with 5 minutes to get to the airport we were just praying that the flight would be on African time too!

We set off for the airport, there were police stopping vehicles on the way but thankfully we were not stopped, we arrived at the airport about 12.30 to a very disgruntled staff who said we were extremely late and should have arrived ages ago, we were praying that it was not too late to check in, a notice on the counter reminded us check in was 2 hours before departure (not 10 minutes after check-in had closed!). Our passports were checked, boarding cards issued (praise God!), bags weighed, airport tax duty paid as we headed into the departure lounge, we walked straight onto the plane as it was boarding - with 3 minutes to spare!!!! My heart was in my mouth and i was praying the Lord would not allow us to miss this flight, i can only imagine what was going through Martin & Daves minds after the disasterous journey Into Africa, God was gracious and the flights 'Out of Africa' were to perfection.

Praise God we boarded with all the gang waving from the balcony, i remember the sadness well from last time, i am sure we all had heavy hearts, i had tears in my eyes and in my heart, an overwhelming sadness, but a joy of knowing one day, God willing, i will see our family in Africa again, hopefully in this life, if not in the next, they will be there dancing and singing with all their might, of that i am sure!!
We all had trouble-free flights home and Anne, Ruth and myself all did a bit of duty-free shopping. No cigarettes for me tho, after having given up last year on 'Ash' Wednesday i started smoking again just before Christmas during a difficult time, relying on my nicotine addiction instead of my God. I felt God was giving me an ideal opportunity to quit, i had just attended a funeral 2 days before going to Africa of a friend of mine who had died from lung cancer and i wanted to break the habit. The change of routine was just what i needed, i didn't miss them or have any desire to smoke, nor have i since returning home, i have the energy and freedom back i remember from last time and i just pray that, if tempted, i am able to hand it back over to God. It does not make me a better person or a better Christian because i have stopped smoking, just healthier, i feel sometimes we can be judgemental of those who smoke but we all have our own personal battles but, thankfully, God sings a sweeter tune! of course smoking will not prevent anyone from getting to heaven - they may just get there a bit quicker!!!. On the plane i watched 'The Bucket List' a wonderful film with Jack Nicholson & Morgan Freeman, they had 6 months to live and made a list of all the things they had wanted to do. One was to go on safari and as they did they sang "Whimoweh, Whimoweh .... in the jungle the mighty jungle the lion sleeps tonight", it made me smile as that is exactly what we did and it was a reminder of the wonderful blessings God has in store for those who love him.

I think we all went straight to bed when we got home, then i had a hot bubble bath, what a luxury i felt really clean as i soaked & steamed away, my mind began to focus on New Wine, which i am really looking forward to, doing one week on team and one week holiday, that can be a struggle for some - camping and portable loos and showers - but compared to 2 weeks in Mozambique it is 4 star luxury!!!!!

We have all had a wonderful journey and adventure, as a group we got on so well and drew closer to each other, just bearing with each other and helping each other, to me it was being part of a real Christian family. I must thank Dawn, Ruths' mum,for taking us to and from the airport at early hours - what a star!!!! all of you for your encouragement and support and taking the time to read our blogs and follow our journey.

God has challenged each one of us and not only has it been a fruitful time in the lives of those at Casa Reom, but also in our own personal lives, not settling for less than God has promised us, our weaknesses turned to strenghts as we allowed God to take us out of our frying pans! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!.....FOREVER & EVER....AMEN.

RESTING IN HIS LOVE

Just Like Home!

Ruth & I were woken up in the middle of the night to the sound of a thunderstorm and all the windows frantically flapping, we went back to sleep, no sign of Roland & his mates for a few days now. We were woken up again by the sound of the Mullah and the sound of rain - I thought i was back home! We had a great breakfast of rolls and cheese slices and were picked up - on time! to go to the conference.

Us girls did not know where we would be going today, in case we were going to Dondo i collected some of my little shower gel bottles for a gift for the older girls as we had not time to shop, i had given one some wet wipes the day before and she was delighted, us ladies like perfumed things. I had one small bottle that was empty so i filled it with some of my CKin2U (A Christmas present i was given as i cannot normally afford such luxuries, i had brought it so i would feel special while away if needed as to me it is a real treat for high-days and holidays) I filled up the small bottle and was reminded of the woman who anointed Jesus and the value of the fragrance, but more importantly the value of the act, to my friends at Dondo it would not matter if it was CKin2U or Wilko value shower gel (my usual!), it was the act involved and it made this story very real to me. Left is Douche, the girl i spoke about yesterday, i sat her in a beautiful spot and she is beautiful, however the reality of where she lives, and most people here is shown in the other picture, a view from Casa Reom balcony where we are staying.

Martin & Dave went to the conference in the morning and Ruth, Anne and I went to Inhamizua (Dondo tomorrow). We played team games and made parachute men, they all followed our demonstration - Blue Peter style - and it was a huge success, much better than just handing stuff out we all did it together!

We were told we would be picked up for 12 to go to the conference for lunch - we were picked up at 12.10!! amazing!! hope they don't get too English with their timing. Anne gave her talk on Aids which was received with great enthusiasm and she was great, she was really pushed out of her frying pan as she had not given a talk in public before, (God's great at chucking us in at the deep end but he never lets us drown, even in those rivers of difficulty not only do we float often we discover we swim real well!) she has also been texting, which she had never done before so we smile that God had to send her to Africa to learn how to text!!

Time has gone so quick, it does not seem possible we arrived a week ago, well some of us anyway!, time is drawing to an end and i will be sad to leave, I have learnt a lot from the people here, i wish everyone could experience this - whether they want to or not! - it has certainly had another huge impact on the way i view things.

We have just had tea, fried chicken and chips! - how things have changed since my last visit when i had fish heads and nearly every meal was satza (a sort of maize gloop!) just so i didn't forget we had some at Dondo yesterday, well some of us did!! it has been so much easier, particularly with the freedom of going out to the cafe on the corner, souvenier market and just for a wander around, last time we spent most of our time in the base which was fustrating at times but we were only the second team to visit and it was new to all of us, I think it helps having Pastor Martin with us.

There were two little street children outside when we went to the cafe, on my last visit we were told not to give money as they all run to you, but on this occassion i felt compelled to, later Anne & I were having a Fanta in the cafe on the corner, the same 2 boys came in and bought a muffin each, such joy on their faces and then they beamed thro the window waving at us. As we left they came and held my hand, i thought they were asking for more money but they just wanted to know my name, one was Rudolph and i forget the other, but when they asked me i told them "I am Madrugada!" they smiled and inside i beamed, I like the name it just feels right!

I don't know how you value riches personally, but to me I am reminded, as i discovered on my last visit, i may have more in other ways but (in my opinion) the people of Mozamique are far richer than u or I.

I know i am going home soon and am sad, but i hope God brings me back before another 7 years pass!

A Lazy crocodile in the sun

Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow

Sadly it has been hard to access the internet as it has been down a lot but here goes. Yesterday we went to Golongoza which was an experience, a total of almost 12 hours on a chapa, we all sang to keep our spirits up - "The wheels on the bus go Clang bang crash, Clatter bump bang, Crash bang Wallop....12 hours long!" . The park was beautiful but the animals were in hiding, lots of wild boar, impala, crocs, birds & monkeys which was cool but no big game, however we had a nice lunch in a hunting style african lodge which was a wonderful experience. A memorable part was when i fell down the toilet, much to the amusement of the others! when we arrived i was desperate for the loo and I asked Simao where it was, he pointed to a bamboo screen in the middle of nowhere, so Anne, Ruth and myself all went, i 'went' first, as i entered in there were just two holes in the ground, which i was expecting, what i wasn't expecting was for the ground to give way as i walked in and my leg went down the hole up to my knee! thankfully after they all stopped laughing Anne had a medical kit so we cleaned it up, no real harm done and even i couldn't stop laughing, after the initial shock. What was even funnier was that as us girls returned to the others and explained what had happened Dave had just 'been' to a proper ceramic toilet nearby,....hilarious!! i think Simao was getting his own back on us girls!!!
When we returned to Casa Reom we all went to bed to rest our bones!
This morning was the best experience yet, my last visit to an African church was so moving, this even more so. As we approached the church there were sounds of beautiful African voices singing and chanting, the archway was adorned with palm leaves and beautiful deep pink flowers and a tie-dye banner proclaimed of Pastor Martins visit, it truly was the bridegroom and his bride, the church, it is hard to put into words but it is a moment i will never forget. I hope Martin will be able to post some photos soon. I loved the dancing and singing and it was impossible to keep my feet still, nor would i want to, fantastic!! us English can be so stiff! I loved it, we all shared in the service and it was followed by a wonderful lunch, a truly humbling experience which cannot be put into words but cannot be erased from my memory!

The gang's all here!

Well it's Friday evening and we are now all together. We went to the airport to meet Martin and Dave yesterday and even then the flight was two & half hours late, as it made a detour and stop on the way! but finally after their tour of Africa they landed, it was a joy and relief to see them touch the tarmac at Biera, I thought Martin might kiss it!

We spent the evening chatting about their adventure and i was wrong - there was a plush hotel and pool involved- i think they deserved that at least!

This morning we went to Inhamizua and gave more balloons and chalk to the boys, Ruth and I taught the boys the alphabet and numbers and Anne was almost mobbed when she got out a pot of pens! We had some plastic parachute men to give to them, about 70, but when we got them out realised we had to tie the string onto the man and parachute on each one! - we decided to come back and make them at Casa Reom, however after doing a couple decided it would be a good lesson on Monday when we go back - how to make a parachute man, a do-it-yourself Blue Peter style lesson. We then went on to Dondo and gave out finger puppets, we were given lunch of Satza (a sort of maize mix) and spinach, it reminded me of my first visit to Casa Reom, the food was more challenging then, but the children loved it and ate with such enthusiasm, gratitude and almost in silence, a far cry from the students with school dinners back at home.

We visited Iris Ministries and then returned to Casa Reom. We went down to the sea where the boats were coming in for the fish market which was smelly but facinating. Tomorrow we have a day off - a real treat - and are going to Gologoza (may have spelt it wrong!) a safari park - which is beyond my wildest dreams. We have to be up at the crack of Madrugada (Dawn in Portuguese) in order to go so it will be a real adventure and hopefully we will get a taste of more of the beauty of Africa! - Madrugada - Out of Africa still!

A Ray of Light a Dondo

Lollipops, Balloons, Cuddly Toys, these are a few of my favourite things.........