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.........

God's children at Dondo

All of us are God's children and all equal, so why does life seem unfair here, these children are the lucky ones!

Indian Ocean

Ruth & Anne in the Indian Ocean

Junior

Bathtime in Mozambique for the more fortunate!

Precious Time

Thanks for all your comments, it is so encouraging and uplifting for us all. It's Thursday lunch and hopefull, God willing, Martin and Dave will be joining us around 5.30pm - what a saga! Yesterday we actually got to go to the beach and paddle in the Indian Ocean which was a real treat. Last night we had another visit from Roland and his mate who climbed in and ate the coconut Pastor Bonga had bought us yesterday! It is a joy to see how the conditions have changed here for the boys and for visitors, it seems quiet without the boys at the actual centre here but so much better for all concerned. I saw the old building downstairs where they used to sleep on my last visit, the showers, toilets and food have all improved and it makes it all the more pleasant for this visit. We visited Dondo this morning to see the babies, which has not changed much since my last visit, unlike Inhamizua which is a joy to see the vision now a living reality. In Dondo they have tiled showers and loo but still no running water, there is a well they get washing water from but for drinking water they have to walk over 3 miles for fresh water in dry seasons. The smell was of amonia and babies have no proper nappies, i held a beautiful baby girl and was told she was wet, which i already knew, but could not bear to put her down, it was really hard. Compared to most orphans they are so lucky they have proper beds, tho not enough and they are fed and cared for so well, hopefully they will soon be able to afford running water there and are desperate for a new roof as it leaks during the rain. However, the love the staff give is overwhelming and although they have no material posessions and are lacking many things, they do not lack love from those who are there to care for them, i am in great awe of those helping there, they are truely selfless.
I was sat on the balcony reading early this morning, watched another accident outside they just hit each other and carry on!! What a joy to get up in the sunshine and have time to read sitting in it's warmth, i braved the cold shower then dried my hair in the sun. I laughed as 'junior', a little boy here, bathed on the veranda and splashed and played with bubbles from the bucket of washing next to him, such joy transcends all language barriers and is just pure fun, like balloons, pulling funny faces, silly noises, splashing water, it is all so simple and basic here. I try to explain what it's like back home, they laugh at how fast us English walk and it's true even tho we were in no hurry we dash along! It reminded me of a line from the Shawshank Redemption when Brooks came out of prison after about 30 years and he couldn't cope, he said "The world went and got itself in one God-damn hurry", being here makes me realise more than ever how i often miss out on the precious gift of time, I like African time, if feel quite at home here.
We havn't heard from Martin so trust that no news is good news and he will soon be joining us later today, Please Lord!

Boys Playing with Bubble Machine

This is a photo of the boys playing with a bubble machine we brought, sadly Martin is the only one with a digital camera so i have downloaded this from my phone, hopefully will have some great pictures to send soon.

We're nearly all here!

Well it's Wednesday lunchtime and Anne, Ruth and I are at the Casa R'eom base, we arrived yesterday as scheduled having had a trouble free flight and time to browse the shops at Jo'burg, one was called "Out of Africa" in which they were playing Amazing Grace! - my favourite, it was God making his presence known - of that i am sure. Unfortunately, Martin and Dave did not meet us at Jo'burg as planned. Their connecting flight from Frankfurt to Jo'burg was delayed and they did not make the flight out to Biera, we tried to delay the flight and plead for them to wait, but to no avail, we heard since they missed it by less than ten minutes but they will be arriving today in an hour. . or two, or three, or four... I had visions of them relaxing in a first class hotel in South Africa and taking a swim in the pool to pass the day away but i think that will be far from the truth!
In their absence we have been treated so well, we all went for a stroll round Beira last night and watched a bright red sun set on the horizon of the Indian Ocean about 6ish, the view in front was idyllic, the view behind quite the opposite. We climbed some stairs of a building to get a view of the city by night, praise God we had a light on the phone, they were dark, broken and extremely dangerous, like just about everything around her - but what a view!
We all managed to sleep, despite our little visitors, I am sharing with Ruth and she was worried on hearing the rats, envisaging big black monsters, a little white one peeped over the rafters and after seeing it, although being still quite apprehensive i think it put some fears to rest. I can do rats, i kept them, will let u know what happens when the cockroaches come out to play tho!! not too comfortable with that one - ok from a distance. This morning i went to the shower, they now have 2 here! one even fooled me by having a hot water tap on it, no such luck!, but even running water is a luxury here.
Pastor Bonga drove us to Inhamizua this morning, we got ready for 9am as instructed as the leaving time, and set off at 10.30am - as expected!!! remembering it's African time. The roads and quality of the vehicles is unbelieveable, we got stuck behind someone taking their driving test - hilarious !! - I have no idea what you would have to do to fail a test round here seems anything goes. The best vehicles seem to be some immaculate 1970's motorbikes, they're everywhere, or maybe it's just me that notices them and in prestine condition, unlike everything else here, perhaps they just don't rust as it hardly rains, not sure why but they are all Hondas and look like they've just come out the showroom, not that i have any inclination to try one out on these roads. We greeted the boys and took photos and gifts and saw the progress of Pastor Bongas house and the new classrooms and buildings. It is heartbreaking, children here cannot afford an education, those who go to school are so grateful for the opportunity to learn and cherish their school it is a great privalage, a far cry from the attitude of so many of the children in our country. The poverty is overwhelming and hard to take in, even though i have seen it before it is so easy to forget.
We have just got news as i write that Martin and Dave have flown from Jo'burg and are at Maputo but their is no flight to Beira today, not till 4.30pm tomorrow! They can fly back to Jo'burg and get the 11am flight tomorrow from there or wait for the 4.30pm one tomorrow from Maputo, but sadly they will not now be here today.
I cannot imagine how fustrated they must be at such a waste of days, but pray that they are able to face each new circumstance without becoming too disheartened.
I am sitting here scratching my mossy bites as we speak and are off to have lunch the hospitality is outstanding, what little they have, and it is sparce, they share with such joy. Thinking of all my friends and family at home in plenty, we are so lucky, i am glad and ashamed to be reminded just how fortunate and blessed my life has been and how thankless i have been at times.

"I'm on my way!"

Well June 2nd is here, it seemed such a long way off before i broke up from school, today all staff are back in for a teacher training day and, as the Proclaimers put it, "I'm on my Way!" Ruths mum is kindly picking up Anne and myself at about half twelve to take us to Heathrow, and Martin and David are travelling from Birmingham. We plan to meet up in Jo'burg if the flights are on time, we fly straight through to Jo'burg but Martin and Dave change at Frankfurt before arriving in South Africa. We then fly on to Beira and arrive about 1pm on 3rd June, God willing, but it is African time!I have been refreshing my very basic Portuguese, Hello, Good Morning, Thank you etc..... one phrase which was suggested as useful was "Do you have Sky TV in this hotel?" somehow i just know i won't need to learn that one! On my last visit i washed for 2 weeks in a bucket of warm water, which to me was preferable to the cold shower which dribbled water, but having spent many years camping that was no hardship. I am however about to soak in a hot bubble bath full of steaming water, a luxury most of us take for granted and one i will enjoy on my return, others in this day and age are not so fortunate and the precious water i take for granted is scarce and life-giving, it is good for me to be reminded of how much i am provided for.My next blog will literally be 'Out of Africa' and i thank God for this opportunity to meet again and spend time with more of his family. Somebody said how 'good' I was to want to go to Africa, 'good' has nothing to do with it. 'grace' is the word, I give very little compared to what i receive from my brothers and sisters there. I close with the Proclaimers lyrics "I'm on my way to what I want from this world, And years from now you'll make it to the next world" that is the sure and certain hope we all have as the body of Christ.