I've arrived!

I had to leave early this morning from the Lodge. I no longer recommend that place. It was freezing, I didn't get any breakfast and the owner was drunk when I got there. I was not able to sleep a whole lot and am thus exhausted! BUT! I am here!!! Mark and Jen picked me up at the airport and I got both my bags! No hassles at the airport with weight or anything. But my clips for my hammock were stolen. :(

So guess what I have my own room and I am under my own mosquito net right this minute. I met with Caroline who wants to start up the Madagascar base this afternoon and had dinner with her and a group this evening. My own room also has a fan! and my own BATHROOM!!! We don't have water at the moment, but having your own bathroom is a very big deal! I am very excited about it. I am beyond exhausted and honestly feel as if I am dreaming. It is just so many sights and sounds and smells to take in at once. Children are all over the place and I want to engage and talk to them and am wishing i could speak Portuguese! and frustrated that I don't. I want to get up at midnight (when I turn 32) and go the the Bethel prayer hut, but I also want to lie down in this bed and sleep. I already know I will have crazy dreams! Good ones I hope. I plan to go through a little visitor orientation with Mark tomorrow on all the do's and don'ts around here. I also plan to meet with the Long Term Staff tomorrow.

Yvette told me to write about how I feel and right now I just feel really tired. I am completely unable to process or experience any emotion other than awe, really. I am just delighted to be in the place I never believed I would ever see again. And I am just kinda on guard or maybe just keenly aware of the possibility of coming back for a long period of time and I guess I am already trying to look at it all from this point of view. Every moment I think, could I do this for two years, 10, 20

some keys on this keyboard don't work all the time, i.e. the question mark. so i guess i can no longer self reflect. I want to take advantage of having the laptop and being online, but I also literally just sat down after a very long, busy day. All I can say for now is that I am here, safe and sound and have my own bathroom. There is a roachbug the size of Texas in there right now, but I smooshed him. I drowned him until he swam under the shower curtain and then I stepped on the shower curtain. I will deal with his remains in the morning. Roaches are less scary in the morning.

I am just looking forward to settling in here, so anxious to spend time with the kids and may get to go on outreach. There are 90 amazing students here too and I want to spend time with them and hear their stories. Musician Georgian Banov just got here and I can't wait to hear his music and dance with the Mozambicans. I also am anxious to plop my face into the Indian Ocean and delve into her beauty.

So, Yvette my thoughts are just that I miss my sister, the one person I miss most all the time and feel like I carry every single place I go. I keep asking myself if I could board that plane for a long, extended stay and not cry my eyes out. I keep wondering what has called me back here so strongly and I am anxious to find out. I feel completely at home and am very excited about getting to get out there and experience, but not today. It is late and I am jetlagged and about to be another year older!

I hope Jen will let me use her computer again and I will do my best to blog often and post pictures! Sherri, oh man do I wish you were here!! I am journaling in long hand, but will post highlights here as Jen permits.

That is mostly it for now. I am here and safe and sleepy and about to be 32.

Much much much more to come.

what happened to thursday?

i made it!!!! amber came and helped me pack and laura called and went over packing checklists with me, yvette stopped by to say goodbye and betty picked me up after work. i zipped through the airport and took my seat on the plane. i stopped at the brookstore across from the gate and used one of those massage chairs that massages your calves! we were late departing waiting on luggage and i did not get miraculously seated in first class, but that was okay. i didn't want to waste the calories on bad airplane cuisine anyway. i was seated next to two small blonde children who didn't make a peep except for the little girl gagged twice when she took a bite of her meal and i was about to leap out of my chair, but mother instinct (the same one that gets me excited about being in the HOV lane when i have my nephew in the backseat) crept in and i as able to console her and ask her if she was okay. i had planned to read all these books i had collected for the flight, but wound up watching TV the entire time. betty, they had mad men, season 2, first 4 episodes. about midnight i popped a lunesta and slept fitfully but fairly deeply fo 7 hours! i awoke to more TV, lunch and settled into The Secret Life of Bees (i read the book). but we landed before it was over. i have honestly been on worse flights and was suprised that this one was not as bad as i thought it would be. a girl named brenda was holding a sign with my name on it when i finally made it out the doors of the airport and i am now back at this little lodge where i have been once before. it is ran by this guy named Nepal FROM Nepal...it is cold here!!! but life in Georgia just makes me embrace this unfamiliar chill in the air. i hope i can rest tonight because i really just woke up a few hours ago and am all confused. i figure i can settle into one of my books now and get my last hot shower before my 8:30 departure in the morning. Carla, my heart doesn't know if it could get on a plane for good and leave my punkins, Sherri, i wish you were here more than you could know. we would be sitting by this lame little fire, eating french fries and laughing. betty, thank you for braving the airport just for me. i hope you got home! christine, you are coming on the next trip!! yvette, i will do my best on footage. jen habicht, wish you could come swim in the atlantic with me. i best go. i could write pages. i am safe. hope to sleep well and will be in PEMBA tomorrow at 1:00!!!!!!! Ahhh.

Finally!

The day of my departure is here. I leave tonight, fly for 17 hours, and arrive in Johannesburg at 5:10pm on Thursday. I am staying at the little lodge where I stayed two years ago when I missed my flight to London. It is a quaint little inn with comfy beds, hot water and a warm meal. Two years ago, they had a computer with dial-up so I am sure I will be able to post my arrival. I will leave the next morning for Pemba, stopping in Maputo and arriving in Pemba that afternoon. I already have a scheduled "meeting" with Caroline, the Madagascar missionary that day. I work from home today and that is a huge blessing. I have the morning to pack and can run to the bank during my lunch hour. Mama Betty Conner is coming over after work to take me to the airport and is bringing bathroom scales to weigh my luggage. I vowed I would travel light, but that didn't happen. My bags are full of gifts and goodies. I could not be more ready to go! The trip has been a long time coming and I am at total peace, elated to be going back and excited to see what the future brings as a result of this trip. I plan to blog as often as possible and post pictures and keep it interesting, raw and unedited.

another song in the soundtrack of my life

Iris Update

Makua Worship
Four years ago, in the South of Mozambique, one of our African youths shared his dream to see Mozambican worship music change the world. At the time, no resources were available for that music to be distributed, but his vision reached far beyond the present circumstances. Last year, that same young man was part of a pilot project in Pemba, Mozambique that captured some of the raw, Makua-language sounds in an original music CD, "Voice of the One." Armed with new recording equipment, made available through a number of generous special donations, we are back this summer recording an all-new, full-length album of Makua songs. We hope they will influence the culture here and abroad for the Kingdom, and that they will prove to be the first fruits of far more indigenous and heavenly art to come.

Roofs for Widows
What does love look like for a widow in an old house? This week love looks like a new roof before the rainy season. Some of our local Mozambican Bible students and pastors helped us find the oldest and poorest widows in Pemba so that we could demonstrate the love of the father for them in a very tangible and real way. Our team of Mozambicans and Harvest School students arrived to find a roof so full of rifts and ruptures that it couldn't really be described as shelter. As we tore the old covering off, it crumbled in our hands, brittle from years of sun and rain. Several generations of women were living in the house- the eldest celebrated with a bright toothless smile. The project attracted neighborhood kids so we split our team- half of us in the dirt dancing and playing with the kids. The Makua widow and I taught the kids a song, proclaiming that no matter where you look you won't find anyone like Jesus. And to top it all off, just a few dollars bought bread for all the kids! The message of the gospel is clear: love is not just an ideal, it is action in reality, in spirit, and in truth. How good it is to be with the poor and to pour out simple, practical love. We'll continue to repair roofs for the next five weeks as often as funds allow.

Stories of Outreach
Last Thursday, in true Iris fashion, teams of mission school students, Bible college students, missionaries, and visitors poured into a small flock of Land Rovers, venturing out into the Mozambican bush to wreak havoc on the enemy and see the kingdom of God advance! In the district of Churie, God healed many of the sick on the first night, including three deaf people who had their ears opened up! God's presence fell heavily during the worship service the next morning, and afterwards we walked through the village to the local watering hole for an incredible baptism time. Throughout our stay, the Makua and Iris team members remained full of joy and energy. Before we left, the local family of another faith who had allowed us to camp on their land accepted Jesus also.It seems none of our trips is without certain amusing difficulties, of course. On this trip we lacked the large open-backed truck that we normally used for a stage. Without it, our Harvest School and Mozambican Bible School students struggled gamely through a prepared drama, but without any boundaries to the play's action. The effect was hilariously chaotic, as the crowds intermingled closely with and around our actors in their excitement. The sound system had to be cranked up to amplify the actor's sounds over the close-in crowd's noise; the result was loud, messy... and ultimately beautiful nonetheless.Heidi received a very generous offering from this village: one fully-grown, live goat, which provided ample sound effects of its own during our return trip as it rode proudly on top of our Land Rover down the dusty road home. We gladly report that he is now safely settled at our Mieze children's home, with a ever-growing family of fellow goats for company.One of the most moving parts of the trip happened when a Makua grandmother brought us a beautiful albino orphan named Mariette. Albino children are difficult to care for in the villages, as their skin and eyes require special protection in the hot, sunny subtropical climate. We are now working with officials there to bring this precious baby to Pemba. There is great need for a new children's home in Churie, as there are 48 orphans in the one village we visited alone. We are in the process of building a hut there, and we continue to believe God for His increasing provision as we take in every orphan we can find, both here and from all over the country.Birthday CelebrationsYesterday we celebrated birthdays for all of our children born in June! For each child, a birthday is more than just a fun day, but a reminder of being adopted into a family. They are no longer orphans who don't have names or birthdays. Our heart is for them to feel a special and renewed sense of belonging at each one of these festivities. The celebration was held on the serene Wimbe Beach, and the kids had an incredible time. One of our missionaries, Yonnie, is in charge of the "ministry of fun" - a great priority here at Iris. She had the kids split into teams, and we held relay races up and down the beach. Though competing in teams, everyone was just happy to be out having fun, with no concept of prize-winning in evidence. After team "Alegria" won the last relay, all of the kids from different teams erupted into dancing and singing. They are so thrilled to be a family and to be having fun; there is no room for jealousy! When it came time to pass out the gifts, everyone began with praising and thanking God... and, of course, dancing! Each kid who had a birthday was called into the circle and given a gift bag with toys, and a new outfit. A few other children and missionaries gathered around and prayed a prayer of blessing over each child as they received their gifts. Afterwards, kids and adults dined eagerly on some much-prized cake. Anything sweet is a highly anticipated treat in Pemba! The children look forward to these celebrations once a month. Each child recognizes and understands God's provision, and is so thankful to be adopted and surrounded by people who love and support them. We would like to thank our supporters around the world once again for making all of this possible. You are all present with us in spirit, and we thank God for you daily.
Blessings and peace, from all our family here at Iris Ministries.

The Many Faces of Nathaniel

Mozambique Update from Mark & Jen

Good News

Greetings from Africa. It's been so long since we last wrote, we feel we have catch you up on life again here in Africa. Here among the poorest of the poor, the world economic crisis is not on the minds of the kids God has called us to serve. You see, in the west, we strive to succeed. Here in the 2/3rds world, they strive to survive. And they do it well, for they have been practicing for many years. They are a remarkably sharing culture, oftentimes giving up the meager possessions they own to help a family member or friend who might be in worse shape. It's hard to wrap your mind around a people who always have an ache in their stomach because it's never quite full. They play hard here at our center making soccer balls out of plastic bags and trampolines out of old tires and very seldom drink anything. A simple, hard life with very few distractions. The beauty of such a life is that what we have to offer as missionaries can have such an impact so quickly. Do you know what an ice cold soft drink tastes like to a boy whose only know well water? Or a chicken dinner to a little girl who lives her life eating rice and beans? Or more importantly, just spending time and being a father to a group of kids who don't have a father? I tell you it's big. Big to us, big to them and big to God. The Bible states, and I paraphrase. “Hey, poor people, you are blessed, because you have the inside track on understanding the kingdom of God. Hey, those of you who are hungry, don't worry, because you will be filled. Hey, you who are sad and crying, take heart, it won't be long before you will be laughing your heads off in joy”. (Luke 6:20,21). Of course, it's not solely the physical state that God is referring to, but a spiritual state. And yet, the physical can oftentimes set the stage for a greater capacity to understand the spiritual. Life lessons are all around us. I think God shakes things up at times to see where our hearts lie. Maybe you are seeing that in your own life. If so, take heart. God is so jealous He will go to any lengths to remove those things that hinder His love from getting through to you.
Children's Day

On June 1st all over Mozambique, they celebrate the children. Here at Iris, we provide a short presentation and teaching program, a full chicken and pop meal, games and last but not least, a bag of sweets....to about 2,200 kids. Let me say that again, two thousand two hundred kids. We start the day early with Heidi Baker handing out presents to our 175 full time resident children. Beaming faces always follow as they try on their new clothes and begin playing with the one or two simple toys they receive. Next we serve lunch to our own center kids. Then we let in a few hundred village children at a time and have a short Bible lesson, followed by a full plate of rice and ¼ chicken and a soft drink. Greasy fingers and greasy smiles can be found everywhere, as the kids hold up their chicken in pure delight. Off to our grass fields next for sack races, tug of war and everything in between. Screams of ecstasy for the winners can be heard all over the area.An hour before dark we form two lines (called a prayer tunnel) and usher the kids out of the center as we hand them a bag of candy. I have to say, I got wrecked this year during this part of the day. Having the honor of hugging and touching and praying for and kissing thousands of little kids. Most were covered with dirt and wore clothes so threadbare that the slightest touch could cause a tear. Many of the 10-13 year old girls had their little baby siblings wrapped in a piece of cloth on their backs. Such responsibility for such a young age. Anyway, these kids loved to be loved and hugged and prayed for. We must have had 100 people lined up loving on these little treasures from heaven ushering them back to their difficult existence outside our gates. And yet, happy to have spent a few hours with a group of people who genuinely loved them. South African Surprise

I lost a another tooth (I thought that was supposed to stop when I was a kid.....or maybe I'm getting old) and had to take a quick jaunt down to South Africa to get it fixed. We made it into a 10-day holiday as we overdosed on fast food; hot, clean water and buying a few treasures to bring back to Mozambique. We even got a chance to spend a day in Kruger Park and saw some amazing wild animals.

Winter Time Frenzy

Yes, June, July & August is our Winter. 85 to 90 degrees by day and in the 70's at night. And, almost like a college town, our community population triples when “school” is in session. Three weeks ago all was calm. We now have 75 visitors, 90 mission school students and 150 Mozambican national Bible school students, not to mention speakers from all over the world. It's our busiest time of the year as we help facilitate our visitors to experience the love and power of God here at Iris. Documented Miracles

We had an amazing (Global Awakening) team come last week and witnessed our amazing God do some outrageous things! On the team were doctors from Harvard, Boston University and Cambridge. The research couple from Harvard and Boston U. brought sophisticated hearing and sight testing equipment. They said they wanted to test people before we prayed for them and then test them immediately after prayer and let the test results speak for themselves. Their heart was to reach a group of people that were "on the bubble" in terms of really believing that God heals people today. They felt like there were many people in the world who would never believe in miracles while others believed in them no matter what. They were after the people, like themselves, who would like to see a little more evidence. Along with Heidi Baker, we did a bush outreach with another evangelist, David Hogan. Heidi called all the deaf and (almost) blind people to the back for testing first (quite a challenge in the bush)! The machines were hooked up and everyone tested. We then called them up on stage to pray and then back again for more testing. The results were instantaneous and miraculous. People who couldn't read even the top levels on they eye charts were suddenly able to read very small type. People who couldn't recognize normal loud sounds were instantly able to respond to the faintest noises. Once they officially publish the results, we'll post them on our website. In the meantime, wow God! Don't Take it Personal

Please forgive us for not being able to respond to your e-mails. We really would love to sit down and reply to everyone of you, but the demands of life here just flat prevent us from doing so. Please know that we do appreciate each and every message you send us. Our hearts are with you even if our communication doesn't reflect it. Please don't stop writing. We love you and miss you all.

Please visit us at http://liquidmyrrh.org/

Tiger, Deer and Rabbit Riding

We have a new half-way point meeting place, The Carousel at North Pointe Mall.

Savannah, a Wedding and 4 oh no! 3 Hermit Crabs

Catherine and I just got back from Savannah! We made a slight detour to Vidalia to visit the Tumi Outlet. No bargains were found. But we got Frosty's at Wendy's. It was miserably hot and I knew it was only foretelling of the weekend weather to come. Catherine's Frosty had a hole in the bottom, forcing us to combine them in my cup and I didn't really get any and it all melted way too fast. We stopped at a cute little gift shop on the square and cooled off. It was one of those like Bailes-Cobb in downtown Hartwell. It had tons of those handpainted Georgia Bulldog plates and bowls, handpainted signs about being Southern and local Vidalia Onion dressings and sauces. A sweet little old lady waited on us and giftwrapped the decorative iron bowl we picked out for Missy. Yes, I was a little last minute in getting a gift.

We met Elizabeth Glenn Howell and Rebecca Grizzle out on the Howell's amazing dock for shrimp. We watched the sunset and the porpoise swim. I love being on the marsh. It is one of my favorite places on earth. It soothes the soul.

Catherine and I got up early and combed the beach and explored the little shell and jewelry shops nearby. We heard that Miley Cyrus was on the island and had just left the jewelry store we were in. Catherine was not the least bit excited by this news and rolled her eyes when I got giddy with excitement of a potential celebrity spotting. Paul and Nancy Spencer arrived that afternoon. We walked the beach and Catherine explored the sea and marsh. Then we put on our sundresses and flip flops and went to a wedding.

Missy Duncan got married in the dunes on Tybee. It was very, very hot. The reception was under a live oak and they served shrimp and grits!

The next day we went to Sandra Bullock's house and swam in Sandra's pool. Missy had rented the home for the weekend. The pool has made headlines as it juts into a dune protection zone and Bullock had to pay $2,000 in fines to the DNR for not getting a permit to build it. But despite being illegal and disrupting nature, I really enjoyed it. After our refreshing dip in the celebrity pool, we went to Bonna Bella Yacht Club for lunch and then downtown for a carriage ride and ice cream at Leopold's. I went in The Gallery at Market Square for the art and the airconditioning. We walked the live oak sheltered squares and found John Wesley. We walked Broughton and window shopped. I love the French Market. I tried on perfume. We sampled honey in the Savannah Bee Company store. Yum. We then had dinner out on Isle of Hope at Pearl's Saltwater Grille. I had sea scallops.

Paul and Nancy left the next day and Catherine and I went to The Dollar Tree. It is becoming tradition now that all souvenirs, from anywhere inside the US, come from The Dollar Tree. Who really wants a souveneir marked with the location anyway? Surprises from The Dollar Tree are way better than some tacky t-shirt. So that is becoming the way we do things. Emma Grace got a $3.00 beaded necklace from a shop in Savannah and Carson got a rubber aligator from The Dollar Tree. We also picked up a styrofoam cooler while there to house the hermit crabs Catherine found earlier at the beach. We stopped back by Fort Pulaski, watched the 18 minute film inside the Welcome Center about its history and toured the Fort. I highly recommend it. Entry is $3.00 and it lasts several days. You can use your receipt and come and go as you please. In cooler weather I highly recommend packing a picnic and roaming Cockspur Island. You can roam the Fort and climb up to the top. Any child would love exploring it and climbing the winding staircases. The damage to the Fort is still visible and all bricks making up the Fort were handmade by slaves. The history is incredible and has all been well preserved. You must go if ever going over to Tybee. The island also has footpaths that look perfect for running...in the Fall of course. It is surrounded by pristine marshland and great for spotting shorebirds.

We stopped on the way home in Savannah and had lunch with Rebecca Grizzle at the Kayak Kafe near her firm. I didn't want to leave. But Catherine, 4 very lucky hermit crabs and I had to get back. Catherine got one for Carson, Gracie and herself and one for me. I named mine Hannah Montana, but she made a run for it last night and is stuck and parched somewhere in the tall grass of my front yard and has yet to be found.