Communication is especially difficult these days. My computer just up and died on me on the 30^th of June. We even had a computer expert here at the time and he could not revive it. It is very difficult to be here without access to the outside world. At the time I was making arrangements to have some artwork printed and delivered here for the Solemn Assembly. A visitor coming from the States would be able to bring it. In addition I was 2 weeks away from having to leave Mozambique to renew my Visa and still had all the arrangements to make. The embassies have become much “tighter” with the Visa’s they issue. The last time I was in the U.S. I applied for the same Visa as I had on my previous trip, a 6 month Visa which was the longest available. It was after I arrived here I discovered it was different. It was a 6 month Visa, but I had to leave the country to have it renewed every 90 days. This adds a huge expense. It cost me pennies under $1,050.00 for the trip without any food expense or extras. The flight alone was almost $800.00 and then there were busses across the border, Visa Fee, border taxes and accommodations. At the time there is only one airline that flies to the Capital city, Maputo, which is right on the border. I had to overnight there and in the morning take a bus across the border into South Africa. In Nelspruit there is a home that is a “ministry” to missionaries. They have beds available for only $5.00 a night and help with trips to the Mozambican Consulate and etc. The married couple, Kent and Shay, who run it are from Florida and they are fantastic. It is such a respite. For the first time in 3 months I had a warm shower and glass on the windows … both good things because it was cold! We are much closer to the equator here in Pemba. I’d like to say that my trip was successful as well as enjoyable. Since I had to go to all the trouble to leave the country and etc I was applying for a different Visa … a Residence Visa. With this I would be able to get a Dierre, allowing  me to be in the country for up to a year. After some challenges and needing to return to the consulate a second day I was told yes they issued me a Residence Visa. When I came back with this Visa I was informed what they gave me was not what they said and so I would not be able to apply for the Dierre and needed Immigration to revert to my original Visa to avoid having to leave the country again after 30 days instead of 90!!! Thankfully, that did happen. My lessons learned are now benefiting those currently needing to renew their Visas. They are trying other options rather than to incur the expense of travel to SA for a visa needing to be renewed every 30 days. This morning a family of 5 left to drive to Malawi and next week 2 female missionaries will be traveling part of the way by truck with the Mozambican Bible school students who will be returning to their villages after graduation and then taking the train the final way. Life here is certainly an adventure. J

 

Children in rags with big holes in their britches

 

Buttons are missing and there’s no thread for new stitches

 

If they were right there in front of your eyes

 

Would you be shocked or maybe even despise -

 

That they are dirty, often smelly, maybe covered with sand

 

But as they run to you with outstretched arms

 

Would you embrace them and take their hand

 

 

 

They may tell you lies and may steal your belongings

 

And do all manner of things which you find appalling.

 

So many are devoid of a mom or a dad

 

Darkness and poverty breeds what is bad

 

By the Spirit, can you see through, to their destiny

 

In love release vision of who they can be  

 

And walk with them until they’re free

 

 

Some have eyes full of love and true joy in their spirits

 

The song in their heart brings delight when I hear it

 

Ecstasy abounds as they flip in the sand

 

A bag from the trash makes them “Superman”

 

In small hands an empty spray can drove like a car

 

True joy does not come from the price of your toy

 

It is a fruit that takes root, in your heart

 

Laura Eubanks

August 10, 2008

 

 

This poem loosely follows the tempo of the lyrics of the classic song from The Sound of Music, “Favorite Things”. Why … I am not sure … maybe because the poem is about some of my favorite “things”. J The tune sprung up in me as I began to write immediately followed by the idea to do it this way. It was inspired by moments throughout my days. The initial verse is based on my recent thoughts of how desperately poor many of the people here are. It is absolutely common to see children wearing old, filthy clothing with huge tears and holes. I guess I was pondering it afresh from the perspective of how an outsider would see. What would it be like to find a child looking this way on the streets in the United States? I am not “ok” with it but I am used to it, and it really does not capture my focus. I am captured by the beauty of their faces and the tenderness of their hearts. I just accept that I cannot stay clean throughout a day! Sometimes the first thing I do is encounter children who need hugs and affirmation. They sit, play and do amazing gymnastic feats in the dirt and sand. When I hug them and especially if I pick them up, I get dirty as their legs and little bare feet dangle down or wrap around me!

 

There is a huge problem with theft here. Some is on a small individual basis and there are some big things! Recently there has been an increase in muggings. In the last couple of weeks two happened out in the city, another happened just outside our center (in full daylight!) and one occurred on Center 2 in the prayer garden just after dark by people who had climbed over the walls. There was also a mugging just outside my center but it was after dark. So far all of the victims except one have been short term visitors or students who are now being told to never walk alone and not to carry things that make you an inviting target. So … I am keeping alert and getting rides as I can between my home on Center 1 and working with the kids at Center 2, but it is really not feasible all the time. (It is a 15 min walk at a brisk pace) I do not have a sense of fear but am trying to be wise. In some ways I think there is less danger and more of a respect for those of us who live here because we are known by and know so many of the people. Yes, there are “giants in the land” but there are people in need of the love of Jesus and the freedom which that brings … so we press on.

 

On Saturday, August 8th I was walking to Center 2 because a group of visitors were doing a game day or “Iris Olympics” for our children. I was their contact person for the equipment so I thought I would go over to make sure they hadn’t run into any last minute problems or needs. I had just begun walking and I heard this loud joyful singing. A large truck approached full of children. It was one of ours! At the other base I found out that there was also a special beach event planned for the village children at our base in Maranganha. (Still am unsure on that spelling) That was the truckload of children which passed me. Much later in the day I decided to go take a walk at the beach. I again heard the sound of loud joyful singing. It was the truckload of children returning from their special day. Moments like these are my treasures here!

 

It saddens my heart to see children having to resort to playing with trash, sometimes just pulling random things along on the end of a string. I am also amazed at their joy, innovation and contentment. This week I saw some of our little boys with different size pieces of the trunk of a banana tree which they stacked to look like a boat. They held these layers together with thin pieces of bamboo put through them like a toothpick. They attached a string and were happily pulling them around through the dirt and sand. From this came the thought - “True joy does not come from the price of your toy”.

 

 

 

One day he comes running

 

His amigo matching his stride

 

One by one I scoop them into my arms

 

And wrap them deep inside

 

 

I pray prayers of blessing

 

That they would know the Father’s love

 

And whatever else poured through my heart

 

And set them down to a few last hugs

 

 

I remember being impacted

 

By the similarity of their names

 

I remember being impacted

 

By the sweetness of the embrace

 

 

A couple of days later

 

The same spot, different scene

 

There was a crowd of people

 

All gathered on the street

 

 

At first I couldn’t see much

 

Through the many people who were there

 

Then in a surreal moment

 

In horror I became aware

 

 

On this hot black street

 

Under the Mozambican sun

 

Under a colorful kapulana

 

Lay the lifeless body of a young one

 

 

So many were gathered

 

So many prayed

 

Yet when all was said and done

 

They took him away

 

 

As the crowd began to disperse

 

One final act I saw

 

Was someone spreading sand and dirt

 

To absorb where his life had been poured out

 

 

Now three days have passed

 

Since that child so alive, was struck dead

 

The final image, a dirty stain

 

Remnant of the blood and matter from his head

 

 

I recall the memory of the purity of his face

 

As he nestled into my legs on that last embrace

 

Now all evidence of him is seemingly erased

 

Abba, please tell me, is he in a better place?

 

Laura Eubanks July 7^th 2008

 

 

 

On Friday the 4^th of July a child named Abudo was fatally struck by a passenger truck just past the front corner of our center. I was returning after going to my home for lunch. If I walk home mid-day I often encounter the children from the villages who are coming for lunch at Iris and see them again as I return and they are leaving. They excitedly call out “Mama Laura … Mama Laura” and run up for hugs. It certainly increases my “commute time” but I cherish it! I really try to give all the love I can in those brief encounters.

When this 8 yr old but very tiny boy was killed I reminisced with gratitude for those times. Just a couple of days prior to the accident there were 2 small boys who ran up to me. I picked them up, hugged them, prayed for them and asked their names. One was Abudo, the other Abdul.

One thought that gripped me in this tragedy is that his family most likely does not have a single photograph of him. I have lost family to premature death and even estrangement but at least I can look at photos.

A comfort I have found in this situation is that attended our primary school and he was one of the children who came to Iris for lunch. It warms my heart to see streams of children flowing into our center for a good meal. Of more importance is that in addition to physical food they are being loved on and fed “Words of Life”.

 

This poem began in my head as I was walking to Center 2 a few days after Abudo’s death. I was thinking of him and praying for his family and friends. He was not alone when he was struck. His friend Abdul was there along with another child. 

Hello from the place my heart loves!Yes again, it is obvious that emails are not my strong suit.

It is May 31st. I typed what amounted to 3 plus pages back on the 4th of May and became overwhelmed, not knowing how to condense so many things that my first 2 weeks consisted of. I attempted to get back to it but then the problem was only magnified because there was more to share! So much to do and very limited access to the internet access now that I am living on the other base have also exasperated the situation. (To be able to use the internet there I either need to have a ride or a car to use, on occasion, I have walked with my computer in my backpack but it really is not totally safe, even in the daylight.)

I will try again.

If I had to summarize the total of my time here thus far, it would be the sense of “wonder” I have that “this is my life”! Living conditions are more challenging than in the West and situations I deal with are difficult, yet I love living here. I often find myself feeling as if I live in a novel I have read or a movie I have seen.

Seeking first the Kingdom - Upon my return, I jumped right back into a small group who gathers every M-F morning to pray. We began doing this about a month before my break back in the States. Although this is challenging as other things put demands on my time and attention, it is an honor to be a part of this critical foundation for the many areas of ministry and specific needs as they arise. One new area being covered in prayer is outreach to the islands. We have a small medical team who has already gone to two of the islands just north of here, Quirimba and Matemo. They do not have their own medical facilities. One of our missionaries, Pilot Joe Vaine (Flying for Jesus) takes them out in his small plane. There were initial meetings with the chiefs of the islands and government officials for permission to be granted. Matemo wants just the medical care but on Quirimba they have been open to prayer as well. There is also a situation involving a man from South Africa who felt an urgency from God to purchase property on Ibo Island to donate for establishing a Christian base there. It involves so many amazing God details but for time I will skip those. It is still in process but looks as if we will have a ministry base there.

About a week after arriving, we showed the video “Transformations”. The Mozambican Bible School students and local pastors were invited to view it. Some of our children were there also. It was translated audibly and with subtitles into Portuguese. It is a documentary of cities in crisis transformed by the power and presence of God in response to the humble yet persevering and bold prayers of people called by His name who were willing to “pay the cost”. It is an amazing video. The desire was for the men to catch the vision and passion to see God come and move like this in their villages, cities and nation. There will be a “Call” - Solemn Assembly here in Pemba, Mozambique on July 26th. Wesley and Stacy Campbell are the international directors for “The Call” and will be bringing a team with them. Please!!! We would appreciate prayers for this event. There is a great need before this event to join the area pastors and churches from all denominations. Melissa Stanton is the missionary here whose key role is that of prayer. She is very fluent in Portuguese and has been joining Pastor Jose in meetings with many of the local church leaders. Just last week she told me she found out that some of Pemba’s pastors had gotten together and prayed last Jan/Feb about a desire to see the city’s churches united. It was at this same time in the United States that discussions were taking place, which birthed the plan for “The Call” in Pemba! Another situation bringing the churches together here is that there is a push by an organization called IPAS trying to get abortion legalized in Mozambique, and other African nations. It is to my grief that this is being financially and otherwise supported and pushed by organizations from my home country, US Aid and Planned Parenthood! Is it not shameful enough that we kill our own children but we want to inject that spirit of murder into other nations under the premise of healthcare?

Therefore, prayer is a huge part of my focus here. Psalm 2:8 says, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance”. I am asking Lord!

Prayer and art combined - I was asked by Melissa to paint a large map of Mozambique on a 4½’ x 6′ floor cloth. She wanted it for use in the prayer room so the children so they can actually place their hands on the different provinces and cities as they pray. I invested close to 40 hours on it over 8 days in addition to my regular activities. Working on it was in many ways an act of prayer and worship, a labor of love. I am very pleased with the outcome, finished and delivered yesterday. Next week I begin a simple mural and Scripture on a gate in Center 2.

Heidi and Healing - Heidi flew in for 5 days shortly after I arrived back. Our Monday staff church turned into a very intimate time at the end as she shared her heart. She strongly emphasized how much we need the presence of God to be the focal point of our gatherings. She shared how God had spoken to her concerning an increase in the supernatural healings here and that as a sign of that beginning there would be a woman healed who had not been able to stand up straight for many years. That day a woman who had been hunched over, unable to stand up straight for 5 years was totally healed! This really excites me! For years I have had the desire to see this that the Word of God says should be a normal part of a believer’s life. Here the issue is even more pressing when I face numbers of people, crippled due to various reasons. Most have no crutches or wheelchairs and just have to crawl or drag themselves along the ground on their hands and knees. Some use wooden blocks with a handle rather than bare hands. Paul, one of these men I have spoken with wears a pair of shoes on his hands. The ground here is very dry sand/dirt with many ruts and rocks. In concept it is unthinkable that people have to get around like this but many do and even with a pleasant and gracious attitude. I want to see them healed! Heidi also spoke about her husband Rolland who has been ill. She has been spending time caring for him in the States but the desire is to bring him “home”, to be a part of the family and community here.

Current news clips-

I love my kids and Sabina is doing great!

I have just arranged for a local artist, Joan (or John in English) to begin teaching our children in the afternoons with me. It is another amazing account. I met and became friends with him when here last time and brought him in a few times as a guest to demonstrate his painting. Shortly after I arrived back, we were in contact and he expressed desire to teach the kids. I had already been praying if he might be somebody I could “raise up”. Our goal here is to equip the Mozambicans, not just to bring missionaries in to do a job. We are temporary here! I was talking with a visitor about this and she said that she had money she would like to donate to allow me to sponsor or hire him. We still need to work out some details but he started on Thursday and was great with the preschool age children and was equally as good with the older teenage boys on Friday!

There is a new group of around 100 Bible School Students from various locations in Mozambique. I am feeling stirred to request to teach a class or two on creativity. Just today, I began reading again the book of Genesis and took delight in the first verse, “In the beginning God created…”

Mission School starts on Tuesday. Most students arrived yesterday and today along with a visiting team of 54 who will be here for two weeks. We have been praying quite a bit. I have an excitement for them in my spirit as I think back on all that God brought me through 2 years ago to be able to attend the school. In my school and the others, I have found many people have equally or even more compelling stories.

I go to a children’s center in Miese, a village about 20 minutes away, once a week to work with 30 - 40 children. It is an inspiring project sponsored by Don and Elizabeth Kantel. God provided a young man to interpret and assist me.

I begin Portuguese lessons this Monday evening. Yea!

We are going into winter season here as back in the U.S. you are heading for summer. It is 20 min past midnight now and the thermometer in my room reads 79 degrees F. I am feeling a little cold with the fan on its lowest setting!

God bless you all!

With love, Laura

It has been just over a month since I sent out my last formal letter. I have been able to write some smaller letters so some of you may be familiar with pieces of this info. I was really in a difficult place then. The areas of my responsibilities (art and hospitality) were both at maximum demands. Somewhere in the middle of all of that I also moved for the 3rd time in 3 months. There were serious behavior problems with some of the children. In general it is so very difficult to find a place and time to retreat without constant interruptions or people with needs. Mixed in this all was Sabina, a vulnerable child most horribly violated, who was in need of extra love and care. In hindsight besides being exhausted I see I had allowed my emotions and focus to respond to problems, causing my heart to get somewhat hard, rather than keeping them fixed on Jesus and on all the good things that were happening.I did finally get away to that campground I mentioned just last weekend. We had some major rains earlier in the month that made the road in impassable and then I got busy again with the day to day responsibilities. I had all these great ideas for my time away … like uninterrupted time with Jesus for refreshing and direction with situations I faced. I brought my drawing paper and pencils. I brought my cd player (non-walkman) because I was told that there was solar power. I got there and there was no power so I had silence … just the birds and the bugs … and I slept and slept and slept. Really! I was only awake for about 8 hours Sat and 4 hours Sunday. Every time I’d wake up I’d say “God I really want to spend time with you, I really want to hear from you” and I sensed He was saying to me “just rest” so I’d lay there and fall back asleep! I knew I was tired but had no idea I was that exhausted!

The best news I can possibly share in response to what was in my last letter is that Sabina now lives here at the center!!! We crossed through the gate of Iris with her for the first time after getting a verbal ok of her release to us on Dec 31st just after 1pm. What a perfect visual she is of the year 2008 being the “Year of New Beginnings”. Within hours she looked and behaved like a different little girl. As I tried to explain it to somebody else these words seemed to sum it up so well … “She now had security and so she was free to just be a little girl”. In this way her life is another great word picture or lesson. If we truly had or grew in our understanding of the Heavenly Father’s desire and ability to protect and provide for us, how would it change our behavior and even appearance? I can’t express how much it still means to me to have her living here. With all the challenges, chaos and things that break or do not work right, there is something greater. A little girl of 5 maybe 6 no longer wanders the villages alone without somebody to see that she is protected, fed, washed and has a place to sleep. It really puts it all in perspective, and she is just one of many. Yes, other situations need addressing but personally seeing Sabina come from being neglected and abused and then raped to life here has refreshed my appreciation and gratitude to be able to pour out my life here! Oh … and so far her HIV tests are negative!

I have had some great breakthroughs with many of the other children also. I will share one. She is an older girl and almost always looks angry and hard. For Christmas we used two large fabric billows around the base of the tree that a friend had left here with me a year ago. When I discovered it had been cleaned up I asked about them because I really wanted them back. They were for the children to use and dance with. I found out that this girl had been told by the person in charge to give them to Tanya, one of the other missionaries. Long story short - they are gone - nobody knows anything - and they never show up again. Honestly, I was mad when I first found this out. I think both from the feeling of personal violation and also because I had a hesitation in my spirit when asked for them to be used that way but in my busyness I ignored that. So then I brought it before the Lord and over the next week would check back with her and the girl over her in the dorm with no success. I just decided I would forgive and let it go. A couple of weeks ago I went up to the girl’s dorms at night to get something from one of them but also because I heard them worshiping and I just wanted to be there. When I sat down and joined in this girl came and sat by me but not right next to me. I could see her watching me. After a couple of songs she apologized to me and I was able to stare her straight in the eyes and say “I forgive you”! Since then there has been a “little crack” on her hard exterior. I make sure anytime I see her to greet her even if she is not looking at me. Last Thursday was the girl’s day for art class. She brought down some photographs and her journal and wanted help putting the pictures in. I showed her the best way to do it. Then she showed me how some of the pages were loose so I was taping them back in. As I was doing that she was staring at me and she said/asked in a very quiet and humble manner, “You really do love me, don’t you?” I smiled real big and responded “Yes”. J

Another great thing is that for 3 weeks now about 5-6 of us missionaries meet at the prayer hut every morning M-F, 7-8. It has been wonderful to join together in prayer and worship and to see the results in various areas. It is so good … God is so good!

I have been in touch with the Ben Schumacher, the founder and director of “The Memory Project” www.thememoryproject.org I am praying about involvement with this. There’s a story leading up to the contact but I think I will save that for another time.

I will be returning to the states a bit earlier than my ticket was originally booked for. I leave here on the 19th and arrive back in St Louis on the 20th of February. I will fly out to Bethel Church in Redding , CA for a conference on Prophetic Arts Feb 27th -29th and will stay for their weekend services. I plan on returning to Pemba April 15th. It will be good to see friends and family back there but it is going to be very hard to not see “my” kids for that period of time!

Ten days ago my computer completely locked up apart from a password which was not set and until now is still unknown. (Thankfully at this point I have access to the Hospitality computer) Within days of that my camera began not working right. For the past 2 days I have been sick.(First time since I have been here) Today I brought Sabina up to my room to sleep because she is being treated for Malaria and was vomiting. (The toddler house is not the most quiet and peaceful place to be if you are not feeling well.) She pretty much slept all day until 7 pm when I brought her back down to her dorm. There are many trials at this time but I am so encouraged with all that God has in store for this next season of my life.

(This was written Tuesday Dec 4^th)

Here I am knowing I need to write but unsure of what I am to say. So much time has gone by since a real update. So much has happened in that time. Much of what I do here is truly a labor and if it were not for love I could not do it at all or at best it would be ineffective. The name “Labor of Love” continues to reveal itself as more appropriate and prophetic than I understood when given it 16 years ago.

As of 2 weeks ago I have stepped into a “hospitality” position. The lady who had been doing it felt God was leading her back home to South Africa. I am doing most of the face to face help with welcoming visitors giving tours and answering questions and I live in the compound where they stay. Another missionary oversees the room preparations, maintenance of the compound and airport and town runs. This has added much to my daily routine and at times has tested and stretched me to the extremes yet I know that I was to volunteer to help in this way. I would not have taken it on apart from much prayer for confirmation. In the midst of the testing it has been wonderful to connect with people from all over the world … so far… England, Australia, Hong Kong, South Africa, Canada and the US.

Art classes have been improving. It enables me to connect in special ways with the children. Last week we did a special project and Christmas cards for Papa Rolland and Mama Heidi that went into a scrapbook. Heidi arrived back on Saturday for a brief visit and we wanted to send it back with her. I finished a drawing just days before that which I was able to get copied and include in their book. It was from a photo I took on a previous visit and as I drew it the phrase “we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children” kept coming to mind. I looked it up and it is found in 1 Thessalonians 2:7. It seemed so “on target” when considering the many thousands of children’s lives that have been touched and changed by their mother’s and father’s heart. This week we will start with Christmas decorations but I must admit it “feels” nothing like Christmas as I have known it most of my life. The temperature has been climbing and mangos are in season! Heidi is throwing a Christmas party at the beach this afternoon for our children and the village children … totally fun … totally chaos … most likely some of both! After that we have our staff Christmas party. It is quite early to accommodate Heidi being here and the missionaries who begin what will seem a mass exodus in the coming days to go home or elsewhere for the holiday.

{It is now Dec 23^rd)

There never seems to be an end to the demands on my energy and attention and I must admit I am feeling very in need of an escape right now but want to get this out. Without a vehicle there is really only one place to escape to and it would be unsafe for me to walk there with my computer. So I am tucked into a little corner of the gazebo that houses my kitchen. It is very hot but there is a great breeze. Since I’ve updated last Holy Given School had its graduation. Some students left and others stayed and went on a 10 day outreach and returned this week. There have been many more people in and out of here. Hundreds of decorations have been made and get passed out tomorrow evening so that all the dorms and the dining area can get decked out for Christmas Eve candlelight service. We will then have popcorn and ice cream, thanks to a specific donation for this, a huge treat for kids and adults alike! J Christmas morning we (long term missionaries, students and visitors will bring presents to our kids dorms. I have the baby house. J We will stay and play with them for about 2 hours and then go for our Christmas meal for all Iris people. After that we will serve dinner to the community people, kids and adults, and hand out gifts to the children. We had a great plan to avoid riots and mass chaos but this morning there was something announced that ruined that plan! I have not yet heard if the announced situation has been reversed or rescheduled … greatly appreciate prayer coverage!!!

I still feel at a loss to explain day to day life here … and my day to day is much different from those who do the outreaches. On outreaches there have been so many miracles; salvations, blind seeing, deaf hearing, people being delivered and set free. Yea God! Yet day to day life as a whole is very difficult. There is such great darkness and need yet also those whose stories are based out of greed and deception. There is great need for discernment.

Just over a month ago I grieved in a way unlike ever before. I found out that Sabina, a little 5 yr old girl from the village that I am friends with was raped … or enticed into sex in exchange for some rice! To make matters worse many of the other village children were taunting her and telling her she was bad because of it! This has all been investigated and she has been checked out medically. She did contract a STD and was put on meds. The results for the HIV test will not be back until Jan 6th and I need to call for the results. The man was never identified. She and I had a “special day” yesterday. She was with me from about 7:30 am - 4 pm. We ate breakfast together, she played at my room and then we went out for lunch and a swim at the beach. I found a stuffed Dora doll at a Goodwill store this past summer and just knew I needed to buy it to bring with me to Africa. I know Dora is not African but it is still great to have a doll with brown skin, hair and eyes. Even before coming I prayed to know who I should give it to. I believe Sabina is my answer. I am giving it to her for Christmas.

Last Sunday at church as a young girl was transferring a baby to her back from the back of another girl I saw the baby had witchcraft cords and fetishes tied on in three places. This is very common here and also grieves me so.

Electricity and water are randomly non-functioning. Laundry is done by hand. I do have a precious Mozambican woman named Bertina who helps me 1 x a week but I still wash things in between. I am very grateful to have moved 2 weeks ago (third place in 3 months) because I now have a bathroom!!! (And very few ants) There are a couple of drawbacks - it is much hotter and also darker in this room. I have only 1 window in the front and a very small one in the back of the bathroom. There is a wall just a few feet behind it so really no air comes from that direction. A strong box fan would be great to draw air through the place but haven’t seen such a creature here as of yet!

We have goats and chickens on the property. In just the past few days I have had to chase the goats out of the visitor center because they were eating the banana trees which were just planted. I had to correct children for suddenly deciding they wanted to kill some chickens to eat - even though it was at the exact time that lunch was being served! This morning I was set to begin a tour for new group of visitors which included many young men. One of older girls came in and said that she needed to ask me something. As I approached where she was I saw she was wearing a very provocative skirt even for western standards but especially for this culture! I needed to excuse myself from the group for a moment to ensure she went back to her dorm to change. She shortly after apologized to me and I got to really pour into her about her true beauty and attraction and the dangers of soliciting the other kind of attention. Much of my days energies are spent doing things parents do … but there are so many more children! This afternoon after typing on this for a while I was much more peaceful and refreshed and took a walk. On my way saw about 10 of our little boys swimming in one of the cisterns … yes … this is not good! I was on my way to a little Mozambican gift shop. I am friends with one of the painters there. I was given an acrylic paint set and papers by a visitor from England who said that their artist friend sent it with them to give to an artist. He gave it to me but I knew it was just to pass through me and go to Johnny. Mission accomplished. Upon returning I went to the kitchen and got some rice and Matapa, put it in my kitchen and went in search of another little girl, Fatima, who lives right outside the top gate of the center. On my way I encounter a group of about 12 of our young to middle age girls. Two of them were drumming on an upside down plastic wash bucket and the rest were singing and dancing. I absolutely love it! I stayed briefly and then continued my search for Fatima. No one answered at her house so I enter the center again and am at the top of a big hill by our school. There is a full moon and I have an amazing view of the ocean. I take in this beautiful sight and again my spirit is refreshed. I head back down the hill and stop and enjoy the girl’s activity for longer. Then my name is being called by other girls sitting in a gazebo off in the distance. I go over there and they show me pictures that they made with supplies I gave them this morning. They are excited to decorate their rooms for Christmas. There were 4 girls there, one named Viaze, whom I had begun to connect with when I was here last. When I returned this time she was different … she seemed tougher. I found out recently that during the time I was away she went to spend some time in a village with some family members. She was apparently asked repeatedly for things and threatened with a curse for not giving what they demanded. Upon returning here there was a situation where she literally ended up with razor like cuts on her legs due to this curse. Witchcraft is not harmless childs-play. Even this morning as I saw her at church I prayed for her and prayed that God would allow me to connect with her again. Hours later I am with these 4 girls, Viaze one of them and they are full of laughter and play. Viaze then says that her head is hurting and I pray for her. She lays her head in my lap and asks me to come see her room tomorrow. Thank you Jesus! Ok, so now it is dark and I tell the girls I need to go back and eat. As I leave the place I immediately see one our visitors with Sabina. They had taken her to eat and swim with their 5 yr old daughter but then she wouldn’t walk home. She kept motioning to this visitor that she wanted to come to the center to eat. Dinner was over here. What she wanted was to get some food to take home. So I went and got the rice that I had put in my kitchen earlier, put it in a plastic bag for her and off she went. At home this would horrify us, a five yr old girl out on her own all day, pretty much every day, and walking home after dark. But this is Sabina’s world and to some extent a part of this culture. Her mother died in childbirth or shortly after. Dad lives in another city and grandma who she lives with is an extreme alcoholic since the passing of her husband.

Monday of last week I was able to listen to and pray for a South African woman and her 11 yr old daughter who came driving into the center in the midst of crisis. It’s a long story but they have lived here in Pemba for 8yrs and the marriage is very abusive, 3 children involved. It was a “God appointment”. It is always great to see something that was painful in my life be used to help another and to give God glory.

We received two new children at the center last week. One is a beautiful baby girl who was 6 days old when she arrived. Her mom died during a ceasarian delivery. She, Agira, looks to be in very good health. There was also a little boy, about 10 yrs old who walked in one day. (I just found this out today.) Both of his parents are dead and he was living with a grandparent. Somebody told him of us and he got on a bus and took about a 2 hr drive here! So we have had 2 Christmas arrivals.

There is one last thing I will share. Last Thursday I was trying to work on getting decorations organized in the art room which doubles as the Preschool in the mornings. The children were playing with homemade play dough compliments of a visitor. As they played they laughed and sang. I heard this amazing voice and thought that maybe one of the older children had come in. I looked around and didn’t see anybody extra. Later I was up getting more supplies and again heard that voice. I turned around to see whose mouth movement matched the song. It was Cassilma a little girl I have known since my second trip here and the one whose picture Meghan used at the top of my web page. The hair on my arms literally stood up. Here’s this little 6 year old girl with a voice that I thought was coming from not only somebody older but I was thinking a boy because it is so deep. Wow - I totally sensed the presence and anointing of the Lord in her song and it was a highlight of my day!

I know this is long but maybe this will explain both why I am not so good at writing and some of what my life consists of here. Most nights I am exhausted mentally and physically but I praise God that I have remained very healthy (with the exception of messing up my knee a month ago). There have been only 3 days since arriving where I have been able to totally get away to Murrebue, a remote beach. I have heard of a little family owned campground that I may try to go to for a couple of days after the New Year starts. So, life here is pretty demanding but at the same time I am so blessed and thankful to be here. As I was finishing this off, now the morning of the 24^th, Romans 8:18 came to mind. I looked it up and it says … “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us”. Amen!

God bless you all as you celebrate the birth of Jesus and all that is available because of His arrival!

With love,

Laura

Hi all,

Greetings from Mozambique via Detroit, Amsterdam and Johannesburg! I am home I arrived yesterday (Saturday) around 2:00pm after almost 48 hours of flights and layovers. It all went really well. I had such favor/answer to prayer in regard to my luggage, which consisted mostly of art supplies.

1) In St Louis they did not choose to inspect either the checked baggage or my carry on. This was great because it was so tightly packed it would have been hard to get back in.

2) My checked luggage (2 large plastic bins) were checked all the way through from St Louis to my new home - this has never happened before!

3) They both made it!

4) Although I was stopped, questioned and luggage inspected here in at Customs I was allowed to go through without them trying to get $ from me. No haggling no nothing. This was an act of God!!! You have no idea how not normal that was. When I got into the car of the person who picked me up she asked if they gave me a hard time and I explained what they did. She told me that yesterday a group of visitors who arrived had huge problems with the customs officials and had to pay a large bribe. Wow … thank you God! Thank many of you for the prayer coverage. 

Another great happening - had a really good conversation for much of the flight between Detroit and Amsterdam with a man from Germany. He had such a tender heart. He works in IT and looks at life through his background and education in science but admits that so much of the greatest science/scientists come to a place where there are things that cannot be explained. He shared that because of something that happened when his father died 5 years ago he has been searching for answers. He was so open with his wonderings and questions and current views as well as open to the perspective I was able to give him of Jesus, His love for him and the kingdom of God. Like I said earlier he had such a tender heart. His name is Martin if anyone would like to pray for him. (I know that before I left at least one person specifically prayed about my seat assignments and the people I would sit next to and if there would be anybody God would have me talk to!) 

Life snapshots:

Arriving at the center, seeing and getting hugs from so many of the children I have gotten close to. My touch quota is once again met and exceeded!

My first meal of beans and rice (then had it again 2 times today)

The brilliance and quantity of the stars in the sky last night. It made me think of Abram at that point childless being told by God to “count the stars if indeed you can count them” then he said to him “so shall your offspring be”. What a great reminder of God’s faithfulness in those situations he has spoken to us that seem utterly impossible. (like me being here)

Having my character and physical strength stretched to keep a child wrapped within my arms when putting the child down would help me feel better but I know holding them helps them to feel better.

African church service - worship pretty equal to high intensity aerobics, prayer time on my knees and face on the grass mats.

The sweet ringing in my ears of the words Mana (mama) Laura, Mana Laura with a Portuguese roll.

Getting moved into my room just over 9′ square, picturing where I can put the easel I plan to make from bamboo.

Back to no running water and sleeping under a mosquito net

Took three of the children to swim and get a soda

My first child coming to ask me to dress his wound

A heart full of gratitude and worship!

God bless you all!

Laura