Morobo orphanage.

On Monday the team and I split into two groups: 4 on each, 1 man/3 woman and my team spent the week at Morobo. We would all gather back at night after teaching to the kids. Like I said the ride to Morobo was rough each day, we would continuously hit pot-holes and the AC wasn't the best in the van. But it didn't matter once we pulled unto the main road because the children were ready to greet us and it brought joy to my heart.

But before I get to the kids, I have a short quick story. Our first day out there we were driving along, hitting pot-holes when all the sudden 30 cattle were in the middle of the road. I immediately thought we would be sitting there for 2 hours watching them walk slowly across, but the cattle were so obedient to their owner. They just walked along side the truck allowing us to take pictures of them. They look a little possessed though, sorry.

Once we got to the orphanage we begin teaching. Our first lesson was "Jesus is in charge of disease!" and talked about Jesus healing the man with leprosy and the faith of the Centurion. The kids were quietly sitting there taking it all in, not like kids in America that find something to be distracting. After we taught the lessons we gave them their construction sheet and 2 note cards with the lesson on it. The first day when we handed them glue-sticks it was so funny to see how they handle them because I'm sure they had never seen one before. By the end of the week we were gluing them for them to save time and be able to dance more.

Here is Ronald with his piece of paper. This little boy was so sweet and loved the camera. Every time I would go to talk to him he would shyly smile and run off with his friends. But when I had the camera with me, he would never hesitate to smile. Later on it would form the shape of a Cross.

After lessons we would play and sing and dance. And take pictures. I love this picture of the boys and girls together.

One day I thought about playing cards with them but couldn't understand how it went. It seemed a little bit like UNO so I would get really excited and then they would change it up on me, so I gave up and took pictures.

Don't they have the best smiles ever?!?! I miss them.

Tomorrow I'll write about the rest of our week at Morobo so come back!

Weekend in Yei!

We arrived to Yei early Thursday afternoon and got a tour around the EPC Compound where we would be spending our time at. It was so beautiful with all the scenery and voices of the people. There was a village across the river so we could hear families talking and celebrating events as well. One night though it kept me up so that was kinda frustrating, but when I asked why they chanting all night they said it was either a funeral or wedding, I can understand why. For the rest of the day the team just hung out and we met a couple from Scotland who were missionaries living in Yei for about 3 yrs. Hearing their story was encouraging and just where God calls people from to serve Him.

Here's a view of the compound, my room being the building to the far left.

On Friday we went to Morobo (1 of 2 orphanages). The roads were very rough and it took about 2 1/2 hours to go 30 miles. I am so thankful for American roads and the smoothness of the pavement. It was difficult riding here everyday, but seeing the children wiped that away.

Anyways, when we arrived here the children greeted us with many "WELCOME" songs and danced with us. When the mothers/children ran up to dance with us I began sobbing. A joyous cry, a cry of "God thank You for allowing me to be here and this is REALLY happening!" The children love to dance and sing and they have happiness in their hearts.

For the remainder of our time there we took pictures of the kids, did more singing/dancing and the kids spent a lot of time laughing at us as well because our dance moves weren't up to their standards. Those girls dance so much better than us!

On Saturday we went to the other orphanage: Lora where we did the same thing. Pastor Paul gave us a tour around where the children go to class, eat, sleep and play outside. At Lora it was eye-opening to see the mothers out in the field gathering food for the children. One of our translators walked us into the field to see everything they had grown. I felt convicted for the fact that as Americans we can simply walk into a grocery store and gather what we need without having to get it from the ground, clean it off and be outside in any temperature.

This picture convicts me as well to be so thankful for the water we freely are given at any point we want, not only that, but we don't have to worry about dirty water! We don't have to walk to a water well and pump water like this young girl and her friends do everyday. These girls/women/mothers fill up these water jugs and with such balance carry them to their homes. This is something they do everyday.

This picture taken at Lora is of part of my team and the kids singing a song we learned while being at Morobo. It goes "MINE! MINE! MINE! JESUS IS MINE! (3X's) JESUS THE SON OF GOD! I KNOW! I KNOW! JESUS IS MINE! (3X's)" That's it. Simple, truth spoken. This is the last time I would see these children at Lora because I would be spending next at Morobo. But these children are learning, they are well taken care of and Pastor Paul is doing amazing things during his time there. He is being so obedient to the Lord!

Church on Sunday was more than wonderful. I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to sit through church in Sudan and see how the Sudanese people worship Jesus. They do a lot of singing, I'm not exaggerating here, they sing a lot! But it was so refreshing, it was so good, all I could do was clap and look around but it was good. Then Bishop Taban (picture of) talked about how the people of Africa need to plan. He wants the people to begin trusting God in such a way where they can set out things for the future. They know they do not have much or make a lot of money, but Bishop believes if they can plan out ways accordingly for the Lord, He will take great care of them.

For the rest of the day we rested. Our team gathered together and got to know one another. We took naps, we ate food with one another and laughed about things with each other.

Tomorrow would begin our journeys with the children, I can't wait to show you their faces! They are so beautiful!

Alexander McQueen

I just want to say that I love Alexander McQueen. He is my idol. Sadly, he had commited suicide after his mother's death this Febuary (2010). R.I.P Alexander McQueen.

I love his highly sexual and aggressive style. He inspires me and I hope to one day be as talented as him.

Here is a video of his last runway show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eciYA7rygsw
That is all!

Breaking Fast @ Legend Hotel

Yesterday me & Lex buka puasa kt...

Legend Hotel..

Nice..lots of food but kurang garam la hotel ini masak...

My favourite OMG tempe!

There is no time 4 decoration cos I'm so hungry! :-p
(but I think I had done a gud job!)

No I dun eat this! This is just 'perhiasan'. After dat, u just throw it!

Jeruk yg sgt delicious..

Marshmellow with Chocolate..yummy!

Ice-cream time!

Perot dah x larat..Food is everywhere & I have to stop searching & chewing!

I had a very happy time with u last nyte! Tq 4 cheering up my day!

I luv u so much Lex :-)

Breaking Fast @ Legend Hotel

Yesterday me & Lex buka puasa kt...

Legend Hotel..

Nice..lots of food but kurang garam la hotel ini masak...

My favourite OMG tempe!

There is no time 4 decoration cos I'm so hungry! :-p
(but I think I had done a gud job!)

No I dun eat this! This is just 'perhiasan'. After dat, u just throw it!

Jeruk yg sgt delicious..

Marshmellow with Chocolate..yummy!

Ice-cream time!

Perot dah x larat..Food is everywhere & I have to stop searching & chewing!

I had a very happy time with u last nyte! Tq 4 cheering up my day!

I luv u so much Lex :-)

Home!

This past week has been an adjustment of being back in the states. As you know I was gone the past 2 weeks spending my life in Africa. It was an incredible, life-changing, humbling experience that I feel so blessed to be a part of. The Lord showed Himself to me in ways that I didn't believe and even being home His work has continued through my team and my heart. I'm sorry it's taken this long to build up this blog entry, but I also started school. Its funny to think that last week during this time I was in an airplane flying to Amsterdam from Uganda.

Anyways, for those of you who are interested in hearing about my trip I'll break it down for you. Of course I will be including pictures along the way.

So it begins:

We departed from DFW on August 9th making our way to Yei, Sudan. Flying, we stopped in Amsterdam and Entebbe before getting to Yei.

Here's a snapshot of some of the people on my team (from left to right): Lori, Sarah, Stephanie, Jason
Each person got their own personal TV, where I spent many hours watching movies!

One thing I love about flying is being over clouds, or below clouds, or here being between layers of clouds! God even portrays Himself through this and I love it!

Once we got into Entebbe we spent the night, spent the next day at the zoo, stayed the night again and left for Yei early Friday morning.

The room Lauren and I shared covered by our squitonet.

These monkeys roamed wild through the zoo so the team & I spent about 30 minutes here just feeding them and taking pictures.

I'm not wearing enough green.

Picture of the guesthouse we stayed at, beautiful place.

Here are some shots flying over into Yei:

Super tiny!

Flying over the Nile river!

It still hadn't sunken in that we were here in Africa and what our time would be like.

I want to continue tomorrow about my time in Africa, that is probably how I will spend this next week + school.

Love you all!