Craig was invited to preach a Sunday sermon at a Zambian Refugee Village church in the outskirts of Luena. There were over 200 people present, including children. Service started at 10am with about an hour and a half of worship. I loved it! Most of the singing was in Ngangela (an African dialect). When it was time for Craig to preach, he did an excellent job! Our friend, Domingo, translated for him in that dialect. His message was a summary of the Bible studies he had conducted the past 2 Saturdays there and an invitation to accept the free gift of salvation that Jesus offers. Three people made commitments to the Lord afterwards! Praise be to God. The service lasted until 12:30 after singing I Surrender All. Afterwards, we shook all 200 attendees hands! Whew! I videotaped all the service to share with you all if you are interested. Craig´s reaction to preaching was he felt very stretched!!! I think the Lord used him in a mighty way.
On Thursday, we wrapped up 3 weeks of homeschooling Jeremy and TJ, which went very well. Ian and Nathan are sad to have it come to and end. We assured them that when the Trotts come on furlough in 2010 we will spend time together with their friends.
We were able to say farewell to our friends, Prince, Domingo, and Kelvin (our English speaking Zambian refugee friends) with a breakfast and prayer time on Saturday. David then took us on the Road to Saurimo. You´ve not truly been offroading until you´ve been on that road!! It is destroyed from road mines, and 40 years of lack of repair. So, it´s 8 hours of bouncing around in the car. The boys loved it especially since seatbelts aren´t required in Africa! I think it will be a long while before I ride on that road again. When we go to Saurimo, we spent the night at a Brethren Mission that was established in 1936 out in the bush. David then took us to the Saurimo airport were we departed for Luanda this morning. We are now staying with Becky, a Brethren missionary nurse who has served here for 49 years. Tomorrow, we depart for South Africa, then London, and finally Hamburg, Germany (24 hours of travel). We will visit with my cousin and Aunt for 1 week before returning home via a night at SIMCO in North Carolina.
I am hoping to post pictures when I get to Germany depending on our internet connection. Until then, please continue to pray for our travels and safety.
In Christ,
Nadia and Family
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Church in Africa
On Sunday, we attended 2 services in Luena. The first one was a Children and Youth's Sunday School that David and Myriam established on Easter Sunday 2005. They had 30 kids attend initially and now have between 70-100 kids attending. They have trained national Angolans to teach the classes and now have 13 teachers that teach each week. They sang many songs led by a very gifted Worship Leader named Veronica. I am so impressed with how the Angolan people sing so beautifully. After worship, the children broke into small groups based on age for their lesson. Afterwards, they recited their memory verse. It was so sweet hearing thier little voices recite the Word of God in Portugese. I was able to videotape the service and the children ranging in age from 4 to 16 years old. I can't wait to share the video with you all.
Afterward, we attended a service at a new church plant that David and Myriam established in another part of Luena. It is called the Church of the Carpenter because it is held in an old Carpenter's Shop, with sheets for walls, a dirt floor, and a corrugated tin roof. That was established June 1st of this year. They hope to find a more permanent location soon. They are also praying for a pastor to take over services and until then they rotate the preaching duties. David did an excellent job preaching last week. We were invited to share our testimony and a song with the group of 28 members. Craig was very eloquent in sharing but I got choked up and couldn't finish. I get so emotional hearing the people sing with such love for the Lord and share their faith so openly. Ian read scripture from Isaiah and we sang "As we gather" as a family. It was a wonderful experience.
The day before, our neighbor Petra, had the youth from her Brethren Church come over for fellowship. We had about 10 young people gather in our backyard for ping pong, volleyball, and a chat with Craig about America. They were filled with questions about our home country. The young people are very open about their faith here and readily want to talk about the Bible too. I read some scripture from a Choque (a Tribal language) Bible that belongs to our friend Prince. They laughed hearing an American pronounce their language. I thought it was great!
We hope to be able to post some pictures before we leave but haven't been able to yet. We will keep trying so you can share in seeing all the sights. Please continue to pray that the Lord would use us to minister to our friends and the Angolan people while we are here.
In Christ,
Nadia and Family
Afterward, we attended a service at a new church plant that David and Myriam established in another part of Luena. It is called the Church of the Carpenter because it is held in an old Carpenter's Shop, with sheets for walls, a dirt floor, and a corrugated tin roof. That was established June 1st of this year. They hope to find a more permanent location soon. They are also praying for a pastor to take over services and until then they rotate the preaching duties. David did an excellent job preaching last week. We were invited to share our testimony and a song with the group of 28 members. Craig was very eloquent in sharing but I got choked up and couldn't finish. I get so emotional hearing the people sing with such love for the Lord and share their faith so openly. Ian read scripture from Isaiah and we sang "As we gather" as a family. It was a wonderful experience.
The day before, our neighbor Petra, had the youth from her Brethren Church come over for fellowship. We had about 10 young people gather in our backyard for ping pong, volleyball, and a chat with Craig about America. They were filled with questions about our home country. The young people are very open about their faith here and readily want to talk about the Bible too. I read some scripture from a Choque (a Tribal language) Bible that belongs to our friend Prince. They laughed hearing an American pronounce their language. I thought it was great!
We hope to be able to post some pictures before we leave but haven't been able to yet. We will keep trying so you can share in seeing all the sights. Please continue to pray that the Lord would use us to minister to our friends and the Angolan people while we are here.
In Christ,
Nadia and Family
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
At home in Africa
We are finally settled at our Missionary home in Angola, Africa.
We arrived on Sunday morning at 6:45 am in Saurimo (8 hours North of Luena). The airport officials made things a bit complicated until David showed up to pick us up. We thanked the Lord for getting us out of that jam! We then took a leisurely 9 and a half hour drive to Luena on a bumpy road riddled with potholes and ruts. We laughed about our adventure in the bush! We passed by many villages built with cinder block and thatched roofs and saw the nationals living in the bush. We also saw a lovely waterfall along the river in Dala. We were warmly greeted by David and Myriam's family when we arrived in Luena that night. Her brother, sister-in-law, and nephew live here as well. They took us to our missionary home and our neighbor, Peytra, a missionary nurse from Holland, showed us around the house, including: how to take a shower (fill the bucket mounted above the tub, plug in the heater attached to it, and voila! 7 minutes later you have a warm shower but only at night), how to tuck in the mosquito nets under your mattress, how to use the filtered water tank, and the propane stove for cooking. She told us she hadn't had electricity for the past week but that it had turned on the night. So far we have had it every night we have been there. Once again, Thank you Lord!
We slept most of the next day since we had been awake for 23 hours and really needed the rest. The following evening we celebrated TJ's 6th birthday at the Trott's house, in which our boys gave him some Lego sets (of course). We started homeschooling the boys at our home on Tuesday morning. Craig and I took turns teaching the various subjects to the boys. Craig started the boys on an Olympic training PE regime at recess, which includes push ups, pull ups, stretching, jumping jacks, 100 yard dash, and running laps in the backyard. It really helps having him help disperse some of that testosterone with homeschooling 4 boys!!! I must say they have become instant friends and enjoy many of the same pursuits. We are also finding out that they have similar personalities as well.
After homeschooling, we walk the two blocks to the Trotts house and eat lunch (the main meal of the day). The kids play with the boys in their room or outside in the field in front with the Angolan children. The boys are amazed at how the Angolan children stare at them all the time. Apparently, they don't see white children too often and are curious. I was able to video tape them and even had some of the kids sing and dance for me. They loved watching themselves played back on the video camera.
Craig has been kept busy in the afternoons helping David with car repair and generator repair (they have two but one isn't wokring properly). They haven't had electricity for 1 and half years so it is a must to have good working generators. Today they are going to buy a starter and install it to see if that is the problem.
We have met some Angolan refugees who have recently returned from Zambia. Prince speaks excellent English, is college educated, is a Christian and has agreed to teach our kids some songs during school. We started music today and the kids enjoyed singing the Bible songs with him.
We are looking forward to seeing how else the Lord will use us while we serve here in Angola. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support.
In Christ,
Nadia and Family
We arrived on Sunday morning at 6:45 am in Saurimo (8 hours North of Luena). The airport officials made things a bit complicated until David showed up to pick us up. We thanked the Lord for getting us out of that jam! We then took a leisurely 9 and a half hour drive to Luena on a bumpy road riddled with potholes and ruts. We laughed about our adventure in the bush! We passed by many villages built with cinder block and thatched roofs and saw the nationals living in the bush. We also saw a lovely waterfall along the river in Dala. We were warmly greeted by David and Myriam's family when we arrived in Luena that night. Her brother, sister-in-law, and nephew live here as well. They took us to our missionary home and our neighbor, Peytra, a missionary nurse from Holland, showed us around the house, including: how to take a shower (fill the bucket mounted above the tub, plug in the heater attached to it, and voila! 7 minutes later you have a warm shower but only at night), how to tuck in the mosquito nets under your mattress, how to use the filtered water tank, and the propane stove for cooking. She told us she hadn't had electricity for the past week but that it had turned on the night. So far we have had it every night we have been there. Once again, Thank you Lord!
We slept most of the next day since we had been awake for 23 hours and really needed the rest. The following evening we celebrated TJ's 6th birthday at the Trott's house, in which our boys gave him some Lego sets (of course). We started homeschooling the boys at our home on Tuesday morning. Craig and I took turns teaching the various subjects to the boys. Craig started the boys on an Olympic training PE regime at recess, which includes push ups, pull ups, stretching, jumping jacks, 100 yard dash, and running laps in the backyard. It really helps having him help disperse some of that testosterone with homeschooling 4 boys!!! I must say they have become instant friends and enjoy many of the same pursuits. We are also finding out that they have similar personalities as well.
After homeschooling, we walk the two blocks to the Trotts house and eat lunch (the main meal of the day). The kids play with the boys in their room or outside in the field in front with the Angolan children. The boys are amazed at how the Angolan children stare at them all the time. Apparently, they don't see white children too often and are curious. I was able to video tape them and even had some of the kids sing and dance for me. They loved watching themselves played back on the video camera.
Craig has been kept busy in the afternoons helping David with car repair and generator repair (they have two but one isn't wokring properly). They haven't had electricity for 1 and half years so it is a must to have good working generators. Today they are going to buy a starter and install it to see if that is the problem.
We have met some Angolan refugees who have recently returned from Zambia. Prince speaks excellent English, is college educated, is a Christian and has agreed to teach our kids some songs during school. We started music today and the kids enjoyed singing the Bible songs with him.
We are looking forward to seeing how else the Lord will use us while we serve here in Angola. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support.
In Christ,
Nadia and Family
Friday, July 4, 2008
All's Well From London
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. Kevin Bibo got us to the airport with no problem and without him all the bags would not have made it ... have to get an Angola sticker for the luggage rack... Poor Kevin might still be stuck in traffic trying to make it back to Crestline ...
The flight was very smooth with Nathan sleeping 2/3 of the way. The Heathrow airport has very nice public showers and so Nadia and I feel one hundred percent better. The boys are sleeping again which is good.
GREAT NEWS: We contacted David Trott and he has arranged a flight to Saurimo Sunday morning and for us to stay with Becky in Luanda Saturday Night. He had been traveling the last four days and was amazed as we all were of how God opened the door for us to get our visas.
THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Next issue may come with the customes agents when we arrive in Luanda with all the donations. We trust it will work out for the best.
The flight was very smooth with Nathan sleeping 2/3 of the way. The Heathrow airport has very nice public showers and so Nadia and I feel one hundred percent better. The boys are sleeping again which is good.
GREAT NEWS: We contacted David Trott and he has arranged a flight to Saurimo Sunday morning and for us to stay with Becky in Luanda Saturday Night. He had been traveling the last four days and was amazed as we all were of how God opened the door for us to get our visas.
THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Next issue may come with the customes agents when we arrive in Luanda with all the donations. We trust it will work out for the best.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Can't Always Get What You Want ...
Well the visas were a true answer to prayer and a shock to the travel agency trying to book our flights. If God can work out the paperwork then we are confident the flying tin cans is no big deal either. We can get to Angola no problem but return flights are hard to come by. My thoughts (Craig) are hey lets just get there and the rest will work out ... I think I am in the minority.
UpDate: Departing LAX Thursday at 5:30pm on British Airlines to London and then to Luanda, Angola. That's as far as we can get so we'll let you know.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT!
UpDate: Departing LAX Thursday at 5:30pm on British Airlines to London and then to Luanda, Angola. That's as far as we can get so we'll let you know.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Our Visas are granted!
Praise the Lord! Our Visas were granted today, Tuesday, July 1st at 11:00am. God is faithful! So, we now need to rebook our flights for Angola. We could leave as soon as tomorrow or as late as next Monday, July 7th. We'll post our departure as soon as we find out. Please pray for safe flights and calm kids while traveling. Pray for our 12 hour road trip from Saurimo to Luena after we arrive in Angola, too. We are so elated and excited for this adventure. It wouldn't be possible without your faithful prayers. Thank you for your support on our mission trip!
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