Mozambique 2024

I would appreciate prayer for my upcoming ministry trip to Mozambique in September.

As I prepare and pack (and unpack what's not meant to be there 😊) would you pray - 

- for God's grace and truth in and through me for all those I interact with.

- for God's wisdom and guidance for all the details and decisions in my schedule.

- for God's opportunities for me to share, encourage, and exhort.

- for God's hand on my health, and for traveling to and from, and within Mozambique.

~

Thank you for praying with me! 

Washington state

 
Crossing the Columbia River from Oregon into Washington, where we visited Larry and Susan Weil, who worked in Mozambique for many years. 

Susan took us to see the beautiful lavender farms in Sequim.

Touring a farm.

Susan's husband, Larry, did the grilling for a tasty BBQ.

It was a fun time with the Weils and friends!

Larry and Susan's hospitality😊

Then we made our way to Seattle, where we met up with two wonderful sisters, Isabella and Julia, from the Brazilian church I had been a part of when I was studying in seminary. What a joy to see them after first knowing them 20 years ago!

They told us about a secondhand bookstore...with resident cats😺

Then Jermaine, my dear friend from Fuller seminary, showed us around Seattle! 

We had lunch at a Native American cafe...fry bread taco with bison meat😋

Visiting Jermaine's alma mater, University of Washington, with a faint Mount Rainier in the background.

Seeing where she now teaches the next generation!

What a place to live (and what a view!) God has blessed her with during this time. 

It was wonderful to visit, share, and pray together with so many special people in Oregon and Washington!

I'm so thankful we could take this trip, an early celebration of my mom's 80th birthday💗 

Oregon

Before leaving California to visit Oregon and Washington, I received a surprise visit on July 4th from a very special couple, Bruce and Mabel Callender!

The Callenders served in Ecuador for many years, and then they opened up the work in Mozambique and were the team leaders the first two years I was there. 

Oregon

In Oregon, my mom and I made our first stop to visit Claude and Marilynn Meyers, who started the school in Mozambique, where I worked the first two years I was there. 

I am so thankful I could spend precious time with the Meyers!

With the Routons on Sunday, who had visited Mozambique, and worked in Brazil for many years. Their church meets in a barn, and a short term team shared about their trip to Kenya that day.

This special team prayed over me.

I loved seeing the Routons and Lon!

We had a wonderful visit with Bill Vermillion, who had visited Mozambique and serves with OMS theological education in many countries.

Spending time with Jodie, my dear neighbor and surfing buddy when I lived in San Diego!

What a joy to visit her, and her mom, Joan...and one of the cutest dogs in the world 😊

We finished off our time in Oregon with my beloved sister, who happened to be there for a conference! What a special surprise 💗 

The Next Few Months...

 My oldest nephew, Drake, graduated from high school, and I'm so happy I could be here to celebrate him!

~

In July, I hope to travel to Oregon and Washington to visit One Mission Society (OMS) missionaries, as well as good friends from San Diego, Fuller Seminary, and my old Brazilian church family.

In September, I hope to serve alongside of Mozambicans and missionaries in Mozambique for a month, and also a Kenyan couple who are OMS missionaries in Kenya for a few days at the end of this trip. 

Would you please pray that I would be, do, and speak God's love in Christ Jesus to all those I interact with. 

 ~

Thank you for praying for me!

Present with the Lord

My beloved Uncle Doug was full of God's love, joy and encouragement.

Uncle Doug and Aunt Michele's daughters, Kate and Gwen, have been like two more sisters.

Although my beloved Uncle Doug is now absent from the body, I know that He is present with God💗 I praise Jesus for this.

Would you please pray for my Aunt Michele and my cousins, Kate and Gwen, in this time.

Family

It's been great to see my brother's family at my nephews' basketball games!

 Drake's last high school game as a senior was called a Blackout, where all the fans wore black.

He and his younger brother, Tyson (below with Drake), played on the same team this year.

I'm so thankful for this time with my beloved nephews ❤

During the school spring break, my parents and I met up with my sister's family in Yosemite...

...and it snowed!

What a special time together ❤

My sister's family, and my mom and dad in front of El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall in Yosemite. 

The Cross

 The pain woke me up very early in the morning, so I went for a slow walk with my thumping head. At the bottom of the hill, I sat down on the beach and cried.  

I said to God, "speak, for Your servant is listening." 

Silence 

I looked down in the sand where there were pieces of driftwood that had washed ashore during the recent rains. Under the piece at my feet, was a little 2 by 3 inch weathered cross made of felt.

I picked it up and thought about what it meant to me.

It means to me that Jesus understands it all. 

He suffered and died on the cross. Jesus is my example, and His story ends in victory. It is my desire to follow Him, whatever picking up my cross and following Him looks like - each day of my life. 

With the pain in my head unchanged, I stood up comforted, refreshed, and full of hope and joy. It seems to me that it is in the area of free will (my mind and my heart) that the deepest miracles take place.  

Thank you, Jesus.