Hello Family!!
I hope you are all well and gearing up for the holiday season! I'm looking forward to hearing how you all are doing! I would love to touch base with you!
Well, these last few months in ministry school have been amazing! God is showing me so much about who He is and how He sees me. I am realizing that a lot of what I've believed about Him and about myself has only been head knowledge for me, but little by little it is traveling to my heart. I am making daily declarations about who I am in Jesus and allowing Him to break down A LOT of not so good walls that I have built to protect myself. I'm learning about trust and surrender, but most of all I am learning about joy and how to rest and receive from the Lord. I am growing daily and seeing a lot of good things in me that I've never seen before. I wish I could write out everything, but I could go on forever!! I promise to write more soon.
A new opportunity has been opened to me! I knew when I started the school here that I would be able to take a missions trip! I have been chosen to go to Ecuador. It's a small country in South America bordered by Peru and Colombia. My team will be traveling to four different cities visiting congregations that are just beginning to grow in Revival who are hungry for more of the supernatural and more revelation of God's goodness. I will be getting a chance to come along side of them and impart all I have received and learned from Jesus. Most importantly I will get a chance to love people and help them deepen their intimacy with God. I'll be stretched in preaching and teaching and using some of the new gifts God is developing in me. We will get a chance to visit hospitals and pray for people's healings and in a way we are going to reap fruit from the breakthrough of the teams that went before us and at the same time, because we will be visiting new cities, we are breaking new ground for the teams to come.
I'm super excited that I'm getting a chance to visit a new place and experience a different culture, but I can't do it without you. You have always been faithful to pray for me and that is what I need the most. Our first team meeting is on December 6th and I'm looking forward to meeting my team leader and all of my team mates. Please pray for team unity and honor as we get to know each other. Also, I wanted to ask if you would partner with me financially. I need to raise $1,800 by the beginning of February.
If God leads you to do so, you can donate to my trip by visiting www.ibssm.org. On that page you can click on "Give to BSSM". When you get to the next page, it will give you a list of 3 things you can give to. Choose the "Click here to donate to a student's missions trip". Once you click on that it will ask you type my name in the box. Once you do that, then click "Show Matches". It will then list all the Gina's in my school (there are only 3), just make sure you select my name. You will then be taken to a page where you can donate through your bank/debit card as long as it has a VISA/MATERCARD symbol. If online payment is not an option, you can always send a check to Bethel Church; ATTN: Bethel International; 933 College View Drive; Redding, CA 96003. Just make sure you write my name on the memo line of the check.
Thank you so much family! I'm excited for you to be able to continue with me on this new journey! Thanks in advance for helping me to be God's Hand extended to the people of Ecuador. I can't wait to see what He will do through our team!
More to come! Love you, Gina :)
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Processing
Hey Family..
I realize that I have been silent for a while now and I apologize for that. You are never far from my mind, I have just been trying to get settled.
About 10 days after I wrote you my last update, I left Napa, CA and moved my 2 suitcases, backpack, and myself 3 hours north to my new adventure with the Lord. Being in Redding, CA has been filled with lots of new experiences, lessons, and relationships. I have met so many great people already and have come across lots of people who have my same heartbeat for Africa. The 3 girls I'm living with have been amazing to me (Gabrielle, Heather, and Micaela). They have made me feel comfortable in my living situation and have been a ginormous blessing to me as I get ready to go to school. I also have the privilege and honor of being able to share this new season with 2 of my best friends. God is positioning me for His best, as always, and I can feel my spirit jumping and leaping for all He will do in me and my heart in the next 9 months. School starts Sept. 15th and I am looking forward to it. I've had A LOT of down time for the last couple of months...something I'm not used to. But God has been teaching me through it.
This move has come with some difficulty as well. I feel like I am just now allowing myself to process all that happened in me while I was in Africa. I think I lied to myself and told myself that it's not ok to miss the life that I started to build there and the relationships I made. I keep telling myself that I have to be strong and not get emotional....and when I do, I feel guilty. But those things are lies. If God created me, then He created my emotions as well and I need to feel those emotions to climb this mountain. I need to remember all the things I saw and experienced in Africa and allow myself to miss my babies and my family there. It's ok. Being a missionary is what God has created me for, so OF COURSE I'm going to be feeling like this. Don't get me wrong, I have never doubted the decision that I have made for my current season, I know this is what my spirit needs right now, but no one said it would be easy. Sometimes we have to forsake all to follow Jesus.
So its with many tears over the past couple of weeks that I tell you I miss Africa terribly, but I look forward to the day in the near future that I will return there stronger, bolder, and a more confident leader/revivalist. The tears and sadness for Africa are making my calling clearer and clearer to me. I look forward to sharing with you all God is going to reveal to me and through me over this next season.
God's love has been a warm embrace and my most favorite companion. I hope that each of you are daily coming in contact with the love that Father God has for you. I know that He is going to continue to pour out blessings all over you for all you have done to support me in prayer and financially. Thank you and much love to each of you.
Continuing to process,
Gina :)
I realize that I have been silent for a while now and I apologize for that. You are never far from my mind, I have just been trying to get settled.
About 10 days after I wrote you my last update, I left Napa, CA and moved my 2 suitcases, backpack, and myself 3 hours north to my new adventure with the Lord. Being in Redding, CA has been filled with lots of new experiences, lessons, and relationships. I have met so many great people already and have come across lots of people who have my same heartbeat for Africa. The 3 girls I'm living with have been amazing to me (Gabrielle, Heather, and Micaela). They have made me feel comfortable in my living situation and have been a ginormous blessing to me as I get ready to go to school. I also have the privilege and honor of being able to share this new season with 2 of my best friends. God is positioning me for His best, as always, and I can feel my spirit jumping and leaping for all He will do in me and my heart in the next 9 months. School starts Sept. 15th and I am looking forward to it. I've had A LOT of down time for the last couple of months...something I'm not used to. But God has been teaching me through it.
This move has come with some difficulty as well. I feel like I am just now allowing myself to process all that happened in me while I was in Africa. I think I lied to myself and told myself that it's not ok to miss the life that I started to build there and the relationships I made. I keep telling myself that I have to be strong and not get emotional....and when I do, I feel guilty. But those things are lies. If God created me, then He created my emotions as well and I need to feel those emotions to climb this mountain. I need to remember all the things I saw and experienced in Africa and allow myself to miss my babies and my family there. It's ok. Being a missionary is what God has created me for, so OF COURSE I'm going to be feeling like this. Don't get me wrong, I have never doubted the decision that I have made for my current season, I know this is what my spirit needs right now, but no one said it would be easy. Sometimes we have to forsake all to follow Jesus.
So its with many tears over the past couple of weeks that I tell you I miss Africa terribly, but I look forward to the day in the near future that I will return there stronger, bolder, and a more confident leader/revivalist. The tears and sadness for Africa are making my calling clearer and clearer to me. I look forward to sharing with you all God is going to reveal to me and through me over this next season.
God's love has been a warm embrace and my most favorite companion. I hope that each of you are daily coming in contact with the love that Father God has for you. I know that He is going to continue to pour out blessings all over you for all you have done to support me in prayer and financially. Thank you and much love to each of you.
Continuing to process,
Gina :)
Sunday, June 21, 2009
A New Chapter
Family..
My blogging is back! YAY! I thought that I would give my blog a new beginning. A new look. A new start....with a new posting.
For the most part, I'm sure most of you have heard that I will not be returning to Zimbabwe as soon as I thought. I have felt God's leading to take a step back from the mission field and receive some more training. I will be attending a ministry school in Redding, CA from this September until next May. After that, I don't know what will happen, but as I always say, one day and door at a time. God knows each and every step I take and has had my life planned since the beginning of time. The one thing I can tell you is that this has not been an easy decision for me. I had a lot of options and I knew God would be behind me whatever I chose, but I know this will be best for me.
I feel this school will complete what God has started in me in Zimbabwe. I experienced a lot of deliverance from things in my past that have held me back from really walking toward what God has for me. He showed me things inside of me that I needed to confess and move out of my way in order to reach for the goal He has called me towards. I now feel like I am beginning to know who I am in the Lord. I think that by attending this school, it will help me be stronger and more confident in the spiritual gifts God has given me...as well as in myself. I will be more empowered and equipped to go back to the mission field.
"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." Psalm 82:3-4
This will always be my purpose. I will never lose sight of it. It is what God has called me to and what I will always be working for. I'm a missionary. That is who I am. No matter where it takes me or what I do....I'm a missionary. I just think God wants to make me better before I continue in that call.
Thank you for all the continued support I have been receiving. I am continuing my monthly support pledges, so if you are feeling God's leading to continue to support me, you can send any checks to my student account at the school. All the information you need is in the box below my profile picture to your right. This money will go towards the missions trip I will take at the end of my training...probably in April 2010. I know you have all been praying for me too. I can't thank you enough for that. I know that in my hard times in Zim, God laid me on your heart and you prayed. Those prayers are what got me through and for that I couldn't love you more.
I will be continuing to update this blog during my training program so you will all know what God is doing in me. I am so excited to continue my journey...I just need to embrace the process.
Much Love, Gina :)
My blogging is back! YAY! I thought that I would give my blog a new beginning. A new look. A new start....with a new posting.
For the most part, I'm sure most of you have heard that I will not be returning to Zimbabwe as soon as I thought. I have felt God's leading to take a step back from the mission field and receive some more training. I will be attending a ministry school in Redding, CA from this September until next May. After that, I don't know what will happen, but as I always say, one day and door at a time. God knows each and every step I take and has had my life planned since the beginning of time. The one thing I can tell you is that this has not been an easy decision for me. I had a lot of options and I knew God would be behind me whatever I chose, but I know this will be best for me.
I feel this school will complete what God has started in me in Zimbabwe. I experienced a lot of deliverance from things in my past that have held me back from really walking toward what God has for me. He showed me things inside of me that I needed to confess and move out of my way in order to reach for the goal He has called me towards. I now feel like I am beginning to know who I am in the Lord. I think that by attending this school, it will help me be stronger and more confident in the spiritual gifts God has given me...as well as in myself. I will be more empowered and equipped to go back to the mission field.
"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." Psalm 82:3-4
This will always be my purpose. I will never lose sight of it. It is what God has called me to and what I will always be working for. I'm a missionary. That is who I am. No matter where it takes me or what I do....I'm a missionary. I just think God wants to make me better before I continue in that call.
Thank you for all the continued support I have been receiving. I am continuing my monthly support pledges, so if you are feeling God's leading to continue to support me, you can send any checks to my student account at the school. All the information you need is in the box below my profile picture to your right. This money will go towards the missions trip I will take at the end of my training...probably in April 2010. I know you have all been praying for me too. I can't thank you enough for that. I know that in my hard times in Zim, God laid me on your heart and you prayed. Those prayers are what got me through and for that I couldn't love you more.
I will be continuing to update this blog during my training program so you will all know what God is doing in me. I am so excited to continue my journey...I just need to embrace the process.
Much Love, Gina :)
Sunday, January 25, 2009
An Ongoing Journey
“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:3-4
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8
Two verses God has been continuously speaking to me as I pray for wisdom and guidance pertaining to my next step after Zimbabwe. At first, I didn’t think this was an answer. I kept saying to God, “Why am I not getting an answer?” And yet, He kept drawing me back to these verses.
Three years ago, when God called me to full-time missions, He never spoke a specific place that He wanted me to go. This confused me because almost all of the missionaries I knew where grounded in a specific place. After lots of tears and pleading with Him at the altar, He spoke very clearly to me one day when I was alone on a California beach. “Gina, the whole world is open to you. You can go wherever you choose.” At that point, I knew God wanted to show me and teach me many things, but in many different places.
Zimbabwe has been a HUGE learning experience for me and God has blessed me with a burden for the babies and the children here. My prayer when I started taking missions trips was for God to break my heart for the things that break His. My heart is broken everyday as I look at the situation most of the children are living in here. That is why I know God has called me, for such a time as this, to help with the opening of Jabulani. I still have 2 months. I still have work to do. I still have things to learn.
However, after my last 2 months are over and I come back to the states, my journey doesn’t end. Zimbabwe is not the end for me. My call from the Lord is to full-time missions and that call will not end. I don’t have all the answers right now and I’m not sure what my exact next step is, but I do know that God will instruct me and teach me in the way I should go. Psalm 82:3-4 will always be His aim and purpose for my life. He is never late. He is always on time…in His time. It may be to come back to Zimbabwe for a time or to go somewhere else…or to travel and fill a need in a country then move on to another country and fill another need for a certain length of time. I don’t know, but I still need time to allow God to speak to me.
But, what I do know is that I want you to continue on this journey with me. Whatever God asks me to do next; I still need your help…whether in prayer, continued monthly financial support, a new one-time donation, or a new monthly commitment. I still need you. For however long you can commit to continuing on this journey with me.
To be honest, I was afraid to write you about continuing to help me because I don’t know exactly what my next step is, but I need to allow God time to speak to you. Whatever God speaks to you, please know how much I appreciate you and what you have already done for me…all the kind words and encouragement…all the financial support…all the gifts and all the prayers. I couldn’t do this without you. You are a blessing and a gift from God in my life.
I love you.
Excited to hear what God speaks to you,
Gina :)
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8
Two verses God has been continuously speaking to me as I pray for wisdom and guidance pertaining to my next step after Zimbabwe. At first, I didn’t think this was an answer. I kept saying to God, “Why am I not getting an answer?” And yet, He kept drawing me back to these verses.
Three years ago, when God called me to full-time missions, He never spoke a specific place that He wanted me to go. This confused me because almost all of the missionaries I knew where grounded in a specific place. After lots of tears and pleading with Him at the altar, He spoke very clearly to me one day when I was alone on a California beach. “Gina, the whole world is open to you. You can go wherever you choose.” At that point, I knew God wanted to show me and teach me many things, but in many different places.
Zimbabwe has been a HUGE learning experience for me and God has blessed me with a burden for the babies and the children here. My prayer when I started taking missions trips was for God to break my heart for the things that break His. My heart is broken everyday as I look at the situation most of the children are living in here. That is why I know God has called me, for such a time as this, to help with the opening of Jabulani. I still have 2 months. I still have work to do. I still have things to learn.
However, after my last 2 months are over and I come back to the states, my journey doesn’t end. Zimbabwe is not the end for me. My call from the Lord is to full-time missions and that call will not end. I don’t have all the answers right now and I’m not sure what my exact next step is, but I do know that God will instruct me and teach me in the way I should go. Psalm 82:3-4 will always be His aim and purpose for my life. He is never late. He is always on time…in His time. It may be to come back to Zimbabwe for a time or to go somewhere else…or to travel and fill a need in a country then move on to another country and fill another need for a certain length of time. I don’t know, but I still need time to allow God to speak to me.
But, what I do know is that I want you to continue on this journey with me. Whatever God asks me to do next; I still need your help…whether in prayer, continued monthly financial support, a new one-time donation, or a new monthly commitment. I still need you. For however long you can commit to continuing on this journey with me.
To be honest, I was afraid to write you about continuing to help me because I don’t know exactly what my next step is, but I need to allow God time to speak to you. Whatever God speaks to you, please know how much I appreciate you and what you have already done for me…all the kind words and encouragement…all the financial support…all the gifts and all the prayers. I couldn’t do this without you. You are a blessing and a gift from God in my life.
I love you.
Excited to hear what God speaks to you,
Gina :)
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
A New Year!
Happy 2009 Family!
I trust your holidays were amazing. I heard from many of you and I really appreciate that. Christmas in Zimbabwe didn’t really feel like Christmas. They don’t make a big deal out of the holidays here like we do in America. No biggie. Like I told some of you, I think I would have had a harder time missing all of you if I did feel like it was Christmas. But, I am right were God wants me, so I had a great time. We didn’t do much. We had a really relaxing Christmas day and New Year’s day.
All of our Christmas parties went off without a hitch. Dombosava (on the left) and Madvuku (on the right..this is only a small portion of the kids) were a lot of fun. I have included a picture of each, so you can see the children. They even got me up to sing, in Shona (their native language), at Madvuku. I had a great time. Between the two parties, we r
eached about 200 children with love and the message of Jesus. It was so great to hear them singing and see them dancing for the Lord. There is nothing like seeing children love and worship the Lord. After all, Jesus did say that we will never inherit the Kingdom of Heaven if we don’t become like little children. For some of the children at Madvuku, this will have been their last Christmas. They won’t live to see another December…the sad reality of HIV/AIDS.
We started our work with Jabulani back up yesterday. The care staff are going to be great. We are diverse in age and background, but we are all coming together for a common goal…to love and care for children who have no family. Baby Kuda has been our “example” for the training thus far. This morning I trained the staff on how to properly prepare and administer a bath to a baby. Yesterday, we talked about what God says about work, learned a little bit about each other, and had a discussion on what we expect from each of the staff members. Because the care staff is staying at our house for the duration of the training this week, we shared a meal last night and as we cleaned up, we laughed together and joked around. I think we are going to make a very strong and happy team. Please pray for our care staff: myself, Christine, Shelter, Florence, and Concepter. Pray for God’s wisdom for each of us as we continue in the training and next week as we, hopefully, get to be in Jabulani! We are so excited to actually be in the building. Also, pray for the babies we will start accepting at the end of January. The team is already praying for the babies who aren’t even born yet that will come to us.
As we enter into 2009, realize that this is a new year filled with new hope, new endeavors, new gifts, and a fresh start. If there is something that God has asked you to do that you haven’t done yet, DO IT! You are in a new year, do what God has asked you to do. Make this New Year about changing your mindset. Don’t let all of your old junk hold you down anymore. Let 2008 stay in 2008. “The old has passed away, BEHOLD, the NEW has come!” If you feel like you have failed God, He wants you to know that FAILURE IS NOT FINAL with Him. He loves you and has amazing things for your life. Step out this New Year. Grab hold of your destiny. Stop holding back. If you do that, I promise you, you will be blessed.
I love you and I will see you soon.
Grabbing hold of my new gifts,
Gina :)
I trust your holidays were amazing. I heard from many of you and I really appreciate that. Christmas in Zimbabwe didn’t really feel like Christmas. They don’t make a big deal out of the holidays here like we do in America. No biggie. Like I told some of you, I think I would have had a harder time missing all of you if I did feel like it was Christmas. But, I am right were God wants me, so I had a great time. We didn’t do much. We had a really relaxing Christmas day and New Year’s day.
All of our Christmas parties went off without a hitch. Dombosava (on the left) and Madvuku (on the right..this is only a small portion of the kids) were a lot of fun. I have included a picture of each, so you can see the children. They even got me up to sing, in Shona (their native language), at Madvuku. I had a great time. Between the two parties, we r
eached about 200 children with love and the message of Jesus. It was so great to hear them singing and see them dancing for the Lord. There is nothing like seeing children love and worship the Lord. After all, Jesus did say that we will never inherit the Kingdom of Heaven if we don’t become like little children. For some of the children at Madvuku, this will have been their last Christmas. They won’t live to see another December…the sad reality of HIV/AIDS.We started our work with Jabulani back up yesterday. The care staff are going to be great. We are diverse in age and background, but we are all coming together for a common goal…to love and care for children who have no family. Baby Kuda has been our “example” for the training thus far. This morning I trained the staff on how to properly prepare and administer a bath to a baby. Yesterday, we talked about what God says about work, learned a little bit about each other, and had a discussion on what we expect from each of the staff members. Because the care staff is staying at our house for the duration of the training this week, we shared a meal last night and as we cleaned up, we laughed together and joked around. I think we are going to make a very strong and happy team. Please pray for our care staff: myself, Christine, Shelter, Florence, and Concepter. Pray for God’s wisdom for each of us as we continue in the training and next week as we, hopefully, get to be in Jabulani! We are so excited to actually be in the building. Also, pray for the babies we will start accepting at the end of January. The team is already praying for the babies who aren’t even born yet that will come to us.
As we enter into 2009, realize that this is a new year filled with new hope, new endeavors, new gifts, and a fresh start. If there is something that God has asked you to do that you haven’t done yet, DO IT! You are in a new year, do what God has asked you to do. Make this New Year about changing your mindset. Don’t let all of your old junk hold you down anymore. Let 2008 stay in 2008. “The old has passed away, BEHOLD, the NEW has come!” If you feel like you have failed God, He wants you to know that FAILURE IS NOT FINAL with Him. He loves you and has amazing things for your life. Step out this New Year. Grab hold of your destiny. Stop holding back. If you do that, I promise you, you will be blessed.
I love you and I will see you soon.
Grabbing hold of my new gifts,
Gina :)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Family!!
Things have been busy for me over the last few weeks. I have had lots of ministry opportunities and have traveled to many of the surrounding rural areas in Harare.
A few blog entries back, I mentioned some Christmas parties we were putting on. The Christmas party at our house in Emerald Hill for our neighborhood kids was fun. We played lots of games with them, gave some special prizes, and fed them some delicious treats like popcorn, peanut butter crackers, and little jello cups. Then, of course, we gave them some candies. We laughed a lot, sang a lot, and played a lot. The week after, Christine and I traveled to Kambuzuma, where the team helps provide food for a feeding programme. The kids are AMAZING there. I have included a picture of them. They sang, and sang, and sang for us. One of the boys then pulled out a drum and started making beats as some of the o
lder boys were break dancing. We gave them their food supply including mealie meal (their staple food), cooking oil, and vegetables and then we gave them some sweets. On Christmas Eve, we will be visiting an orphanage in Dumbyshire where we have gathered lots of giveaways for the kids including small stuffed animals, pens, pencils, paper, face cloths, games, candy, and toys. We are going to play games with them, sing with them, dance with them, and feed them. On December 27th, we are traveling to Madvuku for the Christmas party with the kids who are living with HIV. We have lots of the same stuff planned for them as we do for the kids in Dumbyshire. I am really looking forward to both. Not only are we providing them with physical food, we are providing them with spiritual food as well. Besides, Jesus is the only way we are able to provide them with physical food. Without Him, none of us would be able to afford the food to give them.
Jabulani is coming along nicely. I have included a picture so you can see the building. The workers doing the reno
vations are off for the holidays until January 12th, so work has stopped. The kitchen, bathrooms, and dining room are not finished yet, so please pray that the work will be finished quickly when they return from vacation. We are hoping to accept babies by the end of January and in order for that to happen, the building needs to be completed and all the furniture needs to be moved in. Also, continue to pray for Christine and I. We have a lot, a lot, a lot of work to do starting on January 2nd. Lots and lots of training sessions to complete with the house mothers. I’m not sure I mentioned this before, but Christine wants to make me a supervisor of Jabulani for the rest of the time I am here. What a dream come true for me!!! I will get to spend all of February and March loving on and taking care of babies! I couldn’t ask for anything more. I am going to love every second of it. SO EXCITING!!!
Ok family. I love you. I hope you all have an amazing Christmas and New Year’s. The internet cafes are closing down after today, so I will not be able to get you another update until after the new year, but I pray that you will be safe and have a peace-filled time for the holidays. I challenge you….do something unexpected this Christmas. Do something you don’t normally do. I know you are all having a hard time this year with the economy and everything, but remember, God is bigger than that. He is a miracle working God. Remember those who have less than you. Reach out to someone who doesn’t have family or is alone for the holidays. Do something unexpected.
I miss you. I am praying for you. Everyone here says Merry Christmas to you. They are so glad you have released me to reach the people of Zimbabwe for such a time as this. I have already been here for 3 months! Can you believe it? I am half way through. Keep praying. Keep me in your hearts. You are the best!
Much Love and Merry Christmas,
Gina :)
Things have been busy for me over the last few weeks. I have had lots of ministry opportunities and have traveled to many of the surrounding rural areas in Harare.
A few blog entries back, I mentioned some Christmas parties we were putting on. The Christmas party at our house in Emerald Hill for our neighborhood kids was fun. We played lots of games with them, gave some special prizes, and fed them some delicious treats like popcorn, peanut butter crackers, and little jello cups. Then, of course, we gave them some candies. We laughed a lot, sang a lot, and played a lot. The week after, Christine and I traveled to Kambuzuma, where the team helps provide food for a feeding programme. The kids are AMAZING there. I have included a picture of them. They sang, and sang, and sang for us. One of the boys then pulled out a drum and started making beats as some of the o
lder boys were break dancing. We gave them their food supply including mealie meal (their staple food), cooking oil, and vegetables and then we gave them some sweets. On Christmas Eve, we will be visiting an orphanage in Dumbyshire where we have gathered lots of giveaways for the kids including small stuffed animals, pens, pencils, paper, face cloths, games, candy, and toys. We are going to play games with them, sing with them, dance with them, and feed them. On December 27th, we are traveling to Madvuku for the Christmas party with the kids who are living with HIV. We have lots of the same stuff planned for them as we do for the kids in Dumbyshire. I am really looking forward to both. Not only are we providing them with physical food, we are providing them with spiritual food as well. Besides, Jesus is the only way we are able to provide them with physical food. Without Him, none of us would be able to afford the food to give them.Jabulani is coming along nicely. I have included a picture so you can see the building. The workers doing the reno
vations are off for the holidays until January 12th, so work has stopped. The kitchen, bathrooms, and dining room are not finished yet, so please pray that the work will be finished quickly when they return from vacation. We are hoping to accept babies by the end of January and in order for that to happen, the building needs to be completed and all the furniture needs to be moved in. Also, continue to pray for Christine and I. We have a lot, a lot, a lot of work to do starting on January 2nd. Lots and lots of training sessions to complete with the house mothers. I’m not sure I mentioned this before, but Christine wants to make me a supervisor of Jabulani for the rest of the time I am here. What a dream come true for me!!! I will get to spend all of February and March loving on and taking care of babies! I couldn’t ask for anything more. I am going to love every second of it. SO EXCITING!!!Ok family. I love you. I hope you all have an amazing Christmas and New Year’s. The internet cafes are closing down after today, so I will not be able to get you another update until after the new year, but I pray that you will be safe and have a peace-filled time for the holidays. I challenge you….do something unexpected this Christmas. Do something you don’t normally do. I know you are all having a hard time this year with the economy and everything, but remember, God is bigger than that. He is a miracle working God. Remember those who have less than you. Reach out to someone who doesn’t have family or is alone for the holidays. Do something unexpected.
I miss you. I am praying for you. Everyone here says Merry Christmas to you. They are so glad you have released me to reach the people of Zimbabwe for such a time as this. I have already been here for 3 months! Can you believe it? I am half way through. Keep praying. Keep me in your hearts. You are the best!
Much Love and Merry Christmas,
Gina :)
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!!
I hope you are having a great holiday spending time with family, eating lots of yummy turkey, and watching tons of football. Haha….the only reason I mentioned those three things is because that is what I am missing the most right now. But I press on. My faith in God and my assurance in what God has spoken to me is what keeps me going daily.
You will be happy to know that Jabulani, our new orphanage, is about finished being renovated. We have already started training the orphanage manager and will be starting to train the rest of the orphanage mothers in December. I have been getting more and more involved in the training sessions as the weeks go on. I am helping type and design training materials/putting together the training manuals and spending a lot of time helping the lady who is doing the training to problem solve her processes…..thank you Pastor Greg!!
As part of the training process for the orphanage staff, we will be conducting an HIV/AIDS training session. I was given the task to sit down with an HIV/AIDS counselor and put together a packet of questions that the staff will then answer at the end of the training. I learned a lot about the terrible myths surrounding what the African culture teaches about people and children infected with HIV/AIDS. It is amazing some of the false ideas people believe about how you can contract HIV…or even how you can be cured of HIV. They are disgusting and the witchdoctors here are the root of the problem. It is just another way the enemy of this world prowls around like a roaring lion waiting to devour people. But we will not let him prevail. We are going to debunk those myths and teach our staff the proper way of caring for our children in the orphanage.
I am really excited about getting more involved in Jabulani. I am feeling like this is where I am most needed as part of the ministry here. I will be conducting a lot of the training sessions for the new staff as well. For example...how to bath a baby properly, how to stimulate a baby...this culture has issues with simple things like that so we want to train them properly in the simple things. There is even talk of me being able to possibly work at Jabulani a couple of days a week once we get it opened...I am hoping it will be more though. Which, of course, would be an amazing experience.
I have been here about 2 months now. It is almost hard to believe. I am learning a lot about living in a different culture and how different life is here compared to how we live in America. Time goes by quickly most days, but some days I can BIG TIME feel the distance between us. When those days happen, I try and keep my mind busy. I am getting lots of opportunities to see more of Zimbabwe. The lady I am living with, Christine, is planning some trips in December to some of the rural areas of Harare so I can see what the orphanages are like there. She is taking me to a town called Mvuku to put on a Christmas party for children infected with AIDS. We will also be having a Christmas party at our house for some of the children in our own neighborhood. Also, as part of the church and small group I am attending, I will get to spend one Saturday a month at an orphanage in my community that Pastor Alan’s team does not go to.
This year at Thanksgiving, even though I don’t really get to celebrate it, I am thanking God for you…my faithful prayer partners, supporters, and family. I am thankful that you love me and believe in what God has asked me to do. Being far from you is not easy for me..especially at the holidays. Pray that God will continue to show me my place and where I fit in the ministry here. Pray for my health as well. I was pretty sick over this past weekend and my allergies don’t seem to be subsiding. I would love to hear how each of you are doing. When you get some time, drop me a note. I look forward to the times I get to hear from you.
I love and miss you,
Gina :)
You will be happy to know that Jabulani, our new orphanage, is about finished being renovated. We have already started training the orphanage manager and will be starting to train the rest of the orphanage mothers in December. I have been getting more and more involved in the training sessions as the weeks go on. I am helping type and design training materials/putting together the training manuals and spending a lot of time helping the lady who is doing the training to problem solve her processes…..thank you Pastor Greg!!
As part of the training process for the orphanage staff, we will be conducting an HIV/AIDS training session. I was given the task to sit down with an HIV/AIDS counselor and put together a packet of questions that the staff will then answer at the end of the training. I learned a lot about the terrible myths surrounding what the African culture teaches about people and children infected with HIV/AIDS. It is amazing some of the false ideas people believe about how you can contract HIV…or even how you can be cured of HIV. They are disgusting and the witchdoctors here are the root of the problem. It is just another way the enemy of this world prowls around like a roaring lion waiting to devour people. But we will not let him prevail. We are going to debunk those myths and teach our staff the proper way of caring for our children in the orphanage.
I am really excited about getting more involved in Jabulani. I am feeling like this is where I am most needed as part of the ministry here. I will be conducting a lot of the training sessions for the new staff as well. For example...how to bath a baby properly, how to stimulate a baby...this culture has issues with simple things like that so we want to train them properly in the simple things. There is even talk of me being able to possibly work at Jabulani a couple of days a week once we get it opened...I am hoping it will be more though. Which, of course, would be an amazing experience.
I have been here about 2 months now. It is almost hard to believe. I am learning a lot about living in a different culture and how different life is here compared to how we live in America. Time goes by quickly most days, but some days I can BIG TIME feel the distance between us. When those days happen, I try and keep my mind busy. I am getting lots of opportunities to see more of Zimbabwe. The lady I am living with, Christine, is planning some trips in December to some of the rural areas of Harare so I can see what the orphanages are like there. She is taking me to a town called Mvuku to put on a Christmas party for children infected with AIDS. We will also be having a Christmas party at our house for some of the children in our own neighborhood. Also, as part of the church and small group I am attending, I will get to spend one Saturday a month at an orphanage in my community that Pastor Alan’s team does not go to.
This year at Thanksgiving, even though I don’t really get to celebrate it, I am thanking God for you…my faithful prayer partners, supporters, and family. I am thankful that you love me and believe in what God has asked me to do. Being far from you is not easy for me..especially at the holidays. Pray that God will continue to show me my place and where I fit in the ministry here. Pray for my health as well. I was pretty sick over this past weekend and my allergies don’t seem to be subsiding. I would love to hear how each of you are doing. When you get some time, drop me a note. I look forward to the times I get to hear from you.
I love and miss you,
Gina :)
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