My Kids (Young Adults)

I love these amazing people and miss sharing in their everyday lives.  They do send photos occasionally, and I thought I would post.  You'll see why I miss them so much.

You Tell Me

You tell me - is this guy spoiled or not?  I guess it is true that you can take the boy out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of the boy!

I Am Rich...No, Really!

You know how we Christians say that we are rich, even though we don't have any money?  We contend that the blessings and provision of God make us wealthy beyond compare.  Well, I agree with that thought, but today I actually became a billionaire .... really .... see....

and no, this isn't play money.  This is the currency of the neighboring country of Zimbabwe given to me by one of my friends.  Now these 30 billion dollars actually equal less than two American dollars and might buy one egg. 

Thinking about it ... let me start all over ... I am a Christian and, as such, am rich, even though I don't have any money.  The blessings and provision of God make me wealthy beyond compare ... really!

Where I Now Live

Until coming to Africa I had always lived in small Texas towns.  I remember when our children were very small, they made the comment that one day they would like to live in a town that was large enough to have its own Wal-mart.  Isn't that funny? 

Well, they each got their desire.  Adriane lives in Longview; Shelby lives in the Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex; and Caleb lives outside Los Angeles.

I, on the other hand, do not live anywhere near a Wal-mart.  There is nothing small nor Texan about my town.   I did make an interesting observation the other day while standing at the kitchen sink.  I live in a town where I now wash and re-use Ziploc bags (and wash dishes by hand, I might add).  What a random thought!

 

In today's disposable society, I recycle Ziploc bags.  When items are abundant or inexpensive, you tend to overlook their inherent value.  You tend to discard the old in favor of the new.  You tend to forget that there is still much usefulness remaining in the original object.  I wonder if we do that with people as well as things.

Lord, help me to see the inherent value in your creation.  Let me view each person I encounter, as one You paid  a high price to redeem and salvage.  Let me help each discover his/her worth to You and his/her value to Your kingdom.

   

 

Thank you, God, for where I now live and for the lessons you are teaching me along the way.

No apologies

Hello...my name is Fredna...and I am a "photo"holic.  If I were at a meeting for camera/photo addiction anonymous, that might be my introduction.  I think I got my first Kodak Instamatic camera for Christmas in the 1960's.  The subsequent years have brought models and makes of every sort.  I can remember running to the mailbox to get double prints or regular=size photos with smaller duplicates from some mail-order company.  The anticipation grew each day until the processed film in the form of snapshots arrived.  Polaroid and Kodak instant cameras took away the wait but proved to be a lesser choice in the end.  Who knew digital would come along and make photo processing such a personal experience with the owner in the driver's seat?

   

Why do I address this topic in a blog?  Because for a number of years I have felt awkward about getting in front of the room to take the picture or always having a camera handy, hoping not to miss "the shot".  Others have even commented about Fredna and her camera.  Deep down I never really cared because I had the finished product to look at repeatedly and enjoy.  I have taken photos of my elementary-school classmates, high-school friends, family members, funerals, baby dedications, graduations, vacations, ministry functions - you name it - and I have probably taken a picture of it.                     

When we came to Africa as missionaries, I knew that a good digital camera was a must.  I have taken photos of people and places from one side of this continent to the other and many points in between.  Again, I have had others comment about Fredna and her camera, but when I am old and gray, my mind may have a hard time recollecting these events.  But with photographic images, my hope is that the memories will remain vibrant and alive.

                    

Again, why this topic?  Well, I have come to believe and realize that, in fact, my camera provides a valuable ministry tool for me.  First, it provides a point of contact for meeting and sharing with others.  Secondly, most of the nationals that we know cannot afford the cost of a camera or photo processing.  Prints that I have shared are valued and cherished by the recipients.  But most importantly by far, is the fact that in many cases, snapshots that I have taken provide the only photograph that family members have of deceased loved ones.

Sunday, a dear friend was killed in a tragic car accident.  Only three weeks ago, I had given her a photo of her family and of her youngest son.  She and her husband were so excited.  They didn't have a recent family photo.  That moment can never be captured again.  Less than two months ago, I took a photo that proved to be the last one taken of a small baby we know.  This truth repeats itself over and over.

So, yes, my name is Fredna...and I am a "photo"holic.  Tonight, I make no apologies for that.

Tragedy multiplied....

I write this post with a very heavy heart.  If you have read my blogs in the past, you may remember the young family who so lovingly gave us a pair of rabbits.  We received word today that the wife was tragically killed in a car accident Sunday.  Her name was Catherine, and she and her husband, Bosco, have four young children: Miracle, Naomi, Promise and Omega.  This couple is very involved in the leadership of their church.  They are both school teachers and such delightful people.  As if the news of her death were not tragic enough, the vehicle she was in collided head-on with a small truck.  In that truck was Bosco's brother.  He, too, was killed in this accident. 

Please keep this entire family  in your prayers.  They face many challenges in the days ahead.  Here is their photo posted once more.  Those of you on the Cornerstone team will recognize Catherine as one of the ladies who led groups for evangelism and who convened the Sunday morning church service.  The Sachse team may remember the youngest child, Omega.  He stole all our hearts at the crusade.  May God grant a special measure of comfort during this difficult time.

Sunday at Luchenza

We had a great time of ministry Sunday with Pastors George and Mayamiko Chiwaya at Luchenza A/G Worship Center.   Since you couldn't be there, I have included some pictures of our day...

  

We knew we were in the right place when we saw the church sign.  The parking lot was not full, but there were many bicycles and motorbikes there when we arrived.

The ladies group sang a special.  I love the African music and praise and worship through song, spirit, and dance.

Two of the home cell groups presented the pastor and his family with a love offering - very similar to our "poundings" from years gone by.  What a blessing to a pastor - you should try it for yours!

     

Gaylord just getting started.

 

The pastor's young son standing with the men after service reminded me of something our son, Caleb, would have done at that age.  He chattered away, though we couldn't understand much of what he said since he is two years old and spoke in Chichewa.

 

Pastor George and Mayamiko Chiwaya and two of their three children: Shammah and Shaddai.  They have a daughter, Shalom, as well.  Please pray for the baby.  He was just released from the hospital after a ten-day stay with pneumonia.  The doctor suspects that he may have asthma as well, so this little guy needs a touch of healing in his body.

Enthusiasm

Have you ever considered the infectious nature of enthusiasm?  Those of you who know me, know that I enjoy sports, but I am, by no means, a sports enthusiast.  Imagine my surprise when I found myself surrounded by avid football (soccer) fans in the city of Blantyre today.  The Malawi national team, aka the Flames, played DRC for a possible spot in the World Cup 2010. 

The team stayed at the same hotel where we are staying.  Kamuzu Stadium, where they played, is very near the hotel as well.  Everyone was excited as game time neared, and I began to find myself a little excited also.  At the conclusion of the game, Malawi had won 2-1.  I was thrilled!  People shouting, horns honking, sirens blaring - all elevated the level of excitement.   By the time the team returned to the hotel, I found myself discussing a sport I know very little about with people I don't even know.  Even now sounds of revelry can be heard outside.  CONGRATULATIONS team Malawi!

Consider sharing your FAITH with a level of excitement.  Consider sharing with others, though you may know very little about them.  As a Christian, you have a message worth sharing.  Catch the enthusiasm.....I hear it is contagious!

More photos...

These are more photos of our journey today.....

Pretty nice little bird house

 

Beautiful grounds at Mua Mission

  

WC stands for water closet aka toilet aka restroom.  This one was very clean.  If you have traveled abroad much, you know how important a discovery like this can be!  

These kids called to get my attention saying, "Picture, picture!"  The minute I turned to take their photo, they scattered, yelling, "Money, money!"  I had to laugh to myself.  With the literally hundreds of photos that I have of African children, there was no way that I was going to pay to take one more!  They were good sports and laughed as they ran away.  

The local riverbed offers washing opportunities for clothes and bodies.  If you look closely, you can see what I mean.

      

What a common sight: vendors selling goods when buses or taxis or vehicles stop for any reason.

 

You never know who/what you will see riding on the back of trucks in this country. 

Stacks of charcoal being sold by the side of the road.

Funny story: We found the restaurant at Mua Mission, but it looked a bit deserted.  Gaylord asked, "Is this the restaurant?" 

At this, the young man said, "Yes." 

Gaylord followed up with, "Do you have any food?" 

To which the young man replied, "No." 

WHAT?! 

"But this is the restaurant, right?"

"Yes."

"But you have no food?!"

"Yes, but we can fix you a light lunch."

WHAT?!

Result: Fanta orange and chips (french fries).  Not bad for a restaurant with no food who serves light lunch.

Mua Mission

Enroute to the southern city of Blantyre today, we stopped at a Catholic cultural center named Mua Mission.  This center has been here for a number of years and offers a history of the Catholic work in this region as well as cultural and language studies.  These are some of the photos that we took that I found interesting.

                 

On quitting....

I was listening to a student at chapel last week who was preaching on how our struggles and situations develop character in us and make us to be the men/women that God needs us to be to walk in His calling for our lives.  In passing he mentioned that many times we are tempted to quit.  As he said the word  quit, the following thoughts came to my mind and spirit:

"When you say that it is better to quit than to keep going - you are, in reality, saying that it is better that my neighbors and family become Muslims (because the Muslims are not quitting) OR it is better that my neighbors and family die and go to hell (because the powers of darkness are not quitting) OR it is better that I live for myself and be destroyed by my sins (because sin and selfishness are not quitting)."

Now is not the time to quit.  Now is the time to say, "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world."  There is much more at stake than your comfort.  Quitting should not be an option.

Christmas in October

No,we are not actually celebrating Christmas in October.  Not with trees and trimmings anyway.  I have just been a bit homesick the past few days, and listening to Christmas music makes me feel warm inside.  It is true that it makes me miss my family and friends even more, on the one hand.  But it surrounds me with comfort on the other.

What better way to celebrate our Lord than through Christmas music?  What better way to cherish hearth and home than through Christmas music?  What better way to feel like a child again than through Christmas music?  What better way to re-connect with wonder and surprise than through Christmas music?   The experience is almost complete when you light a pecan sandy Trimmings candle.

      

So here's a tree for those of you who are actually getting to enjoy fall weather and Friday night football games and candy corn and upcoming trick-or-treaters and Thanksgiving.  On this side I will simulate the feelings of Christmas before the temperatures climb any higher and summer overtakes us completely.

Let me be the first to say, "HAPPY HOLIDAYS!"