The Last Supper

I was planning discipleship for this week, and God laid it on my heart to teach about The Last Supper and communion. I looked up several verses that explained various things, like why the Bible talks about using unleavened bread, what the bread and cup represent, who can take communion, how we should examine ourselves before taking communion, the reason we take communion together, etc. 

Turning a lesson into an activity makes it a memory they will never forget!

We made unleavened bread together:

Rosalina pressing her lump of unleavened bread dough:

Our communion elements: Flat bread and coco-cola (I don't think Jesus served coco-cola, but I didn't have any grape juice, so I bought a bottle of coke at the market! And anyway, ever since I have been here I have only ever been served communion with various flavors of pop, LOL)

It was such a special time with the girls. We really went in depth, and they had lots of questions. Apparently before this they didn't even know WHY we take communion!

Now they can never forget it. 

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Hebrews 9:22

Therefore when Christ came into the world he said..."sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, "Here I am,  I have come to do your will." 

He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will we have been made Holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:5, 8-10

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you:

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

For whenever you eat this bread or drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

He rose and conquered the grave! Jesus is alive, and He is offering pure, new LIFE to those who call on Him. 

May this be a weekend of remembering and celebrating and realizing the LIFE-giving blood Jesus poured out to purify us, that we can live in the presence of a Holy and AWEsome God!

Birthdays!

It's birthday time! We had 2 birthday parties in 2 weeks for about 18 girls who had birthday's recently. These birthday parties mean so much to the girls. They love to look at the birthday list on my while, and find their names, and see who has a birthday in their month so they know who they will be having a party with. A day to make them feel special and loved. A day to celebrate their life!

The balloons are hung, the gift bags arranged, everything is set...:

A decorated cake is a must-have to make a birthday special:-)...:

We have a theme for the birthday parties for a whole year, so each girl gets to experience it. Our current theme is princesses and butterflies. At each party the girls come, and open presents (just a few little things: chapstick, a sticker sheet, a bracelet, and some candy) and "ooh" and "ah" over each others gifts. Next we play a game, do a craft, sing happy birthday and pass around the birthday bear that sings happy birthday and lights up. We finish up with cake and juice, and the girls go away feeling on top of the world. Such a simple afternoon that creates memories they will never forget!

The game we are playing this year is lots of fun. The girls find partners, one of them is blind folded and has to dress up their partner. The first to get all the dress up items on their partner is the winner!

In photo below: 

Tania (left) and Serjia (right), twin sisters, age 10.

... Speaking of birthdays... Tonight all the ladies made a very special surprise birthday celebration for me! It started with dinner with 3 other missionaries. That part I knew about. It was so nice to look forward to that all day. After our dinner, they said I would have to find the cake and cut it while blindfolded. They then blind folded me and led me away, and gave me 23 turns - I was quite dizzy...- and we somehow ended up at another missionaries house where they shouted surprise and took off the blind fold. Most of the ladies were there, and they had it all decorated just for me! I am just so blessed by all the work they put into this night for me. We had such a fun evening, watching Anne of Green Gables on the projector, dressed up with fun pastel colored "Easter hats", and they had a wedding dress for me to wear for the evening:-) We had cake and desserts, and decorations my mom sent me. It was the most fun birthday! I had never had a surprise party before, and this was certainly a surprise! 

     Tomorrow, for my real 23rd birthday, we are going out for lunch at a lovely little green house cafe. In the evening the girls are making rice and beans for me, my favorite Mozambican food:-) I am blessed indeed...

Christmas Day 2008

Merry Christmas from the girl's dorm!!

I love this, our 2008 Christmas photo. I used iphoto effects to make it look cool:)

The little girls from the youngest two rooms, styling their new custom made and designed skirts, new t-shirts, and new sandals (thank you, donors of the money for shoes/sandals for all the kids!).

Carmina is pleased with her gifts!

The girls each received a back pack for school, filled with an art kit and a few other fun items.

Christmas lunch: chicken, french fries, pasta salad, and potato salad served with rice.

Me and the tias (dorm mothers) who I work with!

I love these ladies.

L to R: Tia Inez, Tia Sidalia, Tia Safira, me, Mana Fina, and Tia Sonya!

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion--

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."

Isaiah 61:1-3

Christmas Eve 2009

(First of all, I just want to say "THANK YOU JESUS THAT THESE PICTURES FINALLY UPLOADED!!" I have been praying they would cuz the internet has been so slow and I have been trying to upload these for literally 10 days!)

Christmas Eve Candle light service

Sometimes also known as "Catch the Fire" :-)

The girls with their candles all lit. 

It's a bit blurry, but I like how you can see all the candles and all the people.

After all the dramas and dances that the kids performed were finished,

they each received a candle, and then someone at the end of the row would light

it and they passed the flame down as each child lit his or her candle.

Then we sang a few songs to the Lord.

It was beautiful while it lasted, before they started trying to put out each others candles...

Beautiful Alçione with her candle lit!

The toddlers nativity play!!

They are so cute, and every year this play gets better! They did a great job!

My Beautiful Family!! -- and some updates

This is my mom, holding my newest niece Rachel (born about one month ago!). 

Isn't she precious?! She looks like she is smiling in this photo, I love it.

My niece (3 1/2) and nephew (1 1/2) in Amish Country, while I was home. Aren't they so cute?!

This is me (left) with my dear friend Lydia, who got married while I was home. I have photos and will down load them when blogger wants to cooperate. Dad said he wanted a picture of me on here because he forgets what I look like. 

My brother Daniel and his new wife Julie on their wedding day. It was a BEAUTIFUL wedding, and fun reception dancing all night!

And now the photo you've all been waiting for... (you have been waiting for this, right?!)

My family. My great big happy family. I will attempt to tell you who is who from left to right. 

Me (Anna), Christina, Seth, my sister-in-law and good friend Bethany (sorry your face is cut off Bethany!!), next to her is Greg, and in front of Gregory is Andrea, and my niece, Daniel and Julie, my dad, my mom, my brother Sam, my sister Bonnie, my brother Joel, my sister Cara, my brother-in-law Braden holding my nephew. That is the 10 C children, plus 3 sibling-in-laws, and a niece and nephew (this was before the newest niece was born). 

Merry Christmas my dear family! I miss you all!

And now for a weather update from Maputo Mozambique: Today's high was 105 degrees!! Yes, that's right, and it is December 13th!! A-hem, I do believe snow should be in order... how can we make snow men and snow ball fights in this heat?! I am sweating and the heat really takes away your energy.

Today's happenings:

This morning I went to visit an elderly man in the community. I help look after him, and he is unable to walk, and you can't tell what he is saying, but he's really sweet. I knew him before his speech was bad, and I have seen God really work in his life! He used to hold allot of bitterness and unforgiveness towards his family, because when he got sick they rejected him. He now knows the Lord, and is full of joy. I usually read to him from his Bible, pray with him, clean his house, get him water from the well, and make sure he has been fed. On the walk there I stopped and bought bananas for the girls for a snack tonight. On the walk home several  little boys who attend our school were playing outside one of their houses. When they saw me coming they came running to give me hugs. They are so sweet! Then one of them asked me, "Mana Anna, out of all of us here, who do you like the best?"  I don't think my response, "I like you all the same! You are all very special and important," is what they wanted to hear. They really wanted to know which of them was my favorite!

This afternoon I cut about 400 finger nails and toe nails on the girls. Then my nail clipper snapped so I had to stop. Oops!

That's the news from this side of the world. What's going on at your end?!

(by the way, 12 days to Christmas!!)

~Thanksgiving Celebration in Mozambiqe~

Yummy!! We had a HUGE feast for Thanksgiving, with about 18 people to celebrate. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, dinner rolls, and a few Southern casseroles thanks to one of our missionaries from Georgia:-)

[Above] In line to get some dinner.

A display of amazing AMERICAN foods!!:-)

Erin cooked a delicious turkey, to make the feast complete:-)

And here's the gang (minus me, I was taking the picture). Our celebration included people from: America, New Zealand, England, Mozambique, and Australia!

Dinner was at 4:30, but several of us went early to set up. I had some fun fall decorations mom sent me 2 years ago, which made the celebration more festive! When we all gathered, I read about the first Thanksgiving, from something I printed off the internet, so our non-American guests could learn what this special day is all about. Then we prayed and ate! We were so full afterwards, that we decided to wait till after the weekly Thursday night church service to have the desserts. Afterwards we all gathered back and put on Christmas music, and enjoyed pumpkin pie, pecan pie, carrot cake, and strawberry jello with pineapple chunks. We stayed late enjoying the fellowship, and cleaning up. 

It was a wonderful day and I am so thankful for the family God has given me here, while I am away from my family at home. And for the 41 daughters he has given to me to mother for this season! It's a challenge in many ways, but it is so worth it!

And now Christmas is coming...!!:-)

It's my 21st (Golden) Birthday!!

March 21, 2007 I celebrated my 21st birthday.
In my family, when you turn the age of the date of your birthday, it is your "Golden Birthday".
So to be 21 on the 21st of March was extra special. And my family at home and my missionary
family made it more special than I could imagine! In the morning a group of 9 of us ladies went
to a fancy hotel for their "simple" breakfast (if you call fresh baked chocolate filled crescents, choice of
fresh fruit juice, and bottomless tea or coffee 'simple'). We had such a lovely morning dining like
royalty, and chatting away. When the girls got home from school, all 48 came to see me and wish
me a happy birthday and give me their darling hand made cards and drawings. Some of them gave
me bracelets or little nick nacks from their own small box of belongings. How sweet.

My family sent me a package full of 21st birthday decorations and party supplies, as well as my favorite
maple creams (too good to share...). Some of the missionaries took the box of decorations and went to
set up the yard we'd be having our evening celebration at. In the evening we had a bring and share meal
at one of the missionaries houses. It was so nice to just enjoy fellowship. They went around saying what
each person did on their 21st birthday (I am the youngest missionary here). Then two ladies from England
sang to me "She's 21 today, she's 21 today! She's got the key of the door, never been 21 before!" (In England
when you turn 21 it's about being old enough to have the key to your own house). Everyone sang happy birthday and I blew out the candles, then they lifted me up in a chair and sang to me (in Mozambique, the
special guest at a wedding or whatever celebration gets lifted up in a chair!). And they put me in the middle
and everyone prayed for me. It was so special! I got lots of sweet gifts and cards. Lots of purple and lavender things, since that's my favorite color:-)

The Lord blessed me so much! What a birthday to remember...

Birthday Cake!!

Annelie with our new little boy, Tino

We had a Birthday party for Annelie, our lovely nurse who works in the baby house and clinic. All the babies came and had a blast playing in the pool, singing Happy Birthday, and ofcourse, eating lots and lots of cake:-)

What a joy to celebrate with these little darlings. God has done such miracles in each of their lives. Our babies are living testimonies of our faithful Father. Their lives shout glory to the Lord!

Water Fight!!

It was 110 degree F this day...
Filled up 200 water balloons...
Chased one of the dorm mother's all across the play ground and through another dorm,
and back to the girls dorm where she locked herself in a room for 45 minutes. When she finally
came out we had 3 big water balloons to "get her" with, and lots of buckets and cups of water to dump on her:-)
It was so refreshing playing with water, that Olga was caught in the bathroom having her own water cooler!
Oh those hot days of Summer...

2007 *A New Year!!* 2007

Happy Year 2007!!

In December I spent a week in Botswana with my dear friends from church, Jake and Khanya. They were visiting Khanya's family, and having a wedding for her sister. It was so fun being a part of the family and spending time with the relatives! The wedding was beautiful. Such a nice break, to be away from work, and with my wonderful friends.

Paulo is doing wonderful. It has been a privilege to pour into his life and give Him God's love. The tias (dorm mothers) love looking after Paulo, and have worked and persevered with him in many ways. He is now sitting up on his own, and picking things up with his hands. The girls are always playing with him, trying to get him to laugh.

In my last blog I posted a picture of these 2 darling miracles when they had first arrived. Here they are, doing so much better! Sina is now over 4 kilos, and doing fantastic. She loves to smile and coo, and her health is perfect.

Mateus is off his feeding tube, and eating just fine. He is health, crawls around and tries to stand on his own. He will be walking soon! He has such a sweet nature, always smiling and loves people. Thank you for your prayers for these 2!

We had a joyful Christmas, and a rainy new year's eve (which was welcome after weeks of hot, dry 100 + degree weather).

My Hopes for the new year are:

1. Start a program to train the girls in skills they can use when they leave the center to be able to make a living (sewing, crocheting, cooking, etc.).

2. Taking more time with each child God places in front of me. Never rushing them off, or being impatient (Lord, give me grace!), but just giving them all the time in the world and making each person I meet feel special and loved. That I might be the fragrance of Christ to them!

3. Get to know the Lord better. I have all eternity, and it starts now. I want to know Him and to learn to abide in Him. I want to learn to just BE in Him. Not work for something. I surely don't deserve and can do nothing to deserve Him. But as being His daughter is an honor and privilege, I don't want to take that lightly. I want all that God has intended for me. I want to live for Him with passion and excitement and joy. I want to know Him fully, even as I am fully known.

It will take commitment, but I am ready to start this year out, and see where God takes me this year. I am learning so much day by day.

I will be coming home mid June, and probably coming back to Mozambique in August. My brother Greg is getting married to my friend Bethany In July, and I look forward to being a part of the wedding. They are so perfect for each other! It's been so neat watching God bring them together.

I pray you each have a wonderful year 2007, and God gives you the desires of your heart, and fulfills your dreams.

Be blessed! Thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement. I am truly blessed.

Love in Jesus,

Anna

Birthday Girls!!

A very special day!

July 22, 2006

Today we celebrated three birthdays for three very special little girls! Rita-16, Dionicia-11, and Aidinha-6. They each received invitations for their party, and have been asking me about it all week. I've been looking forward to it as much as they have!

Dionicia just arrived last week. Her mother died and her father left her and her brother. So they came to live here. She has never had a birthday party before. She was grinning from ear to ear the whole time!

The girls were given princess treatment today, because they are so special and wonderful. Each girl got to choose fancy clothes to wear (from my bag of special occasion clothes). They opened their gifts to find hair bands, chap stick, candy, stick-on earrings, and beads with string. Just what little girls love! We had spaghetti and salad for lunch on glass dishes with forks, and pop poured in glass cups. (Here they eat with plastic plates and use their hands)

We made pretty crepe paper flowers, played "Pass the parcel" with a present wrapped in layers, and in each layer they got either a candy, or a task (like jumping on one foot or singing a song). After unwrapping the last layer they found a colorful new jump rope, which they were thrilled to play with. We played other games, and they ran around the big yard chasing balloons and laughing. Afterwards they sat quietly drawing pictures and writing on paper, while eating cookies, and absorbing the attention of missionaries, and a sweet Mozambican dorm parent.

It was so fun separating them from the 400 children living here, making them the center of attention and celebrating their lives. It is amazing to show these girls God's love for them! Every day is just such a joy. I love it!

God has made us each the center of HIS attention, and he just loves us so much! What an honor to be called sons and daughters of God! Let's live like it!

Bless you all richly.

With love and joy,

Anna Coumos

Following Jesus in Mozambique, Africa