Prayer

"Dear Jesus. Bless Mana Anna because she is going. And I ask you to make her want to stay, and then we will have a big party for her. Bless the people who are in the prison. Give clothes to the people who live on the street. Heal the people who are in the cemetary. Sleep with us in our room and protect us. Amen." 

--Amelia Salamao, age 6

This was what she prayed tonight when I was praying with the little girls as I tuck them in bed.

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!

I forgot...

...that I am living in one of the poorest countries in the world. Not just a "third world country". Mozambique is on the list of the 10 most poor countries. 

The "Bocaria", Maputo's garbage dump, where people live, and spend all day rummaging

through the trash that is dumped off in trucks like this one. And when they find something worth keeping or selling, they are thrilled!

I really think before I throw anything out, because I know it will be uncovered here.

An advertisement for witch doctor "medicine", labeling some of the sicknesses they promise to cure. Witch craft is so steeped into this country. The president of Mozambique has ceremonies for the witch doctors to "consecrate" new buildings with their rituals.

Mama and baby heading home from "grocery shopping".

Somehow, after living here for 3 years, it only just occurred to me yesterday, that I really live in a third world country, with the very poorest of people. Yes, I know they don't live like American's. I know they live in little one or two room grass huts or block houses. I know they are lucky to eat 2 meals a day, and there is a very large percent of unemployment. I know the average monthly salaray is about $50. 

But yesterday, it all just really hit me. I was walking home from visiting an old man in the community who I help look after. I had just shared a Bible story at his house to 5 little kids who had followed me there. Every time I walk in the community I have a group of "followers". There are about 30 of these sweet little kids (30 that know me) in the community behind our center, and when they see me, they come running, shouting, "E Malungu Mana Anna!" (It's the white mana Anna!!). On my walk home, I encountered several more of the children. Then I heard from behind a row of thorn bushes, "Mana Anna, come see what we are doing!" I came around to see. There were about 8 or 10 kids gathered around 2 very tiny cooking fires they had made with little twigs. And on these 2 miniature cooking fires they had cut a pop can in half, to be a cooking pot, and they were boiling the potato peelings from the potatoes their mothers were cooking on real fires for their dinner. They were pretending to be cooking dinner. These children were so excited to show me their play, and one of the mothers came over to greet me, and laugh with me at the fun these kids were having.

That's when it hit me. "Do these kids know they are the poorest of the poor? Do they know they are the ones on the bottom of the list? That they are considered hopeless?" 

Compassion is not feeling sorry for someone, it is having hope for them. When I see these happy kids, running around in filthy clothes that fit them 2 years ago and certainly don't now, clothes that are full of holes. When I see these dirty little bare feet, I can't see them as poor. Because I see their sparkling eyes, and I have such hope for them! The sweet little dirty hand that slips into mine and walks along beside me. The hungry hearts of kids who sit and feed off the story of Jesus calling the little children to come sit on his lap, because he loves them. The joy in their voices as they laugh and play, and say "Look! Here comes Mana Anna!" And when I must leave them, they say, "We will see you next time!" 

Oh, the love I have for these kids. This country is called the poorest of the poor. But to God, they are the richest of the rich. They are the ones with the most hope. They are the ones Jesus was talking about, when He said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3

The closing of a chapter...

Mozambique, Africa

One way to transport a tire...

A sweet little girl outside her home.

The way to carry things around here.

Visiting Olga, who was reintegrated to her home, with her older brother Celino.

A Mozambican lady setting out her produce to begin selling for the day.

About a year ago God put it on my heart to start praying for the person to come after me in the girl's dorm. At first I thouhgt, "I am not planning on going away any time soon!" But I did pray off and on for her, that God would be preparing the right person for the right time.
Then when I was preparing to go home last August, the Lord spoke to me that my time here was coming to an end. I went home and shared this with my parents, and prayed allot. When I returned in October, I spoke with my leaders here, and they prayed with me, and released me to keep following God's plan for my life. We prayed for God to bring someone to fill my responsibilities here, in the girl's dorm. What God called me here to accomplish in and through me has been completed, and I have built on the foundation others had laid. In February Heather arrived, and it was clear she was the one God had prepared for such a time as this! She is from England, and is exactly 2 weeks younger than me! She really loves the girls, and God has really blessed us with plenty of time to transition, and get to become friends before I go.

I will be leaving here on April 29th, and closing this amazing chapter God has written in my life. I will be sad to say good bye to my dear friends (both Mozambican, and missionaries). And it won't be easy saying good bye to the precious daughters God temporarily placed in my care. These past 3 years have been a time of growth, and seeing God do so many miracles. He has protected me, comforted me, changed me. He has shown me how big and wide and deep His love really is. He has given me compassion for those who have no hope, and taught me to hope for them, and teach them to hope. I have gotten to be a carrier of His love and life to countless babies, children, and adults! It is a privilege I do not deserve, but have been given and am so grateful for.

I want to also testify that I have such peace, and God has given me such grace as He takes me from this place, to a place yet unknown. He is amazing, and I am seeing it more and more every day!

The next step...
will be going home for a time. At first I really struggled with just going home, and not knowing where or when I will be sent back out to the "foreign mission field". But as I submitted to God's word of "Wait", I felt such peace, and I see that He is giving me an incredible gift of getting to spend time with my dear family for awhile! I will get to see me niece who I've not met yet, and spend time with people I haven't had much time with in the last 3 years. I will be home at least until the end of the year (and I am so excited to be home for Christmas this year!!). In September I plan to do a 2 week medical course called "Missionary Medical Intensive", which will be very useful for a future in third world countries. And in the mean time, I am going to soak up this time with my family, share God's amazing love with those in Ohio, and wait on God for my next marching orders!

"My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek...
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong, take heart, and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:8, 13-14

Quality time in the kitchen

I am always trying to find ways to have quality time with the girls. Sometimes it is easier to just do things myself, but just to ask a few girls to come help me gives them the opportunity to learn, and for us to have quality time together. With 50 girls in the dorm, it's not always easy to spread out quality time with each one. This week I had some things to do in the kitchen so I invited a couple of girls in, and they had a blast.

Making and Baking a chocolate cake:

Mana Cheila is 25, and has lived in the girls dorm for about 10 years. She is handicapped, and used to run away to the streets. She has settled down so much, and hasn't run away in over a year. She's very sweet. Rosa, age 2, is not in school yet, so when all the girls went to school, I invited Mana Cheila and Rosa to come help me make a cake (for the wedding, see a few posts back). We measured out each ingredient and they took turns dumping them in, and mixing.

The finished cake! And 2 very happy bakers!

This is the first time I ever got Rosa to smile for the camera.

And a brag moment, my sweet little Rosa can now count to ten on her fingers, and when I asked her "How old are you Rosa?" she responds "I'm two!" in her sweet munchkin voice, and holds up two fingers. I'm so proud of her!

Friday Night Snack:

Every Friday night I do snack and movie night in the girls dorm. I usually give them something healthy (hard boiled eggs, pop corn, fruit, peanut butter). Sometimes I make them cookies or cupcakes. Last week Eliza and Fatima (2 of the new girls) helped me prepare peanut butter on crackers for all the girls. They were so impressed with out kitchen. Refrigerators, a stove and oven, plates, cups, silverware. "Mana Anna, you have everything in this kitchen! Plates, cups! You thought of everything!" is what Eliza exclaimed when she walked into our kitchen and took a look around her. Fatima pointed to an apple on one of the other missionaries shelves and said, "You even have an apple in here!" :-)

Now compared to America, our kitchen is pretty basic. I mean we just got our first counter top put in, and have been surviving for a few years without a counter. But these girls have probably only ever seen a cooking pot over a wood fire, and a few mismatched plates to eat off of! They both came from pretty poor circumstances. It was a reminder to me where they come from, and how much it is for them to take in all that we have here! Even having beds, instead of sleeping on grass mats on the floor must be a big deal to them.

They spread peanut butter on 50 crackers, and even washed up the plates and knives afterwards.

Sometimes I can get really busy doing "good things", but neglect the whole point I am here. To be a mother to these precious girls, and to give them God's love. God has been reminding me to take time to create special moments for the girls. And as I bless them, I feel so blessed!

Update on Amina

Many of you are asking how Amina is, sorry I forgot to update about her.

She had malaria and is out of the hospital and much better. Thank you for praying for her!

If you want to add something else to your prayer list, about 5 of the little girls have come

down with the measles. Poor little things are covered in what looks like a rash from head to

toe. They are sleeping in room 9, which we are calling "The Pediatric Ward" of the "Girl's dorm

Hospital". That makes it a little fun for them to have their own sick room. A few of them are

already much better, but others are starting to come down with it now.

Mom, I did get a measles shot when I was little, right?

Hospital Central

Amina is the third of 7 sisters. Her 3 youngest sisters live in our center. Her sister just under her lived here for a year, and now lives at home with the older girls. And Amina came to live here for a short time while she was being treated medically. 

Yesterday she came to the center feeling quite sick. The nurses in our clinic decided she should spend the night here, and in the morning we would take her to Hospital Central (our main hospital here in Maputo). Last night while we were having our missionary's home group, the dorm mother's came looking for me and the nurses, saying Amina was having a seizure. It turned out she was sleeping in a bed, and suddenly started having a seizure-- eyes rolling back in her head, salivating, and shaking. The nurses quickly arranged a vehicle and took her to the hospital. As they arrived at the hospital, she went into another seizure. She had no fever, so we are not sure what brought this on. She was admitted to the hospital late last night.

This morning I was at the hospital with one of the boys, for abuse counseling which we have just started taking a group of kids to. I and one of our Mozambican educators, wanted to take a change of clothes, and some fruit and hygienic items to Amina. We found the ward she was in, but the guard said it was not visiting ours and we could not go in. I pleaded with them, explaining I just needed to drop off these bits, and I would not stay to visit. Finally he allowed us to go, being careful to explain this is not normally allowed. 

Tia Sidalia and I went up the stairs to the third floor. There was no one at the help desk, so we just walked down the hall way, which was crowded with nurses pushing carts of medicine, and doctors checking over their patient list of the day, and looked into each room to search for Amina. Her room didn't have any free beds left, so she was on a mattress on the floor. She had vomited in the night, and still had the dirty sheets on her bed. Her stomach was still hurting, but she looked much better than yesterday. A nurse was attending her, but the doctor hadn't made his rounds to her bed yet, so we didn't get a diagnosis. We didn't wait around long, because we didn't want to get in trouble, and the doctors were busy checking the patients in that room. 

As we were leaving, and walking down the crowded hall way again, I saw a small room with a light on. On the floor was a mattress, with a body wrapped in a white sheet, of some one who must have just died, and they put the body there until someone could come take it away. That really shook me up seeing that!

Our hospitals at home are so nice. The nurses and doctors are usually nice, and are there to help you. One of the doctors I had to deal with this morning at this boy's 7:30 appointment was so disrespectful of me and tia Sidalia. I have been praying that with going to these appointments so often (I have been 3 times in the last 4 days with 9 children!), that we would be a light of the Lord to these counselors, who are not Christians. And I felt like today I had to decide how to respond to this lady. She doesn't know Jesus. She doesn't know His love. She doesn't know she was talking to two daughters of the King of Kings today! But I believe God will open up the doors for these doctors to come to know Him. And if I am to be an ambassador of Heaven, I want to represent well my Father!

It was a rough morning. I came home and spent time with the Lord. I felt very heavy and unsettled about the events that took place. I chose to forgive the doctor who spoke down to us. My devotional this morning was about being humble. Pride always goes before a fall. The Bible says over and over how the proud will be brought low, but God will raise up the lowly in Spirit.

I can be proud and shove off what people say and leave no room for God to teach me or use me. Or I can choose to humble myself, turn the other cheek, and walk on in the grace of God. It's a lesson I think I shall never finish learning until I walk into the gates of heaven.  

That was my morning at Hospital Central.

God's so awesome!!

Priscilla from Brazil performing a dance with the little girls.

The Lovely Tias! Tia Safira, Tia Sidalia, Tia Inez, and Tia Sonia

One of our two teams of dorm mothers, who daily pour into the lives of each girl, mothering them and loving them.

The Lord their God will save them on that day

as the flock of His people.

They will sparkle in His land like jewels in a crown.

How attractive and beautiful they will be!

Zechariah 9:16-17a

I had discipleship with the older girls today. Only four of them came. We discussed the benefits of being Christians, how are we different to the world. What is our gain. What do each of the girls desire to see God do in their life time. We talked about how life is short in comparison with eternity, and this is preparation for Heaven--God is even storing up treasures in Heaven for us! 

The girls opened their mouths and spilled out their hearts. It was lovely. We read a few scriptures together, then I suggested we pray for each other. If they had anything specific they wanted prayer for, we would pray for those things too. Well, as we laid hands on each girl, the girls prayed for one another and some cried a little. The Lord is really capturing their hearts for Him. I know these girls are going to be the women that bring transformation to the lives of many people, they will be the ones to be leaders with a voice, they will be the ones who bring the captives to Jesus, and bring freedom to the lost. They are willing for God to work through them, and I can't wait to see what He does! 

As of right now, it will be 4 days and 15 hours till I leave to go be with my family

for 10 weeks!! I am getting so excited. I started packing today, and putting things away to 

make room for Rachel, who will be moving in while I am away.

Yay! Brimfield, here I come!

I can't wait to see you mom and dad, Bonnie and Braden and Audrey and Brady, Greg and Bethany, Daniel and Julie (looking forward to meeting you too!:-)), Seth, Cara, Bobo, Joel, Andrea, and Sammy bean! I love you all so much, and have really missed you. I am so looking forward to being with you again.

Celebrate Life!

Thabo with Tia Judite, when he was staying in the clinic, regaining his strength.

Thabo, Vella, and Paulito on Children's day, waiting for their chicken dinner.

Vella is a very dear friend of mine, and the missionary over a dorm of little boys, where Thabo lived.

Vella praying for Thabo.

He received so much love in this family. He learned what it's like to be loved instead of rejected. He got to know Jesus while he was here. He felt God's love through the missionaries and tias who looked after him. Sometimes He would be mumbling and they would say, "Who are you talking to Thabo?" "I am praying to Jesus." He would say.

Sometimes he would be singing in his quiet voice, and they would ask what he was doing. "I am singing to God because Jesus told me to." Was his reply.

Thabo came to us about 2 years ago, battling HIV, TB, and malnutrition and rejection. 

But though his body was weak, His spirit was quite alive and full of Joy. Thabo means "Joy", and we know him by the joy he brought to so many. 

He spent a few months in the hospital, then stayed in the clinic here at the center for a few months. And finally, he spent the last 4 months in Vella's house, where she, and 2 tias, care for 5 little guys ages 5-6.

On Friday morning, while the rest of the boys were at school, Thabo was alone with the tia and Vella. In the last week he had gotten much weaker, and now he was asking for Tia Judite to hold him. She did for a little while, and then he asked for Vella to hold him. Tia Judite passed him off to Vella, who held him for a while. Then he said, "I want to go to sleep." 

Vella laid him on his bed, and said, "Go to sleep Thabo, and be free." As she pulled her hands out from under him, and took his last breath, closed his eyes, and went to sleep from this world. He woke up in Jesus's arms, with a whole new body, and able to run and play and dance with Tino and others!

Today was the funeral. It was sad, but sweet. Because we know where He is now.

Some of the young boys who were friends with Thabo came to the funeral, and with tears streaming down their faces, they said their final good byes.

Please keep lifting up Vella, and Tia Judite and Tia Victoria, who poured out love unconditionally into Thabo. They miss him terribly, and he has left such a sweet legacy.

We celebrate his life!

::And God is our answer::

"It is important to remember that for every person,

there is a problem. Even more importantly,

for every problem our God has a prescription!"

--Woman, thou are loosed!

Sometimes things seem to be caving in all around. Sometimes I wonder if anything more could possibly go wrong? Sometimes I have trouble quieting down my mind to listen to God, and just rest in Him. To live out of a place of rest, instead of being distracted by all that is happening around me. But I have learned, and must constantly remind myself, God is the answer. And if He is the answer, I would do well to leave the middle of the problems, and come to Him.

Many people this week have been hit by cars and died, here in Maputo. 

Filipe (who lives here at the center), his brother was hit by a car up North and died. That was His only family member he has contact with.

A little girl was violated. 

Another girl who is in a wheel chair has come down with a very large and horrible bed sore. She has also lost allot of weight and has a bad chest infection that won't clear up. She is having her wound cleaned twice daily, and I have made her some nutritious pureed meals to help her regain the weight she has lost, and to fight the infections.

An elderly man we look after in the community, who is bed ridden, kicked his son out of the house. I was called upon to 'resolve the situation'. I don't know what I said, but apparently it worked because he has let his son move back in.

15 little girls had no undies this morning because it didn't dry yesterday from the rain. I didn't find out until this afternoon, and I quickly passed out new undies to all the girls!

A couple of the girls have been telling allot of lies to get things they want, and being very manipulative. 

I cut 3 of the girls hair today, because they have nasty infections on their scalp that needs treated. 

These are some of the things that happen in a week here. And for all of these things, I know that God is the answer. And when I bring these needs to Him, He will resolve them. I don't need to get stressed out, worked up, or drained from all these situations. I have to remind myself to bring them to Jesus. 

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit, unless you remain in me...apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:4,5

Tino

I wanted to let you know that last night around 6 pm, Tino was being fed his supper, and

peacefully closed his eyes and went to be with Jesus. He did not have any big seizures like

he'd been having for days, just peacefully passed from this life into our Father's arms.

The medical staff and head of the baby house took his little body to the mortary, and today

they are making plans for the funeral (to be held Friday or Saturday). His grandmother was

able to come right away and the dorm mothers were around to comfort her. 

Please pray for those handling the funeral and those who looked after him and loved him into

Jesus's arms.

Thank you for those who have been praying for him. He's held on for a long time, way beyond the doctor's expectations! And He is now in heaven, he doesn't limp when he walks, he doesn't need glasses, and all those kisses and hugs he used to love to give out, he is now giving to Jesus! 

He's made it before us, and he's been promoted for this life on earth, to a perfect life and perfect body in heaven! Praise the Lord!

Paulo

Paulo was found tied up in a plastic bag behind a building about 2 years ago. He was found by a man who runs a children's center down the road. He came here the end of 2006, and moved into the girl's dorm for extra care. Tonight Nancy, my dear friend and sister in Christ who is a missionary here, was doing milk in the girl's dorm. I was sitting with her and playing with Paulo. He is so happy! He can sit up now, and use his right hand to turn himself completely around in a circle. He can hold himself up on his feet when he is leaning against a bed. He makes lots of baby talking now. He smiles the most delightful smile (and when he's especially happy he squints his eyes too. It's so cute!:-). Tonight he was drooling and he took he lifted his shirt to his face and wiped the drool. I wanted to cry, I was so surprised! I've never seen him do that before! He is learning to eat on his on (though he hates to, because he LOVES food and can't eat fast enough. It takes too much time having to do it yourself). 

 

Paulo is a miracle! He was left to die in a plastic bag. God, our awesome Father, didn't leave him to die! He picked him up and gave him new life! And he is doing so well! It is such an incredible joy to see Paulo's smiling face every day. And it is a privilege to watch God do miracle after miracle day after day. Our God is an awesome God!

Love,

Anna

...because a thankful heart is a happy heart...

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Today's discipleship group was the girls ages 5-10. We showed the Veggie Tales film of "Madame Blueberry"... in Portuguese! It was so funny to watch "Love songs with Mr. Lunt" singing about his beloved cheeseburger, in Portuguese LOL. I am sure the little ladies did not get a word of his little song of his cheeseburger that he "Ama muito" (loves so much!).

When the movie finished, our Koala and panda bear puppet friends (named Salt and Pepper) came for a visit, and for the girls to share with them what they learned about. They told them all things they are thankful for, and drew pictures of the things they wanted to say thank you to Jesus for (clothes to wear, food to eat, a spoon to eat food with, "Mana Anna because she loves me"... awww...).

I certainly have allot to thank God for! Here are a few:

My cozy bedroom...my sanctuary with the Lord! It's my favorite colors (lavender, yellow, and green), and so relaxing. I have a big wicker chair I bought when I first came here. It's where I sit when I wake up in the morning, and talk to God and read my bible. It's where I came in the middle of a busy day, to take 10 minutes of stress relief with the Lord. It's where I come at the end of the day to rest. It's so peaceful! I love my room:-)

49 girls ages 5-18. I love living in Mozambique, and I LOVE mothering all these sweet girls! It is such a privilege to be here, and to give life and love and God's healing to these girls, who would otherwise be in many different and terrible situations. God brings the lonely into families, he lifts the poor from the dust, and he sets them with princes in heavenly places!

The girl's kitchen. Every Saturday morning one of the dorm mothers takes about 5 girls, and walks to the market down the road with a list of ingredients they will need to buy. They give the money to the girls to work out how much things cost, and how much change they should receive. Then they come home, and we cook! The girls are mastering make rice, and several yummy Mozambican toppings. It took a long time to get this kitchen in place. But God has really used it to be a blessing, and to bring the girls into more of a family here. It's so good for the dorm mothers to teach the younger ones how to cook, so they can care for their own families one day!

Every day miracles! I get to watch kids and babies come in starving and sick and neglected and hopeless and abandoned and orphaned and dying...and they blossom into healthy, chubby, wanted, hopeful, happy children full of God's love! And sometimes a sick child is brought here, and doesn't get better physically. But we get to give them the best of life for their last days. And love them straight into the arms of Jesus!

And last...drum roll please...

MY DAD AND SISTER ARE COMING IN 4 WEEKS!!!!!

Yes, that's right! From the way they talked, I thought they wouldn't come until I returned from my visit home sometime in October. They surprised me while I was in South Africa, and bought tickets to come!

I am sooo excited you are coming, Dad and Cara! I can't wait to give you big hugs, and show you what I do, and spend time with you. I am looking forward to lots of "girl talk" Lol:-)

They will be here May 9th-May 20th. I can hardly wait!

Thank you Jesus for blessing me and giving me more than I could ask! You are amazing, God! And I love you so much.

Count your blessings today, and thank Jesus! It really does make your heart happy! And the joy of the Lord is our strength. So keep being filled with joy, and you will have strength to do the impossible with God!

My heart will choose to say, Lord Blessed be your Name!

             See this little smiling face? Meet Nemias (Nehemiah). He lives in our baby house.

Would you believe that one week ago he was in a coma? We weren't sure if he would live another night. He had already lost 6 pounds in 3 days. He was so weak and not breathing well. This photo was taken in December. After much prayer, God did a miracle! He came out of the coma he had been in for a few days! Each day he made progress. His diarrhea stopped. He started eating again. He came home from the hospital yesterday and today I was holding him and playing with him. He is doing so well! God is sooo good! 

There has been allot of sickness in the baby house. Vomiting and diarrhea. Most of the cases were not malaria. But it was just getting out of control, one baby after the other was getting sick!

Then on March 20th this little princess, Irene, who came a few months ago (this picture was taken the day she came--she is albino), suddenly went from this earth into Jesus' waiting arms.

Jesus loves all the little children of the world. I am not sure why he allows some to die so young. It is impossible to understand.

This has been a difficult week. I have found myself just laying down on my bed to cry out to God. And He is so loving. It is okay to cry and ask him "why?" and say "I don't understand!" On Sunday morning I was just about to walk to church, and my phone rang. It was Ros Lazar, calling to tell me Jordina had died the night before. Jordina used to live here when I was here k in the girl's dorm in 2004. I got to know her pretty well, and she was so sweet! She was living with one of the ladies from the church, and working in our baby house last year. Then she got pregnant, and had her baby in November. In February her baby got sick, and she was too late taking him to the hospital. Then she got sick, and on Saturday died. It was so sudden! It is so hard to believe. 

A few weeks ago in home group Ros was sharing and said how at home, when something bad happens or you hear of an injustice, you grieve. She shared of how when she was at home for a visit, and heard about a situation here with a little girl, she just couldn't get it out of her mind all day. And she couldn't figure out why it was so bothering her. She said here, we seem to go from one big trial to the next, without breaks. It is just the norm. So sometimes we don't allow ourselves to grieve or feel in these situations. We just get kind of numb. I have been thinking so much about that. And so I have been praying God would make me soft again. That I wouldn't just add it to the list when we get a new child who was abandoned, or kicked out of the house, or sexually abused. But Lord! Help me to be soft and break my heart! Help me to carry these to you, and help me not become emotionless. 

"Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

 When I say this, I am not talking about having a pity party for myself. I am just saying, when a child was abused or someone dies unexpectedly, it's ok to be angry, to cry, to hurt for that child. And when I am moved by the situation, I can carry it to God for His answer and His healing and freedom! But it takes me open and soft, not hard and numb. This week I have been really feeling the pain of these situations. And God has been taking that pain and replacing it with his peace and strength.

Lord, teach me to be soft and pliable to the work of your hands. Teach me to carry each situation that comes up, and each person or family to you in prayer. Amen.

Gilda lives in the girls dorm. She went in to hospital last night with a chest infection (it seems), sores and thrush in her mouth, and vomiting. They haven't found what's wrong, but she is being fed through a tube now, while they run tests and give her medicine.

Please pray for 100% healing, quickly!

Edited to add: Last night I went to the hospital to see Gilda. She is doing so well! Her mouth sores are all cleared up, her breathing is back to normal, and she is not vomiting anymore. She also had the feeding tube removed. She is taking medicine through an IV. Monday is a holiday in Mozambique so the doctors won't be doing their rounds, but hopefully Tuesday she can come home. God is good!

Tino

Tino is still very sick. He is now spending his days in a stroller or being held. He cannot see, he has no reaction to sounds or touch. He is being fed through a tube. I sat and held him the other day on my lap for about an hour. I just pray over him and sing to him. He might not hear it, but God does. He has lost weight. He seems to be having seizures constantly, so it really is taking a toll on his little brain. They still believe his has water on the brain as well.

Please continue to pray for him. Pray for peace over His body, and for healing! Our God is Jehovah Rapha - The Lord our Healer. Nothing is impossible or too difficult for Jesus. So let's expect God to do miracles! Let's intercede for  Tino's complete healing from this strange illness!

Thank you for your kind words and for remembering him. 

Thank you for your prayers!

Thank you for your prayers for me/us this week. 

At the moment the gas stations have closed down because they ran out of gas, and the gas trucks won't bring more in if people are still setting fires.

But most of the commotion and rioting has quieted down, after the government decided not to raise the shoppa prices for now. They are discussing what to do.

These pictures were taken right outside our front gate. The shoppas stop there to pick up passengers, so the rioters protested at all the major shoppa stops.

God really placed a blanket of peace over our center. The kids continued playing and being themselves, when normally this would shake them up and put them totally out of rest! But God is in control, and your prayers were felt! That day (Tuesday) the people were saying no one should be working, everyone needed to be protesting. So anyone working was in danger. They vandalized little shops and gas stations. Some men were saying, "Let's go attack the center! The workers are still working and not striking with us!" Some lady heard this and spoke up, "You can't go in there. They take care of orphans there!" So the men listened and left! Isn't God amazing?!

He did many other miracles, including using Katie, a missionary in the city, to provide transport for many pedestrians. Picking up people from school and taking them to their homes, and even picking up a lady in labor and taking her to the hospital. She also found diesel for our generator (that was running very low on diesel, and the power lines had been cut so we had no other electricity), at midnight. He showed her favor with a police escort the whole way to our center, and at 1 a.m. we unloaded 125 litres of diesel from her truck! To God be the glory! During her day people tried throwing stones at her car, but kept missing. And in the evening after spending the entire day driving around, her gas tank was still on full! With God nothing shall be impossible. 

Thank you for your awesome prayers. God hears and acts on the prayers of his children. We have had the privilege of seeing Him do mighty works here in Mozambique.

May the Lord bless you with the revelation of His power and love. 

Love in Jesus,

Anna Coumos

UPDATE ON TINO: Thank you for asking about Tino and continuing praying for him. He was here for a week being cared for by our medical staff and Tracey's dorm staff. Thursday he was readmitted into the hospital and is in intensive care. He had a high fever and hadn't wet or soiled his diaper for 24 hours. The doctors say he is detiriating rapidly. But we serve the living God and nothing is impossible with him! I dreamed last night that Tracey called this morning to tell me that Tino woke up today and was better! This morning that was not the diagnosis, but it gave me the expectations to keep on praying. I am reading a book on intercessory prayer, and it has also encouraged me to keep interceding for Tino's life. I will update you as I hear more. God is able to do abundantly more than we could ask or imagine!

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!

This morning the shoppa services (shoppas are Mozambican busses which everyone uses for transportation) doubled the price of fare! No warning, no slowly raising the price little by little,

just one morning you go to get on the shoppa and find out it is double what it was yesterday!

No one can afford it, and the people have started rioting. Outside our center people lined up tires across the road and are burning them to cause a road block. Down the road the other direction there is allot of smoke from whatever they have put in place to block that side of the road. People are angry and throwing rocks and letting their voices be known.

It's quite dangerous at the moment, and no one here is allowed to leave the center today. Many of our workers have not shown up for work because they cannot catch a shoppa and there are too many road blocks. If it is this bad here out side the city, I am sure that in the city it is much worse. This morning I could hear many gun shots, I think it was the police firing shots to scare people.

PLEASE PRAY FOR PROTECTION, PEACE, AND AN END TO THIS RIOTING AND INJUSTICE! 

Posted on Feb 5, 2008 at 10:06 Africa time, 3:06 a.m. in Ohio 

Tino

Yesterday (Wednesday) morning I went to visit Tino and bring diapers and food for him and the tia who was staying with him. I and another missionary arrived at the hospital, and found his room. Much to our surprise, the tia had packed up his bag, and said the doctors had discharged him. "What?!" I was shocked. His was laying motionless on the bed. The doctor was still in the room, but dealing with another patient. When he finished I caught him and asked him why they were sending him home. "Oh, he won't get better. He will either stay like this, or slowly grow worse." "Yeah, but weren't you going to do another CAT scan to see if the swelling had gone down?" "He will stay like this or get worse. We are sending him home with you now." Oh how I have struggled these past 2 days with our lousy medical care. So, we brought him home with us. Today he went to GATV (HIV clinic) and was seen by several doctors and they said he definitely should NOT have been discharged. They did an EKG (or something like that, by the neurologist) and he is having seizures regularly. He is suffering so much. He's not had anything to eat today, and only drank a little water. To top it off, the hospital put a feeding tube in and sent him home again. Well, the tube is so tiny we can't get anything through it! 

Today I had to just come to the realization--God is in control. Obviously we cannot trust in medical care. And even then, they can only do so much. So, please pray. I talked to Tracey tonight (she is the missionary over the baby house) and she said she feels to pray God take him quickly or do a miracle. But either way do it quickly so he doesn't suffer any more!

Please pray as God leads you. Pray for those caring for him. Pray for the children that know him and love him. Pray for God's will to be done in perfect timing, and for Tino to be a testimony of God's loving care.

Thank you for your faithful prayers!!

In Him,

Anna

Tino

The official medical diagnosis for Tino is cephilitis. It came on quickly and is very rapidly happening in his little head. He is on medicine to stop the swelling on his brain. He lost his vision, he cannot speak, he cannot sit up on his own, and yesterday when Tracey (director of the baby house) went to see him, he did not know her. She  sat and sang to him and prayed for him because she believes he can still here. 

The plan is that he will finish the medicine for the swelling in a week, and then come back to live at our center, in Tracey's little dorm of 4-5 year olds, and be cared for 24 hours. 

I know God has numbered all of our days and we don't lose when we die if we know the Lord. We get to dance with Jesus! Last night at intercession I had a picture of Tino's skinny little body holding out His hands to Jesus and dancing with him, even while in the physical he is on a hospital bed and can't see. 

Don't lose hope. Fix your eyes on Jesus.

Please pray:

• Tino would NOT suffer or be in any pain
• He would regain a good appetite
• His eye sight would come back
• Swelling on his brain would go down immediately
• God would give wisdom and peace to those directly caring for him
• And that God would HEAL HIM with a miracle!!!

Thank you for your concern and faithful prayers. Our God is a Faithful Father! I will update you with any new information as I receive it.

Update on Tino

Thank you for praying for Tino! For those asking, he is still the same. Feverish, diarrhea, weak. He has also lost his sight.  He is still in the hospital (almost a week now). I went to visit him last Wednesday. He could not sit up on his own, but was leaning on my shoulder, and then he was making Indian sounds while patting his mouth with his hand. It was good to see he is still his playful self. But just so weak!

Doctors have yet to find what is wrong, but here everything seems to take sooo long. They did a cat scan last Thursday, but then the doctor wouldn't be back to read it until today (Monday). It's so annoying.

Please continue lifting him up! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Richest blessings on your week.

In Jesus,

Anna