Robbers in the day time!

Wednesday and Thursday we had an AMAZINGLY wonderful Children's conference here. Geared to kids preschool up to forth grade, we had some 400-450 kids. Community kids and our kids who attend the school we have here.
We had morning and afternoon sessions, and served lunch inbetween. It was lots of fun with skits and dramas, memory verses, 4 lessons (Jesus dying on the cross, a salvation message, hearing God's voice--I got to teach that one, and Making the right choices), crafts, games, prizes, 450 little dixie cups filled with juice, and cookies for snack time, and a juggler! It was lots of fun. The kids really had a great time, and it was so awesome to see them drawing pictures of what they felt God saying time them, and hearing a 5 year old recite the memory verse from the day before!
We are planning another one in November for community children, and kids from the city dump. I am looking forward to it!

Friday morning I and a missionary friend from Denmark, who is working here, left by bus for South Africa. She had to get a new visa, and we were both looking forward to the rest. We stay for $10 a night at "Mercy Air - Wings of Love". A missionary aviation where they send out emergency planes, and also go on outreaches. They have guest housing for missionaries, and this time we were blessed to stay in a missionary families own house because they were at home on furlow.

We arrived at the bus stop in Nelspruit (about 3 1/2 hours from our center in Mozambique), and took a very short walk up the side walk to a little cafe for lunch. We then started back towards teh bus stop, to the grocery store right by it, and on the way stopped in at a cell phone shop to buy credit for our phones. Suddenly a lady appeared in the door way to the shop announcing that "There are some robbers that were going to rob you to ladies, so please stay in the shop until we tell you! The police are after them now." The first thought that ran through my had was " Lord, how are protect us and look out for us! We are just walking along our merry way, and you are going behind us guarding us and looking out for us!"
A few minutes later another lady shows up in the door way saying they have caught 3 of the men but questioned them and there are still 3 more guys (6 in all!) that ran off, so please stay in the shop until they tell us. The man behind the counter, seeing the surprised looks on our faces, says, " Oh it's no problem, that's why I carry this...you are safe here." ANd He reaches into his leg pocket and pulls out small gun! We are now going "Ok, are we safer outside or in here with you mister?!" He said he would take us wherever we needed to go, so he walked us to Shope Rite. Then he says to do our shopping and he will wait for us and take us wherever we are going, but we thanked him profusely and said we would get a taxi. We called the taxi, and the guard at the door to shop rite (By the way, there ARE guards at the grocery stores, and every else around here) said to wait with him until the taxi arrived, and when it did arrive he motioned to the taxi driver, and gave us the all clear that he would watch to make sure we got to the car ok.

Once inside the car and the doors locked, we told our taxi driver the story. He said in a repremanding tone "How could you be so stupid to walk around Nelspruit?! I carry a gun, and I woudn't even do that!" And when he dropped us off at Mercy Air he handed us a newspaper article about a man who was mugged the day before and they were going to kill him but he ran off.

For all of you wondering, I won't walk there again... but also know that I and many other missionaries HAVE walked there many times, but the violence in that area is growing and now we are seeing it. My story is to let you know God is defending us and we are free in Him! No need to live in fear. I wonder how many times God protects us from things we never even know about??

Still down...Whales...and Life in Mozambique!

Hello everyone!

Just wanted to let you know I AM alive and doing wonderful!
My computer is also still alive, but in South Africa being fixed.

I will update you when I can get it back!

But lots of good things happening here. Yesterday a girl who went to live with
her uncle came to visit. I was really worried because I hadn't seen her for so long
and nobody knew where she was. She has moved back in with another uncle and is
now about 30 minutes from the center. It was so good to see her looking healthy
and well!

Last week I went to the beach and as I was walking along the sand by the water, I heard
some shouting and comotion. I looked out to see a HUGE hump back whale rise up out
of the water, headed straight towards 2 fishermen in their boat!
They were paddling for their lives, then the whale turned and swam to the right of them.
The whale was up out of the water for more than 10 minutes. He almost got stuck on the sand and was tossing around trying to get off the bank. Then he dissappeared back into the great deep. It was incredible! I had been praising God for how amazing the oceans are and His works are wonderful. Then it was this silly moment like God saying "You think that's something, wait till you see what else I have made!" Then the whale came splashing up out of the water. It trully took my breath away. And to think that their are thousands down in the water! It was such a gift from God to see such beauty He has created. Sometimes I think the life down under the ocean is just for God to enjoy, and give us glimpses of every now and then when He wants to surprise us.

LIfe in Mozambique is far from life in America. Trucks driving down the road with the bed packed with people, standing because there would not be enough room for them to sit. Sandy roads that even 4-wheel drive trucks start getting stuck on. BEAUTIFUL sun sets every night, and then an amazing display of stars in the sky...you can see like layers of stars where some are higher and some are lower. Lizzards, cock roaches, NO MICE!!:-) I love Africa. I love the children and the sweet Mamas and the love God has for all of them is sooo rich!

Blessings to you all!
In Christ,
Anna

Computer troubles...

Hello to all my dear friends and family!
So sorry I have not updated you all. As it is, my computer decided to give me some difficulties so it is currently in South Africa being fixed. I have been checking my e´mails about once a week on other people's computers.
Things ARE going amazing and I look forward to telling you all about it! Please stay tuned till I can post photos and give you a proper report.
Just want to thank you for lifting me up and encouraging me! God is mighty and wonderful!

A brief update...
Last night was our grand opening of the new kitchen in the girl's dorm. We had a festa that included cooking all day (butchered five chickens...but more to come later, I won't spoil it all now). What a wonderful evening of celebrating God's blessings on our girls. It always amazes me and fills me with joy to see "orphans" and "unwanted" and "abused" children dancing and laughing and filled with joy. God turns our mourning into laughter and our sorrow into shouts of joy! It is incredible, and beyond words.

Please pray my computer is fixed properly and that I get it back safely.
Bless you all!
Love,
Anna

The joys of home...

A walk at Quail Hollow State Park with Mom and my three youngest siblings. We had a picnic lunch, then walked through the herb garden, and took a hike on one of the trails. I love hiking in the woods!



I meant to post these while I was at home, but was having trouble with Blogger.
So here is a taste of what I enjoyed doing at home for 10 weeks:

Our Garden was so full of zucchini!
How easy to grate zucchini with the Kitchen-Aid attachment!
22 cups of zucchini in the freezer. Mom will make allot of zucchini. bread this Winter:-)
We ate so much zucchini this Summer:

Zucchini Crisp (aka Mock Apple Crisp)

Zucchini bread

Fresh cut up zucchini with veggie dip

Fried zucchini

Crispy Parmesan zucchini sticks baked in the oven

Baked zitti

And so much more...

I love being with my dear family. I treasure every moment I was with them the past 2 1/2 months.

It is amazing how God's grace is sufficient for me. When I desperately long to be with my family God gives

me the peace and comfort to live in another country far from the pleasures of being at home. He has given me a home where I am and a heart to make wherever I am beautiful and lovely and welcoming. I pray I can

somehow make others feel at home here too!

Blessings, and have a wonderful Sunday with the Lord!

Back to Mozambique!!

At the airport Wednesday morning (August 8th, 2007)
We all got frappicino's at Star Bucks. It was so nice to be with my dear family a little while longer...

Lots of laughing and talking and being. Then lots of crying and hugging and me not wanting to go any sooner than necessary!
(*Notice we all wore our "crocks" for fun:-)*)

I arrived in Mozambique on Friday, August 10th! As we began our descent, I could see all the corrugated tin roofs, and red dirt roads, and tiny caniso huts. How my heart leaped when we came in for a landing at the familiar tiny airport. Getting off the plane I could see Bob and Inge, 2 missionary friends who came to pick me up, watching for the balcony. Yay, I am home!

It was very hard saying good bye this time, for some reason, so it was a relief to actually feel at home when I arrived here in Mozambique!

We drove the familiar busy roads to the center, dodging people running across the streets, and keeping alert for any shoppas (Mozambican transportation by bus) cutting out driven by crazy

drivers. And soon, we were pulling into the gate at Iris Ministries in Zimpeto. We drove up the path, past the church, and around the maintenance building. To my surprise and delight, all the girls were standing there outside their dorm screaming "Mana Anna! Mana Anna!" I couldn't help but cry a little as I opened the door and was smothered with hugs. I was then brought into the girls dorm where they sat me on a chair, sang and danced around me a song of welcome in the Shanghaan language, and then they proceeded to lift me up in my chair singing and laughing! How sweet they are:-)

After being here a week, I hardly feel like I ever left. Except that I feel very refreshed and patient;-)

Monday we got a new little girl, age 5, named Margarita. Her Father ran away after abusing her mother, and her mother is now unable to walk and could not take care of her two small children. Margarita's brother has gone to the little boy's dorm, and she has come to be a part of our joyful group of girls. She was a little shy

at first, especially of me being white. But she has quickly warmed up and is running and playing and laughing

with the rest of them!

Though at times there are struggles, and situations to work out, and people to discipline or teach, this is my

calling. Lord help me live each day from the strength you provide! Thank you for your mercies that are new every morning. I would rather be no other place than right here where God has placed me. Whether it's for 1 year at this center, or 10 years, may I never grow weary in serving the Lord, and running wholly after Him with all of my heart!

The next part of the journey has begun, and I look forward to sharing with you the things God is up to over the next year!!

Many blessings to you!

Anna

Wedding Prep...

Last night we had the rehearsal and dinner. Practiced it through one time. (I think we needed
3 more run through's, but it will all be ok tomorrow). We served pizza, subs, salad and watermelon for dinner. Had a Make Your Own ice cream sundae table set up for dessert. I walked around with my darling nephew who is 5 months old till he feel asleep draped across
my arm. He was drooling down my arm and it was landing on my toes...lol.

Bethany grew all the topiary's and flowers she is decorating with at the green house where she
works.

It's exciting to have a brother get married, especially when it's to my friend!

Today we decorate the reception hall.

Tomorrow is the big day...!

A quote for each day of the week!

I encourage you to meditate on a quote each day. May God use each of us for His glory!

"What we do is but a drop in the Ocean, but without that drop it would be missing." --Mother Theresa

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." --Jim Elliot

"God never said doing His will would be easy, He only said it would be worth it." --Joanne Shetler

"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." --Jim Elliot

"When Christ calls a man he bids him to come and die."
--Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"The Harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." --Jesus
Matthew 9:37a-38

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8

Wedding week...!

This is an exciting week for my family. Saturday my oldest brother, Greg, is getting married
to my friend Bethany! It's gonna be a fun week! Lots of preparations and lists. Lots of getting together, and being together.

And in 3 weeks and 2 days...I am going back to Mozambique:-) We have received two new babies
while I was away. Both very malnourished. I am so looking forward to meeting them, and seeing all my precious girls, and how much the other babies have grown.

Until then, I am going to enjoy every moment with my family, and friends.
Have a blessed week!

Happy July 4th!

Have a blessed day celebrating America's freedom, and right to worship God!

Explosions

My dearest family and friends,
thank you sooo much for praying for me/us the last 2 days. I sooo appreciate your loving e-mails,
i really have felt lifted up in prayer and it's encouraging to know people are thinking about me and praying for me.

I don't think I can explain very well the events of the March 22 but please read Sally Cosgrove's (fellow missionary)
report on www.irismin.com click on "late breaking news". That is how it was. There's also pictures. I have not taken
any pictures, so you can see what is on there.

It was a lovely day, and Ellie and I were just closing discipleship with the girls. It had been a really good lesson on what
salvation REALLY is. The girls left and we stepped outside to see where this "thunder" was coming from. It was a hot
day and the sky was blue and completely cloudless. We could see smoke off in the distance and people were saying it
wouldn't be dangerous unless there were missiles (what we discovered was happening is that an old munitions base about 5 km's away had started exploding). I walked up to the baby house and was just going inside when a
missile hit the bible school just behind the baby house. It shook everything. Just after this a bomb hit the corner of the
church building on the other side of the center, and several windows shattered. I and everyone around picked up babies and
ran! First we were told to go to the soccer field. All the kids and everyone was in a panic and running with all their might.
Then a missile hit the soccer field and there was lots of shrapnel flying, so we turned and ran towards the prayer hut.
The kids that had already made it to the soccer field fled out the gate off the center. Some caught buses going by, and
the rest ran across the street through the fields. Several were taken in by families and hid in their block houses.

Those of us who ran to the prayer hut (about 150 people) weren't sure to go inside, or stay outside. We just stood their covering
the kids and babies as best we could, and calling out to the Lord with loud voices. Then shrapnel started flying overhead and
we ran into the prayer hut. We just crouched down on the floor. Some people put duct tape over the windows so if they broke
they wouldn't shatter. The roof is just reeds so you could see through and see missiles and shrapnel flying over head. We just
prayed and prayed and sang to the Lord. We sang a song in Portuguese that says "Jesus passes by, Jesus passes by. And when
he passes by all will be transformed. All sadness will flee and all joy will come." During this a missile flew very close to the roof,
and landed just on the other side of the wall of the center where it exploded.

This went on for 4 1/2 hours. I could not stop praying in tongues and singing. I didn't know what else to do. I had one baby between my legs, and
a child sitting on each leg. It was so loud with bombs going off (5 of which for sure exploded on the center) and the ground shaking.
The missiles would whistle as they flew overhead. Then everyone would go dead quiet waiting to hear where it would land and explode.

When it finally stopped we just sat there quiet waiting to see if it would start again. Some guys went to the kitchen and brought back the
food and plates and we fed everyone in the prayer hut. Around 9:00 all my girls except for 3 came back. Several boys came back as well.
That night walking back to dorms everyone was feeling very trembling and nervous. We checked the rooms, and the worst damage in the
girls rooms were some lights that fell from the ceiling and shattered, and windows had broke. A few had cracks in the roof, but nothing major.
We got all the girls into bed, some slept on the floor in other girls bedrooms.

I talked to my parents on the phone. I slept at another missionaries room that night, and we stayed up late talking. It was so quiet and strange to
go to bed Thursday night.

Friday morning the other 3 girls returned, and all the boys came back throughout the day. I just walked around the center with a couple Mozambicans
and another missionary, Ellie, and looked at damage (not too much). It is nothing but a miracle that NOBODY was killed or injured! God totally protected
us! Even our workers came back, saying all their neighbors houses were flattened, but theirs just had broken glass. All the neighbors were killed or
had lost limbs, but they walked away without a scratch (just traumatized).

Late Friday morning the police were worried it might start up again and asked for everyone to leave. We loaded up all the girls, baby house, and
youngest boys dorms on trucks and took them to another Iris Ministries center about 40 minutes away. around 5:15 last night we came back after
the police said it was safe, people could return to their homes. Driving down the road so many buildings were hit. The mental hospital close by was hit about 3 times, and several people died. The gas station was hit through the front window, but amazingly missed the gas pumps which is a miracle.

Today has just been a sort of strange day. It was the educator shift change, so all the dorm parents from the last shift went home (some were still unsure how their families were) and the new shift came on. The head dorm parent for the girls dorm was a wreck. I just wrapped my arms around
her and she cried, and then told me she and her sons were all laying against a wall, and 4 of her neighbors who were sitting against the wall were
hit and exploded from the waist up. It's horrible!

With all the terrible things that happened, God has chosen to keep us safe under the shelter of his wings. He has a covenant with Iris Ministries (shown by the symbol of the rainbow) that will never be broken, and He has brought us through in faithfulness. God is so amazing! I had it going through my
head this song: "My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty. There's nothing my God cannot do." I just say to you that even though this world may be
destroyed, with my eyes I will see God! He has brought us safely through to the other side. We met death face to face, and walked away in victory.
God is perfect and His ways we will never understand, but He is faithful.

We have LIVED through Psalm 91. And now may we see healing and peace flood people here. May this be a season of turning to God with ALL our
hearts!

Please pray for the healing of shock and trauma (for me, every time I hear a drum, or a loud truck rumbling by, or a kid whistling like that sound of a
missile flying through the air, I just cringe and feel so awful inside). Pray for God do draw these children and people unto himself, and for us to have
wisdom in dealing with what takes place after something so tragic.

I bless you for your prayers and love. i love you all so much!Love in Christ, my Victory Banner,
Anna Coumos
Mozambique Africa, Iris Ministries