Finally Home

Here I am, in Pemba Mozambique. I still can't quite believe it's real. It's actually so real and surreal all at the same time.

God has been blowing me away with his goodness and love the last few days. He's more than I could ever imagine.

Tuesday morning we got up early to leave Johnanesburg. We had two short flights to Pemba. The planes were probably 50% full of Harvest students so it started to become more real as I was meeting more and more people who were just as excited and passionate. People who share the same heart. 

So much happens each day it's hard to even remember it all and record it, but I'll try to keep some of the highlights. 

As I write, I'm sitting on the front porch of my house, where I live with about 10 other amazing women and a "house mom" who has been through Harvest before and staffed other schools. It's hot, but the breeze is blowing in the shade and it's prefect. Behind me I can hear a student playing guitar and singing, leading an impromptu worship session with other students, I can hear people praying and prophesying, I hear people walking by speaking Portuguese. I feel the red sand/dirt on my feet, my legs, my shoes, sometimes my eyes. Lol. The sun hasn't stopped shining since I've been here. (Except from about 5pm-5am when it's dark of course) the sky is so blue. So you know I'm happy. :) 

I've met so many wonderful people. The connection I feel with some is instant because we are all here with one purpose and the unity allows for us to connect immediately. I've bonded already with a few of my roommates here and also a few who I spent the night with in Joburg. Last night I met two girls who I will be going to Cambodia with. They were so sweet and we connected quickly. 

I guess I owe an update on my bags. They did not show up in Pemba like I was told they would. Turns out they stayed in Ethiopia where I had a layover. Although at first I was a little shook up about it and upset, I have quickly realized how good and how sovereign God is in all of it. It has been an opportunity to trust him more deeply. Even in something seemingly little and non-spiritual, I've been able to give it to God. And I've felt freedom in that. I've been able to connect with a couple people who also lost luggage and I have been able to tell God that I will trust him whether I get it or not. If you know me, you know clothes are kind of a big deal to me, so the thought of living on two outfits all summer isn't all too apealing but I've been able to see it in such a different light and it's become a huge blessing. I have a good Father and he knows what he's doing. He knows exactly how to get my attention and draw me closer in surrender. Other girls have also been so kind to share things with me that I need and I have lacked nothing. I am still hoping my bags get here soon. Maybe today. ;) 

One of my favorite things so far has been student worship in the evenings. We all gather together and worship under a gazebo or out in the open under the stars. THE STARS. GAHHH!!! They are so incredible! You can see so many here and the sky is almost always clear at night. There's really nothing like worshipping Jesus with 400 other like-minded people out in the dirt under the stars. I've had a couple wow moments, mostly in worship, where I just know that I know that I know that in that moment I'm right where I'm supposed to be. That is a priceless feeling. 

In the mornings I've been able to spend my quiet-time in the "prayer hut." For IHOP people, think prayer room. Just a place to go and send time with Jesus in prayer or worship or whatever. It's the perfect place to meet with God. The atmosphere is so peaceful. And it happens to be one of the breeziest,

coolest places on the base. 

View from the prayer hut:

I've been journaling creatively. Thanks to Krista:) writing words people have given me, scriptures, things I want to remember etc. Here's a sample:

This post is really long because I've been taking in so much and doing so much the last few days and I really have no idea how much I'll be able to go use internet. Possibly less than I had planned on. It takes some effort, getting a group of 4, getting a taxi into town and buying a meal at a restaurant that has wifi. As I write this I don't have internet, but I will post it when I do. So as they say, for the most part, no news is good news. I'm enjoying being "off the grid" and I don't want to stress trying to go to use internet all the time when I could miss something else I could be doing. 

Yesterday I finally got to go to the beach. Again, you know I could hardly contain myself living accross the street from the beach and not going till the second day I was here. Haha. It's GOOOORGEOUS! I keep asking myself, is this real life? Am I on a mission trip or a vacation? Lol.

Well now I'm at a restraunt getting dinner and wifi. It's right on the beach. And it has AC. It's basically like a resort. Haha. No big deal right? Missionary favor.

Oh well, I'm done for now. Love and miss you all bunches!!! Thank you for the prayers!!!