92 days until our first outreach for 2011

2011 is off to a very busy start.  It is hard to believe that February is more than 1/2 way over.  I was looking today and realized that we are only 92 days away from our first team arriving for outreaches in Mozambique.  It looks like the mission is going to have a full schedule from May 21st until August 12th.  So with only 92 days until outreaches we have to remain focused each day so that we can accomplish all that needs to happen to be ready to head in for the mission's outreach season.   I thought I would give you a quick look into what we have going on over the next few months. 

• Mark is in between his Seminary sessions right now and is trying to READ, write 3 papers, prepare 2 sermons, study Greek,  and prepare for a few exams. 

• Brit and Luke are both working very hard on their school and they are looking forward to a week long break in March.  I must admit I am too.

• We are also finishing up the last minute details on our "short-termer" program.  The mission has people come to serve each year for an extended time period of one month to one year.  We are busy finishing the application process, reference forms, and updating the information on the website.  We are excited about having several short-termers here to serve with us during this upcoming outreach season. 

• We are also on the hunt for a 4x4 vehicle, which is very time consuming for Mark.  We need to make sure that what we purchase will meet the needs of our family here in Polokwane, have plenty of space to purchase the supplies for the mission and it must be able to handle the ROUGH roads in Mozambique as well as crossing the river.  We thank the Lord for providing the money to purchase a vehicle and we are trusting Him to show us which vehicle is the right one for us. 

• The guys will go into Mozambique in March for the leadership training and to deliver the orphan food.

• Mark's sister is coming out for a quick visit in March.  We are excited to spend time with her and show her what our life is like here in South Africa. 

• The mission will also have its Annual Golf Day on March 19th.  We are looking forward to a fun day of golf, work (cooking) and fellowship.  The Lord has used this day for the past several years to provide funds for the general running of the mission.

• April is an exciting month for Brit ... she is turning 16! 

• The guys will also head back into Mozambique in the beginning of May for the last leadership training until after the outreaches are over.  We enjoy the time spent in Mozambique during outreach season as we get to serve with the local pastors in their communities. 

• May 6th finish the kids finish this school year and then on May 13th we pick up Mark's dad and uncle.  They are coming to help the mission with last minute preparations for the first team.  They are also going into Mozambique with us for the first outreach.  We are looking forward to them being here and serving with us. 

• We are going to start working on renewing our Visas - can't believe it has almost been 2 years.  

• We are also working on our schedule for when we are in the States visiting family, friends and speaking at churches about what the Lord is doing in and through Samaria Mission.  We have a few churches that have invited us to speak and we are looking forward to sharing.  If your church would like us to come share what the Lord is doing in and through Samaria Mission please let us know.  

Here are a few pictures of last months leadership training.

Super Bowl ... Africa style ... a day late!

We had SEVERAL people over today to watch the Super Bowl ... yup that's right!  Because of the time difference the game came on here in the middle of the night so we recorded it and watched it today.  Everyone that came stayed away from the news, internet and most importantly Facebook.  One of our friends asked if they could invite a few other people, which of course we didn't mind.  I have to tell you that the Lord amazed us again as the two other girls that were invited are missionaries with the Assembly of God church living here in Polokwane working with youth.  One of the girls actually lives on the block behind us about 8 houses down.  We enjoyed getting to know them. 

SIDE NOTE to this story ... Mark and I went on a quick dinner date on Friday (just the two of us) and we ended up at Mug n Bean for dessert.  I was visiting with Ossie 1 and Ossie 2, two waiters we always enjoy visiting with when we see them.  Anyway, they were asking when we are heading back to the States for a visit etc. and they said they knew some other missionaries who lived in this neighborhood and that one of them was heading back to the States in June.  Well, the two girls that ended up at my house are the two girls that they were telling me about.  In fact when I asked them if they knew Ossie 1 and 2 they smiled and said YES. So I told them the this story and they said that the Ossies' talk about us often to them.  Crazy how small the world is and how the Lord continues to bring people from the States into our home. 

Back to the game ... We  rearranged the living room and settled in to watch the game.  We had snacks for the first half and ordered pizza for the 2nd half.  What a great game!  By the way, I got to love on one of the Dalton's twin girls.  23 people plus 2 month old twins!  Sweet times. 

 

Franco's and Sonic

Needed to have a little bit of home cookin' tonight!  So I pulled out one of the best cookbooks I have ever seen or used ... thanks to Gena who has let me "borrow" it from her while she is in the States.  Since I only have a few more weeks until I have to give it back I thought I would show you what I have learned to cook over the last few months...

homemade Spanish rice and refried beans



this is what I call "GOLD" in the oven - yum corn tortillas



final result

 We are having tostadas with taco meat, refried beans, Spanish rice and guacamole and cherry lime-aids - let me tell ya ... a few weeks ago was the first time in 19 months that we have had fresh limes - or even lime juice! So of course we are now having cherry lime-aids for a special treat! So we are having a little bit of Franco's with a little bit of Sonic today!