FBC Missions

After what seems like months of packing, chaos and travelling here I am…in Maputo. For the past week I have been scouring the countryside of Ireland looking for a long lost relative’s grave, residing in castles (and a hostel), listening to live Irish music and even watching Irish men and women dance away the Irish way, in unison. I spent one day alone in Dublin before continuing my travels southward. I arrived on Friday, finally, and spent two days adjusting and getting ready for Ashley’s arrival on Monday.

It has not been easy. I have missed home each day and my heart aches for what I’ve left behind. But, my heart is content with where I am, too. I am becoming increasingly aware that this is what God has for me…this is where I am supposed to be.

From the beginning I promised to be honest and an open book. You, my supporters, deserve to know what it is I am experiencing and my thoughts behind it. The following is a journal entry from last night (7/3/06) that I hope will give you an insight into our time here and my heart:

“I was touched this evening with a thought — a look into Your sovereignty. Twenty years ago, You knew that I would be here with two girls who grew up living completely different lives from me…and, we would have 2 things in common: You and Africa. It is encouraging to be here knowing that I am living completely within Your will and ultimate plan for my life.

“We talked with Jim and Corinne Thorp for quite awhile tonight about poverty, AIDS and orphans in Mozambique. Already, just through our conversation, my heart was tugged at. The problems here are so big and so deep. How can I, one person, even begin to make a difference? And, how can we as a society begin to help a nation so troubled? Jim said most people don’t even care about possibly getting AIDS…sex is worth it or they just don’t comprehend. It is so sad and how do you reach out to help? Right now it is so something I want to help with in the future, but I feel like I’m on the edge of the problem — not fully understanding it myself, not fully seeing it, not knowing the people well enough (or the language well enough) to ask or understand. Give me patience, Lord, as I seek to know You more and Your heart for the Mozambican people. And, reveal, in Your time, Your will and purpose for my life after this trip…what I should do with what I receive.”

Love,

Brooke

P.S. Our mailing address for letters/cards only is: (correction!!) CP 1822 (NOT 1882), Maputo, Mozambique 0100

Please don’t send ANY packages!

….three weeks, 6 countries, and countless awesome experiences later I find myself here in Maputo surrounded by my new flat mates Brooke and Rachel (a girl from Indiana that has been living here for the past year working with the Thorps and starting a sports ministry), settling into my new home for the next two months and trying to answer the question fala Portugues? Do I speak Portuguese, asks Telma, our fourth flat mate and also Rachel’s Portuguese teacher. That is just one of the many questions and challenges that surfaces in front of me. “Not quite yet”, I tell her in spanish, “but I’m going to try”.
Over the past three weeks I have spent long nights in airports, rushed through metro stations hoping to catch the right train, explored the beautiful cities of Paris and Barcelona, tried to speak spanish when the language is really catalan, met new friends along the way, stepped foot onto African soil for the first time, been stared at by laughing faces and waving hands of children calling me “Muzungu, muzungu”, which really means white person, white person. I have traversed the central market in Bujumbura where you can find anything and everything and for a good price if you’re willing to barter, played in the surf of the massive Lake Tanganika and spent candlelit nights (due to the lack of power) around the dinner table sharing stories and laughs with new friends and old in Burundi. In my mind that was all just preparation, that now the real adventure begins. But it’s a lot to leave behind and to once again adjust to a new place, people and culture. I find myself at a standstill, not knowing what to do or how to start up again….

It is encouraging however, to remember that God has a plan; he has a reason for sending me here. His power; He can and will help me where I cannot do things on my own, his strength is sufficient in my weakness. And His omniscience; He knows all. He knows all the unknowns that I’m feeling and encountering and He will help me through them. So don’t worry… voy a aprender Portugues : )

All my love,

Ashley

I am taking a short break from packing what feels like my entire life in boxes and bags. I have a backpack and large suitcase full of clothes, medical supplies, craft supplies and all of the toiletries I could possibly need for the next three months. There is a small pile of clothes in the center of my room for the “Ireland” suitcase, as well. I can’t believe it is actually here…and I’ll be honest, it is bittersweet for me.

As I type this I can look down on my left hand to see a small (and absolutely beautiful) symbol of my deep love for another and his love for me. Chris proposed on Friday, June 9th and this week has been a whirlwind of excitement and sadness for me. I am so ready to go after months of planning, but so sad to leave the love of my life behind. The Lord has been in this and amidst this entire trip and my entire relationship — I know that for a moment, in His eyes, they must be separate. Still, my heart doesn’t like the idea.

What a big week, huh? Engagement, finals, graduation and a HUGE trip! I don’t know how I even got through all of the celebration and excitement, but in almost 48 hours I will be on a plane headed for Dublin and then on to Maputo. It will be hard to say goodbye to my friends, my fiance and then my family, but I am blessed by the thought that I will be reunited with the “other half” of my team in only two weeks — Ashley!

Please continue to pray for us as we make the transition into another culture far away from everything we know. I love you all and so appreciate all you are to me. Please pass along this blog site to all of your family and friends — the bigger the support team the better!!!

Well, I’m off…

-Brooke

Wow! The day is finally here. Tonight I will fly away from Portland to start the first leg of our amazing summer journey. Even though Brooke and I don’t actually begin our work in Mozambique until July, we will both be traveling for a couple weeks beforehand so we thought we would just start the updates now.

I will first be flying to Europe where I get to spend a week with my boyfriend, Andrew and some of his friends from bible school there. Next I will be spending two weeks in Central Africa (Burundi) visiting Andrew’s family and getting some time to become accustomed to African culture with them. I feel very fortunate to have this time and extra help to prepare for my work in Mozambique.

Meanwhile, Brooke will be here in Eugene for another week finishing out her final classes at the U of O and preparing for graduation. Then she’s off to Ireland for a few weeks with her family. We will finally meet up in Mozambique, the first week of July.

I am so excited that the days of preparation are drawing to a close and the actual journey is starting! God has been so faithful and I look forward to walking by faith, having to rely on the Lord and your prayers for me each day.
Love, Ashley & Brooke

It is exactly 20 days until I leave to begin my journeys. For Ashley it is only 10 days… And God has been so faithful. I have been impacted greatly by the fact that over 100 individuals are going behind us on this trip. All of you — more than 100 men, women and children will be our companions, our supporters, our prayer warriors and our hearts as we begin the journey of a lifetime. How blessed I am to be the “face” of the operation!

In the past months God has provided over-and-beyond our needed funds, He has provided $2,000 just for construction and $600 for medical supplies. He has provided numerous craft supplies for the children. He has provided cameras for both Ashley and I. He has given us friends and family to be praying for all of the big and little requests we have. He has provided money for immunizations, clothing and travel necessities before we go. Just today, He worked with the embassy to allow us to get our Visas! And, He has encouraged us countless times along the way. What a God we serve!

As we finish up our final preparation please keep the following in your prayers:

1. Purchasing all of the last-minute items
2. Travels

3. Safety

4. Health

5. Preparation of those we will be serving

6. HIV/AIDS children we will be ministering to

7. Short term teams we will be leading

8. Relationship with our hosts: Jim and Corinne Thorp

9. Language learning!

10. Culture adjustment

11. For our families to trust in the Lord and have peace about God’s protection while we are away.

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:12