Yes, I'm still in Africa...and I'm alive!

Hey Folks!

I know I have been a neglectful blogger. Forgive me of my short comings. I will try to do better. I find it hard to find the opportune time...you know...when there's electricity, internet, and I'm not working! However, I want to keep you all in touch. So...I will make a better effort. So I am going to attach some photos of a few things to try to get you up to date. Hopefully the wonderful internet connection will allow me. He we go.... Oh, I am doing this while my kids are at P.E., so I only have time for a few pictures. I will put more on later...promise!

This is the view from my roof! Can you believe it...isn't it beautiful! I think more of you are feeling called to serve in Africa right about now.

This is a pic of my bedroom...yep, I'm the queen of Tanzania...at least I like to think that when I'm sleeping. It's a little hard to think you're a queen when it 88 degrees in your room and you're being attacked by mosquitoes, flying roaches, and little lizards!

My class gave me a "surprise" birthday party. We all had a great time. I was so shocked at all the work they did...by themselves too.

Culture Night @ Scott Theological College

Scott holds an annual Culture Night. This ABO was blessed to be there the week they held the celebration. It was so neat to see the different tribes/cultures come together. There was a point where people from different tribes, all over Europe, Asia, and the US came up and recited John 3:16. I lost count but I think there were at least 12 representations. Wow!

Scott students representing the Kalangan tribe.

Me singing a gospel song holdin it down for my folks back home!

Students representing the Luo tribe...the tribe Barack Obama's dad is from. It was so funny. Whenever I would meet a student from the Luo tribe, they would ask me if I knew who he was. They also had a huge picture of him on the screen at culture night.

This guy was so funny. He is truly a natural.

Scott Theological College Choir

Katalooni Secondary School

I had the wonderful opportunity to share at Katalooni Secondary School in Machakos as well. The youth were so receptive and eager to learn more about the Lord. These two pics are with a few girls that I met and got to fellowship with after the service.

Pictures of Machakos, Kenya

The Burning City

This is a little village next to Scott Theological College in Machakos. They call it the burning city because some years back it caught on fire. We would pass through here to and from Kisooni Church. I felt like I was a part of a parade or something every time we passed through. Kids would always come up and want to touch you. I think I might have been the 1st black American they ever saw. One day and few of us girls went for a walk and we had a whole parade of kids follow us back to the campus. They even sang for us and begged for us to come back.

Scott Theological College Campus

This was the lovely view that I saw everyday at ABO. It's even more breath taking at night. There's people who live all the way up that hill. I was told that they just received electricity about a year ago.

Me on Our Hill Walk

Us ABOers went on a hike up the hill....Praise the Lord, I'm still living!

Me and Megan taking off on the Walk

It was about at this point where I realized that I so wore the wrong shoes!

People hard at work!

On our way up the hill we ran into these people doing something with rocks. It was hard to understand but I think they are making something for water filters. As we kept walking I heard a rustling in the bushes. There was this small petite women climbing up the hill carrying at least 5-10 gallons of water! Man, I am so blessed to have running water whenever I want. Speaking of water...those of you in the US...come to Africa and you would so appreciate the luxury of water. There were a few days that we planned to do laundry or take a shower but couldn't because there was no water. We also had power outages. And the Internet...huh, that's a whole nother blog!

Pictures of Kisooni Church in Machakos, Kenya

Choir at Kisooni

I truly enjoyed watching them. They even had choreography to every song. It was also so neat to see the kids also sing with the adults. This was truly what you call a mass choir! Me sharing at Kisooni

This was a wonderful opportunity. I was actually shacked that they asked me to preach because I was woman. I was also under the impression that the pastor was going to preach as well...but it was just me. I'm sure the people were happy to have a shorter sermon for a change!

The Best Church Ladies in Machakos

These beautiful ladies fed us after church every week. They were so sweet and loved to be able to serve. They truly have the joy of the Lord...even though you can't tell too much from the pic.

Walking back from Kisooni

I know most of you are surprised that I walked to church. Well, surprise... I did. The 1st Sunday was so funny. Ngumbi (the guy on the right) told me that it was only a 10 minute walk and we walked for an hour!!!!! Okay....it was more like 30 minutes. When I told the church, they all laughed and got reprimanded the team for not getting me a Matatu (an adventurous form of public transportation). I told them that I didn't mind...it was good exercise and a great time to fellowship.

Cultural Bloopers...aka My First Month in Africa!

Man, I never would have thought that one person could learn so much in one month. I spent 3 weeks in Africa Based Orientation and just spent 1 week taking a Language Acquisition course. Although these courses were very helpful and in some ways essential, there's nothing like learning from your own silly cultural mistakes. There's so many...I'm wondering which one I'm willing to share. Hmmm.... Well, you know the word pants...it means something else here. I found out that pants are underwear not trousers. So, when you call trousers pants your whole life, it's a little hard to break that habit. Anyways, on the way home from church, some Kenyan friends and I were having a cultural conversation. One thing you see a lot of here is women wearing skirts. You hardly see women wearing pants...I mean trousers. So I asked some of my friends (which included a MALE)...what do you think about women wearing pants?!!! They both looked at me and said, "What"?! After realizing my silly and somewhat embarrassing mistake, I yelled ,"I mean trousers!" We all laughed and I was teased for a while. However, I think the habit is broken. Pants will forever be called trousers! Ahh, there are many more stories but I choose to keep my dignity.

My Ministry Team to Kisooni (Sam, me, Miriam, & Ngumbi)

Life of a Missionary!

Jambo!

That's about all the Swahili I know. Please pray that I pick up the language because I don't think I can make it around East Africa for 4 years with just knowing how to say hi! Anyways, today is the day that we go to Machakos for ABO (Africa Based Training). We were all told that the internet connection in Machakos was horrible so we're all in the lobby trying to get all our emails sent out with laptops. It's quite funny to look at. I guess that's the life of a missionary.

Yesterday we went out into the town to exchange money. When you look at their money you think, "Man I'm rich!” Then you do some calculations and realize that it cost $4 for deodorant. So, really it’s all about even. So much for thinking I was catching up with Donald Trump. Nairobi is not what I thought it would be. Someone told me that Nairobi didn't look like Africa, they were wrong. The roads are congested, people walking everywhere, a hundred people in one cab (yes I'm exaggerating...but not by much), shops on the side of the roads, people cooking outside, ladies walking with their babies on their backs with million pound bags....the list goes on and on. The only thing I witnessed that wasn't so African was a man walking down the street in a full Spiderman costume. However, I think that's probably strange in America.


This morning as we were packing our bags, we got in the big conversation about worship. We all mentioned how through our struggles, we realized that they only way through it was worship. It's so much more than just singing a song in a church service. It’s a lifestyle. Worship is so powerful. In my own life, I have been so amazed at what miracles have happened through worship. I've seen people healed, delivered, and set free. And in my own life, I have had deep struggles and pains. It was through worship that God brought me through it all and delivered me from those things and gave me such strength. Truly being in His presence brings us so much joy and that joy of the Lord gives us great strength. God is truly our rock and refuge. In Him alone do I find true peace and rest. I am reminded of the scriptures in Psalms, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge (Ps. 62:5-8)".

Mayfield Guesthouse (Nairobi, Kenya)

I Made It To Africa!

Hello Everyone!

I finally made it to Africa. I left on Friday night from New York and arrived in London on Saturday Morning. Then I had a 12 hour layover in London. We finally left Saturday night for Dar es Salaam and arrived Sunday morning. We dropped off all the luggage (all of my pieces made it and nothing was stolen...Praise God!!!!) in Dar and left for Nairobi, Kenya that night. I will be in Nairobi until Tuesday and then I go to Machakos, Kenya for 3 weeks. During those 3 week you probably won't hear from me. Thanks so much for your prayers and support. I'll give you an update as soon as I can.

Love you all!
Delicia

New York City (The Metropolitan Museam)

London (St. James Park)

I'm back!

Hello friends, family, and partners!

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted an update. I have been enjoying my family and everyday has been full of events. I’m still teaching. School was supposed to be over May 16th, but we have so many make-up days. We won’t get out until the 28th! The kids are getting a little antsy…and so are all the teachers. We had weeks of standardized testing and I think all of our brains are DONE.
Last month I went to Atlanta, Georgia for Spring Break. I had soooo much fun…I even stayed an extra day! I went to visit my friend, Yolanda, and to just get some nice r&r. We went everywhere together. I attached some photos of The Georgia Aquarium. If you are ever in Atlanta, you must go visit the aquarium…it’s worth the money.
Spring break was also a time of a personal breakthrough. There were so many things that I was praying to God about. When I was in Atlanta, I went to Free Chapel. It seemed like Pastor Franklin was speaking right to me. I was so excited that I called my pastor. As I was on the phone with him, it was like rivers of living water just flowed out of his spirit. (I have to admit, at the time I did not want to roll on that river. But it was good for me, if you get my drift) After our conversation, prayer, and faith put in action, such a heavy burden was lifted. PRAISE THE LORD!!!



Praise Reports and Prayer Request
· Praise God for new relationships being built and partnerships.
· Praise God that Haven of Peace Academy in Dar es Salaam will be fully staffed this upcoming year.
· Please pray for the missionaries heading out for Dar. Pray that they will have full support and there won’t be any delay in their departure.
· Please pray for me as I spend this last month with my family. There’s so many things that we would like to do in such a short amount of time.

Let Me Introduce You To JESUS!

Hey Everybody!

A friend of mine sent me this on an e-mail. This is an awesome and powerful poem. We must remember who Jesus really is.

It's been too long!

Hey Everybody!

I am so sorry that it has taken me this long to post another blog. Time has totally slipped by. For those of you who don’t know….I have moved to Evansville, IN to be closer to my family before I leave for Tanzania. I’ve been here since the first week of November. I am so enjoying my family. My nephew just won a basketball championship last weekend. That was one of the most exciting and nerve wrecking game. They won by one point and were the under dogs most of the game! I was so happy for him. Every family dinner, outing, or Kodak moment, I soak up because I know soon it will be my last for a long time.

God has also blessed me with a great job as an Enrichment Teacher for Henderson County Schools. I teach K-5 at 5 different schools with a team of 6 other teachers! Those who really know me know that I am horrible at names. Just imagine having about 500 kids and trying to remember their names…especially when you have the really unique ones. Poor kids, I usually end up calling them out by their clothing!

Since I’ve moved to Evansville, I’ve been attending Nazarene Baptist Church. My grandmother goes there and my mother grew up in this church. Basically, I have a lot of family and old friends that go to Nazarene. Whenever I would come visit my family, I would always go to Nazarene. They have been very welcoming and I look forward to becoming more involved. Oh, Nazarene also supports another missionary couple with AIM. They have been supporting them for a long time. I remember see them when they were on furlough. It’s funny, you never where God will take you. I never thought that I too would be a foreign missionary.

Although I am enjoying my family, job, and family church, I miss my home church. Leaving Grandview was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Actually when I first arrived in Evansville, I had second thoughts. I told my pastor (Pastor Dennis Thomas) that I might call him in a few days to come pick me up! Even though I’m not there in the flesh I still feel so connected. Sometimes I feel like I’m on a long vacation soon to return back home to Grandview. It’s such a blessing to have such a wonderful church family. (I’ll be seeing you all soon!!!!!) I’ve included a slide show of the reception Grandview gave me before I left. I can’t believe they did all that just for me. I’m so spoiled…..and I like it!

Till next time!
Delicia