Announcement!!!

Hear ye, hear ye!!!!

Hey Everyone!

Well, Felito and I would love to announce with much joy that we are ENGAGED!!!! ☺

So my beloved popped the question last Saturday much to the delight and shock to myself and of course the answer was yes!! We are both so excited and can’t wait to start our lives together, to see our dreams unfold and walk the path that God has put us on! As I write this, I am smiling big time and can hardly sit still!!! I can’t wait to be married and just be together and see what will unfold before us!

The big day, the beginning of many amazing days we can share together is in November in Maputo. We haven’t decided on a date yet, but we will keep you all posted. Lord willing, we would love to see you all there and join us on our special day!!

God Bless you all so much.
Love
Felito and Anna

Here I am....

March/April 2006

Update Time!
Ola. Would like to apologise for me not being in contact for such a long time. We have had an exciting time with our water supply and electricity. Centre One, is attached to the town electricity – so when it does go down, everything goes down, but we can put the old generator on, but gas has been expensive lately, so thus we have been a little short on some things. Personally, I quite enjoy it. The whole Centre is so quite and you can go out at nite and see all the stars and hear the frogs singing. Also being dark, you are unable to see all the bugs – which I am sure the guards are happy not to hear me scream or anything….LOL… Also, being able to cook in the dark and then eat with candles – is very special.

Perhaps going without water is not really that wonderful, especially in this heat – but the smell from the bathrooms and the unwashed dishes after a couple of days – does leave one wondering about nose clips or digging your own personal latrine.

As, I type this, I am sitting and resting, worshipping my God! Unfortently my heaIth and my room-mates health has been added onto the sick board here in Arco-Iris. This morning we tested positive for Malaria. And yet again, I have a chest infection. Malaria and fevers are very commen at this time of year, due to the rainy season, but we are believing for God to be God and move mightily.
When you have malaria, people have told me you need to rest and rest some more – yip, I totally agree with that. I think as a westerner, I never fully understood and took it so sersiously; even after reading books and articles on it, and seeing first hand when people are ill with it. But after testing positive, I have a new understanding and almost a respect for it and also the people who have it, and how they maintain their sanity.

Please continue to pray that the health and protection for the kids, pastors and missionaries.

April Outreach
Well, the graduates that are coming for this amazing outreach have arrived, expect for one.
We are counting down the days before we leave! I received my conformation from Heidi Baker (Director of Iris Ministries Inc) and I am allowed to go on this awesome, amazing outreach! Unfortently because I am sick with malaria, I have to wait a couple of days to rest. We have another car that leaves later this week, and if I am feeling well enough and the get the OK from the doctor, I will ride with the sound system.

Please keep this amazing outreach in your prayers. For protection, for health of the graduates, Felito. pastors and the team. That God will guide them and fill them with wisdom and also that Gods hand be everywhere and that when they step into the villages and as they are driving, that there will be this tremendous favour and Gods anointing to be with them – we are asking for open heavens. We want to see Mozambique, loved into the kingdom of God. To see the broken hearted made whole, to see the sick healed and people to walk in the freedom and life that God has for them!! The goal of this outreach is worshiping God, sleeping in a tent, praying for the sick, making friends that last a life time, seeing people come to Jesus! And also encouraging the leaders and churches of Mozambique!
Our vision is simple! To see the kingdom built, to see this nation on fire for God! To see God move in power, to see this nation changed!

In black n white: we are holding two outreaches every night and then return to the same campsite. We start in the Zambezia province coming up from the Zambezia river up to Niassa, then we will be joined by Rolland and Heidi for a three day conference in Lichinga. Then it’s a relaxing time and will enjoy a safari day in the beautiful Niassa Reserve. Then its off to Nampula and then returning back to Pemba.
We will be joined by local pastors in each province so teams will vary in number.

Oh, just writing, my spirit is picking up and the excitement is building within me! When I was attending the school of missions last year, I couldn’t get enough of outreaches! As much as I love being with the children, and investing into their precious lives! I long to see this nation, be a nation after Gods own heart. I really agree with Matthew 10:9 “….so, that none perish!...” Its my prayer, to see the beautiful people of Mozambique, Gods children, being loved, changed and impacted, to see them walking into Jesus’ arms! Its such an honour and privllage to serve such a God and to be His hands, His feet and arms – to be the fragence of Jesus in this place!

Prayer Points
 Divine health and protection
 Wisdom
 To love unconditionally
 God to continue to move powerfully – to see people healed and changed!
 Learning languages (Portuguese, Makua)
 Stopping for the one
 Heidi & Rolland (directors) as they travel overseas and preach
 That more would come into the Kingdom of God
 As the second base is being built that we’d get all done on time with all the necessary materials needed
 During the rainy season for our children and staff to be protected from malaria
 Children to learn and have fun in school
 Pastors to understand and learn the word of God, so they can make an impact in their churches and villages
 My infection (on my foot) to leave and not scar
 Preparations for the baby house will go smoothly

Thank you all so much for all your prayers and support! God Bless you mightily.

Ciao, Ate Logo

Mana Ana

Feliz Natal

Well, we survived Christmas and New Years here in Pemba!!

Christmas was excellent! It was overwhelming and super emotional!

On Christmas Eve, we had our Iris Staff party at a local restaurant and we were treated like kings and queens. We ate till we could eat no more! We laughed until it hurt! We smiled until our faces got locked! Then at midnight, we sneaked over to the children and woke them up to say Feliz Natal and had our very own candle service, which lasted about an hour! That service was a great success, no one was hurt, nothing caught on fire! We played a game half way thru the service with blowing each other’s candles out, which I must admit; the missionaries had just as much fun as the children! Then it was time to put the kids back to bed and then the missionaries back to work to finish all our surprises for the children here at the centre as well as the street kids!
I woke up at 7am here on Christmas day, which was a huge sleep-in! Then it was off to celebrate Feliz Natal. We handed out the presents to the children here at the centre, then it was a church service, then we had a wedding, then it was baptisms, then it was off to feed and love the multitudes the came for the grande fiesta!

We had well over 2000 people come and eat! It was such an honour to serve the people of Pemba their fiesta! They ate rice, chicken, and Mozambiqican salad and then got a COLD coca!

To see the delight on some of the faces of the children to give them a plate of food and then a cold coca! It was incredible! God moved so mightily, we saw people healed; we saw many become children of God!

We had enough food for all, even the staff! Praise God!! Many people were loved and honoured on Christmas day! I could hardly keep it in, and at the end of our long day which for us missionaries ended round 8pm we just sat on the floor and cried and thanked our Lord for being amazing and working such wondrous miracles and touching and changing our lives and for letting us serve Pemba! But the thing that hit me most was the LOVE of God for the people of Pemba and for me! I didn’t eat or drink for the whole day, let alone sit down! I was always with kids, so didn’t even get a moment to stand still and take it all in! But at the end when we sat and thanked Jesus for that He had done for us that day! God just touched my heart! I realised that He had sustained me for the whole day! God cares so much about people, but also the little things! That feeling of being so totally loved and then giving it away! It is very hard to pen down! It really is better to give than to receive!

New Years!! Well, lets just say that Mozambique’s celebrate so very different to Kiwis! They start the night before with a loud party on the beach then the party just continues! No expensive is spared! But here in Arco-Iris we just relax, outreach into the community then starting at 10pm we have church service, which finishes at 1am! We welcomed in the New Year worshipping Jesus, dancing and singing and of course my favourite praying for people! Life here is simple and beautiful!

NB - I praise God that the electricity hasn’t gone down in the last couple of days, so I have been enjoying cold water from the fridge! Hallelujah Jesus!!

The ladies in my sewing class have come a long way in such a short time. Over the next couple of weeks we will be moving from hand stitching to actual sewing machines. The ladies are very excited about that, as am I! I am hoping that if they pick up the machines well, they will be able to sew the uniform for the children that will attend the school! So it will benefit all involved! Earlier this month a group of about 180 pastors from all around the north of Mozambique arrived to begin their bible school education and planting churches. I am teaching the second year class! So they will be with us for three months, then we will have a week to two weeks break and then another group will come!

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support.
Ate Logo! Ciao! Jesu Te Ama

Mana Ana

The Arrival

Boa Tarde! (Good afternoon) Greetings from warm and sunny Pemba!

The Homecoming
Have been back in warm, sunny Mozambique for 13 days and it feels so good to back home! It was such a precious homecoming! To see, to smell and feel all the familiar things I held so dear to my heart was such a dream come true! I was greeted at the airport by co-workers with joyful cry’s, shouts, laughter and tears, not to mention a ton of hugs! Sitting in the plane when we landed, I could hardly contain my joy and excitement! People sitting around me, must have wondered about my state of mind!....hahah…… But flying over Pemba, as we circled before we landed, oh the joy, the beating of my heart in sync with my Heavenly Fathers Heart – that contentment is totally priceless!

When I arrived back at centre 1 – to be shown my little house and my room all decorated so simple and beautifully! It brought tears to my eyes as I fell to my knees in joyous thanksgiving to my heavenly father who has blessed me so much! What a joy it is to serve such a God!

Later the day I arrived, I was taken to centre 2 – to see my beloved children again. I hadn’t even managed to get out of the land rover and I was surrounded by 200 precious smiles, each one pushing, to give me a hug first! There was much squeals of delight that afternoon with my dearest children! God has just blessed me so very much here in Pemba!



The Centres
We have two centres here in Pemba. They are about 10 minute walks apart. Centre 1 (old base), was the first base built by Iris Ministries when they first came to Pemba, just over three years ago. It now houses all the workers, missionaries and visitors, and speakers. Centre 2 (new base), is the second base that was built by Iris, it is still currently been added too. The new base is where the children live, the pastors in training and also the students from the mission schools will be living. Also the new base is where all the feeding programmes, the widows groups, church, medical clinic and mothers and baby’s clinics are based!

Heat and Sweet
The weather is very hot. We are averaging about 37 to 40 most days! We have a huge water shortage, which has been so much fun, when we swim at the beach with about 10,000 others! Many of the villages outside of Pemba are struggling with their water supply! Would really appreciate prayer for God to move and see rain for these villages that depend on this water during this raining season to store for their crops.

Lets Talk to God
Would really appreciate prayer over the Christmas and New Year Season. It’s very hectic here and also our biggest time to reach out into the community and surrounding villages. On Christmas day, we invited the whole area of Pemba, with putting up signs and posters and also while on outreach spreading word, so we are expecting well over 2000 people for church service and also a feed and a present. We believe in miracles and know that God will multiply what we have! Amen!

Well, all right, I'm going steady now

Well, all right! Well, all right, well all right my laptop is connected to the internet!!!!

I also have been to the dentist in the last two days and it anit too good news, so I had to have my teeth x-rayed and then had a couple of fillings! Not to mention my teeth had to be washed with floride - thanks to my 5 yrs of wearing braces - to get my teeth straighten - my teeth are now in bad shape! yip - I am going to be completley toothless by the time I am 40 as told by my dentist. My teeth are bascilly falling apart due to scaring from the braces and also did you know that you can brush your teeth too much and that is bad for them too!

I am now also a proud owner of an ipod mini! Yaya! And its pink - even better. I got a $18 discount as the start disc didnt come with it, but have beenn told if I have a applema laptop (which I do), then things should be fine. So as of now, I am charging it and I guess I will find out what happens!

Ok - so I am supposed to fly out this Tuesday! After working at the Bank of New Zealand as a Temp Staff employed by Hudson International! Going to Mozambique will be completly different! I will miss the bodies at the BNZ - they are a great bunch of people to work with and have fun with! The team was wonderful, as was the oss breaks! But back to the visa - it is still somewhere in London and if DHL couldnt picked it up, well, I just wont be flying out until it arrives. So, I was stressing but have since decided its in Gods hands and his timeing is best!

Well, I am so rambling on bout not much!
Ciao

Simply the best.....

You have to check this ad out - click here! Its brillant!

OK - so I am not really a huge fan of cars or anything really technical - but putting in this way! Come on! I am impressed and I know that you will be!

Enjoy!!!

Brand new LAPTOP

Ok, so its Sunday evening here in the land of the long white cloud. My father and my youngest brother have returned from their 8 days in Brisbane.
I am sitting at the computer listening to Buddy Holly imaging what my life is going to be like in Pemba for the next two years!.... parts of it I can see and others I have no idea what is going to happen.

The big announcement today is - I brought my applemac laptop yesterday! Its the cutest thing ever! I am still trying to load the programmes onto it - ok, so I am not a computer genius - but slowly is better than nothing at all! OK, but I am so totally hooked! I do love my new laptop! I wanted a pink one! :( But, I do have a pretty awesome new laptop! All about the laptop! Its a 12inch G4 ibook! And boy, is it cute! Its white, very easy to sue, loads of memory, its lite and cute!

Its my birthday on Thursday! I mangered to keep it pretty quite, I dont want a big hu-ha made out of nothing! I'd rather be in Pemba. Ok, so I miss Pemba! I miss my children and I will admit, I have thought about the past and the "what if", but I anit going to put silly ideas into my head and let my heart to feel again so soon!

So, things here on this blog, have been pretty serious - how does one brighten up the mood? I think I need to go to a writing class!

Ok, so I am just muttering and all, so its CIAO

Geeks, Nerds and all

Well, I wish I had a photo to prove what happened last nite!

Yes, a fellow student from School of Missions (Jamie) phoned me up yesterday and invited me to one of his friends birthday party surprise thing and mentioned that when he came to pick me up, not to freak out cause of his clothes... I laughed and waited to see what he meant!

So, as you can imagne, I was excited and nervous at the same time. It is the first time, I've been out since I've returned from Pemba and also been with a group of guys. So, I spent about 3 hours getting ready. My sister straightend my hair, and I changed like a million times and I did a decent job on my make-up. Needless to say my little brother was impressed!

After helping my Mum make dina and then I smelt like meatballs instead of my perfume, the doorbell rung. My heart skipt a beat and my stomach turned. Now, the excitement had left and the nerves set in. I heard my little bro laugh.... So Jamie had arrived. Ok, this is the moment when you wish you had a birthday present like a cam-cord or that you hadnt let your sister borrow you camera! Jamie was stunning! In true fashion - a geek. Now, I know this dont sound too nice, but if you could of seen him and his mates! Girls - it was funny. So, Jamie was themed to red - working for KFC. Then Simon was themed blue - working with computers and then there was Pat who was themed to green - working for subway and packnsave!

So we had the fat red bus, filled with the geeks, the birthday girl, me and the guys & gals from the youth group. We went into town and literally painted it red! We parked the fat red bus about 20 min from the resturant so we could walk thru town, to see peoples reaction.... oh, boy, that was fun.... just as was walking thru the macDs drive thru! We at dina at the rouge - that was interesting, but more interesting was the washroom situation! Ok, it was flash, not like the latrines in Pemba. It was a smoked glass door - you think is well, see-thru (its not really), so you feel totally uncomfortable sitting on the loo.

After our yummy meal went went for another walk and then a drive thru town! We got pulled over by the cops, that was mm....well, their faces were priceless! We got off with a warning and thus decided to call it an evening and in true geekstyle fashion drive home with our windows and loud pumping music!

Over all - I had a blast. But realised that my heart belongs in Mozambique for the next season of my life. I do enjoy the simple life.......

The plans.....they come & go......

Well, I was so very excited about doing my sarfri - but plans, they come and & go! Thats right, my bank account wouldnt let my dream come true..... BUT the parents have since stepped in and we have decided to delay that dream by a couple of months and thus do a little tour of South Africa.

So yet another plan, therefore after much thought and couple of sleepless nites, I have thus decided that I either need to marry a rich man or find a rich long-lost relative who needs to give an inheritance away. Of course, I would use this inheritance very wisely.... give some to me, my sarfri, my other family and friends to visit me in Pemba, give some money to chariety and of course I would tithe on it. So, heres to the plan! Personally, I have no idea which one will eventually come and play to the moment. But I will keep you posted...LOL....

So, I leave for Mozambique on the 11 November! Not long to go! Oh, I am very excited and have much to do.... But to see the face of my beloved new homeland and my children - its so totally priceless!

I shall miss you all!

Over and out!

Africa, here I come......

Well, well...... here is the story so far!!!

I have been back in NZ for about 6 weeks and I finially have job as a temp thru Hudson working at the BNZ! So, that being said, I am now on track returning to my beloved Pemba and family! Oh, joy of all joys! I have the spring back in step....LOL....(truely - I do!)

Anyways, so we contacted our flight agent and there is good news and news that makes me take a second to comprehend. Basically, if I want to return to Pemba before Christmas, without the flights being so expensive, I have a choice of two dates in November! Either the 11th or 18th! So, to cut a couple of hours down of the story (with unfolded on the phone), I have to decide which date I want to leave.... so yeah! Decision deadline - next tuesday! OK - that anit to stressful to decide.... BUT the saga goes on - but it gets better - believe you me, it gets better!!!!

OK, so - like I said, I was talking to my flight agent and if I decide to fly with the earlier date, I arrive in Joberg on Sunday and there are no flights to Pemba until Wednesday - when he said this, I was like "bummer" - but as I listened on, he made me smile and wanted to give him a kiss and a hug..... He said, he would try and increase my luggage allowance from 20Kg to 30kg (ok so that is the kiss), but wait there is more! My good flight agent has given me some ideas to spend my down time in Joberg - like go on a 3-day Safari in Kruger National Park and also a chance to visit Soweto! (that was the hug) - so as you can imagne I was all smiles and jumping up and down with excitment until he told me the price.... basically I need to come up with almost and xtra NZ$2000! So that is my dilema! But in talking to my parents, they are keen on me to travel around South Africa more than Africa, so they are going to pray and see if they might be able to give me some money towards my 4 xtra days in Joberg! Parents are such a blessing!! :)

And to top things off, my friend Ella (from Eketahuna) has just been accepted as a visitor to Iris Ministries in Pemba and we might be flying together back home - if she decides to come now or next year.

Anways, I am so very excited.... I cant wait to leave NZ and return to my beloved family in Pemba and live the good life with my children! And not to mention to start living with Catia and working with beautiful Tesia and go to the beach and play with the kids..... oh, life in Pemba is great!

That is me - OUT

Well......thinking.......dangerous??

So, is thinking dangerous?..... I'll let you decide

Well.... I have given much things much thought..... if only I had the time! Actually a few things have been swirlling around in my hot little mind.... yes, my mind is switched on, perhaps not just all of the time....

So the topic that is on the thought board or discussion is well..... it was marriage, then boys, then men, then God, then Pemba, they I started to dwell on "what if.... or what if....." and also my mind wondered on back to conversations and moments that I should of said this.... but I said that.... so yea!

Basiclly my mind has really been deep on thought(s), realising that hurts and issues that I thought I'd dealt with or even stuffed down, well, they popped up again, and this time, I have no-one to run too, expect my Heavenley Daddy - which is a wonderful thing, but gets straight to the heart of the hurt or issue, especailly when you want to have a pity party or someone share the sympthy thing with you.... yup - that dont work with your Heavenley Daddy.

So my answer on what I've thought, jouneralled, thougth and talked thru - is that.... WAIT! Let the sweet aroma, the perfume of JC complety flood u, so all you feel His peace, rest and love.... Holy Spirit has been so instrumental my healing my broken heart after my boyfriend of over a year decided he didnt love me anymore amougst other things (wont go into detail)... oh, all the issues came up.... but being such a strong young women, I hid them, bottled them up and decided to be strong, I didnt want him to know how much he'd really hurt me, I wanted to show people that I was ok - that I had it together, but it was more out of fear of embarresment and more rejection! I mean, this guy, I thought he was the one, we were going to be married..... how things change..... how people change..... so I've been dealing with all the issues of anger, rejection, self hatred, broken heart, he loves - he loves me not, what if I'd done this or said that.... tried to replay the whole situation over and over trying to work out what I'd done wrong or whatever.... BUT somethings are meant to be and some things arent. OK - back to the healing part! So, I no-one to turn too, after putting it off, I decided I couldnt do to it to myself anymore - I had to be honest and truthful and realised that I'd been hurt and that I was hurting and how! Once I penned that down, well, the flood gates opened! God really ministered to me, brought up other issues, but I know for every tear I cry, there are more smiles, and 10x more laughter in each memory! I know that I am on my way to be a better young women of God.... the first thing, is to ADMIT there is a problem or a hurt, if you cant do that, well, then you wont experice the HUG, the LOVE, the JOY of the father wrapping his arms around you and hold you while you cry and hear his gentle wispher in your ear of encourgement, promises and life! To feel His embrace, the sweetness of His kiss against your tear-stained cheek - its pricless and that itself is healing and meaning the heart that was smashed into pieces.

So today, I say, I CHOOSE LIFE, I want to meet my maker, I want to be a spotless bride....therefore, I will lay my life down, whatever the cost....that means the highs and lows of life, the whole heart, the broken heart.... we need to give him all the good memories and bad memories.... God wants all of us, not the plastic part of us.... God himself is honest and truth, what is the point in not being honest and truthfull with ourselves, we then cant be honest and truthful with our maker and king. When God says ALL - He means everything, even the hurts and dark parts of heart.... cause in being honest, truthfull with ourseleves we can be honest and truthful with our King, which comes with being open and intimate! Then the healing, the wholeness and joy comes! For with intimacy comes fruitfullness!!!

OK - so I might be rambling on, but a little thing I heard at a recent conference has stuck in my mind and hear it is (well, something along the lines of).......INTIMACY......It is when, we pick up the phone and if we dont recongise the voice we either ask who it is or we hang up.... that is like when we hear the Fathers voice, how can you listen if you dont know His voice.... We need to ring our Father up and hear His voice, so when He calls us, we recongise it....

Oh, dear, someone is board

OK...so here it is, simple - black and white!

I MISS MOZAMBIQUE!

OK, now that I have all said and done, the weekend with my friend in Eketahuna and also the Conference up in Palmy - well, was pretty awesome! Speaking in church didnt quite go to plan, but hey, Holy Spirit came and rocked, well, everyone with his sweet presence - his imitate love! The conference, was an eye-opener...LOL.... many were touched, healed and had their spiritual eyes open. Gary and his sweet wife brought the manifest presence into Pamly - and its going to stay. They also introduced angels....yes, the a word! Guess what??? I SAW mine and I also went surfing - it was wow! Words cant express and if words could, my spelling is so bad...LOL...

Over and out!

hummm......

Well.....I, hummm......

OK, so the news is? Well, there is no news! Actually, am entirly frustrated, I want to add some photos on and I cant - arugh!

OK, so I dont have a real job, I am just working for my Mum and helping out at various kids and youth clubs and programmes - so life anit too bad. But I cant stop thinking about Pemba and my life there! How I miss it and long for the day, that I can purchase my ticket out of here back to the place I love and call home! I constantly think of the dear children, and cant wait to hold them in my arms and see their smiley faces! And not too mention back to eating rice & beans and bottled water! People think I'm crazy for wanting to live in Africa, but something is drawing me. Some see it as a sacrifice, others see it as stupidty, but I see it as a joy, its not hard. But I do trust the God I serve. Cause where He guides, He provides!

At the sunday morning service at church - well, it was different. We had a guy share about the Jesus rose from the dead, but he focused on the cross. That is not a bad thing, but he didnt answer the question - but anyways. At the end of the service, they played a song by Nicole C Mullen - I know my Redemeer Lives! It got me thinking and realizing what a wonderful God we serve!

Anyways, I am looking forward to this weekend. I am going up to my friends house, in Eketahuna to preach at her church and also attend a couple of sessions at a conference with Gary & Kathy Oates. WOW! This guy is cool - he works with Randy Clark! I heard Gary speak at TACF in Jan, and its an honour to hear him in the land of the long white cloud.

Love, Grace, Mercy & Compassion

L-O-V-E
It is a small four-letter word that will cost you everything: laying down your life; passion and compassion; giving without expecting; feeling His very heartbeat and surrendering to His rhythm; following the Lamb wherever He goes - even to Mozambique.

- Heidi Baker, Iris Ministries -

My heart beats for the King. My life is not my own, I live for another!
Here I am Lord, SEND ME!!

Always Remember

I found this on the web

Always remember what John Wesley said

Do all the GOOD you can

By all the Means you can

In all the Ways you can

In all the Places you can

At all the Times you can

To all the People you can

As long as ever you can

Inspiring aye?

My Life is not my Own

So I crave for a life of purpose and adventure. How does one live a life like that? We serve a mightly God! A King, who gave his life for me - what does he get in return? My LIFE!

I see these movies of wars, geniocides in Africa. Oh, how it breaks my heart! How can people not be moved? How can people watch and not do a thing about it - they just change the channel. I feel they then dont deserve to know what is going onto humankind - the very race that Jesus died for! Oh, let His death not be in vain!

I see this horrid stuff, I hear the stories and cry with them - almost wanting to bleed with them. I then wonder and imagine what it would be like to experience what they went thru and going thru. To share their greif, sorrow and pain? I have no understanding of that. How to understand? Go and sit with them, listen to them, hold their hand - they need to know that someone cares, even if they dont understand, a hug and smile is better than changing the channel.

I guess my thought and question is who will go? To hold, to love, to comfort, to heal, to serve? My answer - is ME, I will go. Will you come?

Why? These people need a touch! Someone has to make a difference - a simle difference. It could be just as easy as lightening the load, brigthening a dull day or God moving so powerfully they are healed and saved! Everyone needs Jesus!

OK, so I need to explain myself? YES! God impacted me so very much, while I was in Mozambique studying as a missions student. In fact God challenged me! I prayed, I listened, I watched and I answered Him. I am no longer myself, but a daughter of the King. His price has been made, now mine must be made. I give up and let go and say HERE I AM - SEND ME!

Its all about LOVE! Perhaps one of the most mis-used words in the world.
I, Anna Barber, now a laid-down lover, a missionary! Yes - I am going to be working Iris Ministires in Pemba, Mozambique.

My life is not my own - I live for another! - Its all about LOVE

Survived, Changed, & Glory of God

Ola, como esta? Gloria Senor!

Well, the time has come for me to set foot back in the country of my birth, filled with mixed emotions. So I arrived back in NZ after spending some time in Hong Kong and China. Which was an experience to behold.

Mozambique - that country rocks! God rocks!

In the School of Missions run by Iris Ministries - God totally rocked my world! He wrecked me, pulled me, killed me, loved me, lifted me, filled me and I will never be the same!
I am just a simple girl from NZ who loves a great big God! Who knows what is instore? I dont, but I know the one who does! All I know that its going to be an honour to share my life with Jesus! The one who leads me on all these increidble adventures! They are going to be hard, scary, filled with highs and lows! But from each experience I can learn and grow! O, how life is full when we serve a mighty and powerful God! To God be the glory be given!

So in Mozambique, I died. I laid my Elisha down, and handed over my Samuel! I truely died a death, and counted the cost. I spent many hours crying in the dirt and laughing with the children. Only do it all again - for sure! All for what? A LOVE - A love for my King - cause he first did it for me!

I left Mozambique! I cant hardly belive it. The last 3 months have been amazing, increidble and life changing. I cried from Pemba to Maputo - with the once was and what could have happend ringing in my mind. Realizing that when we landed in Sth Africa, I had totally left my heart in Mozambique. Not with a guy (that was returned), but with a nation, a culture that needs Gods love ever so despritely. I have felt and experience the rhythm and beat of Africa; it has penitrated me! I guess you could say that Africa swallowed me whole! When and Where? I havent a clue! But just thinking all that has happened, brings all the sights, smells and sounds back to my heart, the center, the forefront of my heart, my life! How I long, and crave for a life fulled with purpose to glorify my lover and King! So its lower still!!!

My life is not my own - I live for another

In Mozambique

Well, I've landed in Mozambique. Actually, I've been in Mozambique for over 10 weeks now and I am totally loving it. I find something new everyday to fall in love with! I love the people, the culture and the food - so I am feeling ever so at home.

The missions school has been totally amazing! Made some friends, shared a shower, eaten bugs, drunk ice that smells like fish..lol...God has totally wrecked me! I love missions and I know that I am called to be a missionary. The speakers at the school have been brillant and ever so timely!

Houston - we have contact...

At last, the electrcity is up and internet is online! Yay! Life is good!!!

Well, I am finially here in Pemba, Mozambique! Oh, its such a dream come true. So far, it has been very beauitufl and peaceful. Its very hard to think that only a couple years ago, this seemless restful country was in a cival war.

I love it here! The food is good! - its rice & beans, rice & matapa, rice & rice, rice & potatoes, rice & beans and not to mention the not so fresh bread roll for breaky! Am drinking bottled water, as the connection from the town water hasnt been done yet. They always saysoon, but we are now running on Africa time, so we add an "is" at the end of everything...lol...

The culture is amazing, doesnt seem that much different, but I am sure there are things that separate Africa and Kiwiland. Village life for me is very interesting. There are plently of children around Iris and on the streets. The poverty is very real here - and its in your face all the time. My orginal understand of poor has changed dramaticly. The children are hungrey for love and attention - which I am more than happy to give them.

The missions school is going very well. We are very blessed to have wonderful speakers and also to have Papa Rolland and Mana Aida every other day! Am learning lots. God is breaking my heart for Him and also for the lost! Life is very simple here and its so amazing! Nothing is complicated and neither is the gospel. We have had opporunties to go out on outreaches, either for one evening or for two nites. The people are so very hungery - for God and his love! I was given the privillege to share a testimony so far! Oh it was so amazing! I am hoping to get the opporunity to preach - when? I dunno - so that is awesome! It really is such an honour to be used by God.

A little bit about the Iris Base! We have two bases. I am on base one witht he children & pastors. Then there is base two, which is where we have class (in a huge tent) and also church on Friday nite and Sunday morning. We have over 100 children here in Pemba Iris, but that number is growing daily! Its only about 10min walk between the bases. I love the walk! We get a chance to view the scenery and chat to the locals!
We have running water (well, not really), the water is supposed to come on at 6am & 9am, then again at 6pm & 9pm - but that hasnt happened often. So we pump our water for our bucket baths at the well! Talk about strength! Dust is everywhere, so you dont feel that clean, but hey, we are less than a 3min walk to one of the most stunning beaches in the world! (Riversdale, eat your heart out!)
Have just discovered that we shouldnt be walking around in barefeet, as there are worms in the ground and a couple of students have had to gone to the hospital (another interesting story) to get them removed - actually removing them is very mmm.....not for senstive stomachs!

Bless you all so very much! Big hug to you all! You are all in my prayers. Please continue to keep Iris Ministries and Mozambique in your prayers! Cause one day, Mozambique will be living for Jesus!

3 days till take off!

OK - so its just a tad stressful getting organised...but I am extremly exicited!

Liftoff is in 3 days...3 whole days, that is 72 hours! So, seriously, I have 72 hours left in this land of the long white cloud!

A lot has happened since I last wrote, well the weather has changed, Mothers Day has gone and I have meet with the Elders in my Church, shared in Sunday School and in Church! I've phoned Canada, USA, talked with Pauline & Clifton, Crystal, Robyn, Amy and left messages for Colleen! But hey...all is good!

I am so excited, I can hardly sleep at nite - I am going in 72 hours, soon I will be seeing my beloved face to face, I will be meeting lots of awesome new people that for the next 3 months will be my family! Not to metion the beautiful landscape of stunning Africa, the smiling faces of children and the many hearts we will have the privillage of leading to Jesus! AMEN!!

On the way to my new home, we (my Dad & I) will stopping ova in Singapore to visit CJ and her church! Talk about CRAZY! SO that is SO, SO something to look forward to! Holy Spirit - COME, you are so very WELCOME! Lord, I pray that you come and impact the youth in CJs church - that you fill them and dont leave them the same! Lord I pray, that as I open my mouth that your words will come out and touch the hearts of those that listen, that it may bring healing and restoration and joy! AMEN and Amen!