Almost--

Since time was short on my last blog, I thought I would just give some things I've seen and experienced since I've been in Africa. We are in Pretoria now and will be here until Thursday night and then I'll be in India for a week and then back to the states, not permanently Las Vegas, but close enough...

1. Yesterday, we were getting ready to drive back to Pretoria but the car broke down the day before, so we flew back, you have no idea what a blessing that was... 2 hours in comparison to 12 at least in a car... thank you, thank you.

2. The dancing continued throughout our time in the villages, the "muzungu's" (a Bemba word for foreigner) showed out to say the least and we had quite a few friends because of that.

3. Rap music and Cecilia and Franny--- I miss you dearly... can't wait for 97.5.

4. I have had some good food since we've been back to civilization-- chocolate, chicken, pizza. Jason's Deli and plenty of ice cream- come quickly.

5. I don't think that I've worn the same shirt so many times within weeks, I can't wait for my closet.

6. Sleep, sleep, sleep... need more but got some.

7. The Bachelorette-- who proposed seriously?

8. Alicia learned a new way to pedicure... rocks... back to the cave days I'm telling you...

Other things that I just am thinking of currently-

-Dream, you better still have a job.

-Ice cream Sundaes-- please girls.

-Engagements in the Geography department-- this could be the year!

The End-- See you soon or talk to you very soon! Love you all! -Melis

Back to Civilization...

Our team has been in Lake Tanganyika for the last 10 days and it has been quite the journey... Since I'm so good at lists, I'll just make one and I can elaborate on it when my internet moves faster than it is right now...

1. Nsumbu, Tongwa, Nzovwe-- no electricity, no running water, no toilet (unless you consider a hole in the ground one-- just fyi, it's not), bathing in the lake, and other necessities.
2. Playing with kids- a lot of them. I've never been so convinced that I want to adopt in my life.
3. Experience... a lot of it. I'll have to share later because I have to leave the internet cafe now, unfortunately. I'll write soon!

The Joys of Africa

Sorry that blogs are so few and far between but that's because internet is few and far between in Africa. We have been in Zambia since Saturday. We had quite the adventure coming up through South Africa, particularly in Botswana. I didn't really know what border posts were like driving, might I add with a trailer so it's a little more difficult than expected. Moving through the countries alone is not so bad. It is the trailer with the computers that caused some problems. So after several hours at the border stops we made it to Kabwe. We stopped at Victoria Falls and it was so beautiful, it was ridiculous. It is amazing to see the things that God has created in it's purest form. It was so great. Alicia, Anneretha, and I threw pennies into the falls to celebrate new changes and new commitments with a new belief that God desires to change us and do something new in us. There are so many things that I have learned and thought about that I'm not really sure where to begin except that God has awakened so much in me that I felt sure had died within me in the past year. It has been quite the year. God used so many of my kids to remind me of what I was called for and so many prayers to even get to that point and He had to bring me to another continent to make me think of what should be awakened in me. Let me explain...

Over the past year, I have slept so much. Rae, my roommate, thought that I must have mono or be depressed or something during last Fall because it was so unlike me. I became more negative, more agitated easily, and just plain annoyed quite often. I was short tempered and didn't really want to be around people. I felt that there was a lot of hurt that I felt and I didn't know how to deal or what to do with it so I just stopped. No, my life didn't stop, I didn't start seeing a therapist but I did feel like something changed me. It was if my heart had been broken for the last time. I was just done with what life was giving me. What a great blessing my kids were... Marquisha, who reminded me on a very regular basis that I could change the world, and so many who just made me laugh and made me have fun when I didn't feel like it. How I miss them. They taught me that what I want in a spouse is someone who will fight for me and not back down. They had my back all the time, they were my little defenders. God used them to remind me that He does the same thing. He wants to make me laugh, have fun, and He is my defender. And now here in Africa... God has began to awaken again my passion to just genuinely serve and love people, from my heart, not because of what they will do for me. He reminded me that my life will be renewed when I pour out. Yesterday morning when I woke up, I felt that God spoke very clearly a verse that I so often quote-- when I delight myself in Him, He will grant me the desires of my heart because when I delight myself in Him, my desires become His desires and they are no longer selfish purposes, but for His glory... the joys of Africa have been great, much more than I had hoped. How good He will continue to be. Thank you again for all of your prayers and thoughts and reminders that God will continue to be enough.

Just an update-- I will not be able to be on the internet for about another week and a half. We are traveling to Mpulungu at Lake Tanganyika to minister there. Love you and miss you! -Melis

Finally!

So this will be very quick. First things first, our team in Africa has a blog that we have been trying to update. The address is www.hope-4africa.blogspot.com. If you want to see details and some pictures of our work, check that one out. Africa has been phenomenal. We have been very busy doing quite a bit of different things. We are still in South Africa and are planning (hopefully) on going to Zambia tomorrow. We have had some problems with the vehicle we are taking, hence the "hopefully." We have worked with over a couple of thousand kids and God has broken my heart. He continues to give me vision as to what I should do when I get back to America as well as what life could look like for me in the future! (Scary!) Please continue to pray for us as we travel for the next few days between border stops and crazy African roads. Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts so far! They have definitely made a difference! I have been encouraged and have seen over and over again why God wanted me to be here. More than anything, He is changing me. Crazy, wild changes and we will see what happens in the near future! I love you and all and miss you!
-Melis