-God, Mozambique, Africa, 2013
So, it has been a little over three months since my last blog post!
In that time I have been on outreach with my team to Mozambique (Africa) and Albany (Australia).
And it's a question on where to begin!
Now, that I am home it will be easier to blog again, and just so I don't ramble on to you I will divide this blog post into sections :) (I know it sounds a little like an essay, but before I could barely fit three days to a week in a post, now just imagine three months !)
~Something I Learnt to Value in a Team Environment...~
Below: Some of my team and me walking home from a hospital,
Inhassuage, Mozambique
The family factor. When you are literally seeing the same people everyday for three months, with no breaks, you get to know each other pretty quickly(somehow, you still learn now things too :D ). But not only that, you grow into a family. It doesn't really matter that we have no blood connections or anything because I think it's more about love. I think if we didn't love each other we could have had some serious issues. Being in teams where we love each other gives us a serious advantage in the way we connect and project. Other people easily see within a team the level of respect and love the team members have for each other, and that often sets the level of response and respect people then give you. Being in a team that loves each other also means that in the hard times your team has got your back, whether it's that five second prayer or that one hour talk, they got ya :D
~Something God Taught Me...~
One thing God taught me about is extending Grace to people.
So the word Grace has a lot of meanings, but in this case it would kind of be described as:
[An action someone extends to another person or situation when understanding of
circumstance is lacking or unexplained, or knowing about a situation and
extending the amount of patience or mercy towards it in understanding
the effect it has on an individual]
But that is only for person to person. The dictionary says:
4.
a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior: It was only through the dean's grace that I wasn'texpelled from school. Synonyms: forgiveness, charity, mercifulness. Antonyms: animosity, enmity,disfavor.
5.
mercy; clemency; pardon: He was saved by an act of grace from the governor. Synonyms: lenity,leniency, reprieve. Antonyms: harshness.
But I guess a specific example would explain better. A friend and you strike up a conversation and they suddenly snap at you. An extension of grace could be you not snapping back and forgiving them (because they might have hurt you) and understanding that they may be going through something, especially if it is not in their character to snap. Grace is hard for me to explain because I too, am still learning about it. That's a person to person prospective, and my current understanding. But anyhow, moving on...
~A Funny Moment...~
Ah ! So many ! So in Mozambique we were on an island when we were told that back at the base we left half of our bags were staying at was robbed. <-- That was not funny, but yes, my friend Alee and I were sharing a pack at the time. After our time on the island we went back and discovered Alee's pack was taken. Alee and I continued to share a pack in Africa after that. One thing you should also know is that Alee was on a different flight to us due to her finance being late. So one morning Alee, my friend Charlene and me were just chilling around and I am guessing Charlie wanted to know if Alee would have her (now not with us) pack come with us as we got to have more weight as a group or if she would check it in with her at the airport. So she turns to Alee and goes "Hey Alee, are you going to check your bags in at the airport?" fully dead serious, Alee looked confused for a moment and we started to laugh as she replied "Oh yes, if I had them" :D We all then sort of lost it laughing. It is probably one of those you had to be there moments, but I know my team will get a few giggles at reading that :3
It's okay, I have lots of other stories that will appear in my future blogs :P
~So What I actually Did:~ Below: Fishing on Idoogoo Island, Mozambique
In Africa we did kid's ministry, youth ministry, old peoples ministry, healthcare, went to churches and youth groups, interceded in prayer, house visits, fishing ministry (man, fishing African style is intense, no wonder everybody is ripped!), mudd-ed houses, gleaned in a rice field (harvested rice), worked with a hospital, saw miracles/healings, and lots more! But that's a jist :)
In Australia...
Worked alongside youth groups and churches, did old peoples, youth and children's ministries, did seminars in schools on things like bullying, eating disorders ect, and just lots of awesome random things like having free tea and coffee stools :D
What Shall I Do Now...
Right now I am at home with some plans, but in the next two weeks I fly to Malaysia for my next missions trip with my awesome church! So yes, quiet the exciting time for me ! Can't wait to get back into regular blogging again, it shall be good :) Until next time!
The Blow hole - Albany, Australia
All Photos Are Copyrighted, taken by Myself and a Friend
References:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/grace?s=t
