tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119Wed, 23 Oct 2024 05:59:00 +0000"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Melissa)Blogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-7289265820566264250Thu, 31 Oct 2013 18:41:00 +00002013-10-31T13:41:59.306-05:00 walk with me quiet, walk with me slow...  walk with me empty, walk with me strong.  the hush of our voices, when the day seems so long.  it is like a balm. it is like a jewel.  it unravels all i thought i knew.  so will you lead me, beside the still waters.  where the oil, it runs over, and my cup overflows.  you restore my soul.  tell me http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2013/10/walk-with-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-753762103361847251Sat, 28 Sep 2013 12:01:00 +00002013-09-28T07:01:33.228-05:00 we’ve had so much fun with a small group of secondary school girls. they are few in number, not many girls making it to this level of education. as early as primary school, the gap in boy/girl ratio increases dramatically as many drop out because of early pregnancy or responsibilities at home. in light of the odds, we are beyond proud of these girls, for going against the norm of http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2013/09/girls-just-wanna-have-fun.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-233700922041285107Sun, 25 Aug 2013 11:57:00 +00002013-08-25T06:57:33.038-05:00 another week of teacher training behind us. another group of teachers to laugh with and challenge and encourage. another reason to give God the glory. even though, i'll be honest, these trainings can become routine, and we can forget what's important or begin to wonder if our time with primary school teachers is even making a difference... despite our doubts and fears and anxiety, God is http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2013/08/all-things-new.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-9075047693992762218Sat, 20 Jul 2013 06:20:00 +00002013-07-20T01:20:59.066-05:00 heidi and i were headed to our first day of Bible storying at okari. just before we reach the church, we stop at the borehole to greet a friend. then a little girl walks our way and says she was told to direct us to a house nearby where coming-out prayers were being held for a newborn baby girl.  so in true moru fashion, we go with the flow and follow her down the path. as heidi and i http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2013/07/sweet-melissa.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-6781685449908442954Wed, 03 Jul 2013 12:52:00 +00002013-07-03T07:52:48.376-05:00 i’m teaching preschool again!   unlike most preschools, this new “model preschool” has the advantage of their own building, with walls to put up letters and visuals aids for teaching, and each child has a chair.  boda is a teacher from uganda, sent here to help start this preschool that will hopefully add on more grade levels. though the original plan was to have fewer http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2013/07/im-into-something-good.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-1646400051460056655Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +00002013-06-19T05:04:20.735-05:00 something beautiful is our theme for the next teacher training coming up in july. we’ll build our lessons and devotions all around this topic and read a book appropriately titled “something beautiful.” the story is about a girl who is looking for something beautiful in her community and begins to see beauty through the eyes of those around her.    would you consider helping us byhttp://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2013/06/something-beautiful.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-6322558731612421545Sun, 05 May 2013 06:51:00 +00002013-05-05T01:51:30.174-05:00 last week, bethany and i stayed with our friends, ngulu and linda. we spent 5 nights with them and their extended family, sharing a small part of their life and learning more about moru culture. it’s a large compound with lots of children, teenagers, women, grandmothers. never a dull moment and always a chance to practice language and learn new words.  everyone rose early each day http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2013/05/some-nights.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-7204267295532320396Sun, 21 Apr 2013 12:42:00 +00002013-04-21T07:42:15.194-05:00 i love stormy weather. the grey clouds creeping in, taking over. the sudden fall in temperature. rain spilling from the sky. gusts of wind shaking trees with a power that is mesmerizing. the rainy season has made a less than subtle arrival in mundri.  our first big storm caught us all by surprise, blowing sheets of rain sideways through our open air windows. we scrambled http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2013/04/stormy-weather.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-1217570930135287994Sun, 14 Apr 2013 05:52:00 +00002013-04-14T00:52:49.286-05:00 thank you so much for your prayers for teacher training!   primary school teachers from all over mundri attended their 3rd and final phase of training with us.  i was so excited to see their faces again!  they were eager to learn, participate, and offer feedback, and our interactions just seemed more comfortable.   we focused the week on a theme of water, a http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2013/04/living-water.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-5158023304723892017Sun, 31 Mar 2013 13:15:00 +00002013-03-31T08:15:23.951-05:00 6:30. barely awake, song books in hand, we shuffle down a narrow path leading to the river. the water is low, so we settle ourselves in the middle of some dry, exposed rocks. and together, as the sun rises, we celebrate Easter morning, singing hymns and reading the story of resurrection.   after sharing a breakfast of hot cross buns and boiled Easter eggs, we all scatter to our http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2013/03/sunrise.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-3586081925035365042Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:53:00 +00002013-03-16T09:53:01.798-05:00 it's time for teacher training again... and i would so appreciate your prayers. on monday, teachers from local primary schools will come for a week long, gospel-centered training. our hope is that they will be encouraged, refreshed, and equipped as christian teachers. pray for bethany, jennifer, and me as we plan and prepare. pray for our lessons to be understood and helpful for them. http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2013/03/say-little-prayer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-1301511107430535117Thu, 10 Jan 2013 18:47:00 +00002013-01-10T12:47:44.246-06:00 we had our first “kid’s club” here on friday. and oh what a day. they showed up that morning, a group of seven children from our neighborhood, surprisingly prompt. eventually, another troop appeared, ages ranging from 5 to 13, giving us a total of 12 kiddos for the day.  bathed and in their best clothes. a little shy at first, they sat, listened, responded to questions, were http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2013/01/days-like-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-2979379505731934119Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:48:00 +00002012-12-20T03:48:13.754-06:00 i love the christmas season in mundri. decorations are up, stockings are hung. everyone is baking delicious goodies. mary and friends teach us to make sesame seed balls. a crowd of people from my church gather to watch ‘the nativity story’. larissa reads the christmas story (in moru). we visit workers, neighbors, and friends. i love christmas here. http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-time-is-here_20.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-2292220659605234301Fri, 09 Nov 2012 14:55:00 +00002012-11-09T08:55:26.380-06:00 it’s witness week here in mundri. various churches, including okari, are reaching out to their community, sharing their faith. this past thursday, i had the privilege of joining a group from my church. vida (a sweet old women with a zeal for life and the Lord, always patient to listen, trying to understand my broken moru sentences), goodwin (an endearing elderly man, doesn’t waste words, buthttp://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2012/11/can-i-get-witness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-3700020826319720271Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:42:00 +00002012-10-26T05:52:29.707-05:00 yesterday marked my ONE YEAR anniversary of arriving in mundri! i can’t believe i’m halfway through my term already. when i told my friend, mary, that it was a year ago i first came to mundri, she cheered and said i am now a one year old moru.   in many ways it seems like so much time has passed and yet there are days when i still feel new, like a one year old baby, learning to walk http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2012/10/long-time-gone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-2430948559643732540Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:21:00 +00002012-10-19T10:21:20.390-05:00 these days, i've been missing home. wanting to see familiar faces of friends, be with family, to squeeze on my nephews. i wish time would freeze and they wouldn't grow. i wish my africa world was somehow closer to all the ones i love. if only i could drag the entire north american continent across the atlantic to settle nice and close to africa, maybe it would solve all of my problems. or maybe http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2012/10/only-wanna-be-with-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-8990014916379294629Sat, 06 Oct 2012 04:48:00 +00002012-10-05T23:48:41.223-05:00 some pictures to give you a look at life 'round here lately... a new school year begins, gaby in 5th grade and liana a big 7th grader. mary braids heidi's hair. even john fashions the braided look. a group from brook hills visits mundri. we celebrate john's 23rd birthday, hillbilly style. we attended a moru wedding at the cathedral. the main job ofhttp://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2012/10/round-here.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-1979544152035096504Wed, 19 Sep 2012 04:13:00 +00002012-09-18T23:13:34.856-05:00 with all the rain lately, it’s been difficult to get around. puddles are filling up pot-holes, and roads are quickly becoming miniature lakes. we recently drove a friend to the nearest hospital, an hour away. just before reaching, we come to this. heidi braves the waters, quickly realizing the fast-flowing river is no match for our vehicle. we had no choice but to stop and let them walk http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2012/09/river-deep.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-6634850260803269315Fri, 07 Sep 2012 13:03:00 +00002012-09-07T08:03:12.922-05:00 mary, heidi, and i are waiting for the rain to pass. we sit inside her tukul, near the warmth of the fire, telling stories of kenya and catching up on mundri news.  soon, we make our way outside. mary puts us to work sweeping away the leaves and debris left by the rain, and we settle under a large tree on her compound.  preparations for tea begin without delay, and the three ofhttp://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2012/09/three-hens.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-6651061805358620355Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:34:00 +00002012-08-27T06:34:29.762-05:00 thank you all for your prayers for teacher training. in many ways this particular training was all new for us. we had double the participants from various schools, two streams of classes, and a team from the U.S. coming to help in the teaching. we had a great group of teachers, eager to learn and grow. they engaged in teaching strategies and learning styles. as a theme for the week, we http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2012/08/teacher-training.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-7376497885365549252Sat, 14 Jul 2012 15:02:00 +00002012-07-14T10:02:05.394-05:00 july 9th was south sudan's independence day! it was exciting to be in mundri and celebrate the newly independent country with friends.  here are some pictures to walk you through our day, beginning with a feast and ending, of course, with a bit of DANCING! andrew and his family welcome us to celebrate with them. i sat next to the tribal chief. and ate corn on the cob. http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2012/07/independence.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-575888205462386452Sat, 07 Jul 2012 12:57:00 +00002012-07-07T07:57:03.700-05:00 as a kid, i remember my dad tickling me until i couldn’t breath. i would laugh and laugh uncontrollably, and with my last gasp of air beg him to stop...all the while wanting him to do it again. (foto, pictured above, can’t get enough of heidi’s tickles :) heidi recently lead our team in a night of worship and prayer. she encouraged us to share our “do it again” moments, those which http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2012/07/do-it-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-451842954306157120Sat, 23 Jun 2012 11:42:00 +00002012-06-23T06:42:04.556-05:00 this was my second week teaching at kotobi teacher college. since english is now the official language of the new south sudan, teachers are required to take courses as part of their training. and i get to help!  they are such a fun group, eager to learn and ready to participate in my activities. pray for my relationships with these teachers, that they would be encouraged in their http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2012/06/kotobi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-1858170475438097019Fri, 08 Jun 2012 06:21:00 +00002012-06-08T01:23:29.534-05:00 as rainy days are more frequent and the heat of the dry season is behind us, it’s planting time here in mundri. everyone is busy in their gardens, tilling the soil and planting seeds. mary shows off her newly sprouted garden. children head to school, hoe in hand, ready to dig in their school garden. even liana and i have embraced our inner farmer, sowing flower seeds behind thehttp://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2012/06/time-of-season.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044965657037454119.post-2473379516857071780Thu, 31 May 2012 12:51:00 +00002012-05-31T07:51:33.984-05:00 juba was hosting their first-ever race last weekend, so our team took the opportunity to participate in such an event. the 5 hour drive to the big city was not exactly pleasant. forging along the never-ending dirt road through miles of bush and nothingness, crossing rivers, weaving around potholes. we keep our spirits up singing flashbacks of the 80’s and 90’s, until finally... a smooth, paved http://this-lil-light-of-mine.blogspot.com/2012/05/run-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa)1