Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Dog Run! More run than dog!



Here is the finished product of our Dog Run. The Problem is we have no dog yet. The Dobe we wanted unexpectedly died and then the lady did not like the other Dobes she found, so we are waiting. We are wondering about getting a different dog, because it is getting hard to find a Dobe.

So send in your vote.
Doberman Pincher
Boxer
German Shephard
Rottweiler
Other (not anything that could be used as a mop)


One thing we have been able to get is Chameleons, five! Two we let roam our house, as a result we cant find one. The others are in a cage outside.
Abiel is wanting a Lemur and I said she could get one when we come a cross one. So goes pet life in Africa.

Heath

Saturday, May 26, 2007

To own a Mini-Van

To own a mini-van

The Lord has graciously given me every vehicle, minus one, that I have ever owned. Which reminds me that they’re not really mine, just on loan from him. Which if I can, it makes it easier to give away when he wants to loan it to someone else. If he gave us one he can give us two.
All my vehicles have been the typical American cars, which have progressed with the typical American life. I started out with a glorified lawn mower in High School (a 1500cc Datsun Pick-up), the college car (aka “The chick magnet”; as a result, Emie), the first car as a married man (aka “The Green Machine”), my introduction to mini-vans with “The Funk” (it was a thing of beauty), “The Silver Bullet” (my first SUV, the vehicle I bought and probably should not have). Then came the “Soccer Mom” mini-van (which was awesome) and then finally my last SUV in the Lower 48.

It has been a desire to own (or loan from the Lord) a Land Rover Defender. I have had this “desire” since I was a freshman in High School. Not the kind of Land Rover that people with lots of money drive to the grocery store but the kind that sweats in the unforgiving bush. I desire a Land Rover with the wench that gets used not for sport but for survival. The kind that comes ready for a snorkel to make it home, not for a peaceful swim in a cement puddle. Which, for all those who know how much a LR Defender costs in the States, must realize they are not considered Luxury SUVs here in Africa, they are simply trucks! That means the Defender is about 1/3 of the price of a new one in the States ($40K). Yes, if I could loan a vehicle from the Lord it would have to be the “Best 4X4XFAR!”

Along with this Land Rover desire comes another, to live in Africa! I have always been drawn to the Africa wild and its ruggedness. It is a Land Rover playground, which is why I must repent daily for my coveting. I see these four-legged beasts roaming everywhere! Then I say, “that one Lord, I would really like that one!” So I am in the perfect context for these two desires to marry. I live in Africa and I love Land Rover Defenders.

After three months of praying, coveting, praying, drooling, repenting, and drooling some more, we have been given (loaned) another vehicle. Yes, you have guessed it, the Lord has given us a . . . mini-van!

I am sure there has been some misunderstanding and I am determined to work it out with my Father. But until then we have a mini-van. The semi-redeeming part is that it has 4-wheel drive, but the low profile wheels don’t allow for much rock crawling. Don’t ask where they even found low profile wheels in Africa or when they did why they put them on. But they did!

The truth is, it’s NOT really our car, it belongs to Iris Ministries and we use it to transport all our visitors. But I do laugh when I think; “here I am living out my desire to be a missionary in Africa driving a mini-van.” So I live in peace believing that one day I may own or loan a Land Rover Defender and take the Spirit to Africa through the Love and Power of God. Until that day, it’s a good thing they like soccer here.

Don’t worry, my next update will include the people we are seeing set free, delivered from religious demons, released into Kingdom ministry and healed, all from our living room. But today I had to tell you . . . it’s a beautiful thing to own a mini-van!

Heath


Saturday, May 12, 2007

They are growing, and so are the kids




Well we keep growing and life keeps going. This past week has been filled with police (I stopped where I was not supposed to), catching lizards with our home made lizard catcher, killing poisonous frogs, landscaping our almost beautiful yard, working on the dog run (the dog arrives in one week), moving furniture to the visitor center, trying to get a hold of all that is really happening this summer, amazing prayer time with some visitors, swimming, Portuguese lessons, smiling and finally trying to do all unto the Lord and not unto man.

I know there is so much I have missed but I must run and pick up a couple visitors from the airport.

Heath

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Another Beach Day




Here we are about 10 mintues south of Pemba. There are no vendors so it is peaceful, but you have to watch out for banditos. Nothing to fear, but fear its self, right? We loved catching crabs and fish and some sun. Sorry, if my perfect tan causes any to stumble. :)
Also one of the many animals starting to come to us for sale. I said no because I like my childrens eyes, check out the beak.
Blessings.