P. Mark's Trip

Home, Sweet Home!!!

2009-08-29T12:53:00.000-07:00

Home, Sweet Home...thank you, Jesus for the safe journey and for watching over us...thank you also for dedicated people who sacrifice personal security and conveniences to further your kingdom...thank you for my amazing family and my church and friends who care deeply about me and about furthering the Kingdom of God and ministry of grace!!! May we continue to serve you with fervor where ever you have placed us!!! Amen!

Goin' Home!!!

2009-08-27T17:18:00.001-07:00

We are about to head out to begin our journey home!!! Can't wait to sleep in my own bed, hug my family, and eat a juicy cheeseburger!!! Thanks for all the prayers, it should only take about 30 hours from the time we leave our home in the Philippines to the time we get home in Fallbrook...BUT WE'RE GOIN' HOME!!! YEE HAW!!!

Cool Car

2009-08-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

Isn't this the coolest car??? This is the vehicle that Mark and Kathi drive around in...only one passenger seat so two of us get to sit in the back...makes me feel like a kid again!!!

Other team members

2009-08-26T18:07:00.000-07:00

We were able to meet some of the team that Mark and Kathi work with, it was a great time of encouragement and fellowship...we will continue to lift them up as they continue their work...

Paradise Island

2009-08-26T18:02:00.000-07:00

So, after touring and seeing some of the facilities in which Mark and Kathi work, they took us out to Paradise Island, which is a local beach resort...beautiful and the only way to get there is to take this transport boat to the Island. We had a great time visiting and sharing, on the way home they made us wear the life jackets...I guess the water looked a little rougher...great resort, the only problem, no weapons!!! They take all the fun out of it!!!

Transportation....

2009-08-26T17:58:00.000-07:00

So, after India and the way they drive there I was expecting something similar in the Philippines...while I would say that driving in the Philippines can get a bit crazy at times, it's nothing in comparison to India...however, you do find some pretty interesting forms of transportation...like this "tryke" motorcycle...which can have upwards of 10 people in it...at least they drive on the right side of the road...!

Faith Academy

2009-08-26T17:55:00.000-07:00

This is Faith Academy where Mark and Kathi's son, Joel goes to school. Joel is finishing up his Senior year. Mark and Kathi have an older son named Drew who is currently attending Concordia University, Irvine. They are both great guys with a great heart to serve the Lord...

Koinonia Seminary

2009-08-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

Mark and Kathi took us to the seminary where Mark teaches, it has about 65 students and is a wonderful place. Mark is currently working on his Doctorate and should have it completed in less than a year...

With Mark and Kathi and son Joel

2009-08-26T17:48:00.000-07:00

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Well, we have reached our final destination before our return to the US...we have now safely delivered 5 T-shirts from CTK reminding our people how much we love them and are praying for them...It's hot and humid here, but a beautiful place, very tropic...we have been treated to two thunderstorms since we have arrived, very cool!!!

Last leg...Philippines!!!

2009-08-23T20:44:00.000-07:00

So, our last stop is in Davao city, Philippines...we should be there Tuesday night...don't know how much internet availability we'll have, but will post more if we can...blessings, P. Mark

Where we've been in India...

2009-08-23T20:40:00.000-07:00

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So you may be wondering where we've been in India, we flew into Hyderabad, which is central India and the C. O. T. R. is on the East Coast in a town called Vizag (you see the long version of the name on the map)...

Medical Ministry

2009-08-23T20:12:00.001-07:00

One of the ministries of C. O. T. R. is a medical ministry to the community. On Friday, we traveled to a local village where this doctor examined about 50 people in the community and gave out medicines to those who needed help. We rode in that little ambulence to the village...this doctor also does eye surgeries and is on call 24 hours a day for emergecies...

Mozambique Video

2009-08-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

So, I never made it Mozambique, but Brandon did...here is a short video showing some of what he did there...

More food...

2009-08-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

So Brandon and I were introduced to some new food items on this trip, including this Indian breakfast that has a donut looking item smothered in a spicy sauce...now I don't even really eat much for breakfast, and usually it pretty bland, so we both ate about two bites and said, "Maybe not for breakfast..." but later we were treated to Indian ice cream...we're talking the real thing...cream....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...now we're talkin'!!!!!

Food, Food, Food...

2009-08-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

Just to give you some idea of how amazing this ministry is, they prepare 3000 meals per day for their students, 3 meals per day, that's about 1000 students they have from pre-school to seminary...that's an amazing feat to put on everyday. They have huge vats of rice cooking, their own farm, cows to produce milk...it's an incredible operation!

Seminary Chapel

2009-08-23T10:22:00.001-07:00

So, along with the Children's Chapel services we were also informed that we were to speak at the young adult seminary chapel services for two nights, the first would be for about a half an hour and the second would be for a full hour. Again, not much time to prep, but let me tell you, when these students sing, it's like heaven's gate opens and you are ushered into the presence of God...these students love Jesus and it shines out from them! What an honor to spend time with them and encourage them as they seek a life of service to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! We were blessed and I believe we were also a blessing to them...!

Children's Chapel

2009-08-23T10:14:00.001-07:00

School meets Monday through Saturday in India and everyday at C. O. T. R. the children who live on campus meet at 5:00 pm for chapel services...so when we arrived (after not sleeping in 24 hours or so) we were informed that they expected us to lead a half hour children's chapel service that afternoon...no prep, no nothin' just our wits...and you know we are but half wits anyway...but somehow Brandon and I pulled off two days of chapel services for the kids and everyone had a great time...By the way, in India, public means private...so when it says public school it really means private school...go figure...

Church On The Rock Ministries

2009-08-23T10:05:00.001-07:00

So, Brandon and I were introduced to the Ministries of the Church On The Rock which is located in Vizag, India, on the east coast of India about half way down the coast. Beautiful area. This ministry was started by Dr. Titus and his wife Mary back in the early 80's. It began as a ministry to some orphans in the area and has grown to include a 750 student private Christian School grades preschool to 10th grade, a "junior college" which is later high school for us, a Bible College, a Seminary, a community hospital, and a campus that houses several hundred students all year long. God is doing amazing things on this campus and I was privileged to witness the faith and soundness of this ministry. Truly a church built on the Rock of Jesus Christ!!!! I have Mary pictured above, Dr. Titus died about 6 years ago, but Mary carries on the ministry with the help of her children and many others...

Driving in India

2009-08-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

So we arrived in India Thursday morning, I mean morning at 3:30 am...Mark and Josh Peake were there to greet us at the airport in Hyderabad and we spend the next couple hours at a lounge we rented where we could shower, Brandon slept for a bit and we had breakfast there...then at 7:30 am we got on another plane for Vizag, India where we were to spend the next couple of days at the ministry called "Church on the Rock" or C. O. T. R that I will tell you about in the next post...Once we landed in Vizag we were picked up at the airport and we traveled to C. O. T. R. ...We got to experience first hand how people drive in India...on your worst day of traffic with the craziest drivers you've never seen anything like this unless you've been to Southeast Asia...these yellow "taxi" cabs are darting in and out of traffic...nobody looks, everybody just goes and heaven help you if you are a pedestrian!!!...Also, if you don't have a horn, don't bother driving in India, it must be used every 4 seconds or less...So, after experiencing this kind of driving for a while I discovered this truck that had the sign "If driver is reckless call...." which begs the question, "What constitutes reckless driving in India?" never mind, I really don't want to know...

Brandon Returns from Mozambique

2009-08-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

Picked up Brandon at the Jo'burg airport tonight, he had a great time in Mozambique with Dave and Gerd LePoidevin, found his bag, tomorrow we're off to India...I'm feeling 100 percent again, Praise the Lord!!! Thanks for your prayers!!! We'll post more when we have some time, right now it's night, night time...

Feeling much better...

2009-08-15T23:26:00.001-07:00

Thanks to everyone who has been praying for me, I feel a ton better and am ready to eat again...I'm still in South Africa and will stay here through Tuesday when Brandon comes back and then Wednesday we will fly together to India...I figure I should be back to full strength by then...Brandon went ahead to Mozambique, but because his flight was delayed he missed his connecting flight and he got stuck at in Maputo and the airlines put him up in a hotel...they also mis-placed his bag...I e-mailed him a little yesterday and he should be on his way to Nampula right now where Dave and Gerd LePoidevin live. Please pray that all goes well and that he has all his stuff...Blessings, P. Mark

If you don't have your health...

2009-08-15T02:40:00.000-07:00

For all my wonderful prayer warriors, I am doing much better today, I went to the doctor this morning and the doctor said I probably picked up a traveling bacteria...last night I flushed out my entire GI system with diarrhea and vomiting-really a tough night, but the doctor gave me something for the nausea and stomach cramps so I feel much better and have started rehydrating, never been so dehydrated...really the worst I've felt that I can remember...So, the real bummer part is that I missed my flight to Mozambique...Brandon went without me, I'm still going to see if it might be possible for me to go tomorrow, but that's a bit of a long shot and totally depends on me continuing to feel better...thanks for your prayers, I'm very disappointed right now, but also know that God has ways that are not my ways and sometimes stuff like this just happens...please pray that if it would be possible, I could find a flight to go tomorrow and that I continue to feel good...

Under the weather...

2009-08-14T08:53:00.001-07:00

Well, I got home from the safari trip yesterday and felt very achy, and I knew I was fighting something...today, Friday, things have gotten worse, but not terrible...please pray for my health as Brandon and I leave for Mozambique tomorrow morning to be with Gerd and Dave LePoidevin and their work with Mission Aviation Fellowship...Pray that I'm over this bug by morning! Thanks for all your prayers, I know I'm in the Lord's hands...love and blessings to all of you!!! I'll report more when I get to Mozambique...Love you, P. Mark

More Safari...

2009-08-14T08:48:00.001-07:00

Here are a few more shots, just a sampling of these really amazing creatures...

Safari Time!!!

2009-08-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

So, you can't really go to Africa without trying to see some animals, so Thursday, we set out to go to Pilanesberg National Park to see some amazing animals...we saw a herd of about 12 elephant, rhino's, giraffe, and even got a shot of Pumba, the wart hog!!!

Big Thank You to CTK!

2009-08-14T08:38:00.000-07:00

Jay and Sarah loved the T-shirt we gave them with names of people who are there to cheer them on...it is such a great thing to know that others are standing with you as you seek to bring light into this dark world. Thank you for praying for and supporting Jay, Sarah, Thomas, Graham and Samuel. They are a wonderful family, full of the love of Christ with a great mission to bring Christ to the nations!

Other Projects

2009-08-14T08:28:00.000-07:00

To the very North of South Africa is a country called Zimbabwe, which has been ravished over the past several years with unrest. Jay and Sarah have a heart to someday move to Zimbabwe and plant churches there and help the people understand a Biblical model of life in Christ as a way to be free both politically and spiritually. Until then, they regularly travel to this area to encourage local pastors and do training to help them lead their people.

They also work in two local churches to provide leadership training and discipling to help local leaders flourish in Christ. For more information go to http://www.ocafricasa.net

Bram Fisherville and Hermina

2009-08-14T08:22:00.001-07:00

Jay took Brandon and I to a neighborhood called Bram Fisherville and introduced us to a wonderful woman named Hermina (pictured in the first picture). Hermina lives in Bram Fisherville and the Gerharts work with her as she pours out her life into the lives of people in this neighborhood. Right now, Hermina provides a Pre-school for 72 children who's parents need help so they can find work. They also are working with other women to build a sewing business that will be able to provide for their needs. Their hope is to one day plant a church in this neighborhood.

A little background

2009-08-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

As you are probably well aware, South Africa was under minority white rule for many years and the system they worked under was called Apartheid. The cry for freedom and true democracy came to a head in 1976 in a place called Soweto when a group of mostly students lined up and down an intersection. Some where in the midst of the protest, the police began to open fire and a young man, of only 13 years old was killed, his name was Hector Peterson...many others died that day, but Hector is believed to be the first and a monument was erected to honor him and those who gave their lives for freedom and democracy. Then in the early 1990's Nelson Mendela was released from prison and a black ruling party was given control of the government. As part of the promises of this new government, housing was provided for the people...lots of houses...in fact in the picture above you will see an example of the houses provided for the people, each built exactly the same, 17 feet, by 17 feet on a small piece of property. Over 1.4 million have been built for the people of South Africa, which in many ways has been a wonderful thing, but in many ways it has been difficult for people to get beyond these simple homes...part of the work of OC Africa is to work in some of these poor neighborhoods in Soweto, particularly a neighborhood called Bram Fillerville...I'll tell you more in the next blog...

One Challenge Africa

2009-08-14T07:53:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, Jay took Brandon and I around for a tour of the work of OC (stands for One Challenge) Africa, which is an international organization dedicated to the planting and discipling of churches and church leaders around the world. Right now, OC Africa is made up of 6 couples (some of whom are pictured above) who work together to help build the church in South Africa and other places like Zimbabwe. They are a mix of Christians from various denominations and places of origin around the world. We had a fantistic time together in worship, prayer and sharing from God's word...you can pray for this group as they are exploring the expansion of this team and of the projects they are involved in.

Landed in Johannesburg, South Africa

2009-08-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

So, Tuesday, August 11 I was due in Johannesburg from Accra, Ghana...So also were Jay and Sarah Gerhart who I was planning to visit...they were coming from a month long furlough in the US...ironic, eh? And also, Brandon was to come in that morning, so we were all to meet within the span of a couple of hours...and amazingly, we did!!! One of the team members that works with Jay and Sarah met us at the airport and drove us all to their home (about 45 minutes away). I had an all night flight, so did Jay and Sarah, so when we arrived we all just settled in....Brandon and I got caught up on his trip to Kenya. Jay and Sarah have 3 boys, Thomas 16, Graham 14, and Samuel 9, and they all go to school just down the block from their home...

The Gerharts live in a very comfortable home, but as is the case in all places in Johannesburg, crime is a very real problem...all the homes are surrounded by walls with gates and electric fences and all homes are equipped with alarm systems and bars on the windows...it's just a way of life in Jo'burg...

Ghana Video

2009-08-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

This is a summary of my trip to Ghana...

On to Jo-burg...

2009-08-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

So, I'm off to Johannesburg, South Africa tonight...I leave at 11:00 pm and arrive at 7:00 am in Joburg...another all nighter...I meet up with Jay and Sarah Gerhart who also are flying in from the States and will arrive the same morning as will Brandon...3 flights all coming into the same airport at the same time and we all need to meet...should be interesting!!!

I am looking forward to seeing Brandon and hearing about his trip to Kenya and his trip to see Cory is Swaziland...Please continue to pray for good health and safe travel and that I (now we with Brandon) can be a blessing to these families...great to talk to the congregation on Sunday...sorry the Skype video was so bad, but the internet connection here in Ghana leaves a great deal to be desired...so I'll update my blog when I get to Joburg...I made a video but can't up load it until I get a better connection...

Blessings,

P. Mark

Meeting the Chief

2009-08-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

So, it was very important to David and Elijah that I meet the Chief of the village, so on Saturday, we also set out to meet the Chief. David told me to follow his lead as we didn't want to do something to offend him...okay, so now I'm nervous! When it was time, David, Elijah and I went to his "palace" which is what they call his house. There were a bunch of guys gathered around him, eating peanuts...I'm down with that...

So, no one's head is supposed to be higher than the Chief, so we bowed down and clapped lightly for a few seconds...then they gave David and I plastic patio chairs, because we were white, so it was okay for us to have our heads higher...interesting...so we were there for a while and I asked if I could take his picture (which they all love, but it's always good to ask!) The chief didn't like his outfit so he went in and change into what you see in the picture...very nice! So I take his picture...and then I put my thumb up, which is part of our culture as you know which means very good...

Not in this culture, a thumb up is similar to what we do with our middle finger, if you catch my drift...I realized that I had done that (David warned me before hand, but I'm so used to doing that I forgot...) and I quickly tried to make it look like I was doing something else...but David saw it and gave me a bad time about it...I don't think the chief thought about it at all, but we told Elijah that if he was offended to let him know that I meant it in a good way...I don't know, can you flick someone off in a good way??? Culture differences are difficult...Probably good that I am only staying a short while, get out before I get beat up for sticking my thumb up!!!

We'll see what kind of trouble I can get into the next place I go...pray for me!!!

Drama Group

2009-08-10T09:27:00.000-07:00

The Lutheran church is strong in Northern Ghana, and in one of the villages there is a group of Lutheran Christians who have developed a drama group. Once people have learned how to read it's important that they begin to engage the scriptures and what the Bible as to say about Jesus and life.

David wants to provide a variety ways for people to engage in the scriptures. So on Saturday, we traveled about an hour to another village where David met with this drama group to audio record the story of Ruth. The people in this drama group vocally acted out the story so that David could record it and edit it with the hope of distributing the recording to many people to listen to. They have tape players so he is going to provide tapes for people...it was quite an experience seeing about 35 members of the team work together.

After we recorded Ruth, they performed a drama they had come up with themselves for us. I had talked to David about the possibility of video taping a drama because I think it has some great possibilities. So we decided to video this drama they had come up with. They loved the idea!!! Also, they are quite the actors, they ad-libbed a skit for almost an hour and did it amazingly well. I taped the footage and edited it...the next day, David and I went to Elijahs church and worshipped outside, it was wonderful. Afterward, we set up my laptop computer and the people of the village gathered around it to watch the drama the team had put together...the were enthralled the whole time...all 52 minutes of it! So it was a great lesson to see the impact that video can have to share the message of the gospel...

The first picture is a picture of the drama group, the second picture is a picture of the villagers watching the drama on my laptop...

Chicken Story

2009-08-10T09:11:00.000-07:00

So, Friday night, David takes me to one of the Literacy groups that meets...these are held in many different villages and the people learn how to read and write in their own language. David trains the teachers (who are indigenous people) who then go to their villages to teach the people their own language. They use scriptures as their text book with the goal that as people engage with the Scriptures they will learn about who God is from Gods' Word.

So, there is no way to get this village except by motorcycle, so one of David's evangelists and literacy teachers is Elijah. Elijah has me ride on the back of his "moto" as they call it, and we travel about a half an hour to this remote village. They have a class with the whole village there (men, women, boys, girls) and they all learn a language lesson...in the dark...by flashlight...but it's really cool...they all got to practice speaking and writing the words...

So after the lesson, David had to introduce his "stranger" to them (that's me!) So I told them how much I enjoyed being with them and how wonderful their country is (Elijah translated). So after that, some of them gathered together and David said, "Let's walk over here, they are trying to figure out what gift to give you..." How nice, they are going to give me, the "stranger", a gift...what could it be???? David then said, "You might be carrying home a chicken..." I didn't have much time to process this idea when they all came over and handed me a LIVE chicken by the legs...which I now had to carry...on the back of a motorcycle...for a half hour ride home...in the dark...no helmet...I was touched...gotta love Africa!!! The Lord answered my prayer that the chicken wouldn't poop on the way home...I only have so many pairs of pants...

Sweet Threads!

2009-08-10T09:04:00.001-07:00

One of David's friends in the Market sells these African smocks and so David got this one for me...Boy, I tell you, I put that thing on and everyone was commenting on it...one guy said, "You look so African, you should now get a wife!" When David explained that I already have a wife, he said, "You can get one here too! Then you would have a wife at home in America and here in Ghana!" Let's just say Paula wasn't too crazy about the idea...but I do love the new threads!

Market Day!

2009-08-10T08:43:00.000-07:00

So, every 6 days in this village is what they call Market Day where everyone comes and sells and buys their goods in the village center...everything from animals, to medicine to food you can buy and it's what EVERY BODY comes out for! People set up little kiosks or booths and sell their stuff...including some Ghanaian beer that I sampled...now if you know me, you know I don't drink beer...just don't like the taste, but I had to sample this stuff...and actually, I liked it better than American beer! I said I liked it better, not that I really liked it...it might have tasted better if it was cold...which it wasn't, very warm! They drink out of these huge cups, bowls really...so one serving is quite huge...don't worry, the alcohol content is about a quarter of a regular beer...really...it is....

T-Shirt

2009-08-10T08:39:00.000-07:00

So, if you were at church the Sunday before I left, you know I asked people in the congregation to sign a CTK T-shirt letting our missionaries know we are thinking about them and praying for them...so this is Makayla and Josiah holding up the T-shirt we gave them...the family was very touched that so many signed it and are praying for them...

Sweet Family

2009-08-10T08:33:00.000-07:00

When we arrived at David’s house, we were greeted with food (I ate extremely well on this leg of the trip, thanks to the ministry that Valery, David’s wife, shared with us all!). It’s hot and muggy in Ghana this time of year, but they all told me that it was cool for them…guess I’ve been living in So. Cal. too long…seemed pretty warm to me, but not unbearable by any means.
That night, I slept over 12 hours straight…Praise the Lord, I woke up totally refreshed and ready to go! I also go to know the 4, count them 4 Federwitz children, Makayla 6, Josiah 5, Micah 3 and Joyanna who is 18 months…some of the sweetest children I’ve ever met…I loved their excitement for life!

The road to Mbintiri, Ghana

2009-08-10T08:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I have an internet connection now and so I will give you some updates on my time with the Federwitz family. I arrived in Tamale (not the same as the Tamale’s you and I love), Ghana at about 10:15 am in Thursday, August 6 and was greeted by David Federwitz at the airport. We then hopped into his 4wd for the 4 hour drive still ahead of us to get to Mbintiri, Ghana. The roads are how you might think a rural African road would be after a big rain, full of pot holes and ruts and standing water…

Message from Brandon's Trip

2009-08-06T00:37:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Got an e-mail from Michelle, she typed up a message Brandon sent her...very powerful stuff...I wanted to post it here...

Peter's Story:

Today I took a group out into the village. David had set our path so that we would visit Sarah, Peter’s mother. (Peter was the little boy who had a heart condition and passed away recently.) When she saw us coming, she ran to greet us (just like Peter used to greet us). She saw me and said, “Oh Brandon, praise God, praise God, because he is good.” She then wrapped her arms around me saying “God is good, he is good.” To be quite honest, I was a bit taken back by her behavior and a little angry. Her son, Peter, had passed away 3 weeks ago to the day. Why was she saying God is good?
She brought us into her home, you know, with the mud walls and newspaper covering most of the inside. The room was tiny, but it did fit our four people, the translator, and Sarah. We sat, she brought us a cup of tea and I looked to my left where I saw a picture of me dancing with Peter, it was on the wall. I almost lost it, but I thought to myself, if Sarah is praising God, I need to hold it together. She opened a drawer and pulled out five other pictures. One picture was of Peter and Michael Welsh; one of Kaitlin Weaver and Peter; and one of myself, Michelle (my wife), and Peter. I don’t even remember taking the picture with my wife and Peter, and/or giving it to him; but it was there. I almost lost it again.
She sat down and began speaking to me. The translator had to translate her Swahili, but she rarely looked at him, she just spoke to me. Her eyes and her tone told me everything.
These were her words:
“After you left last year, he became sick. So, I took him to the hospital. The doctor told me that Peter needed surgery. I already knew. He then told me he could take medicine to help. It was 10,000 shillings a month and I could not afford it. So, I took him to Nakuru. They took an x-ray (which she handed to me) and it showed he had a hole in his heart. There they gave me the medicine for 3,000 shillings. The medicine gave Peter lung problems.”
-She hadn’t shown any emotion yet. It seemed that she was more concerned with filling up our tea cups. After she filled our cups, she continued:
“In February he began to eat less. I asked him why and he told me that he’s just not hungry. Two months ago he had trouble breathing and laid there (she pointed to the bench I was sitting on) all day. He slept for 3 days. When he got up, he was happy and ate. In July he stopped playing. More and more he stayed inside. He asked if I could carry him to grandma’s house. So I put him over my shoulder and we stayed a night at my mothers where some of his family is. The next day he asked if we can go home. I held him in my arms and walked home. I laid him there (same place I was sitting). For the next couple days he only had milk. One morning he asked if I could take him to lie in the kitchen. I took him outside, and we lay together in the kitchen.”
-She was no longer focused on our tea; she just looked in my eyes and continued.
“After I had lain with him for awhile, I asked if he wanted beans, and he said no; corn, and he said no; potatoes, and he said no; milk and he said no. His favorite is rice which I have to go and buy. I asked him if he wanted rice, and he said yes. So, I got up, told him I will go and get it for him. I began to walk o the store and I heard him scream ‘MAMA’, so I ran back and he told me ‘Mama your troubles will be over soon.”
-Her eyes began to tear up, but I told myself that I can’t lose it.
“I would lay with him, and when he slept, I would get up and work our field. Every time he woke up he would scream out to me ‘Mama!’. One day I ran in after a soft scream, and he told me ‘Mama, a car is coming to pick me up and take me away.’ I laid next to him, held him and he fell asleep. He didn’t wake up.”
-Her eyes watered up and once again I almost lost it completely
When she could speak again she told me:
“Over the last 12 years we had been living on this land this is not ours. Since we have had the cow you gave us, I have been able to sell milk. I saved up money and bought a half acre of land. There is nothing on it. The first thing I put in the ground, at our new home, was Peter.”
-She walked me to the half acre lot, holding my hand. We got the property and there was Peter’s grave. I placed pictures on him on it and prayed. We gathered around the site and prayed for Peter’s family. When the time came, we said goodbye to Sarah and I left her with the pictures. I walked away and lost it. Peter’s smile stuck in my mind.

From Brandon Way...

The Shangrila!!!

2009-08-06T00:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm in Accra, Ghana right now, and I stayed at the Shangrila last night...sort of fell short of what I would have imagined the name to be...but it was a bed and I got a solid 4 hours of sleep (which is a marathon in comparison to the last few days!) before I came to the airport at 4:45 am to make my 6:00 am flight...which I found out got delayed because of weather to 9:00 am, would have loved 3 more hrs sleep..

But, as you can see, I have a cup of (instant) coffee here at the airport...last night at my one star hotel, I got a little frustrated that my cell phone wouldn't dial out, no internet connection, probably the most alone I've felt so far...but felt God's presence and His covering...we need those times to just simply trust Him! I also can't tell you how much I appreciate all your FB correspondance and e-mails...I feel lifted up by you all!

This morning (evening there) I got to Skype call my family with a video feed so I feel a bunch better, got to talk to Dave Federwitz too (the Family I'm visiting) and he is ready to meet me at the (final) airport in Tamale and we will drive the 4 hours to his house...I figured I will have traveled over 14,500 miles just to get to this first stop... Please pray that I can be an encouragement and blessing to this family...Might be out of internet connection for the next few days, so stay tuned...Blessings in Jesus' name, P. Mark

God's Blessings!

2009-08-05T03:23:00.001-07:00

Okay, so God sends blessings in wonderful ways...I'm in Joburg at friends of the missionaries I will be visit (back in Joburg) next week...I'm just here on lay over until I leave for Ghana tonight. These wonderful people were supposed to pick up a bag I brought for Jay and Sarah Gerhart, they not only came and picked it up, but me too and brought me to their wonderful home...shower, change clothes, nap, feelin good!

Got some rest on the plane last night, but I'm doing good...really appreciate their generousity! Thought about Paul and his journey to Rome, got ship wrecked and floated on the open water for a day...what am I complaining about???? God is taking good care of me...thanks so much for the prayers!!!

2009-08-04T03:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, much happier now, found a nice coffee shop with comfy chairs, internet connection, batteries (for my computer anyway) are charging...still no sleep, but hopefully I'll get that on the 11 hour flight tonight to Joburg...found out that I can't check in until 2 pm local time...but happy about my new found happy chair! Hope everyone is sleeping well tonight, I'll just FB and blog to while away the time...

2009-08-04T01:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this is kind of how my eyes are focusing now...I'm at Heathrow...hoping to get some shut eye at the "Yotel" for a few hours only to find out there is no room in the inn...so I had to check out of the airport and then when I tried to check back in they said, "Oh, they don't check in that flight for another 3 hours." Soooo, sleep will have to wait, as will the better places to sit/eat/plug in my computer in..

But still in good spirits...don't think I'll get any REM sleep for a couple of days...but got some great vitamins! Thanks for your prayers...it's 9:30 am here, 1:30 am in CA...only 2 and a half more hours until I can go to the gate...

Leavin' on a jet plane...

2009-08-03T04:43:00.000-07:00

I'm leavin' on a jet plane...actually a United Airlines Boeing 777-200 pictured here...just me and around 300 other passengers...first leg...London...for a 12 hour layover, then Johannesburg with an 11 hour lay over then Accra, Ghana with an 8 hour layover, then Tamale, Ghana with a 4 hour drive after...THEN I'll be at my first destination...sure hope they have internet in those airports!!!

I figured it would take about 70 total hours from the time I left to actually get to my first destination in Ghana to visit the Federwitz family. That's if everything goes well! The Federwitz's serve with Lutheran Bible Translators in conjunction with Wycliffe Bible Translators...I'll post more of their work when I get there...

Isn't it cool that the first plane I take has the number 777? Thanks again for all the prayers! Yesterday, in worship, it was a powerful time. I truly felt like all the hands laid on me were lifting me up in prayer...You are a blessing! I'll post more later when I'm stuck in the airport with nothing to do but write posts on this blog!

Final Cut

2009-08-02T02:33:00.000-07:00

Here's the final look...

New Hair Do

2009-08-02T02:22:00.001-07:00

Since I will be spending a fair amount of time sleeping on planes and in airports I figured it's best not to have to deal with hair...so I says, "Hey Paula, hows abouts you gives me a hair cut?" So she says, "Never done that before..."

This is me looking very "Flock of Seagulls" (New Wave 80's group for those of you too young to know...)

Gettin' Ready

2009-07-21T15:28:00.000-07:00

Well, this is the first post on this Blog site, never done a blog before so it should be interesting to learn how to do all this...T minus 13 days before I leave, getting itineraries figured out and all...shots taken, visas all good, got my pills and such, so I'm rarin' to go...

So, in case you are trying to figure out what I'm doing (I'm still trying to figure it out too!) I'm leaving Monday, August 3 to travel to 5 different missionary families in 5 different countries. My first stop is in Ghana, Africa...I've just come to realize that it will take me about 70 hours to get from LAX to my final destination between flights and layovers...

Then I travel to South Africa, to Johannesburg for a few days, I will meet up with Brandon there on Tuesday, August 11, then together we will go to Mozambique, Africa, then on to Hyderabad, India, then on to the Philippine Islands...

We should return on August 25...

Please pray for these next several days until I leave for good quality time with my family...they are all a little (okay, maybe a lot) apprehensive about this trip...but overall we are doing great.

Thanks for checkin' out the blog, and I'll try to make it as interesting as possible as I go...