kristiapplesauce

Skerd

A long long time ago in a land flowing with milk and honey, okay, wait...do they make honey in Kansas? I think so. Anyways, if not honey...for sure milk because there are a lot of cows there - we were newly married and I loved my husband a lot. So because we were newly married and because I also loved my family and friends a lot and because we lived three hours away from them I would go see my peeps quite often in Kansas City because we were living in Wichita which like I said was three hours away.

So during one of those trips I was spending time with a dear friend and her family and ended up spending about 8 hours at their house.When I left to go back to my families house I called Daniel to say good night and tell him how much I loved him. He didn't answer though. So I got home and after getting ready for bed, I called again - by this time it was around 11:00pm. No answer again. I called and called and called (staying up all night). No answer. Long story short, I ended up waiting till morning at which time I ended up (from Kansas City) calling the police to go check up on him, then calling his parents (who lived there and ended up going over to check as well). Turns out he turned off all the phones in the house because he was sick and was on heavy medication. I was glad he wasn't dead....although I could have killed him for not leaving me a message telling me his plan.

Fast forward to last night.

Part of "our" (more like his) - job is to oversee the Bible school students who live in one of the villages we are involved in. They minister to local peeps in the rural areas in the Transkei area...helping with the Soup Clubs, helping with the orphans, helping wherever needed. There are 9 of them. So after their 2 week holiday he drove them back home. It should have taken him 8 hours round trip but with all the detours it took them/him 11. So he ended up being in one of the most dangerous towns in the middle of the night. I was not happy. We were calling each other about every half or at every hour to tell me where he was and that he was okay. I am not really a "worrier" by nature but last night I was reminded again how fragile we all are and how awesome God is just by the simple (or maybe not so simple) act of bringing one of us home.

Thanks God.

Bean head

Yesterday we had some new friends over for dinner and as we began the night and served refreshments - we offered some root beer - something they had never tried before. We explained how excited we were when we saw it in the grocery store and told them which stores offer "American" products. They then asked what other products they might be interested in. We then told them about our re-fried beans experience.

When we first moved here there was nothing in the stores here as far as Mexican food was concerned. This was a huge bummer for us because we love us some Mexican. So as things started trickling in like liquid laundry detergent and saltine crackers we were always on the look out for anything with just a little bit of spice. Sure enough about a year or so after being here some good old re-fried beans showed up on the shelf in a really unlikely town as we were traveling to the Transkei. Crazy. So because we had been hoping and talking about it for so long - it was only natural for Daniel and I to (and I am so not exaggerating) to pray and cry in the middle of the grocery isle. We thanked God for the gift of beans. I am so not ashamed. The people at the store probably thought we were nuts, but we didn't care. Whatever. So we bought all that they had...like 20 cans I think, figuring that they wouldn't restock that item. But alas, we have found a few more stores to carry re-fried beans and now a few more other mexican food stuff like tortillas and even some dinner kits to make enchiladas. Those are still kinda expensive though at like $8 a pack that only make 4. So anyways, we told them our tale and they kinda looked at us like we were crazy. Whatever. So we then moved on to sour cream (which SA just got in the stores about 2 months ago) and the guy said "Oh, is it like cream cheese??" I kicked him in the head smiled and gave him a small spoon full so he could taste for himself.

So anyways, yay for Mexican food and yay for being thankful for random things that in my other life I never would have ever thought to pray about and/or thank God for....Like ever!!!

Where we live

As many of you know we just moved and so here are some shots of our new home. We still need to paint, make book shelves, and hang pictures but it is coming around. We love it so far and since we are renting with the option to buy - hopefully at the end of our lease we will be in the position to purchase it. Please continue to pray for us and for our safety. This house is much more secure then our other one; there are bars and slam gates on all the doors and windows and we have an alarm - so we feel pretty secure. Yay!

view turning onto our road

Front yard

Big back yard for bad dogs

Living room with fabulous brick wall...that's where the book shelf will go.

Bedroom
 
My favorite room (because it's completed)-the kitchen.

There is a second bedroom but it's full of boxes and there are two bathrooms but really, if you have ever been to the/a bathroom in your life, then you can imagine what ours looks like.

Truck

When we came to South Africa we had no idea what to expect. We came willing and ready to serve...but we had not a clue. So when we arrived, we had some money and two hearts ready to love. We tried to buy a car here but like almost everything, since it is a completely different culture we battled the process. It wasn't like you can just buy one on the side of the road. I will save you all the details, but the two years we have been here, we have gone through several engines, transmissions, tires, brakes, and once the car even caught fire as we were driving it. I tend to think not all of it was mechanical...but that might just be a little crazy talk.

Anyways, I can tell you here that yesterday we finally got the truck we needed and that certainly is a praise but it isn't a praise because it is shiny and new...it is a praise because it is the right tool for the job at hand. It will allow us to work and do our jobs that are a head of us. Since we have worked out our "job descriptions" we have realized that we need a solid all terrain vehicle that will take us off road (4x4) because there aren't any roads many times in the villages and town-ships where we work. We also needed a tow hitch, a nudge bar (for all the animals) a camper shell (for all the food we haul) and at least four seats because we pick up the community care workers or whomever for the work. So basically it all came down to getting the right tool for the job at hand.

We were able to get all of that and so yay. Since it is new it also comes with the warranty and service plan, so if we need those things, we are covered. I am so thankful that we finally have a vehicle to help us work and do what we came here to do - FEED SOME KIDS!!!

But seriously, when did I become a grown up?

Taken for granted

When I go back to America in 8 days there will be many things I will probably take for granted. When I get off the plane in Atlanta I will most likely find 1 or 6 Starbucks in the airport screaming at me to buy their precious Chai or Zebra Mochas and I assume they will be the best “cups of coffee” I have had in the last 8 months. When I get off in KC, I presume my family will be there to hug and love me to the moon and back because that is what the “Motts” do. We love to the moon and back. I take their love for granted, I always have. I know that even when we fight, their love is constant. I know that my mom’s car will smell like potpourri because she always has one of those purple smell blow things that make the car smell like “home” and I know that when I get to my sisters house there will be a bed made up just for me and the kids because when I stay there the kids get to snuggle-bug their aunt Kiki the whole time because snuggle bugging is always better then sleeping alone. I know that her house will have yummy “American” food like twinkies and pop-tarts and I know that I won’t have to worry if the lights will come on or if there will be toilet paper in all of the bathrooms. Those things are taken for granted.

When Dan and I first came to South Africa in 2004 we were introduced to African life. We were introduced to shack living; poor life. I had seen “poor people” before but not like this. The one thing that I always remember for some crazy reason is the toilet paper. We had gotten a translator who lived in the shacks behind from where we were staying and (of course I can’t remember her name) she rocked. She came every day and spoke perfect English. She walked to where we were staying and we would invite her in for coffee and start our day. She would always use the restroom. At the end of the week we paid her whatever it was that we had agreed to and also a little extra because we had grown to love her. She then asked for the extra toilet paper we had with us. We gave it to her and asked why. She told us that she didn’t have any so then we asked her what she normally used because it never dawned on us to use anything else besides toilet paper (I was so naive).  She then explained that she and her peeps used newspaper, ads for the grocery store, or any other kind of paper they could find when they went “number 2”…number one didn’t require paper. Then she said that leaves would do if you couldn’t find paper. We then went and bought more toilet paper for her and her family.

Now that I live here, I know this situation to be true. I don’t know personally the bathroom habits of all the people living in South Africa, but I do know that toilet paper is not a priority because food and surviving usually is. We do however give toilet paper out as a donation on a regular basis and it is always welcomed with much excitement and enthusiasm.

I still take things like toilet paper and light bulbs for granted but not like I once did. I have a really amazing life and for today I don’t have to worry if there is paper or heat or food. God has blessed us abundantly. So today I am thankful for the toilet paper on the roll…aren’t you?

God Glory

We have been praying with Samantha and her daughter Zoe (you can check it on the sidebar and in previous Monday prayers) and I just got this email....

"...I am also writing to share REALLY good news with you. CCS (a special insurance for children with serious medical issues) just approved her surgery with no questions asked, not even any paperwork needed, and this insurance supersedes EVERYTHING, so we will have NO out of pocket for the surgery. As for her brace, no one bothered to tell us that they just needed a copy of her new insurance card, and everything would be taken care of. So her brace is PAID FOR, AS WELL.

God is so awesome. I am so humbled by this."

I also just wrote out the thank you letter below to the manager of Shoprite (the grocery store we get all our supplies from) and when I was thinking about my day and both these things I thought about how God brings us all together. Us praying, us loving, us needing, us being...and God orchestrates all of it. He is truly among us and it really is all for His glory. I am so honored to be a part of it. Won't you Praise Him today for all that He has done? Not necessarily here...but in your own prayers.

In regards to: Donations

Shoprite

Motherwell Shopping Centre

July 9, 2008

 

Dear Shoprite:

 

Thank you so very much for your continued support with our efforts in feeding children in the Eastern Cape. We have been partnering with you for over a year now and during that time we could not be more pleased with the results. When Oceans of Mercy first started our relationship with Shoprite in 2007 we were feeding 55 families with our Child Sponsorship Program and to date have just passed the 300 mark. What an accomplishment! You have made that possible with your continued low prices and great customer service. We keep coming back week after week to your employees going out of their way to help us in our mission. We also stockpile ALL of our Soup Kitchens with Shoprite groceries and we are able to feed over 1,000 kids everyday with that program. So thank you very much for them as well.

Our latest endeavor with your store though is why we are writing this letter. You have agreed to donate your “expired” groceries and this act of charity has made a world of difference to those we help on a daily basis. In our ministry here in

South Africa

we help those who are hungry as well as those who are suffering with HIV/AIDS (they are almost always one in the same). Without food, these people are unable to take the medicines to help them cope with the disease in their bodies. When donated, the food is distributed and the people/kids have been combining it with the medication and the affects are amazing. It literally has changed the face of Motherwell. People are becoming healthier and living a better/ longer life. So thank you. On behalf of all those we help feed, we are grateful.

 

Sincerely yours,

Kristi Fair

Oceans of Mercy

 

remembrance-bla bla

"So, Mom...um, we are going to start selling stuff and then move."..."Move where?" "Um, South Africa." Mom and Dad where so helpful and supportive...but at times I think that they are still in denial. This year has been crazy. I still don't know what "the plan" is...but how amazing cool is it that we get to be a part of something like this?! I was reading this morning in Philippians...and it says:

"I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." 

I think this applies to so many of our friends and family members who have stood by us on this fabulous journey in Africa. So many times we are in awe of the sacrifice and love that people have poured into our lives to keep us there. To step with us in Faith to live in obedience to our Father who has called us to serve in this way. Thank you Friends and Family. Thank you for loving us in such a manor. We are honored.

All I see is love.

With total abandon all around me, all I see is love. The lady on the plane, families, friends, the people at church, those at starbucks, those who randomly offer a smile, people I don't even know giving. Was I just too busy to notice before? Was I too scared to offer myself in return? I am in awe of the sacrifice and selflessness of those all around us who have united and rallied around us to welcome us home. To make us understand what love is all about. To teach us that we are on this journey with a million backing us. It is not that we are there and they are here. It is that they are there with us. They are there and we are there and we are supported in so many more ways then I allowed myself to experience before. I am already so refreshed and renewed. Thank you Lord for this time with those who love and who are teaching me what love is all about!

and go!

So happy. We are on our way today. In 4 hours we leave for home. 8 months ago we started this journey not knowing where it was going to take us and now we are headed back. Back for Christmas, back for family, back for rest and re-direction, back for friends, back for prayer and new backing, back for supplies, back for separation, back for familiar, back for love. We are headed back and at the end of our 7 week sabbatical, I know that we will be ready and eager to head back here to South Africa, to our HOME.

Christmas Cards!!

Today we received our very first Christmas card. I am so thankful. I was just wondering the other day if I would receive any being that we are here and we are there...I love love love Christmas cards, and I was selfishly hoping I would get some in the mail. So today, from my beloved friend, Alita (from Starbucks) came love with news of her family and life in general. Catch-up from the year past and blessings for a joyous new year. Thank you Alita for making my trip to the mail box extra special today!!