Week 5 in Mozambique!

Wowww it's been forever since I've posted! I basically haven't had a phone since I got to Pemba and had very minimal wifi so sorry for the lack of updates! So here is the quick 5 week update! Arrival in Pemba was crazy! My big suitcase didn't arrive right away but I was very prepared for that so it wasn't too bad! Classes have been amazing! Learning the culture has been fun too! It can get crazy here sometimes, but God has really been working in my life and doing a lot of inner healing! We do outreach to the village every other Monday as a class and we've prayed for all sorts of illnesses and needs and really seen God work. He has been doing a lot of work in the people of another faith in the village and last weekend one of the main priests came to our church instead of leading his and he and his family are now Christians! It's been really amazing to see God work! This past weekend I went on outreach to the bush with my color team! It was life changing! We got to baptize many of the villagers in a nearby river (followed by a swim) and the medical team saw blind eyes opened the the lame walk! We showed the Jesus film and got to pray for so many people as well as meet and bless the chiefs. I LOVE my color team! We have become like a mini family and it's the greatest :) right now I am very sick with a cold, so I appreciate as many prayers as possible! If you are curious about anything or have any questions about what I've been doing, shoot me an email at Lauren.sivley@yahoo.com! Hopefully I'll be able to post more often now that I have a phone! :)

Here we are in church on Wednesdays!

Here is a pano of the lovely base! 

The insanely beautiful ocean!

Again!

My house family! (Minus two and our mom)

South Africa day 2

I've been in Africa for around 2.5 days now and all I can say is my heart is happy. Africa is so beautiful! Hot, but beautiful! The list of animals I have seen so far: elephants (lots and lots!) giraffes, lions, leopards, impala, hippos, crocodile, baboons, zebra, water buffalo (I've personally seen all of the "big five") as well as other animals I don't know the names of yet! Today we hope to see a cheetah and wild dogs! Then we will have seen literally everything! We have passed so many fruit farms and seen an African sunrise and about to see my second! A sunrise you say? I must be up early! Um yes that would be a 4:30 am wake up call to be ready by 5 am for safari. Jet lag has made me a morning person though! So amen to that! It's supposed to rain today so soaked safari it is! I've got my life proof phone case though so no worries. Hopefully I'll have wifi soon to update these posts as well as letting everyone know I'm ok! 

Day 1: South Africa

September 26 2013

It's 6:49 and it's pitch black outside. I cannot believe I'm in Africa! The airport was very reminiscent of Philippines. The smells and the people everywhere to help you. So strange to me! I'm on the bus now with so many others after the most turbulent plane ride of my life. Seriously. It felt like a bad sixflags ride! Neither me nor Ashley got sick though. It was a miracle. The descent almost got me though. Tomorrow were up at 5 am to start safari! I still can't believe this is my life and I'm experiencing all of this. God has made me to love collecting experiences. And what an experience this is! Thank you for giving this to me!

The flight in

My favorite part of flying is that moment you feel and hear the wheels lift off the ground. Then you know it's real and there's no going back!

D-Day!!

Its technically the day I leave! It's 3am the night before anyways. I couldn't feel more unprepared. Not stuff wise. I have enough stuff for 3 people. I just feel like I haven't had the time to mentally prepare. This day felt like it would never come and now it's here and it feels unreal. I need more time!! Or at least that's how I feel! I know that tomorrow is the beginning of a great and God ordained adventure and I feel slightly guilty for not being ready. But I know God has me and will guide me through it all! Prayers are appreciated as I start this 3 month long journey! To start the (hopefully) long thread of photos, Here is Gabby "helping" me pack. ;)

T-Minus 4 days until take off!

4 days until I leave! I am not sure how to feel right now. I am extremely excited to be going to a new country to love on new people, make new friends and learn many new things. I am also very sad I will be leaving some of the greatest people in the world behind. Here's an idea! Everyone, quick! Apply, get accepted and pack your bags within 4 days to come with me!!........... I wish! But I know God will take care of everyone here while I am over there. Pretty soon, this blog will be flooded with pictures and stories of my time in Africa! So to keep in touch, follow this blog! Leave me little notes and words of encouragement! I will miss you all dearly, but I know my time in Africa will be life changing! These next four days may be the longest or shortest of my life. Prayers are always appreciated ;)