Under 12 hours till we leave!!!!

I am so excited I don't know how I will sleep tonight.  We will be on a plane heading to Angola in less than 12 hours!  We met tonight to do our final packing.  We are taking many supplies with us and had to do a bit of re-arranging to keep all the bags under 50 lbs.  Eric commented that while he is usually good at packing, it was more difficult to pack such an unusual assortment of things.  We will have 15 or 16 bags to check, one carry-on each and one "personal item" each.  Don't you love airline speak. 

We have color copies of bible stories to read, coloring pages, crayons, pencils, markers, snacks and drink mixes, jump ropes and soccer balls, craft sticks, glue, glitter, buttons and many, many beads.  We are expecting about 60+ kids for 2 afternoons of Vacation Bible School.  I have to admit that many days I think I learn more from teaching Sunday School and seeing the faith that kids have so I am very excited for our VBS.

We are also looking forward to working with the older boys at the school to improve the old parsonage in which they are living.  Painting, installing screen, wiring lighting are just a few of the tasks we may do.  Saws, screen, paint brushes and trays, tap-cons, wire cutters/strippers, and of course, duct tape are just a few of the things we have packed.

We have also received many donated items we are taking including medicines, vitamins, sheet sets, and clothing.  We have some suit coats for Leonardo, the missionary at Quessua as well as material that they will use for the communion table and pulpit in the church.  Oh, and speaking of the church...we get to worship with our brothers and sisters there 2 Sundays!  Perhaps by the 2nd Sunday we will be able to understand a little of what is said in Portuguese but it is good to know that whatever language we speak, God hears even those thoughts we do not speak.

So, say (or think) a prayer for all of us; Vaughan, Delaney, Eric, Tracey, Mike, Iris, Chris and Kim, for those who will be interpreting and assisting us and for all our brothers and sisters in Quessua.  We will try to update while we are there but if not...we will be sure to update when we get back stateside.

Flexibility

FLEXIBILITY

Flexibility is the word that the entire mission team is going to need to learn to live by over the next few weeks.  We are already learning the meaning of this.  We did get our visas today, of course this was after 2 express overnight packages were sent as we found out they do not take checks (only money orders) and needed copies of our yellow fever vaccine proof. 

We learned on Sunday that we will be working on the old parsonage house instead of the "mission team" house.  There are now so many boys that the dormitory is full and some of the older boys are living in the old parsonage.  We will be painting, putting screens on windows, and if electricity available we will try to install some lights.  We will still be doing a VBS 2 afternoons for about 60 kids and on our first Sunday we will be hosting a meal for all the kids and inviting their families (perhaps 100 people).

We have also received more information regarding things that the missionaries would  like to have.  These include: Vitamin C, adult multi-vitamins, Ciprofloxacin, Amoxicillin, antiseptic pads, gauze, oral re-hydration salts, benedryl, dramamine, medications for treating pinworms and roundworms as well as twin sheets.  All medicines would need to be in their original package.  Any donation you wish to make can be dropped on at Harvest at Hub 1, preferrably by June 3. 

It hardly seems possible we will be on our way in 3 weeks.  Thank you all for your continued prayers.



Introduction

Wow, only 27 days and we will be well on our way to Angola!  Eight of us (Vaughan Harshman, Delaney Harshman, Chris Byal, Tracey Nickens, Eric DeGraves, Mike Baker, Iris Ort and Kim McCloughan) will be leaving early on June 13, 2012 and returning on June 26, 2012.  We will be staying in Quessua, the background of this blog is a picture of Quessua from above) and working on the house in which future mission teams will stay. 

We will arrive in Luanda, Angola on Thursday the 14th and spend the night there.  On Friday, we will go to Quessua in 2 vehicles and when we arrive busily prepare for VBS.  The children of Quessua will attend a VBS with us on Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon.  We will worship with our Angolan brothers and sisters on Sunday morning at Quessua as well.  The remainder of the week will be spent in fellowship and working on the mission house which needs a great deal of cleaning, plumbing work, refurnishing, etc.

Now for those who read this and wonder, if you are working on the mission team house, where will you be staying.  Initially we thought we would be staying in the mission team house we recently found out we won't be staying there.  We are thankful that the women on the team will be guests of the missionaries, Leonardo and Cleivy, in their home and the men will be able to stay next door in a house where 2 pastors stay a few nights a week. 

Leonardo and Cleivy have let us know that things they need include Tylenol, Ibuprofen, children vitamins, antibiotics (cream and pills), band-aids, anti-diarrhea and anti-parasite medications.  Donations of used clothes, personal hygiene items, soccer balls, flip flops and towels can also be used for the boys and girls of the Internatos (boarding schools).

There is so much more I could say but I am not sure where exactly to go next.  Each of the team members are excited and have spent weeks (months) getting ready for this trip.  Your prayers for the team members (and all their family and friends who will be home thinking of them), for our brothers and sisters in Angola, and for the Florida-Angola partnership will be our biggest request. 

I plan to try to update this blog at least 1 or 2 more times before we go and then as able while we are in Angola.  Electricity and internet access are unknown variables at this time.  We will update with pictures and information after we return as well.