Posts From Dondo and the Dondo Missionaries

Conviction

Posted 13 February 2012
By Laura

I have carried the conviction for years that “art” could be used to bring healing to the artist as well as the viewer. Since my birth into this new life with Jesus, now 21 years ago, it has been my passion and focus to convey the heart and character of God and the truth of [...]

February 2012 Update

Posted 10 February 2012
By Laura

Sheltering Wings …  Fine Art Prints available for sale … Juice Plus+ ….  Tower Gardens … Serving as Senders … Art Supplies … my Jesus journey back to Mozambique and the House of Blessing! Hello! This update is long overdue. Please allow me to catch you up! My immediate adaptation to life back in the [...]

New Website and Facebook Page

Posted 1 December 2011
By Laura

Hello everybody! I have been diligently working and I am in the process of wrapping up the Labor of Love A.R.T. website. I am so excited to get to see things coming together, with the much appreciated assistance from a good friend. (Thank you Meghan!) Soon you will be able to order online (as many [...]

“Shine” Mural – On the Boys Home at Iris Ministries, Dondo

Posted 20 November 2011
By Laura

As I painted the other murals some of the boys regularly asked me if I was going to paint something on their house and if they could help me paint. It was always my desire and intention to paint something on their house. Months ago I knew the Scripture that I wanted to use as [...]

Mozambique August 2011 Newsletter

Posted 6 September 2011
By Laura

Mozambique August 2011 Newsletter Prayer Requests * Missionaries for our center here in Dondo. * Special times to connect with the boys here in Dondo before I leave * Protection and healing for all at the HOB. Deeper bonds with the girls and Lee. God’s leading regarding specifics of returning to serve there. *Ability to [...]

Alpha and Omega Mural

Posted 6 September 2011
By Laura

On the far left – Creation and the Garden of Eden is represented through the globe of earth surrounded by the tree, Adam and Eve and a few animals. The Tree  - Represents the purity needed to stand before God (see description for this in my painting based on Is. 27:6) and how the consequence [...]

Mozambique July 2011 Newsletter

Posted 1 August 2011
By Laura

Mozambique July 2011 Newsletter Prayer Requests * Missionaries for our center here in Dondo. * Continued direction for the future. Meetings with Lee her girls. * Grace and peace as I put final touches on the new mural and faces on  the older mural. * Time with the boys! * Computer longevity. The pin where [...]

Mozambique May/June 2011 Newsletter

Posted 10 July 2011
By Laura

Mozambique May/June 2011 Newsletter Prayer Requests * Missionaries for our center here in Dondo. * Health! * Finalizing things so that Manuel will be properly equipped. * Continued direction for the future. Meetings with Lee her girls. * Visa renewals and travel. * Grace and peace as I continue work on the two murals and [...]

Mozambique April 2011 Newsletter

Posted 13 May 2011
By Laura

Mozambique April 2011 Newsletter How to Donate Tax-Deductible Donations may be given through my home church - The Church at Bevo To donate by check - write in “Laura Eubanks - Mozambique Missions” on the memo line. Send to - The Church at Bevo P.O. Box 2766 St Louis MO 63116 To donate online - [...]

Boot-Legged TRUTH

Posted 12 May 2011
By Calli Smith

Why re-invent the wheel? Why try to say something a different way, when someone has already nailed it on the head? I am not that creative or good with words, so I am going to boot-leg someone else's writing and post it here. Because TRUTH IS TRUTH. So here it is.....

www.callismith.blogspot.com

Mozambique March 2011 Newsletter

Posted 2 April 2011
By Laura

Mozambique March 2011 Newsletter Prayer Requests * These next weeks will be very busy. I will need to create and grade the final exams. They are written in Portuguese with the help of Google Translate but I also have our Bible School translator look them over and assist with grading, so it is quite time [...]

Eu Te Amo

Posted 29 December 2010
By Calli Smith

I am writing to let you know what God has been doing and, by faith, what He will continue to do in Africa. For the last year, I had the privilege to show and spread the love of Jesus to the people of Mozambique. We have seen and experienced many things---some full of joy and some full of sorrow--but all have been a part of the Lord's plan.

While in Dondo, Mozambique, I was the children's director at an Iris Ministry Children's Center (www.irismin.org). Along with amazing Mozambican leaders, we oversaw the daily needs and activities of 28 boys who have suffered the loss of one or both parents. These needs range from hygiene to schooling and everything in between. For example, I had a boy come up to me one day and with all seriousness he told me he had snakes in his poop! Trying to contain my laughter, I told him we would take care of it. We then went to go get some de-wormer. Ahhh....the joys of being a "mom" to boys!

As you can imagine, 28 boys can create quiet the demand. However, it was and is a complete honor to serve them in such a way. While providing for their physical needs are extremely important, it does not compare to the importance of their spiritual needs. I wish I could express to you the growth I have seen in these boys. I wish you could see the expressions on their faces when they finally get how much the Lord loves them. The excitement they have is contagious. Some of the boys have opened up significantly and love to share about Christ at our weekly family group. But the boys knowledge of the importance of Christ in their lives and telling others about Him, is not contained by the centers walls! I had the incredible opportunity to be invited to one of the boys’ home in the city. As we were riding a chopa (an over crowded bus!) to his house, he kept telling me he was full of shame and would not look at me. He was so humiliated for me to see where he had come from. I kept telling him that no matter what, I will always love him and his past does not dictate his future. It was hard to see him this way. But once we arrived at the collapsing mud hut with sewage water running in the front door and he saw that I was not going to run away, he began to relax. We talked with his family for over an hour. And as we were about to leave, I suggested he and I pray with his family. At first he was reluctant, but he did it. One the way home, he told me that was the first time he ever prayed in front of his family! WOW. It may seem like a small feat, but in a country that has a stronghold with witchcraft, a boy stepping up in front of his family to pray to the One True God is a very big deal.

I have many stories of redemption and breakthrough I could share about the boys. They are growing in the Lord and turning into mighty men for His glory. It is such an honor to be a part of what the Lord is doing in Dondo and throughout Mozambique. I know my work for Him is not finished in Dondo---it is not finished with the boys.

I will be returning to Mozambique on January 25, 2011 and continue serving His people in this great country. I look forward to returning home and being with the boys, missionaries, Mozambicans, and our rat killing cat-Paka!

www.callismith.blogspot.com

Laying Our Yes Down at the Cross

Posted 16 February 2010
By Calli Smith

Is God really who He says He is? This maybe a strange question. You may be thinking the heat has finally effected this girls head...she has lost her mind! But hear me out for just a moment. When people ask us, or we are standing in a church building we say that God is in control of everything. We say that He is the Almighty and worthy of praise. We say that He is sovereign, compassionate, full of grace and love. But who do we say He is with our actions? Who do we say he is when poverty, hurt, and death is beyond human understanding? When the world screams it's ugly truths at us, do we believe God is still the God we declare Him to be on Sunday mornings?

www.callismith.blogspot.com

Fun Culture Lesson - Mozambique Jan 17, 2010

Posted 18 January 2010
By Ashlee

Hello!

It has been a good start to another good year! This past year was a year of restoration to me. I saw some of the promises and dreams God put into my heart come to reality. I can hardly believe that 2009 is over and we are already into 2010. Many blessings happened in 2009 and I am excited about the next steps I take into 2010. I have so many things to be thankful for. In January 2009 Samuel and I met for the first time. This last year was the year that I finally was able to start discipling our boys according to the vision that God had put into my heart and see them fly in their giftings and grow in their love for Jesus. 2009 was also the year that great healing came to my heart after having a difficult 2008. It was this last year that I feel I have really been able to start to fly into some dreams and promises that God had given me. Though some very difficult things occurred this past year I learned a lot through them and my heart is full of gratitude to God and so many of you who prayed with me through these difficult situations. Our God is faithful and He is the giver of Joy!!

Christmas

We had a great Christmas here in Dondo. On Christmas morning all of the boys, missionaries and many visitors got together and read the birth of Jesus and had communion together. As usual we had our normal lunch of chicken with rice, salad, fries, and pop. Afterwards the boys opened their gifts which is always so fun to watch and then we ate Jesus’ birthday cake that Samuel and I had made.

Culture Lesson For today: Field Mice Story Continued

In talking with my Mom a while back she mentioned how much people enjoyed the pictures and story that I sent out with children in the field in Tica chasing after field mice when the tractor was tilling the ground. I had mentioned that the children where chasing after the mice to catch them and eat them. After going to the field again I thought that it would be fun to share with you the rest of the story about the field mice. Please keep in mind that I am sure there are things about our culture which Mozambiquens would find strange….such as putting clothes on our dogs.

Now for the rest of the story on the mice…..

Before Christmas Samuel and I took a group of around 35 youth to the field in Tica to till the ground and plant corn. During our time there we worked hard and got really dirty. The sun was very intense. So along with the dirt we were sweaty and red from getting burnt (even after putting on 50 spf). We were all busily working away at tilling the ground and planting seed when all of a sudden we hear shouting arise out of the laughing and chattering that was taking place. It was one of the older boys. He was yelling “mouse, mouse!” in Sena as a group of them scattered after a brown field mouse. After killing it with their hoe they found another one, and then another one. It happened that they had apparently come across the hole of a family of 5 mice. So after seeing this (for the first time for Samuel) we asked what they were going to do with them in which they happily replied cook them and eat them. I had never had the opportunity to see how they cook mouse here until this day. What they do is take the freshly killed mouse and put it on a bed of hot charcoal to singe the hair. After this is finished they rub the hair off and take the insides of the mouse out so they can put it back on the fire to cook a bit more before eating it. They said that they actually don’t have to go through all of that and could eat it without taking the insides out or hair off, but it wasn’t as good apparently. It was a fun experience for Samuel and I. So now you know how they cook and eat “rat” here. Remember this is not to knock them down, but to have fun sharing with you a piece of life here.

Things are going very well here. This past month we got 4 more long term missionaries who will be working here on the base and a couple who will be here for 5 months to help out. God is good and He is doing good things.

The boys are getting ready to start school again after being on their summer break. We have 6 of our older boys who will be starting at a vocational school as they continue in their high school education. These 6 boys will be moving off of the base to live closer to the school. We have been in the process of preparing them for this transition. I’m excited for them and feel almost like a mom who is seeing her child go off to college (but it’s a bit different).

God’s blessings upon you and abundant love to cover you today!!

Ashlee

Keeping It Simple

Posted 27 December 2009
By Calli Smith

www.callismith.blogspot.com

Praising the Worthy One

Posted 13 December 2009
By Calli Smith

Here I sit in my new living area, in my new town, in my new country. I have been in Dondo now for a little more than a week, 9 days or 216 hours or 12,960 minutes to be exact...but seriously who's counting. They said the first week would consist primarily of recovering from the ever so fun jet lag. But I got lucky, that never was a real issue. I have adjusted nicely with the time.

www.callismith.blogspot.com

An event and a process

Posted 30 November 2009
By Calli Smith

As I move forward with what the Lord is asking of me, I am reminded that goodbyes are an event and a process. And that statement has certainly proven to be true over the last few weeks. Although I know the future holds great things, saying goodbye to people I love is never easy. The great thing about the Lord is that He is allowing people to come on this journey with me. No, they will not be walking by my side, but they will be in my heart, my thoughts, and in my prayers. I am leaving FULL! Friends and family gathered together for a going away shindig for me last week. It was so sweet to see different people from different chapters in my life all under one roof. Each one of them hold unique memories and I was reminded the Creator of our lives has placed wonderful people in my life.
Then there was the airport.....
What a strange, yet peaceful feeling I had on that day. My entire family was there, both biological and spiritual. There were more people there for me than there was on the plane! How stinkin' cool is that, what a send off! I even got interviewed by a local TV station about traveling during the holidays. I'm sure it was quiet the scene. And yet once again, the Lord allowed us to have moments that were pure and heart felt. You see....it does not matter where you are or where you're going....the Lord always provides in every way. Afterall, goodbyes are an event and a process.

www.callismith.blogspot.com

Blessed Generation - Tica trip - November 2009

Posted 29 November 2009
By Ashlee

Happy belated Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving day was a busy day of work for me here so I celebrated it yesterday (Saturday) with the other missionaries on base. Samuel and I cooked the turkey with stuffing and pumpkin pie. It turned out yummy.

Last week the rains finally came which began the planting season here in Central Mozambique. On Friday Samuel and I left early in the morning and headed to Tica with about 45 youth to plant and work in the field that is for the group Blessed Generation (a group of kids at a near by church that are orphaned or in at risk situations that I have worked with). It was a long day of hard work, but the joy of completion feels good. Many other youth came just to help including one girl from another church.











After tilling the ground and planting corn we had a great feast of beans, rice and juice. I bought tons of veggies to cook in the beans because I wanted the meal to be full of nutrition. Most of the kids from Blessed Generation don't get that good of a meal. There was even enough for them to have seconds on beans.....


Esau, who has been helping with the organization of this project, said that we will need to go back to Tica sometime in December to clean the field of weeds.

Thank you so much to those who have been contributing financially and in prayer.

God is good all of the time!!!

Ashlee

Fun on the swings Oct 1, 2009

Posted 22 November 2009
By Ashlee

The Greatest is LOVE

Posted 14 November 2009
By Calli Smith

I Corinthians 13

Missionary-Style:

If I speak with the tongue of a national, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal.

If I wear the national dress and understand the culture and all forms of etiquette, and if I copy mannerisms so that I could pass for a national, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor, and if I spend my energy without reserve, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love endures long hours of language study, and is kind to those who mock his accent; love does not envy those who stayed home; love does not exalt his home culture, is not proud of his national reputation,

Does not boast about the way we do it back home, does not seek his own ways, is not easily provoked into telling about the beauty of his home country, does not think evil about this culture.

Love bears all criticism about his home culture, believes all good things about this new culture, confidently anticipates being at home in this place, endures all inconveniences.

Love never fails; but where there is cultural anthropology, it will fail; where there is contextualization, it will cease; where there is linguistics, it will vanish.

For we know only part of the culture and we minister to only part.

But when Christ is reproduced in this culture, then our inadequacies will be insignificant.

When I was in America I spoke like an American, I understood as an American, I thought as an American; but when I left America, I became a learner of a new culture!

Now we adapt to this culture awkwardly; but He will live in it intimately; now I speak with a strange accent, but He will speak to the heart.

And now these three remain: cultural adaptation, language study and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

www.callismith.blogspot.com