Hey Mom this is Mills, I am typing the email for Aubi as we sit in the radio room.
Thank you so much for your email, and that verse it is encouraging me also, it is just a pleasure for us it is good to have Mills here. We know Americans, but Mills for us we can see he is full of Joy from the Lord, and with his willingness also to help us as a family and his respect. Thank you so much for letting him come to be with us, we Praise the Lord for that. And we know it is hard when the son is not with you, but we can see that also you love the Lord, that is why you let your son to come here, far so that he can share with us also. We have very good time with him here, he is trying to learn the language, the Port, and Yao. We people like him very much. When he becomes sick, we as a family get worried, but we can see how the Lord is touching. Thank you so much, and may God bless you.
I hope one day we will see you each other, if it is not here in the world, then it will be in heaven one day. We are looking and praying that one day you will come and visit us here, even though you are very busy. But remember that the things that is not easy for us is easy for the Lord, he can make them easy. May God Bless you.
Thanks Mom.
I love you.
Ezekiel 34:11-16
ves11pakuti ambuje akuti une tinjikuya syeesokonechele ni kusisosa.
ves 16 tinjijiluchila dichiika jeulale, ni kujiwusya jesokonechele nikujilimbikasya jakulwalajo; naambo ja kwimbalajo ni jakudimbajo tinjisijonanga ni kusilamula.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Mills writes on September 3rd.......
HEy Momma,
I wanted to shoot out a quick email while I was sending. I was planning to go up on the mountain, and had my bags packed. I told Aubi and he laughed and said I must not go. I couldn't understand why, and he said the lions. I laughed and then eating with his family, they all insisted I MUST not go. I couldn't understand it, and was still planning on going. Then last night I was laying in bed and just saying God if you don't want me to go, then please give me some kind of sign.
I was so full from the late lunch we ate, and then Aubi asked us to come for dinner. YOU MUST eat when you go to their houses to I ate, even though I was more full that I had ever been in a long time. Then I got home and went to bed around 7:45. I woke up at 10:15 and felt like I was going to be sick. All that food in my belly was too much, and I did get sick. Don't worry mom, it was just because I was soooo full. If I get sick again I will go into town and look into it.
I just wanted to let you know I wasn't on the mountain. Ha when I get back home and people ask if I saw any lions I can say,"Well I was almost killed by one!!". If I hadn't gotten sick, Aubi said I probably would have seen or been attacked by a lion. Now I listen to the locals.
I typed an email for Aubi as he spoke it out to me. You should get these around the same time.
Love you.
Mills
I wanted to shoot out a quick email while I was sending. I was planning to go up on the mountain, and had my bags packed. I told Aubi and he laughed and said I must not go. I couldn't understand why, and he said the lions. I laughed and then eating with his family, they all insisted I MUST not go. I couldn't understand it, and was still planning on going. Then last night I was laying in bed and just saying God if you don't want me to go, then please give me some kind of sign.
I was so full from the late lunch we ate, and then Aubi asked us to come for dinner. YOU MUST eat when you go to their houses to I ate, even though I was more full that I had ever been in a long time. Then I got home and went to bed around 7:45. I woke up at 10:15 and felt like I was going to be sick. All that food in my belly was too much, and I did get sick. Don't worry mom, it was just because I was soooo full. If I get sick again I will go into town and look into it.
I just wanted to let you know I wasn't on the mountain. Ha when I get back home and people ask if I saw any lions I can say,"Well I was almost killed by one!!". If I hadn't gotten sick, Aubi said I probably would have seen or been attacked by a lion. Now I listen to the locals.
I typed an email for Aubi as he spoke it out to me. You should get these around the same time.
Love you.
Mills
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Mills writes on August 30th......
Hey
I remembered that you wanted a little description of Chiconono and of the people here. Chiconono is in mountains, not like ours back home, and not really like England's either. There are scattered forests of pine, but they vary in location. Most of the terrain is a tall grass around my height. It covers the entire landscape, it's yellow and brownish. There are always small areas of smaller trees and bushes, but for the most part it is all this tall grass. Now, during the end of the dry season the grass gets burned. They light the fields and the tall grass burns quickly and hot which leaves behind anything bigger than the grass. Wherever the grass was is covered in ash. It is neat to see though how it opens up the view of the surrounding area where it was obstructed before. The mountains are different in that some are hilly and others are more rocky and steep.
Louis is South African, and the best way to describe his looks is Amish. I know that isn't the most accurate, but he is really conservative and very opinionated. He has a big white beard and was born in 1954. He has 5 kids, and they are all under the age 10, the youngest in in diapers. His wife is like 15 years younger. He moved his family here from SA because he doesn't think the culture there is a good place to raise his family. They live out in the bush, and live comfortably, but not really well off. All of that said they are really happy, and doing what they think is right so that is good. Oh and he doesn't drink or eat sugar, at all! Except there are exceptions, and we can't really figure them out. The other day in town he bought two bars of chocolate, but he always preaches to us about how we shouldn't drink coke or eat chocolate. He has some weird theories. He knows his Bible so very well, but a lot of times his theories come out of context of the verses, so you have to watch him.
Theo and Mignonne are from SA and white. They are Afikaans, and can speak English fairly well, but with an accent.
Aubi Banda is from Malawi and has 6 kids, one is married. She is married to Isalodge who is a Christian radio presenter, they have 2 kids. Aubi is 40. I don't know the girls names, but the boys are Tuaibo, Jose, Manuele, and Timote. His wife Mibanda is a bit large, and therefore respected in the community. Aubi was born in Malawi and he speaks 8 languages. Yao, Portugeuse, Chechewa, English, Swahili, and the rest I don't know. He is a gentle man, but very strong. He is one of the wealthiest men in the village, and has the nicest house. Our area is a little secluded from the village, but we have lots of visitors. We are about to go eat dinner with them. They grow corn, and they turn it into something like grits. They mash it in a big mortal and pestle type thing, and then lay the powder out to dry. Then they mix it in water and then cook it. It's called Shema, when you eat it is like semi-hard grits. They eat it every meal. Tonight we will just eat it plain, but they eat it with other things. Often with Beans, or cabbage, or peas, or rarely meat. You eat with your hands though. They laugh because most white people ask for a fork to eat it with, but Gabe and I do it there way out of respect. They love it. We also eat at there time, and not necessarily at the table. And I walk everywhere barefoot. They laught at that too. But most white people come with clean shoes and socks, and most of these people have busted flip flops and shoes with tons of holes. It earns their respect.
That is about it for now. When I am in town next I will try and call and speak some Portugese. I really am speaking a good bit, and Aubi and the locals help me. I speak a good bit more than Gabe, but I think ti is because of the Spanish background I have. They crack up laughing when I speak it, not because it is bad, but because it surprises them. A lot have said that they are surprised at how fast I am picking it up. It is funny how we can joke and make do with the little I know. Yao is a totally different story though. I can only greet in Yao.
I gotta run, Aubi may have forgotten about us eating diner with him tonight, and Gabe and I are ready to eat.
Love you mom, Hope that helps with a picture of the place.
Mills
I remembered that you wanted a little description of Chiconono and of the people here. Chiconono is in mountains, not like ours back home, and not really like England's either. There are scattered forests of pine, but they vary in location. Most of the terrain is a tall grass around my height. It covers the entire landscape, it's yellow and brownish. There are always small areas of smaller trees and bushes, but for the most part it is all this tall grass. Now, during the end of the dry season the grass gets burned. They light the fields and the tall grass burns quickly and hot which leaves behind anything bigger than the grass. Wherever the grass was is covered in ash. It is neat to see though how it opens up the view of the surrounding area where it was obstructed before. The mountains are different in that some are hilly and others are more rocky and steep.
Louis is South African, and the best way to describe his looks is Amish. I know that isn't the most accurate, but he is really conservative and very opinionated. He has a big white beard and was born in 1954. He has 5 kids, and they are all under the age 10, the youngest in in diapers. His wife is like 15 years younger. He moved his family here from SA because he doesn't think the culture there is a good place to raise his family. They live out in the bush, and live comfortably, but not really well off. All of that said they are really happy, and doing what they think is right so that is good. Oh and he doesn't drink or eat sugar, at all! Except there are exceptions, and we can't really figure them out. The other day in town he bought two bars of chocolate, but he always preaches to us about how we shouldn't drink coke or eat chocolate. He has some weird theories. He knows his Bible so very well, but a lot of times his theories come out of context of the verses, so you have to watch him.
Theo and Mignonne are from SA and white. They are Afikaans, and can speak English fairly well, but with an accent.
Aubi Banda is from Malawi and has 6 kids, one is married. She is married to Isalodge who is a Christian radio presenter, they have 2 kids. Aubi is 40. I don't know the girls names, but the boys are Tuaibo, Jose, Manuele, and Timote. His wife Mibanda is a bit large, and therefore respected in the community. Aubi was born in Malawi and he speaks 8 languages. Yao, Portugeuse, Chechewa, English, Swahili, and the rest I don't know. He is a gentle man, but very strong. He is one of the wealthiest men in the village, and has the nicest house. Our area is a little secluded from the village, but we have lots of visitors. We are about to go eat dinner with them. They grow corn, and they turn it into something like grits. They mash it in a big mortal and pestle type thing, and then lay the powder out to dry. Then they mix it in water and then cook it. It's called Shema, when you eat it is like semi-hard grits. They eat it every meal. Tonight we will just eat it plain, but they eat it with other things. Often with Beans, or cabbage, or peas, or rarely meat. You eat with your hands though. They laugh because most white people ask for a fork to eat it with, but Gabe and I do it there way out of respect. They love it. We also eat at there time, and not necessarily at the table. And I walk everywhere barefoot. They laught at that too. But most white people come with clean shoes and socks, and most of these people have busted flip flops and shoes with tons of holes. It earns their respect.
That is about it for now. When I am in town next I will try and call and speak some Portugese. I really am speaking a good bit, and Aubi and the locals help me. I speak a good bit more than Gabe, but I think ti is because of the Spanish background I have. They crack up laughing when I speak it, not because it is bad, but because it surprises them. A lot have said that they are surprised at how fast I am picking it up. It is funny how we can joke and make do with the little I know. Yao is a totally different story though. I can only greet in Yao.
I gotta run, Aubi may have forgotten about us eating diner with him tonight, and Gabe and I are ready to eat.
Love you mom, Hope that helps with a picture of the place.
Mills
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Mills writes on August 30th.......
Sorry this is going to be short, I know it seems like I am getting in that habit. I am feeling better, and my stomach has calmed down a good bit. I'd say things are as close to normal as can be expected. I am just resting up and trying to regain energy.
Please Please Please keep praying for the work here. The night before last night 5 of our solar panels got stolen off the roof. They are about 400 dollars a piece and the Saindons are already really low on money for the station. There isn't really anything we can do about it. A lot of the locals offered to go walk through the forest and marsh to look and see if they hid them there until they could pick them up, so we did that yesterday. It wasn't a great way to rest.
Gabe and Aubi will be going into Lichinga on Friday to meet with the Labor people. I am not sure if I will go or not. I will let you know though.
Man I have a funny story for today. I was working on recovering and all from being so sick. I was a good bit better today thankfully, but this sickness has been coming in spurts so we will see. Anyways we run on solar panels when we can, and they are bolted on our sheet metal roof. Well last night someone came and stole 5 of them. They are like 400 dollars a piece! Man these things are like gold here. They snuck onto the roof and only walked on the side where they wouldn't make noise. So today as I was trying to rest, me and a group of locals went out to look and see if they hid them in the forest and tall grass until they could transport them. There are rivers and creeks and reeds. Well as we were going I basically was jumping across one, and fell completely in! These locals were dying laughing. They were laughing so hard they almost fell in as well. I went in under my head in this creek and we still didn't find the panels. So if you would please be praying, it is a big setback financially.
We are convinced the Lord is with us and doing something good here because of all the devils attempts to slow us down. Haha.
Sorry I have been short on emailing, we have been prety busy here, and the radio presenters have been using the computer off and all for some paperwork for the Labor Dept.
Love you Mom.
Mills
Please Please Please keep praying for the work here. The night before last night 5 of our solar panels got stolen off the roof. They are about 400 dollars a piece and the Saindons are already really low on money for the station. There isn't really anything we can do about it. A lot of the locals offered to go walk through the forest and marsh to look and see if they hid them there until they could pick them up, so we did that yesterday. It wasn't a great way to rest.
Gabe and Aubi will be going into Lichinga on Friday to meet with the Labor people. I am not sure if I will go or not. I will let you know though.
Man I have a funny story for today. I was working on recovering and all from being so sick. I was a good bit better today thankfully, but this sickness has been coming in spurts so we will see. Anyways we run on solar panels when we can, and they are bolted on our sheet metal roof. Well last night someone came and stole 5 of them. They are like 400 dollars a piece! Man these things are like gold here. They snuck onto the roof and only walked on the side where they wouldn't make noise. So today as I was trying to rest, me and a group of locals went out to look and see if they hid them in the forest and tall grass until they could transport them. There are rivers and creeks and reeds. Well as we were going I basically was jumping across one, and fell completely in! These locals were dying laughing. They were laughing so hard they almost fell in as well. I went in under my head in this creek and we still didn't find the panels. So if you would please be praying, it is a big setback financially.
We are convinced the Lord is with us and doing something good here because of all the devils attempts to slow us down. Haha.
Sorry I have been short on emailing, we have been prety busy here, and the radio presenters have been using the computer off and all for some paperwork for the Labor Dept.
Love you Mom.
Mills
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Mills writes on August 26th........
After church this morning I became a fire fighter. They burn the fields here at the end of the dry season. Today was way to windy, but two young boys did so anyways. Before church we saw a fire way of, probably 3-4 miles, and then after church it was about to swallow our garden. We battled it and didn't loose any crops, but our fence got destroyed! We ran and saved a few locals houses, all the roofs are thatch and the house literally burst into flames. We were able to direct the fire around the village and keep it going into the fields. I got some pictures, but I don't think they will do it justice. At one point Gabe and I were in a dense fog of smoke and we were surrounded by fire. We really thought we might have to run through fire to live! Haha but they we beat the fire with branches and made a path out. It was hot stuff though.
Mills writes on August 25th......
So the trip to Malawi went really well, and I recovered from Malaria very nicely. I was able to actually eat at a restaurant in Blantyre, Malawi which was incredible. I ate a hamburger, and a real pizza!!! I know you may be thinking that is crazy to get excited about, but I am a teenage guy, and well I eat a lot. So pizza was nice to have after being away from it for so long. We got back in Mozambique on Thursday after 2 days in Malawi. We spent the night there and then Friday morning went to meet
the local transport in the market to get home. All of the transports gather in one area in the market so we wandered around looking for our vehicle. We found a truck that was going and it was only 100 meticas (aaround 4 dollars) so we decided that was the one. That was around 9am, and after an hour or two we finally left. Now in my email earlier aksing for prayer request I described local transport as 20 people in a 15 passenger van. I was very mistaken. This truck was a bit bigger than a normal
pick-up, but still only 4 wheels, and a small cab. In the back of the truck there were 50 of us, and all of the belongings. And a ton of cases of beer and cokes. I know your thinking, 50 no that is an exaggeration. I am not exaggerating one bit. There were 50 in the back. I counted and I was touching 10 people. 10 people and I were that close together. The thing is, the road isn't paved. It is a dirt road, and the driver is in a hurry so you are practically airborne the entire time except for the
fact that you are wedged in. Oh and a chicken, there was a chicken next to me, and it pooped on my foot. It is funny how we actually packed in. I mean I was just sitting there and more and more people started wedging stuff in and around me and then sitting down where they could. Then just as I though, "Wow this is all that can fit", someone would walk up with a huge sack of corn or flour or a case of coke. And then they would find room for it. It was amazing.
The thing about local transport is if you are overloaded it is illegal. Obviously, we were overloaded and so we took these back roads until out of town. Right as we were about to get onto the main road, we stopped. We were there for so long I thought we were going to sleep there and so I had already planned where I would sleep and then how I could get a good seat in the morning. Gabe and I couldn't really figure it out, and then with the little Portuguese I know I was about to figure out the police
were on the road and we had to wait till they left for the day. So we sat, and then a lot of the people decided to drink the beer we were carrying, Including the driver. Then after 5 hours or so we started up again, just as cramped as before. As we were making our way there was a transport pulled over (by the police), but no police in the road to stop us. So our driver sped through before they could step out to block the road. Then the truck behind us got stopped! It all happened really fast, we
just looked and there were the police, it was really good we didn't get pulled because then we would have had to walk 105 kilometers to get home. I know a lot of people are thinking that I am so wrong to do this, and that it was breaking the law. Well the police would just have taken money from all of us and sent us on our way, or thrown the driver in prison and left us there. When your are in that situation you rejoice that the Lord delivered you from the corrupt police officer. So we got to the
transport at 9, and then got home (eventually) at 8:30. I don't know how the driver made it, he was very nice though, he insisted to drive us all the way to our house after everyone else got off.
So all of that said, I appreciate your prayers. I am sure that they had a big part in the fact that I actually made it home. In my mind I keep going back to the fact that Paul was content in every situation. I really was thankful that we had that ride, I mean it really really could have been worse. It is easy to ask God, "Why?". Why is this happening to me, why did this "bad" thing happen. And the thing is, we can be so thankful. Yes it is bad that you got a speeding ticket, or that you got in a
wreck. But seriously you had the blessing of having a car! I was throwing the frisbee with some local boys last week and one asked me if I had a nice bike back in America. I kinda laughed at first. I mean what he hopes for is a nice bike, not a gear bike, just a nice bike like one that has brakes. So just think next time you have a trial, it really could be worse, but more importantly what is God using that trial for?
the local transport in the market to get home. All of the transports gather in one area in the market so we wandered around looking for our vehicle. We found a truck that was going and it was only 100 meticas (aaround 4 dollars) so we decided that was the one. That was around 9am, and after an hour or two we finally left. Now in my email earlier aksing for prayer request I described local transport as 20 people in a 15 passenger van. I was very mistaken. This truck was a bit bigger than a normal
pick-up, but still only 4 wheels, and a small cab. In the back of the truck there were 50 of us, and all of the belongings. And a ton of cases of beer and cokes. I know your thinking, 50 no that is an exaggeration. I am not exaggerating one bit. There were 50 in the back. I counted and I was touching 10 people. 10 people and I were that close together. The thing is, the road isn't paved. It is a dirt road, and the driver is in a hurry so you are practically airborne the entire time except for the
fact that you are wedged in. Oh and a chicken, there was a chicken next to me, and it pooped on my foot. It is funny how we actually packed in. I mean I was just sitting there and more and more people started wedging stuff in and around me and then sitting down where they could. Then just as I though, "Wow this is all that can fit", someone would walk up with a huge sack of corn or flour or a case of coke. And then they would find room for it. It was amazing.
The thing about local transport is if you are overloaded it is illegal. Obviously, we were overloaded and so we took these back roads until out of town. Right as we were about to get onto the main road, we stopped. We were there for so long I thought we were going to sleep there and so I had already planned where I would sleep and then how I could get a good seat in the morning. Gabe and I couldn't really figure it out, and then with the little Portuguese I know I was about to figure out the police
were on the road and we had to wait till they left for the day. So we sat, and then a lot of the people decided to drink the beer we were carrying, Including the driver. Then after 5 hours or so we started up again, just as cramped as before. As we were making our way there was a transport pulled over (by the police), but no police in the road to stop us. So our driver sped through before they could step out to block the road. Then the truck behind us got stopped! It all happened really fast, we
just looked and there were the police, it was really good we didn't get pulled because then we would have had to walk 105 kilometers to get home. I know a lot of people are thinking that I am so wrong to do this, and that it was breaking the law. Well the police would just have taken money from all of us and sent us on our way, or thrown the driver in prison and left us there. When your are in that situation you rejoice that the Lord delivered you from the corrupt police officer. So we got to the
transport at 9, and then got home (eventually) at 8:30. I don't know how the driver made it, he was very nice though, he insisted to drive us all the way to our house after everyone else got off.
So all of that said, I appreciate your prayers. I am sure that they had a big part in the fact that I actually made it home. In my mind I keep going back to the fact that Paul was content in every situation. I really was thankful that we had that ride, I mean it really really could have been worse. It is easy to ask God, "Why?". Why is this happening to me, why did this "bad" thing happen. And the thing is, we can be so thankful. Yes it is bad that you got a speeding ticket, or that you got in a
wreck. But seriously you had the blessing of having a car! I was throwing the frisbee with some local boys last week and one asked me if I had a nice bike back in America. I kinda laughed at first. I mean what he hopes for is a nice bike, not a gear bike, just a nice bike like one that has brakes. So just think next time you have a trial, it really could be worse, but more importantly what is God using that trial for?
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Mills writes on August 19th from Lichinga..........
Its actually not sunny, its cold and windy.
I just wanted to email you and let you know I got here alight. I am recovering fom Malaria well and resting up. We Leave tomorrow, Monday, fo Malawi for a few days. Should be a good time. They have real gocery stores there! Also I met a guy who carves Ivory, but he is legal. He gets it fom the game reserves, and it liscensed! I might buy sometime, its not often you get a chance like that.
I will try and email when I get back in Lichinga, but no promises.
Love and miss yall
Mills
Psalm 119:9-11 "How can a young man keep his way pure, by living according to your Word. I seek you with all my heart, do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You."
I just wanted to email you and let you know I got here alight. I am recovering fom Malaria well and resting up. We Leave tomorrow, Monday, fo Malawi for a few days. Should be a good time. They have real gocery stores there! Also I met a guy who carves Ivory, but he is legal. He gets it fom the game reserves, and it liscensed! I might buy sometime, its not often you get a chance like that.
I will try and email when I get back in Lichinga, but no promises.
Love and miss yall
Mills
Psalm 119:9-11 "How can a young man keep his way pure, by living according to your Word. I seek you with all my heart, do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You."
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Mills writes on August 16th in the p.m.........
Hey Mom,
It's 4:15 here, I just wanted to get out a last email to you. We plan to leave at 7 in the morning and won't be able to connect to the server that early. Dad commented on the fact you have been rising early in the morning, as have I. I (when feeling well) have been getting up at 5:45, I don't know how early you rise, but man 5:45 doesn't feel so early out here. Workers come for their different jobs around 6:30 here. It puts things into perspective.
I appreciate your encouragement while being sick. It helps to have a nice kiss once and a while. Mom it really was a blessing to hear In Christ Alone. I don't think I will be able to sing it again without remembering this time and knowing how fully my hope, light, strength and song are His Alone. You are right, God is Sovereign. I think sometimes God will bring you to
I am going to ask Gabe to run and email this before we loose our window, but it will be the last for a while. It is possible that Friday or Saturday I will connect to the internet in town. I will try and email you from my Hotmail, and read some emails on there.
Please be praying for the time as we travel. The thing about Malaria is that you can't get comfortable, even laying in bed. The bumpy ride on dirt roads won't be pleasant. "My Comforter, my All in All, Here in the love of Christ I will Stand" (more like lay right about now)
Shannon Turbeville emailed me, it was nice to hear from her. Oh I am going to bring back some seeds to try and plant coffee in
Love you Mom. A tight hug.
Mills
Gabriel writes on August 16th in the early a.m..........
Hello Cindy
Mills asked me to email you this morning to tell you that he is sick in bed with Malaria. He started to feel sick yesterday but managed to eat supper but he had a very bad night last night getting sick and all. He seems to be a bit better this morning but has a fever ever now and then. He did take treatment last night and Theo and Mignonne just gave him some more. So we are hoping that he will be back on his feet tomorrow.
Thank you
From Gabriel
Mills writes on August 15th......
Hey Dad,
Gabe is feeling much better now and is just trying to lay low and slowly recover. Tomorrow (Thursday) will be my last day to email for about a week since we will be going to
I start my days early here, up at 5:45 and eating breakfast after a shower. I go to bed usually before 9 though so it makes the early hours easy. I'm using my laptop as an alarm. I'm loking forward to being back home and getting to use it a little more towards it's full potential. Here it's not connected to the internet and there are no other Apple's around so it is limited.
I gotta run, Love you
Mills
If you'd be praying I am talking tomorrow at our Bengwa's meeting. Bengwas are the guys from all the villages that help out with the radio. They take up announcements and the money for them, and also get listener feedback from their village. They are all Muslims and well I'm working on what to talk about. And I will share my testimony which should be interesting. I'd love the prayers. God give me strength.
Mills writes on August 14th.......
Hey Momma,
Gabe has come down with Malaria, he felt it Monday morning and has been laying in bed since. As of this morning he is much better though.
Yesterday I was playing hide and seek with some local boys and I saw Louis drive up with all of his workers and their bikes on top of his Land Cruiser. I went and asked why he brought them all into town and saw that in the back of his car he had 2 cows. One had just died and the other was lame and hadn't been able to stand for a few weeks. He gifted the lame one to the church to be slaughtered and took the other away. Aubi looked at me and said, "Aye you must slaughter this cow". I started laughing and then realized he had never killed a cow before, and neither had I. Long story short, I took that new knife I ordered and while some of the locals held down the cow I cut it's throat. We then cleaned the cow and butchered it. The funny thing is that the only thing that goes to waste is the actual waste in side the cow, the things that were in line to get sent out of it's body. Everything else is used. I asked Aubi (ignorantly) if we would just bury the head in the field and he laughed and said no they would eat it. He said they even eat the ears! For my part in cleaning it I asked for the hide, instead of meat. I want to maybe make a drum or something. We will see. I just laughed though, these locals were very afraid to kill the cow, and then once it was dead they jumped on in and helped skin and divide the meat. Sorry I didn't take any pictures.....
years.
I gotta run send this before we lose our window to connect to the server in SA.
I love you and look forward to the email that is probably waiting on me there from you. haha
Mills
Mills writes August 13th...........
Hey Momma,
I'm making this very short. I just read your email and really enjoyed what you had to say. I wanted to reply and then reconnect quickly. Gabe isn't feeling well and is in bed this morning, so you can be praying for him. He is having stomach problems along the same lines as mine. You and dad will probably get your emails along the same time, it's funny I typed his last night, and yours this morning. Funny how God will use the time difference. Man God has really been using just Praising Him in my life here. I was reading Ecclesiastes and I think it is chapter 5, but I am not sure. But it is about standing in Awe of God. Wow mom, right now find that verse, it's like 2 verses on letting our words be few. I will email a longer message and send it this afternoon so I can check the verse.
Love,
Mills
I'm making this very short. I just read your email and really enjoyed what you had to say. I wanted to reply and then reconnect quickly. Gabe isn't feeling well and is in bed this morning, so you can be praying for him. He is having stomach problems along the same lines as mine. You and dad will probably get your emails along the same time, it's funny I typed his last night, and yours this morning. Funny how God will use the time difference. Man God has really been using just Praising Him in my life here. I was reading Ecclesiastes and I think it is chapter 5, but I am not sure. But it is about standing in Awe of God. Wow mom, right now find that verse, it's like 2 verses on letting our words be few. I will email a longer message and send it this afternoon so I can check the verse.
Love,
Mills
Monday, August 13, 2007
Mills' notes from his sermon August 12th......
I love you Momma, more than you know. Really it's more than words. It's a love that is only a shadow of the Love of our God, but it is still so immense.
Here is the Sermon notes I give Aubi to help translate. It is nice because it gives you time to think about what you are going to say next as he is translating.
Mills
Teaching for 8-12-2007 "The Burden of Sin"-Mills Snell
-Giving Thanks for opportunity to teach and reference to responsibility of teaching. Gabe's preaching on James 3.
-Prayer before diving into God's Word. (Aubi, next time I preach, if you let me again, I want to follow up with this verse.) "See what this Godly sorrow has produced in you: What earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. -Gabriel taught last week on two kinds of Wisdom. Heavenly and Earthly Wisdom. We are going to look at
two kinds of sorrow. Sorrow is -- "A feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment or other misfortune."
--2 Corinthians 7:11 "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. "
-This sorrow we are talking about is in relation to the sin in our lives. What is the difference between Godly and worldly sorrow? (I may repeat this a few times). The Answer.... Are we sad because we were caught in sin or are we sad because our sins have hurt our God? Worldly sorrow is when we are sad because we were caught in the act of living a sinful life. Godly sorrow is when you are so broken by the fact that your sins hurt God that you turn to Him. Our sins hurt God because it forces Him
to turn His face from us. (I'll do a demonstration with 2 chairs) Habakkuk 1:13 says " The eyes of the Lord are too pure to look on evil" We must understand the evilness and weight of our sin; if we do not, we cannot understand how it hurts God.
- "Godly sorrow brings repentance" When we are broken by the fact that our sins hurt God, and are filled with Godly sorrow, we repent. Repentance is a complete turn in the opposite direction. We were walking in our sin..... And then turn completely around! Completely!
- "That leads to salvation" Here God tells us that repentance leads to salvation. Salvation does not come before repentance. We must repent, and only then can we be saved. Salvation can only be attained when we realize that there is nothing that we can do to win God's favor. We must be covered by Jesus' blood in order to gain salvation. No amount of good deeds can win over salvation. (I'll give some examples)
- "and leaves no regret" The focus of this teaching is this. So many people have achieved salvation, not by their own strength, but because of Christ, and they still regret. The problem is that we think some of our sins are in a way "too big for God". This is not in the bible. Jesus' death covers all sins. As Christians we don't fully live out this verse, because we still live with the guilt of our sins. This should not be! If we lay our sins at the foot of the cross, which is repentance (turning
away from our sin), then we must lay them all down. Don't be so prideful as to think that one thing you may have done can be kept from the Lord. No sin is big enough to outweigh the sacrifice of our Jesus.
- "Worldly sorrow brings death" . In Paul's letter to the church in Rome he says, "The wages of sin is death". Worldly sorrow will not end in salvation. If you are simply sorry that you got caught in your sin, and not that your sin hurts God, then your fate will be death. Paul talks about it twice here, Worldly sorrow is a sin, and the wages of sin is death. Worldly sorrow will leave you regretting every sin you ever made. Satan will use this as a foot hold in moving you away from God. Don't
let the guilt of past sins keep you from repentance and salvation. We have freedom in the cross. We are literally free from the burden of sin.
These two types of sorrow were fresh in Paul's mind. Look at what just happened. Peter sinned, he denied Christ 3 times, and lied about being one of Jesus' followers. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, for 30 pieces of silver. Peter felt sorry that his sins hurt God. He repented, was accepted back in the body of believers and moved on. Judas though, was "seized by remorse" Matthew 27 tells us. He was sorry that Jesus was condemned, and then he gave back the money and hung himself. What is the difference
in Judas and Peter? Judas was not sorry that his sins hurt God, he was sad that he got caught, that Jesus got hurt. He didn't think about the consequences of his sin. Think about the consequences of your sins.
(I'll summarize the verse a little bit).
What is your attitude towards the sin in your life? Are you sorry that your sins hurt God, or are you sorry you got caught in them?
I'll close in prayer.
Here is the Sermon notes I give Aubi to help translate. It is nice because it gives you time to think about what you are going to say next as he is translating.
Mills
Teaching for 8-12-2007 "The Burden of Sin"-Mills Snell
-Giving Thanks for opportunity to teach and reference to responsibility of teaching. Gabe's preaching on James 3.
-Prayer before diving into God's Word. (Aubi, next time I preach, if you let me again, I want to follow up with this verse.) "See what this Godly sorrow has produced in you: What earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. -Gabriel taught last week on two kinds of Wisdom. Heavenly and Earthly Wisdom. We are going to look at
two kinds of sorrow. Sorrow is -- "A feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment or other misfortune."
--2 Corinthians 7:11 "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. "
-This sorrow we are talking about is in relation to the sin in our lives. What is the difference between Godly and worldly sorrow? (I may repeat this a few times). The Answer.... Are we sad because we were caught in sin or are we sad because our sins have hurt our God? Worldly sorrow is when we are sad because we were caught in the act of living a sinful life. Godly sorrow is when you are so broken by the fact that your sins hurt God that you turn to Him. Our sins hurt God because it forces Him
to turn His face from us. (I'll do a demonstration with 2 chairs) Habakkuk 1:13 says " The eyes of the Lord are too pure to look on evil" We must understand the evilness and weight of our sin; if we do not, we cannot understand how it hurts God.
- "Godly sorrow brings repentance" When we are broken by the fact that our sins hurt God, and are filled with Godly sorrow, we repent. Repentance is a complete turn in the opposite direction. We were walking in our sin..... And then turn completely around! Completely!
- "That leads to salvation" Here God tells us that repentance leads to salvation. Salvation does not come before repentance. We must repent, and only then can we be saved. Salvation can only be attained when we realize that there is nothing that we can do to win God's favor. We must be covered by Jesus' blood in order to gain salvation. No amount of good deeds can win over salvation. (I'll give some examples)
- "and leaves no regret" The focus of this teaching is this. So many people have achieved salvation, not by their own strength, but because of Christ, and they still regret. The problem is that we think some of our sins are in a way "too big for God". This is not in the bible. Jesus' death covers all sins. As Christians we don't fully live out this verse, because we still live with the guilt of our sins. This should not be! If we lay our sins at the foot of the cross, which is repentance (turning
away from our sin), then we must lay them all down. Don't be so prideful as to think that one thing you may have done can be kept from the Lord. No sin is big enough to outweigh the sacrifice of our Jesus.
- "Worldly sorrow brings death" . In Paul's letter to the church in Rome he says, "The wages of sin is death". Worldly sorrow will not end in salvation. If you are simply sorry that you got caught in your sin, and not that your sin hurts God, then your fate will be death. Paul talks about it twice here, Worldly sorrow is a sin, and the wages of sin is death. Worldly sorrow will leave you regretting every sin you ever made. Satan will use this as a foot hold in moving you away from God. Don't
let the guilt of past sins keep you from repentance and salvation. We have freedom in the cross. We are literally free from the burden of sin.
These two types of sorrow were fresh in Paul's mind. Look at what just happened. Peter sinned, he denied Christ 3 times, and lied about being one of Jesus' followers. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, for 30 pieces of silver. Peter felt sorry that his sins hurt God. He repented, was accepted back in the body of believers and moved on. Judas though, was "seized by remorse" Matthew 27 tells us. He was sorry that Jesus was condemned, and then he gave back the money and hung himself. What is the difference
in Judas and Peter? Judas was not sorry that his sins hurt God, he was sad that he got caught, that Jesus got hurt. He didn't think about the consequences of his sin. Think about the consequences of your sins.
(I'll summarize the verse a little bit).
What is your attitude towards the sin in your life? Are you sorry that your sins hurt God, or are you sorry you got caught in them?
I'll close in prayer.
Mills writes on August 11th........
Gabe and I returned from our journeys today (Saturday) around 1:30. Much earlier than we had kinda expected. Everything went well as Theo took the truck to Pemba. Gabe and I are planning going there and then starting our way down Mozam. It is a funny place, people poop on the beach and the tide takes it away. They say it really startles you, I will be able to say in a couple months. But since we got back in enough time, I am going to preach tomorrow, which God really used to humble me. At first I was kinda hoping that I would have to wait till another week, and then I got to thinking on the long drive and realized.... What the heck, this is a privilege. With responsibilities of course. But I am really getting more and more passionate about it. I will tac my notes on.
Gosh I was thinking about the winding down summer today. As I get more and more emails from friends I have started to realize that I sacrificed the summer after my SR. year. Gladly of course, but my friends are telling me about all these awesome things that are happening! Ha Praise the Lord.
Gosh I was thinking about the winding down summer today. As I get more and more emails from friends I have started to realize that I sacrificed the summer after my SR. year. Gladly of course, but my friends are telling me about all these awesome things that are happening! Ha Praise the Lord.
Mills writes on August 13th...........
Hey ya'll,
It pleases me so much to say "ya'll" and for you not to think anything funny about it. I get many strange looks here. I just wanted to see if you could be praying for me on this upcoming week. Gabe and I will be going to Malawi. I have renewed my visa to the limit and if I don't leave the country they will kick me out. So I will leave on Monday for about a 6 hour drive to cross the border and then my visa renewal process can start over again. I just wanted to ask if you could be praying for our trip? There are a lot of things that could potentially go wrong. If God is for us, who can be against us! Also our safety, Gabe and I won't have a ride back, so we will take local transport. The best way to describe local transport is like a 1975 15 passenger van with 20+ people crammed in, and all their belongings on the top. It's like a tractor pulling a trailer. I trust that the Lord is and has been preparing divine appointments for us. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. Thanks so much for blessing me with your prayers.
Mills
It pleases me so much to say "ya'll" and for you not to think anything funny about it. I get many strange looks here. I just wanted to see if you could be praying for me on this upcoming week. Gabe and I will be going to Malawi. I have renewed my visa to the limit and if I don't leave the country they will kick me out. So I will leave on Monday for about a 6 hour drive to cross the border and then my visa renewal process can start over again. I just wanted to ask if you could be praying for our trip? There are a lot of things that could potentially go wrong. If God is for us, who can be against us! Also our safety, Gabe and I won't have a ride back, so we will take local transport. The best way to describe local transport is like a 1975 15 passenger van with 20+ people crammed in, and all their belongings on the top. It's like a tractor pulling a trailer. I trust that the Lord is and has been preparing divine appointments for us. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. Thanks so much for blessing me with your prayers.
Mills
Mills writes on Sunday August 12......
On our recent trip into town I bought a box of frosted flakes for 135 meticas! I found frosted flakes!!! That is like 5 or 6 dollars for the box, and it wasn't very big. Ah did I enjoy it though. I will only be able to get 3 bowls out of it, and I have already had 2..... Haha. Man I went and picked some strawberries though and cut them up on the cereal. Ha I know I will appreciate cereal that much more now.
I gotta run, Love you and I will look forward to hearing from you.
Soaking it in,
Mills
I gotta run, Love you and I will look forward to hearing from you.
Soaking it in,
Mills
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Mills writes on August 7th...................
Oh sweet Chick-fa-la! They don't have it in SA and they asked if it was like KFC?? I nearly died. And I didn't have it much before I left because of that one being closed by us. How does it look?
When I went to check emails this morning there were only 2, but I noticed the guy in SA we run through hadn't connected to the server in 15 hours. So we ended up getting 19 emails around 12. It's funny how much our email is in the Lord's hands. More so than back at home guess.
Our water pump from the river hasn't been working and Aubi doesn't have water by his house. So this morning we went down to the river to fix the pump. We ended up having to build up the dam by swimming around behind it and finding more rocks and sandbags that had fallen. The water was so cold, really really cold. Then we had carried this 30 ft or so pipe down to dredge out the sand that kinda gets in the way of the pipe opening. We got the pump sucking up water and then I stood there and vacuumed
up the sand, lots of it, while chest deep in freezing water. Thankfully the pump is working now, and Aubi should have water soon. I'll take a picture of the dam and everything next time we go down.
Also Mignonne baked us bread, and I asked her to help me learn to do the same after they leave in a few weeks. The Lord is taking care of us for sure!
It's really interesting, this time of year the locals burn the tall grass fields. But these fields are everywhere! They light them at night and it is really incredible. There isn't a really good reason for why they do it, but it helps to kinda kill bugs. The thing is everything gets covered in the ash. I will have to try and take a picture that will do it justice. It really is incredible. We got some of the guys that live in the village to clear out the grass around the house and gardens so they
don't burn us down. We payed 3 guys 50 meticas total for about a days work. Since they were around MR and Parker's age they were so happy to receive it!
I gotta run, love you
When I went to check emails this morning there were only 2, but I noticed the guy in SA we run through hadn't connected to the server in 15 hours. So we ended up getting 19 emails around 12. It's funny how much our email is in the Lord's hands. More so than back at home guess.
Our water pump from the river hasn't been working and Aubi doesn't have water by his house. So this morning we went down to the river to fix the pump. We ended up having to build up the dam by swimming around behind it and finding more rocks and sandbags that had fallen. The water was so cold, really really cold. Then we had carried this 30 ft or so pipe down to dredge out the sand that kinda gets in the way of the pipe opening. We got the pump sucking up water and then I stood there and vacuumed
up the sand, lots of it, while chest deep in freezing water. Thankfully the pump is working now, and Aubi should have water soon. I'll take a picture of the dam and everything next time we go down.
Also Mignonne baked us bread, and I asked her to help me learn to do the same after they leave in a few weeks. The Lord is taking care of us for sure!
It's really interesting, this time of year the locals burn the tall grass fields. But these fields are everywhere! They light them at night and it is really incredible. There isn't a really good reason for why they do it, but it helps to kinda kill bugs. The thing is everything gets covered in the ash. I will have to try and take a picture that will do it justice. It really is incredible. We got some of the guys that live in the village to clear out the grass around the house and gardens so they
don't burn us down. We payed 3 guys 50 meticas total for about a days work. Since they were around MR and Parker's age they were so happy to receive it!
I gotta run, love you
Friday, August 3, 2007
Mills writes to everyone on August 3rd..........
Hey Ya'll,
You'll have to forgive me for not sending out a mass email in a while. I'm blessed to have my parents updating a Blog for me, so I hope you have been checking that out. I have been trying to figure out what exactly to say, more actually, what not to say. God really works in the simplicity of life, and here things are pretty simple. If you’re following me, God is working big time in my life. I'm going to try and explain something I can't even wrap my mind around, so please bear with me.
God has been humbling me on this so called journey. It doesn't seem so much like a journey, but I looked up journey and it is: an act of traveling from one place to another. Trying to avoid being cliché, I really find myself moving from one mindset to a completely different one. I told a story to my parents that got put on the blog about a group of boys who were so eager to get our trash, they were willing to work (in a non-American sense of the word) for it. I can't explain the joy these young
boys had for tin cans! It is something I will never forget. It really caused me to question the luxury you and I live in. Most missionaries or others who come onto the mission field might make a challenge like this, so I feel a little too much "by the books" in doing it. Please though think outside of our normal mindset; God has gifted you with the utmost comfort, how are you using it to bring Him honor? Philemon 1:6 comes to mind, (I'm going to assume that not all of you have Bibles beside you, and for the sake of understanding this, I will quote it), " I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ". God says, via Paul, that when you share your faith (out loud), that you actually may begin to understand the joy, contentment, eagerness, hope, earnestness, patience, love and freedom (just some of the good things) that we have in Christ! Share your Faith, and try with me to wrap our minds around something as big and awesome as God's plan for our lives. I trust that God isn't lying when he tells us that when we share our faith we begin to understand His goodness. I really could tell you a thousand stories about what is going on here, but they are all going to point to God's goodness, His greatness. Plus you can read the stories on my blog and there will be plenty of time when I get home. Ha-ha.
I'll throw in one story so you might actually read the next newsletter I send out.... Ha-ha only kidding..... I hope.
While in Lichinga (the nearest town) we ran into some car trouble with a borrowed 8 ton retired army truck, this truck had been retired for a reason. We had just picked up my passport which had to be left at the Immigration office for a week where I renewed my visa. The truck wouldn't start, which wasn't really a surprise seeing as how we had stopped at least 12 times in the 300k's to pick up the truck. By the Grace of God, we were parked across the street from a mechanic shop! We took off the
starter (you can stand under this truck while working on it, that is how big it really is) and carried it over. While sitting and talking with the Muslim mechanic Adao (or Adam) for a few hours we tried to share the Gospel with him. We asked if he had heard of Adam in the Bible, and he knew the story! That was really as far as we could get with him and we ended up paying the mechanic shop 900 meticas, which is a lot of money here, so that he could tell us we needed to start it manually(which we had
been doing). You could see though how Adao looked at us, we were laughing and joking and sharing food with him. I trust that he noticed we didn't see ourselves in a trial, or at least not as an inconvenience. That story wraps up our labors here. We plant some seeds and don't usually see much fruit, but God is working! People simply need to see the Gospel in action. We are just trying to love on people, the same way we would love on our family members or children. God is teaching me so well to be content in every situation.
My prayer for ya'll as you read this is that you would be, "Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction, and Faithful in Prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality". I really can't shout it as loud as I want to. Remember we aren't called to be hospitable only to the desirables.
Please be praying for:
-Gabriel and my friendship, that is would continue to grow and we would have patience with each other and seek to serve each other.
-I'll be preaching on the 12th of August, so for a clear leading on what to teach on, and that these people's hearts would already begin to be softened.
-The group of guys we play soccer with, just as we try and pour into their lives.
-My slow, but steady learning of Portuguese.
- That the baker in the village would start making bread again (he stopped after going to prison about 2 weeks ago).
Ya'll are in my prayers, feel free to email me if there is anyway I can be praying for you.
Until next time.......
for freedom,
Mills
Mills writes on August 2nd.........
Hey Momma,
We are getting nice and caught up after that long weekend, I wouldn't call it a break so much. Haha.Oh the clutch was for Louis and his 1983 Mercedes. Maupula is in Mozambique, I'm sure if you Google it, it would show you. I'm not sure if that is spelled correctly.
HA Sheep. There are these sheep here, fat tailed sheep. They are gross looking and the meat isn't so good. When we were at Jan and Bonnies (where we took the cows in Lichinga), they are working on raising a herd of sheep and cattle. Jan is from SA and Bonnie is from Illinois. It is really neat to see how the milk from the cows is a blessing to them and the people around them. They are selling the milk at half price, which allows poorer people to buy, but they still cover their costs. It's really
interesting. Ok sorry back to the point, sheep. We always talk about how they are followers, and they really are! These sheep will just run after one another in a little pack. It was funny to watch them try and get around the cows. That is really interesting about trying to get on the other side of the fence.
Theo is going to take all of their big things to Pemba in a week or so, and then come back. Later in August they will go to SA as a family, till October. Then when they come back they will take the rest of their things to Pemba and stay.
At Maupula we ate a good bit of chicken, pork chops, sausage, some ribs of I'm not sure what. Oh we had these pieces of liver rapped in intestines, it was so good, It made me think of how much you love liver. Mmm meat.
It really is such an encouragement to hear how people are being touched, the Lord really is so humbling in that. Just the ways he works, subtlety even.
About ya'lls coming in November. It doesn't matter what we do. A safari might be a little lame, to be honest. I think if ya'll want to see some wild life then we can rent a car and drive to Kruger National Park. That would be better. A "safari package" is a tourist trap. We can go up on Table Mt, in Cape Town, spend some time at the beach. I really don't know what else. I think everything is going to seem "touristy" to me now. Ya'll juse decide and I will go along with it.
I gotta run, Gabe and I starting doing a devotional every morning. I'll talk to you soon mom, I love you.
Oh I am emailing Sydney this morning, feel free to give out my email to anyone, it really was a blessing to get her email.
Love,
Mills
We are getting nice and caught up after that long weekend, I wouldn't call it a break so much. Haha.Oh the clutch was for Louis and his 1983 Mercedes. Maupula is in Mozambique, I'm sure if you Google it, it would show you. I'm not sure if that is spelled correctly.
HA Sheep. There are these sheep here, fat tailed sheep. They are gross looking and the meat isn't so good. When we were at Jan and Bonnies (where we took the cows in Lichinga), they are working on raising a herd of sheep and cattle. Jan is from SA and Bonnie is from Illinois. It is really neat to see how the milk from the cows is a blessing to them and the people around them. They are selling the milk at half price, which allows poorer people to buy, but they still cover their costs. It's really
interesting. Ok sorry back to the point, sheep. We always talk about how they are followers, and they really are! These sheep will just run after one another in a little pack. It was funny to watch them try and get around the cows. That is really interesting about trying to get on the other side of the fence.
Theo is going to take all of their big things to Pemba in a week or so, and then come back. Later in August they will go to SA as a family, till October. Then when they come back they will take the rest of their things to Pemba and stay.
At Maupula we ate a good bit of chicken, pork chops, sausage, some ribs of I'm not sure what. Oh we had these pieces of liver rapped in intestines, it was so good, It made me think of how much you love liver. Mmm meat.
It really is such an encouragement to hear how people are being touched, the Lord really is so humbling in that. Just the ways he works, subtlety even.
About ya'lls coming in November. It doesn't matter what we do. A safari might be a little lame, to be honest. I think if ya'll want to see some wild life then we can rent a car and drive to Kruger National Park. That would be better. A "safari package" is a tourist trap. We can go up on Table Mt, in Cape Town, spend some time at the beach. I really don't know what else. I think everything is going to seem "touristy" to me now. Ya'll juse decide and I will go along with it.
I gotta run, Gabe and I starting doing a devotional every morning. I'll talk to you soon mom, I love you.
Oh I am emailing Sydney this morning, feel free to give out my email to anyone, it really was a blessing to get her email.
Love,
Mills
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Mills wrote on July 27th......
Hey Momma,
I am typing as a very tired and beaten person. We played soccer again with the locals for another 2 hours. We quit after me and this guy connected heads, my eye lid was gushing blood. It was awesome. The scar is just alright, but they thought I was a goner. Ha good times. I think they all want my shoes.
Gabe and I had a nice dinner, noodles and mushroom soup mix. mmmm. It turns out that I will not be preaching this Sunday. Gabe and I will pretty much be stranded when Theo and Mignonne leave for SA in like 2 weeks, and we are going to Muapula (sp?) so that we can get out while possible. It isn't normal to leave this much, but it will be neat to experience different parts of the country. We are leaving tomorrow (Friday) morning and will be back sometime Monday. Gabe and I finished a big job today
in the radio station. We put in this air vent box through the roof to get some ventilation into a recording room. We had to hoist this 65 pound box up and then nail it is level. We had to cut a hole in the roof which made things interesting. It's only a metal sheeted roof, but it makes it interesting to climb on the roof to the hole.
Gabe and I are planning on starting "The Journey" south around October 10th. We both said that those dates should be fine. Maybe later if possible, like the 17th of November, I think you mentioned that date. Gabe and I can start and figure out some things that we can do, I'm sure there is a lot to do, but ya'll are talking about coming for a good while. Maybe a week and a half or two weeks? Gabe and I were just saying that there are places to stay on Fish Hoek beach. If possible you should stay
in Fish Hoek just so your close. Your driver's licenses should be valid in SA, if you wanted to rent a car. Email Neil and ask him. He would be able to help you figure out logistics.
I got an email from Moultrie, which was really nice. I am going to try and respond to him before we leave in the morning. I also got one from Ella. It is so nice to hear from folks back home.
I get the same emails from Madeleine every week. I don't know if you forgot, but I like the CC emails if you get a chance.
Gotta run, talk to you on Monday.
for freedom,
Mills
I am typing as a very tired and beaten person. We played soccer again with the locals for another 2 hours. We quit after me and this guy connected heads, my eye lid was gushing blood. It was awesome. The scar is just alright, but they thought I was a goner. Ha good times. I think they all want my shoes.
Gabe and I had a nice dinner, noodles and mushroom soup mix. mmmm. It turns out that I will not be preaching this Sunday. Gabe and I will pretty much be stranded when Theo and Mignonne leave for SA in like 2 weeks, and we are going to Muapula (sp?) so that we can get out while possible. It isn't normal to leave this much, but it will be neat to experience different parts of the country. We are leaving tomorrow (Friday) morning and will be back sometime Monday. Gabe and I finished a big job today
in the radio station. We put in this air vent box through the roof to get some ventilation into a recording room. We had to hoist this 65 pound box up and then nail it is level. We had to cut a hole in the roof which made things interesting. It's only a metal sheeted roof, but it makes it interesting to climb on the roof to the hole.
Gabe and I are planning on starting "The Journey" south around October 10th. We both said that those dates should be fine. Maybe later if possible, like the 17th of November, I think you mentioned that date. Gabe and I can start and figure out some things that we can do, I'm sure there is a lot to do, but ya'll are talking about coming for a good while. Maybe a week and a half or two weeks? Gabe and I were just saying that there are places to stay on Fish Hoek beach. If possible you should stay
in Fish Hoek just so your close. Your driver's licenses should be valid in SA, if you wanted to rent a car. Email Neil and ask him. He would be able to help you figure out logistics.
I got an email from Moultrie, which was really nice. I am going to try and respond to him before we leave in the morning. I also got one from Ella. It is so nice to hear from folks back home.
I get the same emails from Madeleine every week. I don't know if you forgot, but I like the CC emails if you get a chance.
Gotta run, talk to you on Monday.
for freedom,
Mills
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Mils writes on July 23rd.........
Hey Dad,
We got back from Lichinga last night just in time to receive emails. I'm glad the trip went so well, and I'm also glad ya'll got the picture. Mom went kinda crazy and listed ll these things I need to take pictures off. Ya'll have to understand that I am taking pictures from the camera on my computer and making then 1/20th of their original size. Then the guys we send through in SA don't like it when we try and send pictures because it clogs up their system. Then on top of that It takes me 5 tries
to send a picture, which takes like an hour. I'm not going to send pictures. I may get one of Gabe and Aubi or something, but it won't be soon.
I am still preaching this Sunday, unless we go out of town with Theo, so I am going to sit down today and try and figure out about what. I'd appreciate your prayers. I'm going to respond to you and Mom's emails in this one to save time, I need to do some other things. Tell her the warts are bad, but I am treating them with Duct Tape. Tell her that ya'll can try
and send a picture if it is under 30 KB's but it will be a hassle.
There are two people staying in our house from SA this week. Marida and Jan, they are here for the Dutch Reformed Senate(the church here is part of the Dutch Reformed Church). In Lichinga we stayed and Jan and Bonnie's house, Jan is from Europe maybe and Bonnie is from the States. We took all of Theo and Mignonne's cows to them b/c Theo is moving to Pemba in Oct. They are starting a project to raise a herd of cattle. It was awesome to spend time with them and other missionaries for the weekend.
This one guy Keith from SA lives at the beach of Lake Malawi, the same place we went and camped while the team was here. He is a really funny guy, and he told us he had a stun gun in his car. I agreed the get shocked, for the experience you know. I have to say it isn't like the movies make it out to be. It hurts and leaves a bad burn, but it doesn't throw you on the ground or anything. I should have a nice mark for a while.
Love ya'll and I will email better next time.
Love Mills
We got back from Lichinga last night just in time to receive emails. I'm glad the trip went so well, and I'm also glad ya'll got the picture. Mom went kinda crazy and listed ll these things I need to take pictures off. Ya'll have to understand that I am taking pictures from the camera on my computer and making then 1/20th of their original size. Then the guys we send through in SA don't like it when we try and send pictures because it clogs up their system. Then on top of that It takes me 5 tries
to send a picture, which takes like an hour. I'm not going to send pictures. I may get one of Gabe and Aubi or something, but it won't be soon.
I am still preaching this Sunday, unless we go out of town with Theo, so I am going to sit down today and try and figure out about what. I'd appreciate your prayers. I'm going to respond to you and Mom's emails in this one to save time, I need to do some other things. Tell her the warts are bad, but I am treating them with Duct Tape. Tell her that ya'll can try
and send a picture if it is under 30 KB's but it will be a hassle.
There are two people staying in our house from SA this week. Marida and Jan, they are here for the Dutch Reformed Senate(the church here is part of the Dutch Reformed Church). In Lichinga we stayed and Jan and Bonnie's house, Jan is from Europe maybe and Bonnie is from the States. We took all of Theo and Mignonne's cows to them b/c Theo is moving to Pemba in Oct. They are starting a project to raise a herd of cattle. It was awesome to spend time with them and other missionaries for the weekend.
This one guy Keith from SA lives at the beach of Lake Malawi, the same place we went and camped while the team was here. He is a really funny guy, and he told us he had a stun gun in his car. I agreed the get shocked, for the experience you know. I have to say it isn't like the movies make it out to be. It hurts and leaves a bad burn, but it doesn't throw you on the ground or anything. I should have a nice mark for a while.
Love ya'll and I will email better next time.
Love Mills
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Mills wrote on July 19th.......
Hey momma,
I trust ya'll are having a great time up in WV. It is way up from here. Thanks for those verses, especially the Greek for free/freedom, that is neat.
I think in my email to dad this morning I wrote a good bit about the guys from SA, they are a good bit older and are just stubborn. We all are really. That is so neat that people are really into the blog. How are ya'll doing it? Are you just taking the whole email or just excerpts? I'm glad people are interested in what is going on. Sometimes I could see if frustrating for people back home, or confusing at least. "Why isn't he out preaching everyday?" I could see someone asking that. The thing is
these people know the stories, they want to see us live it. It really keeps you in check hey?
We went and got bread today praise the Lord, and had fried egg sandwiches. I found a huge stash of vinegar which is a huge blessing because fried egg sandwiches get old. The vinegar is nice to spice it up.
I was playing with Simon and Amika, Theo and Mignonne's kids, and Simon loves Legos! What a blessing. I was sitting and building with him and he said something so profound. (Simon can speak 3 languages). He said, " You know, it doesn't matter how many Legos you have, when you play by yourself, it isn't as fun as playing with someone else". I looked at him and said Simon you are very wise, it takes a lot of people a long time to figure that out. I will have to find someway of getting him some Legos
of mine. He doesn't have a whole bunch.
Here is a funny story for you:
Yesterday Gabe and I rode into Muembe with Louis. It's about 35k's from Chiconono and is the nearest police station, if you can call it that. Louis needed to report his break in, not that it would really do anything. We took the 1987-ish Mercedes that Gabe and I replaced the clutch in. It's funny we drive over bridges that are made of trees laying over piles of stones. Someone drove off the other day and died. We were in a Mercedes. Haha. Anyways we got to the Police station and after a while Louis
came out and said we were ready to go, but one of the officers would come with us. We had been talking to a man earlier while waiting (he reeked of alcohol). This guy asked if I were a boxer, obviously because I am so strong looking(haha), but Louis said because I looked like Jean Claude Van Dam to this fella. To our surprise this same drunk guy walks up with an AK-47 and says he is ready to go! He was the Police officer to come with us. He was waving that gun all around. Louis said he had to spend
the night at his house and then take him back the next day. The way these police work is if they find out who stole it, and they always know, they will say, "for you to get this back for free, you must pay me this amount of money". Ha it can be frustrating.
Keep me posted on the tapes, should be interesting. Would you mind sending Gunkle the link to the Blog, I don't have it and he asked for it. Also when you have time, Parker can help, go onto Facebook. I have a link for my old blog, and you can change it to the new one. Let me know if you have trouble with it, no rush or anything, just as time permits. I know ya'll are having fun, and I hope you aren't getting on each others nerves or anything, just be reminded that I would love to be there with you
when you start to argue about something trivial. It will probably help me to get along with the siblings after I am back.
Love ya'll I'll talk to you soon. Hope the story entertained you, it was something to live through I tell you. I'll look forward to hearing how you set up the blog and all since I can't see it.
for freedom(eleutheroo)
Mills
I trust ya'll are having a great time up in WV. It is way up from here. Thanks for those verses, especially the Greek for free/freedom, that is neat.
I think in my email to dad this morning I wrote a good bit about the guys from SA, they are a good bit older and are just stubborn. We all are really. That is so neat that people are really into the blog. How are ya'll doing it? Are you just taking the whole email or just excerpts? I'm glad people are interested in what is going on. Sometimes I could see if frustrating for people back home, or confusing at least. "Why isn't he out preaching everyday?" I could see someone asking that. The thing is
these people know the stories, they want to see us live it. It really keeps you in check hey?
We went and got bread today praise the Lord, and had fried egg sandwiches. I found a huge stash of vinegar which is a huge blessing because fried egg sandwiches get old. The vinegar is nice to spice it up.
I was playing with Simon and Amika, Theo and Mignonne's kids, and Simon loves Legos! What a blessing. I was sitting and building with him and he said something so profound. (Simon can speak 3 languages). He said, " You know, it doesn't matter how many Legos you have, when you play by yourself, it isn't as fun as playing with someone else". I looked at him and said Simon you are very wise, it takes a lot of people a long time to figure that out. I will have to find someway of getting him some Legos
of mine. He doesn't have a whole bunch.
Here is a funny story for you:
Yesterday Gabe and I rode into Muembe with Louis. It's about 35k's from Chiconono and is the nearest police station, if you can call it that. Louis needed to report his break in, not that it would really do anything. We took the 1987-ish Mercedes that Gabe and I replaced the clutch in. It's funny we drive over bridges that are made of trees laying over piles of stones. Someone drove off the other day and died. We were in a Mercedes. Haha. Anyways we got to the Police station and after a while Louis
came out and said we were ready to go, but one of the officers would come with us. We had been talking to a man earlier while waiting (he reeked of alcohol). This guy asked if I were a boxer, obviously because I am so strong looking(haha), but Louis said because I looked like Jean Claude Van Dam to this fella. To our surprise this same drunk guy walks up with an AK-47 and says he is ready to go! He was the Police officer to come with us. He was waving that gun all around. Louis said he had to spend
the night at his house and then take him back the next day. The way these police work is if they find out who stole it, and they always know, they will say, "for you to get this back for free, you must pay me this amount of money". Ha it can be frustrating.
Keep me posted on the tapes, should be interesting. Would you mind sending Gunkle the link to the Blog, I don't have it and he asked for it. Also when you have time, Parker can help, go onto Facebook. I have a link for my old blog, and you can change it to the new one. Let me know if you have trouble with it, no rush or anything, just as time permits. I know ya'll are having fun, and I hope you aren't getting on each others nerves or anything, just be reminded that I would love to be there with you
when you start to argue about something trivial. It will probably help me to get along with the siblings after I am back.
Love ya'll I'll talk to you soon. Hope the story entertained you, it was something to live through I tell you. I'll look forward to hearing how you set up the blog and all since I can't see it.
for freedom(eleutheroo)
Mills
Mills wrote on July 20th.........
Hey Dad,
I figured if I get a picture down below 30 kb's then i should be able to send it. I made it really small on my laptop, but maybe you could make it a little bigger without distorting it too much. Figured it was worth a try since you haven't seen me in a while. If it works I will get pictures of Aubi, Gabe, Louis, and Theo and the rest. I think they would have fun with the camera. I'm going to keep the file size low, but I'm sure I will have an email from ya'll waiting when I send this.
Love Mills
I figured if I get a picture down below 30 kb's then i should be able to send it. I made it really small on my laptop, but maybe you could make it a little bigger without distorting it too much. Figured it was worth a try since you haven't seen me in a while. If it works I will get pictures of Aubi, Gabe, Louis, and Theo and the rest. I think they would have fun with the camera. I'm going to keep the file size low, but I'm sure I will have an email from ya'll waiting when I send this.
Love Mills
Mills wrote on July 19th.........
Hey Dad,
I'm sure ya'll are in WV now, and I hope you had a smooth trip. It's comforting to know that you won't be stranded or in the middle of nowhere(literally) without help. Haha we can drive 400 k's here and not see one car. You can understand why Louis has a welder and angle grinder plus all the tools he needs for a repair in his car. Makes me love AAA.
I looked at those verses in Hebrews and 1 John, it was extremely appropriate at the moment. We ate dinner with Theo and Mignonne and their 2 kids last night. Rabbit! What a treat! Oh It was so good. Two of the guys from that team who is teaching evangelism to the locals came over and we discussed some things. People who come in for 2 or 3 weeks kinda have a narrow view of things. They say, "Come, give your lives to Jesus!". And people come, out of politeness. Then they come back a yea later looking
to disciple the "Christians" and there isn't a single one. These guys came with a focus on child evangelism. They said, "no if we just teach them how to share the Gospel to children, then it will be effective, the power of God's word cannot be stopped". The thing is, if a kid goes home and tells his Muslim family he is a Christian they would beat him, and if he didn't recant his beliefs they would disown him. By that time the team is gone. So he recants and goes on with his Muslim life. It happens
with every team that comes. And every single one wans to argue that their way is different, that their alter call is somehow better than the last. What we try to tell them is that they need discipleship, they need accountability and support! These two guys said, "well what about this guy "the king", he said the sinners prayer with us, we told him it was a serious commitment and he knows it won't be easy". Theo taught this guy 4 or 5 years ago and his family and the community started to say what happened,
you were a Muslim leader, now we can't follow you. So he went back. He will do the same this time. I don't doubt the Lord's power, but it will most likely happen. It's frustrating, there need to be more missionaries showing people the Way. Thats what they want to see, they say if you live what you preach, then I will follow.
I told mom and just wrote one to MR, but our email may not be reliable. There is a new moon that has been giving us trouble. The weather can throw is thing off like crazy. That sounds good about just letting me know about the dates, I think I am realizing that no matter how long you come for, it won't be long enough. I was thinking about Josiah last night and this morning, I can't wait to see how big that stud is. Gabe said while we were praying that my eyes light up when I talk about him. I
believe it. I was just thinking about how much I want to teach him.
Love ya'll can't wait to hear how things are up in ole WV. When I was there in Dunbar many years ago, things were quite dull.
Sorry that was pretty long and vent-y, and my forearms are cramping!
love mills
I'm sure ya'll are in WV now, and I hope you had a smooth trip. It's comforting to know that you won't be stranded or in the middle of nowhere(literally) without help. Haha we can drive 400 k's here and not see one car. You can understand why Louis has a welder and angle grinder plus all the tools he needs for a repair in his car. Makes me love AAA.
I looked at those verses in Hebrews and 1 John, it was extremely appropriate at the moment. We ate dinner with Theo and Mignonne and their 2 kids last night. Rabbit! What a treat! Oh It was so good. Two of the guys from that team who is teaching evangelism to the locals came over and we discussed some things. People who come in for 2 or 3 weeks kinda have a narrow view of things. They say, "Come, give your lives to Jesus!". And people come, out of politeness. Then they come back a yea later looking
to disciple the "Christians" and there isn't a single one. These guys came with a focus on child evangelism. They said, "no if we just teach them how to share the Gospel to children, then it will be effective, the power of God's word cannot be stopped". The thing is, if a kid goes home and tells his Muslim family he is a Christian they would beat him, and if he didn't recant his beliefs they would disown him. By that time the team is gone. So he recants and goes on with his Muslim life. It happens
with every team that comes. And every single one wans to argue that their way is different, that their alter call is somehow better than the last. What we try to tell them is that they need discipleship, they need accountability and support! These two guys said, "well what about this guy "the king", he said the sinners prayer with us, we told him it was a serious commitment and he knows it won't be easy". Theo taught this guy 4 or 5 years ago and his family and the community started to say what happened,
you were a Muslim leader, now we can't follow you. So he went back. He will do the same this time. I don't doubt the Lord's power, but it will most likely happen. It's frustrating, there need to be more missionaries showing people the Way. Thats what they want to see, they say if you live what you preach, then I will follow.
I told mom and just wrote one to MR, but our email may not be reliable. There is a new moon that has been giving us trouble. The weather can throw is thing off like crazy. That sounds good about just letting me know about the dates, I think I am realizing that no matter how long you come for, it won't be long enough. I was thinking about Josiah last night and this morning, I can't wait to see how big that stud is. Gabe said while we were praying that my eyes light up when I talk about him. I
believe it. I was just thinking about how much I want to teach him.
Love ya'll can't wait to hear how things are up in ole WV. When I was there in Dunbar many years ago, things were quite dull.
Sorry that was pretty long and vent-y, and my forearms are cramping!
love mills
Updates from Mills......
Dear Dad,
Last night, Monday night here, I started feeling bad. I had stopped taking my Malaria meds because it was bothering my stomach still. Missionaries stop taking it because of the side affects and cost. It's funny, they get used to getting it around once a year, and it gradually isn't so bad. I didn't get Malaria, but I was in bad shape till this afternoon. I think the Lord was telling me to quit being stubborn and take it. I was up all night
with a bad fever and just aching body. I'm feeling a lot better now.
Talk to you soon Love and miss ya'll
Mills
Last night, Monday night here, I started feeling bad. I had stopped taking my Malaria meds because it was bothering my stomach still. Missionaries stop taking it because of the side affects and cost. It's funny, they get used to getting it around once a year, and it gradually isn't so bad. I didn't get Malaria, but I was in bad shape till this afternoon. I think the Lord was telling me to quit being stubborn and take it. I was up all night
with a bad fever and just aching body. I'm feeling a lot better now.
Talk to you soon Love and miss ya'll
Mills
Monday, July 16, 2007
Mills wrote on July 16, 2007........
James Taylor can make a boy miss home like no other. I can't tell how blessed I was when "Going to Carolina in my Mind" played on a random borrowed CD on the way up. In the middle of Mozambique I had a nice reminder of home. We put the CD on our computer, and I was just appreciating it. I think it is for people from the Carolinas who are away from home. Mmmm James Taylor.
I usually have your email next to the new one I type in the screen, but I don't tonight. I'm going to do my best in response.
That really was an awesome encouragement about David. I have heard that a lot, about how he should have been in battle, but it wasn't a sin for him to be at home. I never really made the tie to my own life and where God is taking me.
It is kinda like Nutella, it's called Choc Spread. It is chocolate and macadamia nut spreads though. No peanut butter.
Loius got robbed today. 30,000 meticas and 150 USD, and a little SA rand. His gun was taken but found later outside a barn of his. While he and his family came in town for church we think 2 guys broke in. We will see how that turns out, he is pretty poor though, so it really is a big hit. Loius, Aubi, Gabe and I prayed tonight when he came into Chiconono. He prayed that he would not have a hint of bitterness towards the men, and that their hearts would be softened to the Lord. I was comforted and
prayed that the thief's would realize that we store up a treasure in heaven that they can never steal, but it is a free gift to them.
Satan is also working through a magician here. He is doing many horrible things, cutting his wife, and then removing the knife and her being fine. Coming up with money, then turning it to paper, then back to money and giving it to the people. Making sand and water into rice, and then feeding the people. He charges people 10 meticas and then lets them see. He has been in Muembe, and will likely come to Chiconono. We would go and pray against him, how awesome would it be if like in Acts where the
slave girl who was doing magic, lost the ability!
Wow, satan has such a foothold here. More reason for us to be encouraged. He obviously is not pleased with the work we are doing.
A team came from SA tonight. There are 7 people, 5 older men and 2 kids. It is so frustrating to us. They are under the impression that the Christians are afraid or don't know how to share the Gospel. The thing is, we/they, share the Gospel all the time. The Muslims believe in Jesus and his "good teachings", they just want to see it in our lives. They tell us that. We will sit in a teaching session all day tomorrow. Its frustrating to us. They want to teach all day, all week. We heard the guy talking
tonight, he is going to repeat the same thing we learn tomorrow every day. They kinda think the Christians in Chiconono are slow. I am done venting, and I say all of that so you can better pray.
I usually have your email next to the new one I type in the screen, but I don't tonight. I'm going to do my best in response.
That really was an awesome encouragement about David. I have heard that a lot, about how he should have been in battle, but it wasn't a sin for him to be at home. I never really made the tie to my own life and where God is taking me.
It is kinda like Nutella, it's called Choc Spread. It is chocolate and macadamia nut spreads though. No peanut butter.
Loius got robbed today. 30,000 meticas and 150 USD, and a little SA rand. His gun was taken but found later outside a barn of his. While he and his family came in town for church we think 2 guys broke in. We will see how that turns out, he is pretty poor though, so it really is a big hit. Loius, Aubi, Gabe and I prayed tonight when he came into Chiconono. He prayed that he would not have a hint of bitterness towards the men, and that their hearts would be softened to the Lord. I was comforted and
prayed that the thief's would realize that we store up a treasure in heaven that they can never steal, but it is a free gift to them.
Satan is also working through a magician here. He is doing many horrible things, cutting his wife, and then removing the knife and her being fine. Coming up with money, then turning it to paper, then back to money and giving it to the people. Making sand and water into rice, and then feeding the people. He charges people 10 meticas and then lets them see. He has been in Muembe, and will likely come to Chiconono. We would go and pray against him, how awesome would it be if like in Acts where the
slave girl who was doing magic, lost the ability!
Wow, satan has such a foothold here. More reason for us to be encouraged. He obviously is not pleased with the work we are doing.
A team came from SA tonight. There are 7 people, 5 older men and 2 kids. It is so frustrating to us. They are under the impression that the Christians are afraid or don't know how to share the Gospel. The thing is, we/they, share the Gospel all the time. The Muslims believe in Jesus and his "good teachings", they just want to see it in our lives. They tell us that. We will sit in a teaching session all day tomorrow. Its frustrating to us. They want to teach all day, all week. We heard the guy talking
tonight, he is going to repeat the same thing we learn tomorrow every day. They kinda think the Christians in Chiconono are slow. I am done venting, and I say all of that so you can better pray.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Mills worte to his Grandmother on July 10, 2007......
Oh Sity,
You are such an encouragement and blessing to me. I am constantly telling
Gabriel stories of you and all the funny memories. I just sat down to a
cup of coffee and am about to fix lunch. The team from Stellenboshe
University just left, they left us with a ton of food! Tons of canned
fruit which is expensive here. Also Rusks; I didn't know what they were
till I was here. They are these really hard pieces of bread that you dip
in your coffee and tea. They are so good.
We usually eat a lot of bread, but recently the baker in Chiconono was put
in prison. We have resorted to scrounging off the team, and now they are
gone. Thankfully they left us with plenty of stuff to manage till he gets
out.
I'm glad things are going well at home, It's so funny being so far away.
When the team left today we carried about 10 big bags of trash to a burn
pile. About 50 kids from the village came and tried to open the bags. They
wanted to desperately to have the trash inside. Even the bags themselves
are valuable to them. We told them not to touch them and if anyone stole
something that none of them would get anything until he was caught. Sure
enough one boy grabbed something and ran. All these little boys
dragged him back and we made him go home empty handed. The team stayed in
a few big military tents, and we had the boys take them down and put them
away, then we let them sift through the trash for tin containers and
plastic bags. Things like that really are treasure for them because they
are so useful and rare. Then we burned the rest. They were so thankful to
have our trash, and they worked for it.
We are bricking a house here, that will eventually be a guest house. We
usually have 10 boys who come and help move bricks just so that they can
have a ride on the back of a car or in one. It's humbling to think that
people would work all day just do hop on the back of a truck.
Gabe and I are getting along well and we both have finicky stomachs! Will
you tell Moultrie to check his Email, and make sure he is keeping the file
size low. Thanks!
Love and Miss you,
Mills
>
You are such an encouragement and blessing to me. I am constantly telling
Gabriel stories of you and all the funny memories. I just sat down to a
cup of coffee and am about to fix lunch. The team from Stellenboshe
University just left, they left us with a ton of food! Tons of canned
fruit which is expensive here. Also Rusks; I didn't know what they were
till I was here. They are these really hard pieces of bread that you dip
in your coffee and tea. They are so good.
We usually eat a lot of bread, but recently the baker in Chiconono was put
in prison. We have resorted to scrounging off the team, and now they are
gone. Thankfully they left us with plenty of stuff to manage till he gets
out.
I'm glad things are going well at home, It's so funny being so far away.
When the team left today we carried about 10 big bags of trash to a burn
pile. About 50 kids from the village came and tried to open the bags. They
wanted to desperately to have the trash inside. Even the bags themselves
are valuable to them. We told them not to touch them and if anyone stole
something that none of them would get anything until he was caught. Sure
enough one boy grabbed something and ran. All these little boys
dragged him back and we made him go home empty handed. The team stayed in
a few big military tents, and we had the boys take them down and put them
away, then we let them sift through the trash for tin containers and
plastic bags. Things like that really are treasure for them because they
are so useful and rare. Then we burned the rest. They were so thankful to
have our trash, and they worked for it.
We are bricking a house here, that will eventually be a guest house. We
usually have 10 boys who come and help move bricks just so that they can
have a ride on the back of a car or in one. It's humbling to think that
people would work all day just do hop on the back of a truck.
Gabe and I are getting along well and we both have finicky stomachs! Will
you tell Moultrie to check his Email, and make sure he is keeping the file
size low. Thanks!
Love and Miss you,
Mills
>
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Mills wrote on July 10, 2007.......
Hey Dad,
We just ate lunch with Aubi, he is one of the main guys at the radio station and is from Chiconono. He is pretty influential and wealthy compared to everyone else. We went to ask him a question and he invited us for lunch. We kinda had to eat with him even though we had already eaten. It was awesome, we ate ground up corn that was made into these patties. It was almost like grits that have sat out for like 30 minutes. Then we had this soupy bean mixture and something like cabbage all in the same
bowl. They eat with their hands, and it is kind laughed at if you use a fork. Aubi asked if I wanted one and everyone laughed. It was good though, a good experience and all. We are going to eat with him and his family twice a week.
It's funny the women are the hard workers in this culture. They go out into the field and gather the maize and other crops. A lot of the men can be lazy.
I got Emily Clay's email that was encouraging.
I'll be praying about November. Gabreil and I are planning a road trip. We are going to bungee jump Vic Falls in Zimbabwe and then work our way back down the coast till Capetown. When we leave here we are going to hitch-hike to Maputo (look how far it is on a map, 2800 k's)!!! Then we will probably work our way down across the border to Johannesburg and on to Cape Town. Then when we get to Gabe's car we will head for Vic Falls.
Those verses are encourging, I had to really look deep into the passages which was good. Especially with those ones the other day.
Love you, Mills
We just ate lunch with Aubi, he is one of the main guys at the radio station and is from Chiconono. He is pretty influential and wealthy compared to everyone else. We went to ask him a question and he invited us for lunch. We kinda had to eat with him even though we had already eaten. It was awesome, we ate ground up corn that was made into these patties. It was almost like grits that have sat out for like 30 minutes. Then we had this soupy bean mixture and something like cabbage all in the same
bowl. They eat with their hands, and it is kind laughed at if you use a fork. Aubi asked if I wanted one and everyone laughed. It was good though, a good experience and all. We are going to eat with him and his family twice a week.
It's funny the women are the hard workers in this culture. They go out into the field and gather the maize and other crops. A lot of the men can be lazy.
I got Emily Clay's email that was encouraging.
I'll be praying about November. Gabreil and I are planning a road trip. We are going to bungee jump Vic Falls in Zimbabwe and then work our way back down the coast till Capetown. When we leave here we are going to hitch-hike to Maputo (look how far it is on a map, 2800 k's)!!! Then we will probably work our way down across the border to Johannesburg and on to Cape Town. Then when we get to Gabe's car we will head for Vic Falls.
Those verses are encourging, I had to really look deep into the passages which was good. Especially with those ones the other day.
Love you, Mills
Monday, July 9, 2007
Mills writes on July 8, 2007.........
Dear Dad,
This is in response to your email, I am writing in on Sunday Morning here, so you may receive it Sunday night there, but who knows?
That sounds great about the email and the Blog, I won't be able to check it unless I can find internet in Lichinga. I'll make sure you know what emails to post. I'll try and give an update every week or so.
I'm going to try and explain the email to the best of my knowledge. We use radio frequnecy to transmit a binary version of the email we type. So I type an email, our modem converts it to binary, and we bounce a radio signal off the Stratosphere into a very small diameter of an area in South Africa. They then email it to you. The speed is very slow, and the radio we use is basically a glorified CB radio like the one in my car.
Please pass the email along to all the guys. Make sure they know not to include any pictures or links or anything. They need to keep the size low. Only text. Also tell them to put my name in the Subject because there are like 6 people who use the address.
Yes the Team from Fish Hoek left, but there is a team from Stellenboche University in SA. They are Africans speaking, and all white. It is really interesting. The language is a lot like German, but a lot of people in and around Cape Town speak it. Most of them speak pretty good English though. They will leave on Tuesday.
Gabe is mainly facilitating the Radio guys that are from Chiconono. He is teaching them to use the computers and all. I am going to try and help Theo, another missionary that lives next door to us, with the building projects. He is in charge of that. Weather is cold and windy, but it is winter here. We went to Lake Malawi the other day, only 60 kilometers away but it took 2 and a half hours. The water was cold to me, but to everyone else it was so warm. We snorkeled a little, and slept on the beach.
Food is good, lots of vegetables and bread. Chicken is a treat. I eat a good bit of cereal but it is kinda expensive. I can get a piece of bread for 2 meticas, and a box of cereal for 175. The exchange rate is about 26-28 meticas to the dollar. I would love a nice burrito right now. We don't get any cheese, but we have fresh milk everyday. Also our chickens lay eggs everyday, and we have fresh strawberries.
Thanks for the encouragement dad! Tell everyone I said hey and that I am missing them. I sent mom an email This morning (Sunday here) about a package. I haven't been feeling very well, I ate a nut last night in some pudding(cake) the Stellenboche team gave us. I ended up being fine after some Benedryl. Mainly I have been tired, so if you'd be praying for that.
Love you and I appreciate the emails!
Mills
This is in response to your email, I am writing in on Sunday Morning here, so you may receive it Sunday night there, but who knows?
That sounds great about the email and the Blog, I won't be able to check it unless I can find internet in Lichinga. I'll make sure you know what emails to post. I'll try and give an update every week or so.
I'm going to try and explain the email to the best of my knowledge. We use radio frequnecy to transmit a binary version of the email we type. So I type an email, our modem converts it to binary, and we bounce a radio signal off the Stratosphere into a very small diameter of an area in South Africa. They then email it to you. The speed is very slow, and the radio we use is basically a glorified CB radio like the one in my car.
Please pass the email along to all the guys. Make sure they know not to include any pictures or links or anything. They need to keep the size low. Only text. Also tell them to put my name in the Subject because there are like 6 people who use the address.
Yes the Team from Fish Hoek left, but there is a team from Stellenboche University in SA. They are Africans speaking, and all white. It is really interesting. The language is a lot like German, but a lot of people in and around Cape Town speak it. Most of them speak pretty good English though. They will leave on Tuesday.
Gabe is mainly facilitating the Radio guys that are from Chiconono. He is teaching them to use the computers and all. I am going to try and help Theo, another missionary that lives next door to us, with the building projects. He is in charge of that. Weather is cold and windy, but it is winter here. We went to Lake Malawi the other day, only 60 kilometers away but it took 2 and a half hours. The water was cold to me, but to everyone else it was so warm. We snorkeled a little, and slept on the beach.
Food is good, lots of vegetables and bread. Chicken is a treat. I eat a good bit of cereal but it is kinda expensive. I can get a piece of bread for 2 meticas, and a box of cereal for 175. The exchange rate is about 26-28 meticas to the dollar. I would love a nice burrito right now. We don't get any cheese, but we have fresh milk everyday. Also our chickens lay eggs everyday, and we have fresh strawberries.
Thanks for the encouragement dad! Tell everyone I said hey and that I am missing them. I sent mom an email This morning (Sunday here) about a package. I haven't been feeling very well, I ate a nut last night in some pudding(cake) the Stellenboche team gave us. I ended up being fine after some Benedryl. Mainly I have been tired, so if you'd be praying for that.
Love you and I appreciate the emails!
Mills
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Emily Clay wrote on July 3, 2007........
Dear Mills,
How very special to read these amazing details of all that God is showing
you on this trip. These kind of emails just light my heart up in prayer for
you, so know your time spent writing them is a wonderful encouragement to
pray and to be excited to know how much God loves His creation that He would
send you half way around the world that He might be known.
Bless your ever living heart for being sold out for Christ at such a young
age. It is challenging to me to see how you have chosen to live your life.
GO FOR IT MILLS! You are an awesome witness.
I have just read through Proverbs and am awestruck as to how the Lord wants
us to seek WISDOM. Am praying that for you as well as your other requests. I
suggest reading through Proverbs as you seek His wisdom. And remember to
also seek Him on exactly how we are to fear Him. I am doing the same. Such
safety AND wisdom in fearing God...
1.. Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his
precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Psalm 111:9-10 (in Context) Psalm 111 (Whole Chapter)
2.. Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise
wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 1:6-8 (in Context) Proverbs 1 (Whole Chapter)
3.. Proverbs 9:10
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the
Holy One is understanding.
Also....
1.. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose
hope is in his unfailing love,
Psalm 33:17-19 (in Context) Psalm 33 (Whole Chapter)
2.. Psalm 34:7
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers
them.
Psalm 34:6-8 (in Context)
Travel with angels, dear friend.
In His Precious Grip,
Emily Clay
How very special to read these amazing details of all that God is showing
you on this trip. These kind of emails just light my heart up in prayer for
you, so know your time spent writing them is a wonderful encouragement to
pray and to be excited to know how much God loves His creation that He would
send you half way around the world that He might be known.
Bless your ever living heart for being sold out for Christ at such a young
age. It is challenging to me to see how you have chosen to live your life.
GO FOR IT MILLS! You are an awesome witness.
I have just read through Proverbs and am awestruck as to how the Lord wants
us to seek WISDOM. Am praying that for you as well as your other requests. I
suggest reading through Proverbs as you seek His wisdom. And remember to
also seek Him on exactly how we are to fear Him. I am doing the same. Such
safety AND wisdom in fearing God...
1.. Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his
precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Psalm 111:9-10 (in Context) Psalm 111 (Whole Chapter)
2.. Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise
wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 1:6-8 (in Context) Proverbs 1 (Whole Chapter)
3.. Proverbs 9:10
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the
Holy One is understanding.
Also....
1.. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose
hope is in his unfailing love,
Psalm 33:17-19 (in Context) Psalm 33 (Whole Chapter)
2.. Psalm 34:7
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers
them.
Psalm 34:6-8 (in Context)
Travel with angels, dear friend.
In His Precious Grip,
Emily Clay
Mills wrote on July 7, 2007.........
Haha we have had an interesting past couple of days for sure. I just wanted to tell you that ya'lls emails are so encouraging and really uplift Gabriel and I daily. The reminds of home you bring really do warm my heart. The team is just about to leave. Ha they just came in from talking to Theo, one of the missionaries who lives next door. They need to leave in 15 minutes to make it in time to catch a ferry across the Zambeze River. If they don't leave here in 15 minutes then they will be a day late.
Things are pretty hectic, but God is good.
The subject of the message refers to two things.
Soreness: They were a group of students here from Stellenbosch University in Cape Town. It is an Africans University. SA has 11 national Languages and Africans is one of them. It sounds so much like German. Ya'll should look into the different languages it is so interesting. Almost all Africans folks speak English though. There were like 15 girls and 5 guys on the trip and we just played Rugby with them. Rugby is so big here it is ridiculous. We played 5 on 5 and Gabriel and I were the most athletic
on our team, which is awful. Gabe is recovering from Malaria, and I'm not in great shape. Needless to say we got destroyed. No one got hurt so Praise the Lord.
Bearings: We brought up a trailer that the church owned which was a bit old, but carried all of our stuff, plus a lot of extra fuel. We had 2 blowouts on the way up and had to repair a busted bearing. We worked on it today and tried to replace the bearing, but couldn't find another one to match. They are leaving the trailer and the car is stuffed. We worked all afternoon and took apart a all of the trailers in Chiconono. They are having to leave the trailer here because its shot.
I ended up finishing this email Saturday morning. The team left last night in a great hurry, and kinda left some stuff. Nothing too important. Gabe and I were hoping we could pick up a phone or something. I am having to wrap this up quickly because Theo's wife is going to send our email while we are out and about today.
I love ya'll a lot, and look forwar dot hearing how things are going. Did you send out the email to the contacts? How is everyone?
for freedom,
Mills
Things are pretty hectic, but God is good.
The subject of the message refers to two things.
Soreness: They were a group of students here from Stellenbosch University in Cape Town. It is an Africans University. SA has 11 national Languages and Africans is one of them. It sounds so much like German. Ya'll should look into the different languages it is so interesting. Almost all Africans folks speak English though. There were like 15 girls and 5 guys on the trip and we just played Rugby with them. Rugby is so big here it is ridiculous. We played 5 on 5 and Gabriel and I were the most athletic
on our team, which is awful. Gabe is recovering from Malaria, and I'm not in great shape. Needless to say we got destroyed. No one got hurt so Praise the Lord.
Bearings: We brought up a trailer that the church owned which was a bit old, but carried all of our stuff, plus a lot of extra fuel. We had 2 blowouts on the way up and had to repair a busted bearing. We worked on it today and tried to replace the bearing, but couldn't find another one to match. They are leaving the trailer and the car is stuffed. We worked all afternoon and took apart a all of the trailers in Chiconono. They are having to leave the trailer here because its shot.
I ended up finishing this email Saturday morning. The team left last night in a great hurry, and kinda left some stuff. Nothing too important. Gabe and I were hoping we could pick up a phone or something. I am having to wrap this up quickly because Theo's wife is going to send our email while we are out and about today.
I love ya'll a lot, and look forwar dot hearing how things are going. Did you send out the email to the contacts? How is everyone?
for freedom,
Mills
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Mills wrote on July 2, 2007.........
From Chiconono with Love:
Hey ya'll!
Wow, I am in Chiconono now after a long few days of traveling. We left the Church at 7 am on Thursday, and drove through the night to Johannesburg to pick someone up and then kept going till we reached the border of Mozambique. We picked up Gabriel in Maputo, the capital, and then were on our way. After driving all that day we found a nice place to stay for really cheap; this opportunity to rest was well needed and it was just nice to lay down. We had 8 people in a "combi" or mini-van, and needless
to say, it was cramped. We drove all day the next day up into Mozambique working our way to the Zambezie river where we had to ferry across. After short delays we made it across and onto Macuba. (I think that is spelled right?) Late Sunday night early Monday morning around 1 we thought we were rolling into Lichinga, the major town nearest to Chiconono (2 and a half hours). Once we got there we realized it wasn't Lichinga and that we were in fact 6 or so hours away. We pressed on and made it to Lichinga
this morning (Monday). Then we had a 2 and a half hour drive to the particular village, Chiconono. The roads in Mozambique are awful. Pot holes plagued our tires, and we had two blowout on our trailer, and a roadside repair on a shot trailer bearing.
All of this being said... God has shown me parts of Mozambique that no one sees. I have an understanding about how many people live in absolute poverty and are happy! This people are lost in there sin so much that they can't see their right from their left. God is working my heart into loving these people and the arduous journey we took was only a way for me to grow closer to these people. Most people would fly into Lichinga after many other connections and miss the entire countryside. God is so
evident here; whether it be in the joyful face of a young child, or the change of an expression on an old man after a friendly thumbs up. God's creation screams out to him here, and nothing gets in the way.
Gabriel, the South Africa guy I'm going to be living with here and I have already become so close. The Lord has blessed us with such similar spirits in so many ways. Other than the fact that we are both stubborn, we both love working with engines and our hands, hiking, anything crazy like bungee jumping (which we plan to do in SA) ect. God was so awesome as to knit our hearts so closely before we even met and to give us the personalities that can live together and glorify him.
I'd love your prayers on,
Language barrier- Gabe and I are going to spend 2 hours each morning working on learning Portuguese and a little Yao. People here are blown away when you can simply say hello. If we make an effort to learn their language they understand we have something important to tell them.
Safety- as work on the project here we could really use the Lord's hedge of protection.
Health- Gabriel and I both eat a lot, and he has already made the change from a meat filled diet to one of vegetables, fruits, breads, local food and stuff we grow ect.
Wisdom- I just want the Lord to really teach me a lot, pray that he would give me wisdom on the issues Gabriel and I will be confronted with, and be able to discern what is best.
Sorry I had to send this in a hurry so that the stratosphere would be right to bounce our radio signal. I can explain later. Haha.
for freedom,
Mills
Hey ya'll!
Wow, I am in Chiconono now after a long few days of traveling. We left the Church at 7 am on Thursday, and drove through the night to Johannesburg to pick someone up and then kept going till we reached the border of Mozambique. We picked up Gabriel in Maputo, the capital, and then were on our way. After driving all that day we found a nice place to stay for really cheap; this opportunity to rest was well needed and it was just nice to lay down. We had 8 people in a "combi" or mini-van, and needless
to say, it was cramped. We drove all day the next day up into Mozambique working our way to the Zambezie river where we had to ferry across. After short delays we made it across and onto Macuba. (I think that is spelled right?) Late Sunday night early Monday morning around 1 we thought we were rolling into Lichinga, the major town nearest to Chiconono (2 and a half hours). Once we got there we realized it wasn't Lichinga and that we were in fact 6 or so hours away. We pressed on and made it to Lichinga
this morning (Monday). Then we had a 2 and a half hour drive to the particular village, Chiconono. The roads in Mozambique are awful. Pot holes plagued our tires, and we had two blowout on our trailer, and a roadside repair on a shot trailer bearing.
All of this being said... God has shown me parts of Mozambique that no one sees. I have an understanding about how many people live in absolute poverty and are happy! This people are lost in there sin so much that they can't see their right from their left. God is working my heart into loving these people and the arduous journey we took was only a way for me to grow closer to these people. Most people would fly into Lichinga after many other connections and miss the entire countryside. God is so
evident here; whether it be in the joyful face of a young child, or the change of an expression on an old man after a friendly thumbs up. God's creation screams out to him here, and nothing gets in the way.
Gabriel, the South Africa guy I'm going to be living with here and I have already become so close. The Lord has blessed us with such similar spirits in so many ways. Other than the fact that we are both stubborn, we both love working with engines and our hands, hiking, anything crazy like bungee jumping (which we plan to do in SA) ect. God was so awesome as to knit our hearts so closely before we even met and to give us the personalities that can live together and glorify him.
I'd love your prayers on,
Language barrier- Gabe and I are going to spend 2 hours each morning working on learning Portuguese and a little Yao. People here are blown away when you can simply say hello. If we make an effort to learn their language they understand we have something important to tell them.
Safety- as work on the project here we could really use the Lord's hedge of protection.
Health- Gabriel and I both eat a lot, and he has already made the change from a meat filled diet to one of vegetables, fruits, breads, local food and stuff we grow ect.
Wisdom- I just want the Lord to really teach me a lot, pray that he would give me wisdom on the issues Gabriel and I will be confronted with, and be able to discern what is best.
Sorry I had to send this in a hurry so that the stratosphere would be right to bounce our radio signal. I can explain later. Haha.
for freedom,
Mills
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