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."
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