OCTOBER

THE MONTH OF OCTOBER WAS A GREAT MONTH.  I DID A LOT OF GROWING AND JUST LEARNING ABOUT GOD’S WORD.  OUR GOD IS AMAZING AND I AM SO BLESSED TO BE HERE.  I KNOW I KEEP SAYING THAT, BUT IT IS THE TRUTH, GOD HAS SENT ME HERE TO HELP THIS YOUNG MAN IN SCHOOL AND EVEN WITH THAT TO GROW IN THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST.   I WANT TO BE THAT WOMAN OF GOD AND I AM STRIVING TO BE THAT.  GOD HAS CALLED US TO BE SERVANTS OF HIM AND TO BE DISCIPLES OF HIM.   I HAVE BEEN READING THIS BOOK CALLED, ‘WOMAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART’ AND IT HAS REALLY OPENED MY EYES TO SEE HOW A GODLY WOMAN ACTS, PREPARES, TO BE A GODLY WIFE, A GODLY MOTHER, AND HOW TO EXAMINE YOURSELF TO SEE IF YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PATHS OF BEING A GODLY WOMAN.  SOMETIMES I THINK THAT I FAIL, BUT GOD LIFTS ME UP AND HE PUSHES ME FORWARD TO BE THE WOMAN THAT HE WANTS ME TO BE.  IN PROVERBS 31, IT DESCRIBES HOW A WOMAN OF GOD IS.  BY READING THIS IT REMINDS ME TO BE THAT WOMAN IN PROVERBS 31.  READ IT WOMEN IT IS A GREAT CHAPTER IN PROVERBS AND IT IS GREAT TO KNOW FOR THE FUTURE IF YOU ARE SINGLE.  EVEN THIS BOOK I AM READING AND ALMOST DONE WITH BY THE WAY IS A GREAT WAY FOR YOUNG CHRISTIAN SINGLE WOMEN TO REFLECT ON.  IT TELLS YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DO TO BE THAT WOMAN OF GOD THAT GOD WANTS US ALL TO BE.  

 I HAVE EXAMINE MY HEART SO MANY TIMES AND I THINK I HAVE BEEN GROWING STRONGER THAN OVER IN MY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.  BEING HERE IS A BLESSING TO BE SURROUNDED AROUND PEOPLE THAT ARE SO IN LOVE WITH THE LORD AND THAT ARE GREAT EXAMPLES AS WELL TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE.  MY BIBLE STUDY FOR EXAMPLE IS A GREAT ONE!   WE ARE TEACHING IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS AND I HAVE BEEN REFLECTING ON WHAT PASTOR ANDREW HAVE BEEN TEACHING IN AND UNDERSTANDING IT THE GREATEST THING I HAVE DONE.  RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN CHAPTER 13, TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT AND HOW WE SHOULD AS CHRISTIANS OBEY THE LEADERS NO MATTER WHAT.  IT IS GOD’S PLAN TO PUT THEM IN OFFICE AND TO MAKE SOME OF THESE LAWS COME IN PLAY AND IT IS OUR JOB TO JUST FOLLOW CHRIST AND TO OBEY WHAT HE SAYS.   IT TELLS US TO EXAMINE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS, AND TO PLEASE THE LORD IN EVERY WAY WE CAN.   HE GAVE US QUESTIONS THAT ARE HELPFUL AND JUST GREAT TO EVEN LOOK AT AND REFLECT ON.  SUBMISSION COMES FROM GENESIS- A MAN SHOULD SUBMIT TO GOD’S ORDERS (EXODUS) ISSUES WITH THE LAW.  MAN SHOULD SUBMIT TO A HUMAN AUTHORITIES. MATTHEW 22:17-22.   

NOW I HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN JR. YOUTH AND SR. YOUTH BIBLE STUDIES AS A LEADER.  I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT AND I AM GROWING A LOT WHILE I AM SERVING GOD IN THIS WAY.  I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE I AM INVOLVED WITH TO, THEY ARE ALL REALLY GREAT SERVANTS TO THE LORD AND GREAT EXAMPLES TO THE YOUNGER YOUTHS.  THIS IS SOMETHING I WANT TO LOOK AT WHEN EVER I LEAVE TO SAY I WAS IMPACTING IN SOMEONES LIFE AND HELPED THEM WITH THEIR WALK.   THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE CHURCH AS WELL AND BE IMPACTED BY OLDER WOMAN AND SEE HOW THEY ARE LIKE.  I GOT TO KNOW SO MANY WOMEN SUCH AS; CAROL BEAKLEY, ALICIA RALEY, LYDIA JANSEN VAN VUUREN, DEBBIE CRAWFORD, GENA MULLEN, SANTI, SHARYN VAUGHN, DORKAS I., AND OTHERS THAT I CANNOT THINK OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BUT THEY HAVE HELPED ME A LOT SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE.  I HAVE BEEN SINGING IN THE WORSHIP TEAM AND THAT IS SOMETHING THE GOD HAS LET ME USE TO PRAISE HIM AND SERVE HIM AS WELL.  I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THE CHRIST BAPTIST CHURCH FOR LETTING ME DO THIS.  I HAVE BEEN SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT I HAVE REALLY GROWN CONNECTED TO; PATIENCE, ABBEY, BRITT, LUKE, STEPHEN, RIANA, MARZELLE, DORKAS, AND MEMBER (MY OLDER BROTHER SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE, EVEN IN MOZAMBIQUE)! 

 I AM BLESSED TO HAVE THESE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE AND GLAD TO BE GROWING AROUND THEM.  I HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THEM SO FAR AND I AM THRILLED TO KNOW MORE AND MORE ABOUT THEM UNTIL I LEAVE. SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SINCE THE MIDDLE OF MAY, I HAVE FOUND MYSELF LOVING SOUTH AFRICA, POLOKWANE.  IT MAKES ME NOT WANT TO LEAVE AND TO BE PART OF THE FAMILY PERMANENTLY.  BUT THAT IS ALL IN GOD’S HANDS IF HE WANTS ME TO STAY HERE.  I HONOR GOD IN ANYTHING HE PRESENTS TO ME AND GIVES ME.  HE HAS TREMENDOUSLY CHANGED MY LIFE 180 DEGREES FROM WHAT I WAS USE TO BE ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO.  I AM SO THANKFUL FOR GOD FOR SAVING ME FROM WHAT WAS GOING ON AND JUST ALWAYS IN REMIND FROM ALICIA THAT THE PAST IS THE PAST AND I NEED TO MOVE FORWARD TO GOD.  I HAVE HAD MY UPS AND DOWNS SO FAR, BUT GOD HAS HELPED ME WITH IT ALL.  GOD HAS PREPARED ME TO BE THE WOMAN OF GOD AND I AM WILLING TO CONTINUE AND PRAY TO SEE IF THIS IS WHERE GOD WOULD WANT ME TO BE.  THANK YOU.

JULIA ROSE

Life in Mozambique...

Sorry about the late blog here.  But i have been in South Africa, Polokwane for about 2 weeks after a long 2 months being in the bush in Mozambique.  It was very amazing to be there and to witness and to just talk to the people of Mozambique.    I got to be close to some of the kids there that I will never forget them.   I have learned so much while being there and just getting to know the people I will be working with.   The OM's were great to be with, we had our ups and downs but we got through them.  Just keep praying for them for they are true Servants of God; Seraiah Wolf, Cody Hixon, Curline Lissa Josheph, Josh Collins, Kylie W, and Hannah Anderson.  They were all great help to everyone and they were such hard workers for our Lord Jesus Christ in Mozambique.  

We first started in Mbeti, Mozambique, where we were assisting with the Seminary Students from Christ Baptist Church.  It was great there and that is when I had to learn to function with myself more than anything and get out of my comfort zone.  It took the Samaria Mission team a long time to get to Mbeti, but we finally got there around 5pm at night.  It was so hard to put the kitchen tent up and then to put all the rest of tents up, and then the showers and Loo's up.  It was a hard job but we did our best to work as a team.   We had children everywhere! while we were trying to put up tents and figuring out where to put stuff in camp.  Then the Seminary Students came a couple days later and we were ready for anything that came our way.  I mainly worked with the Women's for the first 2 to 3 days and it was great getting to know them and trying to talk to them.  Then the rest of the week i worked with the children whom which i loved working with.  They are all a joy to be with and to be around.  We had a bible study then we played games to keep them interacted.  After that week of being in Mbeti, the team piled up everything and headed to Kuguma.  Another village in Mozambique where I will defiantly would want to come back to.

Kuguma, my favorite village of all them so far.  We were there for 2 weeks and some of the OM's had to leave for the next village the following week we got there.  the second week came and the Airline team came from Georgia.  I got to know them so well and it was just a blessing to meet them and to get to know each one of them.  We did night services at 7pm for everyone in the village to come hear whomever is going to preach that night.  I got to tell my testimony for the first time and I will let you know i was nervous, but God helped me through it all.  We had Children services, Women and Men services, the women's and children's were so much fun to just join and listen.  We had translators there helping out with the teaching by explaining it more in depth for all the understand.  Our translators there were, Member, Nehemiah, David and Derek.  They were all a big help for all of us, if it was not for them God's word would never be taught to the people in Mozambique.  I was there for the full 2 weeks, and after that we headed to another village for a night and the next morning we headed out for a good 5 hour car drive to Panhome.  

Panhome was an interesting village indeed.  The huts next door had a four day party and was just so loud.  They even played American music for us to enjoy!  We were here for a week and 3 days, and did the same things like we did in the other villages.  We did hut to hut, night services, children's ministry, women's ministry, and men's ministry.  I helped out in the kitchen a lot and tried different things as in cooking and baking.  If you can be in prayer for the Pastor for the church here in Panhome, for he lost his wife about i believe 4 months go.  But he has had a lot of help from leaders of the church to help him out with sermons.   I got to meet the team from Port Elizabeth in South Africa, which is near Joannesburg.  I got to meet a family from the states and they were a bundle of Joy to be around.  They had 4 daughters that were adorable and just a pleasure to be around.  I got to work with the Children's Ministry the whole time there, and made some friendships that were so nice to make.  It was a great pleasure to spend time with these people and I would not change it for a second.  After our stay there it was time to go to the next village where we stayed for 2 days in a village named, Xichumbane.  We met up with the rest of the OMer's there and another team from Christ Baptist Church where I will be attending this year.  I got to befriend a girl named Patience, lovely girl and just so much fun to be around.  The church there is so well designed and just so beautifully built.  The pastor there is very strong in their faith and just a great time to be around and hear him talk.  We had a LoveFest, where everyone from the church and the Samaria Mission team gathers at the pastors house to eat.  That was so much fun to do and to get to know other people while I am there.  After that village we headed to Mabozane, the last village where we would be staying.

Mabozane was one of my other favorite villages.  I got to know the pastor and his family so well that it was like I was part of their family.  His name is Misango,  his wife Jill, and their children Thelma, Blessing, Shalom, and Alex.  Such an amazing family to be around and to get to know.  I got to know Jill's mother very well as well.  We did the same stuff, children's ministry, women and men ministry.  The team that came in was Selma Team from Alabama, I got to know all of them there; therefore, it was only a really small team which we would usually have more, but God blessed us with 8 of them coming.  The only reason why the other team did not come from Tennessee is because something happened at the airport, but they will always be in our prayers.  Other than that I got to know all of Selma Team; Hannah, Jessica, Miss Keitha, Miss, Gwen, Chuck, Myron and Reagan.  I will always remember that team, we connected and helped each other out all the time if they needed. I got to meet alot of kids as well, they were so much fun to be with like Elise and her siblings, and David and his little brother, and of course others.  They were all a Joy to be with for the week being there.  

After being there in Mozambique we had the opportunity to ride back with the Selma team to the border and head into Kruger Park where we stayed together till the end.  We got to stay in this really night hotel type of sort and it as gorgeous and it was of course great to just lay down in real beds and sleep well.  Sleeping in sleeping bags and on air mattresses was really different for me but I got out of my comfort zone and I did it.  Then we all go together to have brie dinner and mingle with everyone.  Then we traveled back to Polokwane where I am at now.  I have been in Polokwane for about 2 weeks now after being in Mozambique, and I have learned a lot about myself and others around me.  I learned how to talk to people about the gospel and how it is so important to know who Jesus Christ our Savior is.  I hope you enjoyed reading this, it was an great experience to be there and to be God's servant there and even here in Polokwane, while helping this family and knowing how much I love my God.  Just pray that I may be focused while I am here and that there will be no distraction. Pray for the people in Mozambique, so their faith in Jesus Christ will be strong for him and they can continue to go to church and learn more about our Heavenly Father.

Julia Rose

Hello Everyone,
So sorry that I totally was not blogging but I was so busy getting ready and just alot of things had to be done.  Right now I am already in South Africa, Polokwane with the Raley Family that graciously let me and 5 other Short termers stay in their home before the Outreach starts.  That would be May 31, and we leave at 430 a.m. to get the move on towards Mozambique.  Right now I finally getting over my jet lag which is ridicuoulsly is annoying.  God is so amazing in so many ways, He has already opened my heart to people that are in the house hold and even to the ones at church called, Christ Baptist Church.  To start off, the flight here was crazy Long, and I at least go to meet this young man named, Cody Hixon who which is from Oklahoma to come here to serve our Lord with Samaria Misson.  
     Now to get to the amazing part of all!  we have had Devotions as a whole group every morning and it is just so great to have that together to know what we all can focus on before going to serve in Mozambique.  The first one was one Forgiveness, and how we are called to forgive like our Lord forgives.  It says in Matthew 6: 14-15 " For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Forgiveness is part of Love, if we exercise our heart to forgive then we can be spiritually ready.  We Christians cannot have grudges on one another, we have to enter any situation with a clean, pure, forgiving and most of all loving heart.  God has given us love and forgivness to show to others that we are different and that we are here to show GODS LOVE.   That is the great spiritual gift that we are given when we are saved by our Lord Jesus Christ and it is great to clear your heart out before doing anything to serve the Lord somewhere where there is lack of God in the solution of the area.  My call is to go out and spread the word of God and to show how a Christian Woman is suppose to be like.  
    The second Devotions which was yesterday night (Tuesday May 22,2012) was on about ' Finding your Spiritual Marker." Mark Raley asked us all a question, the question was referred  like this, " Do you know where your last Spiritual Marker was?  Do you remember your first Spiritual Marker?  How can you use your Spiritual Marker as a reference to a situation?"  Those are great questions and it should not take you time to figure out when  your last and first Spiritual Marker was.  Now to those who do not know what your ' Spiritual Marker' is, this is my own definition about it.  A Spiritual Marker is a place and time when you first made site when you thought it was ready to turn to the Lord your heart and everything and becoming a servant of the Lord.  If you dont remember your Spiritual Marker then make one soon, so you can remember when you spread the word of God and when you made a person or even yourself think about what God has done with your life.
    The third Devotion was today at 9am right after I worked out and everything.  We talked about Philip being Obiedient.  In Acts 8: 4-8 says, "Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.   Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.  And the multitudes with the accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.  For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.  And there was great joy in that city."  Philip was am amazingly great example of being a servant for our Lord.  We are doing the work of God for His glory not for our SELVES.  That would be the biggest issue is that some people would look at themselves and not even think about God being the focus on everything.  Prayer is what comes in if you ever think that you are the most important ever.
    That is what we have been doing for Devotions and I am so blessed that we get to do that and just know eachother by that.  The Outreach Missionaries have been Busy for the past couple of days.  We have been unpacking all the tents and preparing them to sleep in, all the Action Packs to be all cleaned out and to be stuffed again with the kitchen supplies.  Then preparing the sleeping bags, pillows, and blankets for the cold nights in Mozambique.  God has blessed me and the other Missionaries with a family that cares and loves us, and for the others that have been around and it is a great honor to be serving for Samaria Mission and to get to know all the people that is part of this amazing Outreach Team.  I will be back with some more things about beautiful South Africa. 
Baie dankie vir gereed God seën

Hello :)
this is my first blog post, sorry if it is not so good.  I promise I will get the hang of what to write while I am in South Africa.  But I am 18 more days until I leave to the Beautiful place where God is leading me to serve Him.  I am thrilled but, nervous of what is going to happen there.  I am in Gods hands and will be with amazing people!
The people I will be staying with is the Raley Family, they are part of Samaria Mission at Christ Baptist Church in Polokwane South Africa.  I have had contact with them since November of last year and thrilled to actually meet them! They live in Polokwane, which will be my home for 9months out of the year in Africa.  The first 3 months I will be in Mozambique which is pretty much a village with huts and beautiful people there.  
I will be leaving May 18 2012 and will be returning back to the states May 2013.  
I already met some people that will be going and I am so excited to meet them in person as well.  
But for right now I have to get everything packed by May 15th hence my sister is leaving to Colorado May 17th and then I am leaving literally right after her. 
So this is my first post and I promise to get the hang of it when I really have my brain working and just focusing on why I am really going there.... the Lord.  Nothing else but, the Almighty God who has picked me to serve Him in Moz. and Polokwane.  
PRAYER REQUEST:
1. for the trip over there, I will be flying by myself to Johannesberg S.A. and that I may have a safe peaceful trip there. That my mind will be focused on the Lord and nothing else.  Being in Prayer and reading the Bible everyday while I am there to learn about our One living God more and more.
2.  for the Raley Family, for putting this together, working hard to find people and leading this Missions trip (Samaria Mission) and for having me in their lives for a year.  They will continuously serve God and lead all of us to be great Missionaries. Thank you again Mr. and Mrs. Raley :)
3. Samaria Mission, for spreading the word to those who do not know Christ and they demonstrate what Christian Missions Trip is to those want to serve Him.