Greetings...Finally

Wow!  Once again time has flown by faster than it seems it ever has.  Let me recap the last month for you.

Let's start with a couple birthdays, or three.  Nune and Gina turned 2 and Carina turned 1 the beginning of Sept.  We celebrated the birthdays together.  It was a fun afternoon of cake, candles, singing, and games at my place.  Last November I remember being here when Nune and Gina were first learning to walk and am blessed beyond words that I am here to celebrate their second birthday.  Now they are talkative, mobile, beautiful little people.  Nune is very smart and kind.  He has learned more English than I have Shone and amazes me everyday with something new.  Gina is very sweet and gentle.  She loves hugs and to sing.  Carina's little personality is developing daily.  She has just learned how to give kisses...or at least make the mm-u sound that goes with it.  She is mobile with a half sit-crawl scoot and loves to try to stand without help.  Growing more and more each day, as kids do.  It's a blessing to be part of.

Nede also had a birthday.  She turned 4.  I wish you all could hear her cute little voice and especially the laughter that comes from deep inside of her.  A soulful laugh.  It's impossible to not to laugh a little every time you hear it...even when she's being naughty.  (The pink splotches on everyone in the photos is calamine lotion.  We have survived chickenpox.  Nine of the ten all got them within 2 weeks.  They all were troupers and enjoyed the extra calamine application time before bed.  I'm sure everyone had a couple of extra nights of calamine even though they weren't itching anymore.)

Another blessing that I was aloud to be part of is not as joyous for those of us left.  My friend Elisabeth died about 2 1/2 weeks ago.  She was an amazing person who's faith never seemed to waiver.  I was able to spend the last few nights with her.  The peace that she had and that was present in her room is the peace that is beyond understanding.  I am honored to have been able to share that time with her.  She is greatly missed.  I have also learned the peace of what it is to mourn with the hope that we will see her again, under His mercy.  Her boys are living very close to Elisabeth's home with an aunt and uncle.  They seem to be doing well.  Death is unfortunately such a common thing here.  I don't really know how to tell how they are doing.  It's something they are used to in a way.  Please continue to pray for them; their healing and futures.  With so many things to die from here, it's hard for me, still, to understand why a 33 year old had to die from brain cancer.  Some things we don't need to understand.

A couple weekends ago we got to go swimming with some friends to help.  It was a gift from two girls who are here from Sweden.  The day for me will always rank high on the scale of the best days of my life.  There was a water slide that compared to what we're used to was very simple.  It was just straight, no curves, loops, or tunnels.  But it was made of medal and so very fast.  All of the kids tried it once.  I was very proud of them.  Three loved it and couldn't get enough.  Two of them had to go with someone and so I was able to many, many times too.  I have not seen such big smiles on them before for all day long.  Mine was probably just as big.

Dorca had her 8th birthday this week.  Another day of cake, singing, and games.  (FYI-There isn't wide of a selection of cake here, one brand of boxed chocolate or vanilla and am not ambitious enough to make them from scratch.  I am honestly, already, quite tired of birthday cakes.)  Dorca is a very beautiful young lady.  She does struggle with being the oldest but is slowly learning how to deal with the responsibility of that. 

Lately, I have been reminded of the fact that I live in Africa.  I live in Africa.  I live in Africa and get to love 10 incredible little children.  Work in a clinic along side 2 amazing women helping care for 500+ children, of whom many have already had a harder life than I will probably ever have.  I know this is something I should be used to by now but every so often I have a reality check.  The most recent one started last week when another battle with malaria forced me to lay in bed for nearly 42 out of 48 hours (3rd battle if your counting).  I am almost back to 100% now.  Just lacking a bit of strength and endurance.  The Lord is faithful in all to provide exactly what I need.  He knows what that is better than I.  This past week He knew I needed a time of rest.  Other than the moments of pain, fever, and shivers I am actually thankful for the time of rest.  Maybe someday I will be thankful for the times of pain, fever, and shivers that come in life too.   

Something else that the Lord knew I needed here was a young, beautiful friend named Aimee.  I was recently reminded of a phrase that I heard often during a season of my life: "God gives His people His people".  She has definitely been a gift from God and am very thankful for her and her friendship.  Her time here is ending though as she left today for home.  Zimbabwe.  I will greatly miss her and know that we will keep in touch.  The Lord knows what we need.  I am blessed that He knew I needed Aimee.

One more incredible thing is that I now thankfully have the key to a Mozambican post office box.  This simple task involved quite the effort.  Nothing is same day service here.  My address is:

Sarah Berreth                                                                                          C.P.147                                                                                                  Chimoio, Manica                                                                                   Mozambique 

Letters and packages are most welcome.

Blessings to all.