Dreading my return to REALITY

Here I sit in Heathrow Airport on this grand adventure back to the forefront of reality! (Inside I silently scream 'I don't want to go... I don't like reality... take me back to the bush where a smile goes a long way and homework doesn't exsist').
But the facts are true and I am already through security. I am planning on uploading pictures and more stories over the next couple of weeks but just to tie you over, I thought that I will share but one story from my Congo adventure:
Our team of 9 people are waiting outside our hotel (it was too unsafe to camp!!), Finally our ride and guide show up. We are told that our upcoming adventure will take place just 60 Km away... In my western brain that was exiting because in Canada 60Km takes less than an hour to drive. Quickly my hopes were brought back to reality, they told us that it was going to take 3 hours... immediatly I pictured the worst road imaginable. Then we began our journey in two vehicles, one SUV and one small Toyota truck. After 28km we had been travelling for 2 hours and 45 minute... I realized that we would not be there in 15 minutes. I realized this as I grabbed my belonging and walked away from the SUV!!! We were over heated and stuck in the biggest mud puddle I had seen up the taht point (looking back it was relitivly small!) So 14 of us and all of our stuff piled onto that tiny and amzing toyota truck and travelled on and off between getting stuck, pushing the truck, and walking long distances. Night fell, and the Jungle came to life... It was amazing, I was quite pleased to be stuck in the most beautiful, albeit dangerous, place on earth. We did finally arrive at our destination, NINE hours after we left. We arrived to hundreds of villagers dancing and singing... they had been waiting 2 days for our arrival, we joined in, danced and sung and had a blast!!
I missed out A LOT of details but I need to go catch a plane so I can update you even more.
I LOVE AFRICA AND I MISS IT ALREADY

Love and Blessings

A world outside of reality...

It is after 2 am and I still have so much to get done before I go to bed... or start my day, which ever comes first I guess. I want to give an update before I depart on my next adventure. For the last 11 days I have been on an extended outreach. It has been said that 'a day on outreac is like a year in real life'... I would have to agree!! We left pemba early on Friday August 10. Our team, 16 westerners and 6 Mozambicans, headed to the province of Nampula to encourage small bush churches. They told us that it would be a 5 hour journey... we arrived 10 HOURS later. It was the outreach of all outreaches!!! We went a 5-6 days without bathing and we bonded as a team. So much happened but I just cannot describe it yet... In 10 days we set up and tore down our tents 7 times... we showed the jesus film 9 times... we saw one cobra, one monkey, a few scorpions and one too many latrines... I experienced food poisoning... I also discovered that doing laundry at the river around lunch time is not advisable for women as it seems to be bath time for the village men (who bath while you do your laundry... the sky was beautiful that day). Most of the team is still in Nampula. I flew back to Pemba early because I have been invited to be on a team of people going to the Congo. I leave in 6 hours to go to the airport!!!! I am excited beyond description. The Adventure is Just beginning yet school starts again in just 2 weeks... it is outside my comprehension!!! Well, I basically wanted to let you know that I survived outreach and that I am going to the Congo this week!!! We cross the Border on Thursday and leave again on the following wednesday. I have been waiting for this all of my life!!! I will be putting more pictures on once I get home to a high speed connection.
Love, Blessings, Peace, and Joy Be unto you
Candace of the Congo




YES... I am STILL LOVING it here!!!!!!

Stiil here!!!!

Dear Dad,
I wanted to phone you today but I decided to email you instead... as I was emailing I realized that you did not really want an email form me but a BLOG post instead. So here I am trying to post the quickest blog ever, and this one is just for you.
How do I communicate this adventure that I am on in such a way that it does the experience any justuce??
I just do not think it is possible!! I love it here, but I do not love it here because it is easy, because it is not easy. Africa comes with its very own set of challenges. This year I am learning so much about life, culture and relationship. I don't even know where to start and I am ever afaid that the power will go out. This summer has had a very different dynamic than last year. This year I am able to see more the reality of 'long term missions' and what that can do to someone, both positively and negatively. I also have gotten a huge awakening being able to see what western culture is doing to such a precious people group. This summer has definately made my brain spin. I have seen an amazing contrast. With one eye I can see the little boy who has no chance at life because his parents have past away and he just so happens to be the smallest one who can never seem to get enough food, and I see him being loved and nurished, or I see the little baby who would be dead without the love and support of the missionaries here. With the other eye I see 3 times as many children that have figured out how to beg form the westerners, and I see rocks been thrown anf bamboo being swung at us.
The challenge that I am faced with is how do I love the little rock throwers who need as much love as the weak little boy and the babies? What does that love look like?
This seems to be a much more serious blog, but my brain is spinning and I thought that I would let you in for a moment. On a lighter note, I am doing very well. Other than a sore throat that I had for a day and a half, I have not been sick at all. I am feeling great adapting to life here quite well. I am very sad to be leaving in 4 short weeks. I would love to stay for a year and continue to be stretched and educated by this world reality.
What I wanted to write about is the restoration that is taking place in my mind and heart. I wanted to communicate the growth and changes. I can't seem to find the words!!!
One story about the restoration that is taking place and then I must go to worship before bed.
For many many years I have struggled with self image and self worth (like pretty much every canadian woman). A few weeks ago I was leaving the bathroom and I got a glimse of myself in the mirror and for the first time in decades I did not hear one negative thought in my head, instead I heard 'Man, I look GOOOOOD this morning'... the thought actually caught me off gaurd and totally made me smile for the whole day. This may seem like no big deal to you, but to me this is amazing!!!!

Well Blessings on you, I will let you make up the stories that go with the pictures (that would not load, so you have to imagine the pictures too). I'll come back and read this in a few days and edit it if I find it ridiculous... this was an unprepared, off the cuff blog post.

I Love you DAD

Joy and peace, Candace
I really love it here, despite challenges

I'M ALIVE... I have not fallen off the planet!!!

Lovely readers of sporatic Blog Writings,

Please forgive how long it has been since an update. What a crazy 3 weeks it has been. I would love to tell you all about all of the amazing experiences but I just don’t have the time. Everything takes three times as long as usual (and that seems fast). For the three weeks I will try to tell three stories.
The first week of July I spent being an assistant wedding coordinator. Two of the long term missionaries here got married on 7/7/07 (the bride is friend from last year). But this was not a normal wedding. About 1000 people came to the ceremony and well over 3000 came to the feast. The most amazing part was that there were no riots and no body got hurt. My job was delegating the 120 volunteers and ensuring the wedding day ran smoothly from beginning to end (and I did all this with a wounded foot, I’ll tell that story when I get home). It was an amazing experience not just stretching my ability to lead and delegate but also stretching me personally being so involved in a wedding. I feel that God is doing a restorative work in my heart and my life. It is so beautiful to be made new again!!
The second week of July, I watched as my roommates were transformed one by one. It is very hard to explain but as they arrived here in June, each of them were facing a point in there relationships with God where they were SOOOO hungry for more of Heavens reality in there lives. During this second week I saw each of them break through into amazing new beginnings… So very Amazing.
This last week was completed with the opportunity to go on another outreach. No Baboons this time but it was still amazing. At one point we had so many people in the truck (48, in the back alone) that it took us 45 minutes to drive about 10Km… mind you it was up a hill and the road was no wider than a sidewalk most of the way. When we arrived at this village I felt so much at home. I can’t really explain it. We had no sound system and we were ‘forced’ to spend time getting to know the people. I found myself often wondering what it would be like if the truck just drove away and I had the privilege to just stay with these people with no other westerners and no way out. Maybe I will find out one day?!?!?
The day is quickly slipping away. When I spoke to my dad last he told me that I had to blog and even if I did not write a word I had to post pictures. So here are some pictures and I will explain at the bottom.
Love and Peace and Blessings Abundant
Candace
PS YES, I STILL LOVE IT HERE!!!!!!!!!
1)
2)
3)



At the Top: Another beautiful Sunset
Pictures from Outreach: 1) My view when I open the window of my tent in the Morning
2) their view when I open the tent in the morning
3) Me trying to pound something that ended up in dinner (I have no idea what I was pounding though)
4) The road that was barely wider than a sidewalk
5) A child standing upon a termite hill
6) A little Boy that proves that Little Boys are the same all around the world!!
7) These girls traveled like this for about 45 minutes on the very bumpy roads... It was fun when I tried it!!! (don't tell mom, but at least I didn't fall off and get run over)

10 Weird Happenings that are Normal Here

(pictures on the left: a random african clothin store; A car went through the wall and into our water storage closet)

As I sat and enjoyed breakfast this morning I realized that I noticed a lot of things here that just don't even cross my mind at home. Here is a small selections of these weird things:
2) I put on my flip flops first thing in the morning, before even going to the bathroom or getting dressed.
3) I average 1 shower a week and have discovered that the other 160 people that are here also average 1 shower a week!
4) The application of deoderant is forgotten 7/8ths of the time (and no one notices)
5) I dip my breakfast bun into my jar of peanut butter because it seems safer and cleaner than using the knife!!
6) As a group we talk about bathroom adventures at every meal!!!
7) As a house we have leg shaving parties where we all gather aroung the same bucket... (group leg shaving is just not normal)
8) I have a small celebration everytime the running water runs (it means that I can shower and flush all the toilets)
9) I brought with me a lot of clothes and I have found that I am only wearing 2 outfits because doing laundry by hand is unfun
10) I don't even notice the fact that the women next to me are breastfeeding while walking and talking
11) I have noticed that even when one does not have bowel issues, they still celebrate after every 'movement'
12) Nothing here starts or ends on time (hence the numbering)

Also I want to introduce you all to my friend Walt...

... he is a ring worm that has taken up residence on my right cheek... (ring worm is actually a fungus not a worm)... I named him so that when he succefully dies, I know what to write on his tombstone... No peace for walt the wormy, you must DIE


One last thing that is not normal here but I am not complaining:
I have been here for 4 weeks and I have lost 20 pounds without being sick or changing my diet or being more active than normal.... Plain old amazing and I love it!!!!

Blessings and an abundance of laughter
Candace

OH ya... I LOVE IT HERE

Chaocity of Everyday Life in the DIrt

Today is Saturday and I am amazed that it is already June 23. I am equally amazed that I have not even been here for 4 weeks yet. It feels like months have past. The past sentences are totally opposites but both equally true. How can I sum up the past week? It has been chaotic and wonderful. I wish that I could describe what busy is like here… hurry up and wait and then get confused and lost in translation and then go back to square one and try again with hurrying and waiting and miscommunicating. What an adventure!!
I seem to be growing leaps and bounds every week, at the same time my body seems to be getting smaller (or my clothes are getting bigger). This week I seem to have grown a lot in relationships (no, not with anyone in particular). I am learning way more about missions and about life this year. It is truly all about relationship and about sharing your story. I have learned so much from people just by listening to their stories.
Speaking of relationships, I have the privilege to be a dorm parent this year. Let me introduce my roommates to you. Starting with the youngest, Brandi-lin is 19 years old. She is from New York State and happens to be the grand daughter of one of the men that founded ‘teen challenge’. On the bunk below her is Bec, a 29 year old accountant from Australia who lives in England. On top of the next bunk is Kat, 22 a nurse from North Carolina (how convenient). Below her is Deane. Deane is 60 and from Virginia. Every single one of these wonderful women have amazing lives and amazing stories and it is an honour for me to get to live with them. They are all so sweet and encouraging and I am learning what love looks like through them.
The five of us live in the third room in a row of dorms. The three rooms total 15 women and we all get to share one washroom (3 toilets and 3 showers, if all are working) and one kitchen. Life is truly an adventure. I will tell you one story and post some pictures and then I must go swimming!!
When I was here last year, my heart grew a special spot for a wonderful little village boy. Karimu is about 9 or ten and when I met him he liked to hit, kick, and beat others just for fun. One day he came and hit me, and that just stole my heart. I chased him down and grabbed him and hugged him, he wiggled and squirmed and then he fell asleep. All summer I would love him and hold him and love him some more. A couple of weeks ago he found me again. He ran up to me, this time not hit me but to throw his little body into my arms. He has improved even more in the past year. Last year he barely spoke at all and did not understand Portuguese let alone English. Last week(ish) as I was walking to my kitchen with my breakfast bun, he ran up beside me, grabbed my hand, and said in perfect English ‘give me your bun’… my heart melted, Karimu could understand me!!! Of course I did not give him my bun and allow him to beg but I did hug him and squeeze him and told him I would share my lunch with him later that same day.
Everyday that I am here I am convinced more and more that I belong exactly where I am!!!!!
Blessings and Peace be upon you...
Candace

PICTURES:
1) (at the top) Sunset of the WEEK
2) Where's Whitey???
3) This is me and my buddy Fred the big BUG
4) Cute boy wearing my tilly hat
5&6) a couple of Beautiful Makua women and their Babies

6 hours, 23 people, one truck... Among other things

Salaama, boa noite, Hello friends,
This Past weekend I had the pleasure of leading a team of missions school students (along with some visitors) on an overnight outreach. For many people this is a trying and stretching time, for me it is like a retreat and i love it!!! I would love to tell you all every little detail but there just won't be time for that.
What is outreach you ask???
Outreach is a two night camping trip into villages with the main purpose of sharing the gospel of Jesus and the truth and freedom that that brings.
Let me tell you a bit about this outreach that I got to go on. We travelled for over six hours in the back of an open 3 ton pick up truck... wait that sounds comfy... 23 hot sweaty people, sound equipment with 3 large speakers and lights, 23 peoples tents and belongings, food for 23 people and all the kitchen supplies... crammed into a truck that would be much nicer with 15 people on a short trip to town. The adventure started well on a paved raod with lines and signs and other traffic... after 2 hours we found a suitably bumpy road with sufficient potholes to keep us all awake. This road just got thinner and thinner until I think that we may have been on more of a path than a road. This road had many surprises beyond the bumps and hills and sharp corners. A couple of hours in, we stopped for a much needed bathroom break. (this is nice and simple with for those of the male gender... for the rest of us it is quite an ordeal) WARNING: this may get graphic and may not be suitable for all readers. I led the women in a small group of about 8 down the road away from the men. 2 women held up a wrap around skirt when the other 6 decided to be relieved (all at once of course, just not enough time for privacy in Africa)... while patiently squatting and peering down the road we had the oppertunity to see about 6 or 8 baboons cross the road. Due to the cirrcumstance no one was able to get a picture but it was cool.
After a flat tire and a quick snack while waiting for repairs and about another hour or more we arrived at the village. I quickly found some kids to play with and a couple of babies to hold. I have more stories but I am falling asleep. In two words or less(ish) here are some of the other things that happened:
Sound failed
prayed anyway
Ate
slept in a schoolhouse (in tents)
woke up
ate
packed up(ish)
played
Killed a goat (well, watched)
walked village
prayed
Ate Goat
played more
stickered foreheads
sat cuddling
INJURY (skinned knee while playing duck duck goose)
band-aided for a while
Set up sound
prayed
sick healed
ate more goat
re set up tents
slept
Ate
prayed
felt leg muscle grow while praying
watched cripple lady walk,
then run,
then dance
Packed up
6 hour bumpy ride home
saw more babboons
got home
went swimming (indian ocean)
updated blog
went to bed!!
Blessings
Candace
(did I mention that I LOVE IT HERE???)

A world away but NEVER forgotten

Wonderful News: I have arrived Safely, without having to pay outrageous over weight fees in Johannesburg.
Great News: The water is back on!!!!
Breaking News: I forgot how hot it is in Africa☹, and how warm the Indian ocean is☺
Other News: I am so happy to be back here in Pemba. I was made for this!!! There are about 500 children milling around the center and I am in a stuffy room trying to get some admin done for the upcoming missions school....
Okay that is better, I just ran out to get a few hugs and practice my Portuguese... (I LOVE THESE BABIES)
So much has happened in the last couple of days since my arrival but I will try to be brief. I tried counting how many children I hugged in the first 48 hours but lost count around 30 a few hours after arriving. I have already started band-aiding cuts and scrapes and have had the opportunity to check out a funky fungus growing on another staff member. I have now reacquainted myself with the center here. I live on center 2 which is the bigger of the two bases here in Pemba. When I was gone a bunch of new houses and offices have been built. (a whole truck load of children just pulled in singing as they go... amazing... I missed this)... sorry, back on track... A building for the sewing school has been built and offices for the mozambican staff as well as a prayer orchard which is a giant gazebo with fruit trees all around.
Enough about buildings!!! One quick story and then on with my day... I find great peace while walking the beach with a friend as the sun sets (around 4:30-5:30). Yesterday as we were walking we were joined by some precious street kids who laughed and practiced their English on us. On our journey we also ran into some older boys that I spent time with last year and ended up buying goods from at the end of the summer. As we wondered toward these older boys they came running towards us calling out... “Candy my friend, I have not forgotten you... you come back to mozambique... how long you here” It has been NINE months since I have seen these boys and thousands of other westerners have been through this city... I was more than amazed and honoured that they would remember me.
I have a better idea of my responsibilities now but I have run out of time so I will tell you later... I will be uploading some pictures within the next week. It looks as though I will have more access than I thought (at least for now).

Blessings and Peace
Candace in AFRICA (it just feels right)

I'm Leaving on a Jet plane.....

So, the time has finally come!!! 24 hours from this moment I will be sailing 30,000 feet above this beautiful planet, on my way to see dreams come true (in Africa, not Disneyland). The last three months have been a worldwind of adventures.
~I decided to return to Africa for the Summer
~I told everyone I met that I was going
~I have been given over $5000 from family, friends, and complete strangers
~I learned things in Nursing school that you do not want to hear about
~I have recieved over 3000 bandaids
~I completed year one of Nursing School while planning a 3 month mission adventure
~I have been counting down the days.....
NOW the Count has come to the end....

The last three months have been amazing but I know that they are but a small preview of the next three months. I am still not 100% clear about what I will be doing but I know that God is faithful and this summer will be a summer where DREAMS come true.
A few areas that need prayer as i go:
~Safety in travels (I leave saturday evening and Arrive in Pemba on Tuesday)
~The ability to sleep on the plane (four days is too long without sleep, even for me)
~Speedy adjustments to culture, food, and lanuage upon arrival
~The ability to walk into my giftings and be a blessing to iris ministries
Thank you for your Prayers and Support and I look forward to updating you within the next few weeks.
Blessings beyond Compare
Candace

Before I Go...

Hello friends and family (as well as friends of family and family of friends),

I have had many requests to start a blog of my upcoming missions adventure. Let me start the basics:

Who am I: My name is Candace.I live on Vancouver Island, (just off the west coast of Canada)I have just completed my First year of Nursing school, for my BSc in Nursing
I have a heart for Africa and to see broken people made whole through the simple act of Love
After watching a world vision commercial when I was four years old, I told my mother that ‘when I get big, I am going to go and give those kids life’. Twenty one years later that dream has not vanished. It remains my hearts desire and dream to give those children life. Last summer I tested that dream by going to Africa for the first time. It was as though my original dream was a small flame and that with every day that I spent holding the children a vat of gasoline was being poured over that flame. My dream is now a blazing fire.

What am I doing : I will living at a children’s center (orphanage), caring for children with hugsI will be volunteering as a Summer Intern with Iris Ministries to learn more about culture and loving the poorest of the poor.
My mornings will be spent worshipping with Mozambican pastors and learning from them about their lives and their culture. I will have opportunity to help with the widow’s garden ministry and I will also get to play with the village children that are too young for school. In the afternoons, evenings, and weekends I will live as the people live by doing my chores and then building relationship in the heat of the day. Some of my responsibilities will include running the water storehouse for the compound. I will also have a chance to go on outreaches in to the local bush areas to spread the love of Jesus.

Where will I be: A small city called Pemba, located in the North of Mozambique, which is located in south east Africa. (borders South Africa in the south and Tanzania in the North)I will be living in a cement block house with 11 other women on a missions base that houses almost 400 hundred people, well over half of them children.

Why am I going: I am going because I love God and because of two experiences that I have had. The most recent was last summer. I spent last summer serving with Iris ministries, attending a cultural missions school. Shortly after arriving, as I was walking to the dining hall, I knew that I was 'home', I was made for this and last summer confirmed it!
The other experience was over three years ago when my dreams came crashing down and consequently my dreams of Africa eventually came back to life. In 2004 my husband of 4 months was taken from me in a car accident at 27 years old. Out of this experience I realized that life is so short and fragile. I knew then as I know now that there are no second chances and that time is short. I desire to give my every breath to God and his plans for my life.
My long term plan is to complete Nursing school and then serve long term in Africa. A few months ago I realized that I can get my education during the school year and serve the poor in Africa during my summer vacation. I decided to go back when I heard about the floods that ripped through central Mozambique earlier this year. I am going to help in any way that I can. At this point it looks like interning in the summer is how I can be of service.

When will I be going: I leave May 26, 2007 and I will be returning to Canada on September 3rd(just in time for school)

How can you get involved: I know that I cannot go without three important ingredients. The first is my remaining faithful and obedient to God, the second is the continued prayer support of those around me, and the third is that of finances to cover the cost of such things as airfare, vaccines, living expenses and clean water for myself and those around me.
A few areas for prayer are:
~ Health & Safety
~ Smooth transition into and understanding of Mozambican culture
~ That I would be used of God
~ That I would acquire the language (Portuguese) quickly and with ease
~ I would also appreciate prayer support for wisdom and discernment to hear God’s voice and to do as He desires daily. I know that no matter what God calls me to do, it will be a time of learning and reaching out to a nation for Christ.
~ Also as I have spent the last year in Nursing school, studying to do my best, I have been unable to have a job. I am confident and with out doubt that God has called me to Mozambique this summer to seek after him, to serve the poor, and to extend my hands into his plan for this world. I am also confident that as he calls he provides. If you feel led to help financially please contact me at candace.and@gmail.com

So that is the basics. My goals in life are simple: Love God; Love People. Thanks for reading this first Blog and I hope to update it as often as possible while on this Adventure. I also hope to upload pictures as often as I update. Blessings ~CA