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