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