Back to the Land of Squatty Potty's and Bucket Bath's

FRIENDS.... FAMILY.... RANDOM BLOG READERS,

I am SO very excited to finally update my blog, although it has taken a while ;)
I am bursting with JOY because I am headed back to Pemba in about a MONTH!!!

If you haven't seen me recently you might be wondering what I am doing this time and I why I am leaving a month and half earlier than usual (I love that going to Africa is becoming 'usual' for me!!!)

I am just about about finished my third year of Nursing school (WOOOHOOOOOO), and for my year end practice experience I am going to be working with a Canadian RN who is serving as a Public Health Nurse with Iris Ministries in Pemba, Mozambique. We will be working on some health education projects in two local villages which you will hear more about in weeks to come.

This is the same organization that I went with before. After six weeks of being a Nursing a student I will transition into a role similar to my last trip. I will work with the missions school and hug as many children as possible :)

I am Obviously, just slightly, really, really, burstingly, excited about this next adventure and chapter in my life. I will try to blog regularly and I will post pictures when I can.

If you like numbers like, you can count down the minutes with me until I leave using the counter at the right of this page --> --> -->
(or find it on my blog at candaceinafrica.blogspot.com by clicking here if this comes to your email)

Also, if you want my blog updates sent to your email inbox, you can sign up using the subscription box.

Thank you for joining me in this next adventure!!!

Candace

PS: Here are those long overdue pictures from the Congo

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!!!!!!