Here is a letter from Jaron, dated several days before Missy's. I posted it pretty much the way he wrote it. He is a man of few words.
12:13PM 7/11/08
Home. We finally arrived at the TMI base in Ndola yesterday. After 3 days, 11 hours, and 54 minutes of traveling, it was a welcome moment. We stayed in a hotel in Addis Abab, and there were guards outside holding AK-47's. We got pictures of them holding the AK’s. The next night we stayed in a church in Lusaka and left for Ndola early the next morning. It was a 6 hour ride. Today orphans are coming to get shoes. Last night was pretty cold, but I survived. I’m doing fine other than being thirsty. We have to filter our water. So it takes a while. Well time for lunch.
Jaron
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Letter from Missy
Howdy Yall, 7/16/08
In exactly one month we’ll be home. I’m gonna miss these kids. Most of them anyway:) I’ve been teaching the girls the Grubby to Grace (GG) devotionals and it’s really been awesome. I’m so glad the Lord has given me this opportunity to minister to these girls. It’s been so encouraging to me, too. Today’s was the best so far. Instead of following the written out lesson in the book, I decided to use the time to let them encourage each other by sharing stuff they’ve been learning.
Satan’s been really trying to divide the team and everybody was pretty frustrated. Especially about evening devotions. Two nights ago David basically brought up the issue of whether or not one can lose one’s salvation and it really upset the team. I told him afterwards that he shouldn’t have done it, but he didn’t seem to care. Then last night he basically brought up the issue of whether babies go to hell or not, and again upset the team. Instead of having an encouraging devotion to sleep on, everyone went to bed frustrated and confused. I was very upset and expressed it to Mandy - leader (22) - of other team here. She had been there too, and was upset as well. I didn’t really know what to do. Mandy later suggested we have a “slumber party”, and she slept in my tent with me. That was awesome, cause we were able to chat.
This morning I went to David again and asked him to PLEASE not bring up any controversial issues in tonight’s devotions. It really made me mad cause he was like “Why?” and it seemed like he was smirking the entire time I explained myself. It was all I could do to not to cry or get Jaron to beat him up. The entire team was upset and he acted like he could care less.
In today’s GG the Holy Spirit gave me Col 3:12 to share with the girls. I needed it just as much as they did. We were all pretty encourage after GG’s. It’s awesome how the Lord knows just what we need.
Mom, I’m finally grateful for all those hours in the kitchen.:) I feel very at home( or maybe comfortable is a better word. I miss the equipment of HOME) making the food here. I made the most amazingly wonderful cake the other day. Everybody loved it. I made some pretty good biscuits too. :) Sorry if I’m bragging slightly but... :) well no excuse. I guess I’m just in a good mood :)
The team’s gone foot washing and I’m here at the base with no responsibility and I just washed my hair! :) Needless to say, I’m feeling wonderful! :) I’m glad Jaron is here. The other day I was feeling really frustrated about stuff and I hadn’t had a break all day(it was 4 pm) so I grabbed him and we took a nice long walk around the compound while I vented and we chatted. It was great. Every now and then I get a small inkling of a sign that he’s glad I’m here. Considering its Jaron I’m talking about, that’s cool. :)
Well, tomorrow we head out into the bush. Should be an adventure. Nancy and I need to make sure we have enough food for the whole time we’re gone(I think it is 4 or 5 days). Speaking of food, feeding this team of 31 people is a GINORMOUS task. These kids (and the guy leaders) eat SO much! Its crazy! I use 20 cups of flour when I make biscuits and we eat like 4 loaves of bread for one meal. Craziness! But I love it! Oh man I’m going to miss these kids. :( We’ve already planned 3 reunions. One- a kayaking trip on the San Marcus. Two- work/missions trip to the Philippines (NOT with TMI) and Three- Kara’s wedding in a year and a half. Yea, she’s 16 and engaged already. :) But I really like her. She is one of my favorites. Everybody has face book too so we’ll keep up on there too.
Man, there is so much to say! Jaron is so weird. He sits down to write a letter(because we told everybody to) and he’s like “ I don’t know what to write. What do I say?” :) Cracks me up. I wish yall could hear these people sing! Its pretty much amazing! I took some videos so maybe yall can get an idea of what they sound like from there. I doubt the sound on the camera will do them justice. I got to wash feet yesterday. We drove about 20-30 minutes to a rescue unit outside Ndola. I washed feet for awhile - man their feet are so leathery! - and then I was a shoe “runner” for Kara. It was kinda cool. Anyway, the rest I’ll tell yall when we get home and I have pictures to help me. I’m really looking forward to Victoria Falls! Love yall!
Happily rejoicing in the Lord,
Missy:)
In exactly one month we’ll be home. I’m gonna miss these kids. Most of them anyway:) I’ve been teaching the girls the Grubby to Grace (GG) devotionals and it’s really been awesome. I’m so glad the Lord has given me this opportunity to minister to these girls. It’s been so encouraging to me, too. Today’s was the best so far. Instead of following the written out lesson in the book, I decided to use the time to let them encourage each other by sharing stuff they’ve been learning.
Satan’s been really trying to divide the team and everybody was pretty frustrated. Especially about evening devotions. Two nights ago David basically brought up the issue of whether or not one can lose one’s salvation and it really upset the team. I told him afterwards that he shouldn’t have done it, but he didn’t seem to care. Then last night he basically brought up the issue of whether babies go to hell or not, and again upset the team. Instead of having an encouraging devotion to sleep on, everyone went to bed frustrated and confused. I was very upset and expressed it to Mandy - leader (22) - of other team here. She had been there too, and was upset as well. I didn’t really know what to do. Mandy later suggested we have a “slumber party”, and she slept in my tent with me. That was awesome, cause we were able to chat.
This morning I went to David again and asked him to PLEASE not bring up any controversial issues in tonight’s devotions. It really made me mad cause he was like “Why?” and it seemed like he was smirking the entire time I explained myself. It was all I could do to not to cry or get Jaron to beat him up. The entire team was upset and he acted like he could care less.
In today’s GG the Holy Spirit gave me Col 3:12 to share with the girls. I needed it just as much as they did. We were all pretty encourage after GG’s. It’s awesome how the Lord knows just what we need.
Mom, I’m finally grateful for all those hours in the kitchen.:) I feel very at home( or maybe comfortable is a better word. I miss the equipment of HOME) making the food here. I made the most amazingly wonderful cake the other day. Everybody loved it. I made some pretty good biscuits too. :) Sorry if I’m bragging slightly but... :) well no excuse. I guess I’m just in a good mood :)
The team’s gone foot washing and I’m here at the base with no responsibility and I just washed my hair! :) Needless to say, I’m feeling wonderful! :) I’m glad Jaron is here. The other day I was feeling really frustrated about stuff and I hadn’t had a break all day(it was 4 pm) so I grabbed him and we took a nice long walk around the compound while I vented and we chatted. It was great. Every now and then I get a small inkling of a sign that he’s glad I’m here. Considering its Jaron I’m talking about, that’s cool. :)
Well, tomorrow we head out into the bush. Should be an adventure. Nancy and I need to make sure we have enough food for the whole time we’re gone(I think it is 4 or 5 days). Speaking of food, feeding this team of 31 people is a GINORMOUS task. These kids (and the guy leaders) eat SO much! Its crazy! I use 20 cups of flour when I make biscuits and we eat like 4 loaves of bread for one meal. Craziness! But I love it! Oh man I’m going to miss these kids. :( We’ve already planned 3 reunions. One- a kayaking trip on the San Marcus. Two- work/missions trip to the Philippines (NOT with TMI) and Three- Kara’s wedding in a year and a half. Yea, she’s 16 and engaged already. :) But I really like her. She is one of my favorites. Everybody has face book too so we’ll keep up on there too.
Man, there is so much to say! Jaron is so weird. He sits down to write a letter(because we told everybody to) and he’s like “ I don’t know what to write. What do I say?” :) Cracks me up. I wish yall could hear these people sing! Its pretty much amazing! I took some videos so maybe yall can get an idea of what they sound like from there. I doubt the sound on the camera will do them justice. I got to wash feet yesterday. We drove about 20-30 minutes to a rescue unit outside Ndola. I washed feet for awhile - man their feet are so leathery! - and then I was a shoe “runner” for Kara. It was kinda cool. Anyway, the rest I’ll tell yall when we get home and I have pictures to help me. I’m really looking forward to Victoria Falls! Love yall!
Happily rejoicing in the Lord,
Missy:)
Monday, July 28, 2008
It is just a little under 3 weeks before Jaron and Missy will be home. They have been sorely missed around here at home. From the latest post below it sounds like they are having quite an experience. I cannot imagine what it would be like to work with all of those children. It certainly must tear at your heart. Well enough of my ramblings from a Dad who misses his kids.
JW
ZAMBIA FOOT WASHING Zambia in Mibende ( 2008-07-28)
It has been a while. The internet was down in town last week when we had our only chance to email, so the last short one was by phone. The team is doing well. Kansoka was a great experience. We had some problems with children who didn't belong to the rescue unit trying to steal shoes and angry mothers, but nothing too bad. We washed feet two days there, as well as attended church. I don't have my record in front of me now, but I know over 120 children accepted Christ while we were there and hundreds more heard the gospel. Tuesday we left and travelled to Mibende where there is a stream (frigildy cold) to bathe in. It was well appreciated though. We washed feet 3 days straight and gave out out over 220 pairs of shoes. Over 100 children accepted Christ and once again hundreds more heard the gospel. We led the Sunday school services and the regular service yesterday at the local church. We must have sung about 15 songs and did about 3 dramas. Today we arrived at Ngosa and have 4 full days here before heading back to Ndola.
JW
ZAMBIA FOOT WASHING Zambia in Mibende ( 2008-07-28)
It has been a while. The internet was down in town last week when we had our only chance to email, so the last short one was by phone. The team is doing well. Kansoka was a great experience. We had some problems with children who didn't belong to the rescue unit trying to steal shoes and angry mothers, but nothing too bad. We washed feet two days there, as well as attended church. I don't have my record in front of me now, but I know over 120 children accepted Christ while we were there and hundreds more heard the gospel. Tuesday we left and travelled to Mibende where there is a stream (frigildy cold) to bathe in. It was well appreciated though. We washed feet 3 days straight and gave out out over 220 pairs of shoes. Over 100 children accepted Christ and once again hundreds more heard the gospel. We led the Sunday school services and the regular service yesterday at the local church. We must have sung about 15 songs and did about 3 dramas. Today we arrived at Ngosa and have 4 full days here before heading back to Ndola.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Latest from Zambia
Here is the latest update from Missy and Jaron's team. Only three more weeks and they will be home. Blessings to all. JW.
Zambia Foot Washing in Mibende
2008-7-25
We are now in Mibende. We had a great time in Kansoka and washed over 100 kids feet. We had nearly 120 decisions for Christ and shared at the church service on Sunday. We had to shut down the foot washing a bit early each day because we were being mobbed by kids who were not registered at the unit, but we still got a lot done. A few of the kids had a stomach virus but once again God is taking care of us. Everyone is doing well today and we are ready to start washing feet again.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Update from Zambia
Here is the latest post from Jaron and Missy's team in Zambia. They are headed out to the bush. May not hear from them for about a week. Thanks for your prayers. Jack
Zambia continues to wash feet
Location: 2008-7-17
We washed feet at the Lupia rescue unit yesterday. The children loved spending time with us and we all had a very memorable experience. We were scheduled to go back today, but our plans changed when we realized that the only way we could get to Kansokar would be to leave today. So we have been forced to accelerate our plans and we are leaving the base a day early. The team members are doing well and loving the African children and our footwashing experiences. Last night we had a campfire for devotions and roasted marshmallows. God was blessing us because we didn't realize it was going to be our last night. Orphan Angels I came in yesterday so it was kind of crazy having 3 teams at the base at once, but it was very encouraging to see them and to exchange stories. We will be out in the bush for about the next 6 days. I will email again when possible.
Zambia continues to wash feet
Location: 2008-7-17
We washed feet at the Lupia rescue unit yesterday. The children loved spending time with us and we all had a very memorable experience. We were scheduled to go back today, but our plans changed when we realized that the only way we could get to Kansokar would be to leave today. So we have been forced to accelerate our plans and we are leaving the base a day early. The team members are doing well and loving the African children and our footwashing experiences. Last night we had a campfire for devotions and roasted marshmallows. God was blessing us because we didn't realize it was going to be our last night. Orphan Angels I came in yesterday so it was kind of crazy having 3 teams at the base at once, but it was very encouraging to see them and to exchange stories. We will be out in the bush for about the next 6 days. I will email again when possible.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
2 Updates
Both of these updates came today...
July 10th ”We have arrived at the base in Ndola! =) Travel was smooth for the most part. No bags were lost. We picked up 2 Malawi bags at the airport in Lusaka and had them shipped back to Lilongwe so hopefully they will be there soon. We stayed in a local church in Lusaka last night and drove the 6 hours to the base today in time to have lunch. The temperature is around 80 in the day time with low humidity and about 40 at night. The team is adjusting well so far, no sickness or dehydration and the kids will settle into our new time zone very soon. The Zambians are very excited to have us here, we were greeted with drums and singing when we arrived. We begin washing feet tomorrow! More updates coming soon.
July 15th ”We washed feet for the 4th time today. We had about 200 children show up to the Chiwala rescue unit. We washed feet, played soccer, did dramas and presented the gospel. It was leaders day for us today and all the leaders (me, Jeremiah and Missy) washed feet for the first time. What an incredible experience! We're all very tired and ready to get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow we will go to Lupia and continue washing feet and giving out shoes. The weather is still dry, warm in the daytime and cold at night making the dirt roads very dusty and bumpy. The team is coping well though and really beginning to look like a family.
July 10th ”We have arrived at the base in Ndola! =) Travel was smooth for the most part. No bags were lost. We picked up 2 Malawi bags at the airport in Lusaka and had them shipped back to Lilongwe so hopefully they will be there soon. We stayed in a local church in Lusaka last night and drove the 6 hours to the base today in time to have lunch. The temperature is around 80 in the day time with low humidity and about 40 at night. The team is adjusting well so far, no sickness or dehydration and the kids will settle into our new time zone very soon. The Zambians are very excited to have us here, we were greeted with drums and singing when we arrived. We begin washing feet tomorrow! More updates coming soon.
July 15th ”We washed feet for the 4th time today. We had about 200 children show up to the Chiwala rescue unit. We washed feet, played soccer, did dramas and presented the gospel. It was leaders day for us today and all the leaders (me, Jeremiah and Missy) washed feet for the first time. What an incredible experience! We're all very tired and ready to get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow we will go to Lupia and continue washing feet and giving out shoes. The weather is still dry, warm in the daytime and cold at night making the dirt roads very dusty and bumpy. The team is coping well though and really beginning to look like a family.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Zambia FW has arrived!
Here is the latest message from the Zambia Footwashing team. This was posted on the TMI website.
2008-7-10
We received a short message saying that the Zambia Foot Washing team has arrived safely at the base in Zambia. They will be doing a report with more details in the next few days.
2008-7-10
We received a short message saying that the Zambia Foot Washing team has arrived safely at the base in Zambia. They will be doing a report with more details in the next few days.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Letter from Missy, Update
They made it to Rome around 4:00 am this morning and are now on their way to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They will get a hotel tonight and leave tomorrow for Lusaka, Zambia, at about 3:30 am our time. They will spend the night in Lusaka, and then drive to their final destination of Ndola, which is about 200 miles from Lusaka; arriving on Thursday. Please pray for a safe journey to Ndola.
Below is the last bootcamp letter we got from Missy. We shall now wait for updates from the field. I will pass along any info as I get it. Blessings to all. Thanks for your prayers. Dad Watkins.
7/2/08
Hey Fam!
10:30 am
I just washed my hair out of a bucket. Erin and Kim helped me. The water smelled disgusting and so my hair smells terrible now. :) It was kinda fun though.
I was so glad to see dad! I didn’t know he was coming. I’m sure he told you all about the little adventure to the chapel because of the storm. At least there were no mosquitos in the chapel.
Anyway, only one more day of BC! Pack-out should be interesting. They packed 2 duffels for each of us already and we get to add our sleeping bags & pillows to one of them - up to 10 lbs. Then everything else goes in the carry-on. We also have to carry a jacket & 2 sweatshirts on our arm & whatever instruments we may have. Crazy. Crazy. We get ONE duffel to put the team’s food in. We’ll have to buy all other food in Zambia. This is going to be quite the adventure!
4:10 pm
Ah! I’m being eaten alive by mosquitos! It’s terrible! Take away the mosquitos and BC would actually be kinda fun.
I’m waiting for the team to finish their block laying class so we can do the team picture. I’ve made some good friends with several of the other leaders here...............Obviously I’m running out of things to say.:) Everything is starting to come together and run smoothly.
I ran the OC yesterday, but we didn’t do the slough. Today I ran again and I got to do the slough. It was easy, easy. I went over the wall too. I’m sore from running it, but it was super fun.
Well, I’m ready to go to Zambia! Can’t wait to leave. I’ll call yall at the airport! Talk to yall soon.
Love Yall!
Missy :)
Below is the last bootcamp letter we got from Missy. We shall now wait for updates from the field. I will pass along any info as I get it. Blessings to all. Thanks for your prayers. Dad Watkins.
7/2/08
Hey Fam!
10:30 am
I just washed my hair out of a bucket. Erin and Kim helped me. The water smelled disgusting and so my hair smells terrible now. :) It was kinda fun though.
I was so glad to see dad! I didn’t know he was coming. I’m sure he told you all about the little adventure to the chapel because of the storm. At least there were no mosquitos in the chapel.
Anyway, only one more day of BC! Pack-out should be interesting. They packed 2 duffels for each of us already and we get to add our sleeping bags & pillows to one of them - up to 10 lbs. Then everything else goes in the carry-on. We also have to carry a jacket & 2 sweatshirts on our arm & whatever instruments we may have. Crazy. Crazy. We get ONE duffel to put the team’s food in. We’ll have to buy all other food in Zambia. This is going to be quite the adventure!
4:10 pm
Ah! I’m being eaten alive by mosquitos! It’s terrible! Take away the mosquitos and BC would actually be kinda fun.
I’m waiting for the team to finish their block laying class so we can do the team picture. I’ve made some good friends with several of the other leaders here...............Obviously I’m running out of things to say.:) Everything is starting to come together and run smoothly.
I ran the OC yesterday, but we didn’t do the slough. Today I ran again and I got to do the slough. It was easy, easy. I went over the wall too. I’m sore from running it, but it was super fun.
Well, I’m ready to go to Zambia! Can’t wait to leave. I’ll call yall at the airport! Talk to yall soon.
Love Yall!
Missy :)
Monday, July 7, 2008
They're Off. New Letters from Missy
July 7, 2008 20:50
We talked to Missy and Jaron last night. They called about 1:00 am. They were at the Orlando Airport waiting for their flight to Washington DC. As I write this, they are airborne on Ethiopia Airline flight 501 to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with a fuel stop in Rome. They will then have two more flights before they get to there final destination in Zambia sometime Wed.
We have received three letters from Missy and here is the latest. I will get the rest posted tomorrow.
6/26/08
3:46 PM
Hey Yall,
I think I’ve finally settled into bootcamp! The leadership problems have pretty much disappeared and we’ve settled into a nice routine. David has the kids in block-laying right now, so the rest of us are chillin’ in the “leader sanctuary”, which is really the back of the Boot Camp (BC) office - a pavilion, surrounded by tall chain-link fence. No team members allowed in here.
We have our own leader bathrooms too, with toilets that actually flush. :) So anyway, a typical day for me is: wake up at 5:00 am, wait for David to wake the kids up at 5:30, watch the kids run the OC (I’ll run it with on Leader Day), eat breakfast around 6:45, devotions at 7:15 sharp, sit with them in their 1st morning class and then go to a leaders meeting, while monitors watch the kids at 8:45. Nancy and I are usually there till after 11 or so, cause it’s our cooking class. We made tortillas yesterday and English muffins today. We split them between the kids and they loved them.
Lunch is at 12, then we have another leader meeting for 30 min. David directs their music class, then I take them to puppets at 2:15. David and Jeremiah do the next 2 classes after that, so I get to have time off:) Yay! But I really miss being with the kids. They are so much fun!
Yesterday I took a picture of Jaron, Forrest, Damon and Sandeep in the “manly pose”. A TMI photographer came by and snapped one as well so go check the website.
....So anyway be praying for our team to continue to grow and be unified.
...Oh yea tell Brooke re - Sunday discussion - Ps 51:5
....Can’t wait to get to Zambia - away from these mosquitoes!
....Tell Felicia hi for me and don’t forget to feed Ezekiel! Give Prince a hug and Jake & Nenya a treat!... Kiss Sonny and Lone Star for me!
Love Yall and miss yall!
Missy :)
We talked to Missy and Jaron last night. They called about 1:00 am. They were at the Orlando Airport waiting for their flight to Washington DC. As I write this, they are airborne on Ethiopia Airline flight 501 to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with a fuel stop in Rome. They will then have two more flights before they get to there final destination in Zambia sometime Wed.
We have received three letters from Missy and here is the latest. I will get the rest posted tomorrow.
6/26/08
3:46 PM
Hey Yall,
I think I’ve finally settled into bootcamp! The leadership problems have pretty much disappeared and we’ve settled into a nice routine. David has the kids in block-laying right now, so the rest of us are chillin’ in the “leader sanctuary”, which is really the back of the Boot Camp (BC) office - a pavilion, surrounded by tall chain-link fence. No team members allowed in here.
We have our own leader bathrooms too, with toilets that actually flush. :) So anyway, a typical day for me is: wake up at 5:00 am, wait for David to wake the kids up at 5:30, watch the kids run the OC (I’ll run it with on Leader Day), eat breakfast around 6:45, devotions at 7:15 sharp, sit with them in their 1st morning class and then go to a leaders meeting, while monitors watch the kids at 8:45. Nancy and I are usually there till after 11 or so, cause it’s our cooking class. We made tortillas yesterday and English muffins today. We split them between the kids and they loved them.
Lunch is at 12, then we have another leader meeting for 30 min. David directs their music class, then I take them to puppets at 2:15. David and Jeremiah do the next 2 classes after that, so I get to have time off:) Yay! But I really miss being with the kids. They are so much fun!
Yesterday I took a picture of Jaron, Forrest, Damon and Sandeep in the “manly pose”. A TMI photographer came by and snapped one as well so go check the website.
....So anyway be praying for our team to continue to grow and be unified.
...Oh yea tell Brooke re - Sunday discussion - Ps 51:5
....Can’t wait to get to Zambia - away from these mosquitoes!
....Tell Felicia hi for me and don’t forget to feed Ezekiel! Give Prince a hug and Jake & Nenya a treat!... Kiss Sonny and Lone Star for me!
Love Yall and miss yall!
Missy :)
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Visit to TMI
I just got back from a visit to TMI. I spent about 4 hours with Marissa and Jaron. I also got to see Zach and Peter for a moment. I did get some pictures of them all together. Everyone is doing great.
However, they are ready to get on the field. The Florida heat and humidity combined with mosquitoes is rough.
Here is a letter Jaron gave to me while I was there:
Home, Dad's sitting here next to me. We're in the chapel cuz there's a Big Storm and the Big Top(tent) isn't safe, so um I'm doing good, the team gets along pretty well. So do me and the rest of the guys.
Forrest a guy on my team wrote the other letter(see below) for me. He's funny. Boot camp is getting old, so I'm ready for commissioning. Out team is leaving commissioning night, so I'm really excited.
GTG
Jaron
Dear Jaron's Family,
Jaron is too busy serving jail time to write you letters. Well, he's not really in jail, but.....Well he isn't very good at writing letters....so I'm doing it for him. "I'm doing great!" He said. "I am thankful my loving sister is here to protect me from that kid. The kid is buff, courageous, and has rugged good looks. His name is Forrest Flanagan, and I'm scared of him." These were Jaron's words, not mine. Well, as you can tell, Jaron will do fine and the only bad thing about this trip is that he misses you.............
Miss you lots,
Forrest...
err, I mean Jaron.......
That is all for now. This kid Forrest is a hoot. When you combine Jaron's dry humor and Forrest' wit, they should not have a dull moment.
Blessings,
Jack(Dad)
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