Hello Mom, Dad, Kay, Cal, and Jen
How are you all doing? How is the cough? I didn't wake up last night with a cough, which was great! And this morning my throat wasn't as dry. :)
The first night we arrived here at the Bentons, Uncle Mike found a scorpion in the house!! It was about an inch and a half long and see-through white with some black in it's middle!
Zach has taken me to the catfish pond a few times. We haven't got any fish, but did kill and eat 5 crabs the first day we went there!! The weather is quite warm, but I like it. It makes swimming in freezing cold water not so bad.
I am the water boy and so try to keep the filters full of tap water. It is hard to keep them full as we go through a lot of water each day!!
There are three boys, Kendy, Kevvy, and Danny who are Zack and my pals. Kendy and Kevvy are Leddy's (their cook) boys. Danny is 12, Kendy 10, and Kevvy 8. Danny is the nicest kid. He knows a little bit of English and teaches me some Swahili.
Love You All
I hope to write again soon.
Corbin
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Standing on the rock that is higher than I
As we go through this sickness issue, I wrote my cousin Steve, who Jordan and Corbin will be staying with in a month, to give me some words. The following was my note to him which is then followed by his reply.
Steve, I need your teaching/preaching words as I go through dealing with why.... and what I should have done different. I do trust God and I know that that statement doesn't fit with the question why, It is more a heaviness that stops the fountain inside because I am grieving for my children. They planned for so long, all their funding went into this and they wanted to serve and bless and give ........ my mind swirls and I want to get it on the rock that is higher then me, please walk me through that. I know that you walked there many times your first year and I just need a little ministering.......... thanks.
Hey Shannon, my heart is breaking for you all. I can’t imagine how disappointed/confused/discouraged/frustrated/sad you must be feeling. You have put so much work and time and money and effort into this trip and to feel like it is being wasted by sickness must be really hard. I am afraid preaching and teaching won’t really be the best. I wish I could just give you a hug and pray with you and just cry together. But, you did ask for some words from scripture and our experience and so I want to honor you with that.
We have had some discouraging days recently with sickness as well, flu and cold and lingering cough and stuff has made us low. So, I can feel just a little bit of your trauma. Our first year here was very hard, like this. Humbling and hard and discouraging and painful and confusing in many ways. Obviously, we know that trials are to be considered joy because they test our faith and stretch us much like someone who is training for a marathon. You can do tomorrow what you can’t do today because you are bit by bit stretched by testing of your body. I think perseverance which is the result in that classic James passage happens only when our body is stretched by trials. Perseverance which enables us to run marathons with lots of training is also the thing which enables to do for God what he wants us to do. Perseverance is the key to putting us into a position to serve God faithfully, skillfully and joyfully. So, we turn to God and we find joy because we know that God is in control and won’t waste experiences. He is executing his plan. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. And so that is the only thing I can offer you now, in that we came to Africa to change Africa, but God used our time in Africa to change us, to break us, to humble us and to give us perseverance to do tomorrow what we wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise. Perhaps, that is more important to God’s plan, worth all the money and the time and the effort, for your children. I used to always teach during mission trips to not have many expectations because God’s plan is not yours, and he may use sickness, flat tires, difficult scary moments and lots of other things to teach you what you would not be able to learn otherwise… He is the author and perfector of our salvation. He is the story writer. For some difficult painful reason this is the story he is choosing to write for your kids. You didn’t do anything wrong. It is not your fault. I believe that their more Africa in their future, and perhaps he is giving them a taste of how difficult it is here. Perhaps he is growing them as they have to rely only on God and not have you and Chad. Perhaps he is using this time to humble them. I don’t know. I wish I did. His story is only a quarter way through. But I do know that God has used the suffering of last year to help me this year and I am sure what we are going through now will affect next year. If the goal is to glorify God, let Him decide what glorifies Him. (eph 2:10) The suffering may be more valuable to Him than your children playing with orphans and ministering to Africans. And the best thing you can do it surrender your expectations and your disappointment into the glorious, loving hands of their father and yours. It is not easy but so crucial to growing in the faith which builds your perseverance. . This mission trip to Africa is not all about them. He has some things to teach your family as well and he will not waste his experiences…
We are with you in spirit, truth, love, joy and pain…
Please keep us updated…
Steve
There is a saying that you will be no better next year from this minus the good books you read and the rich charactered people that you are around......... I thank God that my children are going to come home greater people for having the opportunity to be around these godly saints.
Thanks for following,
Shannon
Steve, I need your teaching/preaching words as I go through dealing with why.... and what I should have done different. I do trust God and I know that that statement doesn't fit with the question why, It is more a heaviness that stops the fountain inside because I am grieving for my children. They planned for so long, all their funding went into this and they wanted to serve and bless and give ........ my mind swirls and I want to get it on the rock that is higher then me, please walk me through that. I know that you walked there many times your first year and I just need a little ministering.......... thanks.
Hey Shannon, my heart is breaking for you all. I can’t imagine how disappointed/confused/discouraged/frustrated/sad you must be feeling. You have put so much work and time and money and effort into this trip and to feel like it is being wasted by sickness must be really hard. I am afraid preaching and teaching won’t really be the best. I wish I could just give you a hug and pray with you and just cry together. But, you did ask for some words from scripture and our experience and so I want to honor you with that.
We have had some discouraging days recently with sickness as well, flu and cold and lingering cough and stuff has made us low. So, I can feel just a little bit of your trauma. Our first year here was very hard, like this. Humbling and hard and discouraging and painful and confusing in many ways. Obviously, we know that trials are to be considered joy because they test our faith and stretch us much like someone who is training for a marathon. You can do tomorrow what you can’t do today because you are bit by bit stretched by testing of your body. I think perseverance which is the result in that classic James passage happens only when our body is stretched by trials. Perseverance which enables us to run marathons with lots of training is also the thing which enables to do for God what he wants us to do. Perseverance is the key to putting us into a position to serve God faithfully, skillfully and joyfully. So, we turn to God and we find joy because we know that God is in control and won’t waste experiences. He is executing his plan. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. And so that is the only thing I can offer you now, in that we came to Africa to change Africa, but God used our time in Africa to change us, to break us, to humble us and to give us perseverance to do tomorrow what we wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise. Perhaps, that is more important to God’s plan, worth all the money and the time and the effort, for your children. I used to always teach during mission trips to not have many expectations because God’s plan is not yours, and he may use sickness, flat tires, difficult scary moments and lots of other things to teach you what you would not be able to learn otherwise… He is the author and perfector of our salvation. He is the story writer. For some difficult painful reason this is the story he is choosing to write for your kids. You didn’t do anything wrong. It is not your fault. I believe that their more Africa in their future, and perhaps he is giving them a taste of how difficult it is here. Perhaps he is growing them as they have to rely only on God and not have you and Chad. Perhaps he is using this time to humble them. I don’t know. I wish I did. His story is only a quarter way through. But I do know that God has used the suffering of last year to help me this year and I am sure what we are going through now will affect next year. If the goal is to glorify God, let Him decide what glorifies Him. (eph 2:10) The suffering may be more valuable to Him than your children playing with orphans and ministering to Africans. And the best thing you can do it surrender your expectations and your disappointment into the glorious, loving hands of their father and yours. It is not easy but so crucial to growing in the faith which builds your perseverance. . This mission trip to Africa is not all about them. He has some things to teach your family as well and he will not waste his experiences…
We are with you in spirit, truth, love, joy and pain…
Please keep us updated…
Steve
There is a saying that you will be no better next year from this minus the good books you read and the rich charactered people that you are around......... I thank God that my children are going to come home greater people for having the opportunity to be around these godly saints.
Thanks for following,
Shannon
Update
Hi Shannon,
Jordan and Corbin will be going on antibiotics so that they will not be giving whooping cough to the people around them - mostly the Tanzanian children that play at our house every day and your relatives in Zambia. We have been limiting their exposure to Tanzanians because many Tanzanians haven't had the chance to be immunized and the chances of them taking it home to a baby are good, and it's very dangerous for little ones. We are not in a panic but are concerned about the village because a lot of people have typhoid and malaria dormant in their bodies so their immune systems are already weak.
Jordan started coughing a few days ago but it isn't as bad as Corbin's yet but seems to be getting worse. We thought Corbin was getting better but then he woke up last night gasping, retching, and coughing. Mike got up a couple of times to make sure he was ok. He's a good sport and doesn't complain or make a big deal of it, though.
On a brighter side, Jordan has been sewing some things that are helping me soo much and Corbin is such a helpful young man, always asking what he can do. They are such a blessing.
Terese
Jordan and Corbin will be going on antibiotics so that they will not be giving whooping cough to the people around them - mostly the Tanzanian children that play at our house every day and your relatives in Zambia. We have been limiting their exposure to Tanzanians because many Tanzanians haven't had the chance to be immunized and the chances of them taking it home to a baby are good, and it's very dangerous for little ones. We are not in a panic but are concerned about the village because a lot of people have typhoid and malaria dormant in their bodies so their immune systems are already weak.
Jordan started coughing a few days ago but it isn't as bad as Corbin's yet but seems to be getting worse. We thought Corbin was getting better but then he woke up last night gasping, retching, and coughing. Mike got up a couple of times to make sure he was ok. He's a good sport and doesn't complain or make a big deal of it, though.
On a brighter side, Jordan has been sewing some things that are helping me soo much and Corbin is such a helpful young man, always asking what he can do. They are such a blessing.
Terese
A note from Uncle Mike
Hi Chad and Shannon,
I just want you guys to know that your kids are great and we are really enjoying them. Jordan did some sewing for Terese today and Terese was thrilled. I am mostly around Zach and Corbin and I am very happy with how helpful Corbin is and his great attitude. His spirits are always up and he never complains, even with a cough. He seems to love it here and works hard at learning the language. Today I had Corbin and Zach put some hinge springs on one of our doors. They did a good job and Corbin stayed at it until it was finished, asking permission to come late for lunch so he could finish.
Your kids are a blessing to us.
Love,
Mike
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I just want you guys to know that your kids are great and we are really enjoying them. Jordan did some sewing for Terese today and Terese was thrilled. I am mostly around Zach and Corbin and I am very happy with how helpful Corbin is and his great attitude. His spirits are always up and he never complains, even with a cough. He seems to love it here and works hard at learning the language. Today I had Corbin and Zach put some hinge springs on one of our doors. They did a good job and Corbin stayed at it until it was finished, asking permission to come late for lunch so he could finish.
Your kids are a blessing to us.
Love,
Mike
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A note from Aunt Terese......
Your kids are wonderful Shannon. Please don't worry about Corbin. I do think he is getting better. He does cough up some in the morning but I think it's good to get it out. We have been trying warm water with lemon and honey. The lemons are from the garden and the honey is from Ted's hives here so it's good. I think it's helping. i don't want to put him on antibiotics for a cough. There's no fever and I think he will be better off to fight it. We were laughing so hard because in the evening we were all sitting around talking about health food and Corbin was telling us about all the great healthy things he likes and then went into a coughing spell and Mike said, "I see how that's working for you," We all laughed so hard. They love the rice and beans here - I knew they would. I'm so glad to be having it again. The kids are all bonding well - lots of talking and laughter. My kids really have been going through a lot with emotions about Erin being gone but I think your kids are a Godsend for them. Thanks for sharing such precious people with us. Battery is yelling at me. Much love, Terese
Monday, September 28, 2009
Yea! A little news from abroad!!
Jordan's sent the following news....
On the morning of the 25th, Savy came over to visit for awhile. Savy and I kept Danae and Leah company as they worked at getting their rooms put back together after being gone for 3 months. We had a delicious lunch of rice, beans and greens. Later in the evening we headed up to the Rabenold's house to have a long walk.
On the 26th, we celebrated Savy's birthday. We girls, swam in the afternoon in the Rabenold's pool. The cold water feels so good after being hot all day. It is sometimes 100 in the shade! For dinner, all of us youth, including the boys, ate at the table. The interesting part was that the food was just dumped on the tablecloth and we ate with our fingers! No shortage of fun and laughter! Savy's suckling pig broke it's leg, so she had it baked whole. It was great! When we were almost done eating, we began to dare each other to eat the brains, ears and eyes! (She didn't say who ate what!) Also, we enjoyed listening to Uncle Ted tell us his hunting stories.
It is time to head out swimming, so I will tell you all about Sunday later.
Love to all,
Jordan
On the morning of the 25th, Savy came over to visit for awhile. Savy and I kept Danae and Leah company as they worked at getting their rooms put back together after being gone for 3 months. We had a delicious lunch of rice, beans and greens. Later in the evening we headed up to the Rabenold's house to have a long walk.
On the 26th, we celebrated Savy's birthday. We girls, swam in the afternoon in the Rabenold's pool. The cold water feels so good after being hot all day. It is sometimes 100 in the shade! For dinner, all of us youth, including the boys, ate at the table. The interesting part was that the food was just dumped on the tablecloth and we ate with our fingers! No shortage of fun and laughter! Savy's suckling pig broke it's leg, so she had it baked whole. It was great! When we were almost done eating, we began to dare each other to eat the brains, ears and eyes! (She didn't say who ate what!) Also, we enjoyed listening to Uncle Ted tell us his hunting stories.
It is time to head out swimming, so I will tell you all about Sunday later.
Love to all,
Jordan
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Safe in Mbeya
Jordan's email
We had our first experience with the African children, they are very sweet. They love to feel our skin and some of the girls braided our hair, well, at least those of us that have hair to braid, no boys got their hair braided! One girl named Betai let me carry her around and a couple of the girls attached themselves to me even though I couldn't communicate with them very much verbally. I guess there is much more that we say with our actions than with our words.
Savy, the missionary youth that lives next to the Bentons is a very sweet girl. Danae, Leah, Savy and I went swimming in Savy's pool which was a lot of fun. It was so refreshing, even though the water was freezing.
Hope to send more details later, but the Internet time is extremely limited. Love to all and thanks for following! :-)
We had our first experience with the African children, they are very sweet. They love to feel our skin and some of the girls braided our hair, well, at least those of us that have hair to braid, no boys got their hair braided! One girl named Betai let me carry her around and a couple of the girls attached themselves to me even though I couldn't communicate with them very much verbally. I guess there is much more that we say with our actions than with our words.
Savy, the missionary youth that lives next to the Bentons is a very sweet girl. Danae, Leah, Savy and I went swimming in Savy's pool which was a lot of fun. It was so refreshing, even though the water was freezing.
Hope to send more details later, but the Internet time is extremely limited. Love to all and thanks for following! :-)
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