Familiar Faces

Bonjour tout le monde d’Afrique!

It’s only been eleven days since I returned to Gabon and already I’ve settled back into the rhythm of life here. I wish I could describe how wonderful it is to be back here with the country and people I fell in love with last spring, but it isn’t really something you can describe. It’s more than just feeling whole again because you’ve found that part of you that you’ve lost, it’s almost like your heart can finally be at peace because you are where you are meant to be, if that makes any sense. I am beyond excited to be back in Gabon for six weeks and to have the chance build on old relationships and begin new ones.

Oh, how I’ve missed the Gabonese people! There is just something so special and beautiful about these people. Since I’ve been back there have been a lot of happy moments, and all to do with seeing familiar faces. Going to the OSPAC medical clinic for the first time was one of those. The moment I walked in I was hailed by shouting and smothered in hugs and kisses. I kept hearing how much I had been missed and how happy they were that I had come back again, in English I might add (all of their English classes have really been paying off). We have fun, them trying to work on their English and us interns trying to speak in French. After the language barrier being so difficult last year and I am extremely thankful that already we are able to communicate! However, I still have more than a lot to learn and a lot to practice, so these next weeks I will be working hard on French. I’m hoping to improve a lot while I’m here!

We had the chance to go to Pastor Jacob’s house for dinner this past week and it was amazing! The Gabonese people really know how to entertain and throw a party! Not only were all of the OSPAC group there and all of us interns, but we also got to meet more of Pastor Jacob’s family. After an amazing dinner we danced (always my favorite part of these parties) for a few hours, then we sang and prayed together, and then danced some more. Just imagine about thirty people cramped into a tiny living room dancing African style…it was crazy!

Maybe the thing that I was looking forward to doing most when I got here was visiting Hope House, and on Saturday I was able to go. It was such a beautiful day. I know that I can’t fathom what heaven will look like, but seeing all of them rushing towards me, hearing their laughter and joy, I wonder if I had a glimpse what it will be like. I had told myself not to expect them to remember me, after all they meet so many new people every summer, but I was hoping a few of them might. I was wrong; as soon as I got there the children were shouting my name. I was smothered in hugs, many of the children wouldn’t let go of me for a few minutes. As some of the new children came over I could hear the others telling them who I was, and then I was given even more hugs. As soon as hugs were given the children all started talking to me about Christopher, a boy that captured my heart last time I was at Hope House. It turns out that the he went home for the summer just five days before I arrived in Gabon. This means I won’t have a chance to see him this summer. Hope House is a home for abandoned children and some of them have families that they visit during the summer. Even though it was hard to hear that I wouldn’t be able to see him I was really touched by how concerned the children were, they wanted to make sure I knew that he missed me and that he would be coming back. It wasn’t until after I got back to the center when I realized that I would have had two weeks with him if we had arrived in Gabon on our original flight. This is what is so hard for me to wrap my mind around because for the past year I’ve been praying over this boy and dreaming of the moment when I would see him again. And knowing that I would have had the chance…well, I wish I still had it. I know that we arrived in Gabon exactly when we were supposed to, so that means putting my trust in God with this too. I guess He had other plans for me and even though they are a little different than what I was expecting, I trust Him.

A big thank you, to everyone who brought me jump ropes to bring to the children at Hope House, the children LOVED them!! It was pretty special watching all of the younger children jumping rope outside together!

I was really excited that we made it to Gabon before my roommate from last year left. This past week was amazing! It was hard saying goodbye to, Olivia but I look forward to many Sykpe dates in the future! 

Things are going really well here and it’s been great for the Gabon 8 to have the chance to grow even closer. Last night, the first team arrived so from now on out we will have an even fuller house and be a lot busier! If today was anything like the rest of the summer it’s going to be crazy and a lot of fun.

I love and miss you all!

     Shannon

Prayer Requests:

·         I would find my peace and strength in the Lord, especially on those longer days.

·         That my French would continue to improve and that it might be used it well.

·         For the last bit of my financial needs to be met (I still need $150 in monthly support)

·         Safety for all of the teams and interns coming in and leaving this summer.

Some Thoughts...

 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?

 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

-Romans 8:24-25

There is so much that I wish I could change, about world, how people think, how we live, but really I can only change those things in me. I can choose to give and do everything I can to make the world a better place; a place without hunger, sickness, death, and judgement, but love, hope, compassion, and generosity. It's not easy to live in a third world country, but I've found that it's even harder to come back from one. I've been home for ten days and each day it has only gotten harder to justify how we live, and how I live. When I go to sleep at night I know that I've wasted another day and wish that I could change that. It's not enough for me to just go through life being nice to and helping people. My life is supposed be SO much more than that. I want to fully give myself again to serving people who others overlook, to making someone smile who has been mistreated and abused, and to encourage and bring hope to those who have nothing else to live on. I want to make a difference and be part of something bigger here just like I was in Africa. Yes, I really, really, miss Africa; the work, the people, and the Hope House children, but it didn't end there. And like what I was doing in Africa didn't stop neither do I want what God is doing in and through me to stop. It is harder here to live every moment with purpose but I feel like if you can, you bless SO many people. I want use everything that I've learned through struggles and blessings and fight with all the strength that I've gained. I will continue to serve, love, and support what I was a part in Africa. In fact, God has already given me so many dreams of what He can do with me here in America for them. But it's not just about Africa anymore, I back here and I know God wants to use me where I am as well. I want to serve, love, and support my community as well. Because, looking around the brokenhearted, hopeless, and abused people are everywhere. I want this year to be everything that God can make it, and I know that is so much. So, while I'll look back on my trip with a little sadness knowing it's over, I am looking forward with so much joy and excitement! Because, nothing is really over, it's all just beginning! And as I remember a few of my favorite passages from the Bible I know nothing can stop what God is going to do, for I am called according to His purpose and nothing can stand against Him (Romans 8:28&31).

 

Before, I ended this blog I wanted to share a few of my favorite pictures of my time at Hope House and of the precious children. 

 

 I also want to encourage and ask you to help by supporting them. Because they are not supported by the government the only think that keeps the Hope House going and gives all the children a home is the generosity and support is us, their christian family. I'd would love to give you to all the opportunity to be a part of what they are doing at Hope House, because God is certainly there!

If you'd like to donate, this a link through the Christian Missionary Alliance's online giving to the Hope House. Thank you all!!

Supporting Hope House 

Love,

Shannon

The Hardest Word To Say Is Goodbye

 Libreville, Gabon

April 30th- May 10th

I've been trying to write this blog for days, but stopped each time because I didn't want to think about saying goodbye to Africa. How do you write about something when it brings you to tears just thinking about it? When you feel like your heart is going to break when you say goodbye to the children who you've given your heart completely too. I know that it's time for me to go home and I am so excited to see everyone but I feel as if a big part of me belongs here. Which makes it so hard to leave. So, I'm going to leave the goodbyes until after I get home and instead I want to share my last week with you, maybe you'll be able to understand why it's so hard for me to let go of these amazing people and children.

Last Friday night we had a big Gabonese party at the Straws. All of our Gabonese friends came and we celebrated Hannah's birthday (again.. I think that makes three parties:) and just our friendships with each other. I have been to a few dinner/parties here but nothing compares to this last one. Let's just say it started off with people putting flags on their foreheads and ended with a DJ and dancing. It really was just an awesome night spent with (as I like to call them) my Gabonese family. I especially loved all the dancing, which really looked liked nothing but was a ton of fun do to. I believe we had the music going for over two hours and I of course danced the whole time:) I love each one of these people and I'm looking forward to coming back and having more dance parties!

Saturday, we spent the day at Hope House, so of course I had a blast! I feel like I could spend every day there and each one would be as special as the day before. I gave the children a bible lesson which Sam Straw translated for me. The story was about Moses and how God showed him who He was and how God wants to show us who He is. After the story and worship we did our craft together. Each of the kids wrote or drew different things they knew about God and who He was, and then we put them together and hung them on the wall. It was a really special moment reading some of the things they wrote and seeing just how much these kids love Jesus!

Over the weekend two new interns from Canada arrived, Reinette and Robert. We spent Monday repainting rooms in the Envision Center and then the evening doing acrobatics outside. Both of which were really fun.

Tuesday, I went to Hope House by myself for the first time. Since the kids were in school I spent the day helping Mama Natalie (who along with her husband Pastor Israel run the Hope House) and two of the other women who work at Hope House. I really enjoyed my time there. It was interesting because none of them really spoke English and I of course don't know more then a few words in French, but we figured things out. I ended up helping them with ironing, actually a lot of ironing. Here in Africa they hang their clothes outside which means they have to iron their clothes to kill the mango worms (which otherwise burrow into your skin). Now imagine ironing everyone's clothes. It was a lot, but at the same time way less than it should have been. I've have only ever seen maybe two different outfits on each child.  I also helped with some of the cleaning and then making lunch as well. For lunch I de-boned about 20 of the small smoked fish that you can buy on the street. Even though I hate the smell of fish I really enjoyed it. Not the fish part as much as all the singing that went on while we were preparing the fish:) Music can bring people together even when they don't speak the same language and that definitely happened in the kitchen that day. Plus, after lunch I had about an hour with the children before it was time to leave. I wasn't expecting to see the kids at all so it was a wonderful surprise! I cherished every minute!

Wednesday afternoon we all went to Hope House and spent a couple hours playing with the children. We even had a soccer game going for awhile. It was a lot of fun even though I might just be the worst soccer player ever. I only kicked the ball a few times and somehow I still managed to break a toe. Yep, I do have a gift for things like that.

Thursday, we helped at OSPAC all day and in the afternoon gave another English placement test. I am going to miss everyone from OSPAC so much! They really are one of a kind!

Friday, we spent the morning painting the kitchen at Envision (it badly needed repainting) and then headed out to the beach. It was really nice to have the afternoon off and just enjoy some of the beautiful things that God has blessed us with. I love walking down the beach and just soaking up the sun (and yes, I am getting a tan...which is amazing since I'm on doxy and I keep burning)! That night we had a game night, starting with Settlers of Catan and ending with Sardines and Kick the Can. I found out just how bad my eyesight is in the dark after bumping into everything in a ten mile radius. And realized that I shouldn't play Sardines after getting stuck trying to hide under a bed...yup, I was really hard to find:)

Saturday, Reinette, Robert, and I all went to Hope House. We had a bible lesson with the kids about worship and afterward made hearts of worship. Then to my surprise Mama Natalie called all the children together and told me they had a gift for me. They sang and then all danced for me! It was a lot of fun! I love seeing them praise the Lord because they are always filled with such joy, and their dancing is just a blast to watch! It is one of those moments that I will always remember and continue to be blessed by.

Sunday we went to the church that Pastor Israel is the senior pastor at. Which meant when we arrived and got out of the car we were swarmed by all of the Hope House children! It totally made my day! We ended up spending about twenty minutes before the service started with them, and I loved it! They we so excited to have us there!! I should also mention that since this church has a lot of Nigerians there was an English translator! So, I got to hear an actual message for the first time in Africa. Well, I've heard many, but since they have all been in French I haven't understood anything. After hearing the message on Sunday about visions and how God works I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to listen to one of the African pastors. God is really working and speaking in hearts here!!

Then yesterday, Hannah, Reinette, Robert and I all went to Hope House again! I seriously, have enjoyed this past week the most of my entire time in Africa and it's because of all the time I've gotten to spend with the Hope House children! I wish I could explain how special the Hope House kids are. The way that they light up when they see you and then rush to smoother you in hugs. How even when we aren't doing anything, the time together is so precious. The way they are all unbelievably generous. They have so very little yet they are always trying to give you gifts. Whether it's the bracelet they made, one of their drawings, or a note they've written, they are always looking for something to give you. It is really humbling, because at first you don't want to accept anything because it makes you feel guilty (after all we have SO much). But you look at their faces and see how proud they are, they know that they are giving you all that they have and they are so happy about it. So, you receive their gifts with a huge smile, tears in your eyes, give them a giant hug, and tell them just how beautiful it is. Their gifts. Their hearts. Their love. Yesterday, we without a lesson or really any plans, just with the intention of having fun playing with the kids. And it exceeded anything I could have hoped for. We did a bunch of random and fun things like, a water balloon fight, coloring with chalk, blowing bubbles, coloring pictures, and we took a ton of pictures! The kids love pictures. At one point they colored their faces with chalk and I got some really funny pictures of them incognito:) I also had a chance to just sit with the kids talking bits and pieces but mostly just holding on to them and letting them know how much they mean to me. If I could pick one day of this whole trip to relive, it would be yesterday! I know that I will keep coming back to that day in my thoughts, remembering the smiles, the laughter, the hugs, the precious beauty that God has blessed each one of those children with. And each time I think of them, I'll remember why I am coming back. After all, I'm leaving a big part of my heart with these children and living across the world won't separate us for long.

Today, as I've been gathering and finishing up last minute tasks I've been trying to process everything that has happened, that I've done, that I've learned, that I've been given, and every person who has made my time in Africa unforgettable and so special. It's a lot to think about, in fact it's a little overwhelming. How do you summarize something that is bigger than you understand and larger than life. I don't think it's possible. So, I won't try. Instead I'll wait and share all the small pieces as come together. But who knows how far down the road God will still be using this trip to change my life. It will probably be a life long journey.

So, goodbye for now. I'm sure I'll be posting many more blogs on Africa when I get back to the states, but this is the last one from Gabon. Thank you, all for coming with me on this journey!

God Bless All,
Shannon