Time is flying by...

I cant believe i havent written in over a week!!! I thought i would have so much time to come up here to use the internet at this Danish School, but i havent!! its been busy busy busy and i am shocked that it is August 11th and i will be hitting my mid to later twenties in 5 days, oh goodness...my first birthday in Africa!!!!!

well, i have had some wonderful moments with the babies this week...they LOVE to hear my ipod on the speakers that my roomie gave for me to use, thanks bec! ive caught some of them dancing too, which brings a big grin to my face. One of the boys, Joshua, has completely stolen my heart...he ran full speed into me when he saw me from afar today outside yelling "Halllllllieeeee"...my heart was so happy!!!

i also have had my first experience riding the Daladala...which is the public transportation here in Arusha. It is a small mini van with a sliding door and they are everywhere!!! all over the streets and people get packed in there along with goats!!!!!!!! they also drive WAY too fast and there is a man who is in charge of the sliding door and getting people in and out quickly...we will have to be riding it more now because taxi's are getting a bit expensive...i do hope to sit by a goat soon!!

i had a blessing of encouragement from the church service we attended on sunday. It was called Vineyard. It was held in an open air, huge bungaloo type house with lights hanging down from the roof. it was just GORGEOUS!! i cant imagine how it looks at night!

they were serving tea, coffee, beef biscuits, and puffy balls of dough that were fried...it was so delicious, i cant lie!!

the service was so simple with a guitar, bongos, and one singer...we sang "Jesus, be my Center" and "Shout to the North and the South"...dont know if those are the names or not, but i loved singing songs i knew. The minister talked about the persecution of Christians all over the world and read emails from his friends that were experiencing such torture and violence for sharing the gospel. how we should pray continously for those whose lives are in danger for the name of Jesus Christ.

He also talked about how we dont believe God is a god of miracles anymore, that He has changed. that He is not still the God who parted the red sea and raised people from the dead and gave sight to the blind, but WE HAVE CHANGED HIM. GOD IS STILL THE SAME.

He is still the God of miracles. He was talking about how his wife the other day had hurt her foot and arm and they were swollen and both very hot. She told him to come over there and pray for her to be healed, to have faith. He laid hands on her and prayed and the swelling went down and the pain was gone instantly. i know, its hard to believe things like this are from God, its hard not to be skeptical of such stories, but i asked myself, What God do i believe in? Can i really limit God to what He can and can not do? woe is me...

Here in Africa, God has streched my faith, mind, and heart in ways that are sometimes too hard to desribe...i am so thankful!

this week i will go to the poorest part of Arusha on wednesday to play with orphans, friday night go to hear a band at a place called Stigy's and then celebrate my 27th birthday on satruday out to dinner with the roomies...lots of excitement!

i miss yall so much and thank you for ALL the encouraging emails and love that you have sent, i do feel soaked in prayer these days, Hallie