facebook

Put a couple of links on the right side for our facebook accounts. We’ve enjoyed stating connected that way. Join us on Facebook!

organized the pics

I added a few links below on the right side column. The Eva Joelle link has something special for the Grandmas and Grandpas! We got enough animal pics to have a link there too. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

This Christmas in Swaziland is one to remember.  Like you, we’ve exchanged gifts and will have a big meal together.  But probably unlike you, we will not be sending out cards this year.  So, what’s left is to greet those of you who we will not see in person this Christmas.  Thanks so much for praying for us throughout the year.  We are remembering you all and look forward to being more connected with you all over the next few weeks and months.  

To Grandmas and Grandpas, Aunts and Uncles, moms and dads, brothers and sisters and close friends, we say, “Merry Christmas!”  We love you a ton and can’t wait to exchange hugs and kisses.

Love you,

jeff, angi, olivia, sophia, and eva

remembering the party

Here’s a pic from the Children’s Cup Christmas party in Manzini, SZ back on 12/6.  Though most of these kids benefit from the food provided at the Children’s Cup care points they were not celebrating food on this day, but Immanuel – God with us.   3500-4000 kids  - not one permission slip.  Is that legal?  Children’s Cup does a great job shepherding kids.  At times it can felt a bit like herding kittens, but Cup volunteers didn’t lose one of them.  Praise God for such a great day!

I put a few more pics on the africa pics link.

after Christmas sunday in SZ…

In Swaziland Christmas sunday feels a bit different.  Under the tent down the road from the Chapmans home was church.  Singing, crying out in prayer, testimonies, teaching of the word from a white guy and a generator and loud sound system to bring me just short of a headache.  It was a celebration, but not much unlike every other Sunday here in Manzini.  I think Christmas was only mentioned a few times… probably by me.  Nobody greets with “Merry Christmas.”  But get this, the normal greeting from anyone who speaks in church any day is, “Greetings in the name of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus.”  Honestly, it messed with me enough to ask the question…(with a little USA righteousness) “do they even know it’s Christmas time?”  My senses are messed up and my emotions respond with “this isn’t right”  Or is it?  In America we take part in rhythms of Christianity with a heightened sense of religious experience, decorating, gift giving and partying.  And here that kind of celebration is a bit more low key.  But every Sunday is a celebration beyond most of my sunday experiences in the US.  And when you think about it this way…it’s really not bad…probably more right than not.   

So, for me, today, there is less stress about getting just the right gift for that special someone.  We’ll be decorating some kind of tree and the kids will be opening a few gifts.  I like the fact that Olivia and Sophia don’t even know what the “hot item” all their friends are hoping for this year.  You know, the one dad’s wait in line for to make sure their kids Christmas is complete.  So I’m thanking the Lord this morning for a removal from American culture with it’s commercialism and marketing and religion creating something that was probably never meant to be. just long enough to bring a stark contrast.  

…and with this experience in view I’m reminded in a big way about the birth of our Savior.

Phil 2 teaches that Christ coming to earth as a baby was a lesson in humility.  And in light of this, we are to live with the same attitude in us.  It’s staring me in the face this morning.  A humble way of life.  A serving way of life.  A Christlike attitude way of life.  This was what God taught me after Christmas Sunday in SZ.

As the day draws near to your version of celebrating Christmas… remember and enjoy Him thoroughly.

strange anticipation away from home

We made the trek home from Durban yesterday.  10 days by the ocean was great, but it was good to pull into the Chapman’s driveway.  A bit of the known away from home is comforting.  Angi’s unpacking and has got a bit of a cold.  Squire and Sophia are running around the yard shooting each other with Nerf guns.  Crusoe and Wyatt are trying to make the mouse trap game work.  Olivia had a great scare from the friendly Blue Head lizard on the patio.  Girls screams are somewhat foreign to the Chapman house, so it was fun.  Lad’s got a bit of work to catch up on.  Crystal needs to prep for the staff Christmas party tonight.  Kind of a normal day before 8:00 around here. 

And I’m enjoying a cup of coffee and some time in the Word.  2 Cor 4.  ”Therefore since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.”  Olivia says that “losing heart” makes you feel like giving up.  I agree.  Giving up is not what anyone wakes up to do, but it can happen to anyone.  The work Paul was doing was hard work.  He was giving up his life, literaly, for people to be free.  And it’s the mercy of God that motivates.  So he encourages us, in light of the mercy shown us…don’t give up.  Is the furthering of the gospel the only way to apply?   Nope.  There are so many responsibilities that fill our day that can cause us to want to give up.  Doing life, even in the beauty of Africa, is still hard work.  Marriage is hard work.  Raising 3 girls is hard work.  Doing it all in front of friends.  In the heat of the moment it can give you those feelings of giving up.  But I gotta be honest…knowing who has provided them and why he gave them to us…I don’t want to give up…I want to succeed…i want to conquer.  And through Christ, I believe…

…this is where my mind reflects back to the end of Chapter 2:12-17.  These are probably a new set of life verses for me.  Sorry to leave you hangin…I’m still so blessed by this passage that I don’t even want to write about it yet.  Something tells me your gonna hear about it for a while from me.     

Hey…Christmas day is coming, but the anticipation is strange.  I’m sure it’s the sun, palm trees and 94 deg weather.  Funny how weather can challenge your perspective on one of the greatest rhythms of Christian life.  We miss you all, but are really enjoying our time here.

with joy, jp

“There’s a monkey in the kitchen!”

I never thought I’d really use that sentence, but I found myself shouting it to my friend, Crystal, on Wednesday afternoon while Eva was napping.  Against the wisdom of our housekeeper, we opened the windows too far to let the beautiful ocean breeze in.  A big monkey managed to squeeze in to help himself to our bananas and pears.  When I caught him, he was enjoying a delicious raw egg yolk on top of the kitchen door before Crystal and I scooted him out the door.  As you can imagine, my adrenaline rush wore off long after the kitchen clean-up was complete.  I hope I never have to use that sentence again!

 I had the best intentions of paying close attention to this blog in hopes of bringing you all along on our African journey, but the days have gotten ahead of me and I find myself with eleven days of life to tell you about-yikes!  I’d be here for the rest of our time if I tried to give you ALL the details, so we’ll just have to go with highlights for now.  Jeff is doing a great job keeping you posted when he has time, and it’s been fun to hear what many of you have said in response.  Curl up with me on the wicker beach lounger while I try to give you a little taste of Africa (from my VERY limited perspective…)

 Today I write you from our bedroom in a beach house in Umdloti (oom-shlow-tee)  It has a peek at the Indian Ocean through the bamboo outside of our east-facing window.  We are just north of Durban, Natal, South Africa.  Sunrise happens just before 5:00 a.m., so we can be in the water before the sun gets too strong.  The girls have had fun learning to snorkel and boogey-board (sp?), and they fall into their beds exhausted before 9:00 p.m. each night.  They manage to squeeze some school in each day and they’re having fun journaling so they don’t forget what each day held.      

 Our five senses – Since arriving on Monday, we’ve seen dozens of monkeys in our yard (and now I don’t regard them as “cute” – see photos), a school of about forty dolphins just off the beach, and cockroaches on steroids.  Our yard hosts millipedes that I’ve only seen in books, and the moths and lizards that make it inside at night also belong as pictures in books (just my humble opinion.)  But our girls have enjoyed experiencing God’s creation up close, and I’ve loved watching them.  When I can, I rush to them when they shout, “Mom!  Look at this!”  Even if their find freaks me out a bit, it is still a thrill.   We feel like we’re on another planet when we spy on creatures as we snorkel.  Strange bird calls echo from the trees around our house and sometimes we get a glimpse of the beautiful caller.  Zulu, Siswati, Afrikaans, and even a South African English accent sound strange in our ears.  Most of the food smells and tastes just like home.  Crystal is an amazing cook and she keeps our tastebuds and tummies happy!  Most of the familiar fruits are in-season and deliciously sweet.   We have all liked eating litches (lee-cheese) from the tree in the Chapmans’ yard.  It rains almost every night.  The humidity feels terrific on our December Ohio skin!     

 English, but different – I am getting used to being in stores with Crystal and finding people looking at me strangely when I speak.  We’ve learned that a mosquito is a “mozzi”, a swimsuit is a “cozzi” (short for “swim costume”), and “zebra” is pronounced with a short “e”.  I really don’t have the intonation necessary to make a South African or Swazi understand me the first time, so I try to leave most of the talking to Lad or Crystal when possible.  The girls have had several conversations with Swazis and have had some of the same struggles, although children tend to be more forgiving. 

 Other adjustments – We’re getting used to traveling on the opposite side of the street, and Jeff has even managed to drive it without a problem (way to go, Babe!)  I’m adjusting to Christmas lights on palm trees and hearing “Frosty the Snowman” piped into the stores while we sport our tank tops and shorts.  I will have to be here awhile longer before I get used to having a housekeeper.  I don’t like having to put my baby under a mosquito net while she sleeps, but learned that if I don’t, the mozzis enjoy feasting on her.   The sign indicating that rhinos could be crossing the road made us giggle!  (see most recent photos)  Olivia has had to get used to all the children crowding around to touch her long hair.  Sophia is our hugger, so she has naturally taken to touching and hugging the kids who cross her path.  (That certainly crosses any language barrier with children!)  The girls have adjusted well to hanging out with African kids. 

 I hope this helps to fill in some blanks as many of you continue to pray for us as we are away.  Thanks so much for being interested and involved in what’s going on in our family.  I’ll continue to update you as I have time.  Give your legs a good stretch and check on how much snow has fallen since you sat down with me!

 Ngiyabonga (Thank you) ~ Angi

parties of grace

Only God can motivate people to throw a party for someone else.  Parties are really all about others.  There a God thing.  I suppose it can get twisted and people can try to get something out of a party that wasn’t intended, but in there purest form parties are really about others.  

We spent 2 days throwing Christmas parties for about 4500 children.  Can’t picture it?  I’ll put a few pictures up soon…internet is not so hot here.  (Durban is known for a different kind of surfing).  But it’s true.  God gave me a small window from his view this morning.  It was a sea of humanity really.  Some hurting, sick, hungry.  Some healthy, energetic, tired.  Some grateful or grumpy, but all were there being ushered through the motions of a party.  But I think I just got it this morning…This was Christmas morning for many of them.  It’s 2 days later and it’s hit me and I can’t stop the tears from flowing.  There will be no gifts under the tree, no music, no turkey, no family, but they will remember the Christmas party where they sang and danced to celebrate immanuel…God is with us.  

Don’t want give you the wrong idea…I was not even a fraction of the prep and work for this party.  There were not many parents but a volunteer staff and some missionaries who carry a big load have given there life to serve these children.  There goal for the day:  Throw a part for a small mass of humanity…playing games, singing, dancing, eating…you know…throw a party.  This one is to celebrate immanuel…God is with us.

Let this sink in a bit, because I think it might change your whole Christmas.  God come to earth in the form of a baby to be a servant and one day serve us in the ultimate way.  This was the worlds introduction to grace.  It is really something to celebrate.  We don’t deserve it, but it’s true.  God came to this place so that we might… celebrate him.  Immanuel – God is with us.  He’s come for us!

We throw parties at Christmas time.  It’s a good time for family, friends, neighbors to really enjoy each other.  Handshakes turn into hugs, simple table settings turn into a great spread of color and smells and candles, the music of the season plays all day in the background, and some in our culture even dance and bring out the fine wine.  These are all the right things…so here’s the question, “what are you celebrating and how do you celebrate?”

If you celebrate at this time of year…for Christ’ sake…don’t celebrate a new ipod or cloths or kitchen set or TV or Blue Ray.  Don’t celebrate food or drink.  I know this sounds harsh, but don’t celebrate family or relatives or grandparents.  Celebrate Christ and the grace of God.  And do it with all your heart.  Celebrate with family and neighbors and relatives.  And when you celebrate, celebrate with singing and dancing and good food and drink and laughter.  Celebrate Immanuel.

We’re enjoying the moment with joy!

jp for the family

loved ones, a special lady and “just a boy I met”

So we woke up in Swaziland this morning.  The only real difference is it’s really different.  Trying not to be too in your face, but high 70’s and a palm tree in the backyard were part of the morning wake up call.  Thank you Lord!  Sorry OH and WI, pretty sure it’s gonna snow today. 

Lad and Crystal are amazing hosts and the Lord has blessed them with a great place to live and they have graciously welcomed us to share it and be part of their family for the time of our stay.  The blessing is ours to be sure.

After we crossed the border into SZ yesterday, Crystal and Angi headed towards home and Lad and I went to a meeting with a group of community leaders to try to establish a new care point that Lad has been working on.  The village is primarily made up of “informal housing”…shacks without doors and windows…but more importantly many children without food.  So, with Sophia and Squire (renewed buddies) in tow we headed through the hills, narrow streets, and dirt roads of a small village about 45 min from their home.  Sophia and Squire played outside and Lad and I were greeted in the one room building as expected guests to the town meeting.  As the sun went down, one man lit the lanturn in the middle of the room and the meeting moved on without a hitch.  It’s not a done deal, but their is great hope that Children’s Cup will be feeding kids there soon.

Another special lady who joined us on the trip to this village was and obvious product of God’s grace and a testimony to Lad and Crystals investment here in SZ.  Dolly will potentially be the leader and primary teacher for this care point.  She has a sweet spirit and has been amazingly productive in the very work that Childrens Cup is here to do…feeding children, developing new teachers and providing love for those in her care.  She and her husband both HIV+.  As she got in the car, she showed a recent picture of a group of kids and volunteers – pictures don’t say all there is to say, but this one choked me up.  It represented time and love and commitment and service and grace and provision and man I can’t say enough.  Thank God for people like her in the kingdom.

Oh yea, while the meeting went on, Sophia had her first conversation with young SZ boy.  it was small talk really, but sure proud of her willingness to talk.  I wasn’t there to witness it, but the light in her eyes said it all.  ”He was just a boy I met.”  I love that!  The “just a boy I met” will go home to his “informal housing” and have a new thought about the conversation he had with the kind white girl from America.

Well I’ll try to get pics up soon.

We are so blessed with loved ones in US and SZ.  Thanks for praying for our travels…all answered prayers.  Please continue to pray for the rest of our adventure to be as enjoyable as the beginning has been.

africa photos

I added a link where we will store some photos of our trip.  Not everything…but a few good ones.