kristin stutes

Every morning we wake up and say, “This is going to be the BEST day of our lives,” and believe it or not it ALWAYS is!!!!!  I am completely BLOWN away by the details and BIG things I’ve been able to experience in Africa.  We got back late last night after spending 2 days in Mozambique with Isaac and Carol.  I JUST LOVE THEM!! It’s been almost 2 years since they have been here and started the HPC campus aka. Terry Melancon Chapel and care point.  We spent one morning playing with over 100 kids.  They are sssoooo cute.  The night before, I told Natalie that I pictured her own daughter with a dress and mary-jane shoes and then we met this little girl at the care point with little braids and a contagious smile and was attached to her all morning.  When we looked down she was wearing a skirt and orange mary-jane shoes.  LOVELY! Details–Thanks Lord!

Each child has a story and I want to know all of them!! To know more about their story and to possibly sponsor one go to Mission’s of Mercy and listen to them!!

We played a little while on the beach, the city is AMAZING! This is where Blood Diamonds was filmed and I felt like I was in a movie as we rode around the city.  Monday night we attended a youth event called Som do C’eu (Sounds of Heaven) and danced African style. Yebo!!

Sunday was amazing as well!!! I had the honor of getting up and doing flow and the announcements for church.  Sarah Kelly is an amazing musician from the US and is filming a video for her upcoming tour and is focusing on the children and women in Africa.  She gave her testimony at church that ROCKED the lives of the people in Africa as well as the Americans (me). 

Oh, but Saturday was……(I’m speechless and about to cry just thinking about it).  First, we had a sleep over on Friday so we all woke up and went for a hike and made a video. I can’t wait to post it!!! Then we spent the afternoon with my sister Ruth. I can’t stop talking about her.  She likes her bread toasted (details)!  She is in her 30’s and in 2003, she was diagnosed with HIV and was cast out by everyone.  Two years later she suffered a stroke and was paralyzed which not only left her abandoned but abused physically and mentally.  To provide for herself she had to crawl on her stomach to get around!!  She said in her mind she knew she had to get out of the situation and a man made a pair of walking sticks to help her get around and eventually she was able to move around.  Before her mother passed away she got to see her daughter walk!! Now, Ruth only has 1 walking stick and gets around slowly…but she gets around and lives on her own in a little room where we got to hang out all afternoon. 

We met her aunt who she now considers her mother and when we arrived she felt SO bad because in their culture you are suppose to give your guests something to eat even if it’s your last meal and she had NOTHING to give us.  We told her to please, please not worry! There are so many details with this visit that I’d love to share but it’s overwhelming but GOD IS SO GOOD!!! Ruth has joy that could ONLY come from the Lord.

Natalie, Ruth, Zinty and Me

There area dozens of stories similar to Ruth’s that I’ve been able to listen to first hand so I could go on and on….  It’s so amazing because they are OVERWHELMED with JOY when we hang out or help them but the truth is that we leave far more BLESSED then they are.