Family...

Wow what a wonderful 31 hours….God is just so good...Nothing huge but it's all in the little things. To start with there is a wonderful osteopath visiting here that is being so kind and working on our kids and some missionaries. She worked on me yesterday and found that part of my lung wasn’t functioning as it should. Those who know me know I have had discomfort with breathing so this totally explained it and now I feel the difference! She worked on some other things as well. Found the whole thing truly fascinating! God was so creative when he made us!

Had a relaxing evening in with me myself and I, where I made homemade soup. The kitchen is my happy place where it’s just me and God creating together. Introvert at heart. Love my alone times with God.

Then today I had a day of doing admin and getting lots done…spoke with some friends and my lovely ‘Tia’ who is part of my little family. Heard about my friend Ana who I work with at the baby and toddler house, chased a robber through the village today. They got lots of stuff back but not all…but the police are on it! She then gave me some Chinese noodles she had made, which due to timing resulted in me eating two lunches. :) Love the community I am part of. Love my home.

I then got the barraca ready for tonight with one of the boys who works for Rahab each Friday. He cleans each Friday afternoon and guards, translates and looks after the male visitors in the evening. I put up two pictures that some artists did for us in the last mission’s school. Made the barraca look more homely. I then had a chat with our worker as he has some real struggles in his life and at home. I so wished I could help further but thankfully we are in an amazing body of Christ. I sent him to the right people to connect with knowing God will do something and all will be fine. While I was chatting with him one of the girls I met on the street last Sunday came over. In her school uniform and a Christmas tie, she had bought me a present. A necklace and some earrings. So precious of her. We ended up talking about her dreams. She wants to become a pediatrician and then get a passport to go help the poor in Haiti. Her compassion shocked me and once again I was stretched and learnt more at the feet of the poor than I do anywhere else. She is 16, smart and I know she can do it with God’s help.

I showered with running water…first time in months. Felt clean.

Ate leftovers from my first lunch and got ready for Rahab.

From the first moment we started Rahab this evening it was pure peace. Jesus was in that room and joy and laughter could only be seen. As we washed dirty, worn-out feet we chatted about God, how their weeks had been and asked God for help in the difficult things. Working jobs were organised at the relief of a newly made widow. Aching stomachs and colds where prayed for, wounds where bandaged up and all nails in that room looked beautiful. The ipod speakers stopped working so we sang. We discovered new songs and sang known ones. We were family relaxing in His house. God told me to make that place like a sitting room on purpose.

I returned home with a huge smile on my face knowing He is good…in the little and the big. He is good.

Showered again with running water. I will never take it for granted again. Got ready for bed.

Praying for His peace that we experienced in that barraca tonight to happen on the streets. Praying for my kids that I didn’t get to see today and truly miss. Praying for tomorrow in excitement of what my heavenly Daddy will have for me. Goodnight all. 

Aprender a amar...

Rahab:

Those moments when you can't put into words how you feel...one of my girls from the street phones me to say her malaria has gone and she will see me tonight...all excited...opening herself up to be vulnerable. Someone who finds it hard to trust is phoning to say she will see me tonight. It's all baby steps but I cheer with that just as I would when one of our babies makes their first steps. God is so kind, gracious and caring.

Some nights I get discouraged as I witness such foul play. My little 13 year olds telling me she was forced to have an abortion, as her client was white, as she takes off her long trousers to reveal her short shorts. She is ready in her work uniform. She starts walking the streets, well known to many it doesn’t take long until she finds someone claiming to own her for the night. It breaks me every time.

What is this huge thing before me? Just as Moses felt overwhelmed, so do I. But I have been called to set His people free. I have been called to Love. Come what May.

I am learning.

I am learning to give each thing to God.  

I am leaning on the baby steps. I am leaning on the fact that girls are coming off the street and finding jobs. I am leaning on the fact that they are getting their dignity back. I am leaning on the fact that God saves. I am leaning on His promises. I am leaning in His love.

Please join me in prayer for each one of these precious girls. We know about 60-70 girls now and we won’t stop until they are set free. Please pray for the men caught up in this. Please pray for this nation that it won’t be used for its state of poverty. Please pray.

Baby/toddler house:

Our children are just fantastic and God is showing His miracles through them every day. They know how to party and how to rest in His joy. They know how to fight off the orphan spirit and to praise Him in all things. They know His goodness and His salvation. May our ceiling be their floor from the word go. Please pray they are encouraged every day, that they are lead only by the HS in all things and that even when they are sleeping, they are pioneering. We believe in great things for our kids. :) 

May I never get used to it...

I don’t think I will ever get used to this place. Get used to seeing children go through trash to see if there is anything they can use for toys. Seeing skinny malnourished women trying to feed their hungry child. Mud and bamboo houses that are falling apart, next door to a cement house with a gate. Ladies selling themselves on the street to men that claim they ‘own’ the girls, letting them know that’s their only identity. Skinny babies coming to live in our children’s centre that have to deal with being rejected or their parents dying at such a young age.

However I don’t want to. I don’t want to get used to anything that is unjust! May God never let me get used to this.

I also don’t want to get used to the miracles I see each day. Every time I walk into that baby or toddler house I look into the eyes of a miracle. We have children that would not have been alive if it wasn’t for God running around and teaching us about joy. When I am doing street ministry and I bump into a lady who has thrown away her old way of life and has started working for a sewing business that we set up just for them. They have a new way of earning an income and a new way of life with Jesus! If God hadn’t have stepped in who knows what would have happened.

I don’t want to ever take Him for granted. May I always be in a place of thankfulness. May I always be in a place or worship. May I always be in a place of hope. I lay down my life to stop for the one. To serve the one. 

They shine in His land like jewels upon His crown... from ruth Alexander on Vimeo.

Joining Forces...

Some of my friends who I have met through Rahab ministries at the barraca are learning to sew! My great friend and fellow missionary has started a sewing school at the Base to allow men, women, boys and girls the opportunity to learn, start new occupations and to realize their potential.

Here is the link to the websites:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/galeriadossonhos

https://www.facebook.com/GaleriaDosSonhos

Three of my girls have helped make these dresses, clutches, napkins, purses etc. I am beyond amazed by what God has done. You stop for the one and God does wonders.

These ladies own barraca’s themselves. Dealing each night with 'customers' that use the surrounding area for a bathroom. Treat them poorly and pay very little. The ladies were stuck in these positions due to lack of options as they try to make a living for their family, who they never see. Making fish and xima (a type of thick porridge made with water and corn flour) for anyone who would like to stop by. They are asked daily to find girls for the men that come to their humble bamboo huts, just like it would be something on the menu. They tell me the preference is skinny 13-15 year olds. Working right in the middle of the red-light zone they are bringing the light into the darkness. They became Christians last year and although they didn’t like their job at their barraca’s they have used it to evangelise to everyone who walks through the door. They are my heroes!

However they now have an option. They have been asked to dream about what they would like to do. They have been given a way out. And each lady gives all the glory to God. :)

Watch this space everyone! It’s just the beginning.

Children's day...

Children's day 2013 from ruth Alexander on Vimeo.

His loving kindness....

My first week here has been...well I don't think I can put it in words. I celebrated children's day, the farm growing many crops where before nothing had grown before and seeing all of my family once again. One big celebration is hearing of all the great things that have been going on with our girls since I have been away. These girls are making life changing decisions to get into school, learn new languages and the best of all...giving their lives to Jesus. There is such a excitement in the air for this next season and just hearing these testimonies makes it even more so!

The beginning of the year I ask you all to pray specifically for one of our 5 year olds, Madelena. She has had many struggles with her health and development. However due to prayer and physical exercise she has learnt how to crawl!!! I could do nothing but laugh and cry with joy when I watched her. God is just so lovely and I thank Him for all He has done in Madelena's life. Here is the video and a picture of her doing some exercises.

I went out on street ministry for this first time this friday and I would love to ask for more prayer covering over this area. Yes there is so much to celebrate Him for, but there is so much yet to be done. So many lives that have yet to hear the good news. When I see two of my 16 year-olds with one man, a demon possessed girl who is so enslaved by her pimps it the worst I have ever seen and a man so full of drugs and alcohol he is ready to beat up a women over a piece of chicken. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed but I know He is in control. It is all about trust. Please join with me to pray for more of His power in this place.

Here is some photos from children's day! Thank you all who gave towards the gifts for our children. It was such a wonderful day full of gifts, food, games and celebration. We had around 4000 people who came to our kitchen to eat that day. We gave a meal of chicken, rice, salad, a lollypop, and a fizzy drink. As I saw the children who live in the surrounding villages leave the base with full bellies and food around their mouth; I couldn't help but thank God for His loving kindness for providing all. He would have done it for just one of those beautiful children.

Eating their chicken dinner - 

Enjoying their gifts - 

Thank you all for your prayers and support...please keep in touch!

Lots of love,
Ruth

Come away with me...

This last year has been a crazy season. From June 2012 to February 2013 there have been so many ups and downs it been hard to keep track. God has certainly taken me on a journey that’s for sure! During this though He has taught be how to love the unlovely, to search for Him in all things and to stay intimate with Him. I wouldn't have changed it for anything. During this season He has sung over me the song ‘Come Away’ by Brock Human.

The words are as following:

Come away with me, come away

It's never too late,

it's never too late,

it's not too late for you.

I have a plan for you,

I have a plan.

It's going to be wild,

it's going to be great,

it's going to be full of me

During each time where I had fear to step out and obey, fear of what might happen and fear of man, all I could hear was this song. He has a plan for me and it is going to be wild and full of Him. When all was crumbling around me He was, and still is the stable promise.

I have returned to Pemba and excited for this new season! Please be pray for all those involved in the Pemba base and surrounding areas. That His desires for us will be done in this place! He has given me such a dream and passion for this area, I can’t wait until I witness His promises come into place.

I would also love prayer for this Saturday. It is children’s day, which is a huge celebration for children in Mozambique. We will be feeding about 3000 or more children a chicken lunch and giving our children presents. We would love prayer for energy, for it to run smoothly and that God is the centre focus of the whole celebration.

Bless you all in your continued support and prayers! Please keep in touch – ruth@irisglobal.org

Love and prayers,

Ruth