Safari

We are getting ready to fly back to the States, but before I leave I wanted to post a slide show from Kruger. Once things settle down a bit--and I have time--I'll put together one using some of the incredible video footage we got, but for now. . .enjoy!

Lions and tigers and bears. . .

On our way through South Africa, we stopped for two days at Kruger Game park to share one of our favorite places with Luis and Fernanda as well as some much needed rest for me.

We had an incredible time in the park. A lion walked past my open car window--close enough for me to touch. My heart pounded for at least thirty minutes afterward! We also saw two cheetahs, a couple dozen rhino, elephant, giraffe, buffalo. . .

I'll be putting a slide show together later, as well as the video of the pride of lions soon, but for now, here's a couple of our close encounters.





More later!

Lisa

Exciting news!!!

I'm extremely thrilled to announce that Zondervan has just offered me a two book contract for my international suspense series that begins with Blood Ransom, the story about a humanitarian worker who has seventy-two hours to stop an assassination.

While every book I've sold has been exciting, this series is extra special as it combines my love for suspense and romance with Africa as a setting!

Last night Scott took us all out to a restaurant along the beach to celebrate with fish and shrimp. I'll be sharing more about the book and its journey to publication in the future, but will probably have to pinch myself a few more times in the meantime.

Blessings!

Lisa

Sailing away

Part of the work we do here is across the bay from where we live. While we can see the town from my kitchen window, it's almost an hour drive by car. You can, though, take a motor boat across the bay in about 20 minutes or a sail boat which takes a bit longer, depending on the wind.

So yesterday, after an appointment across the bay, I took the kids, along with Fernando and Luis for a ride home across the bay on a sail boat. After being carried to the boat (note that there is no photo of me being carried) we sat back for the ride. The winds were strong, and it was a bit chilly, but as you can see from the photos, the view was beautiful.

The only time I started worrying was when one of our guides began bailing water. Made me wonder, even if just for a minute, how long I'd be able to swim in the choppy waters.




And then of course, because of the strong winds, Scott actually beat us home in the car!

But the best part was the sunset. Absolutely stunning.




Blessings,

Lisa

On the road again. . .

As many of you know, my mother blacked out and fell, breaking her leg in several places a few weeks ago. She recently decided, for health and safety reasons, that it is best for her to move into an assisted living situation.

In order to help her and my sister with this transition, I will be leaving Mozambique this weekend to go to South Africa, then on to the States. God's timing is so perfect as Scott was already scheduled to be gone for a month long discipleship training in the States.

I'll still plan to keep up my blog as much as I can, as I'm sure I'll have my own interesting transition stories as we spend the next two months in the States. Unfortunately, I won't be able to travel and see people during this time, but look forward to visiting with many of you next year during our regular furlough.

Please continue to keep all of us in your prayers!

Lisa

Guests from Brazil!

Some of you might recognize Luis and Fernanda from posts I made earlier in the year while we were in Brazil. Luis and Fernanda married three weeks ago and have come here for a visit to help in their decision on whether or not God is calling them to join our ministry here in Mozambique.

Both of them have a heart for ministry and serving God and we are really enjoying time to renew our friendship with them.

Because this year has been so crazy, Scott and I never celebrated our birthdays. Emily and Rosie missed out on having a birthday cake as well, so I finally made the promised chocolate birthday cake for all of us and we sang "Happy Birthday." Because of wedding plans, Fernanda missed celebrating her birthday as well, so here's a photo of all of us celebrating our birthdays this week No one minded the excuse for a bunch of chocolate! Especially Rosie.

Blessings,

Lisa

A brand new look. . .

I didn't actually plan to give my blog a makeover. All I'd planned to do was add a photo, but before I knew it I'd somehow agreed to a newer version that would make it easier for me to post.

Right.

Now I've become fairly proficient with HTML, but I ended up spending an entire day--and time I didn't have--figuring out how to drag and paste all the elements I lost in the changeover. To be honest,though, I really do like the new look.

It's been another busy week as always. We've had some power outages which led to the candlelight Monopoly game in this photo which turned out to be a lot of fun.

Our second round of guests arrive today. Luis and Fernanda from Brazil will be here for two and a half weeks as they decided if they want to join the work here full time. Please pray for them as we show them Mozambique and they pray about their decision.

More later,

Lisa

What would you do. . .

. . .with 24 wonderful cozy mysteries?


Here's a contest you've just got to enter. A chance for 24 cozy mysteries from Heartsong Presents: Mysteries.

Visit here for all the details

And speaking of winners. I just announced four more winners through my newsletter list. Remember, this newsletter list is separate from the blog you are reading now. To sign up for a chance to win more FREE books in the coming months as well as another great Taste of Africa gift package, be sure and sign up here!

Included inside this months newsletter was a blub on my first Love Inspired Suspense, Final Deposit, that just hit bookstore shelves. (It's already been seen at Walmart by a friend!)I've heard that copies sell very quickly, so if you can't find a copy, you can order it here.

Blessings,

Lisa

Mozambique

Someone recently asked me where we live, so I thought I'd share a bit about the town of Inhambane.

Inhambane is located on the coast in the southern part of Mozambique. (Left, and down slightly from where the map reads Mozambique Channel)

The climate is tropical with hot summer months and pleasant winter months. The town of Inhambane was settled first in the 10th century by the Arabs for slave trading. In 1498 it was claimed by the Portuguese who later set up a trading post.

The province of Inhambane is the second largest grower of cashews and also produces coconut and tangerines. The coast supports fishing, as well as a growing tourism industry with its beautiful beaches.






































These photos are snapshots I took recently in town.
Map Photo: "Courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin."

The art of selling

Would you like to stand along the side of a busy roadway all day long, trying to flag down passing cars so they can see what you have for sale?

A number of sellers have come up with a far better solution. The stuffed coconut man in this photo is selling bags of coconuts. And what a deal. He never gets tired, never asks for a raise, and never eats the profits.

Busy days. . .

We continued to enjoy spending time with our visitors from Houston and South Africa and have had an encouraging time of fellowship. While most of the week was spent looking at the work, we also spent two days at the beach for a time of meetings, planning for the future, and discipleship training. Despite power and water outages at the rustic lodge we stayed at, I can't complain at all about the beauty!
























We had several baptisms this weekend and joined with the Christians again on Sunday for worship.















Blessings!

Lisa