Massai Mara video highlights

After dropping out kids off at school last month, Scott and I took two days to explore the nearby Massai Mara, one of Africa's most incredible game reserves and celebrate our anniversary. I have to say, I wasn't disappointed. It was truly incredible! Here are some video highlights I thought you might enjoy.

Lisa

Life in Africa: Thirsty Anyone?

Ever thought about how blessed you are to be able to walk into your kitchen and get water from the faucet?

Here is the second in a series of short, fun videos sharing about life in Africa from a kid's point of view. Consider sharing these with your kids, grandkids, or Sunday School classes.

To learn more about what The ECHO Project is doing to make a difference in the lives of individuals and how you can help, you can visit the website.

Click on the arrow in the box below to watch the video and enjoy!

Perspectives

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These past couple weeks, we've been hit extra hard with the news of so many tragedies.  Scott's father's best friend for forty years was killed in a car accident. Four young boys from one of the villages we work in drowned in the ocean. We were first responders to a tragic accident outside of town and had to transport a man to the hospital who had just lost his arm. On top of that, both of our boys had friends who were in the Nairobi mall during the terrorists attack. They survived without injuries, but the emotional impact has affected all of us.

As this news hit us over the span of a few short days, I was reminded of the simple fact that life is short. We are here for a time, then vanish in an instant. There aren't even any guarantees we will see tomorrow.  

God confirmed this to Isaiah when he said 'Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field.The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.'

Through all of the tragedy, I have been reminded again why we are here. Paul made it very clear that we are fighting, not against those around us, but a spiritual battle. Against the rulers and authorities of the unseen world. Which was why he then goes on to write in Ephesians 6:14 that we need to put on every piece of God's armor so we can resist the enemy in the time of evil.

He calls each one of us to be in a relationship with Him. As fragile as life might be, He loves us. He has called us to be a light, to serve and to love those around us. And He will give us the strength we need for the task He gives us to complete.

A quote I recently read by Tullian Tchividjian sums it up well. "We don't need answers (to suffering) as much as we need God's presence in and through the suffering itself." 

Life in Africa

Over the next few weeks I'll be sharing with you ten fun, short videos we made to share more about life in Africa from a kids point of view, in connection to The ECHO Project. Consider sharing these with your kids, grandkids, or Sunday School classes.

To learn more about what The ECHO Project is doing to make a difference in the lives of individuals you can visit our website.

Clink on the arrow in the box below and enjoy!

Lisa

Playing Catchup

Stopping for yogurt and toppings while doing last minute school shopping.

It's hard to believe that a month has past since I last posted. So much has happened and I've had little time on the internet. 

The first major thing was taking the children to Kenya where they will be attending a missionary boarding school. The first few weeks have had their ups and downs, but they all love the school, are making friends, and are settling in.

Already, they are almost halfway through the first term. I will be going to visit them over a long weekend during this mid-term break, something I'm so thankful to be able to do. I miss them but am thrilled for the opportunities that they are having. 

Going away to school requires TONS of luggage!

Family photo before heading off to school

Getting settled into Jayden's dorm

After we dropped off the kids, including two days of new-student orientation, Scott and I celebrated our  belated 23rd anniversary and our new part-time empty nester status by spending two nights in the Masai Mara. For those of you who know how much I love Kruger in South Africa, I had very high expectation after hearing how incredible the sightings could be. I have to say, I wasn't disappointed. With only one full day plus a few hours, we saw the big five and so much more. I will be posting more photos and videos of our time later. Here are a few highlights.

Leopard with a kill

Cheetah

An incredible male lion up on a ledge.

After Kenya, I went to the States as I had won an all expense paid trip to the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference through the CreateFiction writers contest last year. Here I was able to not only sit in on some fantastic classes, but see old friends, meet new ones, and meet all of my editors for the first time in person. This was such a blessing as it has been a number of years since I have been able to attend one of these conferences. I was also able to spend a few days with my family which was a blessing.

While I was gone, Scott made his yearly trip to Zambia to encourage the churches that Allen and Janelle worked with before we moved here. His time there was a huge blessing both to him and to the churches. 

Dressed up for the gala.

We arrived back in Mozambique over a week ago and have hit the ground running. Last week, twelve new believers took on Christ in Magola, so we are excited to see people reaching out to those in their communities and praying with those in need. I've enjoyed being back with the women and going out with them to the villages to teach.

Twelve baptisms in Magola

Be blessed,

Lisa 

Happy Release Day!

Today is the official release day of Dangerous Passage! I'm so excited about this new series and hope those of you who read it will thoroughly enjoy the book.


When two Jane Does are killed on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, detective and behavioral specialist Avery North discovers they share something in common--a tattoo of a magnolia on their shoulders. Suspecting a serial killer, Avery joins forces with medical examiner Jackson Bryant to solve the crimes and prevent another murder. But it doesn't take long for them to realize that there is much more to the case than meets the eye. As they venture deep into a sinister world of human trafficking, Avery and Jackson are taken to the very edge of their abilities--and their hearts. 




Here are what a few readers had to say!

"The suspense, romance, and mysteries through this book will grab you and not let go!" Suspense Magazine Review 

"(A) compelling and emotionally charged read. . .kept me reading late into the night. . ." Sandra Orchard, award-winning author of the Undercover Cops series

"Harris pens another thrilling tale that will give the readers one breathless moment after another." Christy Award winning author, DiAnn Mills.

If you go to my publisher's page here, it will link you to online sellers, as well as the Reading Group Guide and an Excerpt!

 And be sure and watch here as well for my upcoming Heart of Africa giveaway later this month. Details coming soon!

Today is also a bittersweet day as we leave our three children behind at Rift Valley Academy.  While I know this is going to be a wonderful experience for them, I'm already looking forward to visiting them during their mid-term break in October! This is something we've planned for a long time, but it's going to be tough adjusting to a quiet house, I know.

I'll be traveling then next few weeks, but would love to hear from you, especially your thoughts on the book!

Happy reading!

Lisa

The adventure begins

So much of our life has seemed like one crazy ride after another, but we're about ready to plunge into a very different sort of adventure.

Empty nesting.

This was definitely not on my to-do list. At least not this soon. It was meant to be experienced in another half a dozen years, BUT, God has opened doors and we are so excited (and yes, nervous) about the future. We leave tomorrow to start the journey to take the kids to RVA, a boarding school for missionary kids in Kenya.

Our oldest has loved his time there for the past two years, so with his sister starting high school, I guess it was inevitable that the youngest would beg to go as well. So after six years of homeschooling, life will change tremendously for me.

They are excited about sports, new friends, and music lessons. I'm excited about their upcoming mid-term break when I can see them again in October!

Please keep us in your prayers as we step out in faith and this new adventure begins!

Be blessed,

Lisa

The countdown begins. . .

Hot off the press!

When the first immigrants arrived at Ellis Island, they were looking for a piece of the American dream. Today they still arrive at our shores, believing they will find freedom and opportunity. Some do, but there are others who aren’t so lucky.

After months of writing, edits, and cover art, I'm feeling the anticipation of the upcoming release of Dangerous Passage!

While I still haven't seen a copy, my father-in-law just received one straight off the press!

If you'd like to read more about the background of the story, FamilyFiction has a great new feature article here.

There will be plenty more interviews and giveaways in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

Happy reading,

Lisa

Winter Highlights for AOM

I put together a short video this week highlighting the groups that have come and how God is working here in Mozambique these past few months. (Yes, it is winter here!) You can click on the video below to watch.

Be blessed!

Lisa

Winter Highlights from Lisa Harris on Vimeo.

What is your calling?

Scott and I recently put together a video for a church in Texas about our testimony, and decided to share part of it here with you. It helps to answer the question 'what is your calling?'

Be blessed!

Lisa

What is your calling? from Lisa Harris on Vimeo.

(Click on Video to watch)

A defining moment

I never expected it to be so emotional. He was only four, and had no clue what was about to happen. I sat beside him in the doctor's office on a cracked leather red couch. He was wearing a pink sweatshirt and Cars pajama bottoms. He cried when the nurse pricked his finger. Cried quietly as we waited. I knew in that moment that what we were about to find out would determine so much about his life. Whether or not he would live with monthly doctor visits, medicine, and hospital trips. Three weeks ago, his mother died from HIV. He now lives with his grandmother and was facing the same diagnosis as his mother.

The nurse showed Emily and I a chart while we waited. Two lines meant positive. One line negative. My heart pounded. I fought unexpected tears and prayed. I wanted so badly for him to be okay. Minutes later, the nurse held out the test that held his small pool of blood. Negative.

Negative! I was overwhelmed with joy. We clapped and thanked God. Rejoiced that there would be no monthly doctor visits and medicine and sickness.

After driving them home, we visited at his compound. His grandmother smiled, grateful as we gave her some beans, peanuts, tomatoes, and onions to help out, as well as soap and medicine for a skin issue the  little boy has. She shared more about herself. She's a widow and is also raising two other grandchildren. Her family lives far away and it's hard to make ends meet. But she is happy today. Her grandson is well.

As I gave her the gift of food, I told her that it wasn't from me. That many people, all over the world, had given money to help people just like her. I told her that she was blessing her grandson by taking him in and caring for him, something that was very important to God.

We minister to many who deal with HIV on a daily basis. Widows, orphans, mothers, young people. Life is hard, but there is hope. Hope in a God who loves them.

"You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They can not be numbered." Psalm 139:16-17

To find out how you can get involved and make a difference with us, visit The ECHO Project

Lisa

Amazing Humpback Whales

Wow, the last few weeks have flown by as we've hosted four groups including people from the US, Brazil, and South Africa. God blessed each visit though, including ten baptisms on the last day of English camp.

As soon as I can put a short video together, I will be sharing some of the highlights. In the meantime, Scott and I celebrated our anniversary with our kids by going out on an ocean safari on the Indian Ocean. We'd always wanted to go see the Humpback whales up close, but neither Scott or I ever had. What was saw was absolutely amazing. The photos really don't do justice to how close they were and how spectacular it was to watch them breach the water.

Free round-trip airline tickets!

Catch your attention? It caught mine. A couple weeks ago, I received a letter in the mail that started off this way. You have qualified for an award of two (2) round-trip airline tickets. And that wasn’t all. I was also qualified for two nights at a hotel, which meant that my total prize was worth over $1300. Wow! But while I’d love a free trip, something about the letter made me pause.

I glanced closer at the header telling me to fly The US Airlines. I’d heard of American Airlines, of course, but never The US Airlines. Which was partly why something seemed off. The other issue was that I’d never done anything to win this award. Feeling leery after my initial excitement, I decided to Google a portion of the letter to see if my suspicions were right.

Turns out they were.

There were several red flags. One, there is no US Airlines. Two, the letter required me to respond quickly in order to receive my prize. Other things you need to always look for are restrictions and, if talking to a person, high-pressure sales.

Stolen Identity

If you haven’t read my latest romantic suspense, Stolen Identity addresses similar issues. It’s a story about a widowed mother who gets caught up in a dangerous game when her identity is stolen. While the story is completely fiction, there is a strong thread of truth behind it. And honestly, the more I did research for this story, the madder I got. Scams like this hurt thousands and thousands of people each year and criminals are making billions. I’ve talked to a number of people over the past couple of years who have either fallen for something like this, or know someone who has. The results can be devastating.

So what can you practically do to avoid becoming a victim? One, check out some practical ideas to avoid being a victim of identity theft from the US Department of Justice. 

Two, whenever something seems too good to be true, remember it probably is! If in doubt, do your own research.

Three, when life spins out of control, remind yourself that your identity isn’t tied to the securities of this world. Hold instead to the hope found in our Heavenly Father.   

If you haven’t read Stolen Identity, you can order your copy here! And if have read it, consider posting a review on line.

Happy Reading!

Lisa

English Camp 2013

Typically, this time of year is the busiest and this year is no exception. So far, June and July have brought a team from the US, along with two groups from South Africa who came to see how they could get involved in our work. We have also welcomed back Jaco, Inge, and their boys who have spent the last six months in Brazil learning Portuguese.

On top of all of that, this week is our annual English Camp. We have a group from the US as well as Luis our former team mate from Brazil who have all come to help out. We also have a number of the disciples who are leading as ambassadors for the camp. Here are a few photos of the first day and a half of camp. We are exited to see what God will do this year as it always impacts those who attend.

Our China Story Part Two

Jayden has put together a video of photos from his trip to share. I've been amazed at how this trip confirmed his desire to return full-time to China one day. If you missed my original post about why Jayden and Scott went to China earlier this year, you can read about it here. For me, this story is a testimony of God's hand and a reminder of the importance of being open to his moving in our lives. One of the options Jayden is currently considering is running orphanage. We are looking at returning once he is in high school to spend several weeks volunteering in an orphanage. Learning Chinese is also in the future. Like Samuel, may we all respond to his call with the words, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

Jayden in China from Lisa Harris on Vimeo.
CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO

Video Highlights from Short-term Group

While the whole year seems to be flying by, June and July are always extra busy as we host a number of short-term groups. This year, we have people from the US, South Africa, and Brazil coming and are always blessed by their presence and encouragement.

I've posted a video below (press on the arrow on the photo) that shares some of the highlights from our first group, River Pointe Church in Texas.

Enjoy!

Lisa

River Pointe Church from Lisa Harris on Vimeo.

Riverpointe Mission team visits

We were blessed to have a team come from Houston, Riverpointe Church, to work with us over the past week. They prepared several dramas to share in the villages where we work. They also spend a morning at the orphanage near our home, playing with the kids, eating cupcakes together, and loving on the kids. It was truly a blessing and encouragement for us to spend this time with them. I'll post more photos soon.

This photos and the ones below are helping them make beaded bracelets after the drama

Singing with the children

Kruger Photos

Over the weekend, we ended up getting delayed at the border due to some car issues (long story!), so spent an unexpected--and very restful--day in the game park. Here are some of the highlights from the weekend. We are now in South Africa for some doctor appointment, car stuff, and other errands, before picking up a team who will be working with us in Mozambique on a short mission trip.

Enjoy!

Leopard

Hippo skull

Mama and baby

Hyena and her kill

House Update

A lot of people have been asking about the house, so I finally have something to share! While the city works out some zoning issues, we were asked to stop construction several weeks ago, but they did give us permission to pour the roof slab. We are hoping that we will be able to finish the rest of the house soon, but are thrilled that this is finished as it is a huge job. It took about forty workers, sixteen straight hours, and four cooks to keep them all going!

Click on photo to view video!



Lisa

Stolen Identity winners!!

Congratulations to the five winners of Stolen Identity! The randomly drawn winners from my newsletter list and blog are: Marilyn  Carol VeAnn Nancy Mandy Congratulations! I will email you this week to get your snail mail address. For those of you who didn't win, you can still pre-order a copy this week, or wait until June first when it officially releases!!! Happy reading! Lisa