Gracelyn Sparks

First of all, I want to apologize. I haven't written in a while, and I feel really bad!! But anywho, from October 9 to October 23 (for about 2 weeks) we had a meeting in Kenya. It was really fun because we got to see our friends from our meeting back in Zambia, which we missed a lot, and still miss! I didn't really write a lot about that meeting, so I think I should write about this one. We arrived at the first meeting place about a day early, so we got a whole day to go shopping and explore Kenya! One of the things I love about Kenya is that they speak English, so it's easier to communicate. We went to a mall called Two Rivers and started shopping! We ate at a Mexican restaurant called Sabor á Mexico, which is special because in Mozambique you don't really get Mexican restaurants, so our parents practically let us get anything on the menu. Call me fat, greedy, or a foodie but my burrito was GOOD! 🌯 My plate before... 😋🤤 And my plate after...  That Sun...

Ola! Today I don't necessarily have a topic today, so I'm just going to give a few updates: School is going good, I'm learning quite a lot about the grammer of Portuguese and conjugations, so the school wasn't a waste... 😌😌 Next week on Tuesday we are going to go to a meeting in Kenya.  My friends and I are starting a business called Harmony. (Remember Joy and Faith?) I have been listening to a lot of Andy Mineo lately I Don't know how the above statement is relevant I have been writing a lot of songs lately, comment if you'd like me to share some of them I have run out of ideas So yeah, things are kind of busy. Just a shout out to any of my friends, family, or church communities that have been reading my posts! Miss you guys! 😘😘    

Oi! This past week has been the first week of Portuguese school! We didn't have much of a break because we were studying Portuguese, but it was still good. We have 11 subjects in our school! Math, Portuguese (their grammar), English, French, Computer, Natural Science (don't ask), Special Portuguese, History/Geography, Art, Moral Education, and Music. On Thursday we had a party for math because it was the 100th lesson (our second). I'm in a class with the Harrells' daughter and Ben. In most schools you write in pencil, right? Well in our school we write with red, blue, and black pens. You can probably tell I'm not used to this, as I have many white-out marks in my notebooks! My morning routine goes something like this: 1. Wake up at seven o'clock 2. Read bible 3. Eat breakfast 4. Get dressed in play clothes 5. Have tutoring time with irma (sister) Teresa 6. Go to history at the Harrells' house 7. Come back and have lunch 8. Get uniforms on ...

This is a common food here in Mozambique! I dare you to try it, though it's not for everyone! Xima (From  The Newcomer's Guide to Cooking in Africa ) Ingredients: - 1-1/2 cups water - 1/2 tablespoon butter - 1/2 teaspoon salt - 1 cup white cornmeal How To Make It: 1. Heat water, butter, and salt to boiling 2. Add cornmeal while stirring briskly to prevent lumping 3. Cook over medium heat until mixture is very thick and dry, about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning 4. Transfer mixture to a bowl and invert over plate. Cut in wedges and serve immediately. 

Welcome back everyone! So much has happened lately, it's hard to say everything. For one, we have come back from our meeting in Zambia, and have made lots of new friends! Todays post is about two things, dough slime and African dinners! Yesterday, Sunday, we had dinner with our pastor and his wife and family. Now we didn't have xima or anything exotic, but we had rice, coconut fish, chicken, and you guess... french fries!!! Wow! I was actually saying in the car on the way there that it would be funny if they made hamburgers and french fries! Then while we were there my mom said to me, "You know how you said it would be funny if we hd hamburgers and fries? We're having fries!" And I said "Yay!!!!!!" You guys are probably wondering what dough slime is. We were having our friends over for a play date, and we wanted to make slime. We all know the basic slime ingredients, glue and liquid detergent, but we can't really get liquid glue here, and all the oth...

Hello everyone! It's me again. 👋👋 But in this post, I have some guests! I'm using code names for them as Joy and Faith. Say hello! Joy: Hi! Faith: Hey! Me: Where are you guys originally from and what are you guys doing here in Mozambique? Faith: South Africa, and we are missionaries. Joy: I am from North Carolina and we are also missionaries. Me: What is your favorite word in Portuguese (the language of Mozambique) ? Joy: Almofada, which means pillow! Faith: Tartarooga, which means turtle. Me: What is your favorite thing to do in Mozambique? Joy: Cooking, the Mozambican foods are fun to make! Faith: I like snorkeling, you can see so many pretty things. Me: Last question, what are you looking forward to this year? Joy: MK Camp! I'm finally turning 12, so I can go! Faith: I don't know! I guess everything!!??? Me: Say bye! Faith: Tchau! Joy: Bye! Photo Booth Time!!!!!! This is Faith! Here's Joy! (See Tabitha photo bom...

As we have been in Africa for about 2 months, we've had a lot of culture shock. Some bad, but for a foodie like me, some good! We have a house worker named Silva and he makes coconut rice with a sauce. It tastes like heaven. LITERALLY! We have also tried a substance similar to rice called xima. It is like gooey, melted rice. I prefer real rice, but it actually isn't that bad. I feel bad for all those many, many posts I have done without pictures. I hope you enjoy the roll in this post, because I may not do another post like this again. Sorry. Things have been so busy, but I thank those people that have kept my blog in their bookmarks and are following my story, post by post. And now, for the moment you've been waiting for, the PICTURES!!!!! 😌😌😂😂 Us and our friends from church: Sandra (in green) and Tunia (beside Tabitha) Xima, it's not rice, but it's not bad either Our first candle lit dinner, only the special occasion was the power was out. Funny...

About a week ago, we were going to the market and we were looking at some clothes. As we walked to the next stall, a man asked Dad something in Portuguese, and Dad responded. Turns out, he was asking to have me as his wife! But Dad responded by saying, "But she's only 11." A few minutes later, at another stall, a man told Tabitha he missed her very much. Wow. Our colleagues' daughter Janna-Kate told me that this happens often. Language class is going good, we've learned a lot. Today I prayed my first prayer in Portuguese. I thank you guys for your prayers. Chtau!  

At first I was really excited for Africa, and I still am. But things aren't always the best. A few days ago, I had to take a bucket bath. I went in my mom's bath, heated up water, and poured it into the bath. Once or twice a week, our electricity goes out, and we have no access to regular water. It is in these moments that I have to remember that it's his glory, our reward. I have to appreciate my family. They can be annoying and hard to agree with, but they're family. And I would rather be with them here than by myself. I didn't write this to make fun of first world countries and say that their selfish or greedy, but to say that through this, God remains faithful.

We have just recently started Portuguese class. We are using a technique called iceberg. An iceberg is 80% under the water and 20% above the water. So for the next 2 weeks we won't speak at all. We're only pointing and holding and doing actions like walk, run, jump, etc. Our teacher will ask where something is or tell us to do something in Portuguese, and we will do it, or at least try to do it.😏 So far we have 126 words down in Portuguese. We have 2 hours in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon. Later! -Gracie

We are finally in Mozambique! Our house is really neat, and we are right on the beach. This spring you are probably getting weather temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees. We are getting 80s and 90s. it's hard to believe, but we're finally here! Since most people in Mozambique need jobs, they work as houseworkers and guards. We have a houseworker that comes in the day, and a guard that comes at night. Tomorrow, Sunday, we are going to a Portuguese church and going snorkeling. On Monday we start language classes. Things have been really awesome here! But we do miss our friends and family. Bom Dia!

As I write, we are currently in the Dulles airport in Washington D.C. We have already flown on our first flight from Oklahoma to D.C., and now we are waiting in our gate to board our flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. After a 5-6 hour layover in the Dulles airport, we are ready to head out. This flight will take 17-18 hours, and we will then adjust to the time zone tomorrow. By the time we get to Johannesburg, it will be 4:45 p.m. there and 10:45 a.m. here. Not to much jet lag. This post was quick, but I wanted to give you guys a heads up. See you later!

Okay guys, I don't have that many things to say in this post, but I have some big news! We are officially leaving on Tuesday the 17th. Now that we know when we're going, it's kind of strange because it's like man, we're really doing this! I'm not really a crier, but I'm pretty sure that when we leave, a tear or two may leak out. 😬😬 As we're saying goodbyes, I've been asking myself why our family? What can God do with a family of 7 with two, seven, eleven, twelve, and fourteen year old kids? Well if I didn't learn anything in training, I learned that God can use anyone. Wether a family of 3 or a family of seven. We are so close to getting to Africa, it seems unreal. Like, it's kind of weird to think that hey, you are moving overseas to Africa !!! Wow! You know, I shouldn't be upset or nervous about moving to Africa, I should be honored ! I thank you guys for all your support and love. One more thing, I can't stand to be quiet anymore...

Hello everyone! Today is a very special day because it is my birthday! 😆😆😂 We have moved to the other mission house, it has 3 rooms. It isn't as big as the other mission house, but we are grateful to have one. God has really answered our prayers this week. Yesterday, we received our visas! Hurray! We are currently waiting on our plane tickets, and we should hopefully be leaving by next week! I'm so happy that God is answering our prayers and helping us every step along the way! Today I am turning 11! I don't feel older, but we'll see what happens. Since my dad put this link on Facebook, I'm really happy to write to an audience this time. As for prayer requests, you can pray that  God will help us to get our tickets quickly, because it is kind of hard to get plane tickets for a family of 7. Thank you guys for reading my posts, it means so much to me to know that you care! Thank you guys!                           ...

Hey guys! Happy Easter! We have now finished training! However, because of a VISA delay and another delay, we are not yet on the mission field. 😥😥😭 But, the good part is, we get to spend more time with family! We have been staying in the mission house that we stayed in before, but we are now moving to another mission house on account of some other missionaries needing this house. Today we are packing up and heading to that house. So much has happened these past few weeks in Oklahoma. For example, I got my ears pierced last week, I got a tooth pulled Monday, and yes, oh yes, I'm getting glasses. They should arrive on Friday. It's been so much fun seeing all of our friends, but I know that we won't be delayed forever, and sooner or later we will have to say goodbye. But anyway, I'm excited for this next week because this coming Saturday is Judah's birthday, Wednesday is mom's birthday, and Thursday is, dun dun dun duuuuun, my birthday! 😂😂😜 I will be 11! My d...

We are here in Virginia doing training. It is not as bad as I expected. I've made many friends! They are all fun to be around. In training, we are learning to adapt to a new environment. We are TCK's which stands for Third Culture Kids. I am getting super excited about going to Mozambique! Our house has a perfect view, only 40 meters from the beach! We are also getting a dog named Elsa. She is a German Shepherd and Rhodesian Ridge back, which looks like a German Shepherd with a dark streak of hair along her back. I am so excited!😁The best part about training is probably the fact that we have a playground in front of our quads. Oh, sorry, I didn't mention that we live in quads, did I? There are big quads or houses. Each with an apartment sized quad in it. Ours had three rooms, but some only had two. We are in Step 3, and I am ready to go!    

Hey guys! I am back in writing mode and I am ready to type! Even though I am sad to say it, we are getting ready to leave Oklahoma and head back to Richmond this coming Sunday (Sunday, January 21). Seeing friends and family in OK has been so much fun, and I know that I, for one, am sad to say goodbye. I am very sorry that I haven't written in a while, it's just that with so much to do, you hardly have time for extra stuff like this. When we get back into the swing in Richmond, I will totally write there.                  Remember when I told you guys that I was into coding? I have some other games that I want you guys to check out. If you want to code, check out the link on the side bar. By the way, my coding "company" is called Excitement Studios if you were wondering.                      If each of our steps to A...

Happy New Year!!! Happy New Year guys!! Today I'm going to give you a heads up in what's going on right now in our journey. Before we go to Richmond, Virginia, we are heading to Oklahoma to say goodbye to friends and family for a month. We are currently living in a mission house graciously provided by Quail Springs Baptist Church. 😉 While here, we will not be doing school, just some winter break packets. Today would have been the first day of school, but we are of course staying home! Our house is very big, it has a office, huge master bedroom with a jet bath and walk-in closet, two smaller bedrooms, each with two beds, two dining room tables, and a large kitchen and a large living room. Keep us in your prayers, we thank the Lord for graciously providing for us all the way! But it hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows, we've had to leave friends, teachers, and our church family. We've had to adjust to the time zone, and we've had to drive a three day drive...