Gracelyn Sparks

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.