February 1, 2011

I am so sick with an upper respritory thing. My oregano oil and clairiton is is the bag it isn't looking like I will ever get.... Keep praying for me to get better. I visited with Sammy about the orchard and we aren't going there since I am sick but we will go tomorrow to Jen's land to see it and plan for that orchard. I could just take so many of these kids home with me.... There is a little boy that is about 6 but looks the size of a 3 yr old, he is HIV pos. I just love him, he is one I could take home.

January 28, 2011

I am now in South Africa. I'm not sure where my bag is because my flight was canceled from DC so I had to take another flight. Please be praying that I find my bag and have a safe drive to Mozambique. Thanks!

Wow, what a day! Flight from Okc was on time to DC, then NY JFK was canceled. After running about 5 miles in the airport to try and connect to another flight I finally got on one to Laguardia.
Left at 12:10 arrived at hotel at almost 10pm. I always say the suffering comes in the travel....

Thank all of you for the prayers, I can't tell you how much that means. Keep them up.
Friday am, off the airport at 7:45am then to South Africa, then connect to Mozambique.
Praise God!

Going through the Big Apple before checking apples

It just occured to me today while talking to a friend that I am going through the Big Apple before heading to Africa to check on the existing orchards and planning new ones.
I thought that was cool! I am only going to be in the Big Apple overnight then off to South Africa.
Does anyone know why it's called the Big Apple?

Africa Jan 2011 trip

Departure date for Mozambique is Jan 27th. Arriving Jan 29, 2011. I am to plan orchards for Mozambique while staying at a childrens home in Maputo. This home is in connection with Jennifer Jestes who talked to us in our Sunday school class. You can friend her from my facebook if you'd like, and find out more about the childrens home.
After being in Mozambique for about a week I will be going to Rwanda, Burundi and Congo to check on the trees there and train them on what is next. Good thing I am in with the worlds expert on warm climate apple trees.
Please pray for my family, the sucess of the trip and most of all for God to be glorified!

We have returned from Burundi and the planning is finished for the starting projects there. The land is waiting and the First Lady has told us the permits will be given. It has been a long trip but a good one. We were unable to reach the orchard in Banda because of a mudslide that covered the very small road leading to the village. We have reports that the trees are 6 feet tall and doing wonderfully. They will be stripped of leaves and fruit this summer, that is exciting since this is the first project on the ground for this ministry. We have made connections in Kenya and will have permits there before summer. We are in the process of receiving permits in Uganda as well. God is moving so fast and I am happy to try and keep up with Him although it is impossible to keep up, I will however, do my best!
Imana shimwe!!! (Praise be to God)

Church

Today is Sunday and we went to a small church across the river, they have a woman in their church that lost her 2 children Friday when the rain caused the house to fall on them. She needs our prayers. This church also serves as a school during the week and a training center for widows.
We will be planting some apple trees for them to help with school fees and training. They are soing so much with what little they have, like the woman with the perfume that she poured on Jesus feet to wash them, they too are using their perfume and I know God is pleased and will bless them.
We will be traveling to Burundi Monday and then Wednesday to Cyangugu Rwanda. We will see the orchard and strip the leaves so that this summer it will have the 1st apples.

Rwanda trip Feb 2010

Well I have arrived after a canceled flight from Nairobi, Kenya. Better late than never! I have had some opportunities to meet with some people in Kenya that will work on getting permits for me that will allow planting in Kenya. I am to go tomorrow to get a visa for Burundi so we can go and plan for some orphans there. We will then go to Congo to plan for them. God is good!

Future Planting

We met with the woman from the Cyangugu orphanage yesterday (fri) and planned an orchard for her. She has 6 orphanages we had been told she had 4. She wants us to visit when we come to Cyangugu. Today (sat) we met with Emmanuel's wife Hope, she works with some widows in Bugesera district in the east. Many of them have hiv and Jerry Hamlin in Tulsa helped them to buy some land so they could plant things to sell and eat. They have pineapple and beans etc. We planned some trees for them, maybe 100 if God provides.Idoul will be coming from Sudan the 1st of next week and then we will go to Cyangugu, Banda, and the Island in lake Kivu to plan orchards. Pastor Kahulu from Congo will meet us there. Pastor Willy from Kigali will also go. He has a ministry for orphans and widows called Comfort my people, we are planning an orchard for that as well.

Arrived in Kilgali

We have arrived safely. My daughter Marlee is with me this time (this is her first time here). We are very tired from our travel but it is great to be here. We will be updating the the blog routinely.

Safely Back Home

Arrived back home yesterday afternoon. Thank you all and God Bless for all your prayers. It is a wonderful blessing for all.

Sharon

Planting is Completed in Banda

We have completed planting. It only took 4 hours, since we had about 15 help us and the land had been prepared the 2 days before we arrived. I have many stories about the women God has chosen to use for this. They were great and sooooo joyful of this project! The land is right next to a stream, so water has been provided by God!

Sharon

Leaving to Plant in Banda

March 4, 2009

The trees are here and we are leaving tomorrow morning, Thursday, which is your Wed night.
You won't hear from me for a few days as there is not power at all in Banda.

Sharon

Sewing Ministry

March 4, 2009

We haven't had power for the last 12 hours or so, read the book in the dark with a flash light last night. I went to the ministry Amani aya juu, it's the one that helps widows get training to sew. The picture is of one of the women there holding a beautiful quilt that they have made. I am bringing several back with me. I am going to try to make them available on the website, along with other things they make. We are taking Eric's mom to another ministry like it today called Esther's aid. It is also for widows, there are so many in this country from the genocide and aids. I went yesterday to look at some land here in Kigali to plant trees that would help a ministry that is already here called Comfort My People. They help widows and orphans and have been doing many things to help in many ways. Willy is a pastor and the one working on this ministry, I meet him last year. He is a good godly man who has a huge heart for what he does.

Sharon

God's Grace

I doing well however having problems with email due to technical problems. The first hundred trees are here and next hundred will arrive next Tuesday. The first hundred were delivered to a business in Kigali but were supposed to stay at the airport for pickup, nevertheless, we tracked them down and have them now. No matter what barriers Satan throws in the way God always prevails. It is raining consistently here, everyday about an hour, but that is actually a good thing for we need the water and soft ground to plant the trees. There are windows of opportunity everyday to plant. Though in April and May it rains most days all day. Above is a pic of a rain/storm here in Kigali. After I recieve the next hundred trees we will be off to Banda to plant. The land is secure and transportation is set.

I have met a teacher that teaches about 100 at risk children and he wants me to go with him to teach and meet the children saturday. I will problably go unless I am to teach at Alexander's church then.

By God's grace Tuesday we will be in traveling to Banda to plant. Continue to pray that God will remove any barriers and give us safety.

Sharon

Update

I heard from the Executive of the island and he says he isn't sure what an orchard is but that if I think it's good for them, he is sure it will be good. I will go talk to him in person and explain everything so that we can plant in the future there. I also will go talk to the lady that has the 4 orphanages about trees there. I know now why the seeds (vegetable) were donated to the project, this is how we will pay the widows for their labor to take care of the trees until God provides an income for them. I love it when God shows me what He has in mind!!!

Sharon

Arrival

I wanted to let you know that I am here! Pray for details to be worked out still. We have to have an NGO to recieve the trees or we are charged an import fee, we are working on that. Fidele has secured the land in Banda!!!!

Sharon

Apples For Africa--Rwanda

Sharon leaves for Rwanda February 19, 2009 and return March 11, 2009. Her focus is to plant 200 apple trees during this time.

Shawn

Apples for Africa

Sharon made it back safely and adjusted very quickly. Sharon has not rested in her endeavors regarding convictions from God especially concerning the Apple Project. I know she will be sharing more about this very soon as well as other projects that God has convicted her to initiate and implement.

Shawn

"Expect Great Things From God; Attempt Great Things For God" William Carey

Sharon has been waiting for the last couple of weeks for a meeting with the Agriculture Minister concerning the apple tree project. She was waiting patiently for a hearing traveling to the ministry each day with interpreter and friend. God opened the door and she is now moving forward with the next steps. She told me today that she has a permit in hand to grow the trees. Now for even greater news, Sharon was informed a few days ago that a German man had planted apple trees in the Cyangugu area where she was at recently. Supposedly there are many trees and the land is plentiful. Keep praying asking God to guide, protect and keep her safe! I know she deeply cares for everyones prayer.

Shawn

The following is an email that Sharon sent me today:

I am going today to the ministry for 2 things, to get the permit that I have sought since I have arrived and then to give a proposal to them so we can obtain land in the Northern province. When I was talking to Eric at the Ministry, he's in charge of production, he asked why I am having such a small project? I told him because we don't have enough land for a larger one, but I wanted to plant in Cyangugu and the North. He asked me had I been to the north and I said yes, that the soil there would be great. He said that when the people came back after the genocide they completely stripped the forest that was there so they could plant crops and now there are problems with deforestation and erosion. I told him that this project would help with the deforestation and erosion. It would also help with having income for the villagers and a crop that would provide food for the area and beyond. I am taking the proposal to him today, I am asking that they offer the land for this project. Can't hurt to ask right. We get 100 percent of what we never ask for, which is nothing! I told Fidele that I always think to small and God's plan always expands my thinking. We will visit the place that the German had before the genocide, no one knows that the trees have to be stripped every year so they have been sitting there, we will ask for that land to be offered as well. I hear it's a big place. I am excited to find out how many trees that there are on that land. We can go from what ever is there and expand. I am going to visit the US embassy today as well. I want to see it, it was not complete the last time I was here.

Sharon

I gave Papias, Fidele and Jean Marie the apples that I brought from US. They each had 3 and ate them right then. They were so happy, it was such a nice surprise for them.

Compassion Children

The Compassion team with all the children, left to right. Elysee, Egide and Aline. This was a very special day for me, I enjoyed talking with the children and I gave each of them a post card, in their bag of toys, that had pics from OK. One was an armadillo, bison and a beautiful sunset. It was the armadillo that they were fascinated with the most. They were shy at 1st but warmed up a bit.

Struggles and Encouragement

8/14/2008

I went yesterday (wed) to teach at Jean Marie's church, it was great. I think that was the largest amount of older people I have seen in all of Rwanda. Lots of widows! God put it in my heart to teach on struggles and encouragement. I got so many hugs from the women afterwards.

Sharon


8/12/2008

I met a man last night while waiting on Jean Marie, he has 8 Americans coming to the place where I am staying, this week. He asked what I am doing here, then he asked me if I would help them teach....agriculture to a village. God really has a sense of humor. I never imagined using my degree this way. He said we connected with the heart cause I talked to him about Jesus and he is saved. People here don't ask if you are a Christian, but are you saved? He will come back and talk with me when the Americans come. I also met a woman who speaks very good english and she asked if we could be friends, of course I was thinking at that point we already are, so I said of course!

Sharon

Banda Island

Family that had their home damaged in the earthquake we had the pleasure to pray for her and her family.










Preparing for the boat ride to Banda.

Our boat ride to Banda Island.










Boys at the stream that were going to swim in Banda.


Baby King, he is Jean Maries son, one of my friends and interpreter.

God's Providence

We are in Butare, arrived today at about 4pm. The orphanage that I mentioned previously was started by a woman who's husband died and my understanding is that she had no children. She started it in 1989 with 4 children. In 1994 she had 400 and they came to kill her during the genocide, they shot at her 6 times, no bullets hit her, God was protecting her. They went away scared saying that she was not human. There are now 4 of these homes for orphans. None of these children have a chance to be adopted they are educated by the home and then go out into the world on there own. When we were there there are 3 sets of twins, one set the mother died in child birth and the father has not come to see them not once, they are babies. The biggest concern is for milk since they only have 3 milk cows and need about 10 just to provide for the children that are on milk. We were on an island in lake Kivu where the most of the damage from the earthquake was. We meet the executive (Governor) he was telling us about 400 families were affected. His house was completely destroyed, he too is living in plastic sheeting. We went to the area where Fidele and Papias parent live and took many pictures of the damage. One woman is about 65 or so is living under a temp home that leaks when it rains and she is taking care of 2 orphans, under 3 yrs old, from her daughter dying. This really is staying with me, I want so badly to help. I will try to send pics tomorrow, I am now closer to Internet for a day or so.

Sharon

Orphanage

Note from Sharon:

We went to the orphanage today and there are 320 children, I will tell you more about that later.

God is Great

Problems with travel arrangments however perseverance and much, much prayer overcame the difficulty. I want to deeply thank my prayer warriors. Keep praying!!

Mission Dates: July 24, 2008 thru September 3, 2008

This boys face shines brightly the light that is within him, as the tiny country of Rwanda shines as a light of hope for the rest of Africa.

Kigali, Rwanda

Rwanda, means land of a thousand hills. This tiny country is smaller than Oklahoma and has 9 million people. I am scheduled to arrive July 26th. Thank each one of you for your prayers!

Your First Post

Hi Sharon!

Here's your Blog.... I know your trip to Rwanda will go very well and God will send His Spirit before you as your guide. Have a wonderful, fulfilling trip. I'll be checking your blog for posts and pics!

--David