Hhhmmm.... Well time for an update everyone!
So, I'm still living in the old Portuguese house with the other missionaries. God hasn't released me to leave, however, I often spend the nights with my friends in the Mafalala. I think Father still want's me here, and is using this time to teach me about honor, and how to honor ALL of the people around me.
So working with the street boys is awesome, though very tiring sometimes! I love them alot, even just now I got up to go let a boy come in and get some clean water to drink. The organization I'm working with, Masana, is a Mozambique run ministry that focus on taking boys off the street and back to their families. While it feels heart wrenching at times, we only let them come here during the day, unless of course, they are sick. This is because, most of them have run away from their families and if we made things to nice here, they would never want to return. Hence the organization focuses on long term goals, teaching the boys basic reading skills and Bible knowledge, preparing them to go back to their families. We then help their families financially so that their child can go to school and continue to live with them. Right now, two of the missionaries I work with are out in the bush near XaiXai, returning two boys, Felix and Denese to their families. It's a sorta happy sad thing-but mostly happy. Anyways, working with Masana is awesome but tiring. Sometimes boys will come up to you and just smack you right in the stomach... it's their way of getting attention. The best defense is to grab their arms and start tickling till they fall to the floor laughing. However, you still have to be careful as their teeth are amazingly sharp, and well used against older people that beat them up in the street. They are definitely crazy kids, but when you have one fall asleep in your lap or another come over and start cleaning your face calling you dad, there are no regrets.
One thing I've started doing is teaching one (and hopefully more soon) of the boy carpentry. We've been building bunk beds, and fixing things around the house. I have other projects to start one soon with him, I just need to get better at my communication in Portuguese with him! It can be the difference of cutting a board an inch too short!
I'm getting better at navigating through the mafalala (the slums of Maputo). I can now walk around there by myself without getting too lost, and know enough people there that if I get lost, they can send me in the right direction! Tommorow, Sunday, we are going to have a small home church get-to-gether there, going to worship, pray, and build Spirit centered community right there in the Mafalala. I'm excited for what God is going to do. There have been several times where God's spirit has come down mightily, but I am praying for more of those opportunities as I sincerely believe that is the best fix for this broken country.
I went drving the other day. It's pretty crazy here as they drive on the left side of the road and no one follows any of the rules. But having two Mozambique friends yelling at you different directions while driving stick left-handed sideways one a road through the Mafalala is the type of experience I live for! So... Tudo Bom. All is well! I'm learning a few of the street whistles as well. I've nearly perfected the whistle you use for calling a boy to buy minutes for your cell-phone! And I'm getting better at barting with sleezebags in the blackmarket-though I did let someone get the better of me, selling me a broken tape measure. But that's life in Mozambique, you win some and lose some! And being white doesn't help!
Well, besides crazy diarrea, dance parties, drunk men knocking on your door at the middle of night, breaking into houses to sleep cause your buddy forgot his keys, and playing intense soccer games in the bottom of an old, out of use swimming pool, that's about all I've been doing here!
Please pray for wisdom working with the young men from the Mafalala and for increased encounters with God's presence. Also, that my stomach would get used to the water and food here! Blessings in Jesus, Miss you guys.
Corey/Freeman/Rasta/Jaman :)
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Rasta!
Well, I made it here safely. Twas a little crazy, like a 16 hour flight from Atlanta to Joberg, SA but I'm in Mozambique now! I had the priveledge of spending the night in the airport at Joburg with 4 other guys from SA, Congo, Tanzania, and Australia. The only place in the whole airport with a couch was this 24/7 KFC restuarant. We would almost fall asleep on the couch there and then a grumpy old lady would come kick us out. we would go walk around the airport for 5 minutes and then sneek back in until she kicked us out again! It was pretty funny, but not very good for sleeping!
So I'm here in Maputo. Mainly been hanging out with the street boys that come 4 days a week for a Christian street boy program called Masana. They have normal school and Bible lessons here. When they aren't learning they are playing soccer, beating me up, or both! Fortunately, one can dominate any boy trying to kill you by finding his sweet tickle spot and going for it! They are pretty fun boys, very cute, very dirty, and very funny. I love them a lot and wish there was some way that I could adopt them all and take them from living and sleeping from the street...
When I'm not with the street boys, I'm spending time with my good friends who do soccer ministry and live in Mafalala, aka the slums of Mozambique. Most of these are awesome men of God whom I met last time I was in Moz. They have been teaching me how to navigate through the city with all its twist and turns, as well as how to speak Portuguese and Shangar, the local languages. One of the things I feel God directing me to do is to spend time studying the Bible and soaking in the Presence of God with these guys. They are key leaders in their comunity and if I can spend time discipling the ones that God puts in my path, it will have a great impact for the Kingdom.
Right now I'm living in a really nice old Portuguese house that the missionaries who work with the street kids live in. However, I don't really want to be here much longer. I'm mostly likely going to go live in the slums with my friends, I'm waiting for them to have room. I'll still come and work with the street boys program during the day, I'll just be living in the Mafalala all other times. It's weird, and I don't like it but in Mozambique, its very common for missionaries to live in nice houses and treat missions like their job. I don't want to be a part of that, especially as I don't feel it's God's heart. Jesus said go into a house, and if they receive you, let your peace rest there. That's what I intend to do. I didn't fly halfway across the world to have running water and electricty! I'm hoping to get some carpentry tools soon and start teaching some of the street boys how to work with wood, Lord willing.
Anyways, that barely sums up the first week, but it's something! I've basically been adapting to the culture, learning what's going on, getting over jet lag, and allowing myself to be mobbed by the cutest little boys on planet earth. Please pray for wisdom, and that I can really at all times be walking in the Spirit. Pray for increased encounters with God's presence with the leaders here, as I've been sensing some spiritual dryness. Also please pray that I don't get malaria! Its pretty easy to do here! I'll try to upload pictures soon, but as of yet, I haven't really taken any! Oh... and by the way, the title of this blog is my new nickname... universally known by everyone in the city! Love you guys, blessings, ttyl.
So I'm here in Maputo. Mainly been hanging out with the street boys that come 4 days a week for a Christian street boy program called Masana. They have normal school and Bible lessons here. When they aren't learning they are playing soccer, beating me up, or both! Fortunately, one can dominate any boy trying to kill you by finding his sweet tickle spot and going for it! They are pretty fun boys, very cute, very dirty, and very funny. I love them a lot and wish there was some way that I could adopt them all and take them from living and sleeping from the street...
When I'm not with the street boys, I'm spending time with my good friends who do soccer ministry and live in Mafalala, aka the slums of Mozambique. Most of these are awesome men of God whom I met last time I was in Moz. They have been teaching me how to navigate through the city with all its twist and turns, as well as how to speak Portuguese and Shangar, the local languages. One of the things I feel God directing me to do is to spend time studying the Bible and soaking in the Presence of God with these guys. They are key leaders in their comunity and if I can spend time discipling the ones that God puts in my path, it will have a great impact for the Kingdom.
Right now I'm living in a really nice old Portuguese house that the missionaries who work with the street kids live in. However, I don't really want to be here much longer. I'm mostly likely going to go live in the slums with my friends, I'm waiting for them to have room. I'll still come and work with the street boys program during the day, I'll just be living in the Mafalala all other times. It's weird, and I don't like it but in Mozambique, its very common for missionaries to live in nice houses and treat missions like their job. I don't want to be a part of that, especially as I don't feel it's God's heart. Jesus said go into a house, and if they receive you, let your peace rest there. That's what I intend to do. I didn't fly halfway across the world to have running water and electricty! I'm hoping to get some carpentry tools soon and start teaching some of the street boys how to work with wood, Lord willing.
Anyways, that barely sums up the first week, but it's something! I've basically been adapting to the culture, learning what's going on, getting over jet lag, and allowing myself to be mobbed by the cutest little boys on planet earth. Please pray for wisdom, and that I can really at all times be walking in the Spirit. Pray for increased encounters with God's presence with the leaders here, as I've been sensing some spiritual dryness. Also please pray that I don't get malaria! Its pretty easy to do here! I'll try to upload pictures soon, but as of yet, I haven't really taken any! Oh... and by the way, the title of this blog is my new nickname... universally known by everyone in the city! Love you guys, blessings, ttyl.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Take off in 3, 2, 1 Boom!
Hey guys,
God's been doing things, opening doors since I last wrote, and I thought it good to inform you of them.
I will be leaving sometime the week of July 25th for Maputo, Mozambique. God has opened a door to go serve a missionary friend, Sarah Olds and her coworkers doing street ministry with young boys, many of them thieves and beggars. Basically, I will be helping with the soccer and street ministry there, loving on the young future leaders of Mozambique, sharing the gospel, and helping some of the boys go back to their families in the bush as God changes the runaway's hearts. To get more of an idea of what I will be doing and who I will be staying with, read Sarah Old's blog at http://www.sarah-n-africa.com. (She used to work with Iris Ministries, founded by Heidi and Rolland Baker, awesome missionaries).
I will also get to hang out and work with some good friends I haven't seen in two years (since I last went to Mozambique) including my brother Manuel, an awesome man of God who used to be a street kid also. My heart in going is really just to serve and build community in God's presence. I want to be an example to the boys of going right from playing soccer to dancing and worshiping in God's presence. I'm also praying about teaching a trade, maybe some type of carpentry or shop keeping to give the boys a way to live and earn money honorably and to be self efficient. Not sure exactly how that might work, but trying to be ready to do whatever God might have for me. Africa is such a different place from the US that making plans ahead of time is not the easiest thing. Hence, I'm trying to focus more on having my heart in the right place for when I go there.
I will be staying there two months, probably coming back when school starts in late September. However, I'm also preparing to be able to stay there longer if God asks me to. I really just want to be wherever God wants me. That's the place where I'll find true peace!
I'm excited for what God's doing. It's going to be a crazy time, but, it goes well with my personality! If you have any questions, feel free to facebook or email me. I hope God blesses you all abundantly, and gives you all opportunities to be missionaries in whatever place you are right now. Remember, it all flows out of deep intimacy with God!
Prayer requests include finances, safety, and most importantly, a deep sensing and hearing of the Holy Spirit. Also, please pray for grace on the flight there, visa stuff, and that my very rusty/almost non-existent Portuguese comes back quickly!
Blessings in Jesus! More of you please Father!
Love you guys,
Corey
God's been doing things, opening doors since I last wrote, and I thought it good to inform you of them.
I will be leaving sometime the week of July 25th for Maputo, Mozambique. God has opened a door to go serve a missionary friend, Sarah Olds and her coworkers doing street ministry with young boys, many of them thieves and beggars. Basically, I will be helping with the soccer and street ministry there, loving on the young future leaders of Mozambique, sharing the gospel, and helping some of the boys go back to their families in the bush as God changes the runaway's hearts. To get more of an idea of what I will be doing and who I will be staying with, read Sarah Old's blog at http://www.sarah-n-africa.com. (She used to work with Iris Ministries, founded by Heidi and Rolland Baker, awesome missionaries).
I will also get to hang out and work with some good friends I haven't seen in two years (since I last went to Mozambique) including my brother Manuel, an awesome man of God who used to be a street kid also. My heart in going is really just to serve and build community in God's presence. I want to be an example to the boys of going right from playing soccer to dancing and worshiping in God's presence. I'm also praying about teaching a trade, maybe some type of carpentry or shop keeping to give the boys a way to live and earn money honorably and to be self efficient. Not sure exactly how that might work, but trying to be ready to do whatever God might have for me. Africa is such a different place from the US that making plans ahead of time is not the easiest thing. Hence, I'm trying to focus more on having my heart in the right place for when I go there.
I will be staying there two months, probably coming back when school starts in late September. However, I'm also preparing to be able to stay there longer if God asks me to. I really just want to be wherever God wants me. That's the place where I'll find true peace!
I'm excited for what God's doing. It's going to be a crazy time, but, it goes well with my personality! If you have any questions, feel free to facebook or email me. I hope God blesses you all abundantly, and gives you all opportunities to be missionaries in whatever place you are right now. Remember, it all flows out of deep intimacy with God!
Prayer requests include finances, safety, and most importantly, a deep sensing and hearing of the Holy Spirit. Also, please pray for grace on the flight there, visa stuff, and that my very rusty/almost non-existent Portuguese comes back quickly!
Blessings in Jesus! More of you please Father!
Love you guys,
Corey
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The latest and greatest of what’s been happening… since it’s been a while…
Hello friends, family, and acquaintances. I hope each and every one of you is doing well and living a wonderful life. As it has been a while since many of you have heard from me, I thought it fair to inform you of what has been happening in my life and what (Lord willing) my future plans are.
School!
On June 15, I graduated with my high school diploma from World View Christian Academy. I subsequently went to Oregon State University in Corvallis where I have been living the past two years. I am now a junior working for a B.S. in Advanced Chemistry with a pre-med option. The good thing about this degree is that in two years it should leave me well-prepared to apply for medical school or to study for a Ph.D. in chemistry. The bad thing is that this year I have to take physical chemistry, aka the hardest undergraduate course at OSU! But, such is life. One fun thing I got to do in an experimental chemistry lab is attempt to synthesis bis-vanadium acetylacetonate (3+ oxidation state). Not only is this a really cool compound about which not much is known, but me and my lab partner were the first people at OSU to attempt to make it (we actually only made the 4+ oxidation state). But, enough of the nerdy stuff! Extracurricular Activities!
I am very blessed to live in Corvallis among really awesome people who love pursuing God's heart. When I'm not studying for exams or doing homework, I'm generally doing something with many different student ministry groups on campus. This year I lead a Bible study consisting of four awesome young men, all fellow OSU students. We studied the Bible and encouraged and exhorted each other to become more powerful men of God. I also continue to play drums and cello for worship at church, student ministry meetings, and Christian community groups. Corvallis is a great place to live in fellowship with people who love God.
However, my favorite non-school activity is "hanging out" with international students and as God provides opportunities, being a witness of the Father's amazing love and power to them. During the school year, the international ministry I work with gives free lunch once a week to internationals and has weekly game nights on Fridays (a great alternative to beer pong and binge drinking!) Additionally, we take internationals on camping and road trips throughout the northwestern states, an awesome way to start great friendships and have witnessing opportunities. During the spring break trip this year, a friend and I got to see and help a graduate student from China come completely to Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit! I most recently helped take ~35 internationals camping at Crater Lake and the Redwood National Forest. While it was a crazy time (I managed to sprain my ankle at the beach!), it was neat because there were many opportunities to share with students, of whom many are Muslims, about God's love and Isa's (Jesus in Arabic) redemptive power. The picture here has me and my good friends, Arom from Kurdistan (Northern Iraq), Maitham from Saudi Arabia, Tufeg from Libya, and Sasidhar from India at the coast.
I love playing soccer with these guys, despite my American incapableness at the game! The opportunities to witness to internationals are countless. More than once I have gone to the library to study physics or chemistry and ended up spending two hours explaining the Gospel of Jesus to my Muslim friends. I wish I had time and space to share more stories here, but suffice it to say, God is moving and revealing Himself to the international students, and I'm very thankful to be a part of His work.
So… Now What?
While I intend to continue school at OSU in the fall, this summer is probably going to be crazy and filled with adventures. In April, I felt God directing me to not work any summer internships or jobs and to invest in His kingdom instead. This has been stretching my faith as I have been working since I was 15 and like to have things under my own control! But God wants me to be under His control, and hence, I'm learning to surrender EVERYTHING to Him, including financial control. However, more than anything else in life, I want to be a witness of God's glory and love to the nations of the world. Hence, right now I'm focusing on working with summer international ministries in Corvallis, raising support to go overseas for several months, and working on getting some part time work to pay off some minor school/living expenses debt. (For more details on my visions for going overseas, please read my missions support letter) No matter what happens this summer, I'm trusting in God's absolute goodness, and the fact that He wants to use me to share His love. In Conclusion…
I am very thankful to be loved by God and to be in a place in life with so many different opportunities. I'll continue to do international and college ministry at OSU, while pursuing my degree. Lord willing, I will go from there, either to medical school or graduate school, with the purpose of having an excellent education that will allow me to more easily enter the closed countries in the world, especially those in Africa and the Middle East. But more than a degree, medical school, job, or even what I might think God wants me to do, I want to be in a place that I can prove what the good and acceptable and perfect will of God is (Romans 12:2) and be able to love God with my whole heart, soul, and strength, and my neighbor as myself (Matthew 22:37-39). Whether I'm in the jungle, desert, or a research lab in Oregon, my life's purpose is to glorify God. I love you all lots! Blessings in Jesus!
Plans for the Summer of 2010
Overseas Mission Information
In April of this year, I felt God directing me to give Him the summer for missions and ministry work and to not take any fulltime internships at labs or research facilities, trusting Him instead for finances. This has been a stretch for me as I'm used to being in control of my monetary needs, but nevertheless, God's plan is ultimately going to be way better than mine.
After fasting, praying, and receiving prayer from others, I felt God leading me to put my sights on Libya in Northern Africa. Libya is a closed Muslim country, 2.5% of the population is Christian and these are simply foreigners working in the country. Actually, 89% of the total population in Libya is unreached with the Gospel and it contains 28 unreached people groups. If God provides a way into this country, I will be staying with a Muslim family (I have connections with families there through my Libyan friends studying here in the US), learning about their culture, and sharing the Gospel as God provides opportunities. Getting into this country is going to take much faith and prayer, but I trust and believe that God is jealous for the hearts of men in Libya and that He is preparing awesome things there.
Me and my brother Tufeg from Libya!
In the Mozambique bush with children, of whom most had never seen a foreigner before!
If my visa application is rejected by the Libyan government or God has other things planned and I can't live in the country this summer, I am communicating with some missionary friends about doing mission work in Yei, located Southern Sudan. Specifically, I would be working at an orphanage of about 100 children, mentoring and being a fatherly figure to the young men there (right now there is a lack of godly men to help mentor the young boys there).
There are many opportunities for me to serve overseas, thanks to my connections with international students here in Corvallis as well as with the many friends I made in Mozambique in 2008. Right now, I'm focusing on saving the money to pay for visa applications and plane tickets (Most visas are around 100-150 dollars and tickets are generally 2,000 dollars at the cheapest). I trust that God is going to provide for me to go through the right doors at the right time. While I don't know how it will all "pan out" this summer, I do know that God is very good and that He has called me to share His love and power to the nations. For my part, I'm going to keep running hard after Him and pursuing His heart with all my might.
I really desire and appreciate your prayers and support. Specific prayer needs include favor with the Libyan and Sudanese government, for God to open the correct doors and close the wrong ones, and for communication with the mission field organizations to go smoothly. Also, please pray for even more opportunities to share the Gospel with international students in Corvallis as I continue to be a part of the international ministry here. Any money the Lord puts on your heart to give me for His kingdom will help tremendously. Because living expenses in Africa are very low, the visas and plane tickets are the things that will be the most hindering to me financially. You are welcome to send a tax deductable donation to Celebration Church, 2700 SW 3rd Street, Corvallis, OR, 97333. Checks can be made out to Celebration Church with "Corey Missions" in the memo. The leadership at my church will then use the money at the appropriate time to purchase visa's and plane tickets.
Thank you so much for all the prayers and support each one of you has given me throughout my life. I am really excited for the place God has me in and hope to keep you guys updated. A great way to contact me is either by email or facebook at wrighcor@onid.orst.edu. May God, who is always good, bless you abundantly in Christ Jesus.
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