Tara, Dorette, and I
About Me
- Mrs. Welcher
- I am so thankful for a God that loves me despite all of my failures and shows me amazing grace every day of my life. I am married to my best friend, Evan, who is a pastor. So yes... I am a pastor's wife. This blog is designed to share about my life as a pastor's wife and other things like family, baking, diy and just good ole' fun! Welcome to my life!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
God's Little Miracle in the Middle of the Bush
We were welcomed into the tukel. There in the dark, extremely clean tukel lay Lillian and her new beautiful baby boy. Lillian is an amazing woman who is raising her now four children by herself. She works hard for her family. Lillian is so thankful for her baby boy. This little boy is a blessing, born to a warrior woman.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Days in Goli
Noela
Grace
Leila
Grace 
Thursday, November 19, 2009
O Come Let Us Adore Him!
It started weeks ago… the writing of scripts, the choosing of Christmas songs, the learning of lines, and the creating of costumes. We practiced and practiced. We finally slowed our lines down and could say “Party” instead of “forty” (crazy English words- you got to love Arabic accents), the pre-school had the motions down the “Away in the Manger” and at last Friday came. It was the BIG day, an entire compound (and some of the community) Christmas program.
Fifteen minutes until show-time and only four kids out of twenty- two were present and accounted for. Finally our missing kids showed up and we were ready! As we marched in our straight line from school to our outdoor performance spot our little actors were looking smart, some even had three piece suits on and the shiniest dress suits you ever did see (sooo cute)!
Card board crowns, check; glitter wings, check; glow-stick halos, check; broom stick staffs, check; colorful African chittangas for the shepherds, Joseph, and Mary, check; cotton ball sheep faces and ears, check; baby Jesus, check. We were ready to go.
The sky was looking dreary and there was even thunder in the distance, but it did not matter, because every eye was on the children. Our little actors lined up and Tara and I took our places. And… it began. First, was their recorder song and the people were amazing, because half of the people had never seen anything like this before. You would have thought there were real angels there, because all of a sudden I was not the only person kneeling on the ground in front of my little stars. People were all around me taking pictures. Then it was just not the kids on the stage, there were people walking all over the stage and behind the stable. They even poked their heads into the stable to experience the birth of Christ with our little cast. I have never seen anything like it. When we were finished Seaza (one of the boys) leaned over to Tara and with a look of disappointment asked her if it was finished, if they were only going to do it once.
Yes, they were only going to tell the story of their precious Savior once. Should we not ask ourselves the same question? Are we only going to tell the story of our precious Savior only once and while? You don’t need fancy sewn robes, angel wings that will last longer than half of a performance, real plastic crowns, or even an audience that sits down and listens. Instead we have ourselves and the testament that Christ cam and died for us. Isn’t that something to get out of our seats and take pictures of? So… are you only going to do it once?
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
And when they saw it, they made known saying that had been told them concerning the child. And all who hear d it wondered at what the shepherds told them. Luke 2:17,18
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
November Newsletter
November Update
Peace, Prayer, and Pizza…
November 10, 2009 
Dear Friends,“You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all of your heart”. Jeremiah 29:13
To seek after God with all of our heart; what does that look like? How can you seek if you do not even know God? Every day I see faces, faces of people I do not know, but still seem to have an intense love for. I do not know there background, their struggles, their talents, their gifts… I don’t know them, but I do know who created them. Do they know Him? Sometimes I see faces of hope and joy and sometimes I see faces of hurt and pain. I can’t help but love these people. Yesterday, I was driving back from Yei and I saw a pregnant woman carrying a baby on her back and a bucket on her head and couldn’t help but wonder what is she seeking after? Has she found the One that says to seek after Him with all of His heart? Will she get that chance?
October was month of chaos and learning. I am learning everyday my limitations, my role, my expectations, and my new culture. As I am continually getting used to the food and culture I am being blessed with great relationships. We have started a ladies Bible study with a couple of other ladies on our compound and it has been so rewarding. We are studying Beth Moore’s Living Beyond Yourself and learning about the Fruit of the Spirit. This week is a study on peace.
This lesson talks about Christ as the portrait of peace. One thing I have learned so far, that is putting my attitude into perspective is to use the words of Beth Moore, “Christ had perfect peace in ALONENESS… in PROVISION… in the STORM… in the WAIT… and in the TEARS.” How amazing is that?! We serve and amazing God… don’t we?
Each term at E.C.T.C. we have Spiritual Emphasis day where all classes are cancelled and we have a day of prayer and fasting. It was an amazing day that all staff and students spent the day praying for E.C.T.C., our community, and Sudan. It is such a great privilege to serve with people who want to commit this place to the Lord.
Rice and beans although not bad, can get quite overwhelming for a westerner, when you eat it every day for two meals a day. Tara, Dorette, and I have decided that we would cook at least once a week. We usually stick with pasta noodles with herbs, onion, and the occasional lime or tuna. Nothing to fancy, but we appreciate it. This month we decided to get creative with our food experiments. Our friends Susan and Simon received a bread machine a couple of months ago, so we decided to try it out. We made pizza dough and then used Arabic tomato paste, cilantro (from our herb garden), onion, tomato, pepperoni (Tara’s mom sent it), and cheese (a miracle, because you can’t find cheese in Sudan, it wasn’t the best, but it worked a little), then we popped it into one of the families ovens and TaDa! Pizza! It was the most delicious pizza I have ever tasted! It was delicious, not because we are world famous chefs, but because it was a luxury. Later that week we also made onion bread, soup, and meatless tacos. I know how to make homemade tortillas now! All of those meals were amazing and thank you God for the little things like vacuum packed chicken and bread machines.
This month is a busy one for E.C.A. We are finishing up the first year of school. Yeah, we made it through an entire year! Our end of term exams will begin next week and our last day of school is November 27. The second year for E.C.A. will begin in January. This Friday, November 13, is our Christmas program and our students are doing very well learning their lines. They are really excited about it and I believe will do great!
I hope that this gives you a little bit of my life in Sudan. Remember, I also love hearing about what is happening in your lives. Your lives and the details are important to me and are exciting!
Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I am so thankful for each one of you!
Praises:
- We have people applying for E.C.A. teacher openings.
- The clinic worker I previously asked you to pray for, he is back and his daughter is in school and seems to doing well. Praise the Lord!
- E.C.A. has made it through their first year!
Prayer:
- The theology students and women’s program students as they finishing up their term and graduating next week.
- E.C.A. students and teachers as we finish up our first year of school.
- All of the theology students, staff, and families traveling that will be traveling for holidays in the next couple of weeks.
Thank you for all of your prayers, encouragement, notes, and support. I really appreciate it from day to day. Please, let me know if there is anything that I can pray for you about and please, keep me updated on your lives.
Can you all do me a favor? There are some of you that I do not have your email address (those of you I did not email this to). If you would like this update letter and other letters emailed to you, please email me your email address.
Have a great day!
A Product of God’s Amazing Grace,
Danielle Olson
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