Nuban Dress and Thanksgiving Pictures

This is my Nuban top. I had a couple of women wrap me up so I could look smart for church.

Getting the chicken for Thanksgiving dinner. I got to hold it too, and pluck the feathers.

Our Thanksgiving table!

Playing games and eating desert after our feast.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Even though the climate does not match up with what I think is normal weather for Christmas, it is still Christmas.  I am so excited to be spending my favorite holiday on this new continent. I still miss the Christmas season at church and spending this time with family(especially). As I am spending Christmas this year with three other short-term friends at an orphanage in Uganda I will wishing you a Merry Christmas as well! So Merry Christmas and if I do not get to post until after New Years, Happy New Year!

December Newsletter!

December 17, 2009

Isaiah 9:6 “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, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Dear Friends,

Salaam! Salaam means peace. We are entering into the season of celebration of the Prince of Peace. I was reminded several times last week of Isaiah 9:6 when Isaiah is prophesying about the child that will be born. “Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given…”; these verses are for all of us no matter what culture we live in. Every culture celebrates the Christmas season through different eyes. This Christmas I get the amazing privilege of seeing Christmas through five or more different cultures’ eyes. Food and tradition might be different, but do you know the one thing is that stays the same? Yes, Isaiah’s message, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given…” It is the same message no matter who it is for. God sent His Son to us. Did and do we deserve it? Definitely not (Romans 3:23)! Jesus is our gift of grace!

A couple of things have happened since my last newsletter. The Christmas play was an absolute success. You can see my blurb about it on my blog. I have learned that it does not matter the costumes or if people walk right through the performance and get up right into my little actor’s faces. The message is the same. God showed us the ultimate love by sending His perfect son to die for us all. God reminded me throughout h the program that the most important point is that the children understood that gift of love.

School is officially finished. We have successfully finished our first year as Emmanuel Christian Academy. Praise the Lord! Now it is summer break. Sorry, I know you all are about to experience Christmas break and snow. Not here. We are experiencing summer and dry season!

I will be enjoying my holiday break visiting with friends in Uganda and Kenya. I am really looking forward to this long break and being able to learn about other ministries that my friends are involved in.

When I return in January one thing will be different. I will return as the only American. Many of you received my quick prayer letter informing you of new plans for Tara. After two in half years of ministry in Yei and Goli, Tara is heading home to get married. She did not come to this decision lightly, but much prayer was involved. We were and are still praying for another AIM partner for me.  I am looking forward to what God has in store for me with in this new situation.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and pray that you will remember the child that was born to us, … “our Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Praises:

First successful year for Emmanuel Christian Academy

Time I get to spend with friends

Tara returned home safely

Prayer Requests:

All of the families of ECTC as they travel for holiday

All of the new children that will be joining ECA in the January

Teachers- we are still in desperate need of teachers by the beginning of the school year

A Product of God’s Amazing Grace,

Danielle Olson

daniolson84@gmail.com

 www.daniellesafricandiscoveries.blogspot.com

Emmanuel Christian Academy

We have officially completed our first year of school at Emmanuel Christian Academy. These are our students and teacers of ECA of the 2009 school year.

The Things We Take For Granted

Written November 24, 2009

Their eyes grew wide and big smiles appeared on their dark, exhausted, loving faces. These women were truly happy and truly proud…

Growing up people at church and school and your parents remind you not to take things for granted. They tell you stories of people losing homes, family members, or even limbs.  We all could tell stories of things we took for granted and then lost.  The other night I experienced a different side of taking things for granted… the joy of when you don’t.  Since Tara has been here at ECTC she has been involved in a ministry with the women who work in the kitchen; she has built strong relationships with each one of them. Tara decided that because she was leaving ECTC and these women that she wanted to give a picture to each one of the women. As she handed each one of them a picture, an expression of joy covered up the evidence of paining backs and exhausted brows.  They were so proud of their new little treasures.  A picture of their very own- that picture is the first picture most of them have ever owned.  These are women in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.  I was so thankful that I had the privilege of seeing their proud faces and experiencing that joy with them.  Let’s go back the basics today- what is something that we have been taking for granted that once was a source of pride and joy?