VBS in Mkar

Reg and Jerene got to talk to tracy again wednesday after the funeral. She was feeling sad and alone knowing that the whole family was together and that she wasn't able to see grandpa byma laid to rest.

Sounds like Trace is having a fun time though. In the past 2 weeks she has had only 4 hours of electricity. Her group quickly learned how to haul water and take bucket baths and live by candle light. Tracy said it is really cool because everywhere you go there is always music or drums playing in the background.

Last week they ran a VBS in Mkar. On wednesday alone there was 400 kids. Imagine the lives they are changing! Sounds like her group had to come up with their own cirriculum and run the VBS by themselves. Saturday the group traveled to Takum and this week they are doing a community clean-up in Takum, fixing the Civic/Community Center.

One day they went on a 5 hour hike up a big mountain. Tracy said it was amazing, like nothing she's ever done before. She also got to have an entire outfit custom made for her- including a headpiece- and it was only $12! I'm sure you are looking pretty hot trace! It doesn't sound like tracy can go far without the little orphan kids hanging by her side. They love the white people, and who's more white than tracy? She said she thinks she could probably fit 2 kids in her suitcase. I have a feeling she's not going to be coming home alone :)

Pray for Tracy this week as she works in Takum. It sounds like it is going to be a bit more labor intensive this week and I'm sure the weather is nice and hot. Remember her on friday, because it's her birthday. Pray that she doesn't have to follow the african tradition and eat a cow's tail on her birthday!

Be STILL and KNOW

Grandpa Byma has been set free from his battle with Alzheimer's and is now at home with his Heavenly Father. This is a hard day for the Schierbeek and Byma families. Tracy heard the news this morning from her family and was able to stay "home" for the day and make a couple phone calls and talk to family. Please pray for peace for Tracy and her family as this is a time where family draws near, and yet she is so far away from home.

This morning after church, the congregation gathered in the sanctuary and prayed together for people that were suffering mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We had a small group of about 15 people that were joining hands and praying for the Schierbeeks. It was awesome to see God's family join together and pray for those in need of comfort. Although we are going to miss Grandpa Byma, he is now rejoicing with the angels. "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds." Psalm 73:26 & 28

News from AFRICA!

Hey all, we got an email from Tracy on Saturday morning. She is doing great and from the sounds of it she having an AMAZING time. She continues to talk about how great all the people are and she loves working with each one of them.
Trace and group have just completed their first week in Mkar at the orphanage where they did a lot of service work jobs. She said they did a lot of cutting grass, moving dirt, and doing laundry. She also mentioned that once theses jobs were finished, they got to play with the children. She loved every minute of this said each day was a new and wonderful experience. This week they will be beginning their first VBS camp and she said they had to plan all of it themselves. They are expecting between 80 and 100 kids the first couple of days and were told that they might get as many as 200 by the end of the week. They are all ready to get the camp started and begin working with more children in the city/village of Mkar.
She is also still getting some of the many living experiences of Africa. They have gone hiking up a mountain, which she said was absolutely amazing, and while they receive limited electricity where they are staying, most of the time it is candlelight and bucket showers. Other than that it sounds like things are going very well and she is having as much fun as she expected. She asks for continued prayers as they begin this week of VBS and continue to work in Mkar.

on your mark...get set...GO!!!

Sorry no update in while, but I haven't heard from Tracy lately, which means she must be out in the bush teaching the nigerian children about God's love. You go girl! So I thought I'd share a message pastor Harold preached a couple of weeks before tracy left.

The message was on the armor of God from ephesians 5:10-20. Part of the armor of God that we are to wear is our running shoes. We are to have our "feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." This sermon describes tracy's mission so perfectly. Before she left, she had her running shoes on, ready to serve God where ever He took her. My prayer is she keeps those shoes on for the next month and a half, no matter what struggles come her way. I pray that she runs with the message of God's good news and shares that news with everyone she meets while in Nigeria.

Please pray this week that Tracy successfully ran with God's message to the children in the orphanage in Mkar. Also pray as her team prepares for the VBS in Mkar. We all serve an awesome God. We all don't need to go to africa to serve Him. Let's all put on our running shoes and share God's news :)

Ready to Move and Schedule

Tracy and the team are getting to make the move from Abuja to Mkar in the morning. They are very eager to get there and get started with working in an orphange there. She has already been experiencing some of the many different aspects of Nigerian culture, which is including living with a cockroach and the extreme amounts of other bugs. She is also experiencing the food as the team was taken to a local resturant and was able to experience some Nigerian cooking. She has also been given her schedule for the time in Nigeria. Her schedule is as follows:
June 14-Travel to Mkar
June 16-20: Mkar Orphanage
June 23-27: VBS Mkar
June 28: Travel to Takum
June 30 -July 4: Community Clean Up in Takum (We are fixing the Civic/Community Center)July 7-11: VBS Takum
July 12: Travel to Lupwe
July 14-18: VBS Lupwe
July 19: Free Day
July 20: Worship in Takum
July 21-22: Free Days
July 23-24: Obudu Cattle Ranch ( I guess it is like a tropical rainforest)
July 25: Travel to Abuja
July 28- August 1: Urban Ministries in Abuja.

Now you all can figure out where Tracy is at any given time, at least a rough estimate. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. I know that God is doing some amazing things in her life already.

Adjusting to an African LIFESTYLE...

Please pray for Tracy and her team as they get used to the new lifestyle and culture of the African people. Pray that their bodies adjust well to the change in diet. Pray without ceasing as they prepare to leave for Mkar on Saturday.

Here we go...

We got an email from Tracy and she sounds super excited for what lay ahead for her over the next few weeks. They have been going through some more training in their first day and they got an itinerary that includes all of the places they will be going and things they will be doing while in Nigeria. She said that on Saturday the team leaves for Mkar which is not to far from Abjua. She mentioned that it was a little bit more of the "countryish" type of place for pray for safety there. Tracy and the team will be in Mkar for 2 weeks and will be doing work in an orphanage for the first week and then moving in a Bible camp for the second week. Once they leave Abjua they will not be back in the capital city until the last week of their stay so this is the beginning of the traveling for them. She again expressed the excitement of everyone on the team and how they are all getting along very well. It looks like her summer is going to be packed with excitement and even more adventure and she is ready for it all to begin.

ARRIVAL IN NIGERIA!

Today the team arrived safely in Abuja, Nigeria. They were very tired after their long trip, but were excited about meeting their leaders, Mike and Megan Ribbens. They were also greeted by their Nigerian teammates at the Ribbens and were even more excited to meet them. The group now consists of 5 guys and 5 girls for the next two months. Very cool for all of them. Tracy is feeling great as she is in Nigeria and even more excited to explore outside in the morning. She asks for your continued prayers and support as she gets settled in and in tune with Nigerian culture.

Departure Day

Today Tracy left for Nigeria! Tracy's mom, Grandma Schierbeek, and Jeff were there to see her off as she left Grand Rapids for a summer in Africa. She got off well without any difficulties at the airport. The entire group was eager and ready to go as they had been waiting and praying about this day for many weeks. Trace and her group hope to arrive in Abuja, Nigeria about 3:00pm est. tomorrow (Tuesday). We pray that her flight goes well and that the group has no problems with luggage and any delays. They will be stopping in Frankfurt, Germany before heading to Abuja early tomorrow morning. Keep Tracy and her group in your prayers as they arrive in a new country and begin this incredible journey working for the Lord in Nigeria.

Tracy did send out an email to some people about leaving comments on this site, but for those of you who may not have gotten the email here are some hints for leaving comments. Click on the comments link below and follow instructions to leave a comment for her. In order to leave the comment though you will have to click on an ID of some kind. For this step, simply subscribe for a "Google/Blogger" account. You will only need an existing email and have to create a user name and password. It's quick and simple, but if you have any questions please feel free to email Jeff at jeffrey.roon@trnty.edu or Lindsey B at battsl@student.gvsu.edu. Thanks again for your prayers and support of Tracy as she begins this amazing summer.

Moving back in

Tracy moved back in to the calvin dorms today. Here she will have a week long orientation session. They hopefully will be preparing her for everything she needs to know while in Nigeria. She will meet the other 4 students that she will be working with all summer long, as well as 20 other students who will be serving Christ all over the world. Please pray that she goes in with an open heart and mind and a calm spirit. Also remember to pray for her parents, Reg and Jerene as they worry about their little girl all summer long.