So here is a little story about a little spider. He is oh about 1/8" around & likes to jump. Well, this little spider is also poisonous as are a LOT of the smaller spiders here in Africa apparently. Now why the Lord didn't make the big ones.. and I mean BIG ones (like Max who is about 3" across, or the yellow & black dude who is a tad bigger)...the poisonous ones & the little ones harmless, I don't know. Would be SO much easier to avoid you know? Oh well, my brother Mike says there is probably a good Sunday school lesson in that somewhere but that is for another time.

Anyway, this little guy at some point in time managed to bite me just under my chin. No biggie..at first I thought it was a mosquito bite.. or maybe a pimple (ya ya gross). So I cleaned it up & then went on to Nellmapius with the team. Now we were having a Christmas party for the kids on Saturday. It was held on the grounds behind the library.. a big field with lots weeds & red-dirt-clay that this area is famous for. We played with the kids..hung out on the ground getting our hair done (yes even Mike) and our nails done and just sitting down cuddling some. So on Sunday I noticed my chin was a tad sore... hmmmm. By Monday it was beginning to swell and look funny, not quite so much like a mosquito bite or pimple any more. By Tuesday it hurt..I had to take Advil every few hours to get thru the day and the swelling and uh..stuff was beginning. That night I tried some homeopathic remedy that came highly recommended... and shall we just say that besides making me smell like an onion all night, something Mike enjoyed immensely *giggle*, didn't work. I made it thru Wednesday because it was a 1/2 day, but that was it. ByThursday night the swelling was bad, I could hardly move my mouth & the "little" bite was about the size of a cigarette burn & starting to hollow out... (pretty cool huh? uTube here I come!!)

Needless to say, the doctor was called on Thursday afternoon & he agreed to meet us Friday am at his office WHICH was really nice of him because today, Friday, is Heritage Day and a National Holiday. Upon arriving at his office he took one look & said "yup spider bite. However, it had gotten abscessed, probably because of the party outside on Saturday or whatever, but there you have it. The only way to clean this baby out was.. well you guessed it pressure & scrape AND apparently the use of any kind of numbing agent causes just enough swelling that you cannot clean the wound sufficiently soooo, you guessed it, no drugs.. Thank goodness for Mike's hand & my remembering how to do the old Lamaze breathing - even tho I could only use my nose. Ok so I won't go into any more details except to say Mike's face when white then slightly green then just shocked.. lol AND I am proud to say I didn't throw up OR pass out... yay me!

So, here is sit on the bed loaded down with meds .. I get to put a salve on this baby 2x a day; pain meds 3x a day, hard core antibiotics 3x a day AND another antibiotic fixer upper thing that keeps the hard core ones from hurting my stomach or giving me a yeast infection.. Whooo hooo

Meals are still having to be soft, but all in all its cool. The swelling is down & the pain is a lot less. But in the meantime the good thing is folks don't have to listen to me talk all the time... Mike gets a word in edgewise AND actually can lead the conversation. Good lesson for me to slow'er down I think.

Man, what will come next eh friends? Stay tuned for the next Gooch-family adventure
Much Love, Jeanine & Mike

1 Month Mark

Greetings from South Africa! We are continuing to acclimate ourselves to the time, weather and lifestyle here. The weather has been hot summer temperatures, however we were privileged to witness a few days of rain showers. The lightning in twilight sky creates this spectacular glow of blue and purple light that flashes across the entire horizon. It is truly an amazing spectacle.

Within a few days we will have a vehicle. It has been quite a process to find the right car for the right price, but the Lord has been good and has led us to it. Soon we will have the flexibility to travel and see some of our other friends here that we have not been able to meet up with yet. We are excited to have that opportunity soon.

Recently we have been working with BEAM Africa on various tasks. We pieced together old computers to create a few working machines, cleaned up and added new information in the BEAM database, and helped with some web site updates. They launched a new donations web site for US contributions. Check it out here. We also get to play with the kids in the afternoons.

 We were heartbroken to have missed the traditions of the Thanksgiving holiday this past week. The feast, fellowship with friends & family and of course, football. We did have a Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday with our friends. They were grateful to have participated in an America holiday tradition. It was tricky to find a turkey. We were ready settle for a guineafowl (there are plenty that roam around in the backyard), but we did find a grocery store with whole turkeys. It is not a popular commodity here. The pumpkin pie was also a task. The tasty round orange pumpkin common in the US does not exist here. Instead we used a butternut squash type vegetable that tastes similar to pumpkin (it is actually called pumpkin here). In the end, everything turned out well and we loved our American Thanksgiving meal here in South Africa.

More personally, here are some excerpts from our journals/thoughts that we wanted to share individually…

Mike:

Our friend Earl continues to visit each morning. He bangs his beak against the window until we have woken from our slumber beneath the enclosing mosquito net. He likes to eat berries from the tree around the corner, but the after effects cause him to leave a purple trail. It is always a treat to come home to a purple patio in the evening. Earl has recently found a wife to take residence with him and is teaching her the ropes of glass beating. He is also showing off for her. The windows here do not have screen covers and we keep the windows open all the time. So the other day, Earl brought his lady to the bathroom window and started his glass tapping. To prove is manliness and fearlessness, he decided to go into the bathroom and tap the glass from the inside. I walked into the bathroom during this macho dance, startling him to point where he flapped around the room in utter confusion. He eventually found his way out of the window, but not until after he had managed to empty his bladder. So we then had a bathroom splattered with purple stuff that dripped down the walls, covered the toilet and the sink. We really love our neighbor Earl. (See the attached video of Earl).

It is strange to think we have been here for a month. It has felt like 3 months. I think the reason for that is because these weeks have been very difficult, at least emotionally. I find myself sometimes sitting on the porch outside missing our life as it was. I didn’t think I would miss everything as much as I do. I also didn’t realize how happy I was with my life before coming here. In a way it is heartbreaking, like grieving the loss of a loved friend. At these times on the porch, I can see miles into the distance where the horizon is covered with green bushes and trees and the air is filled the calls of countless types of birds. I feel guilty for not being completely excited and content with where I am. I know there are great things to come that I will be a part of here, but I still find myself longing for home. I just keep praying that I will soon embrace that this IS home now. There are so many good things here, and so many good people. I know part of it is I am anxious to get started on some things, but must wait because we are limited on mobility and pace of lifestyle. Nevertheless, the Lord is good and is blessing us with some much. He is also teaching me some lessons that I must learn in order to survive here. For that I am grateful.

Jeanine:

When we first arrived here we had a couple of weeks of HOT. And by HOT I MEAN HOT. 100’s hot. It is semi-humid here as well, not like the east coast but more so than Colorado. Eeeeyikes! Then came the thunder storms... awesome, loud, rolling & lots of lightning storms. It is very cool and now we are hanging in with high 70s maybe low 80s in the day & 60s at night. It is very have a whole new outlook on weather here by how the people in Nellmapius & Mamelodi live. With their homes being either the corrugated metal or cinderblock brick the extreme weather we have here cannot be good. Extreme sunshine & hot on a metal roof (which most of the brick homes have too) creates an oven effect, and the cold nights of their winter a fridge (at least their colder times are minimal, like 3mos maybe). The land in the townships is predominantly red dirt, no trees or shade. Consequently, when it rains, it becomes all slimy with the red dirt becoming claylike.. Things flood, water piles up in huge holes. And yet they are so used to it here they smile & life goes on as best it can. While there is darkness in this country, there is a light here in the eyes & smiles of the people that amazes me.

As for adapting… we are hanging in. Every morning I get up & head to the Center (the BEAM Center where the biz get’s done & the children hang out) with Erika. There I try to keep myself busy. I have designed some place cards, the BEAM Christmas card for this year, sat in on a few meetings about the upcoming Graduation for adults & Christmas Party for the kids, visited with the staff & played with the children, and now I have a new project researching places that give grants . Sounds like a lot but not too much. Things are winding down for the “holiday”. Apparently, folks in South Africa take a break from the 15^th of December thru the 2^nd week in January..they mostly head to the coast or where ever their families are. Shops are run at ½ staff, some government offices and their programs, doctor’s offices and other places totally shut down. Sooo, we are in the process of “shutting down” I guess. But, at least I am ‘kind of’ busy. In the meantime, I love being here! I love the people, love the weather, love the fruit available here…LOTs of apples & oranges, mangos & guavas, and a bunch I don’t recognize J . I love seeing the children, but a lot of them have moved away including our two little girls. There was abuse in the original home they were with & they were moved to the neighboring township with the younger sister’s birth father they were able to track down. Unfortunately the dad, like most here, couldn’t afford to take on his birth child & her ½ sister so Poppy, the older of the two was put back into the abusive situation (unbeknownst to the folks at BEAM). Ok, so when we finally found her again 2 weeks ago, she had managed to find her “uncle” and move in with him. And now, we cannot find her again… man this is a hard place. The kids get traded around w/in the families by who has jobs…who needs the extra government support (the government gives support per child) and due to illness or death. All we can do is love on the ones we have here & try valiantly to keep track of the ones who have to move away. I would purchase a home & snag them all if I could, buuuuut you know how that goes. L (I figure I’ll give Mike at least a year before I spring that idea on him *giggle*)

One of the house spiders here (Max)

The five dogs on the property (Benny, Moppi, Molly, Muffy and Courage)

Our pet ducks with a newly hatched duckling (Clara and son)

Earl hanging by the bathroom window then on the patio railing

Greetings from South Africa

We made it safely to our destination this last weekend. We have spent the last few days getting acclimated to the time change, culture and environment. We must admit the environment has been the easiest to adjust to. Where the US is beginning its colder months, the warm spring sun is ever present here. Surrounded by beautifully green trees and melodious calls from countless birds all day long, the environment is certainly one we can settle into.

We are currently staying in a guest room at the home of our friends Louis and Erika of BEAM Africa. We are quite comfortable here. It is temporary housing until we can move into another property used to house missionary teams that come to work with BEAM. It is possible that we may get our own place, but that will be down the road a ways.

We have a new friend here that visits every morning. Around 5 am everyday, a large beaked bird whom we have named Earl, perches himself on the frame of a window to our room and has an argument with his reflection in the glass. The conflict concludes with him violently beating the glass with his beak, making a sound not unlike a hammer banging against the window glass. Earl is very punctual thus we do not need an alarm clock.

We are slowly stepping into our role, cautious to be considerate of the culture here and not bring too much of the fast-paced American way. Although we have only been here for a few days, we find ourselves anxious to start working and get things going. We have made a few contacts with fellow believers and are starting to get familiar with some of the ministries here. We have also done some work with BEAM Africa assisting in some big changes in their organization. Things here wind down significantly for Christmas so we are hoping to get a good start in our work after the holidays.

Our friends here have completely embraced us and welcomed us into their lives. God has done much work ahead of time to prepare us, and our friends, for our arrival here. We are both truly amazed at the blessings that come when completely submitting ourselves to His will for our lives. Although we miss our friends and family in the US, we are excited about His plans for us here.  We will be praying for you and thanking our Lord for all that each of you have done to get us this far. May the Lord bless each of you!

God bless,

Mike & Jeanine

Well friends, here we are. I just finished my last day of work at Cornerstone. Man, the time actually has gone by really fast.

Back in July we spent a week camping with Mike's family saying our goodbyes & tonight, we board a plane to the east coast to do the same with my family. Then we have just one final month here in Colorado before we take off to start our new lives in South Africa.

November 4th is our official departure date, can you believe it? Our Missionary Visa was approved for the maximum time allowed...3 years!!! What a blessing!

We ask for continued prayers as we await our departure. For the Lord to guide us on what to do with our precious puppies, for our support to continue to come in (we are at about 50-60% right now) and for everything else to go smoothly.

We love you all so much and appreciate your constant support & prayers. We'll connect again when we come back from our trip & look forward to seeing all of our smiling faces each week until we leave.

Happy August all !

Can you believe it? I don't even really remember the month of July at all it went by so fast. I hope everyone is having a wonderful, albeit very hot, summer.

First of all I just want to give an update on our friends at BEAM Africa. As most of you know last year they had 2 break-ins, had to buy all new computers for their adult education class and re-build most of their database. With the new security system they got, all seemed to be going pretty well. Until 2 weeks ago. Erika & 2 other women arrived early to get a few things done and were held up by GUNPOINT. The robbers tied them up with electrical wire & walked off with the two admin computers.

The blessings?

1. All three women were not hurt at all, just extremely scared (ok so Erika was angry too)

2. The robbers were so intent on getting in and out they only took the admin computers from the outside office. They did not think to enter the main part of the building were Erika's computer is (this has all of the banking info & database & other things that keep BEAM running smoothly).

3. The women were interviewed by a local TV station. The broadcast was seen by a couple who owned some land in Nellmapius. They have offered to bless BEAM with the property. This will allow a lot more space for the buildings and for the children to play.

Amazing yes? Even in the midst of hardship God shines bright for our friends in S Africa. Mike & I cannot wait to get down there to be with our friends and help them with all that they need help with. It is hard to be here when our friends need help...*sigh*

That being said we are busy trying to prepare for our move. Busy...busy. A yard sale in 2 weeks, meeting with friends and family to share our hearts & our needs, getting poked & prodded by doctors, & praying daily for guidance in all areas of preparation. But mainly trying to give it up to He who is leading us overseas so that we don't let our impatience get the better of us (ok so Mike is way better than me at this). We are at about 50% of our goal and know that the Lord will get us there.

Please keep BEAM in your prayers; for strength & trust. Please keep us in your prayers; for patience & encouragement that we will be on our way soon. And finally, that someone will come forward to give our little dogs a home. We are afraid the trip might be too hard on our little guys..what with travel to Africa & the bouncing around we will be doing between the various countries on the continent. But again..God's will, maybe we will need some extra protection...giggle.

Thank you for your support in everything!

Be sure to keep track of us by signing up for our blog!

Mike & Jeanine

Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction

On July 16th, we are hosting a spaghetti dinner and silent auction for fundraising for us and two other families leaving the US to serve the least of these in other countries. Tickets are available at Cornerstone Church on Sunday, July 10, or at the door on the 16th. It will be at Cornerstone Church, 1190 S Lashley Lane.

Hanging out on the Fence...

Ever hear of the sayings:

"Have my cake & eat it too"

"Having it BOTH ways"

"Best of BOTH worlds"

"Going in TWO different directions"

And my favorite, "Dangling on BOTH sides of the fence."

Yup that would describe my world right now.

On the one side, there is the total excitement of starting a new life, in a new place, making new friends. I am so excited about getting back to So. Africa to renew the friendships already started and love on the children and locals every day. And while stories of cobras and large insects aren’t too thrilling, thoughts of an 80 degree Christmas is pretty darned inviting, let me tell you *wink*.

On the other side, there is sadness when I think of those I will not see every day here at the office. Not spending time with family and don’t get me started about missing our grandchildren. Then there is not being around to share fellowship or teach class on Sunday mornings. I wonder how long it will take to NOT answer our phone "good morning Cornerstone" *grins*

But the reality is... for now, I lay on the fence. Trying to grip tightly, trying to balance the two "sides" listed above all the while figuring what to bring and what to sell, trying to decide on whether to bring the dogs with or find a loving home here in the US AND praying for partners so that all of this can take place. Let's just say I don't feel as relaxed as the little guy in the picture above looks as my feet dangle on both sides. LOL I thought I was a wreck the month or so before my wedding…sheesh!

And so I take a deep breath, and call on my Heavenly Father. My favorite verses constantly remind me that :

HE is with me…

Psalm 139:10…..even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

HE has the perfect plan for me…

Jer 29:11….for I know the plans I have for you

His plan is perfect, He will not leave me alone, and while I lay on the fence, feet dangling on either side, every so often I will close my eyes & in Him find rest.

xoxo, Jeanine

April 2011

We have maintained communication with our partners, BEAM Africa, in Pretoria, South Africa. They are anxious for our arrival as the need for additional help continues to grow. Some new challenges have emerged with their organization, however they completely trust in God to provide.

Meanwhile, Jeanine and I are continuing our efforts to raise support for our upcoming move to SA. The LORD has truly been blessing us. We are seeking more partners to join us and would love to meet with anyone interested. Please email us to setup some time to meet.

Please feel free to read more information about African Endeavor and our ministry from the links above.

Thank you!