The daily grind

Recently I've been forgetting appointments, e-mails, things I am suppose to do, and it is so frustrating! I don't know where my mind is. I have been feeling sick since October 2009, mostly every day, and recently all day, nausia, shaking, and dizzy. I can be sitting on the couch and feel like I am in the air sideways... very strange feeling, which I think is affecting my daily grind kind of things! So weird, anyway, no news on what it is yet, I have more testing to be done.



I have been writing music, which I haven't done in along time by my self, it's refreshing. I think the song coming out could be a love song for vinjelu, which would be nice, love songs are so hard to write I think because you want them to be so perfect...

Anyway, also been struggling with some people not knowing who I really am, being judged and put into a box, it's surprising how much that can hurt. But it's also make me appreciate my friends and family that do know me and vinj and love us through it all. Thank you to YOU for that!

If you think about us please pray for us.



On a bright side I am going to BC to visit my great friends Nici, Shelby, and Marrissa, and meeting other great people for 5 days. Shelby has 3 boys and Nici has 2 boys, so Seth will have a blast while we are there. I haven't seen them since my wedding basically besides a short meeting in red deer before seth was born. We got to go for free actually with a west jet credit we got back in July last year! I am a bit nervous to fly with both kids alone... but I know will survive, with sanity is in question.
Vinjelu will be alone obviously for these days : ) That hasn't happened in a long time, but I think he is looking forward to it in some ways, he gets to do music for hours in a row, which is really the way it needs to be done! If you think of him, drop off some supper : ) haha.

Just a quick post, will be back another day,

Lately ...

We cut Seths afro off, we loved it, but alot of people would come and touch his hair and he did not like that, and my brothers dog would come and bite his hair, even the dogs couldnt resist touch those locks! He would also cry the entire time I combed it out... So we cut it all off, and probably will keep doing that until he's a bit older to understand.



Heres our little girl, almost 7 months old now, sitting up, and trying to crawl, but not quite getting it. She says dada, and mama, and tata and baba : ) The second picture is of her asleep in her excersaucer, shes the sweetest thing!



Here is Elizabeth holding Taliah, they have a special bond, as did Seth and Liz too. Taliah always falls asleep on elizabeths little lap. We were spending the night with my nieces and nephew while Rob and Lana went to Red Deer for their anniversary. We had lots of fun!



Taliah has discovered music in her soul! She responds as soon as you pay the guitar in particular, she LOVES the sound, and as soon as you bring it close to her, she pats the guitar, and strums the strings. Although Seth really liked the guitar too, you can see she really has a love for the sound. Seth is more into drums.


I finally convinced Vinjelu to shave all his facial hair off, after 5 years of asking! haha! And he looks so different, but still my hansom man! I personally love it. More photos to come, we took these last night at 1:30am ! I guess I could convince him so late, we have decided to do more random fun things, just because it's fun!



We got Seth a Lighting McQueen Thermos Sippy cup (it keeps the milk cold for up to 12 hours!) on valentines day, and HE LOVES IT! This has been a success, getting seth off the bottle during the day, he still gets one before bed, but yet another mile stone passed, and our boy growing up...




I recently got a new journal, I hadn't quite finished my last one, but I felt this year has SO many changes, that I just wanted a brand new one to start afresh. I love journaling, and since I stopped studying I have had time to jot some thoughts and prayers down early in the morning before the kids are up, and I cherish those moments with jesus and the pages in front of me.


Here is a BIG, Beautiful mug vinjelu bought me a couple weeks ago... I know it's lame to like a particular mug, because lets face it, what you drink it what you drink no matter what you drink it out of right... but notheless I love it. Especially since it was from my sweetie.

Fridays Favorite Five

My mom does this on her blog every week, and I think it's a great way to remember what you LOVE about life.

Top five favorite things this week...

NuMba OnE! My Husband

Vinjelu. There are so many things that come to mind when I write his name, he is an amazing catch, and I am not the only one who thinks so : ) Some girls missed out, of which I am THANKFUL! haha!
Vinj is serious, quiet, loud, funny, SLOW, thoughtful, wise, HUMBLE, gentle, direct... there are alot of things he has like gentleness but at the same time he is direct, which makes it so much more easier to hear the truth from him.
Vinj is amazingly talented, last week we preached at church again, and challenged our friends to run after God with all their hearts, he is always writing music/lyrics, he is also becoming an amazing singer, he has this sweet tone to his voice that I LOVE! I see him everyday loving on his kids.
And you know what I love most about vinjelu, it's the same thing that drives me crazy sometimes... He is not here to impress anyone, to be this super productive successful man, yesterday I was in a rush and questioning how productive the day had been (as always... Lord help me with that!) and I was trying to rush vinj, and he said "why do you always have to compare us to others, we are not about that stuff.?" And that brought me back to earth, or should I say the kingdom of God. I am glad he has this treasure in him, he often pulls me out of the worlds eye and into the kingdom of God, where things of the world just don't make sense, and where we don't make sense in the world... Anyway, i love that.

NuMba TwO Inspirtation

This Family has devoted their lives to Jesus totally, and to mozambique. I have been listening to testimonies from them over the last few days, and it's just incredible, as you may have read in my last post. Recently Rolland was dying he doctors told them to bring their kids back home to say goodbye to him, I know the seriousness of his condition is true because my friend sherilyn just got back from mozambique and saw him like this. You can find on you Tube a video of his testimony, where ROLLAND is sharing how he was HEALED totally...
go here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NbSb9EmsIo
Just so inspiring.

NuMba ThReE How Life is so crazy funny

So as vinj and I have really given God total control, and have chosen to TRUST HE IS OUR PROVIDER. We have two people who support our missions, one gives $50 a month, the other gives $250 a month. We got a call a few days later from the $250 and said he wouldnt be able to support us anymore. And vinj and I just laughed, vinj said he expected it, kind of like Jesus is going to be wiping the slate clean, then writing a whole new story... at the same time we found out to finsh our house we need $7000 more then what we have any means of saving. SO, life is crazy and throws curve balls all the time, BUT God is good, and life is an adventure with him... so, come what may!
: )

NuMba FoUr my Bed
I love our bed, most nights I fall into bed thinking, there is no place like this... I guess anyones place of rest is wonderful, I also know most of the people in world don't have beds, and I count it a huge blessing while I have one, and am thankful for every night spent in it. I was thinking last night I should really phone Markus and Lenora and tell them thank you again for that wonderful mattress. And thank you to mom and dad for the memory foam. We've had it for 4 years... but I still love it all the same.

NuMbA FiVe Quiet moments
I love those moments at night when everything is winding down, and it's just vinj and and I laying on the couch talking about the day, or probably how cute Seth is. haha. Life is so good laying in your mans arms just chillin, and in those moments there is real rest. And with a mind like mine that is a HUGE accomplishment. Vinj helps me slow down, and I need it.

Also would like to say I love my parents more and more, they are amazing parents, but even more amazing friends...

Living Crazy Lives = following Jesus....

Yesterday I looked up some youtube videos of Heidi Baker, I guess I was looking for some encouragement and challenge, while I had a quiet moment with Seth napping.
It's so easy to be cynical about these ministries and brush them off because the people doing them are so crazy. I mean crazy! I have never seen a ministry that doesn't say no to orphans coming into their home because they BELIEVE that GOD IS MORE THEN ENOUGH for all of them. And guess what... HE IS! Instead of paying for medical bills, you pray and see total healing, instead of people going hungry and everyone eating a little, God MULTIPLIES the food, and feeds everyone till they're full.
When they go to minister to a village of muslims, they don't preach the gospel first, THEY LIVE IT. They ask for the sick to come up and be healed, and when they are, the people believe and hear the good news with open hearts... now that's a new strategy for church!
My husband's heart was drawn to Jesus after he saw a miracle... because you SEE God move, you KNOW He is for real.
In South Africa Vinjelu and I prayed for alot of people. We saw a man healed of AIDS and a boy healed of an absessed tooth. We prayed for a boy who was being sexually abused and physically abused by an uncle, and the abuse stopped just like that. We prayed for a guy who was unemployed and very poor, and he got a job.
All these people couldn't deny that GOD IS REAL.

So why do we beat people with words, and music here... is there so little relationship and faith for miracles? God is hungry for our faith, and our prayers.

The way they do ministry at Iris ministries with Heidi and Rolland Baker is BY FAITH, and it works. It's a crazy life for sure. But if you read the scriptures, isn't that what it is? Just read Matthew chapters 5 to 7... so many challenges, and life styles that are SO contrary to our culture, that we don't often talk about.

Vinj and I want to live like this, when we say God is our provider it doesn't mean that when we have no money coming in and we scramble desperately for any means. We are children God. Maybe if we don't have enough food He will just give us more. (Sorry to our family who will worry about us, and feel free to call us crazy) But there is SO MUCH MORE to life, and loving Jesus. And we want it, and we want it for our kids as well.

I can't express this to the max, but I say this.... when we do seem to be doing something crazy, please support and continue to love us - either in spite of it, or in support of it.

For example, with or without our house finished we are going to Zambia, God has soken this very clearly to us. With or without beds, a car, or money, we are going to Zambia. And we believe we WILL see God change lives, and have an AMAZING adventure with Jesus and our kids!

Also if you need prayer, or healing, give us a call and we would love to come over and pray for you. When we ask, God moves, the Bible says it like this... Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened.

I'm not 20 any more... right?

One of my most favorite things about life right now is having my AMAZING friend Margot around.
She is from Cape Town, South Africa and we have been waiting for her to come for nine months, she finally got the work permit through. It' SO FUN to have her around every week!
We are the same age, she is actually older then me by a few months. Anyway, Margot is single, and VERYU FUN, full of life. which everyone loves including me!

Being around her has made me think and evaluate my self more, I think because we had so many good times in South Africa back in 2004, when I was single with no children, and the wold world ahead of me... you know the feeling right?

This is a photo of me and vinjelus brother in spring of 2005 having the time of my life!
Anyway, so I have been evaluating things because here Margot and I are the same age, but it seems like she is still 19 and I am... well I'm not. Margot stays out late, wears funky shoes : ) haha Works the crowd... which I used to do. It took a few weeks for margot to realize things weren't the same... now with a toddler who desperately needs consistency, and a baby girl who is nursing ALOT I can't really be care free anymore... and I haven't really noticed it until she came, and I kinda wanted to be.



Here is a photo of Vinjelu and I the night we got engaged, I was 19, he was 24. An amazing night, he asked me to marry him at dinner, after we went out walking, stopped and kissed as traffic wizzed by on the dark road in windhoek, Namibia. We were so happy and care free, it was an amazing night.
So... I guess I went through a moment of wanting that again... BUT and this is a BIG BUT!

I LOVE MY LIFE
I LOVE MY HUSBAND
I LOVE MY SON
I LOVE MY DAUGHTER
I LOVE WHAT WE DO
I WOULDN"T CHANGE A THING!
I love being a mom, YES it means I cant just go waltzing off to the movie everyone elese is going to see, or to the pub for a random fun night, but I LOVE putting my kids to bed, giving the bath, reading the stories, singing songs while they fall asleep. Those moments are amazing. And how Incredible is it that they are mine... I get to watch them grow up.
And I have a husband who is incredibly loving, and we keep it fresh! Not just in bed, but yes in bed if you must know. We right music together, thats so much more deep then the flirting we used to do when we were single, right?!
We have children together, we cook together, we discuss all kinds of things, I love having him here, he's my best friend ever.



I guess I say all that to say, being single and wild was fun and I am happy Margot is still in that phaze, but I LOVE my life, and vinj and I keep it real, fun, and exciting even with the responsibility of our children (and we still want more! haha) , bills, etc.
I am excited to live each day out.
Although there will be a few wild nights once our kids are old enough to sleep over at grandma and grandpas house together!
Haha, life is good.
Isn't it!

Seth The little Cook

Seth LOVES cooking, probably like alot of kids I am thinking, but my kids are special RIGHT! haha
He comes at supper every time saying, "mommy cook!, PLEASE"



This day I gave in and let him pretend to cook with a pan, spice and potatoes....



What do you do when your kid wants to cook around a hot stove? Do you just say no and let him cry while you cook? Any suggestions?

The good things about moving....

Every time I thought of my mom and dad and not being near them, I would start to get a tight chest, and would panic thinking "I can't do this!"
This would be followed by tears thinking of how much I will miss them, and how deep inside I feel so guilty for leaving them, and taking their grandchildren nontheless! (Not to mention AWESOME son in law Vinjelu!)
I've though of several idealistic plans to see them or for the whole family just move with us. But I pray they are not so idealistic.
We are moving to Zambia in about four months, on one way tickets to Vinjelu's home, and to my childrens other culture. This, as I said has caused literal panic attacks, and has brought many tears in my room alone, I love my family as many people do, and I count my mom as my best friend, we talk everyday, and my dad couldn't be more precious, and like most daughters I hang on his words and approval... we have an amazing circle of friends around us who love and care for us on a regular!

SO WHY MOVE!? Thats the big question right, and I am suppose to have this great answer that makes alot of sense, and has merit and all that. But usually when you are following God you look like a fool (right dad). This is very unfortunate for folks like me who are prideful and like to be organized and appear very sane...

We get alot of questions like
"Will you have toilets?" - Yes we will, at least on the ywam base we do !
"Running water?" - As long as we have electricity the well brings us water into our taps, granted the water is only cold, if you want hot water you have to boil the water...If there is not electricity, then we have a pump, you pump it out and you run with it, so either way, you have running water!
How will you live?! What if your kids get sick?! All good questions, and we will answer them if you have any questions like these.

Anyway, in the last 4 weeks I have had an unexplainable peace take over, physically I don't feel panic attacks (so far) and just generally feel ok about it all.
I would like to NOTE that vinjelu is not MAKING us go to Zambia or anything of the sort, I WANT to go, if you can believe it from the beginning of this post, missions brings many emotions and often separates families. You are always torn as a missionary I think. At least I am, and so is Vinjelu.

So I would like to point out a few things we are SO looking forward to in Zambia...

#1 LIving off the Land

Back when I was 8 turning 9 my parents made a cray move to New Norway, and for a spring and summer we lived on a farm roughing it quite alot, and I always loved that. We lived from our garden (mom still got groceries...) but in my 8 year old mind we were living off the land, fending or our selves. Vinj and I both look forward to gardening, walking out to pick oranges off the tree to make juice, veggies for soup, or salad... tomatoes for a sandwich, picking eggs from the chickens, and milking the cow for some milk.... Our kids will have some serious chance to work for their food, and appreciate the way food is produced.
Can't wait for this, you can grow all year round in Zambia if you have water for it, so we will be!!!

#2 Wendy

Wendy is a best friend, who we have missed ALOT many times, especially as we have had children and she still hasn't met them. Wendy is coming to visit in July and help us with finishing our house. She lives in Namibia, and has to take a bus to Zambia, it is a LONG ride to Lusaka from Windhoek!

#3 Room to Play free

On the base there is a little girl Seths Age who will be a GREAT play mate everyday with the kids. But one thing we look forward to is the open space for the kids to play! No more apartment and cold weather to keep us inside, they can play in the dirt, and I know they will have a blast, much like I did for that summer on the farm in New Norway, memories I will never forget. I am happy my kids will have this!

#4 Tobi-Chuma- Vinjelu & Wightson and Linda & Baby coming!

Wightson has been Vinjelus best friend for years, and his wife Linda is my friend as well, they are expecting a baby right around the time we are arriving! Vinj has missed wightson ALOT over these past years being in Canada, and I look forward to him having that friendship more tangible!



Vinjelus Brother Tobias lives in Zambia with his girl friend and our nephew Vinjelu Jr, we are SO looking forward to Seth havign a boy cousin to play with there as well, He has LOVed spending time with Titus here in Canada, and we know he would miss that. It will be so great having family in Zambia as well.

I will post more another time, but for now, I am at peace, I will miss my family tremendously, but I am also excited to experiance Zambia with my husband, it is HIS home, and our kids are also Zambian. . .

Thats all for now....

Back to it

Hello all!

I have tried to get into our blog account over and over, and it has finally worked, so will be at it again! look forward to sharing from our lives.

Kathryn


Here is Seth Last week on his 2nd birthday!

New things in our lives....

A little update for all our friends and family!!!

Kathryn: I will be starting full time studies with Athabasca University april 1st. I am doing a 3 year Health Administration Degree! I will be studying while we're in Zambia as well.
I also had a huge hair change:) I am blond with brown streaks... it's fun. And I guess I only live once, so gotta be blond once in my life time:)

Vinjelu:Has quit his job, where he has been working with Youth. He enjoys his work there with the youth, but the shift work has just gotten too much for our family. Vinjelu is almost constantly tired when we can spend time together. So he will be working on a Dairy far one of our friends owns for April, or untill we find something else.

Seth: Is growing of course! He is now 22 pounds, sitting at 50% for his hight, and 25% for his weight. So he is a little on the small side... but who didn't expect that :) He has been walking confidently since Mid January, now he does not even want to ride in a stroller, or be carried, he feels he should be allowed ot walk everywhere, even from the house to the car! He is a busy boy! Seth LOVES other kids no matter the age, where ever we go he walks to other kids and try to play, talk, or get their attention, this sometimes scares the other kids. I am excited for when our second baby will be able to play with him! HE has 7 teeth, they are not coming in very fast, but he is eating what ever we eat.
He does not mimic what we do very much, he has his own words and uses them ALL the time, he is very vocal about everything, sad, happy and board emotions! He does say "mom" for me, "dad" for vinj, and "mama" for my mom (grandma Hutch) and "Ya" when you ask him a question. But nothing else english comes out of his mouth. we think he might take longer to actually use words too because he is learning Nyanja and English at the same time.

Baby:Is doing good as far as we can tell, the only thing the doctors have said i the baby is a little small for it's age. I am not worrying about this though. He or She moves around alot, although it's rare Vinj can feel the movements, I am thinking the baby is just further back this time. I did see the baby kick physically saw the belly move up and then down! We will be going to find out what we are having on March 23rd, and having a 3D ultra sound with pictures too. So we are excited about this! OUr baby is Due either on the 18th or 19th of July.

The mission Side of us....As most of you know we are getting ready to leave for Zambia this fall. We are doing fund raiser to raise money to build staff housing on the Lusaka base for our family, and any guests that come to volunteer as well. This budget is between $15,000- $20,000. We are aiming to raise $25,000 for the house, furniture/ appliances and a vehicle. Obveously we are working and saving towards this as well.
We should be moving to Zambia between October and December, which ever works the best for flights, and the staff housing being built.

Music:OUr band name is anotherway Mission, you can find our web site at www.anotherway.ca You can hear weeping on our web site as well.
We have been playing about 2 times a month for big fun raising events. We played in Calgary last weekend, it was a benefit concert for Hope for Streets building project in India. We are playing on March 20th at CLBI in Camrose which is also a benifit concert for the homeless. We have fund raiser for Zambia coming up one in Regina on May 8th, and will be having another one in Wetaskiwin, and hoping to have one in BC as well. We should also be having one in Edmonton as well. We are playing at a Baptist church on highway 13 just past wetasiwin on April 3rd for a youth.
We have flights booked for Nashville leaving on July 28th, and returning on August 4th. We will be competing for best song, and best performance while we are there. If you did the calculations our departure date is only 10 days after our baby is due... please keep this in your prayers!!!

I think thats it for updates... for now!

Oh one more thing exciting. One of our friends bought me (kathryn) a new acustic/electric guitar! It is beautiful, and a HUGE blessing for our music ministry as well!
The same friend has increased his missions support for us to $250 a month, which is also an answer to prayer, we know God will take care if us!!!

Scalliwags

Vinj and I were invited out to play at the open mic at Scalliwags in Camrose last night. The party was starting at 10:30, we only made it there by 11, so we could put Seth to bed and make sure he would be sleeping while we were gone.
It was one of vinjelus friends birthday party, Tammy from work, shes an awesome girl, and for some reason loves our music.

So we got up at around 12:40 and did a set, and everyone loved it:) We got lots of cheers, after we were done, Tammy got up and demanded everyones attention (a little inebriated at the time...) she told everyone how amazing vinj and I were, and that our music amazing and it's going to go far, she started crying, and apologized for swearing so much since we are christians and all :) it was really touching, and we are so happy to be there for Tammy, and sing for her on her birthday. Lots of people asked us to come and again and play on a Wednesday night, and I think we might just do that.

update on life :)

Here are some random photos of vinj and I.
Two of my favorite pictures!


We still dont know where we are moving to on the 28th.... but have two options, one is still at the girls house, it might work out... and so we will see. It's been really stressful week, which has contributed to me feeling very sick this week as well. But we are packing! And I am glad of that. We are packing lots of bins to store stuff while we're in Zambia, so we are actually getting things done for the ned of the year as well. Which makes me feel a little accomplished.



on an exciting note, we will be finding out what we are having on Feb 25th! Thats going to be awesome!

Seths First time Swimming!

This was just a perfect moment!


I loved swimming with Seth, he LOVED it, we were there for 2.5 hours! He had a good sleep that night!


I went down this slide, it was fun and fast, I would not have even imagined going down with Seth. But then our friend took her 15 month old down and he loved it... so we thought why not I guess. So vinj went down with seth... but then when vinj put seth in the air so not to go under, he fell... hence his leg in the air and his head under water.


Seth Went down this slide over and over again. He is getting much better with water in his face, he was so brave, and had so much fun!

Moving on....

New things are happening, as always in the life of Vinj & Kath!
We gave our notice to our land lords on the 1st... and so we will be moving on February 28th!

We are doing this because we are no longer able to save with me (kathryn) not working, so we need to move in order for us to be able to save.

Right now we are waiting to hear from a girl who is living in a big house and was willing to share the house with us a couple months ago, and it may just work out. But thats not for sure yet.

I am actually excited to move, (although I didnt really want to at first) I have been feeling really overwhelmed with the amount of house work that is needed to keep our big house in order, and have still been trying to find ways that I can make money. But the best thing for our babies health and my health is for me not to work and rest alot in the day. So the idea of moving in with people who share the cleaning and cooking responsibility is really appealing to me. Also only really having to focus on keeping our rooms and bathroom clean. So we will see. This is also alot more manageable for vinj to do if I am too sick.

So thats that, if you can come help out near the end of the month, we would sure appreciate it!

Vinjelu & Kathryn Muyaba

Click on this link and find info on our upcoming shows! This is also on our facebook page. YOu can become our fan on here as well:)

Anotherway Mission Album Cover

Heres a few of our choices for our Album Cover.... give a vote for your favorite.

Our little Holiday

Here is our family photo for 2008, on the top of Salfur mountain! The girl who took the picture for us was literally frozen, she had just come from a hike and her hair was white. I felt bad for asking her after that. BUt am glad we got one all together.


Seth was tired and hungry once we were at the top of the mountain (after riding the gondala in Banff) We got food at the top which was not good and was expensive! But Seth seemed to like the sandwich, and we thought it was hilarious him eating such a huge sandwich!


Heres me on the Gondala, I was a little freaked out by it, it goes so high... and it's freazing inside the thing! But it was an expeiance I am glad we had. I would recommend going in the summer!


Heres our hotel. It was beautiful! And we had just the cheapest hotel room, and it was great! Only that Seth had to sleep in the bathtub so we didn't wake each other up, there was no other room to sick him in. It was kinda fun cuz we had TV in our room, and we dont have it at home, so it was fun to watch a few shows. And the bed was amazing, i was a feather bed and blanket.


Vinjelu in front of one of the MANY gift shops on Banff Ave. We didn't go many places, but had alot of fun on Banff Ave, eating and shopping. I love this picture of Vinj! It was below -29 every day we were there! So we had to bundle up all the time.

Seth and mommy!

PLaying with the mac

Merry Christmas!

Well I know this is an old christmas picture. But we haven't got one done yet this christmas, we'll have to get on that since we have a baby now:)
So we broke down and bought a christmas tree, and were pleasantly surprised that we found one for $30.00 from Super store. That was nice, so we have one now. And it is beautiful! Seth seems to be a little scared of the tree though, which is good actually, so he wont be pulling it on him self. Almost done shopping for my peeps, funny I have my mom left, which is not usual. BUt that means it wont be hard.

Anyway, Merry Christmas!

11 inches shorter!!!!

Heres my new look for the winter! Less time in the shower, less time blow drying, less time doing my hair! So it's easier in this sick, tired time in my life. And I can look good with a little less effort! :)

I took this on our Mac Photo booth thing. Kinad cool. I can do my make up with it, like on on the TV Adverts,

Anyway, I did have a new nose piercing to go along with my new look, but it fell out in the night and it grew in, I tried to no avail piercing it with a safety pin again, but I was a wuss about it:)