Conviction

I have carried the conviction for years that “art” could be used to bring healing to the artist as well as the viewer. Since my birth into this new life with Jesus, now 21 years ago, it has been my passion and focus to convey the heart and character of God and the truth of the Word through my art.

I believe art can be a viable option as a source of income for individuals as well as to fund the cry that we are to have in our hearts for the “Kingdom to come and His will to be done here on earth as it is in Heaven”.

I believe that art can and does impact and transform nations. It is unfortunate that in this day and age it is the art coming from impure sources that is having the greatest impact on peoples and nations.

I believe teaching art is a very practical way that I can obey the mandate given in Ephesians 4:11-12 …to equip the saints for the work of ministry. Those trained would be empowered to dream of the many ways that God could use them and their artistic gifts as a voice to many.

There are so many other benefits and possibilities but I will just mention these for now.

February 2012 Update

Sheltering Wings …  Fine Art Prints available for sale … Juice Plus+ ….  Tower Gardens … Serving as Senders … Art Supplies … my Jesus journey back to Mozambique and the House of Blessing!



Hello!

This update is long overdue. Please allow me to catch you up!

My immediate adaptation to life back in the states after 7 ½ months in Mozambique went exceptionally smooth. A wonderful opportunity was made available to me to share a home with other mission-hearted people from my church here in South St. Louis. We live a few blocks from our meeting place and host Lifegroups twice a week. I am always thankful for the grace of God over the transitions but this time it was especially helpful. I was back only two weeks when a family member had a crisis situation that required me to travel out of state two times to assist.

As I shared in my last email from Mozambique, the Lord is leading me to take another step of faith in my missionary journey, leaving the security of Iris Ministries to work at an orphanage called House of Blessing (HoB) in Manga, Mozambique. It was founded by Lee Trueblood in 2003.

Lee is currently the only missionary caring for over 40 children. In 2006 another missionary, affectionately known as Papa Greg, joined her. He was a wonderful father to the children and a huge blessing to the overall operation of the home. As 2011 came to an end he felt his time there was complete and returned to his home in South Africa.

Help was already needed at HoB, now with Greg’s absence, Lee’s need for assistance with the children is even greater.

I stated that this was another step of faith. At Iris Ministries, which is a large missions organization, housing is provided and I was not directly responsible for things like transportation, security, electric, basic food, and etc. It was still an area of prayer, knowing the provision came through the generous sharing of people from around the world, but the parent organization received and dispersed the funds.

At HoB there is not a home for me but we are praying about the possibilities for my arrival. They are currently without a vehicle and rely upon the assistance of nearby friends and public transportation – which you need to know is nothing like we have here in the US! :-) Preparing to serve at the HoB is taking me further out of my comfort zone in numerous ways. While I was still in Mozambique last summer I was praying for specific direction, for confirmation, and was given Ps 113:9. “He grants the barren woman a home, like the joyful mother of children.” So … that was pretty specific! I have to trust that He has a home for me and it will be my hearts delight to join the family and help to mother those children.

A majority of my time here in the States has been devoted to things that will allow me to be better cared and provided for while in Mozambique, so that I can be more effective in my servce. This falls into 5 distinct areas –

1. Sheltering Wings

2. Sale of Art Work

3. Juice Plus Business

4. Finding a team of people called to “Serve as Senders

5. Gathering Art Supplies

1. Sheltering Wings is a missionary sending organization that I am in the process of being affiliated with.

2. The Sale of Art Work is now possible! Working on my website and getting the art available for purchase has been a great test of perseverance, but diligence combined with help from a couple of friends has finally borne fruit. It is up and running!

  • Art purchases will help to me get back to Mozambique and to support me when I am there. www.laborofloveart.com/gallery/ Please share this link with your friends!
  • In the St. Louis area my art can also be purchased through Giggafriggs in Kirkwood, MO.
  • In addition to my paintings I can be commissioned to create portraits from your photos.

3. Juice Plus+® is a product that I am always thankful to have with the extra health challenges of life the mission field. I am also proud to be affiliated with the company behind it.

  • Juice Plus+® is whole food nutrition to help you bridge the gap between the 7 to 13 servings of fruits and vegetables recommended by the USDA and the nutrition you actually get with your busy schedule. It is clinically proven to deliver key antioxidants and other phytonutrients that are absorbed by the body, to reduce oxidative stress, to reduce biomarkers of systemic inflammation, to improve several measures of immune function, to improve cardiovascular wellness, and to improve the health of the skin and gums.
  • Purchasing Juice Plus+® will really be a gift that you give yourself and those you love. By purchasing it through me you will also enable me to continue my work with orphans in Mozambique. Please look through my site and contact me by email or phone (314 225-5704) with any questions you may have.
  • There are currently two opportunities to receive free Juice Plus+®. One is through an ongoing Children’s Health Research Project where with a qualifying adult purchase, a child between the age of 4 and 18 can receive Juice Plus+® free for up to 3 years. This offer can even be extended to a full-time undergraduate college student. The other is a program called Juice Plus Effect that offers $50.00 of free product.
  • Clinically proven nutrition, free products, supporting orphans … need more to love? Juice Plus+® will be releasing The Tower Garden this Spring! Please remember to order through me for me to get credit!  - Thank you so much and here’s to your health!

4. “Serving as Senders” is the title of a book by Neal Pirolo that I am required to read as part of my application process with Sheltering Wings. In the preface Neal writes about the moment he heard this statement. “In secular war, for every one person on the front line of battle, there are nine others backing him up’”. The speaker compared secular war to the spiritual war that accompanies cross-cultural ministry and continued to say, “And how can we expect to win with any less than that ratio?”

  • Dr. Ralph Winter from the US Center for World Mission summarized the book this way; “This key book makes the strategic point that mobilizers — the senders — are as crucial to the cause of missions as frontline missionaries.”
  • Mr. Pirolo draws upon Romans 10:13-15, which concludes with “And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” He wonderfully explores and explains six key areas where people can “serve as senders”.
Moral Support

Logistics Support

Financial Support

Prayer Support

Communication Support

Re-entry support

  • I share that to help you understand what I mean when I say that I need to find a team who are called to “serve as senders”. Are foreign missions, Africa, and parenting orphans something that you are passionate about? On another level are you an artist or art appreciator who desires to support arts education in a third world country? This will be my ninth season of serving in Mozambique since mid 2005 and I will continue as long as the Lord allows and asks me to do so. I know that He has called me to be one who goes. Will you pray and ask the Lord if He may be calling you to be a sender?

5. Gathering of Art Supplies has been simplified!

  • Blick Art Materials has a wonderful program called Art Room Aid. I have a project listed there titled “Art with Orphans in Africa“. There is a project description along with a wish list of supplies where people can either donate money or purchase specific supplies. This is another great way to support my work with the children.

The Lord bless you!

– Laura

Copyright © 2012  Labor of Love A.R.T. and Labor of Love For the Nations, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Laura Eubanks

Labor of Love A.R.T.
4666 Varrelmann Ave.
St Louis, MO 63116

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New Website and Facebook Page

Hello everybody!

I have been diligently working and I am in the process of wrapping up the Labor of Love A.R.T. website.

I am so excited to get to see things coming together, with the much appreciated assistance from a good friend. :) (Thank you Meghan!)

Soon you will be able to order online (as many of you have been asking for for a while)!!

Purchases of  Labor of Love A.R.T. provide support for me to return to serve in Mozambique.

The new site www.laborofloveart.com should be up in the next few days!!!

The new Facebook page iswww.facebook.com/LaborofLoveART

“Shine” Mural – On the Boys Home at Iris Ministries, Dondo

As I painted the other murals some of the boys regularly asked me if I was going to paint something on their house and if they could help me paint. It was always my desire and intention to paint something on their house. Months ago I knew the Scripture that I wanted to use as the reference, it is one of my favorites, Philippians 2:14-16a.

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and a perverse generation, among whom you shine as stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.”

Having them help me on the other paintings would have been difficult but giving them the opportunity to paint was very important to me. Although I had that verse for the theme I did not know what it should look like. One morning as I was praying God gave me the idea! I was so thankful because honestly I was a bit frightened of taking on another project. I think God graciously honored my willingness to proceed because it was so important to the boys. The idea was the prefect answer! They were able to be a part of it from start to finish. It was fairly simple in composition and skill but has a dramatic impact. I am happy with it for many reasons. Thanks be to God! I pray that he will continue to touch the lives of the boys and others through it!

The artists!

Mozambique August 2011 Newsletter

Mozambique August 2011 Newsletter

Logo Header
Anna and Helena
Prayer Requests
* Missionaries for our center here in Dondo.

* Special times to connect with the boys here in Dondo before I leave

* Protection and healing for all at the HOB. Deeper bonds with the girls and Lee. God’s leading regarding specifics of returning to serve there.

*Ability to complete final painting projects..

*  Financial provision.

* For God to prepare the way for the many areas of transition and needs for the season in the United States.

Links
My Blog – WebsiteIris Ministries Main WebsiteIris Ministries – Dondo

My home church – The Church at Bevo

How to Donate

Tax-Deductible
Donations

may be given through
my home church -
The Church at Bevo
To donate by check -
write in
“Laura Eubanks -
Mozambique Missions”
on the memo line.
Send to -
The Church at Bevo
P.O. Box 2766
St Louis MO 63116
To donate online -
When you get to the
page that says “please review your donation” -
there is a line below
the name of the church
that says, “Add special instructions to the Seller”.
If you click there it will
open a text box.
Please type in -
“Support for
Laura Eubanks -
Mozambique Missions
Join Our Mailing List
Greetings!
My time is drawing short. On September 15th I will board a plane and head back to the US. Thinking back over the last month feels like many months due the answered prayers and the multiple things that I have been able to do.
The primary task of this past month has been painting. I have felt such a help and a peace from the Lord as I have worked.
Art News
“Agua da Vida” mural. -
With-in days of the last email I completed the final details.

“Alpha and Omega” mural -

Alpha Omega  Mural
The next project was to do all the faces on the mural that I painted here last year, but never completed. There are 17 people and 3 animals and of these all but one of the animals needed to be done. I also added more detail to the large tree and the flowers to the field. One of the children in the field has a Bible that she is reading to two other children. As I was painting, one of the boys asked me if I was going to put words on the Bible. I answered him saying, “no, I do not think so, I do not know what verse I would use.”  As I was speaking I suddenly knew it needed a verse and what it would be. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.” After I looked it up I felt I was to include the prior verse as well. It is perfect for this painting. The mural contains much symbolism which I have posted on my blog page.
“Shine” mural -
Shine Mural
Months ago I knew the Scripture that I wanted to use as the reference for something at the boys house. It is one of my favorites, Philippians 2:14-16a.
“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and a perverse generation, among whom you shine as stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.”
I did not know what it should look like. One morning as I was praying God gave me the idea! I was so thankful because honestly I was a bit frightened of taking on another project. I think God graciously honored my willingness to proceed because it was so important to the boys. The idea was the prefect answer! They were able to be a part of it from start to finish. It was fairly simple in composition and skill but has a dramatic impact. I am happy with it for many reasons. Thanks be to God! I pray that he will continue to touch the lives of the boys and others through it!
Conference  –
I was able to attend the conference at the Centro De Adoraçao Peniel
in Beira. It was a great honor to receive from leaders who traveled from around the world and to join in worship with this thriving church in an outdoor stadium under the open sky. Their hospitality and generosity were amazing!

Lichinga -

Immediately after the conference I had planned to drive to Lichinga with the Wilcox family. As the time drew nearer I did not feel it was the right thing to do. I still had work to complete on the AO mural and I really wanted to do something with our boys here in Dondo. Many of them had asked both to help paint and if I would do something with them. It was important to me to be able to do this. I also needed more opportunity to connect with Lee and her girls at the House of Blessing in Manga. I decided not to travel and it has proved to be the right choice!
Visa Adventures  –
A greatly appreciated answer to prayer is that this time I was able to get my Visa renewed here in Beira and did not need to make the trip to Zimbabwe.
Work with Lee and House of Blessing –
The past two weeks I have been dividing my time between the House of Blessing in Manga and here in Dondo. When I communicated with my Iris supervisor regarding the circumstances of me returning to work with Lee at HOB in the future, I received a sweet email of blessing in return. I am very thankful for all of the opportunities I have had with Iris but am also very excited for this next season of partnership with Lee. My times there thus far have been filled with such love and opportunities to connect with and pour into the 17 girls. It has given me great confirmation as God is knits us together and provides glimpses into other “open doors” in this new walk of faith.
Sunday morning I awoke to a text from Lee telling me of a very serious physical attack against them in the middle of the night, by men with guns and machete’s. Greg, the missionary who serves the boys was cut badly by a machete, and was the only one physically harmed. The older boys, a neighbor and the guards had their lives threatened at gunpoint. Suddenly all the attackers fled, harming no one else and stealing nothing. The only explanation is that God routed the enemies just as in many Old Testament and current day accounts. Thank you Lord God! We pray for future protection.
I will be going back out there tomorrow morning for a few days and then will spend my last days here in Dondo.
Future Plans
I want to paint names on two of the office buildings here on our Dondo center and 4-5 signs that can be mounted to various doors.
If I have time Lee asked if I would paint a scripture on the first building you see when driving on to their property. Their name and logo are already painted there. I think I will be able to do it. :-)
Thank you once again for your prayers, financial support, encouragement and practical helps. I truly appreciate your remembering of me.
Much love and appreciation,
Laura
Labor of Love A.R.T.
Would you be willing to pray and consider supporting me in this work God has called me to? I need financial support but also would like to know if God gives you a special desire to cover me in prayer or if there is something else that He puts on your heart. I will share more of the needs for this next season when I get back to the US. Thank you and God bless you!
Forward email

View the pictures »

Alpha and Omega Mural

On the far left

Creation and the Garden of Eden is represented through the globe of earth surrounded by the tree, Adam and Eve and a few animals.

The Tree  -

Represents the purity needed to stand before God (see description for this in my painting based on Is. 27:6) and how the consequence of a choice made at a tree (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Gen 3:6) in the garden affected the entire world.

The Lion and the Lamb and the reclining boy –

Jesus is called both the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5)  and the Lamb of God (John 1:29) and we in childlike faith are invited to a place of intimacy with Him. It also a reference to Isaiah 11:6

The ark of Noah-

Just as the literal ark saved Noah and his family from death because if sin, the ark is a foreshadow of Jesus who would come as the Savior of mankind from sin. The ark in Genesis 6:14 describes the ark as being covered inside and out with pitch. Similarly in Exodus 2:3 – When she (the mother of Moses) could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it and laid it in the reeds by the rivers bank. This foreshadow of Jesus is of Him as Redeemer.

The ark of Noah … resting upon the mountain

In John 12:32 – Jesus said “if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all peoples to Myself.” Also John 3:14- “And as Moses lifted up the sepent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”

The Rainbow – Genesis 9:17 – “And God said to Noah, this is the sign of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” What was the covenant? Gen. 9:11-“Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

The Dove – Is a literal representation and a spiritual representation

The second time Noah sent a dove out from the ark in Gen 8:11 “The dove came to him in the evening and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth.” In Luke 3:22, “the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove …”

The River –

Revelation 22:1 – and he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and the Lamb.

The Mountains … the mountain of the Lord -

Gen 2:14 – So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” Psalm 121:1 “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?” (other versions say hills) There are multiple other references to the mountain of the Lord!

Field of Flowers …represents the harvest field –

Matthew 9:37-38 – “The harvest is truly plentiful but the laborers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

John 4:35b – “Behold I say to you lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.”

The Children …represent the laborers in the harvest -

Mark 10:14-15 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

The Children …of many nationalities -

Revelation 7:9 – After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb

The Children …with Jesus –

Matthew 10:16 – And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

The Children … with fire above their heads -

Represents the day of Pentecost – Acts 1:8a – “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” Acts 2:1-3 – ‘Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

The Cloud with three crosses –

Luke 23:33 “And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.”

The Cloud with three crosses … another life altering decision made at a tree.-

1 Peter 2:24 – (Jesus) “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness”  Luke 23:34, Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

The Butterfly …represents the Resurrection of Jesus –

Mark 16:6 – “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen!”

The Butterfly …represents our rebirth in Jesus –

Our spiritual – Romans 6:4 – “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life”

The Butterfly …represents the new life to come, The New Jerusalem –

Revelation chapters 21 and 22

The Open Bible … Jesus words to us –

“And behold I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me,

to give to each one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

-Revelation 22:12-13.

This is my Labor of Love –

that my work will bring reward when you return, Jesus.

Laura Jean Eubanks

Sept. 6 th 2011

Mozambique July 2011 Newsletter

Mozambique July 2011 Newsletter

Logo Header
Prayer Requests
* Missionaries for our center here in Dondo.

* Continued direction for the future. Meetings with Lee her girls.

* Grace and peace as I put final touches on the new mural and faces on  the older mural.

* Time with the boys!

* Computer longevity. The pin where the AC adapter plugs in is very loose and it is difficult to get a good connection.

* Financial support.

Links
My Blog – Website

Iris Ministries Main Website

My home church – The Church at Bevo

How to Donate
Tax-Deductible

Donations

may be given through

my home church -

The Church at Bevo

To donate by check -

write in

“Laura Eubanks -

Mozambique Missions”

on the memo line.

Send to -

The Church at Bevo

P.O. Box 2766

St Louis MO 63116

To donate online -

Click Here

When you get to the

page that says “please review your donation” -

there is a line below

the name of the church

that says, “Add special instructions to the Seller”.

If you click there it will

open a text box.

Please type in -

“Support for

Laura Eubanks -

Mozambique Missions

Join Our Mailing  List
Greetings!

I hope that this email finds you well and enjoying life. The past weeks here have been very nice. We welcomed back Julie who was home in Canada on a break. She has been living and serving here in Dondo for 4 years but this will be her final 6 months before moving on to something else. It is wonderful to have her back!

Art News

Thank you for your prayers! The mural that I have been working on is very nearly complete. I have a few last details on the picture and need to put finishing colors on the painted frame. I did a sponge painting effect over the deep blue base color and did the name on the front. I am so encouraged!

The “line” that shows in the picture is a reflection on the corner where there is a 2″ difference in the surface of the wall.

A couple of weeks ago as I worked one of the many people who stopped to comment was a man who I do not know at all yet I have the utmost respect for. You see, here in Dondo our center is on the highway that runs between the port in Beira all the way through to Zimbabwe. It is a two lane road with considerable potholes and a constant flow of tractor-trailers and petroleum tankers. Additionally, at all hours of the day and even some at night, men ride their simple and often rickety bicycles along the edges of this road, traveling many miles from their homes out in the bush to the markets in Dondo or Beira with bags of charcoal strapped to their bikes to sell and provide for their families. These bags are 4ft long and about 16 inches in diameter and they usually carry at least two. This person I want to tell you about was one of those men. He said that as he rode the long distance he was talking to God and asking Him “where is the evidence of You in this land?” With great joy he went on to tell me that a little later he looked up and ahead in the distance was my mural and that it brought such great encouragement to his heart! His face was beaming as he spoke. It meant so much to me to experience directly how my obedience to come to Mozambique and paint would be used by the Lord. He stopped to talk again on his way back home and I was able to give him a Bible.

Last weekend after stopping to ask about the picture and then spending time talking, 4 people prayed to repent of their sins and ask Jesus to be their Savior! (3 on Saturday and 1 on Sunday) The man on Sunday had been on his way to the bar to drink. He began to share how miserable he was but that he could not stop. He had been wasting all his money on alcohol and fooling around with other women. He said his wife often cried and he worried that he would not live long enough to see his children grow up. After Julie and I prayed with him he was heading home instead of the bar and we connected him with one of the young men from our church.

“More Lord, touch and transform many more lives!”

Agua da Vida (Water of Life) Storefront

Visitors

We had a team of 10 visitors for just a few days headed by David & Amy Lancaster and their 3 teenage children. They travel to Mozambique regularly to serve but had not been to Dondo for many years. I originally met them in 2008 when I lived in Pemba. They live in the inner city in Jackson, Mississippi with a small community of other believers, being light and bringing love to a very harsh environment. I highly recommend checking out what they do! www.wewillgo.org

The YWAM Audio-Visual team just returned for another 2 weeks and we have a new World Race team who will stay for a month. They were delayed a day in their arrival because of snow in Johannesburg!

Visa Adventures

I was not able to extend my Visa locally as I was told so I needed to make a trip across the border into Mutare, Zimbabwe. Thankfully Isla, another missionary, was 2 weeks from needing to go out and so she decided to travel with me. She was a huge help and bringer of peace because she is much more fluent in Portuguese then I and has made the journey once before. We left on Thursday 6am and arrived at the border around 3pm. The public transport certainly cannot be called convenient by American standards or comfortable but honestly it was convienent if the attribute is based solely on being able to accomplish what needed to be accomplished and that we did and arrived safely back yesterday afternoon. Thanks God!

Future Plans

Next art project – to paint the faces on the mural from last year!

Connecting with Lee Trueblood about work in Manga.

Attend a conference at Peniel Church in Beira August 10th -14th.

August 15th travel with the Wilcox family to Lichinga.

Thank you once again for your prayers, financial support, encouragement and practical helps. I truly appreciate your remembering of me.

Much love and appreciation,

Laura

Labor of Love A.R.T.

Would you be willing to pray and consider supporting me as I work here? I do need financial support but I also would like to know if God gives you a special desire to cover me in prayer or if there is something else that He puts on your heart.

Mozambique May/June 2011 Newsletter

Mozambique May/June 2011 Newsletter

Logo Header
Prayer Requests
* Missionaries for our center here in Dondo.

* Health!

* Finalizing things so that Manuel will be properly equipped.

* Continued direction for the future. Meetings with Lee her girls.

* Visa renewals and travel.

* Grace and peace as I continue work on the two murals and some smaller projects.

* Time with the boys!

* Financial support.

Links
My Blog – Website

Iris Ministries Main Website

Iris Ministries – Dondo

My home church – The Church at Bevo

How to Donate
Tax-Deductible

Donations

may be given through

my home church -

The Church at Bevo

To donate by check -

write in

“Laura Eubanks -

Mozambique Missions”

on the memo line.

Send to -

The Church at Bevo

P.O. Box 2766

St Louis MO 63116

To donate online -

Click Here

When you get to the

page that says “please review your donation” -

there is a line below

the name of the church

that says, “Add special instructions to the Seller”.

If you click there it will

open a text box.

Please type in -

“Support for

Laura Eubanks -

Mozambique Missions

Join Our Mailing  List
Hello!

Life is busy and unpredictable. We had a month of water challenges which then traded places with a month of serious internet outages. I had malaria early to mid June, got better and was then hammered by something else the last week of June. These last months have been a time of testing in many ways but I can genuinely say that I have a new peace and rest in my spirit. Thank you so much for your prayers, words of encouragement, financial support and practical help. I could not do what I do here without you!

It was beautiful that even when I was without internet connection to communicate while I was sick, God had some of you praying for me.
Thank you!!!

With Jon and Carla’s departure I stepped into the role of Hospitality. It is an all consuming position at this time of year. It involves communications with prospective and scheduled visitors, cleaning and organizing the houses, dorms and kitchens, arranging visitor activities while they are here, and answering lots of questions. Simplified, I prepare and provide help so that they can have a wonderful experience.  It is very important to me to honor and serve them, knowing how greatly they have sacrificed to come here and serve our community.

In June we had 20 people come through, some as individuals and some teams for varying lengths of time. We hosted a team of 6 from the World Race and had another team pass through on their way to and from Lichinga, in north west Mozambique. The World Race participants travel and serve in 11 countries in 11 months. They are quite an amazing group.

Manuel Joaquim, who grew up in our center and recently moved off site has been hired to work in Hospitality. It will be great to have a Mozambican on the team that welcomes the visitors. I have been working extra to help him become familiar with the various responsibilities. He started the 17th of June and I officially handed over the position Thursday with the arrival of the YWAM team of 9 from Kona, Hawaii. I will still assist with some training and background things but he is now the face of Hospitality Dondo! Yea Manuel!

With all the of the hospitality responsibilities I did not take a teaching position in the Bible School for this new session. I wanted my time apart from hospitality, which at this point has been minimal, to be devoted to our boys and the painting projects since this is something unique I have to offer.

Art News


On May 26th we took a few boys to a gallery opening at the Portuguese Consulate by invitation of Alex, the artist I met in early May. The featured artist was a female from Zimbabwe but the subjects of her paintings were all local scenes from Beira. Her work was very good and it was an inspirational experience for the boys.

Another day Alex came to Dondo and taught us how to make canvas Mozambique style and then spoke about other aspects of art. I greatly appreciate him taking the time to invest in the boys.

José Condlaque, age 13, is the son of one of the educators who work with our boys and one of those we took to the gallery. In the past two weeks I have been able to work on a mural. He helped me with all the prep work and painting of the main wall color. He worked with such eagerness and diligence not knowing that I intended to pay him. It was a sweet reward to see his reaction to earning money for something that he enjoyed doing. Quite a while back I gave him drawing supplies and paper. Without being asked, he has been bringing me his drawings. He is very good and so I continue to supply him with paper. Last Saturday when he brought me his drawings I almost cried! It is as if he just broke through to a new level. I am so excited for him! I pray that he will continue to thrive and reach his full potential in God’s use of this artistic gift in his life.

As mentioned above I have been working on the new mural. I have been at it for two weeks now as I have had time and it is coming along very well. The name of the store is Agua da Vida (Water of Life) For the mural I am using a picture I found on the internet which shows Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well. It has already given me many opportunities to share Jesus with people who stop to watch! I am pretty close to finishing and now without the hospitality responsibilities I will have more undivided time.

Next important project – to paint the faces on the mural from last year!

Celebrations

Mozambican Children’s Day was June 1st. It is a huge deal here. Calli organized so that the boys got very personal gifts and there was a huge meal with the typical local feast foods – chicken, rice, coleslaw, soda … and even french fries. :-) They did a whole separate event for the children of our preschool. It was precious to see!

June 16th was African Children’s Day and a couple of weeks prior the local government expressed interest in holding festivities here at our center. We had approximately 700 guests that day, almost all children and the provincial governors wife as the special guest! It was a tremendous event!

Growing Up

June has also been an eventful month in that 9 of our oldest boys moved out. They were all of the age where they were unable to continue living here. Earlier this year we built two houses side by side in a village named Manga about half way between here and Beira. It is close to their school and they will continue with their studies. The ministry continues to provide for their schooling and groceries but they have the added responsibility of cooking, cleaning, doing well with their studies and etc without someone there to monitor them. Calli is still in contact with them and has a “family meeting” every Sunday afternoon. They were pretty intimidated at first but are doing well. Many times it is the changes that will bring us greater freedom and growth that feel so frightening we’d rather stay where we are. It is good to know that God has a plan for their lives and good to see them at this new level of discovering what that plan is.

Wilcox Family

On June 15th welcomed 6 members of the Wilcox family.They are missionaries in Lichinga both with Iris and as pastors of a church plant from Peniel Church in Beira.Their older twin daughters serve with Iris in Lichinga and Pemba. Their presence has been a huge blessing! They have invited me to drive back to Lichinga with them on August 15th. Their daughter Annalisa goes into the public school to minister through dance. The plan is for me to go with her and share through the artwork. I will then take a bus back here to Dondo. I’ll be traveling by myself for the return trip so prayer coverage is greatly appreciated. I will need to get a 30 day extension of my Visa here just before the 29th of the month and then a new one at the Malawi border the end of August.

Future Plans

I was supposed to leave here  to return to the US on the 11th of July. I have changed my flights to stay until the 15th of September. Last year I met a woman named Lee Trueblood who has a home for orphaned and at risk children in Manga called House of Blessing. I was able to spend time with her only once this year before she left for the US. I feel that God is leading me to work with her. She has a number of children at the age where they will be required to move out in the next year or two. God has given us a common vision for training the kids in art with an emphasis on business. She arrives back in Mozambique on the 30th of July. I felt it was God’s wisdom to extend my trip so that we could meet face to face and explore possibilities.

Attend a conference at Peniel Church in Beira August 10th -14th.

August 15th travel with the Wilcox family to travel back to Lichinga.

Thank you once again for your prayers, financial support, encouragement and practical helps. I truly appreciate your remembering of me.

Much love and appreciation,

Laura

Labor of Love A.R.T.

Would you be willing to pray and consider supporting me as I work here? I do need financial support but I also would like to know if God gives you a special desire to cover me in prayer or if there is something else that He puts on your heart.

Mozambique April 2011 Newsletter

Mozambique April 2011 Newsletter

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How to Donate
Tax-Deductible

Donations

may be given through

my home church -

The Church at Bevo

To donate by check -

write in

“Laura Eubanks -

Mozambique Missions”

on the memo line.

Send to -

The Church at Bevo

P.O. Box 2766

St Louis MO 63116

To donate online -

Click Here

When you get to the

page that says “please review your donation” -

there is a line below

the name of the church

that says, “Add special instructions to the Seller”.

If you click there it will

open a text box.

Please type in -

“Support for

Laura Eubanks -

Mozambique Missions

Links
My Blog – Website

Iris Ministries Main Website

Iris Ministries – Dondo

My home church – The Church at Bevo

Prayer Requests
* Missionaries for our center here in Dondo.

* Wisdom regarding the focus of my time. I want to find ways to include our boys in more of the art training and projects.

* Communication with Alex to explore further possibilities of furthering the arts here.

* Continued direction for the future.

* Financial support.

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Hello!

I started this right on time but never got through it so my monthly update has become a 6 week update. I thank you for any prayers that were said for me. Immediately after my last update my schedule went into overdrive and only this past week has gotten back to normal. There were situations that could have been over-whelming that instead were demanding of everything I had and more, but through it all, I had that peace that passes understanding. So again – thank you for the prayers!!!

With all that has happened I will try and keep it as brief as possible -

Updates regarding specific prayer requests –

Missionary Info –

Jon and Carla and their 15 month old son Kyran leave today for a permanent move home to the US after nearly 3 years in the country and 2 years here in Dondo. They have had a substantial influence here and will be greatly missed. Carla’s sister and her sister’s friend who have been here with us for about 2 months will be leaving with them. They will be using a combination of buses, and a rental car to get to Johannesburg where they will begin the flights home that will take them through some remote locations! I am asking that you please cover them in prayer as they travel!

This will leave only Calli and I here until Isla returns, hopefully sometime next week. She has been having some difficulties obtaining her Visa.

Painting project with the Bible School students – April began with a project to allow my students hands on experience with painting. It was quite a stretch for me to coordinate over 30 people for a painting project … especially one using oil based paints that need to be cleaned with petroleum. I had a schedule set up breaking them into 4 different groups starting at 4 different times throughout the day but in their eagerness and excitement almost the entirety showed up at the time for the early group. That was the most chaotic part and from there things eventually came into a greater sense of order! With consistent work over the next two weeks we completed the designs in all three of the classrooms and across the front of the building. The students were inspired and had a great sense of accomplishment. It was great!

Bible School Final Exams – My typical plan of attack for this is to write out my questions and then go to Google Translate but the internet was down. I had to resort to comparing my book in English with the student’s book in Portuguese to create my questions. Thankfully we do have a translator that is employed by the school but he also assists 2 other instructors so I try to do as much as I can on my own. It was a very long and slow process but I must admit spending the intensive time preparing certainly increased my Portuguese knowledge.

General News -

YWAM Team – A group of 27 arrived on the18th of April using every available bed for visitors and we created a couple of extra spots in an unused storage room. Their mornings were devoted to service projects here on our center and then in the afternoons and evenings they did outreach and ministry in various locations. They were a HUGE blessing! Jessa, the team leader painted a beautiful mural of a tree and did some other painting. It makes such a difference. They left to return home on the 8th of May.

Art Classes – All the students who were committed to coming to class, I sent home with a portfolio of their drawings, the instruction sheets, and art materials. They were so happy with these! I feel like the art class really allowed me to get to know these guys on a level that I would not have if I had been only one of their Bible School instructors. Ranito stayed on an extra couple of weeks to assist as a translator for the YWAM team. When he left I gave him additional materials to teach others at home.

Graduation - took place on Saturday the 23rd of April. It began with a special meal with a chicken, coleslaw, and special rice and a cold soda, a big treat for them! There was a short break and then the graduation service was held. There was a time of praise and dancing followed by a great message preached by Pastor José from Maputo and then prayers for the men. They received certificates and a new Bible and other materials to take home with them. They were so full of joy! It was heart warming yet sad for me. I really enjoyed working with these guys and knew I would miss them. All but a couple left to go home that evening and the others very early the next morning, Easter morning.

Easter - As part of the tradition in our church here, a drama is performed the night before Easter showing the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We had a huge crowd here from various places in the province of Sofala. They stayed up praying and then very early Easter morning walked through the village to a river for baptisms.

Where the prayers were very noticeable – As it came down to a few days before graduation I was making the final push to complete everything and was looking forward to some rest. Instead, I was asked if I would be willing to move out of my home! When it came time for the provincial Pastor from Maputo to come as the guest speaker for the Bible School graduation there was no place to put him! This was not at all the “rest” I was looking forward to … but yes I was willing to do that. So, after administering finals to my second class and in the middle of grading, I moved into the house where Calli, Julie and Isla live because Julie and Isla are both back home on breaks right now. If moving were not enough of a stress in the mist of all else that was happening – Calli’s house was in absolute chaos because the amazing YWAM team were doing a major rehabbing job, replacing faulty electrical wiring and repainting both inside and out. The paint had been coming off in large chunks so this required scraping and sanding to prepare it for the new paint. So yes – think ultimate mess and multiple people in and out. I lived there a week and was able to join in with the “make-over” giving some fresh artistic touches to her furniture.

It was wonderful to get moved back in to my own home and have access to my things again. From there I moved straight into assisting with other work projects for the YWAM team.

Ladies Conference - On Saturday May 7th the church mothers hosted a ladies conference here. In one session I shared a message that expounded on Isaiah 26:8. “Oh Lord, we have waited for You; The desire of our soul is for Your name and for the remembrance of You”.

Alex Dunduro  - Last week when Calli and I went in to Beira we had what I believe was a “God encounter” with Alex, a Mozambican man who makes his living as a fine artist. He has valuable knowledge about gallery shows held at the Portuguese Consulate, other local artists, and the history of arts here in Beira. I am so excited and thankful for this connection!

Current Projects - This past week I have finally been able to get back to paint the verses I penciled in on the classroom walls, adding the ones that go with the designs that the students painted, and I am putting some final touches on the students work.

Coming Up –

May 15th – a group of students will be arriving for the next session of the Bible School.

June 2nd – We will be hosting a Word Race team of 6 people for a month.

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Would you be willing to pray and consider supporting me as I work here? I do need financial support but I also would like to know if God gives you a special desire to cover me in prayer or if there is something else that He puts on your heart.

Another way that you can support me is through the purchase of Juice Plus. It is the most thoroughly researched nutritional product on the market. You can look into it and even purchase it on my website. My longtime friend Janet Furlong, who also sells Juice Plus has offered to answer any questions you may have. She is exceptionally helpful, kind, and thoroughly knowledgeable.

Thanks so much!

It is in humble service I offer this Labor of Love,

Laura

Mozambique March 2011 Newsletter

Mozambique March 2011 Newsletter

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Prayer Requests
* These next weeks will be very busy. I will need to create and grade the final exams. They are written in Portuguese with the help of Google Translate but I also have our Bible School translator look them over and assist with grading, so it is quite time consuming.

* I need wisdom to know how to give all the art students  the chance to get experience with the painting. Up until this point I have either worked alone or with a couple of our boys on these sort of projects so this will certainly stretch my leadership skills!

* My health – so far it has been mostly great.

* I am wanting to serve in Bosnia with my church on my route back to the US in July.

I would like favor with the airlines for the best possible options in switching my tickets and the provision to go.

* I greatly appreciate your prayers as I seek the Lord for the next steps in life. There is an open door to make a more permanent commitment here.

* We need Missionaries! Two of the missionaries are currently on leave. We will be losing the base director’s in the middle of May and we currently have no prospects for replacing them.

How to Donate
Tax-Deductible

Donations

may be given through

my home church -

The Church at Bevo

To donate by check -

write “Laura Eubanks – Mozambique Missions”

on the memo line.

Send to -

The Church at Bevo

P.O. Box 2766

St Louis MO 63116

To donate online -

Click Here

When you get to the

page that says “please review your donation”, below the name of the church it says, “Add special instructions to the Seller”. If you click there it will open a

text box.

Please type in -

“Support for

Laura Eubanks -

Mozambique Missions

Non Tax-deductible donations may be made through my Paypal account

PayPal

Links
My website and Blog

Iris Ministries Main Site

Iris Ministries Dondo

My home church –
The Church at Bevo

My Juice Plus Website

Join Our Mailing  List

The past two weeks have been exceptionally hot so the current 87 degrees as I sit down to write feels absolutely refreshing. The cloudy skies and light rain that moved in yesterday afternoon brought a beautiful lingering rainbow.
It is the beginning of my third month here in Dondo, Mozambique although it feels as if I have been here much longer. My days thus far are quite often filled with studying and administrative work in preparation for teaching the Bible School and Art classes. This is a bit of a switch for me as I really prefer being physically active. Opportunities to “do something” are welcome moments of rejuvenation. I have found these in assisting to build a couple of houses for our older boys who will be moving to live closer to their school, in planting a garden and beautifying areas around our missionary housing, and by building a couch for my home, which I just completed yesterday! (Prior to this I had only plastic lawn chairs to sit on)

The actual class times are life giving as well.

The students we have in this session of the Bible School are a precious peaceful group. There is such a sweet spirit about them. I have two more weeks of teaching before they have their final exams and return to their homes in villages throughout this Sofala Province.

I enjoy every day that I get to be with them but some days I stop and reflect deeper on this opportunity I have been given.

I am so honored to have a role in spreading the great redeeming love of Jesus throughout this province and ultimately the country.

I strongly believe that my role in this is not limited to just the Bible School classes that I am teaching. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 in the NLT says – “We loved you so much that we gave you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.”

A huge part of my life is art. It is a gift God has given to me and a part of His plan before He created me. The classes that I have been offering are very well attended by the Bible School students. They are so eager to learn and intently focused as they work. I often sense the atmosphere is thick with the presence of the Lord … that it is a sacred thing taking place in that room.

I believe God thinks so as well.

One of the students is a 19 year old young man named Ranito, who is from Gorongosa. He has translated for me two nights a week for the last two months. He is a constant reminder of the Lord’s provision. He has no background in art but is one of the most gifted students and he has a servant’s heart!

His pastor came to visit a few weeks ago and I showed him Ranito’s work. He was very excited. Ranito’s brother called to tell him that when the pastor returned home he told the church about the drawings and said that Ranito would be able to teach people when he returns.

I had a good laugh upon hearing this because I had been telling Ranito that with all the translating he had been doing for me he would be able to teach it!

Last Saturday I began to do the lettering for a verse the school administrator asked me to paint in each of the three classrooms. Later in the week as I continued working, Ranito came in. I was able to explain to him the process I use to do the lettering on the wall. His response totally blessed me. He said that when he went into the room I had completed, he thought it looked very difficult, but now he thought he would be able to do it.

To know I have actually equipped is the greatest reward I could desire as a teacher.

To further assist in this equipping I am assembling a “portfolio” of their work along with the instruction sheets, extra paper, a pencil, eraser, sharpener, ruler and possibly a set of colored pencils to send home with them upon graduation. They know I have been saving their work, but the supplies will be a surprise!

Beginning this week I will have them painting the lettering and some border patterns in the Bible School so they will have some basic experience using paints.

There is so much more I can share but I will close for now.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I’d love to know what is going on in your lives too. I miss you my family and friends, but at the same time my heart is so full here. It is wonderful to be living a life that is so undeniably something I was created to do.

Would you be willing to pray and consider supporting me as I work here? I do need financial support but I also would like to know if God gives you a special desire to cover me in prayer or places something else on your heart.

Another way that you can support me is through the purchase of Juice Plus. It is the most thoroughly researched nutritional product on the market. You can look into it and even purchase it on my website. My longtime friend Janet Furlong, who also sells Juice Plus, has offered to answer any questions you may have. She is exceptionally kind and helpful as well as thoroughly knowledgeable. 

May the Lord bless you with an understanding of how much He loves you and an understanding of how much He loves those around you.

In this Labor of Love,

Laura

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