Life Here is Different

"We slept under the stars and some Maasai guys came with us as our guides. We slaughtered a goat, did lots of pranks and had a general blast." This is a quote from an email I just received from one of the MK's who is currently going to boarding school up in Kenya. Hilarious. I mean, slaughtering a goat? Something 15 year olds do for fun on a campout? Maybe it's not as funny as I found it personally, but it certainly does amuse.
Life here is different. There are a lot of things that aren't, but I'm also discovering some of the things that are gradually becoming my normal. On Sunday I was in an Anglican church in a nearby village and a chicken came in and wandered about the front of the church during the sermon- no one cared. Someone put 3 pieces of gum in the offering bowl to be auctioned off at the end of the service. Two weeks ago at another church I saw a single egg auctioned off. Anything you can put in the offering plate is acceptable.
What I'm grateful for here is different. When I go to a church and they don't have a keyboard or sound system, I'm grateful (it allows me to actually hear the choir). I'm grateful when the seat in church has a back on it. I'm grateful when I have power in the evenings. I'm grateful when people have change to give me in the market. I'm grateful when the Coke is cold. I'm grateful when I order food and it comes in under an hour. I'm grateful for the generally pleasant weather of Musoma, especially when I compare it to other parts of the country.
Conversations around the table are different. We talk about the conditions of the roads, the coming of rainy season, and the new power rationing schedule. We talk about who is coming and leaving for furlough when, realizing how frequently the circle here changes.
My clothing here is different. There are two extremes here: either everything on the body matches perfectly, or nothing at all matches. I find there is very little middle ground here. Yesterday for church I wore a full kitenge outfit, the skirt and blouse and I had a shawl with me, though this was a different material. Then when I got home, the blouse got uncomfortable, but I was too lazy to change the skirt. What I ended up with was an hysterical outfit that I know no one would think anything of if I wore it in town.

Yes, life here is different, but it always keeps me on my toes. Things that used to feel weird are now normal, and yet I am constantly surprised at the new things I see, things that still aren't normal. Life here is different...sometimes frustrating and sometimes fun, but never boring. Never boring.
And one wonderful thing is that in the midst of all the differences, the God we serve is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.

House Help

In case you have ever thought that having house help would make your house cleaner, this is what happens when you have house help, even just twice a week: Your ability and will to clean up after yourself virtually disappears, so all the in-between times end up much, much dirtier.

Wii!

So for Christmas, my fam got together and bought me a Wii and Wii Fit board to take back with me to TZ. What they didn't realize is that a gift for me is a gift for Musoma, and Musoma is appreciating it. My first weekend back in town, the Gilmores came over and we all enjoyed it. Thanks Mary Grace, for introducing me to the game "Just Dance." Here are the pics of some crazy dancing taking place. (Oh, and the next weekend I went to the Gilmore's house and we played for approx. 7 hours...wow) A big thanks to the fam who got me this super fantastic gift!

Braden learning to Walk Like an Egyptian

Chris swallowing her pride:)

Tirzah demonstrating how it's done

Perseverance and Courage

Some days I want to quit. Yes, I admit it. Some days I just think "what on earth am I doing here?" and want to hop on a plane and be someplace else. Today was one of those days. Not necessarily a bad day, but a truly tiring one. One that wears on you. One that makes you want to say "I quit," and the knowledge that before me lies a seemingly endless stream of days almost exactly like this one. Trials bring perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope. Isn't that what Scripture says?

A few weeks ago in Bible study we had a lesson on courage. Courage is looking at God, not at your circumstances. Courage is believing that God is bigger than you, and acting on that knowledge. Courage is a way of encountering your circumstances. We are called to encourage one another...to give one another courage. To strengthen and build each other up so that we can face whatever lies in our path. Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified or discouraged. Courage and perseverance, and trusting in God for them both.

O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.
Psalm 59:17