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

Holy Moses

This year I decided to use "The Daily Bible," a chronological Bible divided into day long chunks so you get through the whole thing in a year. So far so good. I'm happy to report that (by the grace of God) I am actually still on track with that. That puts me smack in the middle of Exodus at the moment.
Now, I've read Exodus before, and have read before how Moses responded to his call. He was scared. He felt inadequate. He wanted God to send someone else. I've definitely felt that way before and processed through a bit of it, but something new hit me this time. Moses did have very strong faith, but his faith was in his own weakness. He believed that his weakness was in some way stronger than the strength of God. He thought his weakness and inadequacy was so great, that somehow God couldn't overcome it. So really it's a matter of faith. It's a matter of believing that God is so powerful that my weakness and stupidity cannot possibly mess him up or throw him off his game. He is bigger.
Lately I've been struggling with seeing my own powerlessness and inadequacy. I've been fearful that the decisions I make will somehow ruin my life and potentially ruin the lives of others. My weakness could throw off God's great plan. Though I would never say such a thing, my attitude and fear was declaring that's what I actually believed. But God is bigger. His strength is infinitely greater than my weakness. And God uses my weaknesses and is glorified in them. What's more, he is a good and loving father. He is worthy of my faith and trust and loves me more than I can understand. So my challenge then is to walk ahead in courageous faith, faith that he is my strength and salvation, my fortress. Of whom shall I be afraid?

Blog Resolution

Yes I know, I know. I haven’t posted anything for like 3 months. But all that is about to change…at least, I hope so. I am planning to put forth a concerted effort to make some kind of update to this blog no less than once a week. So for those of you who have completely given up checking this blog, I beg you for one more chance. One more chance to make things right. And for those of you who are actually reading this now, I’m going to reward you with some pictures from this Christmas break, which for those of you who don’t know, was spent with my amazing family (including the new baby Claire) and my super boyfriend Johnny. See what you think, leave comments, and I might even be inspired to do a few more updates this week. (I even have a few planned already) So, let’s see what the year holds.


The kids meeting Claire for the first time


Yay! Finally, a little sister. Everyone knows little sisters are simply the best.


Me with all my kids! I love this


David attacking Doo-Dad...he attacks often


Caroline and David with new baby Claire


Bevy with all the grandkids...what fun (you can tell that Owen especially is having a blast)


Mary Grace, Andrew, Johnny and I all took off one night for dessert. Yay for living in a place that has restaurants!


Johnny and I sporting our Christmas colors (unplanned)


Out for a hike in Kentucky...so nice to hike again!


Finally, an actual date. After nearly 8 months apart, it was great to get dressed up for a night on the town. Dinner and a movie, simple but wonderful (not to mention the excellent tie).

New Stuff!

I've recently added some stuff to my house that makes me very happy. Today I acquired my third piece of furniture here that is now residing in our hallway. The hall used to feel very big and empty, but is now serving a dignified purpose. I can finally keep my towels and sheets not in my bedroom, and the other cabinet serves very well for kitchen overflow (since we don't actually have a pantry. I had an idea of what I wanted, and then went to the IKEA website, and found pretty much exactly what I had drawn as an idea. So I printed that out, complete with measurements, and took it to our local carpenter. Though it took him a few weeks longer than originally planned, with some prodding he was able to get it done. And now it is in my hallway and gorgeous. I'm looking at it and admiring as I write. Yay.

I also recently got some curtains made. My previous curtains were floor length and, dare I say it, ugly. Not that hideous kind of ugly that is unbearable, but rather a more gentle ugliness that you gradually become accustomed to, then occasionally really look at it and say, "Wow, that is really ugly. How have I lived with that for so long?" Besides which, it did not go with my bedspread at all. But now, through many trips to the used clothing market (though all these trips were unsuccessful) and the luck of a friend buying fabric that ended up not working (thanks Lyndy!) and a visit to a fishing shop to buy sail cloth for the lining (even though I apparently bought the wrong kind) and the work of Mama Sophia, after 9 months of ugly curtains, I finally have some curtains that I love. My room looks bigger and much lighter, and that makes me very very happy.