Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Don't Miss the Obvious :)
So I have been in Africa for about 2 weeks now! I have about 50 great stories already, so I will begin to share them.....
I am convinced that the Lord has been having the time of his life with me here ;)
When the Lord decided that Marsha was going back to the States I think he already had a line of people a mile long for me to encounter along the way. And man o man has it been entertaining and encouraging!
I think I met the future first woman president of Uganda today.
She is a 13 year old girl named Peace. I met her along the road the other day. We chatted for a bit and I didn't think much of it. However, today I was on my way to the market, and on a separate road I ran in to her again. Interesting. So this time I figured I would talk to her a bit more. She told me all about her 'clubs' which are her business ideas. I could not get over this girl - all of her ideas and the way that she presented herself was amazing! She wanted to teach me how to make 'chipote' which is a tortilla like flat bread that I immediately loved the first time I tasted it.
Sure, she can teach me how to make chipote! This is her 'business.' AND this was something that I already wanted to learn :) So we went to the market together (the Lord knows how much I adore the markets in Africa...(blah!) and He was merciful and gave me someone to go with). She led me through the piles of vegetables, we dodged the boda bodas, and wove in and out of stalls to get the ingredients needed. I also got to meet her mother, Mery, and some of her market friends.
I loved that I had a local to go through the market with! So when we had gotten all of the necessary ingredients- that she had written out, with amounts and prices listed as well mind you - we set a time when she could teach me how to make the infamous chipote. There are 3 kinds you see: plain, vegetable, and rolex.
Yes, that's right rolex. As I am sure you can guess that is my favorite ;) It is the chipote with eggs and grilled vegetables inside it.
I showed up at the appointed time: 4pm. As I got to the outside of her house I saw 2 little boys - her brothers were drawing with chalk on a piece of wood. The elder, about 7, informed me that Peace was at the market. But no worries because he had a plan. He ran away and came back with a key and opened the door to a large room and invited me to have a seat. Uhhh - it was kinda creepy!! If I went in there, at any moment I could have been locked in with no way out. I thanked him and said I would be happy to wait outside :)
I felt like I was in a movie. It was all just too hilarious. Peace arrived and the 2 little boys were now drawing on the floor with charcoal and playing with a toy truck. She was very professional and walked me through the steps of making the rolex chipote while goats and chickens popped in and out and rain clouds formed outside.
Yes. Peace. I almost missed the true beauty of my visitor.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21
Today He sent me Peace. As I navigate the craziness that is life in Africa, He reminds me that his peace is with me.
How beautiful is our God?!!
I am convinced that the Lord has been having the time of his life with me here ;)
When the Lord decided that Marsha was going back to the States I think he already had a line of people a mile long for me to encounter along the way. And man o man has it been entertaining and encouraging!
I think I met the future first woman president of Uganda today.
She is a 13 year old girl named Peace. I met her along the road the other day. We chatted for a bit and I didn't think much of it. However, today I was on my way to the market, and on a separate road I ran in to her again. Interesting. So this time I figured I would talk to her a bit more. She told me all about her 'clubs' which are her business ideas. I could not get over this girl - all of her ideas and the way that she presented herself was amazing! She wanted to teach me how to make 'chipote' which is a tortilla like flat bread that I immediately loved the first time I tasted it.
Sure, she can teach me how to make chipote! This is her 'business.' AND this was something that I already wanted to learn :) So we went to the market together (the Lord knows how much I adore the markets in Africa...(blah!) and He was merciful and gave me someone to go with). She led me through the piles of vegetables, we dodged the boda bodas, and wove in and out of stalls to get the ingredients needed. I also got to meet her mother, Mery, and some of her market friends.
I loved that I had a local to go through the market with! So when we had gotten all of the necessary ingredients- that she had written out, with amounts and prices listed as well mind you - we set a time when she could teach me how to make the infamous chipote. There are 3 kinds you see: plain, vegetable, and rolex.
Yes, that's right rolex. As I am sure you can guess that is my favorite ;) It is the chipote with eggs and grilled vegetables inside it.
I showed up at the appointed time: 4pm. As I got to the outside of her house I saw 2 little boys - her brothers were drawing with chalk on a piece of wood. The elder, about 7, informed me that Peace was at the market. But no worries because he had a plan. He ran away and came back with a key and opened the door to a large room and invited me to have a seat. Uhhh - it was kinda creepy!! If I went in there, at any moment I could have been locked in with no way out. I thanked him and said I would be happy to wait outside :)
I felt like I was in a movie. It was all just too hilarious. Peace arrived and the 2 little boys were now drawing on the floor with charcoal and playing with a toy truck. She was very professional and walked me through the steps of making the rolex chipote while goats and chickens popped in and out and rain clouds formed outside.
Yes. Peace. I almost missed the true beauty of my visitor.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21
Today He sent me Peace. As I navigate the craziness that is life in Africa, He reminds me that his peace is with me.
How beautiful is our God?!!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Expect the Unexpected!
I confess that I am not a 'blogger' and can probably count the number of blogs I have read on one hand....
*However* I do want to be able to share the many adventures, lessons, victories and failures that God will take me through with yall. And because I know that 99% of you would much rather be in Africa with me (hah!), I will allow you to live vicariously though me with this blog ;)
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I have long contended that 'flexible' is my middle name. I think that perhaps more than ever before, I will have an opportunity to live up to that claim! This last week has been a whirlwind - I have changed many travel plans due to a situation with a colleague's family. It has finally all come together! Between banks, flights, visas, more flights, buses, trains, housing, and communicating with people in Africa it really is nothing short of a miracle that everything has been rearranged!
This means that things are in full swing for the move to Africa. I leave in 3 days. Yes, that's right - on Tuesday, October 11th! And before it's all said and done I won't arrive to my base until November.
I meet up with teammates in Kenya, then we take an overnight train (to the Indian Ocean!) and meet up with the rest of the branch. Then I will travel to Uganda for 10 days and attempt to figure out the new visa process that is in place- this should be interesting! And then I will make my way to my new home.
I have been overwhelmed in many ways these past 2.5 months here in the States, but what I remember the most is being so overwhelmed by the support and encouragement of people here - you have been used to show me something so beautiful about the Lord. So thank you - and get ready!
*However* I do want to be able to share the many adventures, lessons, victories and failures that God will take me through with yall. And because I know that 99% of you would much rather be in Africa with me (hah!), I will allow you to live vicariously though me with this blog ;)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have long contended that 'flexible' is my middle name. I think that perhaps more than ever before, I will have an opportunity to live up to that claim! This last week has been a whirlwind - I have changed many travel plans due to a situation with a colleague's family. It has finally all come together! Between banks, flights, visas, more flights, buses, trains, housing, and communicating with people in Africa it really is nothing short of a miracle that everything has been rearranged!
This means that things are in full swing for the move to Africa. I leave in 3 days. Yes, that's right - on Tuesday, October 11th! And before it's all said and done I won't arrive to my base until November.
I meet up with teammates in Kenya, then we take an overnight train (to the Indian Ocean!) and meet up with the rest of the branch. Then I will travel to Uganda for 10 days and attempt to figure out the new visa process that is in place- this should be interesting! And then I will make my way to my new home.
I have been overwhelmed in many ways these past 2.5 months here in the States, but what I remember the most is being so overwhelmed by the support and encouragement of people here - you have been used to show me something so beautiful about the Lord. So thank you - and get ready!
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