My Life as an African Gypsy

You know, even as a missionary you have to decidedly hunger for the word of God. It doesn't suddenly or supernaturally become easy just because you are living in Africa. I am no "super-Christian".

Yesterday in church we sang the old song "This Is the Air I Breathe", and I was reminded of the importance of the word of God and his presence in our daily lives. Then, as God so graciously does, He tied in this morning's Bible reading.

Jon and I were reading John 6. In this passage Jesus feeds the crowd with the 5 barley loaves and 2 fish, a story we are familiar with. Then for days the people get hung up on physical food. They want Jesus to give the manna from heaven like in the Old Testament; they want food. I really can't blame them though; I like food, especially free food, and Jesus seemed to have no problem producing it. I think I would have been in the front asking. ;)

This wasn't Jesus' message though. Jesus stresses to them that He is the bread of life, that we must eat of His flesh and drink of His blood. (I know, I know, this seems like a strange passage... it was for them too. In fact many ended up turning away and no longer following Jesus.) Don't be alarmed though; we obviously cannot literally eat Jesus' flesh and blood, now can we? But we can feast on the Word, and isn't Jesus referred to as the Word in John chapter 1?

It is when we feast on Him (on His Word and in His presence) that He remains in us. Seems simple right? Until life happens. I know life can get chaotic, and things can happen "out of schedule" and throw the day off. It happens all the time to me. Mothers, I am positive you can understand this!

But if you are like me, I can I assure you that I never, and I mean never, miss out on food. Even if I grab a bar for the road, I have to eat. In fact, I get all weak and sick feeling without it. If only this happened when I wasn't in the Word. Or wait... maybe it does in a way. I normally can be more negative, shorter fuse, irritable, etc. Maybe you too?

I need the presence of God to remain in me, otherwise, I cannot breathe the "air of God" in or out. And isn't that our goal? To share the presence of God with the people around us?

So here is my challenge: No matter what kind of crazy day you have, take a moment to eat some of the Word (Jesus) and breathe in the air of His presence. (Even if sometimes it is on the run... in the car, in the bathroom, in line, etc.)

This morning I decided that I wanted to keep the tradition of setting up the Christmas tree on Thanksgiving weekend, even though I will be moving in approximately 9 days. It is still 9 days, right? (and it is so small I don't mind doing it again once we get to Mozambique)

So Christmas music shall commence, as well as other little things, like movies, maybe cookies, etc.

So here is Jon and my 1st tree in Africa! I think we will wait until we have some little ones to upgrade to a full size.

Thank you "Mr. Price Home" for my 9 ornaments and strand of silver beads. I plan to add a red bow to the top as soon as I can find some ribbon.

Thank you Tara for the cup towel, which I am currently using as a tree skirt, because I have no kitchen. =)

Last night I had a lovely reminder that I live in a dangerous land... well, not absurdly so, but I should remember to be on my toes.

Jon and I were returning to our room after a lovely Thanksgiving day filled with much eating and fun game playing. As I approached our door in the dark, as I do every night, I saw movement on the ground. This is not so abnormal either, as insects are part of life here and to be expected when outside. The difference was the size of the thing.

I approached with caution and soon realized that this thing was a gigantic scorpion! I called my husband over, who bravely decided to go in the door. Not me. Too close for comfort.

It kept walking back and forth in front of the door, as if standing guard and not wanting to allow me in! A man living close came over to see what was going on, and he brought with him a large torch (flashlight). Wowee! This scorpion was the largest Jon and I have either seen. Thankfully, perhaps due to the light, it moved off the sidewalk and into the dirt. Safe. I'd be able to sleep in my room after all!

I must admit, the couple of times I had to walk outside after that, I did so slowly and with much caution... probably too much. But it was a good wake up reminder that I should be aware of where my little feet are walking, because like it or not, I live in a dangerous land.

I am known for how frequently I have to use the restroom.

Unfortunately, my bladder is just small, but I have learned to live with it. Last night, as routine, I was going to use the restroom right before bed in hopes of sleeping through the night. At the place we are staying the restroom is detached; it is just a short walk away. I went to unlock the door... oops. The key just spun round and round. Here they use skeleton keys, and it turns out on of the little edges had broken off.

Locked in.

The only way out or in was climbing through the window. What could I do? I went, again hoping that I would sleep through the night.

Nope.

I woke up in the middle of the night and had to go. I tried to talk myself out of it, telling myself that the only reason I felt like I needed to go was because I felt trapped, not because I really needed to. I rolled over, tried to sleep, but it was pointless.

I grabbed my sweater and flip flops, climbed on the chair, then up to the window seal, jumped to the ground, walked to the restroom, went potty, walked back, hiked my leg as high as it could go up to the window seal, grabbed the wall and the window frame, hoisted myself through, climbed down the chair, took of my shoes and sweater, and got back into bed.

This happened not once, but twice.

Phew. We got a new key this morning. Thank you Lord.

You drink loads of tea with milk and sugar... of which I love.

Cows, goats, and baboons will potentially block the road on a normal drive, requiring slowing down and much honking.

Tractors are allowed to drive on the two lane road, going approximately 15 mph, backing up traffic like crazy.

You must get used to crazy passing techniques while driving. My heart is currently still adjusting.

If you go to a fast food restaurant, they will most likely not have everything on the menu, in fact probably only 50%.

You can get your newly purchased radio installed at a "shop" under the tree for about $12.

Tummy problems are normal... actually frequent.

You become willing to pay at times what I consider outrageous amounts for things like breakfast bars, cheese, ice cream, chips, etc.

You cannot pump your own gas. It is all full service.

You must tell the cashier how many plastic sacks you want before you start loading groceries... you learn to guess well.

There are termite plagues from time to time, mainly at dusk, and they love the lights. (These are not your ant sized termites either!)

Every now and again you must wonder if what you are eating is really beef.

Dancing is everywhere. I was waiting in line somewhere the other day, and a woman was just dancing in line to the music playing in the store. Lovely!

There is a drink called an Appletizer (red, green, and white) that I love. It is just sparkling juice, but I am a fan.


And those are a few highlights... here is a picture of a couple things a love. (Five roses tea: which I have found none other quite like it. Rusks: which are like a biscotti, but better. Top Decks: which are the perfect blend of milk chocolate and white chocolate, which I have never tasted any candy so good.)

This morning Jon and I went to our first church service since being back in Africa. May I tell you that there is just something about singing African voices that stirs me... often to tears. Though I have been here two weeks, it is only today that I have really felt "back".

We sang some familiar songs in Setswana and did a little dancing, of which I probably looked very white. Oh well. I think they appreciate the attempt. =)

After the service we chatted with some older men about the provision of the Lord, and they were quick to encourage us and to reassure us that the Lord would help with getting into Angola. And it is true. He will help us. He is, even now, helping us.

One man spoke of the Lord, and he said to me, "He is a beautiful God. I like Him. It is good to work for Him."

Amen, right? We do serve a beautiful God and it is good, it is good, to work for Him.

For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God,
for God gives the Spirit without limit. ~John 3:34

It has been raining day and night for three days straight.

What I have been amazed at is that there is relatively minimal flooding. We are currently staying in the Kalahari desert, and I suppose the the ground is so dry and the sand so porous that it quickly drinks in the large quantity of water falling upon it.

As I was reading the Bible this morning with my husband, we came across this verse above in John chapter three. It is a familiar passage of scripture, as it hosts the story of Nicodemus and the well known John 3:16, but the little verse towards the end grabbed us.

As I laid in bed a little longer, listening to the raining beating upon the tin roof above us, I could not help but think of the limitless outpouring of the Spirit that is available to us.

You see, it matters what kind of ground you are. I lived in Arizona for awhile, a desert as well. The difference was that when there was a downpour of rain, the ground was so hard it was unable to soak in the water. Flooding was inevitable. It had been so long between rains it was as if the ground never expected water again; it was not prepared. It had grown accustom to "life" without water.

The desert here is different. There are still long periods of time between rains, but it knows the cycle. It is ready for the rains. And when the rains come, it is amazing how quickly life emerges. It seems as though thing turn green over night.

I want to be like the sand of the Kalahari desert, porous and ready to receive vast quantities of the Spirit. I do not want to become accustom to life without the Spirit. Sometimes it seems there are lulls, times without an outpouring, but I want to keep my soul expectant of the next "rain", the next limitless outpouring of the Spirit, and be ready to come to life, ready to grow.

Jon and I have now been in Botswana for close to two weeks, and may I tell you, nothing has gone as planned. As things have slowly begun to unfold, we have begun to see the Lord's handiwork. Frankly, I am surprised, since many times it take months or years to be able to look back on hard times and understand why.

I will not complain though! I am so grateful to recognize His hand early on, and be able to give Him praise. Or wait. I guess we are to give Him praise even during the hard times, right? Humm... is that just hard for me? I am thinking not.

I am learning though, and I hope you are too. The more the Lord has proven Himself faithful, the sillier I feel when I throw one of my "poor me" pity parties, complete with sobbing, snotty nose, and words I quickly wish I could stuff back inside. (They are ugly, trust me!)

Last week I laid in bed crying and crying, unreasonably upset with people, frustrated with my situation. This week I see that the timing of things is perfect. A week earlier, and things would not be falling into place. Without our vehicle being broke into, we would not be getting a vehicle that suits our needs even better.

So next time we, because I am sure I am not alone, have one of our ugly pity parties, let's step back, get a grip, and remember the faithfulness of our Lord.

I have grown somewhat accustom to little bugs all around.

Beetles are some of my least favorite; having grown up in South Texas, they remind me a little too much of the dreaded cockroach. Spiders on the other hand, as I have been told, are many times good to have around. This is because they eat other insects, the ones I like less.

Around here I have come to know three kinds of spiders, maybe by their technical names, or maybe by names that have been passed down from one frightful encounter to another. One spider reminds me of a daddy-long-legs, one is flat and sometimes larger wall spider, and the last is a smaller jumping spider.

Last night I was taking a nice bath, when, already emerged in the hot water, I discovered a little jumping spider hiding underneath the soap dish that is mounted in the wall. No biggie, just so long as it stays put. You see, I may have gotten used to the bugs around, but not on me or even too near me.

It was not a minute later that this little fellow started to move. Slowly, mind you, but moving. Not good.

Towards the tub. Worse.

I could not help but envision him using his jumping legs and leaping into my hot relaxing bath, which would quickly become very UN-relaxing.

My method of defense, you ask?

Coughing. Yes, coughing.

I figured that loud noises may detract him. I also tried movement. Not too fast though, or it may spook him into a jump that would land him in the water next to me.

Needless to say, my hot relaxing bath turned into a short "get yourself clean quick" bath.