I am sitting in the Maputo airport, the dingy domestic waiting area, before our flight up to Quelimane and eventually on to Mocuba. I will be spending the week speaking with communities and assessing a couple different districts on their water and sanitation needs for an upcoming project we are proposing for funding. There is a short, bald, bushy eyebrow man sitting across the room that looks all too familiar to me. I ask my colleagues where I know him from; assuming he was introduced to me through one of our business relationships. Nope, neither of the guys has seen him before.
Our wait lasted a couple hours; half of them in a black out. By the way, how do airplanes fly when there is no electricity in the control towers?? Not important, evidently. So the familiarity of this man sitting across the room finally hits me!! I smell formaldehyde. It is the Spanish mortician from Quelimane that diagnosed my last case of malaria and sent me home to the states.
This will be my first trip back to Quelimane since I left in 2009; feverish and with zilch patience left for all things Mozambique. It is unfortunate, the way I left. I am grateful to go back. A little excited to see the area and what has or has not changed. Sad to have missed my friends by a month; I could use Brian’s agricultural expertise on this trip. Mozambique has taken on a new charm this year than I remember from my time living here. Each field trip we’ve taken has shed a refreshing and new sight for Mozambique and its communities. It’s a beautiful country. I’m excited for this coming week; though I am told Mocuba is an extension of the armpit of the country. We shall see. My challenge will be to find its beauty! And to stay as far away from the mortician as I possibly can!! Wish me luck.
Aug 18, 2011
Aug 16, 2011
Psalms 57
"Show me your favor, God. Show me your favor.
I go to you for safety.
I will find safety in the shadow of your wings.
There I will stay until the danger is gone.
I cry out to God Most High.
I cry out to God, and he carries out his plan for me.
He answers from heaven and saves me.
He puts to shame those who chase me.
He shows me his love and his truth.
Men who are like lions are all around me.
I am lying down among hungry animals.
Their teeth are like spears and arrows.
Their tongues are like sharp swords.
God, may you be honored above the heavens.
Let your glory be over the whole earth.
My enemies spread a net to catch me by the feet.
I felt helpless.
They dug a pit in my path.
But they fell into it themselves.
God, my heart feels secure.
My heart feels secure.
I will sing and make music to you.
My spirit, wake up!
I want to sing and make music before the sun rises.
Lord, I will praise you among the nations.
I will sing about you among the people of the earth.
Great is your love. It reaches the heavens.
Your truth reaches to the skies.
God, may you be honored above the heavens.
Let you glory be over the whole earth."
The morning sun has not yet risen here in Nairobi. My jetleg awoke me long before the birds did. My email is flooded with reports of war and famine - literally. My dreams held the same last night. At home my family is in the midst of deep prayer for a loved one who is to undergo surgery in 12 hours. I find comfort in this Psalm. To hear God's promise of securing our hearts, securing our safety in the middle of turmoil and war. He is our safety. Over all the earth His glory will shine. His promise will remain true. That includes an ICU hospital room in WI, a mothers arms holding her starving child in Kenya, and a displaced village under attack in the Nuba Mountains.
God, may you be honored above the heavens. Let your glory be over the whole earth.
I go to you for safety.
I will find safety in the shadow of your wings.
There I will stay until the danger is gone.
I cry out to God Most High.
I cry out to God, and he carries out his plan for me.
He answers from heaven and saves me.
He puts to shame those who chase me.
He shows me his love and his truth.
Men who are like lions are all around me.
I am lying down among hungry animals.
Their teeth are like spears and arrows.
Their tongues are like sharp swords.
God, may you be honored above the heavens.
Let your glory be over the whole earth.
My enemies spread a net to catch me by the feet.
I felt helpless.
They dug a pit in my path.
But they fell into it themselves.
God, my heart feels secure.
My heart feels secure.
I will sing and make music to you.
My spirit, wake up!
I want to sing and make music before the sun rises.
Lord, I will praise you among the nations.
I will sing about you among the people of the earth.
Great is your love. It reaches the heavens.
Your truth reaches to the skies.
God, may you be honored above the heavens.
Let you glory be over the whole earth."
The morning sun has not yet risen here in Nairobi. My jetleg awoke me long before the birds did. My email is flooded with reports of war and famine - literally. My dreams held the same last night. At home my family is in the midst of deep prayer for a loved one who is to undergo surgery in 12 hours. I find comfort in this Psalm. To hear God's promise of securing our hearts, securing our safety in the middle of turmoil and war. He is our safety. Over all the earth His glory will shine. His promise will remain true. That includes an ICU hospital room in WI, a mothers arms holding her starving child in Kenya, and a displaced village under attack in the Nuba Mountains.
God, may you be honored above the heavens. Let your glory be over the whole earth.
Aug 15, 2011
home, sweet home.
I am so happy to have had a couple weeks at home with my family. It was a surprise and very quick visit - I'm still missing all my friends stateside! But oh so wonderful to spend some sweet family time in the summertime. Here are a few highlights:
Teaching Ada Joy to walk!
Fresh veggies (check out that garden!)
Hi Fives!
Morning walks around Lake Nokomis
Papa with his 10 foot corn!
A night out with my sisters :-)
Little sweat monster (who steals popsicles & starbucks drinks!)
Giggles & kisses (repeat)
Story time (in the wee hours before Auntie Kristi is awake!)
and staying cool.
Thank you for the wonderful visit! (And no, I do not love Africa more!)
Missing you already...
All my love,
Auntie Kristi
Teaching Ada Joy to walk!
Fresh veggies (check out that garden!)
Hi Fives!
Morning walks around Lake Nokomis
Papa with his 10 foot corn!
A night out with my sisters :-)
Little sweat monster (who steals popsicles & starbucks drinks!)
Giggles & kisses (repeat)
Story time (in the wee hours before Auntie Kristi is awake!)
and staying cool.
Thank you for the wonderful visit! (And no, I do not love Africa more!)
Missing you already...
All my love,
Auntie Kristi
Aug 14, 2011
Colossians 1:11
"May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience." A friend shared this with me the other day - that God's power is active in us to enable us to patiently persevere.
I need an extra dose, please! To be strengthened with power, God's power and might, to endure and persevere. What does that look like? I love my job. I really do. I enjoy living in Africa, being a part of something greater, constantly learning new things. But as I've recently been reminded, I'm still human and no matter how much I love doing this job and living in these foreign homes, I can't do it alone. Not by my strength nor might. I seem to have none. My days here start and end in prayer. Sometimes the middle of the day is also consumed on my knees, but I can't get through the days without it. And when I try, I see how nonexistent my patience is, I wonder where my kindness has gone, and when and where I lost my empathy. The thing is, I never really had any of those. They are God's. And without him, this work I'm doing is in vain. And not helpful to anyone.
I recently asked for help, I needed a break. It was wonderful, but I'm still looking for that empathy I feel got lost somewhere admist the work. Which doesn't make sense, I know. Starving children and grieving parents would break anyone's heart. And they have broken mine several times over. But who puts the heart back together and gives endurance to continue to allow it to be broken again?
There is a cruel reality to the humanitarian relief work. A cynicism, an addiction, a cycle that needs to be broken at times to make it whole again. The truth is none of us can do it alone. The very definition of humanity is "human beings collectively". We need each other. And we need God's communion to be strengthened by his might, provided with endurance and endless patience to persevere through the broken hearts. I am thankful each day that my job is part of a Christian organization, a family, who also gains their strength and endurance through our Father's great might. That we share grace and forgiveness with each other when the cynicism and addiction takes over. By addiction, I am referring to this overwhelming need that gnaws inside of you to keep working, keep pushing, to save the human race. Ridiculous, I know. But it does play a part when you are face to face with poverty and destruction on a daily basis. You either don't notice because the sight is so common, or you are blinded with anger at the injustice and that fuels the obsession to work even harder.
I am reminded that I was not asked to do this alone. That God's power is active and enabling. And that in the midst of the injustice, the starvation and the pain, God sees each one of his children, he feels their pain and he will bring them relief. Not me, I'm not here doing it alone. God's hand is active and touching the lives of those hurting every day. I urge each of us to continue to be on our knees in prayer for those in a present crisis - whether they are suffering from famine here in East Africa or are your family and friends at home, we all need each other.
I need an extra dose, please! To be strengthened with power, God's power and might, to endure and persevere. What does that look like? I love my job. I really do. I enjoy living in Africa, being a part of something greater, constantly learning new things. But as I've recently been reminded, I'm still human and no matter how much I love doing this job and living in these foreign homes, I can't do it alone. Not by my strength nor might. I seem to have none. My days here start and end in prayer. Sometimes the middle of the day is also consumed on my knees, but I can't get through the days without it. And when I try, I see how nonexistent my patience is, I wonder where my kindness has gone, and when and where I lost my empathy. The thing is, I never really had any of those. They are God's. And without him, this work I'm doing is in vain. And not helpful to anyone.
I recently asked for help, I needed a break. It was wonderful, but I'm still looking for that empathy I feel got lost somewhere admist the work. Which doesn't make sense, I know. Starving children and grieving parents would break anyone's heart. And they have broken mine several times over. But who puts the heart back together and gives endurance to continue to allow it to be broken again?
There is a cruel reality to the humanitarian relief work. A cynicism, an addiction, a cycle that needs to be broken at times to make it whole again. The truth is none of us can do it alone. The very definition of humanity is "human beings collectively". We need each other. And we need God's communion to be strengthened by his might, provided with endurance and endless patience to persevere through the broken hearts. I am thankful each day that my job is part of a Christian organization, a family, who also gains their strength and endurance through our Father's great might. That we share grace and forgiveness with each other when the cynicism and addiction takes over. By addiction, I am referring to this overwhelming need that gnaws inside of you to keep working, keep pushing, to save the human race. Ridiculous, I know. But it does play a part when you are face to face with poverty and destruction on a daily basis. You either don't notice because the sight is so common, or you are blinded with anger at the injustice and that fuels the obsession to work even harder.
I am reminded that I was not asked to do this alone. That God's power is active and enabling. And that in the midst of the injustice, the starvation and the pain, God sees each one of his children, he feels their pain and he will bring them relief. Not me, I'm not here doing it alone. God's hand is active and touching the lives of those hurting every day. I urge each of us to continue to be on our knees in prayer for those in a present crisis - whether they are suffering from famine here in East Africa or are your family and friends at home, we all need each other.
Jul 11, 2011
oh, so busy!!
"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Nonsense. Exactly. Work has been swallowing all of my time.
I am back home in Nairobi and going to try harder to remedy this. Maybe even post a few more blogs. :)
Nonsense. Exactly. Work has been swallowing all of my time.
I am back home in Nairobi and going to try harder to remedy this. Maybe even post a few more blogs. :)
Jul 10, 2011
equanimity
Equanimity: a steadiness of mind under stress. How does one achieve this? Go here. My new favorite little corner - Inhambane, Mozambique.
Jul 5, 2011
ants in my coffee, cockroaches on the toes
A little protein never hurt anyone. I must be happy if I take a look at my freshly brewed hot coffee and there are a few ants floating on top...and I smile. :)
Last night I enjoyed a good little laugh at the expense of my colleague. To set the scene, I call him one of my Mozambique bodyguards. At 6'4"ish, his tall and broad Swedish build scares away plenty of creeps as we travel. But last night, he did a little dance at the table and shrieked like a girl! Complete with a jump and the heeby jeeby shivers. After catching myself from spewing orange Fanta out of my mouth and all over the table from the surprise of this little charade, I couldn't hold back my laughter. I asked what was wrong?! A cockroach had started to nibble on his little toe. He felt at first, a tickle. Then looked down and shrieked at the sight of this giant squishy cockroach (bigger than his big toe!) nibbling away happily. Mozambique cockroaches do not die when you step on them. Their shell is hard and resilient. Even after a bodyguard tries to stomp the life out of it. Didn't die. The restaurant guard, who was also laughing, took it out to the street. Dinner and a show!
Last night I enjoyed a good little laugh at the expense of my colleague. To set the scene, I call him one of my Mozambique bodyguards. At 6'4"ish, his tall and broad Swedish build scares away plenty of creeps as we travel. But last night, he did a little dance at the table and shrieked like a girl! Complete with a jump and the heeby jeeby shivers. After catching myself from spewing orange Fanta out of my mouth and all over the table from the surprise of this little charade, I couldn't hold back my laughter. I asked what was wrong?! A cockroach had started to nibble on his little toe. He felt at first, a tickle. Then looked down and shrieked at the sight of this giant squishy cockroach (bigger than his big toe!) nibbling away happily. Mozambique cockroaches do not die when you step on them. Their shell is hard and resilient. Even after a bodyguard tries to stomp the life out of it. Didn't die. The restaurant guard, who was also laughing, took it out to the street. Dinner and a show!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)