24

For those of y'all that didn't catch it, a few weeks ago I turned the good old 2-4. Almost a quarter of a century, people. However, it was such a sweet day that I'm not even going to freak out at the fact that I'm WAY close to 25 now. Also, 24 is turning out to be way better than 23 for the simple fact that "vingt à quatre" is a whole lot easier to say than "vingt-trois." (sidenote: just googled the translation to those numbers. So, if they are spelled wrong it's not my fault. I'm learning an Africa dialect here..we just happen to use the French numbers.)

My morning started out with a text from my supervisor saying that we had fresh (killed that day) mutton to go in the dish that I had requested for lunch. The dish is called "Touffe," and y'all, it was AMAZING. My sweet friend cooked it, and I loved every second of lunch that day. However, I usually don't eat mutton on my birthday, but it may have to become a tradition...especially if my friend teaches me to cook it like this.

Later that night we had a few friends over for some cake and popcorn.

This picture is probably one of my favorite pictures. I love this picture because it shows friends. 

This picture shows my sisters. 

I have a local name here, and a couple of the girls gave me their family name for it.

This picture shows my younger brothers.

 A couple of the guys in this picture call me their "maq bu jigeen" or older sister.

 This picture shows inside jokes, laughs, people who are such a huge part of my life now.

Living away from home, I think holidays and birthdays have a tendency of being a little harder. On the other hand, though, I so enjoy these days because they truly show me how I've come to see the people I'm surrounded by on a daily basis as my family. 

Around the beginning of the year I was reading in Ecclesiastes 3. As I was reading, I started to think about which season of life I was living. After a while of thinking, the Father showed me that I was in "a time to gather stones." At that time it was hard for me to see past my friendships that I still had in the States. It was hard for me to see how I could relate to the people here on the same level that I can with my friends back in America. The Father gently showed me that I needed to focus a lot of my attention on the relationships being made here instead of consistently longing for the next Skype call or seeing what I was "missing" by being over here. I have trouble typing this because I don't want it to seem as if I don't miss friends back home. Because I do. I love the Skype calls. I look forward to getting the e-mails. The support that I've been given has blown me away, and I am so thankful for that. However, I needed to find a balance...how to bring these two very different parts of myself together so that I could be effective in showing True Love to the people I come in contact with. I say all of this to show you a little glimpse of why this picture means so much to me. I can say now, although I still miss the people at home, the Father has given me opportunity to "gather stones." To build friendships here that are real. We talk about clothes. We talk basketball. We bounce ideas off of each other. We are friends, and I'm so thankful for that.

I also thank you. Instead of losing friendships, I am gaining them. Thank you for being understanding when the electricity goes out and I miss that Skype time. Thank you for not getting angry when I wake you up in the middle of the night with a text because I forget that you're 6 hours behind me. Thank you for the love that you continually pour out on my behalf. It is felt, and it is appreciated. 24 is going to be a good year, and I can't wait to see what it all has in store. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go finish plucking some feathers out of a chicken. Told you life looked a little different over here...

Day in the Life

Sometimes I still find it so surreal that I'm doing life in Africa. I'm not here on a short trip. I'm not flying "home" in a couple of days. I am learning language, building friendships, and sharing experiences with people here on a daily basis. That blows my mind every single time I truly take time to think about it. 

However-I am settling into life here. I'm seeing people I know in the market and having conversations. I'm able to joke and laugh with people...or they're laughing at me. Both happen on a fairly regular basis. Since I've arrived people have asked, "What exactly do you DO over there?" So, I thought I'd share what a normal day looks like for me...

7-8: Wake up with a little jog where I get to see sights like this...

I also see crazy, wild dogs, but since I pick up the pace a little during those times, I wasn't able to get a picture. Sorry.

8-10: Figure out breakfast/spend time with the Father/go to the market if I need anything.

Now, there is nothing that I can think of that compares to a trip to the market. It is one of my favorite things. Here's a glimpse of what going to the market means..

           You hop on              Buy vegetables/visit friends.           Stock up on fresh(?) food.

                          a horse cart.

10-12: First half of language time. (Whenever I finish with language, I will have 5 months of "official" studying.)

12-4: This time varies depending on the day. This is the hottest part of the day, so many people shut down businesses and go home to cook/rest. A little siesta time, if you will. If I'm not going to a friends house I eat lunch at home, spend some more "quality time" with the old language book, catch up on e-mails..that sort of thing. However, if I'm going to someone's house it's an all afternoon event. The culture here doesn't eat lunch until 1 or 2..or 3. Whatever works for them that day. So, I usually go around 1 and stay until I have to leave for the second part of language. I absolutely love spending these lunch hours at friends houses. 

4-6: This is my 2nd part of language time where I go out visiting  people to work on my speaking skills. Usually we enjoy attaya, have dance parties, or just sit around and enjoy each other's company.

 6-...: This is a time where we figure out what we're eating for dinner/(I figure out how to) cook dinner/people stop by for visits. 

This is a relationship oriented culture, so a lot of my time centers on building relationships with people at this point. It's been fun to see how these relationships have evolved into friendships. The people I'm surrounded by are sweet people, and great friends. I'm so glad that I have the chance to just sit and "be" with the people here. My days are full of learning, whether it's language or so much more. I'm continually being taught so many things, and I hope I never lose the wonder I feel whenever I step out of my house. 

Join me in lifting up these days, in lifting up these relationships. The fact that I have you remembering throughout these times means more to me than you'll ever know.

The New Normal

"I am caught between a moto and a donkey cart."

This is something I found myself saying this week, and as soon as I said it I just had to laugh. A couple of months ago this statement would have been completely ridiculous, but I now find myself in this dilemma a little too often. Those moto's and donkey carts have a tendency of sneaking up on a person, ya know?

Since moving to Africa, I have developed a new "normal." Things that may have sounded a little bit off in the States are now things I embrace. I've learned to never laugh at an idea because you may find yourself living in Africa and partaking in it one day. Here are a few things that might become normal for you if you move to this part of the world..

Staying up until 4 a.m. to finish the Superbowl.

Now, I grew up in a family where football is definitely appreciated. (Don't speak to my 93 year old great grandmother while the Redskins are playing..it doesn't end well for you.) But, I also like my sleep...a lot. If you would have told me a year ago that I would stay up until 4 a.m. to watch the Superbowl..and the Cowboys aren't even playing..I would have laughed at you. However, where was I in the early morning hours on February 4, 2013? That's right..propped up in bed watching Jacoby Jones breaking.it.down in the end zone. 

Seeing pop tarts as a delicacy.

A couple of weeks ago I received a package that had these babies in it...and it was the value pack y'all. Multiple flavors. While living in the States, I ate these as much as the next person. They were good. Moving to Africa moved these to the whole next level. I am rationing these out so I can make them last as long as possible. I never thought I'd be the person that savors every bite of a pop tart, but it's happening. 

Finding myself saying phrases like, "We have to leave now because the horse carts quit running in a little bit."

There aren't many cars in the town that I'm living in, and if you see a car chances are you're better off walking. They are a little a lot sketchy. So, the main mode of transportation are horse carts. These run all over town, but they are a little hard to catch in the afternoon hours. So, if you want to go to the market it is easier to schedule your trip at a time when the carts are running. I've had some crazy experiences on horses, so I'm not a huge fan of them. Here, though, I actually enjoy these rides. They become fun times where I'm able to joke with the women. And if you're lucky, you can catch the horse they call "Toyota." It's the fastest around, y'all.

Not flinching when I see a lizard in my house.

I promise you our house is clean, but this is Africa, and sometimes we find little "friends" here. Now, if you know me, you know I can not stand any kind of reptile. Frogs, lizards, geckos...they're creepy. But sometimes you just have to say "C'est la vie." I haven't reached this point with rats, though. I still scream and run in my room and shut the door if we see one of those little suckers.

Being overjoyed when I walk into a grocery store and see this...

...American cereal. Enough said.

This is life here. This is my normal. This is an adventure, a struggle, a blessing. Life is not predictable here, but that's what makes it great. You need the Father's grace and direction on a daily basis, and you are so aware of it. 

So thankful for this new normal.

Lessons from Community

Accountability: Man-that word can be terrifying sometimes. But it can also be such a sweet experience..one that leaves you feeling renewed/encouraged. I think that accountability goes hand in hand with community, and both of these areas can be a struggle when you are living in a place where the beliefs are so foreign to your own.  However, because of amazing friends and technology, I am learning that this can also be a time where you truly learn the beauty of these two aspects of our faith.

I am so thankful for the friends that He has placed in my life to walk alongside me in community and encourage me in accountability. This past week one of these friends shared with me a verse that she was memorizing for the week, and one that she was going to lift up over our little group. The verse was Colossians 1:11-12. In the middle of those verses it talks about endurance and patience with joy. While typing the verse out she capitalized that part, so obviously it stood out to me. I thought about what that looked like..endurance AND patience WITH joy. So many times I compartmentalize those three aspects of my faith. Endurance. Patience. Joy. Those things alone are often a struggle, but combined..that's a whole new ballgame, y'all! 

A couple of days later I was reading the parable of the sower in Luke 8. This is a common story to many of us, one I've memorized and thought I knew well. I read to the end of it, and something hit me right in the face.

"As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience."

 Luke 8:15 (ESV)

The good soil isn't just those who hear the word, and do it. The good soil refers to the people who hear the Word and bear fruit with patience. Endurance with patience. This is something that can be hard for me to grasp sometimes over here. I want things to happen on my time schedule, the way I think they should go. So often that is just not the case. Through these times, though, I should endure and be patient. Not only that, I should have a joyful heart as well. I know the Father is working. That should bring me great joy regardless of the timing of things. I know that He has placed me here. That should push me to endure through all circumstances. I know that He has given me a love for these people. That should cause me to practice patience with every situation I am faced with. The more I thought about it, the more I saw that these three things are so beautifully intertwined. You shouldn't have one without the other. 

From that one e-mail, the Father taught me all of this. How beautiful is community and accountability? I am so thankful that even though these friends are all over the World, they are still in my life to push and encourage me. This is how the Body was designed to operate, and I'm so happy to be a part of it. 

Not Quite There

I hate to disappoint the vast number of you who think that I am fluent already. I know, I know..I've been studying language a month. I should almost be like a professional now, right? Oh man, if only that were the case. Here's just a little glimpse of what me trying to speak the language looks like on a daily basis:

Setting: Local market, helping a friend sell vegetables at her booth.

Me: (pointing to local vegetable) What is this called again?

Language Helper: Huh?

Me: How do you call this?

L.H.: Naka lanuy waxe.

Me: (talking to women passing by) Beggnga lanuy waxe? Beggnga lanuy waxe?

L.H.: (laughing uncontrollably) Wait, what did you ask me?

Me: What is this vegetable called?

L.H.: Oh! That vegetable is called jaxatu! I thought you were asking me how to say "how do you call this."

So, to break this story down for you: Beggnga=Do you want? lanuy waxe=to call this. Beggnga lanuy waxe?=Do you want to call this? Basically, I was looking at women passing by and saying, "Do you want to call this?" instead of saying, "Do you want a jaxatu?"

I wish I could tell you things like this were a one time occurrence, but they aren't. My language helper and I have decided that I am pretty fluent in Englof-a mixture of the languages. Most of my sentences sound like this:

"Demb, waxoon naa sama yaay ak sama rakk bu goor went back to ecole."

*English words are also usually muttered..so it really sounds like I'm not speaking any kind of language.*

So, for those of you who are aiming high in your thoughts of my language skills, I give you a sincere thank you. However, I thought I'd give you a little dose of reality...I'm just not quite there.

Learning to Love

I'm finding that it is so easy to fall in love here. How can your heart not be moved when you are surrounded by faces that look like this on a daily basis? I know I'm biased, but I think this country has the MOST beautiful people in the world-inside and out. How do you restrain yourself from wanting to hug them and provide for them in every way possible? 

I've struggled with one main thing since coming here, and was reminded of it the other day while reading. In Luke 6 Jesus is talking to a group of people, and He states that we are to give to everyone who begs from us. That held my attention for a moment. As I was reading this, I was preparing to go out for the day with a group of University students to supply a village school with thousands of pens, notebooks, and gospel tracts. As we were meeting one need, I saw so many other needs that these people had. Clothes-shoes-medical care. Serious issues. As I read in Luke I questioned, "What does this even look like here..a place where the needs can overwhelm you?" I was reminded of the story in Acts 3 where Peter and John do not hand out anything of worldly value, but give a beggar so much more. If you look into the eyes of the people here, all their worldly needs fade and you see their hearts. You see that they need so much more than clothes, shoes or medical care. While these needs are serious and need to be met, their hearts ache for so much more...and that is something I can tell them about. The greatest time spent in each village school were the minutes an American University student stood up and told of a love that compelled them to leave their homes in America, travel thousands of miles, and give a small gift in hopes that each student would accept a gift of love much greater. While thousands of notebooks were handed out, thousands of students were able to hear truth. Places where truth is so hard to reach. Places where the enemy has so many ensnared. 

Please continue to lift these beautiful faces up. Please continue to ask that the Father would continue to give me discernment on how to love when the needs can be overwhelming. Also-after seeing these faces, I totally understand if you can't help but come visit..we'll make room for ya!

A different kind of Winter Wonderland

Well, the holiday season is for sure here! If I thought moving to a different continent would change the hectic schedule during this time, I was wrong! Life here has been anything but slow. While many of you are snuggling up to the fires, singing "Baby, it's cold outside," or drinking hot chocolate, I have been figuring out how winter works in West Africa. There may not be much of a winter here, but it is definitely still a Wonderland to me. Many of you have been asking about living conditions, so I thought I'd share a small glimpse into some everyday sights. 

This is the main street through our little town. On a normal day you are usually dodging people, moto's and horse/donkey carts as you walk to the market. However, it was 70-75 degrees on this particular day, so nobody was out! We asked a friend where everyone was-her response? "It's too cold to be out!"

View of my street. I absolutely love the colors of the flowers against the white house. 


Home, sweet, home

A picture of my room. 

This past week we also had to say goodbye to a couple of sweet friends. Two of our team members finished their terms and headed back to the States. I tried to talk them into staying a little longer (like, a couple years longer), but I didn't have much luck. These girls made such an impact on this town, and they will for sure be missed!

Even though life looks so different this Christmas, it has been such a sweet time of remembering the real reason behind the celebration. We have received a gift that is far greater than anybody on Earth could give. The sacrifice Jesus made seems so much sweeter to me this season. Hoping you get to share the hope of this gift with someone this year.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

-Isaiah 9:6