Hodge Podge of Thoughts

Here's a hodge podge of what I am thinking about today...

Last week was Christmas, I can hardly believe it. I had some very special times and some wonderful gathers but it didn't really feel like Christmas. Not at all. Don't feel sorry for me. It was wonderful. It was a great experience and so good for me to see Christmas in another part of the world. The biggest thing was on Christmas afternoon. Laura, Hannah and I decided to go with some others from the Mission to bring food and a message to the Gondola prison. I hadn't quite prepared myself for what I would see, experience and feel. While there, I felt ashamed of myself that for so many years I had never thought outside of my own Christmas traditions. Never before on Christmas day had I thought about, or looked into the eyes of anyone other than my lovely family and friends. This Christmas I stared into the eyes of hungry, desperate, thirsting for truth prisoners. I then realized it is by God's grace alone that I am who I am and am where I am. My heart was full of hurt and rejoicing, joy and sorrow. I can't answer why to any of this, and I try not to ask. But I am again reminded- what breaks my heart breaks the heart of God far more. I must keep praying.

I was very happy and I was very sad this Christmas. I did miss a lot of my usual Christmas experiences (flying from sunny AZ to snowy MN) but I was, and am, right where I want to be. I'll be bringing in the new year this year with people who are teaching me and molding me, new relationships that bring me much joy!
Occasionally over the last few days I have gotten that uncomfortable rock in my stomach as I realize that I am here at the Mission for less than 2 weeks. It seems absolutely unreal, unreal! Please pray for me as I go from this place. As you can sense from my writings, over the last year I have been exposed to much and stretched to think on many new things. To fathom going on from her to any sort of "normalcy" seems bizarre BUT, I do feel God is working things out within me and I trust that the road before me will be smooth and well as I go from here. I am at yet another exciting crossroads. Thanks for your prayers.
I also wanted to just share a couple of my recent favorite pictures...
I wish you could hear the giggles and the "Sister Dara, Sister Dara"'s...



Lastly...
God is so good to the people here. With the rains (during the hungry, dry season) come invasions of "flying ants". As gross and creeped out as the girls in my house and I all get, these critters are a really protein treat for the Mozambicans. They collect them by the thousands, fry them up and enjoy!
Yes, I have tried them. No, I don't like them- especially when there was a wing left on my tooth! Ish!



What a treat!
More disorganized thoughts later...
Happy New Years to you!

Christmas in Africa

I remember last year hearing a Christmas song on the radio that says something like, "There won't be snow in Africa this Christmas, I wonder if they even know it's Christmas at all."
It's true. We barely know it's Christmas. I taught Sunday school at the Mission this morning and when I asked the children why this week is special and what December 25th is, these were the responses:
"It's raining."
"We have a party."
"Jesus died for us."
"God was born."
It's a different Christmas. This afternoon I sat doing hair with some of the girls on the Mission. As we were sitting there they started singing "Christmas in Africa..." then some Shona words that mean, "we are happy, we will be dancing."
If you know about Christmas you are happy and maybe even dancing.
Again, I am reminded how I have not chosen to know God but He has chosen me (John 15:16). It is a gift that I know what Christmas is. It is a gift that I get to chose to try to live my life to glorify the Lord. As I sit here I am listening to a favorite Christmas album. I do miss terribly what my usual Christmas feels like. I miss listening to Delilah on the radio. I even miss my own romanticizing of the holidays. I wish I could let the people here experience the joy of an American Christmas.
I am left wondering. What is Christmas supposed to look like? I am not sure it is supposed to look like what we've made it to be in America. I am not sure it is supposed to look like it does (or doesn't) here in Mozambique. I wonder where the in between is? Maybe Christmas really means to live "Christmas" all year around and then singing and dancing on Christmas day.
I am not sure. I am glad I get to see other forms of "Christmas" and I am glad I know the real reason for Christmas. I am glad I have grown to understand what that means even more this year. I don't have the same "I love Christmas" feelings this year but I can say that I love the reason for Christmas more than ever.
Thank you Jesus for being Christmas- no matter where I am.

Praise God

It's raining. I am happy to say that it has been raining for almost 2 days now! It is enough for the people to plant, or replant their seeds (if they have money to buy seeds). It is exactly what they have needed but it is so late. It doesn't help the current famine but it brings hope and work for the people. Thank you for your prayers.
Now, please pray against cholera which often follows in the rainy season. That is the last thing these people need is to lose their family members to cholera.
As you may know, cholera has taken thousands of lives in Zimbabwe. Please pray for them as well. Prayer is all that can change any of this.

"They will survive in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough." Psalm 37:19

His promises are true.

Recovered

I realize that after notifying a bunch of North Americans that I had malaria I should probably follow up and let you know that I have recovered very well! The last couple days I feel wonderful. Thank you for your prayers and messages. I think God was gracious to me- I wasn't as sick as most people are when they get malaria. I was blessed to be treated quickly and recovered well.
I also want to thank all of you who have sent me wonderful Christmas packages. I would venture to say that our cute little house is probably one of the best Christmas decorated houses in all of Mozambique. As most of the country doesn't know the holiday is coming- Laura and I have many wonderful reminders. We'll both be experiencing our hottest Christmas ever and we are only dreaming of a white Christmas this year!
Tomorrow Laura and I will be off to the coast one last time! We'll enjoy a couple days of reflection on the beach before picking up a new Hands at Work volunteer who will stay on after we leave. It is truly unbelievable that we'll be leaving this place in 1 month!
As the time quickly winds down please pray for a number of things:
*RAIN! Still not a drop- people are starving to death. Carlos said today, "if this many people are suffering already, just think of Jan...Feb...March!" It truly is terrifying.
*All that needs to be wrapped up before we go...
*My heart as I prepare to leave this place behind and all the amazing relationships that I have developed.
*Good health so I can finish well.
*Whatever it is that God would have for me next...
Thank you...I am off to bed. Will write more soon.

For to us a child is born,
To us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9: 6

Praising the names of the Lord in this Season!

Tuesday morning started like any other Tuesday. Laura and I did our morning routines and headed off to our Tuesday gather place to walk in the community making visits with the volunteers. I went with dear sweet Ines. She is one of strongest woman I may ever meet. She walks miles each day, up and down large hills- I have trouble keeping up. This day was no different. We walked to this one woman’s house; I have been to see her a few times recently. As usual the situation is critical and unfortunately, typical. She is sick with tuberculosis and is HIV positive. She is a single mother of 5 children. She is not taking TB treatment or antiretrovirals. As I asked questions, I found that she had been to the hospital last week for malaria. Then she showed me the medication she did have. She had half of the tablets left for her malaria treatment. Malaria treatment consists of taking tablets 2x/day for 3 days. She should not have any tablets remaining. I found myself getting frustrated, even angry. I suppose this isn’t so surprising considering I have seen these desperate situations for many months now. In my frustrated state I asked, “Ines, Why? Why does she still have tablets left?” Ines asked the woman. She responded to me, “She has no food and they make her sick in her stomach.”
Oh. Oh, I thought. Of course. Why would she take them? She feels terrible all the time anyway- TB, HIV, malaria, hunger. Who wouldn’t? And then, we expect her to take these tablets that do what? Make her feel worse.
I said no more.
Over the next few hours this made even more sense.
Walking these hills with the summer sun beating down upon us it was hot, I was sweating. At the next visit we sat in the shade. Suddenly I wasn’t feeling okay. And I was cold! I was shivering! Oh, gosh, something isn’t okay. (To continue with the point of my story, I will skip forward a number of hours.)
By 2 o’clock I myself was laying in bed with malaria. (Don’t worry I didn’t collapse or anything dramatic) By 230pm I myself was taking malaria treatment. By 4pm I felt worse than before taking anything. I now could relate to that woman. I didn’t want to take my own malaria treatment.
Thank you Lord for helping me to emphasize more.

Next...

The malaria ran it’s cycle, my dear friend Fena came to visit me while I was in bed one day. When she arrived I was finishing watching the movie PS I Love You. She and her baby sat and joined me. At one point the woman on the show was crying. I said, “Fena she’s so sad.”
“Why?” Fena inquired.
“Her husband died,” I said.
Raising her eyebrows and nodding in affirmation like only African’s can she said, “hmm.”
A moment of silence passed before she blurted.
“He died from what? Malaria.”
Trying not to chuckle I said, “No Fena, he had a brain tumor.”

Yet another vast contrast of the world I am in here.

(PS: I am feeling much better now!)