recent funny events

There are always things that happen that still make me shake my head and say, "Wow! Mozambique, it's like no other!"
For example:
***
I'm in the process of renewing my visa. When I went to submit my documents I was told I needed a passport picture so I walked to a new place I had heard takes passport pictures. The women at the desk was cordial. I paid at the desk and went to the room to have my picture taken. This is usually a humorous experience and today was no different. At first the man told me I needed to change my shirt because I can't wear a white shirt. Why you may ask? Well, probably because the lighting is so bright that with my white skin against the white background with a white shirt would make me out to be hair and eyes only. I told the man I didn't have another shirt. Another customer then offered her advice that they just change the color of  my shirt on the computer after they take my picture. The man bought the idea.
I then sat on the stool as the man studied me as if a specimen of something exotic, tilted my head ever so slightly sure not to make a difference of anything in the photo, held up his Nikon Coolpix camera, bent his legs to apparently be at the precise angle for this ever so professional shot. "Fechar a boco." Close your mouth I was reminded and there it was, the ugliest picture of me ever.
It wasn't over though because there was apparently a problem with the photo-shopping of my new shirt. My hair was covering part of my shirt so they couldn't put the new shirt on me. So, with some language confusion I was soon getting a new photo taken with my hair up. Trouble was that I didn't have anything but a pen to hold my hair up off of my shirt. Picture no.2 was taken with my hair thrown up, held by a pen, mouth closed and within a few minutes for sure the ugliest picture of Dara Hillstrom was produced-- complete with a nice red button down shirt that looks slightly too busty for my body. I will never show any of you this photo and will despairingly show my id card with this photo on it.
***
I had a couple friends over for dinner the other night, one from Sweden and one from Zimbabwe. As we were speaking about an acquaintance I couldn't help but be shocked, yet totally understanding the reality, I'm still laughing that this could be spoken about anyone:
"It's rare to hear him say something that's true."
Sad. Telling a lie is all to common here.
***
Several weeks ago when my friend who had watched Nede when I was away was still here we got stopped by the police when I was driving the Land Rover to Church. My heart still beats quite hard when this happens but I should be learning there's not much of a threat. This time (we were stopped in the same place my friend had been stopped a few times while I was away) the police officer didn't even approach me on the drivers side. He immediately went to my friends window and smiled and had a little small talk with her. He didn't ask ANYTHING about my drivers license or the car. He didn't even acknowledge me. As we pulled away laughing my friend let me know that this was the same police officer who had asked her for her phone number a couple stops ago. Charm can get you a long way here.
***
"Wow! Mozambique, it's like no other!"

4 little monkeys jumping on the bed

this is nede

The many faces of Nede...

Yes, the voice that goes with this face is as loud and rambunctious as you would expect.

Also, how worried should I be with her hair fixation (at age 5)? She rides her bike while picking her hair out?

i understand just enough

Today as I drove Nede to school I felt as confused as I’ve ever been. Again, like I was looking at Africa for the first time. I realized why I’m always tired here. Because I’m constantly over stimulated and confused.

As we bounced along, to start with I can hardly concentrate over the roar of the 1960’s (or whatever it is) Land Rover I’m driving, the first thing that shook me was the man scooting himself along on his hands, his legs deformed and useless. Then there was a man wearing dress pants and a neck tie, talking on his cell phone and holding a rope with a goat on the end. Too many small children were walking themselves to school. Then I witnessed two teenage girls almost get taken out by a car that made the corner way to fast. This was just after seeing the same starving to death dog that has been threatening suicide on the road all week. There was more, way more but this is enough to try to understand today.

Some mornings, just driving to school feels like too much and then I remind myself this is the CITY. This is where people are making it. I’ve also seen off the beaten path and if I dwell on this this morning my head my implode.

Then, Nede surprised me again. As I was taking all of this, in her squeaky morning voice said, “Mom, can I pray for you?”

“Yes, dear. Please pray for me.”

And she did. Unfortunately I couldn’t really hear her over the tractor motor but she prayed with her big faith and I realized I don’t need to understand all this. The amount that I am capable of understanding is enough.

Enough to keep me going the rest of this day. We’ll see about tomorrow.

40 DAYS OF PRAYER

Yesterday the Hands at Work family around the world started 40 Days of prayer.

Sometimes, even being in Mozambique, I feel disconnected and distant from the heart of God. I’m helpless and don’t even know what I’m doing. I lose sight of the heart of God that I believe and know is to care for the poor, to defend the orphan and vulnerable, to look out for the widow. It’s my intention over the next 40 days to faithfully pray through this prayer journey. I believe that together this is a way we all can make an impact and be united for something of significance.

I’ve also felt challenged to pray less for myself (not that my needs are insignificant but there is more happening than affects just me;) and more for the causes of others around me—for the rest of the orphaned children, for the mandate that God has for us all. I’m excited about this. I am excited because when I feel alone and isolated here, picking up this prayer guide I can be confident that there are people in South Africa praying for the same things. There are people in the UK, in the USA, in Australia, in the DRC, in Zimbabwe, in Canada…people ALL OVER THE WORLD standing in the gap for the Nede’s—that gives me much hope.

I encourage you to download the prayer guide by  clicking here: 40 Days of prayer. Pray with us. Allow yourself to be moved. Allow yourself to weep. Allow yourself to break. Allow yourself to pray for another. For 40 days. Pray for the little ones.

“w”

When I arrived back home on Sunday night there was a beautiful WELCOME HOME sign hanging in my living room. Some friends had brought paper when they took Nede out for lunch, something to occupy her during a meal out. I later heard this story…

(A brief preface is that Nede seems to have a heavy dose of narcissism. I realize that in her child development this is probably quite normal but I’m slightly concerned she has a heavier dose than most, as evidenced in this story…)

While cutting out the letters someone said something about the “W”. (Obviously pronounced like “double-you.”) This apparently perked Nede’s ears up and she immediately responded, “Double me?”

It’s all about Nede. ALL!

my holiday

Here’s a brief summary of my 2 week holiday--blessed greatly.
A 12 hour layover in Nairobi, Kenya, gave me time to go out with Jessica and a friend and enjoy an elephant orphanage…
Then, on to a giraffe park to take the opportunity to feed the long neck fellows (and get a bit too close)...

Then, on to Ethiopia where I drank A LOT of amazing coffee-- from green beans to breathing in the amazing aroma of their roasting process and finally, sipping the freshly ground beans (a coffee ceremony at the guest house)…

A LOT, of good coffee…

All of this was GREAT but it was a dream come true that I was able to be with Al and Lyndsey when their new daughter left the orphanage to be with them. It was the greatest gift, and purest joy I’ve been a part of. It seemed like such a beautiful gift straight from my Father at exactly the right time when I was needing some extra support, encouragement and love. Having the opportunity to be with dear, dear friends was exactly the medicine I needed to overcome the exhaustion I have been battling.  Being there when the words “you’re finished, she’s yours” was pure joy and a perfect reminder that the promise God gives us is true. He indeed does put the lonely in families (Ps 68:6).

After the amazing week in Ethiopia I was off to South Africa to be with my Hands at Work family. This also was a gift. I spent time with old friends and met new ones. I am on such a journey of experiencing what the body of Christ is meant to be. Much of the time I feel alone in Mozambique but whenever I’ve been able to return to SA I’m reminded that I am part of a bigger body. I met new volunteers who have arrived in the last several months who knew my story. They clearly are part of my larger family who are faithfully praying for Nede and me and standing with us. When you’re far from home and in such a foreign place having people who can immediately look deep within me and get to the depths of my heartache and wounds, it’s really something special. Several people made the point to seriously ask, “Dara, what can we do to better support you in this time?” I wish I knew what to say. I wish there was something someone could do just to make life easier, but there’s not. What I do know is that there are many people standing with me. And often that’s all I need—someone to believe with me and remind me of where to place my trust. This is what it means to live in community as we’re called—to share burdens and to walk together. I’ve had a special time of renewal over these last two weeks.
All to soon, on Saturday midnight three dear friends drove me to a bus where I started my journey back to Nede. After waiting several hours in numerous places, one Greyhound, one airplane and one Mozambican mini-bus 18 hours later I finally made it home to my inquisitive, beautiful girl.
And here is where I’ll continue this next season and whatever it will hold.

(Trying on her new Ethiopian dress)

and a break has arrived

I never lived, I was half dead

I was a rotting tree,

until I reached the place where I wholly,

with utter honesty,

resolved and then re-resolved

that I would find God’s will

and I would do that will

though every fiber in me said no,

and I would win the battle

in my thoughts.

Frank Laubach

These words recently struck a cord.

I have said and am confirming that, indeed, YES LORD, I will do your will.

Tomorrow I am off, in good faith, on an adventure that I feel blessed to be having. I’ll be in Ethiopia with dear friends as they work through the final stages of their adoption process. What a joy it is to continue to be a part of how God has touched their hearts, and now, changing the course of a little girls life. Changing a destiny. Wow!

I will then spend a week in South Africa with others at Hands at Work. Please pray for my travels, for my heart to really rest and to fully trust the Lord with what I’ll miss in Mozambique- even if just for 2 weeks.  

May I be renewed as I fight to win the battle in my thoughts—to continue in His will.

just a couple moz things

I don’t have much to say tonight. My eyes are heavy and my stomach is not quite right. But…

I’ve been having some fun with my cousin here…

Last week we spent one morning hiking to the top of Cabeca de Velho. It was a beautiful day!

Next, a typical Moz story:

For about 6 weeks or so I knew that last week I would be having a couple of visitors from Hands at Work. I also knew Jessica would be here and my friend who is staying with us during the week would be occupying another bed. The 4 beds in my house were already full and I would be welcoming 2-3 more guests, just for 2 nights. In preparation, I spoke to a couple local carpenters about making a bed for me. Of course they were very eager and could have the bed completed in 5 days. I decided to go with the second guy I spoke to. I gave him 500mts up front so he could go buy the wood. This was on a Thursday. The bed would be completed on Monday. A month ago. My visitors have come and gone and I still have just 4 beds in my house. The icing on the cake is that my friend who has been following this up for me called yesterday and this is exactly what he said:

”Dara, Hi. Your bed is finished. It’s just missing a couple pieces of wood, but I’ll bring it by today.”

MISSING a COUPLE PIECES OF WOOD! Doesn’t sound finished to me! Nothing was delivered yesterday.

I still have just 4 beds at my house.

the rover

For the last several months I’ve been without a car of my own. Gratefully I have hardly been a day without a borrowed car from very generous friends. The Isuzu Bighorn that I have been driving has been a huge blessing. It drives well, gets Nede to and from school and even made the trip to Beira to retrieve Jessica without overheating. The biggest concern has been my fear of losing a passenger due to heat stroke or an anxiety attack. The dark gray vehicle has no air conditioning and only the backseat drivers window goes down, sometimes. So far no one, in their heat exhaustion, has punched out a window, not yet. Wouldn’t be so bad it they did! ;)
Yesterday I had to bring the Bighorn back to my friends to have an oil leak repaired and the radiator looked at. I had been gearing myself up for a few days of public transport adventures thinking I would be without wheels of my own. But no. My dear friends have given me what they have. This Land Rover…

Here are some of the instructions I received, and my thoughts, in my orientation to the car:
“It has half tractor, half combine engine.”
My thought: (Is that a joke? How can that even be? And from 1969? Wow! Must be a joke.)
“Dara, maybe you should practice driving around the yard a bit first!”
(How hard can it be?)
“You can use almost any key in the ignition.”
(What?)
“The doors in the back sometimes fly open when you're driving.”
(Sounds great with Nede in the car.)
“Just use this rope to tie the doors shut from the inside.”
(Practical.)
“You just pull this plug out to stop the car.”
(What? What happens to the key?)
“The dimmer switch for the headlights is here, the switch used to be on the floor but I just hooked it up here now.”
(Okay, try to remember that that random switch has a purpose.)
“The wipers are here where it says rear. The rear ones don’t work so this is really for the front.”
(Rear means front. Got it.)
“The doors don’t lock and all the windows aren’t here so make sure you have someone stay in the car if you do any shopping in town.”
(Well, at least there will be a breeze in this car. Like it or not.)
“Ya, the seat belt should work.”
(Good, that feels better.)
“And to start it Dara, you just turn this crank in the front.”
(They have got to be joking now!)
My thoughts now after driving this for 2 days:

A bit scared, let’s just get home.
It does sound like a tractor so maybe that wasn’t a joke.
Why are my friends that I usually buy phone credit from giggling and pointing at me?
Why did that white man, who I’ve never seen before, in the Shoprite parking lot just wave at me?
We really have to yell to hear each other talking.
The rain is dripping on my foot.
I hope we make it up this hill.
It would be perfect if we were going lion hunting.

It’s actually kind of fun.
I think I’ll try to wear pink, big earrings and lots of lip gloss every time I drive it.

(See Jessica's blog for an account of her day: http://dojusticelovemercy.blogspot.com/)