MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry  Christmas one and all!

I've been waiting to send this message because I wanted to have something profound and wonderful to write. But, the truth is that it doesn't feel like Christmas. I've tried baking, I've tried listening to Christmas music for weeks now and even watching movies with snow. It's just not the same. My heart longs to be with family and friends in a cold place (I know there's no snow in MN this year). I don't want to be sweating when I try to sleep on Christmas Eve. I don't want to try to figure out how to make Christmas dinner because there's no gas to be bought in all of Mozambique. 

But, this is where I am and no matter where I am it's the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The very reason I'm here. So, I hope between now and Christmas day I can claim that peace in my heart and experience that peace that surpasses all understanding and, celebrate with real joy, even in a difficult time and place. 

Maybe next year we'll be home.

It does bring me much joy knowing how many people are standing with Nede and me here and how much we're loved. We love you, more than I can express from such a distance. xoxo 

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU, may the joy of the LORD be OURS!

(conserving gas while baking Christmas cookies)

christmas cards

In an attempt to show some gratitude and appreciation to many of you who have been so supportive I decided to send a little Christmas greeting this year. I made Nede sit down with me on numerous occasions to do her part in this American tradition. Thankfully I had a friend returning to the UK who was able to bring the completed cards to mail from London. Unfortunately, there were about 15 that I wasn't able to finish before my friend left. 

This week I had another new experience, trying to mail something from the Mozambique postal system. Let's just say it took 2 conversations on 2 different days before I made up mind to give it a go. After I had paid my money (too much) I then found out that they only had 4 international stamps. But, I was reassuring that, "of course when the 'Cheif' (boss) comes he'll bring more stamps and the other 10 letters (that they're securely placing in this folder) will most definitely" be sent on to make the big journey across the pond.

I'm not so sure. 

So...here it is. If you've been one of our faithful supporters I did write a personal message and try to have a variation of this card sent to you:

You never know, you may be in for a treat and get a Christmas card around Easter or 4th of July or, just in time for next Christmas. Or, never.

Either way, know that our thoughts, thanks and love are being sent your way.

the seasons

It is litchi season--

We love litchis and have bought approximately 20kg of the sweet, juicy goodness--

Nede thinks this dress was made only for litchi season. 8 litchis fit conveniently in the front pocket--

 
With the rainy season also brings flying ant season--

Mozambican's like to eat fried flying ants--

Nede came exuberantly in the house saying, "They're sweet ones!!!" I wrinkled my nose and took a look. I accidently dropped a few on the floor and put them back in her container and she responded with, "Mom, I can't eat those, they were on the floor. Gross!"

I like that it's Christmas season best. 

happy thanksgiving and bid in the auction

It seems terribly odd to think that this will be the 3rd of the last 4 Thanksgivings that I've been in Mozambique, away from the holiday cheer and the familiarity that this week used to bring. I find that I try not to think about it because it may hurt. Too much reflection will likely lead to tears, homesickness, and, if not careful, further exhaustion. With all that being said, I've committed myself, with a friend, to preparing a Thanksgiving feast on Friday this week for about 20 of my "family" here. We've been laughing as we've been drawing up the menu because we don't know if we'll be able to find 1) TURKEY 2) PUMPKIN 3) SWEET POTATOES and definitely not 4) CRANBERRIES! We even Google searched for alternative options for turkey on Thanksgiving. Thank you Mr. Google but we are not vegetarian. I think what that really meant was there's no alternative for turkey on Thanksgiving. But, in Mozambique, chicken (AGAIN!) may have to do. It promises again, to be a different Thanksgiving.

While my Thanksgiving is different in Mozambique I want to share what a Minnesota friend is busy adding to her holiday hustle and bustle. In honor of November being National Adoption month in the States my friend Carrie is having an auction of hand-crafted items that she and friends have made. And, much to my surprise, yet delight, Carrie has decided to hold this auction on behalf of Nede and me! Please, even if only just for fun, check out Carries website to see what she's doing, you'll see a familiar face. Her specialty is cloth baby diapers but she has other things available as well. Take a look http://hyenacart.com/stores/mudbuttclothdiapers/ She'll be donating 100% of the money earned to support Nede and me. I KNOW! Isn't it amazing all we have to be thankful for??? So, go ahead, make this click http://hyenacart.com/stores/mudbuttclothdiapers/, go crazy bidding for fun things and...tell everyone you know!

There's bound to be more Thanksgiving stories as this week unfolds.
Until then. Be thankful.

abundant life

Nede + Love of Jesus = Abundant life

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:20

Holding on to truth here!

another proud moment

I'm taken back again about what it feels like to be a mom and to feel so proud when your child does something new. It's really quite something to experience. My new favorite thing is watching Nede wobbling around on her bike trying to avoid that bloody spill. As you'll see, she often doesn't even know where she's going. She is so out of control. Shame. Doesn't help that her mom gives her a bike with NO brakes of any sort! 

I'm so proud of Nede...

Children are a gift from the Lord;

      they are a reward from him.- Psalm 127:3

AMEN!

where am i?

As would be expected after being in a place for coming close to 2 years my surroundings are feeling pretty familiar. Even though it's familiar to me I'm reminded many of you probably have no idea what it looks like here. So, I thought I would send a few pictures to give you an idea. Many places it's not the greatest idea to stick my camera out the window so this no fantastic photography. 

I live in Chimoio, Manica province:

This is the road to my house:

This is the gate into my house:

This is our property:

And the entrance to our house:

This is Shoprite, the grocery store. If you continue up this road our house is less than 100 meters to the right, off this very bumpy road:

This is La Plaza, the best cappuccinos in town. I usually drop Nede off at school on Monday mornings and meet some friends here to start off the week:

And this is Nede's school:

This is the post office, corrieos, where I love to collect my packages. Most things get to me unless something enticing is written on the outside of the box, someone else then chooses to help themselves: 

This is the market where I buy all my fruit and vegetables:

Right across from the market is Vapor, the best pizza available for miles:

 That's all for now. As familiar as this all is I am far too often reminded that I am not at home here. I will always be a foreigner. No matter how well I know the language, not matter how much cultural understanding I think I have, I will never know what it's like to be born and live my life in a place like this. I wish it weren't so but, I don't fit. I'm often frustrated by the different world-views that I try to conjoin. Impossible. I guess culture is culture no matter where I am, the only saving grace we have is to try to live in a Kingdom culture. This can and should be my attempt no matter where I find myself. And I guess, this is part of my journey where I continue to find out what Kingdom culture even is. Nede and I will always have a different culture, won't we? It's my desire that the culture we represents most is a culture that Jesus would smile upon-- being part of "thy kingdom come..."

And when I look at this airplane building that's being constructed, I have no idea where I am!!!! It seems like it belongs in Epcot, not the outskirts of Chimoio. 

 

 There it is. It's seems like I'm in a very strange place.

aspirations

"Mom, when I grow up I want to be a doctor and a princess."

a husband

Last night Nede and I read the Creation story in her new Children's Message Bible.
We discussed it and tonight at dinner she said,
"Mom, why don't we just take out a bone (as if to grab one of her ribs) and make a husband?"

i wanted to be like dad

I'm always surprised by the things that Nede is teaching me.
Today was another one.
I've just recently got the courage and motivation to start exercising more. I've found a safe place to run and have remembered how much I do have a passion for it.
Because Nede has heard me say that I go running after I drop her off at school she's been asking to go with me.
"Mommy, after my nap can we do running?"
"Oh, Nede it's so hot after your nap!"
"Hot doesn't matter."
"We'll see."
Well, today when she woke up there was an obvious storm rolling in and, with Nede's fear of storms, I knew going too far from the house was not an option.
"Why don't we just jump rope for exercise today Nede? It's going to rain."
"Okay. But I don't have running clothes?"
"Oh, yes you do. You can use any shorts and a tank top."
"But I don't have like you."
"Oh, yes, how about these shorts, this tank top? Look it's similar to mine. And put on your socks and shoes."
"Look Mom these socks are short like yours!"
Off we went to jump rope. Nede soon got tired and started running laps around the yard. "Look how fast I am Mom." (She really is fast, I think and has quite the endurance.) The we did go outside our fence and ran around the neighborhood for quite awhile.
I started thinking. WOW! Just because this is something she knows I do and enjoy she is SO interested in it! Is that where my desire for running came from? Well, YES! I wanted to be like my dad. Of course I did. I learned much from my dad. A whole lot more than just pacing myself. I learned stick-to-it-ness, I learned about positive thinking, I learned about the power of positive thinking, I learned discipline, I learned to push through the pain, I learned to not give up, I learned to fight, I learned the benefits of caring for my body, I learned that hard work pays off, I learned to work as a team, I learn to encourage, I learned to set goals, I learned that little that is worth it, comes easily.
Hmm...it seems all these things that I learned as I admired my dad are coming in handy now. Before I returned to Mozambique I remember a dear friend saying to me (although I didn't really want to hear it), "Dara, I think that you have to go as if you're prepared to run a marathon."
I'm now brought back to more words from my dad from when I ran my marathon, "At mile 22 you may hit the wall and it may feel like you're starting over, the last 4 miles may feel as difficult as the first 22."
Again, how right he was.
I am running another marathon. I may have hit the wall hard but I'm still going. I can't give up. And boy, is it going to be worth it.
And all from wanting to be like Dad-- a pair of running shoes and Dad.
I'm still putting on those shoes and wanting to be like you, Dad. Thanks for teaching me more than how to run!