The Rooster

Have I told you about my friend, the Rooster? She lives at Jacob and Annie’s with me. She is roosting…??? Uh, maybe that isn’t what it is called, but she is doing whatever it is called when she is laying eggs. So she lives in a plastic crate right now. She has a soft floor she sits on throughout the day and the children like using her temporary home for a stool when all the others are taken by us greedy adults. When the lights outside begin to go out she comes inside the kitchen to sleep. Her temporary home comes with her so she can keep comfortable on her soft floor. Every morning she does me the favor of reminding me that I am still alive as she wakes me at 5am singing her cock-a-doodle-doo song. She thinks it is beautiful and wants to sing us all lovely songs to help us remember that God’s mercies are new every morning. But oh how I wish she would wait until just a little later in the morning to sing her glory song! We are friends nevertheless and I think I will just be grateful that in the midst of my slumber I am able to be reminded of the breath that fills my lungs and the newness of another morning.

The only problem with saying that this kind Rooster is my friend is the reality that one day she may be my dinner…and that is disturbing to me! The foods I have been eating here, oh, you all would be surprised! I have been told I can be a Zambian now – this is because I can eat properly with Nshima with needing utensils. Basically, I am rocking the socks off of these Zambians who think I am just a clueless white girl. I refuse to be that girl, so I am taking chances and feeling free to get my hands dirty.

Today we picked up all sorts of rubbish around the farm and then carried it to “the pit” where all the other rubbish was thrown. Then…we burnt it! Just Laurie and myself – we were pyromaniacs and set the pit ablaze. It was glorious and very satisfying to know that we were able to do something that actually freaked us out at the beginning. You will all be happy to know that the fire stayed inside the pit and did not venture out into unwelcoming areas of the farm Hooray for we who are adventurous!

I joined the praise choir at the church and have been attempting to learn songs in Bemba. Who ever told me that English was the first language of Zambia and not to worry about a language barrier was just tricking me! I am struggling to wrap my tongue around the words here, they are long and hey, did you know that Zambians mix the R and L? I am reminded daily of my mother SoongHe who did the same. It has been a great thing actually to keep her in my heart. I smile when I think of her worshiping God. You know, at her funeral the pastor of her church reminded us of how she would stand as tall as her four foot something height would allow during worship with her hands raised up to the God that she loved and adored, singing passionately. I can hear her off-key singing, switching the l’s with r’s and vice-versa. I loved that woman so much, she was a mother to me for many years and I hold her memories dearly in my heart. We did an activity during our trainings called The Tree of My Life and we drew leaves on our trees, each symbolizing someone in our lives that made an impact. SoongHe was one of my many leaves. We were encouraged to think about whether or not we had a chance to tell that person how much they meant to our lives. I thought of how she was in the hospital and how they thought it best that I didn’t see her in the condition she was in. I hate that now. I wish I could have told her how much she meant to me, how much I loved her, how thankful I was for her love that began from the moment we met. She always called me her daughter, always stood up for me, always thought the best of me. I thank God for allowing me to have her in my life for the time I did! … Goodness, I’m getting emotional and that wasn’t my intention…this was meant to be funny and endearing, but, a tribute to a mother is okay I think…I thank God that He gives us people. Even when they are gone their memories still impact our lives, and I am grateful for the sweet reminders!

To all of you who have been in my life, I appreciate you and love you very much! No matter what has happened, good or bad, I still cherish the time we had together. I don’t think there has been even one person in my life that hasn’t taught me something, and that is something to be celebrated. So here’s to you!

Love