Does she DO anything out there???

"After every time of exaltation we are brought down with a sudden rush into things as they are where it is neither beautiful nor poetic nor thrilling"

I felt this quote fit perfectly for what I wanted to tell you all about today. I know that I don't write much about my "JOB" and that is probably because it isn't very interesting to me. The things of Africa that grow me and stretch me have nothing to do with my responsibilities here but rather my daily interactions with my spirit and self living in Africa, a place altogether different from what I have known. But I understand it is necessary to explain what I am doing during my time other than existing.

Currently my responsibilities are Administrative in nature. I am stuck in the office to be specific. The plans for me doing training have not come to fruition and I am training in a very different way. We were able to get an Internet connection for the office which is a huge and amazing thing for small town Roan. We may be the only Internet connection around the entire township. So I have taken on the task of teaching the staff at the office how to use a computer, how to access Internet, how to connect with their funders, and shortcuts for everything in between. It feels a bit elementary to me because I have been on the computer since grade 7, but here, adults have never even used a computer before. In the midst of my teachings I am also applying for funding for the projects. I have submitted three major funding proposals to a project in Canada called WOW to provide some of our community schools with uniforms for the kids, paper to write on and soap to use at home. Again, these things may sound very small to you, but here, the impact is major. These kids are mostly orphans, only having one outfit in their possession, and struggling to go to school using scrap paper we would just throw away. This is what they have to use. So these funds will empower the children to feel a bit more "normal" to get to change when they go home, to have a distinction between home and school, to have paper and pencils to write with, to have the opportunity to bathe with soap for a while. It is great. I've been able to go and see a couple of the community schools out in the Bush and it was so helpful for me to see the kids that will be benefiting from these funds and understand a bit more of the impact that will be made.

You know, I wanted to escape the office in America and I find myself in the office, even in Africa. It isn't always fun, and I don't always feel good when I go home. I often wonder what I am doing here, whether I should be ashamed of my days. But, I was reminded this morning in my devotions that we aren't always on the Mountain tops. Most of life takes place in the valley, regardless of where you live or what you are doing. It is life. Many times I wonder if the amazing things I hear about happening in Africa came from an agenda to make those things happen. To come for a short while I could come with an agenda and do something spectacular. But, I am staying, and seeing life continue as it did before the spectacular occured, and it is the valley. I don't know if this makes sense, but I hope that it does.