I was talking to a girl the other night. She is 19, both of her parents are gone and she is absolutely fabulous. She walks tall with confidence and sass. I told her I was impressed with her strength and she said that Masoyi is what gave her strength. She was able to look around and she children younger than her all alone and having to fit into the new role of adult. She looked at me and said, "how can I say sorry, sorry, when I am crying myself? How will they know that things can get better?" This really made me think.
The children of Masoyi are amazing and they encourage me to be stronger. I spoke with a boy today who was very sad. He was isolating himself and believing that no one would understand his situation. He is 17 and his mother died two years ago. He is angry, hurt, and afraid of others seeing him cry. He asked us, "to who can I go when I feel like no one cares? Who can I turn to when I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel?" ...I was reminded of the words I was given earlier in the week from that strong young woman as I wanted to cry with him. I thought, No, I need to show strength and encourage his heart. I felt the same way, have asked the same questions and what I found...God is still with me. I read verse after verse to him. I really felt like this was one of the first times I was moved to share Christ's love since I became an adult. When I was young I used to save all of my friends :) But as an adult I have taken a back seat in the witnessing department, it's not my style. But today this boy needed hope, and the only hope that I knew to give him was the only hope I have found myself...and it was found in God. Day by day returning to the truth that God is still there, and He will never leave us or forsake us, and for this reason we can say with CONFIDENCE, I will put my trust in the Lord, why should I fear, what can man do to me?
These things need follow up. You can't just say something once and expect it to stick forever..He needs a friend, someone to go to when these struggles continue. investment, it is an investment in someone's life that fosters change...
I will be going to Mozambique this coming Monday. Should be a good time and relaxing is my hope. I am still working on getting well. Pray for the children in the community that they will have peace, and pray for the volunteers that they will have strength to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
I really was happy to hug all of the children today, wanted them to feel a mother's touch and hoped that they felt the sweetness of being loved. We all need that!
6.05.2007
6.02.2007
Zambizi for Sheezy
So...I'm going to Zambia!!!
Are you Surprised? I sure am! There are so many emotions and thoughts swirling through my mind...my sick mind that just needs rest is actually very full of all sorts of things. I feel on one side that I have let WOG down, I have let Karl down, and wonder how Malawi will feel about this decision. You know I truly love pleasing other people and this is something that maybe God is trying to grow me up from. Malawi was uncertain and no plans were made. I wonder if I should have waited longer, but then I am trying to trust that God will direct me back to Malawi when the timing is right, when all parties involved feel peace about the placement, when I am ready to go. Hands directed toward Zambia, this was not my idea, but I am excited about it. When I first arrived in Africa I felt a sort of tug towards Zambia and quickly dismissed it from my mind, now here I am again and wonder if I should have been more considerate of the idea from the beginning?
I will be working on developing a Psycho-social program for the orphans in Zambia and training a few of the volunteers on how to work with the children's emotional needs. They work primarily with HBC as well as Community Schools, this is exciting for me as I am definitely a big education advocate. I also plan to travel to Congo during my time as well as the project there is in need of training and I will be close enough to just cross the border and help them out when needed. Funny, Zambia I didn't want to go to, Congo I swore I WOULDN'T go to...and now, well, look...I guess we should always be careful when telling God we won't do something huh?! I still plan on going to Malawi but the timing will just be different. I am not sure if I will go before next February or if I will go after my year commitment to Hands has been completed, I am trying not to worry about that and trust that it will happen in the right timing and God will reveal this as it comes.
I will go to Zambia on the 29th of June and we will still be driving except for this time I will be going with a couple named Robin and Salvador. We will camp in a tent along the way (Awesome) and will arrive around the fourth of July. I will still get to see Victoria Falls in Livingston and am very excited about that as well. Robin and Sal are crazy hippies and we are sure to have a blast of a time. Until then I will need to leave the country of South Africa as my Visa was only extended until the 11th of June, my father's birthday, so I will be traveling to Mozambique next weekend. When I come back into the country of South Africa I will get a new 3 month Visa so no one can chase me out! So, in the next month I will have seen South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique with Congo and Malawi still to come. Call me a regular African traveler if you will, that will be my new title. :)
We are working on grant proposals for all 9 of the Home Based Care projects out in Zambia...pray that these will be approved, it means a lot for the projects and wold be a huge blessing. I am working on writing the proposals which has been crazy as I have never done this before and know NOTHING about it so pray for me as well.
You can also pray for my health as I have not been well. A head cold or something is leaving me with stuffy everything and an attention span of an ant. I need energy and also rest. There are very few times that I really feel restful...I am not sure why and am searching my heart about this but pray that I will find some peace and rest, that whatever reason inside of me comes between me and rest will be discovered and conquered! Also, pray for companionship. I am feeling lonely without my friends and finding myself only going so far with the friends I have made around me. this has been a life-long struggle but I would really like to learn how to be vulnerable with others and really authentic.
Thanks to all of you who are keeping up with me and praying for me regularly. It is such a blessing to know that there are people out there that care, not just about my stories, but about my heart and spirit!
Are you Surprised? I sure am! There are so many emotions and thoughts swirling through my mind...my sick mind that just needs rest is actually very full of all sorts of things. I feel on one side that I have let WOG down, I have let Karl down, and wonder how Malawi will feel about this decision. You know I truly love pleasing other people and this is something that maybe God is trying to grow me up from. Malawi was uncertain and no plans were made. I wonder if I should have waited longer, but then I am trying to trust that God will direct me back to Malawi when the timing is right, when all parties involved feel peace about the placement, when I am ready to go. Hands directed toward Zambia, this was not my idea, but I am excited about it. When I first arrived in Africa I felt a sort of tug towards Zambia and quickly dismissed it from my mind, now here I am again and wonder if I should have been more considerate of the idea from the beginning?
I will be working on developing a Psycho-social program for the orphans in Zambia and training a few of the volunteers on how to work with the children's emotional needs. They work primarily with HBC as well as Community Schools, this is exciting for me as I am definitely a big education advocate. I also plan to travel to Congo during my time as well as the project there is in need of training and I will be close enough to just cross the border and help them out when needed. Funny, Zambia I didn't want to go to, Congo I swore I WOULDN'T go to...and now, well, look...I guess we should always be careful when telling God we won't do something huh?! I still plan on going to Malawi but the timing will just be different. I am not sure if I will go before next February or if I will go after my year commitment to Hands has been completed, I am trying not to worry about that and trust that it will happen in the right timing and God will reveal this as it comes.
I will go to Zambia on the 29th of June and we will still be driving except for this time I will be going with a couple named Robin and Salvador. We will camp in a tent along the way (Awesome) and will arrive around the fourth of July. I will still get to see Victoria Falls in Livingston and am very excited about that as well. Robin and Sal are crazy hippies and we are sure to have a blast of a time. Until then I will need to leave the country of South Africa as my Visa was only extended until the 11th of June, my father's birthday, so I will be traveling to Mozambique next weekend. When I come back into the country of South Africa I will get a new 3 month Visa so no one can chase me out! So, in the next month I will have seen South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique with Congo and Malawi still to come. Call me a regular African traveler if you will, that will be my new title. :)
We are working on grant proposals for all 9 of the Home Based Care projects out in Zambia...pray that these will be approved, it means a lot for the projects and wold be a huge blessing. I am working on writing the proposals which has been crazy as I have never done this before and know NOTHING about it so pray for me as well.
You can also pray for my health as I have not been well. A head cold or something is leaving me with stuffy everything and an attention span of an ant. I need energy and also rest. There are very few times that I really feel restful...I am not sure why and am searching my heart about this but pray that I will find some peace and rest, that whatever reason inside of me comes between me and rest will be discovered and conquered! Also, pray for companionship. I am feeling lonely without my friends and finding myself only going so far with the friends I have made around me. this has been a life-long struggle but I would really like to learn how to be vulnerable with others and really authentic.
Thanks to all of you who are keeping up with me and praying for me regularly. It is such a blessing to know that there are people out there that care, not just about my stories, but about my heart and spirit!
5.29.2007
A New Thing
A rush of adrenaline flowed through my body and into my hands and feet as I looked at the dirt road ahead of me. Well, maybe calling it a road is a bit of an exaggeration. The terrain in front of my eyes was about half a road and half a cliff. I clenched the steering wheel, said a quick prayer, let up on the clutch, and pressed my lead foot down on the gas…success, we made it over the cliff and the girls in the car cheered for their fearless driver, Me. I tried to believe that they actually thought I was fearless but after I would make it over another bit of dreadful terrain I would look in my rear-view mirror with a face of terror and see the girls staring at my expression with laughs in their eyes. There was no way to hide it, but the encouragement never wavered. They had decided to trust in me and, that was that, I forged ahead and decided that I was going to conquer those roads or else. The cheers kept me going. The encouragement was what I needed and in the back of my mind I knew that I was doing something for someone else, and then it was all worth it. Let me tell you, I will never back away from a 4x4 adventure again, in fact, I may ask if I can be the driver…exhilarating, that is what it was, and I think I am fit to take on just about any terrain after my first few months in Africa! Watch out world, Megan is on the road!
I went to my first Rugby game on Saturday afternoon. I actually thought the game was on Friday so I sat out by the gate of the campus for almost a good hour until Vivienne called me and said, “Megan, you’ve got it all wrong, the game is tomorrow afternoon.” I had seen her earlier in the morning while I was on a run and told her my plans. I thought she gave me a strange look but it all began to make more sense after feeling ditched as the hour passed and then receiving her call. Saturday was fabulous though. I drove in with Viv and sat with a lovely couple named Mark and Shirley Tucker. Shirley is a writer and we met at church. Her husband talks at church quite often and is also a successful franchiser with Great Clips. Pretty amazing the people you can meet if you take a chance! Oh yes, and our team won! Give me a
U – P – L – A – N – D – S…What’s that spell? UPLANDS!!!! Yeeaaahhhhh!!! I loved the feeling of high school again. I am glad to be done with it all but the competition, the rivalry, I do miss those things! I had lunch with Mark and Shirl at their home after the game; it was great. I feel that I have made South Africa a second home and I feel blessed to have been adopted by many great people!
I made Tiramisu today, we’ll be having it for dessert…it looks wonderful!
Oh yes, and the most important information of all, my destination…as you can probably tell I am still in South Africa and have not been speaking much of leaving in two days. That is because I’m not. When I first came to Africa I told God that I would go anywhere, and then I proceeded to convince myself that anywhere other than Malawi was out of the question when the questions arose in my mind. Then when I was seeking God a month or so ago about where I should go I felt that God was telling me to hold on to my vision and wait for Him, so I decided to continue walking towards Malawi, but, I prayed specifically that God would close the doors to Malawi if it wasn’t His will for me to be there. It hasn’t actually been until this past week that I began to doubt my decision for Malawi. Things began to unravel and I was struggling with feelings of worry. Mike and Lindsey have decided that now is not the time for Malawi, still no news from Malawi, waiting, waiting…why did everything seem so off? I didn’t feel confident that I was even going anymore and I needed to know what was going on. My friends were already in their countries and here I sat, only confident that God did bring me here, but everything else was a cloud. The verse that comes to mind is this one, “ See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland” How wonderful is it when we give God something we allow Him to have His way, His will can be done. Right now I don’t know where I am going, I think I will find out tomorrow…but I am excited to see that God is working. I was worried, holding onto Malawi because I was comfortable with the idea, excited to have Indian food readily available, excited to see teams from WOG coming every few months, excited to have friends with me for the first few weeks, excited for the package from my mother waiting for me there…but I gave this all to God. These things aren’t more important than God’s will and I am trusting that He has a bigger and better plan. He’s got to, He’s God.
So, today is tomorrow and I was able to see Karl this morning; it was nice. It is refreshing to see all the pastors here from the States. I feel like we should all be friends since we come from the same place and they know Karl…my childish mind still works like this!
Update on the Tiramisu: it was a little runny. Still delicious though! I think I am getting sick. I woke up to a sore throat, must be the freezing cold weather we’re having. You may not believe it, but it is TOTALLY cold here now! Wowzers!
I will be able to say with confidence by the end of the week where I am going. When I will go, that is another question but I have to believe that there is a purpose behind all of this waiting. It is cool to see how God works. His timing is not like our own. When we pray and ask Him to do something, watch out, cause He will. Sad how it's usually a shock when He starts moving. Pray for me, that I will grow closer to God during this time and that I will use the time to seek His face.
I went to my first Rugby game on Saturday afternoon. I actually thought the game was on Friday so I sat out by the gate of the campus for almost a good hour until Vivienne called me and said, “Megan, you’ve got it all wrong, the game is tomorrow afternoon.” I had seen her earlier in the morning while I was on a run and told her my plans. I thought she gave me a strange look but it all began to make more sense after feeling ditched as the hour passed and then receiving her call. Saturday was fabulous though. I drove in with Viv and sat with a lovely couple named Mark and Shirley Tucker. Shirley is a writer and we met at church. Her husband talks at church quite often and is also a successful franchiser with Great Clips. Pretty amazing the people you can meet if you take a chance! Oh yes, and our team won! Give me a
U – P – L – A – N – D – S…What’s that spell? UPLANDS!!!! Yeeaaahhhhh!!! I loved the feeling of high school again. I am glad to be done with it all but the competition, the rivalry, I do miss those things! I had lunch with Mark and Shirl at their home after the game; it was great. I feel that I have made South Africa a second home and I feel blessed to have been adopted by many great people!
I made Tiramisu today, we’ll be having it for dessert…it looks wonderful!
Oh yes, and the most important information of all, my destination…as you can probably tell I am still in South Africa and have not been speaking much of leaving in two days. That is because I’m not. When I first came to Africa I told God that I would go anywhere, and then I proceeded to convince myself that anywhere other than Malawi was out of the question when the questions arose in my mind. Then when I was seeking God a month or so ago about where I should go I felt that God was telling me to hold on to my vision and wait for Him, so I decided to continue walking towards Malawi, but, I prayed specifically that God would close the doors to Malawi if it wasn’t His will for me to be there. It hasn’t actually been until this past week that I began to doubt my decision for Malawi. Things began to unravel and I was struggling with feelings of worry. Mike and Lindsey have decided that now is not the time for Malawi, still no news from Malawi, waiting, waiting…why did everything seem so off? I didn’t feel confident that I was even going anymore and I needed to know what was going on. My friends were already in their countries and here I sat, only confident that God did bring me here, but everything else was a cloud. The verse that comes to mind is this one, “ See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland” How wonderful is it when we give God something we allow Him to have His way, His will can be done. Right now I don’t know where I am going, I think I will find out tomorrow…but I am excited to see that God is working. I was worried, holding onto Malawi because I was comfortable with the idea, excited to have Indian food readily available, excited to see teams from WOG coming every few months, excited to have friends with me for the first few weeks, excited for the package from my mother waiting for me there…but I gave this all to God. These things aren’t more important than God’s will and I am trusting that He has a bigger and better plan. He’s got to, He’s God.
So, today is tomorrow and I was able to see Karl this morning; it was nice. It is refreshing to see all the pastors here from the States. I feel like we should all be friends since we come from the same place and they know Karl…my childish mind still works like this!
Update on the Tiramisu: it was a little runny. Still delicious though! I think I am getting sick. I woke up to a sore throat, must be the freezing cold weather we’re having. You may not believe it, but it is TOTALLY cold here now! Wowzers!
I will be able to say with confidence by the end of the week where I am going. When I will go, that is another question but I have to believe that there is a purpose behind all of this waiting. It is cool to see how God works. His timing is not like our own. When we pray and ask Him to do something, watch out, cause He will. Sad how it's usually a shock when He starts moving. Pray for me, that I will grow closer to God during this time and that I will use the time to seek His face.
5.22.2007
Oh my Holy Crapper Yowza...
Sometimes when you are in Africa you can be afraid of things you never even see...well, that is not true for me. I only fear the real, or at least, now I can say that because I saw my FIRST snake the other day. I am living in a new house you know, Carly's actually. When you walk into the house there is a little cement moat type thing surrounding her house and a grate over it by the door to walk in. I was standing on the grate unlocking the door and heard Ginna gasp. I stepped back and muttered the only thing my highly education mind allowed, "oh my holy crapper Yowza...that's a snake." And there he was slithering away as my skin crawled. He was about a meter long and olive green. He was probably about a silver dollar in width and absolutely gross! I don't like snakes, at all.
I found out that a snake actually crawled through the window of our old house the other day and hid out in the dresser in Brooker and my old room. I am so thankful that happened AFTER I was already gone. I am still living in denial and choosing to believe that Malawi is completely reptile free, don't try to convince me otherwise.
Today is a sad day, I am officially alone. (I am also officially a drama queen) I came here alone, true, but Farzam was here from the start. He was my buddy, my brother, my fellow emotional basket case. We bonded, we were friends. He left me today to go to the Congo. Of course I write this as though it wasn't the plan all along and as though he actually left me, not addressing the fact that he has set out on a grand adventure that God designed for him from the beginning. I find that I make everything about myself. I'm a work in process, so I can share these things with you and I am learning to accept myself anyways. So anyways, he left, brooker has been gone for a week now, and I, well, I am still in South Africa.
I've decided to make the most of my time here in the interim between SA and Malawi so I volunteered to help out with driving for the Home Based Care project. The driver is burnt out and could use a break. MaFlo, the director of Masoyi HBC asked me to drive tomorrow and Thursday and I agreed...she hasn't seen me drive and I am sure this is why she found confidence in me. It will be an adventure to say the least. An old broken down Venture, white, driven by a girly who is used to doing everything on the right, is still learning how to shift, and has never 4x4 until she arrived in Africa. I think it will be an eye-opener and I am glad to know I won't be driving any patients around tomorrow, no need to cause any additional damage! :)
I don't know when I am going to Malawi, things are a bit up in the air and I would ask that you pray about this. I'm technically not supposed to be here. The plan was for me to be in Malawi already, but here I sit and think of that verse on how we have so many plans but the Lord's plans are the one's that prevail. It is nice to know that He has a plan, I can find some comfort in that.
I posted some more pictures as well, check the craziness out!
I found out that a snake actually crawled through the window of our old house the other day and hid out in the dresser in Brooker and my old room. I am so thankful that happened AFTER I was already gone. I am still living in denial and choosing to believe that Malawi is completely reptile free, don't try to convince me otherwise.
Today is a sad day, I am officially alone. (I am also officially a drama queen) I came here alone, true, but Farzam was here from the start. He was my buddy, my brother, my fellow emotional basket case. We bonded, we were friends. He left me today to go to the Congo. Of course I write this as though it wasn't the plan all along and as though he actually left me, not addressing the fact that he has set out on a grand adventure that God designed for him from the beginning. I find that I make everything about myself. I'm a work in process, so I can share these things with you and I am learning to accept myself anyways. So anyways, he left, brooker has been gone for a week now, and I, well, I am still in South Africa.
I've decided to make the most of my time here in the interim between SA and Malawi so I volunteered to help out with driving for the Home Based Care project. The driver is burnt out and could use a break. MaFlo, the director of Masoyi HBC asked me to drive tomorrow and Thursday and I agreed...she hasn't seen me drive and I am sure this is why she found confidence in me. It will be an adventure to say the least. An old broken down Venture, white, driven by a girly who is used to doing everything on the right, is still learning how to shift, and has never 4x4 until she arrived in Africa. I think it will be an eye-opener and I am glad to know I won't be driving any patients around tomorrow, no need to cause any additional damage! :)
I don't know when I am going to Malawi, things are a bit up in the air and I would ask that you pray about this. I'm technically not supposed to be here. The plan was for me to be in Malawi already, but here I sit and think of that verse on how we have so many plans but the Lord's plans are the one's that prevail. It is nice to know that He has a plan, I can find some comfort in that.
I posted some more pictures as well, check the craziness out!
5.18.2007
Chilling Out
Today I went to Prayer Meeting and then stopped by a lady named Vivien's house to chat a bit. She had a meeting so I stayed out on her veranda and read my bible and journaled while her dog, Jesse, chased monkeys around the yard. Back and forth, I heard their little feet scrambling over the tin roof to the other side of the house...barking...then scrambling little feeet again. It was entertaining and relaxing.
Some things I've learned about Africa: No matter how comfortable I feel, things are still not the same. We have to carry our water in to drink. There are no taps inside that I can drink from, just outside. Last week our water tasted really gross, later we heard that an "animal" died in our drinking water Jojo...we had to go to another Jojo to fill up. I poured some of our new water from the purple five gallon bucket we store our drinking water in. We have a pitcher that we dip into the bucket to use to pour...I noticed a spider floating on top. Yummm. Another thing, beds. All of the beds I have seen or slept on here are foam beds. It is a luxury to have a bed with a box spring and then a mattress on top. No, we have a wooden frame, like those at camp, and we have a thin foam mattress, like camp as well.
That's it for now...momma's on the phone. Love yoU!
Some things I've learned about Africa: No matter how comfortable I feel, things are still not the same. We have to carry our water in to drink. There are no taps inside that I can drink from, just outside. Last week our water tasted really gross, later we heard that an "animal" died in our drinking water Jojo...we had to go to another Jojo to fill up. I poured some of our new water from the purple five gallon bucket we store our drinking water in. We have a pitcher that we dip into the bucket to use to pour...I noticed a spider floating on top. Yummm. Another thing, beds. All of the beds I have seen or slept on here are foam beds. It is a luxury to have a bed with a box spring and then a mattress on top. No, we have a wooden frame, like those at camp, and we have a thin foam mattress, like camp as well.
That's it for now...momma's on the phone. Love yoU!
5.15.2007
Changes
My brooker left today, she is on her way to Mozambique...my sister is not going to be sleeping next to me anymore. That is a strange thought. She is a rock that girl, I miss her already!
Shaz (Farzam) and I also moved today. I will be staying on ASM campus for the next two weeks until I head out to Malawi. We have all been split up, my roomies are no longer my roomies, but maybe it is just good preparation for what is to come. I am now just getting ready, heart, mind, body, soul...We will be DRIVING to Malawi! I am going with a couple, Michael and Lindsey, the sweetest people! We are driving through Botswana and Zambia on our way to Malawi and I have been told that I must jump off a bridge in Livingston, so adventures await. The trip will take about a week...road trip extravaganza! I'm excited. PRay for the preparations, for safety, and all that comes between.
Thanks!
Shaz (Farzam) and I also moved today. I will be staying on ASM campus for the next two weeks until I head out to Malawi. We have all been split up, my roomies are no longer my roomies, but maybe it is just good preparation for what is to come. I am now just getting ready, heart, mind, body, soul...We will be DRIVING to Malawi! I am going with a couple, Michael and Lindsey, the sweetest people! We are driving through Botswana and Zambia on our way to Malawi and I have been told that I must jump off a bridge in Livingston, so adventures await. The trip will take about a week...road trip extravaganza! I'm excited. PRay for the preparations, for safety, and all that comes between.
Thanks!
5.13.2007
Bucket Baths are funny
Life isn't always simple. Or maybe it is simple and we love to make it complicated...either way, I miss what I used to have but am adjusting to a new way of life. Four more joined us in our little yellow house. A family of four I should say with two little ones. We are now 7 and Brooke and I were displaced from our room and now are living in Farzam's old room. He moved across from us and we are all three sharing a new bathroom. This bathroom is fabulous. It is that turquoise blue color that used to be very popular back in the 50's. We have a tub, a toilet and a sink. The tub has two separate nossels for the hot and cold water and there is no shower hook up thus, bucket baths.
Mind you, this is a new experience for me. I took bucket baths in the community, but they were in little plastic tubs only using a washcloth. I figured since I had a whole tub that things would be easier but I have found that they are actually much more complex. You see, I figured I could sit in the tub and be just fine. But this tub is a narrow one and truth be told if I were to gain a few more pounds I might struggle getting out of this tub...yes, truth be told. I also don't like the idea of sitting in a tub that four others are using, two of which are young children who have been known to not be so great in warm water if you know what I am saying. It isn't possible to Ajax the tub before each washing, especially since I am usually after Brooke, who enjoys a long shower experience, so I am left with about half an hour to get washed up, look presentable, and if possible, get some breakfast. Sooo, after about two sit down baths I decided that my comfort level was to stay standing and try to work something else out. My bucket baths consist of filling up the bottom couple inches in my narrow blue tub with warm water. I then wash my face first with the cleanest water, this requires crouching to reach the water. Then I am able to wash the rest of my body. But you can't really stand dry in a tub and use a wet bar of soap and believe that you will be accomplishing anything. This is where our small plastic bucket comes in handy. I use this to scoop water and pour it over myself. Rinse, lather, rinse, repeat.... The bathroom becomes a soaking room with water EVERYWHERE...but it is fun, and adds to the adventure of Africa and no shower. I don't really enjoy it too much, you have to think and strategize, you can't just jump in half asleep and expect the water to wake you up. You actually have to control the water yourself or nothing will get clean. If any of you have a tub I suggest you take a turn at a bucket bath, just to get a flavor of what my day to day life is like. Try it, I am sure you'll be impressed. :) I have gone back to washing my hair only every other day, I won't even go into that process.
We have power outages in Africa frequently. The other day our power was out. There was no storm, no construction...we heard the last time this happened it was because someone cut the line to sell the copper wire inside. We get to pay the price with no electricity and limited water since we have to pump water in. The night it was out we were having a Braai (BBQ) and there was about 12 of us there. We put our 8 seater table out on the back veranda and lit candles all over the house. The boys were responsible for the braai, us girls stayed inside and made salad by candlelight and talked about funny things. When all was ready we gathered outside, Brooke and I sharing a plate as well as a seat with our limited dishes and furniture. The stars were so bright and I loved the feeling of being out there. The wind did begin to blow after an hour or so and our candles were snuffed out one by one. We came inside with only three candles left. The Price family took one into their side of the house, The three of us put one candle in our bathroom and us girls brought one and placed it on our side table. I felt like Laura Engels Wilder and I loved it. Brushed my teeth in the candle light and went to bed. Africa is great. NO matter where you are you can't get too relaxed, it always reminds me of our luxuries and getting back to basics.
Mom, Happy Mothers Day. Without you I don't know where I would be. You have been the source of so much encouragement in my life and you have never given up on me. You push me to the edge, ask me to go further than I have gone before. You believe in me more than I believe in myself, more than you believe in your own self. You are my momma, my friend, and I love you very very much. Thank you for everything you've sacrificed. Thank you for your long suffering, for hanging on even when I pushed you too far. There was no mistake in God placing me in your family, in your blood, and I thank Him for giving me to you. Know that I wouldn't have had it any other way. I love you so much!
Joy!
Mind you, this is a new experience for me. I took bucket baths in the community, but they were in little plastic tubs only using a washcloth. I figured since I had a whole tub that things would be easier but I have found that they are actually much more complex. You see, I figured I could sit in the tub and be just fine. But this tub is a narrow one and truth be told if I were to gain a few more pounds I might struggle getting out of this tub...yes, truth be told. I also don't like the idea of sitting in a tub that four others are using, two of which are young children who have been known to not be so great in warm water if you know what I am saying. It isn't possible to Ajax the tub before each washing, especially since I am usually after Brooke, who enjoys a long shower experience, so I am left with about half an hour to get washed up, look presentable, and if possible, get some breakfast. Sooo, after about two sit down baths I decided that my comfort level was to stay standing and try to work something else out. My bucket baths consist of filling up the bottom couple inches in my narrow blue tub with warm water. I then wash my face first with the cleanest water, this requires crouching to reach the water. Then I am able to wash the rest of my body. But you can't really stand dry in a tub and use a wet bar of soap and believe that you will be accomplishing anything. This is where our small plastic bucket comes in handy. I use this to scoop water and pour it over myself. Rinse, lather, rinse, repeat.... The bathroom becomes a soaking room with water EVERYWHERE...but it is fun, and adds to the adventure of Africa and no shower. I don't really enjoy it too much, you have to think and strategize, you can't just jump in half asleep and expect the water to wake you up. You actually have to control the water yourself or nothing will get clean. If any of you have a tub I suggest you take a turn at a bucket bath, just to get a flavor of what my day to day life is like. Try it, I am sure you'll be impressed. :) I have gone back to washing my hair only every other day, I won't even go into that process.
We have power outages in Africa frequently. The other day our power was out. There was no storm, no construction...we heard the last time this happened it was because someone cut the line to sell the copper wire inside. We get to pay the price with no electricity and limited water since we have to pump water in. The night it was out we were having a Braai (BBQ) and there was about 12 of us there. We put our 8 seater table out on the back veranda and lit candles all over the house. The boys were responsible for the braai, us girls stayed inside and made salad by candlelight and talked about funny things. When all was ready we gathered outside, Brooke and I sharing a plate as well as a seat with our limited dishes and furniture. The stars were so bright and I loved the feeling of being out there. The wind did begin to blow after an hour or so and our candles were snuffed out one by one. We came inside with only three candles left. The Price family took one into their side of the house, The three of us put one candle in our bathroom and us girls brought one and placed it on our side table. I felt like Laura Engels Wilder and I loved it. Brushed my teeth in the candle light and went to bed. Africa is great. NO matter where you are you can't get too relaxed, it always reminds me of our luxuries and getting back to basics.
Mom, Happy Mothers Day. Without you I don't know where I would be. You have been the source of so much encouragement in my life and you have never given up on me. You push me to the edge, ask me to go further than I have gone before. You believe in me more than I believe in myself, more than you believe in your own self. You are my momma, my friend, and I love you very very much. Thank you for everything you've sacrificed. Thank you for your long suffering, for hanging on even when I pushed you too far. There was no mistake in God placing me in your family, in your blood, and I thank Him for giving me to you. Know that I wouldn't have had it any other way. I love you so much!
Joy!
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