6 Day Update

July 10, 2011

            Today the Lord really showed me the importance and beauty of pursuing a relationship with Christ as opposed to just trying to live a life for him. Like really making it personal. I have found myself craving the Lord’s thoughts instead of always trying to control and monitor my own. . . I hope that makes sense. So that has been really cool starting that journey today. I love devoting specific time for the Lord every day because I always end up blessed and energized. I really hope I stay committed to making this quiet space for myself once I get home and go to school. I have started the “Bible Before Breakfast” routine since I have been here. I will wake up whenever I wake up, sit up, stretch, reach over and take my medicine then grab my Bible and Jesus Calling and maybe even journal, write a verse on my hand each morning, and get dressed and go on my way to the kitchen to get breakfast.

            I sewed my own Bible cover today with a hand-crank Singer sewing machine and it rocks. I get to sew things with Norma’s ladies on Wednesday so it was just a little refresher course. We will work on aprons and headbands and rugs I think.

            It drizzled rain almost the whole day, continued stronger during the night, and it sounded BEAUTIFUL on the roods of these huts and the sides of the walls. Rain is wonderful at night when you are inside – not when it is winter and you are outside. We delivered fabrics to a lady names Emily not too far from Morning Star and she was just such a joy! She was Ndebele and that was all she could speak and from the first moment she spoke to me, Diamond told me she was trying to teach me Ndebele. She was so very expressive with her face and body and she was such a character to watch and be around, even though I had no clue what she was saying most of the time. When we drove up to her hut, Norma asked Diamond what the rock pile was in front of our car and he said it was Emily’s husband’s grave. That was so so sad.

            I cleaned out a nasty cut on Mason’s thumb last night before bed and it was awesome. I love that stuff.

July 9, 2011 – Wonderful Discovery

            I was feeling totally sluggish today and my muscles were aching to get out and move so I went on a run not really knowing where I was going and about 25 minutes in to the run I ended up of the bottom of the Matobo Valley and I was instantly filled with so much energy and need for adventure so I went to the nearest mountain and climbed it, only to see the huge one that I have wanted Mason to hike up with me just one mountain over. I couldn’t resist. I made it down and over to the base of the big one and figured out the safest way to go up and decided to hold out since I was by myself, but I did go up on the smaller mountain just in front of it and when I stood on the top, my heart was overflowing with joy and gratitude and awe at the sky and the land and the air and feeling of being up there looking out. I needed that feeling of fulfillment and sight of such beauty so badly and for the sky to be as magnificent as it was for being such a rainy day, it was a great blessing. Only problem was getting lost on the way back.. I found a creek, found the creek again, got stabbed in thorn bush central all over my legs by the spear grass, found a boy (nickname Louie) who walked me almost all the way back to Morning Star, then watched the end of the Rugby finals. Those guys are HUGE.

July 8, 2011

            Today marks 1 month until Mason and I fly out of Johannesburg to come home. 31 days.

            The horses came back today for breakfast.

            Had a great conversation with Mason this afternoon.

            Finished 1 more book for Chris. 6 more to go.

            Freezing cold weather with some drizzly rain, but DAZZLING sunsets still.

            Great quiet time being completely honest with God and being blessed through my brokenness in return.

            Made muffins.

            Planned next week.

            Struggling with feeling like I am wasting time here – I really want to get back to the clinic and just spend time with the people here, even if it is only for the 3 minutes they are sitting in front of me. I would just love some more interaction because always doing behind-the-scenes work can feel a little unproductive and not influential.

July 7, 2011

            Today I felt sick all day long. It stunk. But, I as able to sit in on Norma’s sewing group today and I am so excited to get to help those ladies next Wednesday at their next gathering. I loved sitting and listening to them talk and interact and work on what they do best and trying to make a living for themselves and their families. It was lovely.

            Also, the horses escaped out of the paddock last night and Diamond and Mason were out in the truck looking for them for an hour and a half while Norma and I went on a walk to follow their tracks and see which direction they might have headed in. We also walked the paddock to see where they escaped and tied the fence back up with some rope. Silly horses. Tawny is to blame EASILY.

            Norma told me the schedule for the next few weeks and it is going to be jam-packed starting next week. Whoo! Mason and I are going to hold down the fort at the farm while Chris and Norma go and meet up with and bring back a couple coming in to town next weekend so we’re trying to figure out what we can occupy ourselves with for 3 days… probably explore all the rocks and mountains around and make jello for every meal.

July 6, 2011 – Clinic Day #1

            So today I got to help out in the med clinic near by any way I could for the first time. Patson biked me up the street from Matopo Primary to the clinic and introduced me to the nurses. There were 4 girls and 1 male and only 2 of the girls talked to me. The first female nurse that I shadowed was named Lindiwe, so thank you Father for the precious reminder of sweet Lindiwe in Mpeni from my first trip to Africa. God rest her precious soul. Opening my journal and always seeing her letter she wrote me on top made this evening’s journal entry even more special.

            I would love to be able to tell you about what went on in the clinic, but I just don’t think it would be wise for me to publicly write about it for security and governmental reasons. I don’t want to stir up any drama so please forgive me for that. It was quite an experience. But basically, I was able to do a lot of paper work and copy down lots of information to help the nurses out and they showed me around their facility. I really hope to go back there soon because I felt so at home in the medical world even though it nowhere even compared to American system. I can’t wait to be a nurse. I am so thankful for my experience and exposure.

July 5, 2011 – Mad Props

            Today was my first day in the schools and we went to Dobi. Mr. Nguenya led his environmental workshop with some teachers and I read the 3 books I had completed vocab cards and comprehension for. I worked with Grade 2 for 2.5 hours and MAN it was tiring. They were not very responsive at all and they did not act like it. They were not very responsive at all they did not know very much English. Or atleast they did not act like it. I tried to make up some games and interactive things I could get the kids to do and they LOVED that. I had them kicking their legs around and yelling “Yippie!” and jumping and everything and it all went along with the words I was teaching them. It was great.

            The Grade 7 group was much more responsive and active but I tried to help this one boy who did not know ANYTHING it seemed like. I just felt so much compassion for him because he was so quiet and had no idea what was going on and everyone was laughing at him and could understand almost everything I was saying. It was so sad. I could never be a fair teacher – I would always be so partial to the children that struggle. Teaching is tiring and requires energy and confidence and creativity, and ALL of those traits were immediately challenged in me.

confidence and creativity, and ALL of those traits were immediately challenged in me.

            Mason and I went up on Polar Bear tonight and star gazed and it was seriously majestic. God is the best decorator ever – shout out to sweet Miss Rachel Gregory.