change my mind

It’s all in how you look at things.
Friday night I drove to Sifanzani School to pick up Danielle. The Rehmeyer family was in Mozambique and I spent the weekend with 2 of their teenagers. So as Nathaniel and I waited for Danielle to come out from her play, we decided to listen to a CD.
It was just a few minutes before the lights inside the cab of the car started to flicker and the song warbled.
Oh-oh.
My worst fear was confirmed with a turn of the key. Silence. Dead battery.
Trying not to panic I turned to Nathan for guidance. “What do we do?!!!!!!”
“Call the Rogers.”
“They’re in South Africa this weekend.”
“Then call Roger.”
Oh I felt bad. Poor Roger. He was house sitting for Kristen, who was also out of town, and I could just picture him kicked back, enjoying some American TV and the last thing he would want to do on a Friday night would be to drive into town and rescue us stranded on the side of the road.
But he came without a second thought. And when I profusely apologize he shrugged it off. “I am serving the Lord! It’s okay.” He seemed sincere, not like he was just saying it to be nice.
The next day was moving day for me. I was schedule to move a lot of things bought from Nathan and Crystal to furnish my little cottage. And Roger had been semi-assigned to help me move. He drove this giant flat bed truck and helped load up furniture and such.
“Hey Roger, do you own a TV?” Nathan asked. “Here, we just paid for 3 months on our satellite card. There are 2 ½ months left. You can have it.”
Roger stood there, not saying a word, smiling and giggling like a child on Christmas morning. He explained later that a 3-month satellite card would cost about a month salary for him. “Now I can watch the God channel …and soccer!”
Once back in the truck he said to me, “Thank you for asking me to help you move today.”
Whoa!
I’ve asked a lot of people to help me move thru the years. Not one has ever thanked me for asking them. Most of them agree begrudgingly, or at best agree because they expect I will have to return the favor in the near future.
“Do you see what I mean?” he said. “When you serve the Lord willingly, you are blessed in return. Am I am so blessed today!”
What a great attitude. Do your best with whatever situation comes your way, and trust that God sees. Roger’s attitude reminded me of this scripture: “Don’t grow weary in doing good.”

Imaginations

Last night was a creepy night, and it was all my fault. I let me imagination run away from me. The Rehmeyers brought me home after Danielle's play and I went to unlock the door to my flat. I noticed the gate next to the door was slightly open. Well, the gardener or house girl probably left it ajar on accident but I was on guard. I also noticed that the dogs hadn't excaped into the front yard.
Well then I hit the gate button and the gate would slide a few feet, stop and then open. I tried and tried and it did the same thing. Darren tried pushing pulling, nothing worked!
That's when my imagination started to run wild!
some one has been watching the house...they know the rodgers are out of town...they've been messing with the gate so I'll have to leave it open...they've been in the back yard already and have poisoned the dogs...
It freaked me out. But then the gate closed, I checked my loft to find no boogey men and went to sleep.
I hate when I do that.

American the Beautiful

I was window shopping in Mbabane today. I stopped into a linens shop to look at the bedding. A salesman approached me knowing I’m American.
“Sawubona” I greeted him. (Of course everyone knows that word.)
“Yebo. Ujani?”
“Ngiyaphile”
He was impressed. I guess most Americans don’t learn all the way to ngiyaphile.
“blah blah blah, click click on-and-on in SiSwati.”
Yikes!!!!
“I don’t know beyond ‘Ngiyaphile’. I’m sorry”
Could I be any more uni-language deficient? I ought to just have a t-shirt made with a big American flag and the words, “My SiSwati done run out.”

The power of Prayer

Pray about all things.
I’m good about praying about big things,- crisis, sickness, money issues. I’ve got that covered.
But since I’ve been here, I’m feeling I should pray about even the tiny things, the silly things, the This- can’t- possibly- make- a- difference- to- God things.
And I’m hearing his voice in a very different way.
For example, last Friday I woke up with perfect hair. I mean it looked great.
“You don’t have to wash it today” I heard.
But I guess it wasn’t registering that I was “hearing” it.
“hmm…I’ll wash it anyway and redo it. I don’t want it to get greasy later.”
So I go in the shower and about 2 minutes into it, the hot water cut out and the pressure dropped.( I found out some days are “shower days” and everyone in the town is using water. So those are the days you shower early or not at all) I had to rinse my hair in freezing cold water. Brr! After I got out of the shower I found out Susan was leaving in a matter of minutes and left the house with random clothes, and a pony-tail.
I should have listened to the small voice.
Then today I dilly-dallied around and got to the shower around 7. No pressure, not hot water.
Sigh. I put my hair up and started preparing to wash up in the sink.
“Ask me.”
Huh. Okay. What would it hurt? “Jesus, can I wash in the shower today?” I tried again and it was on! I jumped in quickly and soaped up and rinsed. “Can I shampoo my hair too?” (I wasn’t going to make that mistake twice.) and felt a definite “yes”
And the water lasted! Yea
But best of all was the Potter’s Wheel. That’s a little coffee shop near out office. Nothing like starbucks but it’s cozy and cute and they have decent coffee and little hot sandwiches for lunch. Well two days ago Queeneth told me they were closing!
But I just got here!
So I started praying. I know that sounds dumb, but I was sad about it.
Today I went to get a cup of coffee and asked the girl, “I heard you were closing?”
“Yes, we closed yesterday and opened today”
“No, you are closing down.”
“No. We opened under new management today.”
“So I can still come here any day and get coffee whenever I want?”
“Yes madam.”
Prayer works. Even with small things
Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done…” Phillipians 4:6

granidilla= guava

So I wrote that I was trying new flavors of foods. Well I bought some granidilla yoghurt. (Yes, that is yoghurt with an H.)
When I opened it, it was full of seeds! No, not candy seeds, or fun-fetti seeds, but real, honest to goodness seeds. They look like tiny watermelon seeds and there were dozens of them through my yoghurt.
Are you suppose to eat them?
Won’t that give you a belly ache?

Day 10 (sorry it's late, my internet has been down)

Hmmm. What has happened lately?
I have walked on a lot of footpaths, here and there, in the hot sun. I think I’m becoming African. I asked Treasure, one of my teachers, to teach me to carry things on my head. But she just laughed. “In six months, I’ll teach you. You will be African then.” :0)
I’ve also ridden a kombi. No not our children’s Cup kombi, but a real honest to goodness public transportation kombi. Not sure how safe that might have been but I prayed about it and felt at peace before I went to the bus rank. That, and I was with Queeneth. I don’t think anyone would want to mess with her. :0) It was hot and smelly but overall an uneventful trip.
Although the Manzini bus rank is supposed to be sketchy, I thought it was kind of neat with all of the vendors and such there. And you simply look for a kombi with “Mbabane” on that back and that means they are driving to Mbabane. So you get in and sit down and they drive you. Pretty simple.
I also had the opportunity to see how Swazi resolve conflict. There was a problem,- well it wasn’t really a problem ,-that Queeneth and I had to work out for some teachers. But there was no shouting, demanding, or threatened law suits. They simply talked very submissively saying, “Well sister, this is what I suggest to you…” or “Do you see why this is a problem for me…”
I asked Queeneth why we had to drive all the way to Manzini and then walk around to solve the problem. Why couldn’t we just call and settle it?
“No. That’s not good. That’s not the way we do it. On the phone you can lie. But if I see you eye to eye, you can’t lie to me. And can you imagine how much money you would spend. You could go around and around and never solve anything.”
Interesting

Swazilocks

Can you see her? She's the one in the middle! I told you, she's happy, healthy and hairless.
Yea for Swazilocks!
Pam, I bet you didnt' even recognize your sweet girl.

you're mean!!

The rehmeyers have 2 dog and have just adopted a puppy from a family who has had to move suddenly. But one of their dogs is pregnant as well. So Daren R, and Nathie are here in the office looking up recipes for dog online!!!!
Sick and cruel.
So, not funny!

So, not PC

It's official
I'm not an idiot.
To obtain my work permitt I had to go to a honest to goodness real doctor and have verified that I'm not deaf, dumb, blind, epileptic, or an idiot.
You can't make this stuff up.
The doctor asked me if I had any chronic problems, medications, or a baby in my stomach....hmmmm I sure hope he meant my uterus.
If he's a doctor and think babies are in your stomach, maybe he's the id-... I won't go there.

Faith in Action

I heard a great sermon this morning. It began with the understanding that in the Hebrew culture and language, belief and obedience are one and the same.
Jesus replied, “My mother and brothers are all those who hear the message of God, and obey it.”
-Luke 8:12
He replied, “Even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”
-Luke 11:28
That’s very different from the American thinking. We try to believe things with our brains, and stop there.
I remember in Brazil, Betty McKinney talked about Americans having “uh-huh” faith
Do you believe in Jesus?
Uh-huh
Do you believe he is the Son of God?
Uh-huh
Have you asked him to forgive your sins?
Uh-huh
Good! You’re saved!... and they move on to the next. But…
“Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord’, but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven.”
-Matthew 7:21

Now of course, we are not saved by our actions, but within the context of scripture we see that action is the natural result of our belief. When we truly believe, we act as though we believe!
A very simple example I thought of was my childhood belief in Santa. I believed in Santa…so I behaved as though I believed in Santa. I was very good all December long, knowing that he was watching (although Jan 1st saw a whole new Christy.) I wrote him letters, I put out cookies and milk, I slept on the couch on Christmas Eve, - my actions were a direct result of my belief. I didn’t have to tell anyone I believed in Santa, you could see it with your own two eyes.
Get it?
Of course, James put it best:
Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone…Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all- it is dead and useless…Do you still think it’s enough just to believe that there is one God? Well even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror...”
-James 2:14
But there are more examples too:
Then Jesus told him, “Go back home, your son will live!” And the man believed Jesus’ words and started home.
-John 4:50
“You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
-John 8:31
“Didn’t I tell you that you will see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside…
-John 11:40
Just a tidbit but you get the point.
Go out today. Do what you believe! :0)

Day 8

Can you see the beautiful scenery of this carepoint? Everywhere you go you see big beautiful mountains!
I’m loving it here. Sure there are things that are different and strange, but I am having my great adventure!
Electricity and internet are fickle. They just kinda work when they want to. So far it hasn’t been too big of an inconvience. But the internet is soooo slow it makes me want to cry. Pictures are very hard to load onto blogger, so check back every few days to see if any are up there.
I’ve also started driving that past five days. Teresa has an automatic, so I’ve been practicing getting from here to there with her guidance. It’s going well, I think. She’s still riding with me, so she must think so too.
It’s tricky at first being on the opposite side of the car and road. And every time I try to turn right into a parking lot I feel this urge to contort around and look over my right shoulder, thinking a car will be coming up behind me. No matter that I can see oncoming traffic on the right side, just habitual instinct I guess. Sometimes I try to turn on my blinker and turn on my wipers instead.
I drove back from Manzini today, about a 25 minute drive up the mountain. The slow lane is on the left, which feels weird, you drive 120 (that’s kilometers per hour), and there are no speed limit signs (at least not where you expect them. They are all on the left instead of the right.) Oh those tricky Swazi! Some have said I am brave for trying to drive so soon. I don’t think I’m brave, it’s just a necessity of life.
Another aspect that is new is this whole concept of “Swazi-time” Americans plan meetings at 1 and they begin at 1. My 1 o’clock meeting started at 2:45. (or perhaps I should say my 13:00 meeting began at 14:45.) My 9am ride arrived at 10:15. I’ve been told that it takes 10 times longer to do anything in Swaziland. If America runs at 100, Swaziland runs at 40. So far this has proven true. It takes forever to get anything done! What can I do? I need to learn to chill out and accept it (“shaka”, as the Hawiians say.) It’s suggested that I take book where ever I go. (Hmmmm…..Maybe the internet works on Swazi-time)
I went to see my house the other day. It’s very cool, but I don’t want to post pictures of it yet, simply because it’s empty and I want to make it feel like home before I do. Remember as I was doing my fundraising, I had a budget of $4000 to furnish my house and get set up? I thought to myself, hmmmm. This will be nice. $4000 for towels, sheets, and dishes will be great. Oh no! I had no idea that houses don’t come with appliances! I kid you not y’all I had to by a refrigerator the other day! It’s super tiny and when I found that the men had delivered it to my porch, I simply slid it into the kitchen. I am lucky to have a stove in my house but need to buy a microwave, washer and dryer as well as all of the furniture.
I’ve picked out my bedroom furniture but they do delivery a bit different here. You pay for it, and they put it in a truck and drive to your house. I just haven’t had time for that yet! And I don’t exactly have an address. Charles said I need to give directions like this: “I live at Derek Hopf’s house” (Apparently my land lord is a well know architect and with this small town feel, most people would know where he lives.) Or I could say, “I stay in Fontayne, on Mseni road. There is a purple fence with a black gate.” And that will do it.
But in spite of all of the newness, I love it.
Ps- I’ve been sleeping better and no more maggots.

flavour of the month

Africa has some strange flavors; it’ll take some getting use to. I bought aqua fresh toothpaste in an orange box. I was so excited because my orange toothpaste was confiscated as a terrorist threat on the way here. (Don’t worry I won’t go off on that again) I enthusiastically opened it, squirted on my toothbrush and started brushing.
It’s not orange.
It’s menthol.
I can’t say much about that. It’s like brushing your teeth with a cough drop. But, on the good side, it cleaned my teeth and opened my sinuses.
They also have some crazy flavored chips here, -oops! Sorry, I mean crisps. They have plain and salt and vinegar, just like the states, but they also have biltong (which is like beef jerky made from different game animals,) fruit chutney (very yummy) pepperdue, and chicken & thyme.
Going to the store today was interesting; - I tried to buy all things that I would need to stock my kitchen. I took Kayla as my guide to explain everything. Very few things have a name brand that I would recognize, but I did find Coke Light (that means diet coke), Kraft Mayonnaise, Dannon Yogurt and Heinz Ketchup.
I did find Africa’s version of Splenda, spaghetti sauce, and strawberry jelly.
But there is no pudding, or corn syrup, or maple syrup. Boo.

Good Day/ Bad Day

I went all about Manzini today delivering toilet paper with Queeneth- that wasn’t in the job description. :0)
But I saw each care point and have met all of my teachers. That’ll be good when we have our teacher’s meeting on Monday. At least they’ll know who I am.
Queeneth would introduce me to the class as Auntie Christy. The children respond in unison, : “Hell-oo Aunt-ie Christy. We ah pleeeesed to meet chu.”
At one of the carepoints, Murray camp, I saw Swazilocks!!!! She’s a little girl who captured my heart last year and I showed her picture all around. While most girls have their hair shaved off, Swazilocks had long tendrils shooting out in every direction, and hence the nickname Jean gave her.
Her hair has been shaved, but I still recognized her. I was so happy to see that she is still there at the care point, happy and healthy a year later! My eyes lit up when I saw her, and her eyes lit up in response. I shot a photo of her with my cell camera, but who knows how to get that uploaded for y’all to see. Anyway for those of you who know and love her, she is well.
Afterwards I met up with Teresa and we went to RFM, the government hospital.
Oh my goodness.
I have never been to a place like this is all my life. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was old, worn, dirty, and smelly. I knew to prepare myself to go in, but it was still unbelievable. The first sight I saw as an old man (a visitor, not a patient) who is dying of AIDS. He was tall but couldn’t have weighed more that 100 lbs. He was so skinny and frail.
We visited a small carepoint girl who had been burned when her dress caught fire at home. She was in a smelly 10X 10 room with 2 other beds. Her grandmother, who is her only other living relative was sitting on a large piece of cardboard in the center of the room. Teresa explained later that a relative must stay at all times to act as an advocate for the patient, - or else they won’t receive treatment. She said that if a ‘cup kid doesn’t have someone to do that for them, and then we will pay someone to stay with them to make sure they get medical attention. Unbelievable.
Afterwards we went into the children’s ward. At first, I was caught up in the expressions of the children’s faces. They were excited to see up and giggled, and chatted a bit. One, Pepele, was reading a magazine and we would look at the pictures together and say the English words. I’d pretend to gobble up the food in the pictures and He would just laugh! Another small child was there with a broken leg (the mother said the dog had been chasing the chicken and knocked the child over. I’m sorry, that’s just too funny) and just coo-ed and laughed, and grabbed hold of my fingers to play. So sweet. I enjoyed that time with them, but again, as I left, I was appalled to see the horrible conditions that these sweet little children were in. The children with broken bones were in makeshift-traction. An ace bandage was wrapped around their wrist and elbow, and hung through an IV stand, with a fluid bag on the other side as a weight. Pepele’s steel bed had been broken and the foot the bed was held up by a plastic chair wedged under it. The walls were in need of fresh paint, - it was just pitiful!!!
It looked like a hospital I would imagine in a war-zone! But it’s not a war zone! This is just the best the government provides for its people. AGHHH! I just keep hoping that the children we serve with HIV will never have to end up there.
I ended the day as Makholweni, and tried a bit of the food. We had rice with gravy and vegetables, - yummy. Also squash which was very good,( even though I don’t like squash,) and beets,-ech! Daren and Teresa assured me they had never gotten sick from eating at the carepoint.
“Oh I’m not worried,” I said as I took another bite. “It’s all hot and fresh.”
“Oh, we’re not worried about the food… but I’m not sure how clean that spoon and plate you’re eating with are.”
Ech. I hadn’t thought about that.

You've come a long way baby!

Last time I was here I did a medical clinic with Teresa. We went to Makhoweni, and the clinic literally consisted of a long line of people at the door of Dudu’s house. Teresa stood in the door and saw each patient. I stood at a scale that we’d brought along and weighed each child. Then Teresa would diagnose each problem and shout to Darren who was acting as pharmacist in the living room. He would dispense the cough syrup, de-worming pills, bap ointment, painkillers etc. IT wasn’t fancy but I know it made a difference to those who were helped that day.
Well today I went with Teresa again to Makholweni, to the same area, where a clinic has now been built! It is bright and cheery with pale yellow walls and peach doors. The rooms are painted with butterflies and flowers! And it’s a proper clinic now, with a waiting room, and single rooms for the patients to be seen. Off to the side is a pharmacy where patients can get their medicine before leaving.
Oh it was so cool to see how things have changed for the better, and how these children are still being provided for.
Thank you Teresa, Abraham, and all of the teachers who brought the kids in need, for the ministry you do!

Culture Shock NOT A POST FOR SENSITIVE READERS

Culture shock
Two nights ago several member of the cup team sat around in an informal meeting at the Rogers’ house. Ben asked Teresa what some of her goals for the future of our medical program are.
Her response?
Child hospice.
I’ll let you think about that for a moment…


She wants a program in place where children can die with love, comfort and dignity.
Oh that still makes me want to cry.
Later in the evening, I found out how invaluable life is here in Swaziland. Charles told a story of how he’d seen 2 go-gos (grandmothers) fall out of an over-packed kumbi, and cars simply zipped past. No one stopped for them, no one seemed to notice they’d fallen out.
Ben and Susan said it’s uncommon to drive through South Africa without seeing a body on the road. Once, Ben said he’d seen, what he thought was a bag of trash in the highway. Cars zipped over it unaware or uncaring, as it was further mangled and mutilated .
It was only when he passed in his own car that he realized it was a child’s body.
Assuming that the child fell from a car and would be dead upon impact, no parent/guardian had bothered to gather the body and remove it from the highway. They simply left it.
The conversation left me confused and angry. How could a people be so uncaring? So unaffected? My dog had puppies once, and would growl and bark if you came too near. When the runt died she acted strangely for a while. If a dog knows to protect her young with simply animal instinct, shouldn’t we as humans do so much more?
But the team explained the culture of death here. Teresa says that Swazi’s here experience death greater than we could ever imagine. Swazis go to funerals for their families every weekend.
Every weekend.
It is so common to them, they begin to shut down, harden their hearts just as a means to survive.
As I talk to the Swazi here, that is beginning to make sense to me.
Sigh
This is Africa.

Fontayne

Yesterday morning I visited the Fontayne Carepoint to observe the school that we have in place there. What a great experience for me! I’d been missing the classroom a bit and this was enough to cure what was ailin’ me.
But what a culture shock! School here in Swaziland is so very different. The children sit very quietly, and only speak when prompted. When they do speak, to answer or respond to the teacher, it’s in unison. Mostly I believe this is because the students are learning English and rote answers probably reinforce words. The only time they speak independently, is to say, “Teechah, I am feeneeshed.” (So cute)
And these children were all 5-8! A few times they did start to talk a tiny bit as they were working independently, and Mary (their teacher) would say, “You are making noise!” and that was then end of it. (I think Mary would pass out to see some of the classes we have in our schools.) She said later that she thought they were very rowdy today, probably because I was there and was a new face to them. Ha!
Mary also allowed me to call the role. Ha! What a disaster! The only name I got correct was Boy-Boy. The rest were pretty bad. I’d have to sound it out (by the way, it’s the letter C that makes the click sound. Lots of names have the letter C. sigh) and then she would say it correctly so the child would recognize their own name.
What impressed me the most was the attitudes of the children. When I arrived they were a bit shy, but quick with a smile when I approached them. They were friendly, and tried to speak with me in English, (and I in my 3 SiSwati words.)
When Mary arrived they ran from the play area into the classroom and were waiting at their seats quietly before she came into the door. And at the end of the day they stacked the chairs and tables before going out to play.
As I waited for my ride back to the office, they came and sat in my lap to cuddle or talk, which Charles said, as new kids at the carepoint, many often would shy away from attention, or cringe at physical contact. Mary explained the stories behind most of the students and it was appaling. One boy is living in a family where both parents are HIV positive and his two younger siblings are positive as well. There is a pair of sisters who lost their father, and so the mother goes from man to man every few months to have a home to live it. She will often disappear leaving the girl to fend for themselves, tragically ending in sexual abuse at times. One bright little girl was abandoned by both her parents (who were step-brother and sister) leaving her to the go-go to be raised. Another girl is often left alone to care for her 3 year old sister. When she comes to school, the 3 year old has to walk herself the carepoint to eat. And it goes on and on. Each student has a heart-breaking story, but to see them at Fontayne, you would never know. For those hours they are at the carepoint, they feel safe and loved and free to be kids. :0)
This is why we do what we do.
We are ambassadors of hope

pics

this is a picture of some of our cup staff from america and swaziland. And the other is of me and Zinty. She is such a trip, I love her. She took me about downtown Mbabane yesterday and helped me find some products I needed. She also taught me how to cross a busy street, (snicker) it went something like this:
"Hmmmm. IT's about to turn red, but that's okay. WE'll go."
halfway across it did infact turn red.
"That's okay. We'll wait here."
I stood on the yellow line with cars going in either direction, sucking in my belly trying to be as skinny as possible. I explained later about the video game we all grew up with, Frogger, and how it eeriely felt like that!

Adventures in Africa Day 2

Okay, I knew the second night would be bad. The first night of jet lag you sleep for ever, the second night you wake up for no reason. SO as expected I woke up at 2am.
sigh.
But wait, it gets better. when I finally got out of bed at 6am I couldn't get a hot shower. The water was scalding, then drizzled out, then cold and then no more hot! So I showered, shivering, very quickly, and jumped out as fast as I could. I ran out to the living room in a towel to stand in front of a gas heater,- oh soo nice!!!!!!
But then I noticed what looked like lots of little leaves next to the sliding glass door. Leaves? How did they get there? (shiver shiver)
Then the leaves started to wiggles. No they weren't leaves, they were some kind of long white, maggot- type larva.
Ewww! I swept them up quickly and placed them outside, with a slight loss of apetite for my toast and PB.
Soon after I found about a dozen more. I swept them as well, but tossed them not so gently to the fence.
Soon, a dozen more. I'd loss my cool. I swept them and flung them angrily over the fence. Mumbling some ugly words under my breath.
By the time I found more, I'd had it. they weren't that gross. I left them to crawl. I have better things to do in my sleepy haze then sweep worms. I'm over it.
I ate my toast.

Home Sweet Home

I'm here and trying to settle in. My assignment this week has been to learn to survive. :0)
My first life lessons include running through the house first thing in the morning to turn on all of the space heaters to heat up the house, Keeping socks right next to the bed so I can put them on before stepping out on the cold marble floor, and I've taught myself how to roll my hair using steam rollers and a tea pot.
But the coolest thing was out meeting this morning. I know meetings aren't suppose to be fun, but I enjoyed meeting the local staff and team. Best of all was the singing, prayer, and bible teaching we had as a team. It was very reminiscent of or breakthrough group back home, and that made me smile. I've missed that group a lot, and I've been praying that I'll have a team like that here to learn with, and do life.
My prayers have been answered. :0)

my gripe

okay, I've made it here safely to Swaziland, and all of my luggage has arrived. Yeah! I've very excited abou that. and I will blog a read post with pictures and good things in a few days when I'm more coordiated and on my own computer.
so for now I have a big gripe- this whole liquids thing on the airlines
It stared last summer while we were in Brazil- liquids and such have to be limited because of terrorist threats. Okay I get it.
So when I left the other day the man at the counter told me I could take my large duffle bag as a carry-on, thus saving me the $135 for checking an extra bag! I was all for it! But I didn't consider until it was too late that my duffle had lots of gels, liquids creams, ect. So the woman took it! Most of it didnt' matter, but she took my hair goop. I tried to explain that I couldn't get it in Africa, but she had no compassion. (that set off a crying fit, but considering I also cried about my oatmeal that morning, it obviously doesn't take much these days.) I go, fly to J-burg and have to go through security to get to my Swaziland fight. Getting searched again, the second woman took more things that were from the center of my duffle bag.
So the first lady only took some of the things but obviously didn't search my bag throughly!!!!
So my point of frustration is this: If we are going to "be safe" by confiscating all liquids, then do it right! Don't just do it half way to make it appear as though you are doing your job but leaving it unfinished.
If I have my terrorist-threat hair goop taken, then I should also have my terrorist-threat suncreen taken at the same time,- not 2 flights later. Otherwise no one is really safer, just uglier.
Okay, I'll get off my soap box. But don't worry, it's been bar soap, not liquid soap.

The Hawaiian Song

Okay, this is the Hawaiian song we leaned.
Everybody sing along!


Just hang loose,
Just have fun,


Sippin' on a drink,
layin' in the sun




Don't try to fight it
it ain't no use


'Cause when you're in Hawaii,
you just hang loose

I like mine with lettuce and ta-matas...

Heines 57, french fried po-tay-tas...
Yes this is me eating a cheeseburger in Paridise
Huge pun intended

And you thought you had it bad!

These were the gas prices in Maui!
And in Honolulu, it's over $8 for a gallon of milk!
And H3 interstate, cost $15 million per mile, and took over 30 years to complete. And we thought I-40 was bad! sheesh!
So the next time you start to complain...consider the alternatives.

sigh

I learned a bit about the Hawaiian people and their faith this week. It was a little disconcerting to hear about some of the ideas of the original Christian Missionaries in the 1800's. They introduced the hand shake because the Hawiaan greeting was too provocative (they would touch noses and inhale each other's breath) they forbid the Hula (which was origionally done only by men) and they banned surfing because it was Godless.
Sigh. You know you hear a lot of stories like this about missionaries. And yes I know there are million of good stories out there, but it seems that often cultures are altered with things that are not even important. I mean surfing? Common!
That is one thing I hope never to do as I step into a missionary position,- change insignificant pieces of culture. I'd much rather be remembered like the priests who lived among the lepers of Moloka'i or the Father who painted bible stories onto the chapel wall to help the Hawaiians understand the Gospel. That that is truely makeing a difference in someone's lives.

And now you know

Did you ever wonder why Hawaii has an interstate?
I did too. What state are they connected to?
Well I learned that President Eisenhower borrowed the idea from the Germans, who use it to connect military bases, not states, like we think. And since Honolulu has 13 bases, they have H1, H2, and H3 to connect them. But don't go any further. You'll run into H-2-0.
Okay Alex, I'll take random worthless facts for $400.

Awwwww!

This just made me melt. IT's part of an email I got from a student's mom:

Thank you so much for your email and I am very excited to be put on your list for updates. Gabe will be thrilled! He was so cute last week. The boys were helping us around the yard all weekend and we gave them extra money for their help and hard work. We went to Target later and he said he wanted to buy himself some gum, but give the rest to you for the kids in Swaziland. Out of the mouth of babes.

Another student, Aidan, has become my fund raising manager. He called his g-ma and asked her to make a donation for my to go to Africa.

You know sometimes I think what I say goes in one ear and out the other. But then there are moments like these when I see they're listening.

I love those boys

Milton was wrong!

I've been listening to Paridise Lost on my MP3 player as I travel. In his classic story, John Milton depicts hell as a desert, a dried lake, the city, Pandemonium where Satan and his demon followers plot and try to twart God on this throne.
Not the case.
No, Hell is more like being awake for 24+ hours when you're on a flight to San Fransisco, and the toddler behind you is screaming and kicking your seat the entire time while his mommy dearest coos, "Don't do that. Don't do that"
And to make matters worse, your seated next to an elderly woman from Spain, who while, very sweet, makes up for her lack of English with an excess of flatulents.
That is Hell.
I'm glad to be home.

hey, lets have a contest!

Last weekend I went from NC to Baton Rouge and back. Tomorrow I'm going to Hawaii and back later, and then I'm going to Africa (not back) on the 7th.
So... guess how many hours I will be a) on a plane, or b) in an airport.
The closest guess-er gets a prize!!!!!!I dunno what it will be, but a prize is a prize

I'm go-in' to Ha-wa-ii!

nuf said.

Phew. That was close!

It was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.
After weeks on constant motion, non-stop work and STRESS I returned from Baton Rouge to pack my house, close, and go on to Michigan.
As I worked to move mountains at home, I decided I needed to get online and get my ticket. I was excited and thought it would be the bright spot of my day in the mist of letting go.
I was not surprised to find tickets available for July 7th,- after all that is my day. That's the day He picked for me to travel.
Select and Click.
I almost fainted. The price, in one week, had jumped to $3,600.
I'm not making this up.
I thought perhaps I had ordered 2 tickets by mistake.
No, there was no mistake.
I hurried to call South African Airlines, explaining the situation. But I got no sympathy from them.
What was I to do? Fist I frantically emailed my 'cup team for prayer and advice. Appearantly, the only other option I thought reasonable was to have a meltdown. I'm talking about a wailing, sobbing, stomping, pounding, kicking tantrum! I made no effort to control myself. I sat in the floor with my I Love Lucy face, and bawled. Finally pulling myself together, I attempted to put some sweaters into my suitcase. When they didn't fit, it was round 2.
I carried on for over an hour, but you know what? (The women will understand this)It felt good! It felt so good just to sit and cry and get it all out,- infact I'd just told James that's what I needed,- a good cry. He just looked at me. But for months everything has been building up in me and I just needed release! Finally I put my big girl panties on, and checked my email. My team had been praying, and offering advice when they could.
And now I have a ticket bought for only $2,300.
Done
Phew, that was close.

Good bye little house

:0(
That's me pouting. But just a little.
Today I closed on my house.
I no longer have the cutest little house in the world.
But that's okay.
I've always said, "I own, my house, it doesn't own me."
I've loved living in it every day for the past 3 years, and sincerely believe it was only by God's grace that I got to buy it in the first place.
A few weeks ago, Dennis and Tracey came and installed the ceiling fan- the last improvement project I'd wanted. And as I sat there enjoying it, I thought to myself, "Hmmm. It's done. All of the things I wanted to do are done." That's when I heard "sell it"
So I did.
And last night as I locked up for the last time, and said good-bye to my little house I felt at peace. I knew it wasn't my house anymore.
So good-bye little house. I love you and I will miss you... On to chippie cottage.

Baton Rouge!

I had a great weekend in Baton Rouge. I met some fun people, ate a LOT of food, saw the cutest children ever, and just relaxed. I haven't had that in a while, and probably won't again for another week or so.
One of the most enjoyable things was an outreach I did with Healing Place Church. We passed out tea and prayed for folks. It was crazy hot and all I could think about was watermelon, but it was a good time
One little old lady names Eloise, (92) found out I was going to Africa. She started praying for me after I prayed for her! I love it.
While the neighborhoods were really rough, there were some of the sweetest people living amongst it all. Poor yes, but gentle spirits and kind hearts. I'm glad there is a church attempting to serve their needs there. :0)

hmmmm

My very first blog post was about going to Swaziland. Cool huh? Check it out, May, 2005

Dad was wrong

SEE!!!!! It does grow on trees!!!
Whatever a man reaps, he shall sow!

Pretty Cool

Yesterday a friend came up out of the blue and apoligized for something he'd felt was wrong, even though I didn't know a thing about it.
Pretty cool.
It takes a big man to do something like that.
Humility is a good thing.

The bravest Man in Chapel Hill

This is a picture of Mike Helpingstein and his lovely wife Fran. Mike gets the award for the bravest man in chapel hill.
He (after his wife's volunteering) taught me to drive a stick!
My mom said an extra prayer for him (not me) and things seemed to go fine.
I need some practice still but if I absolutely had to do it today, I could. :0)
Now I only need to learn to drive on the wrong side of the road and I'll be ready for Swaziland. (I know we're not supposed to view other cultures as "wrong" but different. But if we drive on the right side, then they have to be on the wrong side. Right?)
And Drivers are also on the right side of the car over there. But in this case, the right- side is the wrong- side too.
Anyways, a big thanks to Mike and his patience.

That being said...

So the sale was kinda hard on me. Just a bit. (sniffle sniffle)
In spite of everything I felt yesterday, it was hard for me to watch the things go, bit by bit, one by one, to people who might not even cherish them the way I do.
I mean, the couple who bought the fan,- will they simply put it in a hot room, or will they take the time to talk into it and let it live up to it's full Darth Vadar potential?
The woman who bought my heels? Will she put them on with rolled up jeans and dance on a hard wood floor just to hear them click?
And the man who bought my tiki torches? Will he just use them for himself, or will he invite friends over to sit on the back porch, and curse the blasted things when they all realize they don't really deter mosquitos?
Maybe the things that I love so much,( even though they are just silly things) mean so much to me because of the memories they hold for me and those I love so much. And maybe I have so many things because I'm just so super blessed,- not with items, -but with people I love who I feel the need to share them with.
Maybe the Lord will bless me with some new things in Africa...and new loved ones to share them with.

I've know this day would come. I've been clinging to this lately:
And Jesus replied, "I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return, a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property..." Mark 10:29

How I'm feeling

Today was my BIG SALE. I attempted to sell every last possession. And last night as my mom, Jennifer, and I hurriedly rushed about (with the power out) to price and set up everything, I began to get this icky sinking feeling.
I HAVE SO MUCH STUFF!
I'm not one of those people you see on Oprah who horde stuff. And I'm not materialistic in any means. Yet When I saw everything I own, out of cupboards out of closets, and out of the attic and shed, it made me really upset.
Why do I have this much stuff?
I think about the people in the other countries I've visited. They dont' have 8 matching embroidered beaded placemats for Christmas dinner, and then 4 swede placemats for the fall. They dont' have so many shoes they need a show rack. They don't have a special plate to serve chips and dip in when they entertain.
Hmmm. It's not guilt I'm feeling. You know I'm not big on guilt.
But I don't like feeling like this. I don't like knowing that I have stuff, just for the sake of having stuff.
Yech.

I'm surrouded by deception!

Every person in my life is a big ol'e phoney! They lie to me! They purposefully decieve me! They sneak around behind my back! And I love them so much for it
This is how it all went down.
Joey told me a while ago she wanted to do a girl's night before I left with Jennifer and Renee. Fine
So we went to lunch at Carrburritos and then a movie. Now I'd wondered if they were going to secretly invite Heidi, but Heidi never gave me any incling to this so I figured maybe not. To be honest I was a bit hurt Heidi wasn't making an effort to say good-bye, but I figured "what ever!"
So we do the lunch and a movie and then Jennifer handed me a coupon:

To:Christy Merrill
From: Unknown
For: Dinner at Firebirds @ 6:15

Hmmmm. I thought "Great! They are taking me to dinner." But they kinda seemed clueless about what to do once we arrived at Firebirds.
"What is going on?" I thought. Then I thought again, "Did Heidi sneak into town to surprise me?"
Well sure enough, there she was. I'm not a cryer, but I did start crying I was so touched. My friends pulled a fast one on me, and I was so thrilled.
Oh, but it doesn't end there! As Heidi led me to our table, who was there but MARY!!!!!!!! I NEVER Expected her to come down. Between her national boards and wedding planning, I just didn't think it was possible for her.
So we have a nice dinner and walk around the mall a bit and then leave. Half-way to my house Heidi shout out, "Crap! Mary my car is still at Carrburitos! (they snuck there after we left) We need to go pick it up!" So we started down some back roads towards Carrboro when Mary suddenly turns into Mary Catherine's drive way.
And there waiting for me was a going away party with all of my friends and favorite people! I couldn't believe it. I still can't beleive it. And best of all they had all created a unique page about our friendship for a scrap book,- even the guys! I was so proud of them.
What a wonderful day...
But who says lightning doesn't strike twice? Monday I wen tot school and had a long sweaty day of field day activities. Snow cones, tug-of-war, dunking booths...lots of fun. but all the while, unbeknownst to me, my room parents were setting up a suprise party in our classroom complete with cake, streamers, and gifts
Sigh.
It's gonna be hard to leave peole like this behind. :0(

How true!

I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.
J. Hudson Taylor

Wow!

Awwwww. What a nice thing to say.

Here is a quote from President Bush about his funding for Africa: “Similar success stories are playing out all across the African continent where victims of HIV/AIDS are finding new reservoirs of strength and support. Villages in Africa now talk of the Lazarus effect, dying communities being brought back to life, thanks to the compassion of the American people. This is the impact that has made our emergency plan and the modern-day good Samaritans who are implementing it so effective. It's important that we continue the work we have begun.”


I know we (Americans) aren't the keepers of the world, but we are extremely blessed. And I'm glad our government is doing a bit more in this area. A while back an advisor to the someone, of the assistant to someone in the Bush administation visted Swaziland and the Children's Cup carepoints to see the work they are doing there. I'd like to think that this quote includes Children's Cup, as well as the countless other ministries and organizations in that area.

Okay, so it's not really about me...

There is so much that I never blogged about from my first trip to Africa. but now as I'm getting ready to return, I felt perhaps it's time. Lots of different things influenced my decision to return.

One was this little boy: Levi Rogers.
He's the son of Ben and Susan Rogers in Swaziland. The day before I left I visited them to say goodbye.
"Miss Christy," he asked with big puppy-dog eyes "Are you ever going to come back?"
Oh how could I resist that?
"Yes Levi,... I think I will be back ."
His little face lit up. "Good! Will you bring me some strawberry pop tarts?"

Going...going...gone!

It's called favor!
I signed a contract today! My house is selling! We're waiting on all of the technical stuff now, inspections and loan approval ect. But it's going!
My agent was surprised at how quickly it sold considering our current market in this area.
And do you know when we are closing? June 20th,- the buyer's request.
I leave for Michigan on the 21st. It could not be more perfect!
It's a God thing.

Again?

So I was sitting with Adam at Padget Station today, just sipping frappe and enjoying his company when he drops this bombshell: "Hey, did you ever meet my friend Domonique? You know she's friends with me and Leon and MK... Well she just moved to Mozambique to work with Heidi Baker in Iris Ministries... You should get in touch with her while you're there."
What?!!!!!! AGAIN this this Lord?
Iris Ministries is in Maputo, and an awesome ministry. check it out online www.irismin.org
So this will be #3...

Lord, what are you up to?

I love watching things unfold. Like a complex movie with twists and turns, and I sit in anticipation growing always more excited as the plot is revieled.
I think the Lord is up to something, I just can't figure it out yet.
Swaziland is a tiny country. No one even knows where it is. But I keep finding out about people who are going there for various reasons.
For example, after decided to go with Children's Cup, I talked to a missionary couple at my church. "Oh yeah, we were in Swaziland a while ago. Our friends do ministry there."
Yeah, turns out this couple who lives just a few miles down the road here in NC is returning soon, and will be teaching at the local bible college in Manzini. I had breakfast with them one morning at Cracker Barrel and we shared our ministry visions.
So then tonight I was at a missions meeting at newhope, and Leah turns to me and says, "Oh my friend just got back from Swaziland, and she's going to build an orphanage there..."
She's going to get us in touch with one another before I head out.
I know networking is always good,but I don't think this is just networking. What are you up to Lord? This is interesting to see how it 's all going to unfold. I can't wait.

Here's the dress

Wow! You really CAN find anything online. This is the exact dress I was imagining,- just with a wrong color belt. SO I need this dress to go with my shoes. Anyone up for an early b-day present? It's only (snicker) $360.
Now I know the description doesn't say it, but with a price tag like that, I can tell, this must be a magic dress. Or maybe it's made out of gold, or comes with a plane ticket to Africa. Yes it has to be one of those. So see it's a bargin.

All the cool kids are doing it

Okay...so Rachel found out about some payless shoes called the "rae." At first it didn't bother me. Until, she found some called "casey" for Casey. That made me crazy jealous! I want a cute shoe to be named after me!
So I started looking on line, and this is what I found...







I WANT them! How cute are they? And RED! Red is MY color. I look fabulous in red, but more fabulous in red SHOES. I'm not even a shoe kinda gal, but these are my shoes. They have my name and everything.
I need them for Africa. I do. I need them and a white strapless eyelette dress that comes just below the knee. Make it an
A-line with a red belt! I could wear them to Africa-church. Yes,- these are proper ministry shoes.

And check out "Elaine"...






What's-his-name use to buy me shoes when we were dating... Where did I put his phone number?....

Yea!

I have good days and bad days. Some days it's everything I can do to keep from crying.
Fund raising stinks.
On one hand I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. But then I think it's something everyone should do at least once in their lives. It's hard. It's humbling. And it has built my faith in God's provision more than anything else I've ever done.
It has stripped me bare,- to nothing,- and had built me up again.
I stand before God knowing there is absolutely nothing I can do. He has to do it or it won't get done.
And in spite of all of the frustration, He speaks his encouragment to me. I woke up from a nap today (big surprise huh?) About to jump out of my skin. I'm going to Swaziland! I'm so excited! I can hardly sit still!
There is nothing in the natural to cause it, but God is speaking to my heart that he is making everything fall into place.
And it's these more frequently occuring instances that assure me that it really is happening! I really am going to make it to Swaziland!

And the Award for longest friendship goes to...

Better than Bert and Ernie. Better than Oprah and Gail. Even better than Jim and Pam. Yes, me and Kristin. I got to chat with her on the phone today and no matter how long between our chats, it seems we never miss a beat.
She is my oldest friend.
21 years and counting. That's longer than most marriages.
We've been through a lot over the years.
Late night slumber parties with visits from the police.
Barbie dolls.
Puberty, make-up, pimples, crimped hair, tall bangs, guess jeans.
A 17+ years battle with cancer.
Rock band fads.
Parent's divorce
First dates, last dates, prom, graduation, college roomates from hell.
Loss of a dad.
Crazy neighbors listening to "Cat scratch fever" and crashing valentine's day dinners
Pet centpedes and riots during finals week.
Party nights ending when neither of us could quite fit the key into the whole.
Engagements, broken engagements, weddings, pregnancies, births, and deaths.
Midnight service on Christmas eve.
Jobs, jobs, and more jobs.
Laughing. Lots and lots of Laughing
750 miles of seperation.

I no longer feel like she is my friend as much as a family member now. I love her dearly. I owe a lot to her.

She is the one who convinced me to take trigonomotry in high school. She believed I was too good for Hugh Quigley, until I could believe it too. She influenced me into going to college. She sprayed my with lysol when I was sick, but also got me juice and soup. She hated Jason for me when he left, and force fed me in the days that followed. She bought me a waffle iron on my first Valentine's alone. She secretly let me borrow her boyfriend's car. She got me a Viagra t-shirt when she worked at Pfizer, and she made my dad corned beef sandwiches on new years day. She has always been a friend to me, even when I couldn't be a friend back.
I love you Kristin.

Bloodline

Check out this video:

http://mediastorm.org/0012.htm

It's called Bloodline: AIDS and Family. It made me cry, and that's unusual for me. Most media stories make me sad, or inspire me to pray, but I usually don't cry. So that says a lot

Teaching 1st grade has trained me well...

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it

In good company

I read this last night:

Then others began coming – men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented – until David was the leader of about four hundred men. 1Sam 22:2

Did you catch who was coming to David? Men with problems, debt,-those who were struggling. But he saw value in them and invested his time and energy into them. He saw their potential even in the mist of all their mess. And do you know who these men became? His Mighty Men described a few chapters later.
I remember 5 years ago when my pastor invited me to be part of a church leadership program called SALT. I was honored that he saw potential in me. While I still had some issues to work out with the LORD, I took it seriously because someone I respected as much as he was willing to take a chance on me.
As a result of this class, I am stronger in the body and a more productive leader. Probably not quite "Might Man" status, but hey…
Thanks Benji, for investing in me. I hope you feel you are getting a good return. ;0)

Happy Mother's Day

I love my mom. She's the greatest mom in the world.
I love that she accepts and supports me unconditionally, yet put boundaries on me to keep me safe.
I love that she laughs all the time at the most rediculous things,- just like me.
I love that she thinks Pizza Hut is a fancy mother's day dinner, and tries to pay for it.
I love that she raised me with the concept of grace. She always told me, "I might not love the things you do, but I will always
love you. " Ahhhh. The Gospel in action.
I love that she still gives me Easter baskets.
I love that I see so much of myself in her.

What? Me Stressed?

I've been so stressed lately. It seems everything his at once. Maybe not in reality but I feel the pressure of life pushing in on all areas.
It's so unlike me, but I've been totally high strung lately. I can almost feel the gray hairs growing. It took all of my human strength no to go off on some middle school students today. I almost snapped.
I realized this morning, after a late night without sleep, and that reaccuring anxiousness in my stomach when I awoke, that I can't go on like this. I have circles under my eyes, I'm irritable, and just always feeling like I'm behind.
Sigh.
I know I need to fight to get my peace back. Yes there are major issues looming around me. I'm selling my house, I'm selling off all of my worldly possessions, and not to mention the fact I'm severly lacking in my monthly support for Africa, which I need before I buy a quickly evaporating ticket.
Sigh
But I know those things aren't necessary to have peace. Because He is peace, not objects of events
I prayed, "Lord send me some pledges."
He sent me a check for $1,000.
Not funny Lord.
He's messing with me.
I couldn't help but laugh along with Him. I love his sense of humor.

So my friend heard for me "Be still and know that I am Lord" Psalm 46:11
Funny, that's the same verse He gave me a year ago. It spoke to me then and it still speaks to me today. It was written during the same time as 2 Chronicles, 20:12 which has always been my life verse.
The battle's on. Only it's not me who has to fight this time. :0)

WWYD? What would you do?

I watched Stranger Than Fiction last night. Thought is was a great movie,- boo to those critics.
But now I have to ask, Would you knowingly give your life so that a stranger could live?

The way it should be...

You know so much of our culture is focused on love, romance, marriage, blah, blah, blah. Okay fine. (Can you tell I was watching Oprah today? Grrrr.)
Unfortunately I'm affraid that so many women my age and younger are in love with the idea of marriage with and unrealistic view of what it will be like. They really want the wedding, not the relationship. You see it all the time (I'm guily too, so I'm not judging anyone) when engaged women are blind to the issues in themselves, their man, or relationship once the ring is on the finger. They are in love with a fantasy, the idea of being "grown-up", and what our culture deems as "okay as a person because you're not single anymore."
So here's my proposal. Every woman should save up all their money (and have their parents contribute too) to have a big fancy All-About- Me party.
Have it catered. Wear a big dress. Get a photographer, a cheesecake, and have everyone bring you crazy expensive presents. Do it when you are about 22-23, right after you graduate. Celebrate you and all the wonderful things about you. Be the center of attention, and act like a princess for a day.
Get it out of your system.
Then take all of your registered things, start your new apartment, and love life, and learn about yourself
Then wait about 10 more years... and when you a finally know enough yourself, and are a complete person, you can present that to someone else who can appreciate who you are. Then get married just the two of you, with a pastor on the beach at sunset. Sigh.
:0)

Good story, Good lesson

A successful Christian business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together. He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you."

The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued, "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today -- one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and, excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Every day, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.

Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil. He so wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick at his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right he took his empty pot to the board room.

When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed. A few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!" When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed. Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive! His name is Jim!"

Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new CEO, the others said. Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it and bring it back to me today. "But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead -- it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.

"When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive!"

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust!

If you plant goodness, you will reap friends!

If you plant humility, you will reap greatness!

If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment!

If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective!

If you plant hard work, you will reap success!

If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation!

If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest!

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.

Two thousand years ago, Paul wrote to the church at Galatia the same story but with fewer words, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Gal.
6:7)

We are grass that will wither and die, but the incorruptible seed of God's Word will live forever. Sow it daily into the life of your family! (1 Peter 1:23-25)

I Thought I'd Just Die:Embarrassing Confessions of the Mirrorly Challenged

I only had a few minutes to get to the store. I quickly threw off my workout clothes, pulled on the outfit I'd worn to work and shook my hair from it's ponytail as I rushed out of the door.
3 minutes later, I hastely plucked golden delicious apples from the stand as I noticed a fimiliar tightness around my throat.
A cold shiver ran down my spine. A subtle flip/peek confirm my worst fear.
My shirt was on backwards.
I froze, unsure of what to do. This is a major embarassment. This is much worse then the time(s) I've drug myself to work, after dressing in a sleepy stupored fog, only to realize later that my panties are on inside out.
Oh no. This is for for whole world to see.
My cute fitted tee is now a boatneck with a cute v-back.
"Don't worry Christy. Just get your bread, butter and get out quick." I say to myself
Ha. No such luck. It's the Murphy's Law of grocery stores. When ever you are in a rush (or realize you are having a slight wardrobe malfuntion) there will only be 2 lines open,-one will have someone writing a personal check, and the other will have a senior citizen paying for a cart of groceries in loose change.
I tried to act natural as I waited and checked out. I rushed through the parking lot hoping I wasn't spotted by any of my first- grade students ("Hi Miss Merrill!...Hey, why is your shirt like that?...Oh. I do that too sometimes.") Drove home.
Phew! Safe.
But I took a peek at my self in the mirrow. Hmmmm...It's actually kinda cute.
I wonder what other clothes I have would look good backwards?

Hey Baby, If you've got it, flaunt it!

And you thought you looked bad in a bikini?

My recomendation, part 2

Okay I re-read my blog from this morning about the movie, and perhaps I need a little more explanation. Some of you will watch this movie and think, "What was Christy talking about? This movie is Crazy."
1) There is some S-E-X and some gratuitous male nudity in it, which I'm not even sure why they put that in there. But I guess that's why it's gratuitous.
2) I think the reason it effected me so much was because of the concept of this (fictional) character who wanted to serve, make a difference, and have this big life adventure (sound like anyone you know) but leaves the mission hospital swept up in the seduction of money, power, noteriety. When you watch the movie, there's a line during a confrontation at the end. Amin growls something like, "You thought Africa was just a fairy tale. And you were going to come and play the part of the white man. But we are very real"
It makes me very aware of the need to keep my motives in check as I prepare to do the same thing. I definitely need to keep my heart right as I prepare to enter into another culture, to avoid ever taking on a "savior complex."
There. That's why it effected me.

My recomendation

I saw The Last King of Scotland last night. I have not been effected by a movie in this way in a while. It is truely a great movie, and Forrest Whitaker definately deserved his Oscar for his portrayal of Idi Amin, the president of Uganda during the 70's.
Warning,- it is rated R and deserves every ounce of the that rating, but 95% of it is because of horrific images that boggle the mind. I am still thinking, "Who dreams up torture like that?" You can close your eyes if you need to.
Yes it gave me weird dreams, but somehow it's still in my mind this morning and I can't stop thinking about it.
Let me know your opinion if you've seen it.

The Name Game

I know there is power in the spoken word. What we say about ourselves over and over and over again has a great effect on us. People who say, "I'm stupid," or "I'm not good enough" usually act in a way that reflects that. I know those examples are consious on their parts, but do you ever wonder about what we "unknowingly" say about ourselves and how it effects us?

For example if you speak in tongues, you are edifying yourself without knowing what you're actually saying, (in some cases). Those words have a definate meaning, but you don't really know what they are.

Today this all kinda dumped on me as I read the introduction of Ezra. "Ezra" means "help."
I thought to myself, "Some of us don't even know what our names mean, but we identify ourselves by them"
Have you ever noticed that when you find out what a friend's name means, it's very fitting! Is it because they have titled themselves by that name for all of these years? Is it a self fulfilling prophecy? (Lord, I hope not. "Sanjaya" means "victory")

My friends' (joanne and miss Jean) name means "God is gracious" and it's very fitting for both of them.
Have you ever noticed God changed people's names? Abram became Abraham, the "father of many nations." Simon became Peter the "Rock" Jacob became Isreal "One who struggles with God."
For years I unknowingly called myself the "Famous light of Christ." Is it any wonder I'm going to serve as a missionary?

So what is your name, and what does it mean? Does it fit? Do you want to change it now? hee hee.

The gig is up!

My mom finally read my blog. This was her response:

O.K. YOUNG LADY YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE...................

HOW'S THE BELLY RING ??????????????

AS FOREST GUMP SAYS "THATS ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY ABOUT THAT"...............

MOM

I knew she hadn't read it because i saw her twice this weekend and she never mentioned it. And I wasn't about to mention it!

All Aboard!

Yea! My church is getting on board.
Thanks Shanna, for all of your hard work and pushing, pushing, pushing.

Cool sight

Okay, so Shanna Ten Clay tipped me off to this web page, Follow the Rabbi. Just click over there in my links.
It's addicting. Be warned.
But it is so awesome. I could just read for hours. It is so relevent and explains the cultural atmosphere of biblical times, and the significance of Jesus's words, actions, choices, ect. It's so cool, I just had to share.

That's Children's Cup!

I read this the other day:
"Master," Simon replied, "We worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, we'll try again." And this time their nets were so full they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge on sinking. Luke 5:5-7

When I read it, the words almost popped off the page at me. "That's Children's Cup!!!" With their obedience, they have an abundance of work to do. They have been praying for God to send more partners and helpers to do the work God has given them. But not only are the new partners sharing the work load, but they are also sharing the blessings!
Are you being called off of the shores?

Caught ya!!!!!

Look at this little rascal! My bed was perfectly made. He just lay there unashamed, and let me take his picture.

Tyler, Ernesto, and $300 bucks

This is my roomate for the next week, Tyler. He's such a sweetie.
And he is sitting on my new carpet!

As you might know I've needed new carpet in the bedrooms for a while. The old carpeting was worn, dirty and pet stained. Well, I tried to get some last fall, and Lowes was going to charge me $1,200 for my two tiny bedrooms! That's crazy. No, wait, that's right, it was on sale. I was going to get the bargain price of $900. Home depot couldn't offer me a much better deal.
But I couldn't justify it. No matter how much i wanted it. I could not spend that much on two tiny bits of carpet.
Well, leave it to my momma. She found the nicest man, named Ernesto, to do her carpeting. and since he did such a nice job she refered me to him.
He came this morning, and completed the job,- carpet, padding, and labor for $300! Now that's more like it!
If any of you are looking for some carpeting, let me know, I'll give you his #.
It smells like new carpet in my house now. :0)
It's pretty, clean, and free of pet stains.
Did you hear me Tyler? Free of pet stains!

Belly blues

"No one said it would be easy. But no one said it'd be this hard"
Oh sing it Sheryl Crow.
After longing for 13 years I got my belly button ring. And I love it, don't get me wrong. But I had no idea it would be so high maintanance. I'm not a high maintanance kinda gal. I thought it would be like getting my ears pierced.
Twist twice and add some solution. Done
Nope. I was very niave.
First you have to wash it with dial soap. No biggie. Then you have to soak it twice a day in sea salt water. Yes sea salt. Imagine the physical act. I have to fill a tiny tupperware of salt water, then hang my belly forward and press it real hard and then bend way far back and try to balance and lie down on the couch without spilling it out of the tupperware. This has meant farwell to the snooze alarm so I can have the extra time for this sanitary routine.
No peroxides allowed
No ointment allowed.
And all of this might be worth it if it worked. But appearantly it is still the general expectation that my piercing will get an infection at some point in the next 2 months. Yes, I said 2 months. I've yet to talk to anyone who hasn't gotten an infection. In fact the official care guide from the tattoo parlor says, that the piercing needs to be de-crusted regularly, and the bar must stay inserted at all cost, to let it seep.
Ewwwwww.
No one ever told me that part.
Is it all worth it? I don't know. But what's done is done and I'm not about to undo it. So I guess this is a ow-y icky course in perserverance.