On Saturday, Patrick organized a youth service day for 5 of our carepoints. I went with my Moneni teens to a local homestead, where Grace Musa and her older sister, Kare Dlamini live. Both are widows and had lost children to HIV.
The women said they use to sell cans to earn a bit of money, but not the man who use to buy from them no longer is around. So their idea was to enlarge one of their small rooms and rent it out.




My teens got on it, and within 3 hours, the boys had knocked down the wall on the back side, extended the walls and added the roofing.

The girls helped to clean the other rooms, washed the dishes, and cooked a wonderful chicken and vegetable soup for the women.
I was so blessed to witness this. The women were tearful and continue to thank God for providing for them. They smiled, giggled, clapped, and cheered.
And when it was all said and done they prayed for us.
Ironic. We had come to bless them, and yet they were such a blessing to us.

My new gogo

This is a picture of me and Make Dlamini. You can’t see it but she was wearing a shirt from Michigan. Actually it says, “I did it with the drivers of the Michigan Speedway.” Not really sure what “it” was implying, but it was funny to see such an old gogo wearing it. I had a teen tell her in Siswati that I was from Michigan. She was so cute. She started calling herself Gogo Michigan.
We shot these pictures so we could take them to her later. I don’t think she’d ever seen a digital camera before. As I was sitting with her, I looked over at the boys building. I held up my camera and took a quick shot. When the image appeared on the screen, Make Dlamini started squealing and pointing. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
I took a quick picture of her to show her. She laughed and laughed! It was the cutest thing, Oh, what that little gogo must have been thinking!

Easter Quote

My first trip to Swaziland was for Easter in April 'o6. These were 2 cool quotes I read on the long flight over:

"Do not abandon yourselves to dispair. We are the Easter people, and hallelujah is our song!"
Pope John Paul II

"African Easter has a human face, because Africa knows what suffering is. Suffering unifies. Hardship, poverty, illness, unemployment,- all these evils are shared with fellow Christians, the ancestors, the suffering Christ..." Professor Du Tout.

Practice makes perfect!

...So today I practiced loving people. There is a little crippled beggar woman who I always pass in town. I've tried talking with her before but her english is as bad as my siswati. So many times I will just smile, wave, sometimes buy her KFC (the ultimate act of love) or a cold drink.
WEll today I went again to visit her, and sat and talked with her a while. She had a Zulu bible she was reading, as well as some picutres of herself from 1980. I told her in Siswati that Jesus loves her, and she just smiled her big toothless smile! We talked for a while, she in siswati, and I in english and neither knew what the other was saying, but it was nice, just sitting on the grass in the warm sun with Make Elizabeth Vilekate...
What a unique friendship, but I enjoy her.

Who ever you are...

Someone anonymously put $ into my Children Cup account.
With rising prices this side I need it.
I spent more on gas in the first 2 weeks of March than I did all of Feb, or Jan.
So who ever you are, Anonymous, thank you.
You have been such a blessing in time of need!
(I figure if you are giving $, you must read my blog!)

Protection

I'd been here 8 months and hadn't been called to fast.
Even when lots of others were, it just wasn't there.
that was strange for me, since I use to fast often. (maybe that's why I've put on a few kilos.)
So Monday I woke up and heard it.
Fast
Okay. Don't know why, but okay.
Ben met me at the door of the office later
"Ah...Christy there is kinda an issue in Manzini. I guess the Kumbi drivers are striking along with the textile workers. They are rioting. We might need to reconsider the teacher's meeting. But call Daren, he's in Manzini. Let's here what he thinks..."
"I'd stay out of downtown if I was you. And avoid the intersection at RFM. But I don't know how you'll get Zakhele and Ngwane Park carepoints then. Don't have the drivers use the kumbis. They seem to be attacking just kumbis." Darren advised me. But it's your call."
"Darran, if I was Teresea, (his wife)what would you advise her to do?"
"Oh, I've already told her not to come this way."
Enough said.
Meeting Canceled.
IT's not worth having lots of staff, missionaries, and teachers going here and there in Manzini, even in cars. The less we had in Manzini the better chances we had to keep every one safe and happy. While the problem was still in the center of town, I had no idea if it would shift or trouble would break out in other places.
I called a family who I knew had driven their kumbi into manzini, to give them a head up.
"We'll just come back the same way we came,- via the bypass. We had no trouble that way." Randy said
I headed down that way myself with a few others to attend a meeting in the outskirts of Manzini. We then took the bypass to a second carepoint, and back to Mbabane.
While we saw nothing more than a mob in the far distance, and lots and lots of stranded people waiting for rides that would never come, I had an awareness of an underlying spiritual icky-ness (is that a term?).
I was so grateful I was fasting.
The whole day went without incident.
Then yesterday I spoke with a friend, the kumbi family. But had had some scary moments in the mix of all of this. The family encountered an angry mob on the bypass on the way home, about the same time we were traveling to and fro.
I have no idea how we missed it.
No, I do know. And I'm thankful for all of our protection.

just because I can

Who else has a job description that includes going on African safari?.... No one?... well then I win!

Happy 400th Blog!

So I"ve published 400 posts in less than 3 years! who would have thought I have that much stuff to say.
Who would have thought so many people wanted to read what I had to say.
So any way, to celebrate, go to the side, click randomly in teh archives, and read some of the early stuff! It was good!
Here's to the next 400!

I take it back!

I've been complaining about the heat here, and now we had a cyclone off the coast of Mozambique, which just sent a ton of cold and rain our way.
Now I remember what winter was like here.
Maybe I should just keep the heat.
This morning I was so cold I ran a hot shower, but didn't want to take off my clothes to get in! The pj's- I was okay,- but the idea of taking off my socks and standing on the cold tile was too much! I honestly thought to myself, 'Can I just take a shower with my socks on?'
The thingy on my computer says it's 16 degrees Celcius. I don't know how much that is. But I know 32 is really hot. So I guess it's 1/2 of hot.
Our office staff is completely pitiful dousing ourselves in hot tea, and huddling next to space heaters.
whine whine

Very Grrrr!

okay, so I just haven't felt like blogging.
I'm grumpy. I'm frustrated. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired!I still feel like I'm running through jello.
After 8 months!!!!!
Nothing is ever easy here!
nothing!
nothing!!!!
I should be able to get new tires without driving to an unknown city in a different country.
I should be able to go to the store and buy the product that I bought there last week.
I should be paying $8.50R for one stinkin liter of gas!
I should be able to eat at a restaurant without a nicely dressed, well groomed, someone asking me for money because I'm white.
I should be able to make a suggestion for a small change without teachers vommiting out an impulsive "No!"
Grrrrr!
Very Grrrrr!
But I"m so thankful for my Susan who is willing to come for tea, talk me off the ledge, and pry the return ticket out of my fingers. :0)
thanks girl!

Michael!

This is Micheal. He came recently as a one man team to share his testimony about how God has moved in his life. As a person living with HIV, he had so much encouragment to share with our cooks, teachers, and staff.
The effect he had on them was just amazing! He broke so many stereotypes/lies that people hold here. 1) he's white! and many people here beleive white don't get HIV, or that sex with a white person will cure HIV.
2) he's tall and strapping! Most of the time, being HIV+ is associated with being thin, gaunt, weak, and sickly.
3) HIV is always to be kept as a secret to avoid discrimination, or score. But he spoke openly and honestly with all of them, answering their questions, and even their disbelief.
Thanks Michael for the wonderful things you've done this side! God bless

cravings

You all know my friend Lauren is pregnant.
I think her hormones are having an effect on me. Whenever we hang out too long I start having crazy strange cravings.
First it was a baked potato with butter…and honey.
Then it was a banana.
A mashed up banana.
A mashed up banana smooshed on top of a strawberry pop tart.
I absolutely had to have them, and had to have them that way.
Each time I was so overwhelmingly satisfied when I ate them.
No. I should say, devoured them.
Cheeks puffed, lips pursed, eyes fluttering upward,…”Mmmmmmmm.”
And then I was fine. Craving gone.
Isn’t that weird?
Is there any scientific basis for this, or am I going mad?

Swazi lessons

I’ve been taking Siswati lessons. Today we learned how to ask names and respond:
What is your name?: Ngu bani ligama lakho?
My name is: Ligama lami ngu.
Wait…Ligama lami ngu… that sounds like a sorority or something.
Swazi girl #1: Oh…my…gah! Bheki, we should so pledge Theta Delta Phi this year.
Swazi girl #2: Sha!...What ever! I’m like, totally pledging Ligama Lami Ngu.

Monkey see, Monkey barf

I’ve been watching more episodes of House.
I’m a junkie too.
So last night I saw this episode where one guy got sick on a plane and then everyone started getting sick too.
Lots of vomiting on this episode. Ech.
So House diagnoses the first guy with the bends, and the rest with mass hysteria. He says, “Monkey see, monkey barf.”
‘Oh that’s stupid. That’s a lame episode. That would never happen.’ I thought.
And then I went and threw up my dinner.

Not for the Squeemish!

"Come this side Christy. I want to show you something." Make Sugati opened the door to show me 80 chickens....live chickens.
Well my moneni carepoint was not the only one to be blessed in such a way! Ka Khoza also received a donation of live chickens,So by the time we arrived to deliver the toilet paper, they had already started their chicken killing party.
I'm not lying.
Some of the older children had live chickens, some were draining blood, some were pulling feathers, and all were blissfully happy!
Tomorrow they would be eating chicken to their heart delight,- such a rare treat for these children.
I'm happy they were happy, but it was too much for me! Eish, I'm too American. I just buy my already dead chickens at the Spar.

House

Okay, you all know I’m not a big tv fan. I don’t even have satalite here. I just think must shows are crap. Well, many of the missionaries have series on DVD that their family send them, and I decided to give one a shot.
So I borrowed season 3 of House, a show my friends here and at home are always talking about
OH MY GOODNESS! I’m so hooked. In less than a week I’ve watched 15 episodes! Times that by 40 minutes, and that’s a lot of tv!
But because I’m in the 3rd season, there is so much I don’t understand.
Like how did House get shot?
Does he ever have a patient die? I mean, c’mon, no one is that good!
What kind of medical insurance to these patients have? Test, test, test. What HMO covers all of that? Mine would have cut me off long before Dr House discovered the tape worm, toothpick, or removed half of my brain
When did Cameron and Chase hook up, and why was she stupid enough to end it the first time? He’s the cutest one on the show! Big blue eyes, a nice accent. Are you daft, woman?!!!!!!!!
Do Wilson and Cuddy ever get together? He’s sweet, and she needs a baby-daddy.
And when will it be springtime on the show? All of this snow is making me homesick.
Isaac and Carol have season 2 in Mozambique…so if you guys are reading this, hurry back from Brazil, and watch it so you can give it back to Patrick. I need to borrow it.

Logoba

I have been going two mornings a week to our Logoba carepoint. I absolutely love the children! They are some of the sweetest children we work with!The other day as I was leaving I made my rounds saying goodbye to everyone!
"bye-bye" waved the cooks
"Bye-bye" shouted the children on the swings, joining the chorus
"Bye-bye" waved the children on the slide
Suddenly, the door to the long drop toilet flew open, and there sat Nosipho waving frantically at me. "Bye- bye auntie! bye-bye!"
too funny!

The Big day!!!

Hey remember when we moved offices? Here's some pics from the big day. As you can see some of us worked harder than others....only kidding.
I absolutely love the new office space. It's roomy, we have an education filing cabinet, lots of bathrooms, and doors that close to block out other office noise.
I'm officeally happy!

My words of wisdom:

Life is short...burn the candle

New Natalie, New Jacci, and the Returned Rogers women, susan, Kayla, and little Trinity.

Oh my!!!!

If you have quality health care in your country, thank God!
I've told you about the health care here in Swaziland. It's a bit scary.
But this story is just to funny not to share.
My friend Lauren is pregnant. A few weeks ago she arranged to have a scan done here in swaziland,- not at some random nasty hospital, but a nice, qualified, respectable clinic.
So there she sits, with the doctor doing the scan, and on the screen is her uterus, with a obvious mass, with a beating heart.
The doctor says to her, "This might be the baby here," pointing to the heart beating mass, "...but I can't confirm it."
My mouth was hanging open when she told me the story.
"What else does he think is living in your uterus? ...a Frog?"

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I’ve gotten Christmas presents!!!!! I’ve gotten Starbucks coffee from Brandi, (as well as a musical Christmas card) and then I got a whole box of goodies from my nieces! They choose nail polishes, candles, as well as a bag of m&m’s! Yeah! I love Christmas, even if it is in February.
It’s funny, but the US post office always tells people it will take 2 weeks to get a package to Africa. And I guess technically it’s true. It will get to Africa in 2 weeks,- if they send it to Africa. Often they read “Swaziland” as “Switzerland” and mail it to Europe first. Then it comes to Africa.
Then it goes to South Africa first, and then in to Swaziland. And of course it has to go through customs. And rumor has it that the customs worker in Mbabane is just flat out lazy. So packages will sit there forever. You know I’ve gotten 3 packages in the same day, even though they were mailed weeks apart from one another. I have a hard time believing they all just show up on the same day!
So for 2008, start thinking of cards and boxes in October! Ha ha

Sibebe Rock

We hiked up Sibebe rock a few weekends ago. Sibebe is the second largest granite surface in the world. It was a great afternoon and the hike, while steep at points, was mostly rolling hills with wild flowers. Here are some pics of me and British Emma at the top, as well as all of us taking a rest.

Blog overload!

I'm well, adn full of ideas! I'm posting lots of blogs, so be sure to scroll down. A few pics are mixed in there, and lots of rambling as always!
love you all readers! I'm glad to be back!

I can't wait

My home church is sending a team in June. I’m soooo geeked!
Joey just sent me the final confirmed list: Joey, Molly, Sarah, Tenea, Marissa, …And Jennifer!!!!!!!!
Yea Jennifer! That was such an unexpected surprise!
She and I were roommates in NC.
We also went to Brazil together in 2006.
Now we get to be in Africa together in 2008! Yea Jennifer!

Good luck Mary!

One of my strongest teachers has left us.
I’m sad to see her go, but I am so happy for her.
She is getting the chance to continue her schooling.
I truly feel this is a blessing from God for her.
When she was given the chance to take Pastor Ron’s Bible class for credits, she jumped at it! She didn’t have the attitude, “Oh I’ll study hard when I have the chance to go to university…” But she jumped in with both feet and encouraged other teachers to take the opportunity to better themselves as well. She studied hard, and always had her assignments completed on time. She paid her fees faithfully.
And now God has given her the chance to continue to bigger and better.
She has been faithful with the little things, and now God is giving her the chance to be faithful with more.
Bless you Mary. I will miss you, but am so happy for you!

funny/ sad

Funny conversations I’ve had with Swazis”
“I want to go to America someday. I will have to learn to eat your food. I know Americans like to eat crab.”
“Oh yes.” I said. “You should go to New York City, and eat pizza and hot dogs.”
“Dogs?????!!!!!!”

“How long will this team of American women be here in Swaziland?”
“10 days.”
“10 days?! Oh Christy, that is too long! They will go home and find their husband has taken a 2nd wife!”

“Hey ladies, I was listening to a report on the radio about the country that has the highest education system in the world. Can you guess what country it’s in?”
“Swaziland?”
“nope.”
“The United States?”
“Nope. Guess again. I’ll give you a hint,-it’s in Europe.”
“…Mexico?”

“I don’t like teen agers, they’re too wild. But I love little kids. They are so cute, they are just like wheel barrels.”
“Wheel barrels?”
“Yes, you just put them there. And when you come back they are still sitting there waiting for you.”

Sad conversations I’ve had with Swazis:
“You know Christy, this HIV is a real problem. And the men… you might be married and your husband will go and get another wife in secret. Or maybe he has a girlfriend. You won’t know.
If your husband doesn’t come home one night, - you don’t ask. A good Swazi wife can never ask where he has been… I go every year to get tested. I want to know.”


“Yes, Christy, it’s true. If a man doesn’t come home, you can’t ask. If the man wants to come home to you and dish, then you just serve him some food.
“I don’t think I would want to ask. I’d be so angry I’d want to kill him. But if you fight him about another woman he will just say, ‘Ah, why are you being so impatient. This thing will pass. You must be patient.’…
“That’s just the way Swazi men are. If you tried to leave…eish! He won’t accept it. He will just beat you severely, or maybe kill you. He won’t accept a woman leaving… I think that maybe, when I get married, I will just want to have a son. And then, after I have my son, if [my husband] wants to leave, I won’t fight him, - I’ll just let him go. He won’t have to come back. And I can have my son.”

Survivor

Okay one of the women on this team has a husband who is a cancer survivor. He wrote a book about his experience and she brought several copies for us.
Of course I was interested in checking it out and have almost finished it .
So here are a few cool quotes from Pastor Greg Carter’s book Survivor.
“If we understand that we cannot live on yesterday’s food and water, why do we think we can live on yesterday’s spiritual revelations?”
That’s great. We eat 3 times a day. We constantly are drinking something. So why are we content to read the bible once a week, if that?
“The bible tells us we are not to be conformed to this world, shaped be outward circumstances and influences, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2) I understood the principle that the Holy Spirit speaks to our renewed born-again spirit, not our un-regenerated mind I desperately needed to quit listening to my thoughts and started listening to what the Spirit of God was telling me.”

interesting

“So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you will be punished. You singled out from all the domestic and wild animals of the whole earth to be cursed. You will grovel in the dust as long as you live, crawling along on your belly…” Gen 3:14
…Okay that that part always confused me. If it was cursed to slither on its belly, that implies it didn’t before. So what was a “serpent” like before the fall?
Well I was reading an article about evolution in National Geographic and was intrigued when it stated, “…some snakes (notably boa constrictors) carry the rudiments of a pelvis and tiny legs buried inside their sleek profiles….” (November 2004, pg20.)
Cool huh?
So often people pit science and religion against one another. Sometimes scientific discoveries can support religious ideas.

Agh!!!!!!

I feel each week that I’m running in Jello.
Can nothing go easily?
Does everything have to be met with resistance?

Part 2
A team is here from America and did a special event for our teachers. Their leader Candy shared a brief bible study about lions. There are several references to lions in the bible but there was one story that stood out.
There was a story with David where a lion took hold of one of his lambs.
He struck it with a rod to make it let go of the lamb, but then the lion turned on him!
He grabbed the lion by its beard, and then beat it to death.
That’s exactly how I’ve been feeling. I have attacked a lion to rescue a lamb and now it’s turned on me. And for months now I’ve been beating it.
It will die sooner or later, if I just persevere.

What are you doing today?

Each day for the past 2 weeks I’ve woken up and asked, “What are you doing today Lord, and can I get in on it?” (A bit of helpful advice from a Beth Moore Study)
This change in attitude has revolutionized my schedule.
Last week I’d planned to go into Manzini to observe a classroom. I’d made it all the way to Ka Khoza when my car started making a strange squeaky noise. I headed back to Mbabane. The car was a simple problem that was quickly fixed by a mechanic and that left me with an open afternoon schedule.
“Come with me to Makholweni,- you can teach the cooks today. Teresa can’t do it and had asked Jacci to, but she’s sick.” Roger said.
So that’s what I did. And it was a great experience teaching and praying with the cooks and teachers there.
Then last week I returned to talk briefly with the teachers. When I arrived I found a child had been chased from his home by his step-father. All of this boy’s belongings sat in a plastic bag, for he was told never to return again. I accompanied the boy and a teacher to the police station after calling child welfare.
I had a definite check in my spirit. “What is this boy thinking about all of this?”
I turned to his teacher and told her, “You must explain this to him so he understands. We are not bringing him here because he is bad. He has done nothing wrong.”
He accepted the situation with no worries.
When we returned there was a young woman sitting at the carepoint.
“Zandile, who is that white woman?” I asked as we drove past (I thought I knew all of the white people in Swaziland.)
I found out she’s working with AIM and had come to help Teresa in clinic, not knowing it wasn’t held there on that day.
“Oh no. How am I going to get home? I had my group drop me.” Being in Swaziland only 3 weeks the poor dear wouldn’t even know how to catch a kombi. So she rode with me to my carepoint and then I carried her back to Ezulwini when we were done that afternoon. Through it all I got to be a help to 2 someones in need, and made a new friend.
On Friday, I was delayed from visiting my carepoint by waiting at the electric company, and then an unexpected conversation with a couple at Nando’s. Then today I found out there had been quite a conflict brewing at the carepoint.
“I wanted to let you know about it, but it’s a good thing that Roger and I were there together” Jacci said. “It was intense, and neither of us knew how to handle it. So I’m just thankful we were both there.”
It’s been great to see how God will change things up when I allow him to. When I’ve let go of my daily planner, and give him room to move, he does!

cool

I was cleaning my house the other day and pulled out a bottle of ammonia cleaner. I noticed a little crown on the bottom corner of the label. It says, “Jesus is King John 3:16”
Hmm… you would never see that in America.

a "full-circle" moment

You know we all go through things. It can make us better or bitter.
I choose better.
For those of you who have been with me for a long time remember I went through a very difficult time almost 10 years ago. I had to learn to forgive the hurts and offences I suffered.
It took me a long time to learn, heal, and move beyond.
But like Joyce Meyer says, your mess can become your message.
So this year at our teacher retreat I spoke about forgiveness. I shared what I'd learned, cleared up misconceptions, showed scripture about reconciliation and the dangers of reconciling without repentance, and forgiveness.
I felt confident that I'd said what the Lord had put on my hear to share.
On monday, I got this testimony from one of the teachers who attended: (This is a summary)


It was on in the afternoon when I received a call from the cup's office
informing and inviting me to a teachers retreat. Sure I was excited about
the outing, yet little did i know much more was in store for me. Christy
had a lesson to present about forgiveness.

Well, I wondered what was she going to say that I had not heard already
about "forgiveness" for I had had quite a few lectures on that same topic,
but have not benefited much, actually I have been left with more
questions.

Anyway, God is sovereign, omnipotent, he is Jehovah Shalom. This day was
the day of my healing. I won't say much about the problem, but after 5 years I
have got the solution, plus healing to my hurting soul. The lesson came at
the right time. I just want to believe the Lord had prepared it just for
me. Above all I immediately felt the healing taking place and am still on
the process of healing and understanding "Why" this happened.

I learned that I should forgive God [for not doing things my way] forgive
my enemy and forgivem myself too. I learned that i should pray for those who
have hurt me, even if that won't bring a change, but I still must pray and
love them, for if the spirit of harted is not uprooted and replaced by
love it is imparted to the next generation. I see it's happening in my family,
but now I am praying that is be uprooted.

Spiritually, that's how this year's Teacher retreat has benefitted me. I had thought "forgiveness" must be done and the results seen immediately. But my...its a long process which needs patience and love. Thanks to you Christy.

Lastly, may I thank God again for giving Christy the courage to teach on this subject. I know from experience its very hard to teach in without tears. May the Almighty Lord Bless you and help you to continue serving him faithfully.

by Thulisili Matsenjwa

How cool is it, when we as Christians, can go through the tough times, allow God to heal us and teach us through the experience, and then allow us to help others to learn.
Oprah would be proud.

I give up

In the states we have ginger ale. In Africa it's called ginger beer. It's not quite the same but close enough if you have a craving.
So last time I was in Mozambique I was with a team at a great seafood restaraunt. I ordered Ginger beer from the waiter.
"Gingah...?"
"Beer."
"Gingah...?"
"Beer."
"Ah don understand ju madam...Gingah...?"
"Beer!...Beer!" I now see the team of Americans is watching the missionary shout 'beer' at the waiter.
"Uh... no madam. The beer we have is..."
"No! I don't want beer. I want a cold drink... in a can... It's golden color. It tastes like ginger."
"Oh! Oh yes! We have that. Here we call it ginger ale."
sigh. Okay.
So I returned to Swaziland. the other day I went to Nando's a new restaraunt in town. I ordered a ginger beer.
"A what?!!!!!!!"
"Ginger beer or maybe ginger ale."
the man scrunched up his face at me. "What?! What are you saying? A ginger...?"
I wasn't about to go through this all again.
"That...that there!" I pointed in the cooler behind him. "I see it there. In the brown can. I see it. That's what I want...that there!"
He turned and looked behind him.
"Oh. Yes, madam...we call that a 'stoney'" (the manufactor)
Oh, for the love of Pete.
I give up.
From now on, I drink Coke.

Everyone thinks life here in Africa must be soooooo hard. Like I'm really roughing it. And while some things are tough, there are actually some things that Africa does better. So I'm counting my blessings:

1: cheap fruit and veggies. In Chapel Hill I would pay$1.99-$2.99 for one stinkin' avacado. (I know y'all are feeling the pinch this superbowl season)I bought one at the store the other day and paid $2.10R. About 40 cents, and I was told I over paid. Ha! I love it. Soon the Avos on my tree will be ripe and I will have as much as I can stomach for free. Same goes with bananas, popos, mangos, and lemons. And I can tell you, you haven't lived until you've eaten fresh pineapple or mangos.

2.milk in a box I know it sounds weird, but they pretty much do it everywhere but the US. They process the milk as normal and then put it in a special light-proof box. So it can sit on a shelf in your pantry for up to 6 months. Only catch is you have to drink it within 4 days once you open it. But, it's only one liter so that's no problem. This is great because it elimiates dreaded out-of-milk delima. You can by a case of 6 liters, put it in the pantry and when you are out...just grab a new one.

3. Dry lemon- the greatest drink ever, but somehow it is disappearing. Maybe Scwepps is no longer my friend

4. Child discipline Rarely do you hear a child throughing a tantrum in public. And when you do.... trust me, it's an American Child.

5.Bostick (see previous blog) it's way better than scotch tape. Only problem is you can't wrap presents with it...or can you?

6. Animals you have squirrels in your yard. I have monkeys. Need I say more?

7. Stone houses (at least in the summer months.) they don't burn down and they keep cool in the summer. Come winter I might change my mind.

8. Christy sized everything Everything here is very small. From furniture, to tea cups, to chickens, it's just smaller. Perfect in my eyes.

9. Cereal yes you can get the old stand-bye corn flakes or rice crispies. But African cereal is nicer. It's real food. You can read the ingrediants and know every one,- oats, nuts, seeds, honey, raisins, ect. No partially-hydrodinated, high fructose enriched sawdust stuff. That's true for lots of African foods,- they don't add much sugar and they laugh at us. "Oh I don't like the way XXXX bakes, she puts in so much sugar!"

Beaded Giraffe

Sometimes we eat at the Guava . this is a picture of a beaded giraffe that the women were making to sell. They say it takes 3 women 4 weeks to complete just one giraffe. Wow!

Swazi ice skating

This is too cute! The children at my carepoint discovered that the veranda floor had recently been polished, leaving it very slippery. So they were running and sliding like an ice skating rink. The little ones were lying on their tummies and sliding about as well. they were laughing and playing for hours.

A de-shelled punkin

okay here's the pic that should have gone with the post, Good girl gone bad.
Isn't she cute? Dirty, but cute. She got rained on here, and had her window open. So now she's smelly too.
I'll febreeze her this weekend.

Hand in Hand

I just thought this was a cool picture. It was taken last December at Mlilwane game park with my graduates.

Surprises!

I love surprises!
I got a care package from my home church. It had a box of brownies inside, as well as cd's I'd ordered for myself, but had forgotten.
It also had cards, and prizes for my care point. (it also had an i-pod from a donor, but I already knew it, so it wasn't a surprise. But still very cool.)
Then I got a substantial donation that was unexpected. (Much needed right now)
Then Mary has returned from her trip to the states, bringing fabulous lip-gloss from Kristen, and pudding and microwave popcorn from Sarah!
You have no idea how blessed I feel.

Relationships

Look what I saw today.
1 Samuel 3:7 Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before.
I thought that was interesting.
Samuel had been living in the tabernacle since he was weaned. He was being raised in that setting day in and day out. His guardian was the priest, Eli.
He assisted in the tabernacle, and lived right.
People liked him, and God thought he was doing a good job (2:26)
But he did not yet know the Lord
I makes me think about people today.
How many have been raised in the church, by role-model parents (maybe even a pastor), and go through the motions of church, and live right, and do good things in God’s eyes, but still don’t know the Lord.
It’s all about relationship.
Are you trying to build a relationship with Him? I guarantee he’s trying to build one with you.

cool stuff

Press stick, or Bostick as it is often called, is the African version of Duct Tape- it can fix anything! I have found that having a package of press stick in an African home is more valuable in the long run then, say, food or electricity.
We have it in the states, but it not as widely praised. But here, it is essential.
I’ve used it to fix broken picture frames.
I’ve used it to hang pictures on my stone walls (can’t use a nail too easily)
This morning I had a very annoying problem, and once again Press stick came to the rescue.
I have a “phone” that attaches to the outside gate. So when I guest arrives they press the button and it rings, and then I can verify who it is and buzz them through. Well, something is wrong, and even with the phone hung up, I can hear this horrible feed-back ringing sound coming from the earpiece into my chippie cottage.
Agh! And it’s never ending! Even with my hearing difficulties I can hear it non stop!
So what did I do? That’s right, plug it up with press stick.
Ahhhhh! Sweet relief!
Thank you press stick inventor, for your wonderful product.

Crime and punishment

When a crime is not punished, people feel it is safe to do wrong. Ecclesiastes 8:11
You know that’s the truth. Have you ever done something you knew was wrong, but not received a consequence for it? You kinda think that you got away with it huh? But look at what I saw in Genesis:
Jacob then traveled on and camped beyond the tower of Eder. While he was there Reuben slept with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and someone told Jacob about it… Genesis 35:21
That seems a random phrase to put in there, since it was never addressed again…until Jacob’s death.
14 chapters, and at least 40 years later by my count, Jacob lies dying and begins to proclaim each inheritance for each of his 12 sons.
“Reuben, you are my oldest son, the child of my vigorous youth.
You are first on the list in rank and honor.
But you are as unruly as the waves of the sea,
and you will be first no longer.
For you slept with one of my wives;
you dishonored me in my own bed.” Genesis 49:3
Yikes! Can you imagine loosing your rights as first born because of something you did back in the ‘70’s?!!!! Man, that’s tough. The past will always come back to bite you.

how much?

okay I bought a scale after the holidays because I was feeling fat.
This is how much I weigh in Kg. Now I did the math and found out how much I weigh in pounds, and yes, I am in fact fat. However seeing it in KG, I don't feel as fat. I kinda feel like I lost weight. :0)

a good girl gone bad

Shame.
It’s another story like you’ve heard so many times before. A girl gets some kind of “make over,” she starts getting lots of new attention, and before you know it, she’s gone buck wild.
It happens here too. Take a look at this picture of my punkin:(sorry I've tried for days and it will not load. Just imagine my pretty girl)
She had her canopy taken off last week, and she looks like a whole new truck. She’s so beautiful. I told her as much, but so did a lot of others.
“Oh! That’s your truck? I didn’t even recognize her! Wow she looks great.”
It all went to her head.
Last week I spent a week in Bulimbu. It’s quite a drive out in the rual area. You need to take about 20 Km or dirt road. And by the time I returned, it had been raining for 4 days and the mountain roads were impassable.
All along the way you could see where cars, work trucks, even ambulances had been stuck in the mud.
Well, I saw a whole new side of Punkin! The girl got crazy with her new attitude!
Wheels locked into place, 4 wheel drive engaged, low gear all the way.
Mud was flyin’, passengers bouncing all over the place, fish tailin’; up one mountain road and down another.
I couldn’t believe my baby would do such a thing. She got home covered in mud, wheels caked, windshield smeared,- dirty little thing. Shame.
What am I gonna do with her?

Go white girl, go white girl, go!

What do you do when the power goes out and you can’t have the movie night that you had planned? Here in Swaziland you do each other’s hair by candle light. Yes, this is me at the teacher’s retreat in cornrows.
Go ahead you are free to laugh. I know I look ridiculous
If only I had my brown bikini I’d look just like Bo Derek.
You know Londiwe did a great job, and if I was black I’d look fine. But I’m a mlungu,- I just can’t pull it off.
But wait it gets better… check out my hair when I took them out!
Ha.




Christy’s hair, circa 1987, the year of the crimping iron. Yeah that’s pretty much how I looked through all of 5th grade.

topsy-turvy

I'm back from the teacher's retreat. It went well inspite of minor inconviences, such as no electricty, no hot water, and lots and lots of rain.
But I feel the teachers learned what they were suppose to learn, heard what they were suppose to hear, and experience what was meant for them.
I left very content
But today I am exhauseted. I am drained, and I never want to see another person, at least for a year.
I just want to pack up my things, get a ticket and go home.
I know I get like this when I'm tired. Like I toddler I get overemotional and extreme when I'm sleep deprived.
But today I just want to come home.

I'm smiling

I have a good friend here who just found she is pregnant. I’m so excited I can’t stand it. I have a few close friends who have had children, but they have always been so far away during their pregnancies. I’d see them once or twice, get some photos, and then the baby would be born. But I will be here in Africa with her during the entire pregnancy! Oh I’m so thrilled! A baby! A baby!

“I went to the doctor 4 months ago for this,- these sores here on my leg. He told to me that I am positive. Eish! I didn’t know what to do, what to say. I just go to my home, and the children were all talking. I said to them I was tired, I had a headache, I must to go lay down. But I didn’t sleep, I just thought in my head.
I told my pastor, and he said I must not be afraid. He said I had to make a choice: If I wanted to live or not. My friend went and got me the tablets. She said I must take the tablets. But…I dunno. I’m scared. I don’t want to accept this thing. It’s hard to accept. So I just have the tablets here. But I haven’t taken them yet.
I see the people at the hospitals who are on the tablets. Eish! They are weak, they are thin, thier skin is so black. So I say to my friend, ‘what must I do?’ She says to me that I must eat a lot, so I will become fat, that I won’t be so thin. So I’m eating much now.
But I have not told anyone Christy, just you. My pastor and my friend here, but now just you.”
The average American with HIV will live 11 years beyond their diagnosis. Here in Swaziland…6 months. Even though Swaziland has the highest HIV rate in the world (40% confirmed,-70% estimated) there is still so much stigma attached, family pressure, emotional burden, and sense of hopelessness.
Please pray for my friend here, that she makes the right choices, and will begin the ARVs that will help to keep her strong and healthy.

please pray

hey all, just a quick note before I head off to Maloloja for our teacher's retreat. This has been my assignment since I arrives, so I'm nervouse and excited and scared all at the same time. I just want it to go well.
We've been learning about offenses for months now and I think my teachers understand that part now. Now the finishing part, that we are studying over the retreat is about forgiveness. This will be big for them , if they get it. I mean really get it. Some of these teachers have had huge obsticles in their lives, major abuses, and rejection and neglect. I see how much it hinders the life that Christ intends for them to have. In addition, once they fully understand it for themselves, then they can pass on the knowledge and understanding to the children they work with.
Please pray that "those with eyes will see, and those with ears will hear." I want so much for them to be set free from the chains of bitterness. I think many hearts have been prepared, and now they simply need to be taught. (that's my role) Pray for me as well, my ability to teach with clarity and cultural understanding.
Overall pray that things go smoothly with the accomodations and activities ect....Just pray okay!!!!!!!
I hope to have lots of awesome things to report on thursday!

Quantum Physics can kiss my toe!

I did it!
On New Years Eve the clock struck midnight! I called Heidi on my cell phone in Oregon. It was only 2pm there.
Don't you see?!!!!!!
I was in 2008 and I was calling her way back in 2007.
I called back in time!!!!!!
I did it!
I'm a genius!!!!!!

My list

People are always asking, "What can I send you in Africa? What do you need?"
While most things I've found a suitable African substitute, there are just a few things that you can't find,- or it's just not the same. So I will update this list as needed, but for now, it's on the right!

What's in a name?

Okay I need your help. I need a name, a good name. A name for my inner-child, you know the 12 year old boy who makes me do crude things sometimes.
Like the photo of the pooping lion, that was his doing, I swear. It wasn't me.
But everything else here has a name.
My house is chippie cottage
My car is punkin
Heck, even the monkeys in my yard have a name.
So what is the name for a crude 12 year old boy? (who BTW had a very funny converstaion with Patrick about poopey diapers.)
comment please and leave your suggestion.

sad but true

“When white ladies find out they are having a baby they celebrate. We mourn. We say, ‘Ech. Another orphan.’”
The others laughed at its reality.

Funeral

I attended my first Swazi funeral today. Words cannot express all that I felt.
Waking up, still cloaked in darkness, we drove out to Siphoceseni to arrive at Gugu’s homestead and bury her sister at 5:30 am. We stood on the hillside opposite the mountains and the rising sun. There was something sacred about that time.
There was no sterile funeral home with organ music and folding chairs, but Swazi church members singing softly and gently dancing.
There was no row upon row of cemetery plots to bury her among strangers, but a hillside of beloved family who had gone before her.
There was something special about the morning,- a sense of returning God’s Creation back to his creation.
But there was a sense of unrest within me that followed.
I counted 20 graves on that hillside, most too fresh to have grown grass.
She was laid to rest beside her infant daughter who died just two months ago.
I saw 3 little girls at the home who were now motherless. They each had a little bundle in their arms,- all of their worldly possessions. A blanket, a few clothes, one carried a little bench.
They were being taken to their father in hope that he would take them in.
“One has a different father, but we don’t know where he is,- if he’s dead. We hope the father of the two will take her anyway. If not we don’t know where she’ll go to.”
The three smiled and waved at me, seemingly unaware of what was about to happen. They were just following Gogo’s direction to take their things to the truck.
“Thank you for coming to us today.” Uncle said to us. “I can say, no matter where you have come from, you have shared with us in our bereavement. You are Swazi now.”
But I will never be Swazi.
I will never know the pain of burying my uncle, then my mother, then my niece, then my sister.
I will never have to bury my 6 children and then 5 grandchildren.
I will never have to harden my heart against the grief just to make it through the day.
I will never be Swazi.

D'oh!!!! (slap forehead now)

I couldn’t believe I would do something so stupid!
I came home and decided to vacuum out my car. Afterwards I cleaned up, came inside and went to bed. The next morning I got ready for work and went out to see that my dome light was on inside my truck.
‘Why?’ you ask.
Because I had left the passenger side door open all night long.
Yes. 15 hours.
That shows me 2 things: First, I have a miracle battery in my car because I’m constantly leaving the lights on or something and it always started right up. Thank you Jesus!
Second, it shows me I’m no longer capable of living by myself. I mean, who leaves a door open for 15 hours? If I don’t get married soon, I need to be enrolled into some kind of assisted living program.

I resolve to...

What are your resolutions? It was suggested to me once that we should make resolutions for our friends.
Hmmmm. That might be cool. I bet no one would ever see you as needing to loose 5 pounds. (Isn’t that what we always resolve ladies?)
Instead they might make you resolve to take 30 minutes a day, just to pamper yourself. Maybe they would say that you are no longer allowed to say negative things about yourself. Maybe they’d say you need to work less, or read more, or stand up straight, or face challenges head on.
I dunno, but it seems that those who love us wish we’d worry about the things that make no difference, and begin to embrace and enhance those things that make us so lovable in the first place.

Meet the Popos

You know, I’d heard about them, but had never seen them with my own eyes.
I’d taken my laptop out onto the porch to do a bit of writing when I saw a great rustling of trees behind the pool. The trees were swaying and bending with too much force to be a bird. I tip-toed closer noticing a scurry of movement through the leaves.
Yep. They were they watching me as much as I was trying to watch them.
A family of monkeys. I counted 2 adults and several babies. I’ve affectionately named them The Popos. That’s a good monkey name huh? (‘popos’ are what they Swazi call papayas.) After all that’s why they live in our yard,- the abundance of fruit trees.
I watched them climb, eat, play. The baby was looking at me with his head cocked to one side. He kept climbing down for a closer look but always kept his distance.
Maybe I’ll write about them one day, The Adventures of the Popos.

An elephant says:

"Shhhh! Maybe if I stand behind this tree, the tourists won't see me."

Execution Rock

You would have been so proud of me.
I hiked execution rock! Yes,the whole thing, from the bottom at Mlilwane rest camp all the way up tp the very tippy top! We didn’t cheat and drive. I know this picture doesn't look like much, but we came from the other direction, and it's high!
I wore my real hiking boots, and my real hiking socks and did a real hike. The day was mild and the distance really isn’t that far, it’s just straight up. I knew if I didn’t make it to the top it would plague me. I can’t stand leaving goals unmet. So I kept trecking. Finally once I made it so far up I quit.
“I can’t do it Rajni. This is far enough. I’m happy.”
Then Nathan peeked his head down over a rock above us? “Why are you guys stopping here? You’re almost at the top. You have about 30 more yards.”
That’s it?
So I rested a bit and then did the final few steps. I made them sing the Rocky theme song as I ran up the last flat portions. I made it, and the view was beautiful
Here are some thoughts I had during the trek:
Back in the old days, if you were found guilty of murder or (ironically) witch craft they would march you up to the top of execution rock and push you off. Hence the name. But when I got up there I was so hot and tired, I kinda wanted to die. So I don’t know it that would actually have been a punishment for these people. The idea of jumping was more appealing then knowing I would have to walk all the way back down.
Second, I’d gone about 20 steps before I got hot, tired, sweaty, and mumbling/grumbling under my breath. So why do I give the Israelites such a hard time when I read about the 40 years in the desert? I guess I need to cut them some slack. I always think they should be “holier” than that. But in truth if I can’t do it on a journey I choose to do, how could they do it in something they were kinda thrown into? Give ‘em a little grace next time you read it.
Finally, I’m the luckiest girl in the world. I’m 30. I’m living in Africa. I get to hike big giant rocks, and sit on the top eating apples and looking over the country. My life rocks! (no pun intended)

Christmas

Had a great christmas,- very relaxing. I woke up late, opened presents with Lauren, Ross, and Jacci, and got a phone call from Heidi in Oregon.
We went to Summerfield, a beautiful botanical garden for lunch then spent the afternoon with L&R friend and their adorable baby. Finally a late night movie and then off to sleep.
You know I learned a lot about African Christmas.
Do you know you don't leave Santa milk and cookies here? You leave him Beer. And his name isn't Santa, it's Father Christmas.
Also, you don't have roasted turkey dressing and potatoes for African Christmas,- of course not, it's too hot! You have a braii, and cold salad with sparkling punch, and a pool and a slip and slide,- a very summery activity. Finally,if you are a good hostess, you provide a Christmas cracker for all of your guest, instead of buying a present for each one. You pull the two sides and it pops! Then inside is a paper crown, a joke and a little prize. How cool!
Then on the 26th celebrated Boxing day with British Emma. Traditionally in England you would spend all day preparing and eating a feast so you would open presents the next day, hence Boxing day. Now it's a day to eat leftovers, play yard games, and since you spent all Christmas day with your family, you celebrate boxing day with friends.
Cool huh? Now you know the African Holidays.

Victoria Secrets, Here I come!

Every year they have that big undie fashion show. You know to advertise their "angel" line. They've been begging me for years, I finally gave in. 2008, I'm in! I've got my wings!

Merry Christmas!

God bless us, everyone!
No matter where you are, or who you are with, I wish you the peace of Christmas.
Just know that I'm am 7 hours ahead of you...so I get Christmas first!

3 monkeys in glasses

Okay this is me, Jacci and our primate friend from Guava Gallery. Who would have thought 3 monkeys could look so good?

Just because I can...

These pictures were emailed to me, so they download very quickly onto blogspot. SO I am putting them here for no other reason than 1)I can put them up without taking all day, and 2) I look cute in them. hee-hee

Thanks Vince

This is me and a baby from Mozambique. I love her so much! She would run right up to me and smile and giggle! then she's dance with me and play, and giggle some more. We had so much fun together. So Vince shot this picture and emailed it to me!

me and Bobo

okay his name is Sibongiseni, but everyone calls him Bobo. And he's one of my graduates. He is so sweet.

For my dad:

This is how we do Christmas flowers here in Africa. No poinsettias, only plumeria and hydrangeas. These are both in my yard.
Christmas in the middle of summer; different, but good.

Missed you guys!

I’m back! After an exhausting week (albeit fun) with the team from Celebration church, I’m back in the office. Did you miss me? I know you did.
I survived Mozambique,- thanks to your prayers. Because of room problems, I had to share the “executive suite” with Jacci and Zinty. I was kinda excited. The executive suite sounded nice huh?
Well it wasn’t. It was a couch at the foot of the bed. And the couch pulled out into a tiny bed which I had to sleep diagonally across.
“Don’t you like your ‘executive’ bed?” Zinty asked
“I guess executives ate only 3’2”.” I said. Well after a long weary day of driving and border posts, that sounded pretty funny to me. It started a giggle fit that I couldn’t stop. At 11pm, I’m the funniest person I know.
But overall it was a great trip, you know I love Mozambique.
So now that I’m back I’m trying to post some blogs and photos.

Charlie Smith, you got some 'xplainin' to do

Remember I told you my teacher Ntombie had a baby? Why does he look like Charlie Smith? Charlie, you're lucky you haven't visited yet. You'd be in big trouble!

Hlane

I spent two days at Hlane Game park with this past team. Now I went once before just for a game drive. It was fine, but staying overnight is a totally different experience. We went on 2 drives, slept in little thatch roof huts, star gazed at the most amazing sky (with shooting stars and everything!) and ate impala stew and wilderbeast vorst (a sausage).
It was perfect weather and an amazing and relaxing experience. I saw the two lions who were just cubs when I came in April 2006, lots of rhinos (my favorite) and I finally saw elephants! yeah!
Here are a few pictures:

heh-heh

Okay, the 12 year old boy who lives in me also shot this photo at Hlane Game park with the team.

Heh- Heh poop is funny.

What did you say?

We speak British English here. A traffic light is a robot, a shirt is a jersey, a candy is a sweet.
While many of the words are the same, some just don’t translate, and some are just down right offensive.
For example, an eraser here is a “rubber.” I guess that makes since, since you rub the mistake to erase it. But I read a story in the newspaper of David Beckham’s son telling his kindergarten teacher he has a rubber collection. Too funny!
Another example, -We were watching a session of the Bait of Satan on DVD. John Bevere was preaching and used the word “sourpuss.” Lauren, my Zimbabwean friends let out a gasp and a hysterical laugh.
“Oh! That is rich my friend!”
None of us got the joke.
“Sourpuss is such an offensive word here. You don’t use it. You just don’t use it!”
Same goes with the word “bonk”
But check out this photo below. I think this takes the cake. This is a restaurant in Manzini. They serve great chicken, but as an American I laugh every time I see the sign. Maybe it's the 12 year old buy that lives inside of me, but I can't say it with a straight face.

Get ready to feel jealous!

My life rocks! There I said it! After graduation, we took all 26 students to Mlilwane Game reserve. The kids were so excited, but I think I topped them all. The park is so beautiful and we walked for quite a showing them all the different animals and shooting photos.
For most of these children this was a first time experience. Even though they are living in Swaziland, most have never had a care giver take them to a game park. their eyes were wide as we drove in. One little girl asked her teacher in SiSwati, "Is this where Auntie Christy lives?" Too cute.
We also had lunch there. Beef curry, salad, fruit, pap, and juice. Again, most of these orphans don't eat meat, so they were chowing down!
Another thing that made me laugh was the kids trying to eat with a fork. Most Swazi will eat with their fingers on a day to day basis, so many of these kids dont' use silverware. I showed them the "proper" way to use the fork, and they gave it an honest effort. But it was so funny to see them dangling the forks, trying to stab some food and then dangle it up into their mouths.
The thing that surprised me the most was that the children were so well behaved. Watching these kids run and play at the carepoints, you'd think they were wild! But they were polite, quiet, sitting well and eating, and so respectful. That says a lot about the teachers who are training these kids.
So all day long I kept thinking, "My life rocks! How many teachers get to take their kids to a game park in Africa as a field trip? How many get to experience so many 'firsts' in their lives.
Jealous aren't you? You should be! I have the coolest "job."

Graduation

we had our graduation at 4 of our carepoints on the 1st. It was so cute. Each child in their little caps and gowns!