No way!... Yes way!

This is a picture Pepe and Trinity.
Pepe on the left is a 12 year old, child that we have served as Children's Cup for years.
Trinity on the right is the 4 year old daughter of our directors, Ben and Susan.

Christmas in July...kinda

You know those little poinsetta plants that we put into 6 inch pots and sell at Christmas time? Do you know that if you plant them in a warm tropical African climate, they grow into trees?
Check it out, this is one of 3 poinsetta trees on my property here in Swaziland.
Pretty cool huh?

Please say a prayer for my mom

okay y'all my mom just found out that her sister has passed away. First my dad, then my dog ( hey you have dogs too, you know they are family) and now her sister has died. That's a lot for one person to have on her plate emotionally speaking. Please pray for her.

Wanna see me?

Go to natalie's blog y'all. she posted a video we made on May 13th. You can see me on the way to Bulimbu.
okay the hatchet-as-mic was her idea but it didn't really translate well. it just looks like I'm holding an ax.

As I sit in the airport, I write:

I’m leaving the states today.
It was hard to readjust at first and a lot of things got on my nerves.
But now after this month, there are things that stand out that I definitely like. They use to be everyday things that I took for granted, but now I see them as creature comforts that I will miss now that I know I won’t have them “over there”
1)Big appliances. I cooked on a big stove, and put my food in a big fridge. The washer machine was so big I put in my normal African load of clothes in, and then had to go and get more dirty clothes to fill it up!
2) High speed internet. Just click. You’re there.
3) Good coffee. Africa has crap coffee, which is ironic because good coffee is grown in Africa. I guess they export it all and leave us only with tea in Swaziland
4)Math-less days. I stayed here a month and never did math. I didn’t convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, kilojoules to calories, kilograms to pounds, kilometers to miles, or milliliters to cups. You have to be very smart to live in Africa. It makes my brain tired.
5) Free stuff. Free refills, free chips and salsa, free bread and olive oil, free gift card with purchase. America is the land of the Free.
6) Customer service. Have a problem? We’ll get it fixed. If we can’t fix it, we will find someone who will. Leaving a job undone is not an option. Not once did I hear “ah, sorry madam. I can’t help you.”
7) Now-now movies. See a commercial? Go and watch it. You don’t have to wait until a missionaries’ grandma sends it on DVD. And you can get butter on your popcorn.
8) House marathons. Episode after unseen-in- Africa episode.
9) Yummy high calorie, fatty foods- Coffee creamer, donuts, McDonalds, pizza, Mexican, sushi all at your finger tips.
10) Garage Sales- good stuff at cheap prices. One man’s junk is my affordably priced treasure.
11)Toilet seats in every bathroom stall- Guarenteed, or your money back. Oh that's right, we don't pay for toilets in the US. And each stall comes clean with toilet paper available. Very very soft toilet paper. It makes me very very happy. No explination necessary.
While I’m fine with going back to Swaziland, I have been very happily pampered in the USA

Freaks and Geeks

(Written last week)
As I’m sitting in the DC airport, I see a group of teenagers.
Teenagers are an interesting species to observe.
Take the kid who chose to buy and eat a dozen donuts for lunch. Or the friends who now try to get one of those donuts with the argument, “Dude, I gave you money.”
That seems to be a perfectly rational argument, earning him ½ a donut. He insisted on the “good half.”
But over the course of the last month, I’ve been “reacquainted” with many people I went to high school with via Facebook- that weird cyber addiction that everyone has insisted I join for so long.
Okay now it’s not actually like having a legit relationship with another human, but it is entertaining to look up people you use to know and now see what they are up to.
I’ve realized two things:
1) I’m old, and have been out of high school a long time, and
2) geeky boys aren’t eternally geeky. Okay let me clarify. The semi-geeky boys aren’t eternally geeky.
The weird kids who mumbled and didn’t bathe… we’ll they’re still weird. But the tall skinny guys with glasses and braces,- you know who I’m talking about. Maybe they had pimples, and were a little too good in math to be cool,- they’ve turned out okay! Somewhere along the line their metabolism slowed enough to put a little meat on their bones, the acne cleared up, and they stopped letting their moms cut their hair. Now they are doctors, or engineers, nice guys and successfully normal.
It makes me smile, and wonder what happened to the football playing boyfriend I thought was such hot stuff. He’s probably fat, bald, and selling magazine subscriptions.
So if you are a teenage girl, go find yourself a nice geeky boy. You’ll thank me later.

Bye-Bye my Baby

My mom wrote me. Baby died this morning.
I knew she didn't have much longer, but I'd so enjoyed being with her this past month.
It pains my heart. She has been a loyal companion for almost 13 years.

This is what i've been up to.

painting

catching up on important reading

hanging out with my childhood friend

Feeling the need to share

In January 1990, we got the shock of our lives.
We’d noticed changes in dad for a while. A personality change, headaches, and running into things.
“Why’d you do that dad? It’s right there?”
“I didn’t see it.”

The doctors diagnosed a cancerous brain tumor on the left side of his brain, which they thought had started in his lungs. On the vision center of his brain, it was quickly growing and causing dad to go blind. Dad explained some of what he was going through.
“I can’t see anything.”
He stood with his arms out to the side and began to swing them forward slowly. Finally when they were almost directly in front of him he stopped. “Here. I can see them here.”

As surgery was scheduled, family and friends began to pour into the house offering casseroles, kind words and promises of prayers.

One, my cousin Sherry, took it another step further. She wanted to pray with us. So even thought I thought it was “weird” (but at 13 everything adults do is “weird”) we stood together in a circle and held hands, while Sherry prayed a simple prayer for blessings, strength, healing, and guidance for the doctors.

Short, sweet, simple.

But that simple prayer caught the heart of God.

Later that afternoon I came down from my room and found my dad crying at the dining room table. At first I panicked.

“What’s wrong?!”

He looked up at me. “I can see.”

“What do you mean ‘I can see?’”

He put his arms out to the side again and began to swing them forward slowly. This time he stopped quickly, with his arms still out to the side.

“Here. Now I can see them here.”

I was 13, but that was the first time I understood that God interacted with us,- that prayer wasn’t just throwing up ideas, but someone was listening, and responding. And while I wouldn’t become a Christian for 4 more years, this was the beginning of my relationship with God. I knew the Lord as the God who Sees, and the God who Heals, way before I knew him as the God who Saves.

And while most patients with non-small cell lung cancer will die within 4 months of their diagnosis, my dad survived and lived well for 17 ½ more years.

I am so grateful for that gift of time that was given to my family. He was able to experience graduations, weddings, and grandchildren that the doctors said wouldn’t be seen.

I beleive this is what they call "reverse culture shock"

It's weird being here.
Like, drinking tap water is cool... but there are things that make me feel uneasy.
Like, when did Drew Cary become the host of The Price is Right? SO un-charismatic.
And why is it every motivation to do something fear? I can't turn on the tv or talk to someone with out getting hit with a scare tactic! Global warming, bad economy, war, soaring gas prices,fear, fear, fear! Do this or the earth will blow up! Do that or so-and-so will get elected!
Was it always that way and I just didn't notice it before? I've found myself turning off the television, just over the whole thing.
...And since when did Oprah become the authority on everything? Any question about Tom Cruise, the shape of poop, God, or morality can be answered by watching her show. The scary thing is she's so far out there and people don't even notice because she's a "nice person" and does "good things."
Wake up. She's misguided. I don't care how many schools she opens in Africa.
Ech...
And why do we need so much stuff? Walmart is huge, and all the aisles are filled with stuff! stuff for your house, stuff for you pets, stuff for your kids, and your kids' pets' houses. And if that's not enough, you can get all of that stuff in a variety of colors, so it will match your other stuff. Because God forbid your stuff doesn't match.
Im packing up my fathers house, and I find so much stuff! 2 George Forman grills, one small and one large. 4 crockpots. Yes 4. 3 sets of knives.2 tractors, 2 leaf blowers, 2 cans of tuna...and my dad hated tuna! but i'm sure there was a reason he felt he needed all of this stuff.
Someone probably used a scare tactic.

Some times you just need a good laugh

This week has been tough, but you know sometimes you get an unexpected chuckle. For example, my dad's dog, Bud, is on seizure medication. I have to give it to him twice a day. Now, the pharmacist knows it's for a dog, because the label clearly reads, "Give to dog-Bud 1 tablet twice a day..."
But the warning label is absurd! it reads:
May cause drowsiness. Alcohol may intensify this effect. Use care when operating a car or dangerous machinery.
I'm not making this up! I'm not that creative. Needless to say Bud is mad that I took away his whisky, and his keys to the tractor.

Also, if anything good can ever come out of losing a loved one, it's the ability to mess with those pesky telemarketers that call.
I got a call the other day from a woman, whose favorite line was "I apologize."
The conversation went like this
"Hello?"
"Yes, is this Mrs. Merrill?
"This is Miss Merrill."
"I apologize. I'm looking for Gar-net. Is she available?"
"Garnet is my father."
"Oh I apologize. Is he available?"
"No. May I ask who's calling?"
"I apologize, this is Maryanne with the American Lung association. Is there another time I can call and reach Garnet?"
"No. My father passed away about a week ago."
"...OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!!!!!!! I'msorrypleasedisreguardthiscall!"
Click.
I just had to laugh. This poor woman is probably going to quit her job now. she couldn't get anything right!

This is how I choose to remember my dad

These were taken in Hawaii last summer before I left for Africa.
These were the last times I spent with my dad.
This is how I will choose to remember him
Happy, carefree, living life and loving life.
My dad never liked to travel, or spend money. But for his baby girl he pulled out all the stops. As you can tell he was having the time of his life on that cruise, and I will always be grateful that such an amazing gift.
I see now the gift was not in the trip itself, but in those wonderful memories I now have with my dad.

out of town

Dad passed away early sunday morning.
I got to say my goodbye over the phone and I have peace that he is with the lord.
I arrived in the us today until...?
The blog might be limited for a while

It's working Part II

"Your new hair looks nice."
"Ah Christy, You always say that." She said smiling bashfully. "You are the only one. No one else ever tells me I look nice. But you always say, 'Oh your shoes, oh your hair.'"
"What?!!!! You're husband never tells you?"
"Oh yes, my husband, and my children do. They say 'Oh mommy, you look so beautiful.' But no one else. Only you."

It's working!

"Come Auntie. Come and dish."
"I will. But the teachers have been working so hard. I will wait until they dish first."
"...that's what you do Christy." Teacher Lindiwe said. "You always let others go first. But that's not how blacks do it. They will always put themselves first,- even in front of children. They want to be first."
In education we would call this a "teachable moment."
"It's not because I'm white that I do this Lindiwe. I do it because Jesus says we must prefer others. We consider them and not just demand for ourselves. And I need to be a servant of those I lead. And to be honest, what harm does it do if I don't go first? Look how much food we have. We'll never run out, and I won't go hungry. So what difference does it make if I go after my teachers?"
She pondered that for a while.
Leading by example take a lot more time than lecturing, but the lessons will be well learned.

Fish bite when you got good bait!

I was driving up the Malagwane Hill today. Another truck pulled along side of me, and I noticed the passenger motioning to me out the window.
Was he flagging me to allow him to get over?
Nope.
He was tapping his ring finger.
Yes, he was wanting me to marry him.
Too funny! I didn't realize I was that irresistible.

I don't even want to hear it

I'm hearing a lot of waa-waa on the online news about the US economy and the gas prices.
Nope. I'm not even listening.
Want to do a little math with me?
okay, currently in Swaziland we pay $9.60Rand for a liter of petrol. Times that by 4 to make a gallon, that...$38.4Rand for one gallon.
Well how much is that you ask?
Today the dollar is at 7.8 for exchange into Rand, so divide $38.4R by 7.8 to find the us dollar price... and viola! our gas prices.
Don't beleive me? Try your own calculator. You'll find we are paying $4.92 US dollars for one gallon of Gas.
I better not hear you whining again.

I've found Jesus!

Yes, he was at the guys house...on a Giraffe.
I resucued him.... but not before they braided his hair.
He is now resting comfortably at the girls house (where I accidently left him)

For my team!

These pics won't make sence to the rest of you, but they will for the team coming from newhope church, my church, in June!
I'm so excited to see all of you,- Joey, Molly, Jennifer, Marissa, Sarah, and Tenea

Have you seen this man?

MISSING!!!!
Name: Jesus
Appoximately 18 inches tall
Brown hair
Brown eyes
Last seen at the guys' house riding a giraffe.

Inspired

Jordan, our interning missionary, is an amazing photographer. And looking over his pictures the other day made me want to go out and shoot some of my own. Some of you remember I use to do old-school photography. You know the kind with film and darkrooms, with stinky chemicals?
Well I shot these yesterday in Maphaveni, and then relived my darkroom days with a computer. You know editing just isn't as fun (albeit cheaper)without the smell, and the revolving door. Perhaps it was the high from the fumes that produced my creativity. But anyway, here are a few that I pulled out of my hat.

Why Children's Cup does what it does

Picking up hitch-hikers

I was driving to our Makholweni carepoint when I saw two children in our school uniforms.
They recognized my truck and immediately started flagging for a ride. I stopped and they excitedly climbed in.
“Goud morning Aun-tie!”
“Good morning. Are you on your way to school?”
“Yeas”
“You are late today. You should be there by now.”
They both got a fearful look.
“Are you late often?”
“Yeas… we done haf a woll watch.” (That’s a clock for the rest of us)
“You don’t have a wall watch? Then how do you know when to come to school?”
“We jees come!”
“Oh I see. What will teacher Zandile say when you come late?”
“She jees greet us. Then, we get de puneeshment.”
“Oh shame.” I was worried by the way they looked so worried. “What is the punishment for coming late?”
“We haf to peek up all de rubbish een de carepoint.”
How funny! Yes that would be torture to a child, picking up trash instead of playing. No wonder Makholweni has been looking so clean.
Ps- we made it there right at 8am, so the children did not have ‘de puneeshment’

Do you dunk or sprinkle?

I was doing an evaluation at Ka Khoza for teacher Ntombie when her baby, Blessings, started to cry. (In Swaziland, every day is bring-your-child-to-work-day.)
“Oh I’ll take him” I said, thinking Ntombie could keep teaching, and the older children wouldn’t have to hold him and work at the same time.
So I’m holding this beautiful baby, and got him quieted down, when I felt something warm on my leg. (I’m guessing he was feeling something warm on his leg as well.)
Yes, I was blessed by Blessings… by sprinkling.

Yea!

Our latest group of graduates is doing great!
Teachers at the government schools are taking notice.
“What school did you come from? “ They ask. “I want to see this school”
But it was Bobo that made me smile. He was in second grade, and acing his tests. 95%, 100%, 95%, 100%
His mother came with him to the carepoint the other day.
His latest test was 98%. She says they are moving him up to 3rd grade.
Awesome! My teachers must be doing something right!

Ketizwe

Khetizwe hadn’t been himself lately. He’d been coming to the carepoint looking tired, and worn.
“He’s just tired” One boy would say.
“Oh he’s sick today” another would say.
But I could tell it was more than that. He looked burdened.
Then Make Sukati told me what she knew.
“His house has fallen down. His mother is mentally disturbed. She’s nowhere to be found. So now he’s staying with his gogo.”
“What do you mean his house ‘fell down?’”
“During those rains. [Cyclone Jukwe] it made his house fall down. I’ve talked to Red Cross, and Unicef, but they can’t help. Can Children’s Cup help him?”
I wanted to see it for myself.
All I found there was the type of play fort children make in their living rooms. It was a few sheets of roofing metal, leaning against one another, held together by a blanket. Even though Make said he was staying with his gogo, it appeared that he was still trying to stay there.
Yes, we will help.
Make and I told him that we would set a date and the other teenage boys can come and help as well. “Start collecting sticks, and rocks there.” Make told him
His shoulders lifted, he lowered his eyes respectfully, and a small smile came to his face,- the first I’ve seen in weeks. “Thank you” he whispered.
So please pray for us on the 21st, 22nd, 23rd of April as we conquer that task of building a house for this teenage boy.
I’ll keep you updated.

Only in Africa part 1

African headlines this morning:
Racing car smashes shack!

Bus runs over 5 cows

Zinty's response was "Oh shame. I hope it wasn't the King's cows."

That is so Africa.

Only in Africa part 2

I spent the afternoon with Natalie on Saturday. We’d come home from camp and I noticed she propped the door open to let the fresh air in, but didn’t close the burglar door.
Oh, no big deal. They have a gate, so no one could just walk in.
So there we sit drinking peach refresh and I hear this noise. I can only describe it as a mewling.
“Is that a cat?” I asked
“Oh no! The chicken got in!” she shouted.
She was right. Patrick’s pet chicken, Victoria, wondered right into the dining room.
Natalie quickly grabbed the mop and started guiding her out, mewling all the way.
That is so weird.
Only in Africa would your neighbor have a pet chicken…
A pet chicken named Victoria…
That mewls and wonders into your house.

For you grammer fanantics

I was having lunch at a restaurant the other day.
"Can I have a filtered coffee?"
The waitress hesitated.
"Umm.....I dunno. Let me check."
She came back happy. "yes. you can."
I was happy too.
"Can I have the hamburger?"
Same look. "Umm... I dunno. Let me check."
What is up with this place? Do they always run out of stuff? Why is she having to check if they have coffee and hamburgers?
Then it hit me.
I should have asked, "May I have..." not "Can I have..."

Job security

Yesterday I was walking out of the office and a little old lady was passing on the other side. She took a big wad of paper out of her pocket and threw it on the ground.
Grrrrrr.
I hate that! I almost shouted at her to pick it up, and then said,
Oh forget it! I’ve got enough to deal with today. I don’t need to lecture an adult.
I went and put petrol into my car and when I returned I saw her again.
She’s the lady that is paid to pick up trash around our office complex.
Perhaps she’s just after job security.

talking trash

At camp this weekend, the children played the trash pick up game. Each team had a bag and ran about picking up litter.
Whoever gathers the most wins.
It was so funny. It was like an African Easter egg hunt. All, the children running to and fro like a scurry of ants, looking around, all darting for the same wrapper.
One would raise up triumphantly with a cheer, and the others would disregard him and run in another direction.
The sad part was, these children are so use to living among trash and rubbish in their communities and homesteads, that many of the little ones had a hard time determining what “trash” was.
They knew sweet wrappers, and sucker sticks were trash because Lad has told them so. But chicken bones? Mealie cobs? Broken things?
I tried to help one boy when I spotted a piece of trash. “Here’s one. Quick ,get it!”
He ran to where I was pointed and stopped.
“what?”
“That. That there.”
He looked at me confused. Then I guess he decided to take my word for it. He shrugged, picked it up and ran off again.
I guess we should have told the children that anything that is not dirt, a rock, a stick, or grass is rubbish and belongs in the bag, not the ground.

My fruit basket is overflowing!

I've been in Swaziland 9 months today!
9 months! whoa!
I've been through some second-guessing phases, that I guess everyone goes through.
Am I making a difference?
I've done a lot... but is that something that no one else could have done? I mean, do I make a difference? Is there something i'm accomplishing in the lives of the swazi that has a distinct Christy flavor?
Everyone says it takes time, so I've tried to be patient...
And then it happened! These past 7 days have been an amazing experience for me to see some fruits of my labor. A whole bunch of fruit! yea.
I won't put it all here, but I've been so blessed by my teachers and lots and lots and lots of children here.
I am making a difference, by God's grace.

In case you don't get my partner letter...

This is what I've been thinking about the past few days...

Joshua 1:10 Joshua then commanded the leaders of Israel, “Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan and take possession of the land the LORD your God has given you.”

So after all the years in the desert, it was finally happening. God had promised, and now the leader Joshua said it was finally gonna happen!
But there seemed to be an obstacle.
The Jordan River. (You realize if you were a generation born and raised in the desert, you wouldn’t be a real strong swimmer.)
The ark was sent before them because they had never traveled that way before. So they were literally following God.
When they arrive at the river, things are worse than they thought! Because of harvest season, the banks were overflowing! (3:15)
But Joshua heard from that LORD, “the priests will be carrying the Ark of the LORD…when their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will pile up there in one heap…” (3:13.)
So I can imagine the men getting excited.
“Yeah, I know what is gonna happen. This is like when Moses led our grandparents out of Egypt. My grandpa use to tell me all about it. Moses held up his staff and then the waters all parted and everyone walked across on dry land. So if Joshua says the Lord is commanding this, let’s do it! It’s gonna be an awesome sight to see!”
And so the priests start across.
Splash………splash splash…….splash splashsplash……..nothing.
Not a thing. They looked around, but the water was still flowing around their feet, then their knees, then their waste. Then they stood still waiting…nothing.
I can imagine what they were thinking now.
“What the heck? Man, where is this great miracle? Oh, I bet that Joshua was wrong! Nothing is happening!”
But they were wrong. The bible says, “But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water began piling up at a town upstream called Adam.” (3:13)
Adam was a town 7 miles away.
So it happened exactly as God said it would, but not as the men understood. “And the water below that point flowed to the Dead Sea until the river bed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the city of Jericho.” (3:16)
Sometimes God sets wheels in motion, but it takes a long time for the results to reach us.
That’s how I’ve been feeling about some things over here. God spoke some things to be in January that I believe to be true. And now I’m taking the steps of faith forward…but I see no evidence around me. Nothing seems to be happening.
But I’m encouraged that God is always true to his word.

strike while the iron's hot!

Pictures are suddenly uploading like a breeze!!!! SO now I'm just posting random photos for you to look at!

Michael, shelly and me at the Game park

me and Kay at Forester Arms

Me, cati, and Bonkhosi at the carepoint

Jesus Spotted in Swaziland

Look! There he is in Maphaveni...
He was kind enough to pose for pictures with the children (you know how much he loves them anyway.) as well as me and Jordan.(and no, we're not, so don't even ask.)

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!"