Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The Place Where It All Began
The video posted below is from our quick trip this weekend. We travelled to a city that I have not been to for ten years. When I was 16 years old, I took my first trip overseas. It was to this city! It was here that He gave me a heart and a passion for the people in this part of the world. It was so exciting for me to get to go back. I have travelled all over the world, but I have never been to any place twice. It has been ten years, many things have changed, but I still recognized the place and believe it or not, it had the same smell.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Crazy Day
Andrew and I went on a mini vacation this weekend. I have been eager to post about all that we did and saw while we were away, but too much has happened today that needs to be blogged about.
This morning we woke up late, had plans in mind for a slow relaxing day, recuperating from the exhaustion of traveling this weekend. The day brought other events instead. Last week we went to the police station to get our visa extended. We thought we had everything we needed to get our extension, but when we arrived we discovered that we needed our landlord to sign a paper. Last week was the Aid, so our landlord was out of the city and we would need to wait till he returned before we could get our extension. This morning we got in touch with our landlord, he came to pick us up and together we made our way to the police station. Upon arrival at the station and speaking with the proper authorities, we discovered there were many more things that we needed to do before we could get our extension. Without knowing what we were doing or where we were going, we loaded up in our landlord's van. First we went and made some photocopies (figured that out as we stood in front of a copy machine), then we went to another police station. Got something stamped and paid some money. Went to anther police station, but turns out it wasn't there anymore so we found the new location all the way across town. This station was so new nobody knew where anyone was or who needed to help us with what we needed help with (I'm not even sure what we needed help with!). After talking to several people and waiting in several different locations, we finally found someone who gave our landlord a phone number. I am not quite sure what happened, but he took us back home and said he would pick us up again at 2:00.
At 2:00 we headed back to the same station, this time with a new paper in tow. Waited around some more then finally got a stamp on something. There was something else that we needed at this station but could not get until tomorrow. Our landlord then took us back to his house where we met his family and enjoyed tea and snacks. We finally arrived back at our apartment around 4:30 with strict orders that he would pick us up again at 8:30 the next morning. We had not been back long before a little boy knocked on our door. He had a piece of paper and on it was written:
This was from the lady who lives underneath us. A couple of weeks ago I took her some cookies to meet her. I was excited she was coming! Andrew and I ran around straightening and I threw some cookies in the oven. We had planned to go to town and check our mail and do a couple of other errands. Andrew went ahead and went to town while I was to stay and visit with my neighbor. She arrived with her three children. Two boys and one girl. Thankfully she is very good at English. She talked just about the entire time, which was good for me because I was nervous about running out of conversation. The unfortunate part about this was that I really did not get to say much at all. But I am very excited to have had my neighbor in my house and build that relationship even more. Hopefully we will get together even more in the coming year.
After my neighbor left, Andrew and I fixed dinner and settled in to watch a TV show. About halfway through our show, thankfully after we had finished eating, there was a knock on our door. It was the man of the family I got to visit with during the Aid. Andrew invited him in and I went to prepare some tea and cookies. As I am writing this, they are visiting together and Andrew is getting what sounds like an Arabic lesson.
It has been an exciting day. Quite unexpected but very welcomed. It's 7:30 here and for locals the night is still young. I wonder if we will have any more visits today!
This morning we woke up late, had plans in mind for a slow relaxing day, recuperating from the exhaustion of traveling this weekend. The day brought other events instead. Last week we went to the police station to get our visa extended. We thought we had everything we needed to get our extension, but when we arrived we discovered that we needed our landlord to sign a paper. Last week was the Aid, so our landlord was out of the city and we would need to wait till he returned before we could get our extension. This morning we got in touch with our landlord, he came to pick us up and together we made our way to the police station. Upon arrival at the station and speaking with the proper authorities, we discovered there were many more things that we needed to do before we could get our extension. Without knowing what we were doing or where we were going, we loaded up in our landlord's van. First we went and made some photocopies (figured that out as we stood in front of a copy machine), then we went to another police station. Got something stamped and paid some money. Went to anther police station, but turns out it wasn't there anymore so we found the new location all the way across town. This station was so new nobody knew where anyone was or who needed to help us with what we needed help with (I'm not even sure what we needed help with!). After talking to several people and waiting in several different locations, we finally found someone who gave our landlord a phone number. I am not quite sure what happened, but he took us back home and said he would pick us up again at 2:00.
At 2:00 we headed back to the same station, this time with a new paper in tow. Waited around some more then finally got a stamp on something. There was something else that we needed at this station but could not get until tomorrow. Our landlord then took us back to his house where we met his family and enjoyed tea and snacks. We finally arrived back at our apartment around 4:30 with strict orders that he would pick us up again at 8:30 the next morning. We had not been back long before a little boy knocked on our door. He had a piece of paper and on it was written:
Hello. are you busy I want to visit you if its okay with you at 5.15
your neighbour
This was from the lady who lives underneath us. A couple of weeks ago I took her some cookies to meet her. I was excited she was coming! Andrew and I ran around straightening and I threw some cookies in the oven. We had planned to go to town and check our mail and do a couple of other errands. Andrew went ahead and went to town while I was to stay and visit with my neighbor. She arrived with her three children. Two boys and one girl. Thankfully she is very good at English. She talked just about the entire time, which was good for me because I was nervous about running out of conversation. The unfortunate part about this was that I really did not get to say much at all. But I am very excited to have had my neighbor in my house and build that relationship even more. Hopefully we will get together even more in the coming year.
After my neighbor left, Andrew and I fixed dinner and settled in to watch a TV show. About halfway through our show, thankfully after we had finished eating, there was a knock on our door. It was the man of the family I got to visit with during the Aid. Andrew invited him in and I went to prepare some tea and cookies. As I am writing this, they are visiting together and Andrew is getting what sounds like an Arabic lesson.
It has been an exciting day. Quite unexpected but very welcomed. It's 7:30 here and for locals the night is still young. I wonder if we will have any more visits today!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Day of Firsts
This morning, Andrew and I woke up to chanting. Here and all over the world, Muslims are celebrating Aid Al Fatha. As best as I can gather, this is a celebration of God providing a lamb in the place of Abraham's son. After the morning prayer, there is an extended time of chanting. I am not sure what they chant, I just know I heard it. After chanting, about 8:00 a.m. everyone goes home to butcher their sheep (or goats or camels). They are to give a third to the needy, a third to family and friends and they keep a third for themselves. At 8:00 this morning, Andrew went out with some other guys to take pictures. As I sat out on the balcony of our apartment, I could hear the goats crying all around our area of town. Thinking I had seen all that I would get to see from my balcony, I went back inside to enjoy some coffee. As I settled in by the window, I heard baaing louder than I had heard yet! I grabbed my phone and told Andrew I was going outside. Our neighbors who live below us in the apartment complex obviously had goats. I ran down the stairs and crossed the street to watch from a safe distance. Of course they did not miss the lone white girl across the street, so they invited me over to look closer. Then they invited me to come inside the gate and watch. It probably should have been more gruesome to me than it was, but I was just amazed at the skill of the butchers!
After they had finished "processing" the goats, I attempted to take my leave, but they insisted I stay for tea. What was I to do, I mean, I do love some tea. While sitting out on their patio enjoying tea, we observed one sheep that escaped and was trying to flee as well as a little boy chasing around all the girls in the street with a goat leg. It was a priceless experience, I got to meet more of my neighbors (and get the scoop on everyone in the building) and I left with my own little bag full of fresh meat. The question now is how do I go about cooking whatever it is that is sitting in my fridge?
Later that morning after Andrew returned from taking pictures, we went on a walk around the neighborhood. Most people had finished, but blood still stained the streets where there had been a butchering. The city where we are living now rarely if ever gets rain. Today it rained; mind you not sheets of rain, but more than a sprinkle. As I was watching the rain I could not help but be reminded, on this day of all days, of the sacrifice that my Father made for us. Where God provided a ram in the place of Abraham's son, He provided His Son in our place. Just like the rain today washed away the blood stains in the streets, the Son's blood washes away all of our sin stains and makes us as white as snow!
Another first for the day was my first time making eggnog! Andrew loves eggnog. He is used to drinking it when they first start selling it in the stores in November until they quit selling it in January. Here is my first attempt. It was not bad at all, but I'll definitely tinker around with it before I settle on a final recipe for it.
Today was an incredible day of firsts and a little bit of sensory overload. I am so thankful for new experiences and new cultures, and I am even more thankful He is with me and reminds me of Himself no matter where in the world I am.
After they had finished "processing" the goats, I attempted to take my leave, but they insisted I stay for tea. What was I to do, I mean, I do love some tea. While sitting out on their patio enjoying tea, we observed one sheep that escaped and was trying to flee as well as a little boy chasing around all the girls in the street with a goat leg. It was a priceless experience, I got to meet more of my neighbors (and get the scoop on everyone in the building) and I left with my own little bag full of fresh meat. The question now is how do I go about cooking whatever it is that is sitting in my fridge?
Later that morning after Andrew returned from taking pictures, we went on a walk around the neighborhood. Most people had finished, but blood still stained the streets where there had been a butchering. The city where we are living now rarely if ever gets rain. Today it rained; mind you not sheets of rain, but more than a sprinkle. As I was watching the rain I could not help but be reminded, on this day of all days, of the sacrifice that my Father made for us. Where God provided a ram in the place of Abraham's son, He provided His Son in our place. Just like the rain today washed away the blood stains in the streets, the Son's blood washes away all of our sin stains and makes us as white as snow!
Another first for the day was my first time making eggnog! Andrew loves eggnog. He is used to drinking it when they first start selling it in the stores in November until they quit selling it in January. Here is my first attempt. It was not bad at all, but I'll definitely tinker around with it before I settle on a final recipe for it.
Today was an incredible day of firsts and a little bit of sensory overload. I am so thankful for new experiences and new cultures, and I am even more thankful He is with me and reminds me of Himself no matter where in the world I am.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Happy Birthday!
Today is my Dad's birthday. I wish that I could be at home and celebrate with my family, but I am halfway across the globe instead :( I remember when I was away at school in Texas, my mom threw a surprise birthday party for my Dad and made him do all the prep work for it (he thought my sister was having a party at the house with some of her friends). I flew in from Texas for the big surprise. I got there early that morning and had to hide upstairs all day so my Dad wouldn't see me. All in all I think Dad was pleasantly surprised by his party, but we still remind Mom about how she made Dad do all the work for his own birthday party.
Miss you lots today, Dad! Wish I could be there. I am so grateful that I have a father like you who is such a great example for me. Thank you for loving and supporting me through all the years and all my crazy endeavors. I love you!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
SCUBA
Today I went SCUBA diving for the first time in quite a while. It was a blast. It was my first time to dive in salt water. The water was the most clear I have ever dove in. There were so many fish. I saw a Napoleon Wrasse. I saw Clown fish hiding in the sea anemone. I saw an eel swimming among the coral. We dove to the ship wreck which is massive as you are swimming beside, and under it. It sits on two reefs and there is a spot at 25m down where you can swim beneath it. It was incredible. My favorite was that I got to see an octopus which was a brilliant crimson color settle upon the coral, settle into itself and change color and textures, matching the coral around him. It was incredible. It was definitely a day of firsts for me. I cannot wait to get my wife certified and take her down there with me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)