more backlogs

So this is stretching way back now. On February 17th we celebrated 13 years of marriage. Well, celebrated is hardly the word. We were in town doing banking that day, so the highlight was eating fast “American-type” foods. Now, our family has never really been “party” people. We have always been home bodies-so birthdays, anniversaries, holidays are usually just another day with the mention of the special occasion. So this really wasn’t too different of an anniversary for us. Unfortunately, all the “holidays” we’ve encountered this year have been pretty bland. Hopefully we will be able to create some new, memorable things to do here for holidays-it is just really hard without family around as that is what most of our celebrating centered around.
Here is a great blog, www.deronarnold.blogspot.com. Brian first heard about Deron from our pastor at church. Soon afterward, they joined our support team, even though at that point we had never even met them! I don’t get to check too many blogs anymore, but I usually try to get to this one. I enjoy his posts about the current US situations, his health, but mostly his faith in the midst of cystic fibrosis and waiting for a lung transplant. I love that he is honest that this thing can and does really suck sometimes, but GOD is faithful, God is not surprised! I remember from MTI-God is not always “safe”, but HE IS FAITHFUL-HE IS IN CONTROL-HE IS GOOD.
Have I mentioned yet that we have been enjoying fresh baby potatoes from the garden?! We’ve had some roasted maize too. Not as good as sweet corn, but with a little butter it ain’t too bad. There is sweet corn planted here, we’ll see if we get any. Some of the stuff I planted didn’t grow, not sure, but I think the seed went bad. I planted in January so this seed would have been from at least the summer before, if not two summers before.
College Community Church has been okay for us. Nathan has done quite a bit of the preaching; I am sure once they realize I am fully over malaria, I will be in the rotation. It is tough to get down there though. Sure it is just tough getting 9 people out the door, but let’s face it; it’s just tough because I am not getting a whole lot out of it. They do some English hymns and chorus so that is good (and the preaching is in English, translated if needed), but there are a lot of Njanyi and Bembe choruses too where we just sit and listen. The music is incredible though! I love singing a song where the even the first note of each line is 4 or more parts! To hear that note is just like a chord on the organ… We were starting to enjoy the home church as a family on Sundays too though. Church should never been an obligation I know, but most often we feel we HAVE to go to church, more than want to. I know that too is just part of the reality of being here. Church is about worshipping God yes, but it is always nice when you get a little out of it too. With time I hope it changes, but we were also prepared that church would be more about giving than anything we get when we are here. Kelly and I don’t go to Sunday school usually, but send the kids down. Pastor David is teaching out of Philippians I believe.
Eve was in heat the last week or so, got to have some science lessons. I know it is silly, but we got such a kick out of Nathan seeing the dogs do their thing! He would just “aagh! Stop it!” and other hilarious remarks. 3rd grade humor anyone???
What kinds of things are we learning? The biggies-patience, perseverance and restraint. Okay, I am not so good at restraint still, but I guess that is why I am still learning it. Endurance and running the race for the prize-not the earthly one -is on the list too.
The rest of the backlog is “deep thoughts”, so I suppose I better take some time on those.