Pen + Prayer

I've believed in the power of prayer for most of my adult life, but it's only recently that I'm realizing the power that can be released when a pen is added to the equation.
Let me back up...    

When we learned we had to leave our home in Tanzania earlier than originally expected, I resolved (in my head) to write down a list of 'needs' and a list of 'wants' - goals for our trip that we'd pray over.  Well, one thing after another kept happening, and between traveling, jet lag, moving houses only a couple days after landing, the surgery/procedures, it got a little crazy.  It seemed every spare 'adult' moment we had we spent

Some Random Things

I still (after being here nearly a month) can't get over how:
The food (in stores) is more expensive and in much smaller packages than it was when we left, but the (majority) of people (in stores) are still getting larger. Hm.

I love the way Owen says, "Foo's" for "Who's"

When Owen was a baby he used to purse his lips together and blow a raspberry whenever he got hurt. Now, he calmly says, "hurt, Hurt, HURT, HURRRRT" in a progressively louder voice until it reflects the amount of pain he's in. He rarely cries, unless he's been embarrassed or is really, really hurt.

I miss not having to worry about ingredients in food.

Our Son Loves McDonalad's

Yes, you read that correctly.  Today we took our three year old to McDonald's for the first time.  Ever.  He loved it.  What kid wouldn't, right?
He climbed, he played, he slid down the slide, he bounced in the little sphere thing, and about ten minutes later came out, walked over to us and said:
"Hey! Momma!  I think there's a restaurant here, did you know that?!"

Observations

On our first furlough in the States since our move to Tanzania, I've been making several observations.  Some call it reverse culture shock - and I suppose that's what this is to some extent, but I'm not really all that shocked.  I knew from past re-entries that we would experience these things, but I guess that being away for nearly 10 months heightens the response?  Who knows, in any event, here are some observations:

1) Consumerism/Commercialism.
Wow.  That's all the words I can come up with right now.  It seriously wears us out when we shop.  We were in Target for 20 minutes yesterday and it felt like we were there for two hours.

2) Noise.
So. Much. Noise.  Noises we didn't even realize we ourselves were living with only 10 months ago.  Every time the air conditioning kicks on Owen covers his ears for just a moment and gets startled.

Satan Sells Pepsi

I think that Satan must work for Pepsi
because as far as I can tell
he's the one
feeding me these
lies

from the depths of hell

Going to the Chapel and We're….

{almost} invited to a Tanzanian wedding.
Let me back up.

My friend and colleague, Holly, and I made a trip to the post office the other day.  I had a slip saying a package was here (YAY!) and she had some cards to post.  Our buddy Mike was working, as usual and we said our 'mambo's and 'poi's then he was off to get things taken care of.  Meanwhile Mr. Shine - the branch manager, and another pal of ours, walked by waving.
"OH!  You two, I have something special for you!  Take care of this then I will get it for you."
"Okay, we're finished," Holly replied.
Mr. Shine walks us over to the customs counter and hands us over two white envelopes.  Pulling out what appears to be a wedding invitation.
"Mike is getting married!" he says.
"AHhhhHHh! MIiiiikkkeeee!"  We exclaim, "Congratulations!!"
"When are you getting married?" we ask.
"May 31" he replies, sheepishly grinning.
"Here, these for you. Write your name here," Mr. Shine instructs us.  So Holly writes our names on the envelopes, then Mr. Shine copies them onto the actual invitation. Then he points out the location of the wedding, as listed on the invite and tells us we should come. "I'm the coordinator for the wedding," he says.
"Oh we will come! It will be so fun," we say.  We naive wazungus.

"Hey God"

Upon realizing I wasn't feeling well at all, our two year old, sitting beside me on the bed, looks at his papa and asks, "Papa, can you pray for momma cause she doesn't feel very good."
"Of course," he replies, "do you want to pray too?"
"Yea. I hold this hand so you can hold the other one."

Saturdays {sometimes} Look Like

{family}

Relaxing for an episode of Curious George while Momma makes breakfast.

With his Curious George friend, of course. 

The One in Which I Go to the Clinic

After four days of kidney pain, I decide it's time for my first trip to the clinic.

A friend comes to get me from school and we arrive at the clinic around 11:15.

I go to the reception and ask to create a file, she flips through a stack of ripped cardboard 'cards' about the size of a post-it note.  Hands me one with the number 28 and asks me to sit.  

We spot a bench in the back, with just enough space for the two of us to sit and wait.  In front of us are four rows of seats, various sizes and types, with about 5-6 chairs in each row.  Each one filled.  Adjacent to us it's the same picture, creating two groups of chairs with an aisle between.  Behind us, through the wall we lean on are the offices of two doctors.  In front of us is a third doctor's office, the reception, which is right next to the dawa (pharmacy) which is a glassed-in room about 6sq. feet.  

To my left there are windows and a porch where there are more seats, also all filled with people waiting to see the doctor.  We are the only two wazungus in sight.