You might be a missionary in Africa if:
*your husband gets fleas and it doesn’t really even freak you out. (all taken care of now…Eric wanted to make sure we clarified this!)
* a Bible study is interrupted by three ornary donkies and you are really the only one who notices.
*in the refrigerated section of the grocery store some common items are: chicken heads and feet, impala, warthog steak and monkey gland.
*NOT common items found in refrigerated section of grocery store: milk and eggs
*hand -washing applies more to doing laundry than personal hygiene.
*flushing is optional
*along those lines: BYOTP (for those of you not acronym gifted – bring your own toilet paper!
*the names of the servers at the local restaurant include: Lucky, Thinkwell, Innocent, Prosper, MacGyver and Much Money.
*eggs over easy are actually referred to as “soft but turned”
*as you wash your dishes in the kitchen sink, the soapy water drains out of the side of your house.
*you almost pass out when the grocery clerk says your bill is 770.90…until you realize that is Rand…not American $…(whew!)
*the laundry “room” has side by side…buckets. (for now we are paying Happi to do our laundry but Jen may have to get a lesson one of these days!)
*getting a prescription filled consists of walking into the dispensary and telling the man what is hurting and he will give you what you need. (this we have not experienced personally but is how we were advised…I guess “HMO” here stands for “Here’s My Opinion”!!)
But seriously…
God is so good. We are so at peace knowing that we are right where we belong at this time in His plan! The kids are adjusting beautifully. Yesterday, Jacob was instantly a hero when he stepped out of the vehicle with his soccer ball! In moments he was surrounded by boys of all ages. He will be pro by the time we return to the States! One of the young men here, Innocent, told Eric and I that Jacob has “good talent in the basics but needs training”. He has kind of taken Jacob under his wing, which is lovely to see! The local Swazis seem a bit enamored with Jacob; perhaps because of his fair skin and eyes. In the grocery store several people stopped us and told us “You have a beautiful son” or “He is a good boy”. He is kind of relishing in the attention…
Claire is finding her way among the children; cuddling with the little ones and really connecting with girls around her own age. She seems so natural, already picking up on the language. We find ourselves going to her to remind us how to say certain phrases! The language barrier is much larger than we anticipated. We will continue to work on learning Siswati, which involves many ‘clicks’ of the tongue. We will probably have to have some lessons.
I reunited with a young lady who I met in February of 2009. One of the local boys walked Claire and myself to her homestead last evening. She was so excited to see us and right away said to Claire: “Where is your brother?” I had shown her a picture of both kids when I was here last year, and she must have remembered that! Claire told her that Jacob was back at the carepoint center playing soccer. Nmcebo got her wrap and proceeded to walk out of her house, leading the way back where we had just come from wanting to meet Jacob. On the way, she and Claire chatted and I believe they will become fast friends!
Claire and I were invited to be a part of a young women’s group that meets on Friday afternoons at the main carepoint center. We prayed, sang, laughed, read Scripture. It was a rich time. I led a small group called “Daughters of the King” with high school girls in the States. I had told those girls that when I was in Swaziland I hoped to do something similar with the Swazi girls. Yesterday, I shared with the Swazi girls about the “Daughters of the King”. They, at first, looked at me strangely because Swaziland is an actual monarchy and I think they wondered if I rubbed shoulders with royalty! I explained that these were Daughters of THE KING…Jesus Christ! They faces lit up and then came smiles all around. “We are here!” one of the young ladies told me. Yes, they are…
Eric is taking it all in, as well. I can tell he is falling in love with this place and the people here. He is having to soak up so many details and information regarding the operational running of the ministry. As he is much more pastoral and relational, this is stretching for him. Not in the sense that he is not capable and equipped, but that he is just more naturally gifted in those other areas. He will have to find balance in this area; as will the rest of us!
This morning, sitting on the front patio of the guest house we are staying in, the Lord led me to read the following passage out of Isaiah. I feel it is a blessing and promise that He is speaking over our family:
“…if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always: He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and you will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”
Isaiah 58:10-12
I love you!!! And, I love reading your blog….I feel like I’m walking along side of you as you share your story…such a gift!
I too, feel like I’m right there with you all! Thank you for so generously sharing your day(s?) with us. You’re in our prayers. I love you all.
You are indeed a gifted writer. I love your humor and very much understand the toilet paper dilemma. I experienced this when Barb Slagh and I went to Peru and Ecuador. Thanks so much for including us all in your daily experience. God bless you all.
Much Love,
Dawn H.
Jen I was so glad to see this update! Last night at work I was praying for you guys and more specifically the kids. Wondering how they were adjusting and it sounds like they are doing an amazing job. Love you guys and will continue to pray!
Love the stories!! Aliya enjoyed looking at your family picture-“they came to my house!” Praying for you daily, so glad you are able to do updates! Awesome stuff!
Thank you Jen for the update! Praying for you and the family.
Jen, so glad to see you are all adjusting well. The kids seem happy, and it is awesome they are learning the language! May God be with you and the family, we will be praying for you all, and I can’t wait to read more!
So glad to read your news. Am praying that all continues to go well as you do the Lord’s work.
It was wonderful to meet you when you visited your parents in North Haledon.
Loved reading this and enjoyed the humorous way you portrayed things without doing it in a negative way.
Praying for you all today!
Elysa
Great story Jen:You are such a gifted writer!! We love you all and are praying like crazy.