Wednesday, August 29, 2007
I LOVE Bagels
Seriously, people...I can't get enough bagels and cream cheese! Bagels make me happy. Do you think it's a pregnancy thing?
Monday, August 27, 2007
Pleasure Reading
I (Kate) am currently reading the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. After several heartbreaks the author decides to go on a journey in pursuit of pleasure (in Italy), devotion (India), and balance (Indonesia). The book is broken into 3 distinct sections, and I am just finishing the first section on her pursuit of pleasure in Italy. I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far and have found it interesting that I am reading about pleasure as I arrive here in Michigan with more free time than I've had in years. As she asks herself what brings her pleasure, I can't help but ask myself that same question. Of course she is in Italy dining on fantastic foods and drinking incredible wines...the question of pleasure seems a bit more difficult when you are pregnant (which makes me unable to taste new wines or microbrews) and poor in Michigan!
But as I ask myself what brings me pleasure, and if I'm completely honest with myself, I think it really comes down to eating. Most of you are probably not surprised at all! I feel like I should say the outdoors or running or traveling or something hard core, but really what brings me pleasure is going to a coffee shop on Sunday after church and reading the newspaper while sipping on coffee or a latte. I love sitting outside on a warm summer evening with a beer (or other refreshing beverage that is non-alcoholic in my case this summer), and just visiting with Aaron or friends. When I go camping, my favorite part of the trip is always the meal and the campfire. I enjoy good food and drink and the way that it brings people together. Don't get me wrong...I do enjoy the outdoors, but when I am on a hike or climbing, I'm always wondering where the closest coffee shop is on our way home. So although the cash flow makes it difficult to enjoy a trip to the coffee shop everyday, I am looking for other ways to pursue pleasure this week. Perhaps I will make my own coffee and sit outside tomorrow morning and read my book. Perhaps I will prepare my meals with care and enjoy eating them (even if it is a bowl of cereal!!). I think the best way to experience pleasure is to be in the moment. The minute I think I should be doing something else or start wondering what I will do next...the pleasure is gone. My challenge to myself this week is to be in the moment and pursue a few things that bring me pleasure. What about you? What brings you pleasure?
Here's a quote from Gilbert's book:
"'No town can live peacefully,whatever its laws,' Plato wrote, 'when its citizens...do nothing but feast and drink and tire themselves out in the cares of love.' But is it such a bad thing to live like this for just a little while? Just for a few months of one's life, is it so awful to travel through time with no greater ambition than to find the next lovely meal? Or to learn how to speak a language for no higher purpose than that it pleases your ear to hear it? Or to nap in a garden, in a patch of sunlight, in the middle of the day, right next to your favorite fountain? And then to do it again the next day?"
I want to go to Italy!
But as I ask myself what brings me pleasure, and if I'm completely honest with myself, I think it really comes down to eating. Most of you are probably not surprised at all! I feel like I should say the outdoors or running or traveling or something hard core, but really what brings me pleasure is going to a coffee shop on Sunday after church and reading the newspaper while sipping on coffee or a latte. I love sitting outside on a warm summer evening with a beer (or other refreshing beverage that is non-alcoholic in my case this summer), and just visiting with Aaron or friends. When I go camping, my favorite part of the trip is always the meal and the campfire. I enjoy good food and drink and the way that it brings people together. Don't get me wrong...I do enjoy the outdoors, but when I am on a hike or climbing, I'm always wondering where the closest coffee shop is on our way home. So although the cash flow makes it difficult to enjoy a trip to the coffee shop everyday, I am looking for other ways to pursue pleasure this week. Perhaps I will make my own coffee and sit outside tomorrow morning and read my book. Perhaps I will prepare my meals with care and enjoy eating them (even if it is a bowl of cereal!!). I think the best way to experience pleasure is to be in the moment. The minute I think I should be doing something else or start wondering what I will do next...the pleasure is gone. My challenge to myself this week is to be in the moment and pursue a few things that bring me pleasure. What about you? What brings you pleasure?
Here's a quote from Gilbert's book:
"'No town can live peacefully,whatever its laws,' Plato wrote, 'when its citizens...do nothing but feast and drink and tire themselves out in the cares of love.' But is it such a bad thing to live like this for just a little while? Just for a few months of one's life, is it so awful to travel through time with no greater ambition than to find the next lovely meal? Or to learn how to speak a language for no higher purpose than that it pleases your ear to hear it? Or to nap in a garden, in a patch of sunlight, in the middle of the day, right next to your favorite fountain? And then to do it again the next day?"
I want to go to Italy!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Next Adventure - Michigan
Well we have arrived safely in Michigan. We have gotten settled into our seminary housing apartment with donated furniture, and have begun the job search. Oh the joys of job hunting when you can only work for 3 months before you move again. How do you explain that?
We are enjoying reconnecting after an insane summer...might I even go so far as to say we have experienced a wee bit of boredom? Thank the Lord for LOST episodes on DVD. We have already made it through the first two discs of season one. It's funny - today I realized that Aaron and I have only talked to each other this past week besides the occasional phone call home and the times of ordering coffee. We have not had any significant conversations with anyone in person besides each other. (I have to admit that I don't really mind...although by next week I may be more ready for real life interaction!) Although it's a bit hard to be here, we know that the next few months are big for us as we seek the Lord and discern the next phase of life.
Lesson #1 from Michigan so far...don't forget sunscreen when you go to Lake Michigan and sit on the beach for over 3 hours AND try not to fall asleep so that one side of your body is significantly more red than the other.
Lake Michigan
(which really seems more like the ocean)
We are enjoying reconnecting after an insane summer...might I even go so far as to say we have experienced a wee bit of boredom? Thank the Lord for LOST episodes on DVD. We have already made it through the first two discs of season one. It's funny - today I realized that Aaron and I have only talked to each other this past week besides the occasional phone call home and the times of ordering coffee. We have not had any significant conversations with anyone in person besides each other. (I have to admit that I don't really mind...although by next week I may be more ready for real life interaction!) Although it's a bit hard to be here, we know that the next few months are big for us as we seek the Lord and discern the next phase of life.
Lesson #1 from Michigan so far...don't forget sunscreen when you go to Lake Michigan and sit on the beach for over 3 hours AND try not to fall asleep so that one side of your body is significantly more red than the other.
This picture was taken prior to the insane sunburn
Lake Michigan(which really seems more like the ocean)
Saturday, August 18, 2007
It's a ....BABY!
My life is full these days (as you can probably tell with the number of posts we have had in the past week!). In the midst of trying to process our trip to Africa we are already preparing for the next adventure - a short term move to Michigan, and oh yeah, I'm pregnant, too. Lately my pregnancy has felt like an afterthought in the midst of so many changes and uncertainties.
On Thursday we got some exciting news that makes being pregnant less of an afterthought - We are having a baby GIRL!!
It was awesome to see her on the ultrasound moving around. The doctor says that everything looks good, so that was definitely reassuring. It has been fun calling her "she" instead of "it" and this morning my mom and I went to a garage sale and picked out a few girl clothes! I know not everyone likes to find out the gender of their baby, but it has been really good for me to discover. I feel a bit more attached to her now than I did before. She even told me that she likes purple and green more than pink, and I was relieved to hear that, although every girl must have a little pink in her life!
Our Sponsored Friend Bheki
Perhaps one the best opportunities for K8 and I on our trip to Swaziland was the day we met our sponsored child Bheki. We met him in the park along with other sponsored kids. One of the first things we noticed was Bheki was very shy. He seemed unsure of the day ahead. We were too. The first thing we did together was eat, KFC. Nothing like giving a kid the world’s greasiest lunch (sorry Colonel), when that kid is used to eating porridge and beans. Throughout the meal, and the day for that matter, K8 and I both were curious what he was thinking, because he was so quiet.
During the meal, his teacher came over to us and told us a bit of Bheki’s situation. The teacher told us Bheki’s dad has passed away, his mom is seriously ill and possibly dying, and his sister died this past year. Bheki, like many kids in Swaziland, has had a rough year and life. With the world’s largest per-capita HIV rate, death in Swaziland is a way of life. K8 and I wondered how much of Bheki’s disposition is defined by the loss he has experienced in his life. Along with the pervasive presence of disease in the country, poverty is a general piece of life. As you drive the streets you may see kids going through dumps looking for anything of value, adults loitering for lack of work, and shacks which house up to 10 or more people. In this environment, sponsoring a child can be, as is often, the difference between life and death. The Care Points (community centers) become a life line for the impoverished children. These places do at least 4 things for kids: they provide education for kids who can’t afford to go to school (there’s no public school system), provide medical care, provide daily meals (sometimes these meals are the only meals these kids will receive), and provide after school care. Without sponsorship many of the provisions in these Care Points are unavailable to kids.
The teacher’s explanation helped us as we spent the day with Bheki. After the meal, we played soccer with Bheki and then went shopping. We were able to buy new school shoes for him. He picked some cool ones. For only being 13, Bheki is a man of class. With shoes purchased, Bheki was given $20 to buy whatever he wanted. I figured he would pick a soccer ball or something “fun.” But Bheki chose a cool backpack and school pants. I suppose when you live as Bheki does, that makes sense. The thing is, Bheki was stoked about what he bought. It was fun to see him smile.
After this Bheki and all the kids got ice cream and then we headed home. Throughout the day Bheki became a tiny bit more open. As the day progressed he smiled more. It you look at the photos we took from start to finish, Bheki’s smile gets bigger. That being said, when the bus stopped in his neighborhood, Bheki quickly left. For being a shy kid he did pretty well, but he was excited to be home. I can’t imagine what it is like for an African kid to spend half a day with some strange crackers who constantly are probing you with questions about your life. Whatever he was thinking, it was an awesome experience for us. The day truly personalized our sponsorship. The only downside to the day was that Bheki now has my $2 Ireland shirt. He borrowed it because he got cold. I guess I'll have to go back and wrestle it out of his 13 year old fingers.
After meeting Bheki and hearing his story, I know that the $30 I send each month is making a world of difference for this one child. If you are interested in sponsoring a child check out the link for Mission of Mercy.
During the meal, his teacher came over to us and told us a bit of Bheki’s situation. The teacher told us Bheki’s dad has passed away, his mom is seriously ill and possibly dying, and his sister died this past year. Bheki, like many kids in Swaziland, has had a rough year and life. With the world’s largest per-capita HIV rate, death in Swaziland is a way of life. K8 and I wondered how much of Bheki’s disposition is defined by the loss he has experienced in his life. Along with the pervasive presence of disease in the country, poverty is a general piece of life. As you drive the streets you may see kids going through dumps looking for anything of value, adults loitering for lack of work, and shacks which house up to 10 or more people. In this environment, sponsoring a child can be, as is often, the difference between life and death. The Care Points (community centers) become a life line for the impoverished children. These places do at least 4 things for kids: they provide education for kids who can’t afford to go to school (there’s no public school system), provide medical care, provide daily meals (sometimes these meals are the only meals these kids will receive), and provide after school care. Without sponsorship many of the provisions in these Care Points are unavailable to kids.
The teacher’s explanation helped us as we spent the day with Bheki. After the meal, we played soccer with Bheki and then went shopping. We were able to buy new school shoes for him. He picked some cool ones. For only being 13, Bheki is a man of class. With shoes purchased, Bheki was given $20 to buy whatever he wanted. I figured he would pick a soccer ball or something “fun.” But Bheki chose a cool backpack and school pants. I suppose when you live as Bheki does, that makes sense. The thing is, Bheki was stoked about what he bought. It was fun to see him smile.
After this Bheki and all the kids got ice cream and then we headed home. Throughout the day Bheki became a tiny bit more open. As the day progressed he smiled more. It you look at the photos we took from start to finish, Bheki’s smile gets bigger. That being said, when the bus stopped in his neighborhood, Bheki quickly left. For being a shy kid he did pretty well, but he was excited to be home. I can’t imagine what it is like for an African kid to spend half a day with some strange crackers who constantly are probing you with questions about your life. Whatever he was thinking, it was an awesome experience for us. The day truly personalized our sponsorship. The only downside to the day was that Bheki now has my $2 Ireland shirt. He borrowed it because he got cold. I guess I'll have to go back and wrestle it out of his 13 year old fingers.
After meeting Bheki and hearing his story, I know that the $30 I send each month is making a world of difference for this one child. If you are interested in sponsoring a child check out the link for Mission of Mercy.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Afrika
Africa was what I expected. The homes I visited were as small and ill made as I saw on TV, the children were as beautiful as I expected, and the poverty was as vast as I thought. But thoughts and expectations are nothing compared to the reality of actually being confronted first hand with the good and bad. We shot thousands of photos and dozens of videos, but those don't do it justice either. Africa was awesome. It was incredible to see it all firsthand.
I think the most incredible thing I witnessed were those serving the children. In the community centers staffed by Children's Cup, volunteer cooks work 5 days a week to serve meals to children. These meal were often the only one's they would eat that day. Teachers in these centers teach children whose parents are often dead or dying, HIV or TB positive, and struggling to feed their families. Missionaries organize aid for these kids, which provides schooling, food, clothing, and love. These people are allowing these disadvantaged children to succeed in an environment that is challenging. These folks are the people who impressed me the most in the short time I was in Africa. God is doing a great work through these people, and they will continue to be in my prayers, and hopefully yours as well. Check these folks out at Children's Cup.
Aa
I think the most incredible thing I witnessed were those serving the children. In the community centers staffed by Children's Cup, volunteer cooks work 5 days a week to serve meals to children. These meal were often the only one's they would eat that day. Teachers in these centers teach children whose parents are often dead or dying, HIV or TB positive, and struggling to feed their families. Missionaries organize aid for these kids, which provides schooling, food, clothing, and love. These people are allowing these disadvantaged children to succeed in an environment that is challenging. These folks are the people who impressed me the most in the short time I was in Africa. God is doing a great work through these people, and they will continue to be in my prayers, and hopefully yours as well. Check these folks out at Children's Cup.
Aa
More Africa Pictures
Passing out "sweets"
The women who volunteer to cook for the kids everyday
My sweet friend, Tuli. She is so bright, and she speaks English very well, but she doesn't go to school because it is too expensive.
My brother, Mason, hanging out. The kids loved him and he made a great jungle gym.
My sister, Emily, working on handstands!
Twin boys at my care point.
I met these kids on the road and gave them some candy. The kid in the middle can't take his eyes off it!
We did some crafts with the kids.
Can I bring this one home?
The women who volunteer to cook for the kids everyday
My sweet friend, Tuli. She is so bright, and she speaks English very well, but she doesn't go to school because it is too expensive.
My brother, Mason, hanging out. The kids loved him and he made a great jungle gym.
My sister, Emily, working on handstands!
Twin boys at my care point.
I met these kids on the road and gave them some candy. The kid in the middle can't take his eyes off it!
We did some crafts with the kids.
Can I bring this one home?
Return from Africa - Kate's thoughts
How was your trip? For those of you who have been on trips like this, you know how hard this question is to answer. For me the trip was amazing, overwhelming, and exhausting. Our trip got off to a bit of a rough start because we missed our flight from D.C. to South Africa by about 20 minutes. Considering how difficult it is to find 31 open seats on the next flight, we had to split into two teams. One group flew to South Africa the next day and the rest of us took a little detour through London. The first group arrived in South Africa, got on the bus, which ran out of gas because of a gas strike in Johannesburg, and when they got to the border of Swaziland it was closed, so they were forced to stay in South Africa for the night. The rest of us arrived in Joburg on Monday and got to our hotel a hour or two after the first group. So needless to say, I was exhausted before we even got there. Unfortunately all this travel took 2 days off of our time there, so that was disappointing, but we jumped right in!
We spent a few mornings digging a foundation for two new care points. Care points provide school for about 40 kids in the mornings and then after-school Bible clubs for up to 200-300 kids. The kids also get a meal there, usually their only meal for the day. There were several care points throughout the city, so we split into different groups and hung out with the kids and would read a Bible story, etc. When we were with the kids, our main objective was to love on these beautiful children, many of whom are orphans. We hugged, high-fived, played soccer, got in circles and danced, and passed out "sweets" (the kids went nuts over the candy - we got nearly trampled a few times!). I can't describe how cool this time was. The kids loved our digital cameras, so alot of the time was spent taking pictures and showing it to the kids.
In the middle of the week, Aaron and I got to meet our sponsor child, Bheki...but that deserves a whole posting, so more on that time later.
The organization we worked with, Children's Cup, was incredible - you should check it out. The missionaries and Swazis that are there are incredible people. Aaron and I had the privilege of hanging out with some of the missionaries one night while everyone else went to a game park (a travel doctor suggested I avoid overnight trips to game parks, because of a small malaria risk). It was so great to connect with the missionaries. It really reminded me of our time in China with our team. Part of me finds their lives very appealing, and it makes me wonder how it would be to be in Swaziland long term. Ever since I was a little girl I have wanted to go to Africa, and this trip did not disappoint. In a way, I feel like if I can keep going back to Swaziland, I would be fine not going anywhere else in the world ever again. Aaron and I are at such a crossroads and I have to admit that going to Swaziland long term has crossed my mind...and the fact that we were being heavily recruited by the missionaries doesn't help much!
Anyway, enough for now...I'll attach pictures, because pictures really do tell a better story.
Ncamiso and Prudence - two of the Swazi teachers
My dad
My mom playing with the kids while others work!! :)
My brother-in-law, Heath
Preach it, Aaron! :)
We spent a few mornings digging a foundation for two new care points. Care points provide school for about 40 kids in the mornings and then after-school Bible clubs for up to 200-300 kids. The kids also get a meal there, usually their only meal for the day. There were several care points throughout the city, so we split into different groups and hung out with the kids and would read a Bible story, etc. When we were with the kids, our main objective was to love on these beautiful children, many of whom are orphans. We hugged, high-fived, played soccer, got in circles and danced, and passed out "sweets" (the kids went nuts over the candy - we got nearly trampled a few times!). I can't describe how cool this time was. The kids loved our digital cameras, so alot of the time was spent taking pictures and showing it to the kids.
In the middle of the week, Aaron and I got to meet our sponsor child, Bheki...but that deserves a whole posting, so more on that time later.
The organization we worked with, Children's Cup, was incredible - you should check it out. The missionaries and Swazis that are there are incredible people. Aaron and I had the privilege of hanging out with some of the missionaries one night while everyone else went to a game park (a travel doctor suggested I avoid overnight trips to game parks, because of a small malaria risk). It was so great to connect with the missionaries. It really reminded me of our time in China with our team. Part of me finds their lives very appealing, and it makes me wonder how it would be to be in Swaziland long term. Ever since I was a little girl I have wanted to go to Africa, and this trip did not disappoint. In a way, I feel like if I can keep going back to Swaziland, I would be fine not going anywhere else in the world ever again. Aaron and I are at such a crossroads and I have to admit that going to Swaziland long term has crossed my mind...and the fact that we were being heavily recruited by the missionaries doesn't help much!
Anyway, enough for now...I'll attach pictures, because pictures really do tell a better story.
Ncamiso and Prudence - two of the Swazi teachers
My dad
My mom playing with the kids while others work!! :)
My brother-in-law, Heath
Preach it, Aaron! :)
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Swaziland or Bust
DID YOU KNOW...
Thanks for your prayers and support. We will see you when we get back in about 10 days. I am sure that we will have many pictures and stories to fill our blog with...so stay tuned!
- Swaziland is a small African country between South Africa and Mozambique?
- The population of Swaziland is approximately 1,175,000?
- Nearly 40% of the country's adults are living with HIV/AIDS?
- An estimated 16,000 children under the age of 15 are themselves infected with HIV?
- The average life expectancy in Swaziland is 32 years of age?
- On Friday my whole family along with a team of 24 other people from North Carolina will be flying to this country?
Thanks for your prayers and support. We will see you when we get back in about 10 days. I am sure that we will have many pictures and stories to fill our blog with...so stay tuned!
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