Our Blog

Scorpions

Sat, 9 Jan 2010 09:19:31 +0200

We have new residents in our house and yard - unwelcome ones. During our first term we found a scorpion or two during the entire term. In the last month we’ve found several. I’m not sure if they’ve appeared inside because we’ve been doing so much digging outside - perhaps we disturbed an unknown nest. Who knows why but it’s not an exciting fact. I really don’t want to have to wear shoes all the time. I like going barefoot. My kids live barefoot. The older kids know to come get us if they see one; in fact it was Josiah and Asher who found the first scorpion, outside, and they did come get us quickly. How do we teach Jeremiah to do the same?

Inside we’ve found them all in the bathroom - 3 this morning so I think the plan today is to tear that room apart, moving things and spraying around the edges and perhaps up into the washing machine and dryer to see if we can find and destroy wherever they’re coming from.

Hopefully we’re successful. Go away unwelcome guest!

Through the Windshield

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 09:05:02 +0200

Living in the city it’s easy to forget how beautiful Mozambique can be. During our recent trip to Malawi, Dan and I found ourselves commenting multiple times on how pretty things were. We thought perhaps you’d like to see some of the pictures we saw while driving along.

With that said I’ve wondered, how often do we “drive” through life and fail slow down or even stop to notice the beauty along the way. We’re in a hurry to get somewhere or finish something. Even as Dan and I did notice several beautiful scenes there were several pictures we failed to get because “we have a 13 hr drive ahead of us - we can’t stop to keep taking pictures.” I know I missed pictures of a beautiful crane and a hamerkop and another small songbird with the most brilliant yellow back I’ve ever scene. Those are small things - disappointing that I missed them but not significant in the scheme of life. As I live life, living in the day to day, what beautiful things am I missing all because I’m not paying attention and am going too fast?

Help me slow down Lord - to notice and enjoy the beauty around me - your creation and the works you are doing.

Our Daughter These Days

Sat, 2 Jan 2010 14:19:59 +0200

I don’t really want to complain about Karunia’s love for reading. It’s a great thing, especially considering she really struggled to read during the early years of school. I want her to read, but I do get tickled (and occasionally, if I’m honest, peeved) at finding her just like she’s pictured above . . . .with her nose buried in a book.

Funny Signs

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 14:15:02 +0200

So while in Blantyre we visited the Ethiopian restaurant. It’s great food and Dan and I like having the opportunity to eat injera (traditional bread) and the various wats (stews). There are several Scripture signs around the restaurants and others that reference God and His grace.

This sign made us laugh however.

One Big Blow-Out

Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:36:57 +0200

We were on our way to Malawi. It’s a long drive (13 hrs) on a lot of bad road. It would make sense that a tire could go flat. The irony is it happened on a great stretch of road and it didn’t just go flat it blew out. Majorly!! Praise the Lord that Dan maintained control of the car. We’re also thankful that it did happen on a good road since lying in the mud to try and change it wouldn’t have been so nice. Finally, our jack wasn’t working really well so we’re also thankful for the Mozambicans who stopped and helped to change the tire. After about an hour we were on our way again and the rest of the trip went fine.

Oh yeah - we did manage to get new tires for the truck and now are carrying 2 spares.