Through the Seasons

So the gardener came by today to ask when he should start planting flowers along the fence for us.  The question is, when did I realize that’s what he was asking.  Yep, after he left. 

But he was so nice to speak slowly for me so I could understand A LOT of what he said.  I understood he was the one Jonathan had asked to plant a garden.  I understood when he asked when mzee (which means ‘old man’ – how ironic that’s a title of respect given to my husband here) was to return.  I was even able to answer that question using Swahili time (something that makes me crazy). 

In language school I could never get the word for “parents” and the teacher said I just had to get that word and I thought, ‘why? when will I ever be talking to strangers saying ‘my parents this’ and ‘my parents that’?'  One of the first personal questions the gardener asked me was if my parents live near here.  Doh.  Guess I did need to know that word.  I told him all my family was in America.

Then he encouraged me in my Swahili saying I would know it after some time.  I told him I learned it in Iringa then went to America and forgot it.  I also told him Jonathan knows more than me because he talks all the time.  Teehee…

So that was an interesting start to my morning.  I wonder if it’s why I have a headache.

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I know you want to know what happened with the truck.  It came.  I don’t want to say anything more right now.  I’m sick of thinking about it.

What I did want to say is that I am down to my pre-pregnancy weight – Yay!  The Africa diet.  It never fails (me, anyway). 

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You bet He does.  But can we always tell?  No, and that is what can get as frustrating as what you’re pouring your heart out to Him about in the first place.

“Pray without ceasing”  ~1 Thessalonians 5:17

We didn’t pray about it.  We just did it.  We needed our stuff to get from Dar to Mbeya.  We asked our branch operations people how we could go about getting it here and they told us we could hire a truck.  In fact, they have a company they use.  Great.  They must be good.  Right?

Wrong.

And isn’t this just one of those small, daily decisions that really doesn’t need prayer?  We don’t need to bother God with the small stuff – the details.  Right?

Wrong again.

Every day they say they will arrive the next day.  And they don’t.  We were told today that they haven’t lied to us.  They’re just telling us what they think we want to hear (in full knowledge that it is not the truth).  (Begs the question ‘what exactly is a lie?’ then doesn’t it?)  But back to the point.

As we continued through this process we did begin praying.  Okay.  Better late than never.  Right?  I hope so.  God in all His love, patience, long-suffering, grace, and mercy surely would hear our prayers however delayed.  I think so anyway.  But then you feel like, “Does He hear me?  Is He involved at all?”

I believe He does and He is.  I can’t always see His involvement.  The Jews couldn’t see His involvement all those years of waiting for the Savior to come either but God has a plan and perfect timing (as hard as it is to admit that the truck with our stuff arriving a week (or weeks) ago wasn’t REALLY perfect timing). 

I got an email today from someone who knows the situation.  She was awakened in the middle of the night last night feeling led to pray for us.  God hears.

In the midst of our dealings, a Tanzanian friend of ours contacted us who happens to know the trucking company we used (not to mention, this culture as well).  God hears.

Although there are moments of extreme frustration when Jonathan and I both feel like we’re going to lose our tempers, there are also moments of peace that can not be explained.  God hears.

So again I go to God in prayer.  Because I believe with all my heart He hears, knows, and answers.  I must also accept that He will answer in His will and in His timing.  And in my acceptance, I will find peace.

But I will pray with persistence the way Jesus instructed us to.

“Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”  Luke 18:1  [Enter the Parable of the Persistent Widow.]

Jesus closes to say, “And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night?  Will He keep putting them off?  I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly”  ~Luke 18:7-8a

Quickly, huh?

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”  ~2 Peter 3:8

Uh-oh.

YOUR will, Lord…YOUR will be done…

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I’ve been asked where we buy our things so the other day when we went to town I took pictures to give you a glimpse.  We were in search of foam for the dogs now that they’re not allowed on the furniture, a rug for the living room, fabric for curtains, a katenge to carry Asher in, and stamps.  We ended up with two pieces of foam, a katenge, and stamps.  It’s just pretty hard to find exactly what you want and need all in one trip to town.  So here are the pictures.

Just after you exit our compound you turn left to go downtown.  This is the view down that street.

This is the entrance to downtown.  The statue says, “Friend of Tanzania and Japan.”  (All I know about the statue is where it is and what it says.)

This is Jonathan on one of the small side streets holding Asher.  No, he’s not abusing him.  He loves to be held that way.  We were on that street looking for chicken which we ended up with none.  Good thing we were near the post office so didn’t go too far out of our way.

These are a few shots of the downtown streets.  You just dip into each of the dukas (shops) trying to find a thing here or there that you may need.  There’s just no one place to get everything, or even the majority, of what you’re looking for.

This was on our way back out of town.

We get most of our Western things like bath soap, fabric softener, jam, canned vegetables (very few), and peanut butter from one of these two stores.

This one is at the bottom with two apartments above.

This one is a gas station convenience store.  Yep.  And we love it.

This is a row of additional shops on a sort of “frontage road” across from Oilcom.  I had to get a shot of the lady with furniture on her head.

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For about $17.00 we got the array of fresh fruits and veggies you see pictured.  (We have them set out on our stove in our kitchen, if you’re curious.) 

If you can’t tell there are tomatoes, papaya, bananas, pears (rare to find here), pineapple, broccoli (also rare), peppers, apples, zuchinni, oranges, avocado, and green beans.  Because of how much we bought some of these things were zawadi (gifts).  Jonathan and I don’t like avocado and if we did we have a tree in our back yard with plenty of them – but – the vendor wanted us to have it so we took it.  I’m not sure what I’ll do with the peppers either since they’re not my thing.  We may have gotten a few too many tomatoes given the fact that the only tomatoes I eat are in some sort of sauce or condiment.  I’m considering making my own tomato paste with some so they don’t go to waste.

What other fruits/veggies can you find here?  Cucumber, okra, cauliflower, guava, greens (something like mustard or collard greens), spinach, mangoes, watermelon, and many others I can’t think of right now.  What is hard to get is strawberries but I have had them here.  I’ve never seen blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, grapefruit, grapes, asparagus, or tangerines.  As we go through the various seasons we’ll see what becomes available that isn’t right now.  We’re excited to branch out and try new things but will probably still miss some of our favorites as well.  We’ll be sure to get those things in 2 years when we go home for our first furlough.

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That is the question.

I love the thought of EC (Elimination Communication).  The girl I know who does this says she’s only changed a handful of dirty nappies.  I change a handful a day!  The basic concept is to read your baby’s cues and take them to the toilet to eliminate.  And it’s working for her – and countless others who have had such a method as a part of their society for years (maybe forever – except instead of going to the toilet, some go to a bush).

I’ll be honest here though.  I’m lazy.  Good gracious.  It just sounds like a ton of work to me.  I’m already grateful for any time I have to write a blog post or check email (which I usually do with one hand while holding him) or to go to the bathroom (which I also do holding him) or to take a shower (which just doesn’t happen every day because I can’t feasibly shower with him strapped to me). 

Or is it more work?  It takes away all those nappie changes.  Hmmm…  It really is an interesting idea and proven effective.  I don’t really think the people here practice EC – not that I’ve been able to tell.  They tend to put layers of cloth on the baby then strap them on with a kanga.  By the smell I gather the baby eliminates right there in the layers of cloth.  I have never seen someone holding their baby letting them do their business – but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.

Yes.  It’s interesting.  I just don’t think I have it in me to try it.  For now anyway.  I’ll let you know if I change my mind.  It does bear some more research.  I was told you could do it to any degree you want so maybe I could try it a little bit without getting all gung-ho about it so that it wouldn’t be yet another thing I’m trying to master.

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I have decided to have a blog that is all about Asher.  What was previously “Growing Asher” is now a blog where I will post pictures and tell stories all about him.  Not about motherhood but about him and his adventures as a missionary kid.  Hopefully one day he’ll even contribute to it!

Check out “Asher’s Adventures” at:  www.mccalled.com/asher

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…I want to hop into my car

drive to the grocery store

buy a few ingredients for a quick meal

rinse the veggies right under the tap

throw it all on the stove

eat

put the dishes in the dishwasher

turn on the TV

and veg out…

But right now I’m cooking a whole chicken for the first time in my life and trying my best to wash and snap the fresh green beans while holding a baby who refuses to be put down.  (In fact we’ve spent most of our day dancing around the living room – finally someone who isn’t turned off by my singing.    Or is that why he’s sleeping??)

Is it just me or does it bother anyone else that a whole chicken so closely resembles…

…a chicken?

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Welcomed Guest:

Unwelcomed Guest:

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This post is in honor of all moms everywhere but especially for my mom.

If you ever wondered if I really knew how much you loved me, I didn’t. 

If you ever wondered if I really knew the sacrifices you made for me, I didn’t. 

If you ever wondered if I realized how hard you worked, I didn’t.

Did I know your heart broke when I cried?  No.

Did I know you felt joy when I laughed?  No.

Did I know you always wanted the best for me?  No.

Do I now know how you must have felt being my mom?  Barely.

Do I wish I would have realized all this sooner?  Yes.

Do I appreciate the things you’ve done for me and who you’ve been to me?  More than that.

I am amazed by you.

I am amazed that you slept in the bed with me when I was scared.

I am amazed that you endured my endless crying when I was a baby.

I am amazed that you sat up with me at night when I was sick.

I am amazed that you tended to my every need even when it was simply to be comforted.

I am amazed that you mended all my wounds whether physically or of the heart.

I am amazed you always seemed to know what to say or when there was nothing to say at all.

No.  I never knew what it meant that you were my mom.

But now I do. 

And all I can say is ‘I love you too’.

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