Toughen up, dont be afraid to Gag! 52 days to go

I keep thinking preparation…How do I prepare myself for the unpreparable?

I am so excited to see and love on the people. The women and the children grab my heart like nothing I can explain. The food is kind of weird sometimes and good others, I could take it or leave it but it doesn’t stress me. I generally am not afraid of getting sick. I am not worried about crime or something happening to me. The travel is long but it isn’t worse than a marathon.

My only fear, at least for the time being is, loosing it. Full on smell or site induced chucking your lunch without any control. Not motion sick, not sick sick but the waive of nausea that comes from sights and sounds that are just over the top.

I feel very drawn to Korah, the trash dump outside of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. We will be spending days there if at all possible. I can barely take my own trash out or wipe out the can. I can not even help with my own kids getting sick or barely left over food. Not that I’m not tough or too princess like, I just begin to uncontrollably loose myself.

Is there a way to toughen up? I’m trying. I keep sniffing nasty stuff to see if I can mentally control my heaving. Why would I have such an intense desire to be with people in such a terrible place but not even be able to control my own body? I heart Korah.

My Life is a Science Experiment.

My 11 year old, Kaytlynn, has been working feverishly on a fabulous experiment. It seemed natural because she likes to bake to do something in the kitchen. She chose to make from scratch two yellow cakes with all of the ingredients controlled as well as the baking conditions. She made only one slight change to the recipe. 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda was omitted in the second cake. As a good scientist would, she observed each step.

1. the ingredients looked the same
2. the batter looked, smelled, tasted the same
3. not surprisingly the difference was in the baking

There was a big bubble on one side, the cake was difficult to get out of the pan, it crumbled on one side and was like a rubber solid chunk instead of a fluffy cake.

I began to compare the experiment to my own life. Maybe on the surface I might look the same to my peeps. I smile, I’m kind, I say nice things. No one may suspect until I’m baked…under pressure. What if that little ingredient that is missing is love… the perfect love of Jesus. The secret is to put the love in ahead of time. One you are under pressure, there isn’t time to throw in the missing ingredient.

unwanted guests-the unperks

Today is the day of admission. The black jumping specks on my arms, my bed and my books are not pepper. The visitors have moved in to stay and today is the day their eviction notice is to be served. Maybe they are guests from the previous tenants. Maybe friends of the 4 cats upstairs. I’m not sure but being the unfriendly person that I am, today is the day of their doom. I have agreed for the nasty infusion to be imparted in our home. 10 days of vacuum clean up. Really, 10 days of bodies and eggs? The thought makes me shutter. The green natural girl that I aspire to be is wreathing in agony over the thought. Did we really sign up to live here on purpose?

Non Material Poverty

Europeans have watches, African’s have Time.

the Garage Sale

Ethiopian Mansion

Well, it is official. We have moved into our Tualatin “Ethiopian Mansion” as Harrison calls it. Moving into an apartment by choice, is an interesting adventure. We already see that we are being taught about our own social prejudices about apartment living and the people that live there. We have been delighted by our new neighbors, although nothing could shadow the neighbors we have had in the past, as they will be our forever friends. Our new neighbors have brought us gifts, helped carry stuff, showed us the ropes around the community, and have been delightful. Most of them are 11 and under.
Shane isn’t sleeping well yet as the toilet doesn’t stop running, the dishwasher sounds like it is going to “take off”, and hearing the neighbors using the bathroom in the middle of the night wakes him up but he is delighted by our choice. The long term implications are good. We have much to learn.

Letting Go…the rich young ruler

As we begin to purge our house of the extra stuff, some recycle, some trash some Craig’s List treasures we just don’t need anymore, it feels very exciting and liberating. The thought of using our leftovers to leverage into a meaningful help for Africa comes at very little cost.

It wasn’t until some of my favorites possessions came into question, like my Anthropologie kitchen table, a tea pot from my grandma or a Crate n Barrel side table that just makes me warm inside to look at it. It was as if I could hear Jesus saying to the rich young ruler, “sell all of your possessions and give them to poor and follow me”. But Lord, I don’t want them to be wasted. The investments I have made on these treasures will not be restored to me. I don’t think the idea of being without my treasures bothers me as much as the idea of the lack of return on my investment. How much have I spent to create the wonderful encumbering web?

Looking forward I want to be able to just say “yes”. I will follow you Lord. I will walk away from my earthy accumulations without hesitation. I will give you the little I have to mix with your endless supply. Use me as you will and let eternal investments be sewn.

One For One Movement – A Pair Of New Shoes Is Given To A Child In Need With Every Pair Purchased – TOMS.com

One For One Movement – A Pair Of New Shoes Is Given To A Child In Need With Every Pair Purchased – TOMS.com

A fresh look…