the run around

Have you ever felt like you have been given the run around?

Here in Madagascar it seems that this can be a normal occurrance. Just last week I was notified by a mail man that I had packages waiting for me at the main post office in the capital city about 1 hours bus ride into town. So, I embarked a bus and made my way into town not only to gather the packages but to meet with my language teacher for my Monday lesson.

I arrived at the post office and was sent in three different directions. I collected two packages and was fully inspected. Glad that some of the presents were wrapped and I was able to explain that it was my "anniversary" or Birthday and that people from the States loved me and wanted to bless me in this way. So, I did not have to open the other box. I paid my tax, this time it had grown to $20 american dollars on my end and was allowed to leave with the wonderful boxes of love that had been sent to me.

Two of the packages had been delivered to another station on the other side of town. Crazy! This is a first for so many of us. So we followed the directions, drove through town, past the turn off to our house and kept going like we were going out of town in the other direction. Went up a hill, around a corner and then after asking about three different people where the post was located for Ambohidratrimo we found the building. Parked the car, walked through the dirt, down a long set of steps to a ratty older looking building with one person sitting outside. She heard us talking and instantly I knew that she worked there because she was up, on her feet and asking for the "taratassy" or paperwork. I signed my name in two spots, paid my tax, this time only 2,000 ariary per package and was on my way. After all of that we were in and out of the post office in less than a minute.

I am blessed beyond measure with the kindness that people bestowed upon me by sending such thoughtful gifts of dream whip, soup mixes and drink mixes, super glue, birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas cards with such amazing sentiments inside of them. The old time cartoons, hard candies, gum, brown sugar and baking soda were extreme blessings and touched my heart so directly! I am going to sleep tonight thinking of the items from home that I might be able to make in order to still feel connected in the smallest way, especially through this holiday season.

Praise the Lord for this amazing care! Thank you Diane, Peggy, Peter, Frank and my church in Fullerton! You really know how to send LOVE through the mail!

Getting ready for Christmas

Decorating and making things for the holiday season is one of my favorite things to do and often times I get so involved in the project that I don't take time out for the people that come my way.

This year has been different already. I was not only done decorating before Thanksgiving but friends helped decorate and get into the season of things. Thanks so much to friends that share in the experiences and times making lasting memories.

Thanksgiving day with others

Today Sandi and I joined a group of other missionaries from all over the world, mostly the USA but some that have come to love the Thanksgiving holiday tradition of food and fellowship.

I woke up today just wanting to spend it alone and get some things done around the house, read a book and possibly take a nap. I was a little bummed out that I would not be able to join my family back in CA for our traditional Thanksgiving brunch! YUMMMM breakfast foods!

Well, after thinking about it I decided to go and was very glad that I went. As you can see in the pictures the food had such a great variety and was such a huge blessing to partake in with so many others that are also away from friends and family during this Thanksgiving season.

I pray that you were able to remember to be truly thankful for those that were around you, for the food that you were eating and the possible football games that you were able to enjoy, LIVE. (Our host had a taped game that he put on for the guys to watch!)

I am so very Thankful for the Lord in my life, for walking this journey alongside of HIM and for the many new people that I am coming into contact with each day! The Lord has given me many things to be thankful for that is for sure!

Fabric market!

Toady I was blessed with a bit of an opportunity to search the local fabric market for wonderful Christmas finds. I am getting ready to make some stockings and a few other things to bring Christmas here to our house and to new friends.

There were booths and booths of fabric, any kind you could ever want! I was in seamstress heaven! Those of you whom sew will understand me throughly. The prices were fantastic and even so we could still bargain and it was expected. It was not in the best part of town so I made sure that I took two Malagasy friends with me, we stripped our bodies of jewelery, only took what we needed and were on our way. Walking on uneven pavement, rocks sticking out here and there, some places had slatted pallets to walk on to keep you above the waste water that trickled in-between areas. I was so in awe that I did not take any pictures. Next time for sure!

If I could describe one thing it would be like going to a swapmeet and all the large booths of items would be jammed packed and squeezed close together with only a narrow pathway between the booths for walking. Two way pedestrian traffic is very difficult here but you manage, get in, find what you need and make your way out to the surface again. The area we covered had to be about a mile wide by 2 miles wide and we still did not look at every booth. Wonders await the next adventure!

It's beginning to look a lot like....

It is well before Thanksgiving here in Madagascar and there are signs of Christmas all over town. Not like in America where the stores carry items and the streets are all decorated but some of the shops that cater to foreigners are all decked out with Christmas trees (a bit on the pathetic or anarexic side of things but a tree none the less).

I have not looked very closely at what they have to offer because I knew I had brought 6 boxes of Christmas items with me to help me get to the greatly overproduced American feel of the holiday season. Each of the items that I have brought with me have special significance, incredible people have blessed me with special items over the years in anticipation of me being here, across the seas and miles - remembering them and how they care for me. A quilt made by a amazing women through a CA supporting church, the lights and garland that my Mother so desperately wanted me to leave with her. The absence of a pine tree forest because she won out on that request! Ribbons, stockings, glasses, coffee mugs, significant ornaments and cards that all adorn the first floor of the house that I share with Sandi!

It is now a few days before Thanksgiving and the house is decorated and ready for all to enjoy and gather here for the holidays that are so quickly approaching. This is the first year ever that I have welcomed Christmas before Thanksgiving but I am so very Thankful and will keep that mindset all throughout the coming month of celebrations. I am so shocked that the year is so close to an end. Seemed like I would not ever get to Madagascar and now that I am here It doesn't seem that I have lived anywhere else.

We are looking forward to spending time with many new single friends as we host a Christmas Party on Friday, December 4, 2009. We have invited 23 other singles both Malagasy and foreigner to start this holiday right. Focusing on Christ amidst fellowship with each other, keeping HIM the reason for this season.

Driving around town

Recently Sandi was ill and I found myself using the car to get from point A to point B or to take people home at night.

It is very amazing the freedom that I felt behind the wheel of a car. I have not driven much in the last 3 months while I have been here. I did not MAKE the time to get my international drivers liscence done before I left for Madagascar and trying to request one online has been a bit of a challenge since our internet is not very consistent, in downloading pictures.

To get from place to place I cram into a local taxi bay and sweat with the others that are trying to get from here to there. It has been suggested to me that I get a scooter to get around town but then a good friend in the Medical field is not willing to get one for her family because of the dangers, so I am praying heavily about this.

I was hoping to be able to purchase a good 4 wheel drive vehicle by now but the finances are just not there for that. Being without transportation limits what I can involve myself in these days and adds many hours to daily tasks when I have to take the bus, (we live at the end of a bus line, so this adds a LOT of waiting into my daily routines).

Looking forward to the day that I am blessed with transportation so that I can in turn bless others!

Will you pray with me towards this?

Baptisms! REjoicing!

I had the opportunity to attend with about 40 others from my local church here in Madagascar a blessed event!

Four of the Malagasy people in our church wanted to get Baptized! Rejoice! So, we all showed up about 7 am on Saturday, embarked on a 3 hour bus ride in the rain to an area named Montasoa. A bit of a retreat area here with a lake, bungalows and a community area that we used for get to know you games, fellowship and a picnic with each other.

It was great to be able to attend, work on cultivating a few relationships and get out of the city for the day!

I will try to post the video and pics of the wonderful event! For now this will just be a post without pictures, so please imagine with me 4 people being buried in their old lives and raised to walk in a brand new life with Christ! I am so excited for the four and the life that they have chosen.

Tennis time

WOW! I played tennis with two of my new friends today! Have not picked up a racket, unless I was moving it from one place to another in the garage, for about 5-6 years... It is going to take some refining but I am so excited to get out there and do something like this again.

Did you know that in High School I used to love playing Tennis. My friend and I would joke that we could make it to Wimbleton! What a joke...

My racket needs some work, new tape on the handle and another racket needs to be restrung but I am so excited to be able to get out and do something that I love! It has also reminded me of muscles that I have not worked in a long time!

Malagasy custom

I learned a new Malagasy custom this last week.

CAKE

Birthday Cake was served at the large party on Friday night and yet many of my Malagasy friends were not eating it. We only served snacks and drinks such as lemonaide, crystal light drinks and coke. Then some of the others that attended brought amazing cakes and brownies.

Yet the Malagasy friends had pieces sitting in front of them and they were not eating it.

I asked Francisca why they were not eating it and she let me know that it is a custom to bring the cake home to the children and not to eat it at the party. It is this way at weddings as well.

So when it was time to leave I helped them wrap up their cake so that the children at home would be able to partake.

Could those of you in the states resist cake at a celebration and just take it home for the children? I know some of you that could not resist and the cake would not quite make it home!

Birthday Bash

What an amazing gathering of people! I was so hugely blessed to have such a large group of people come to my home tonight to celebrate birthday's... Robin's and mine! God is so good to have put such a mixture of people around me here.

There were all sorts of people and it seemed as if everyone had a really great time! Talking, playing games with each other, eating snacks,

even meeting new friends. I even had a great time with some new friends as they learned

about some of my over the top organizational skills and poked fun at me! Transparency and laughter at its best.

After a large part of the party went home for the night, Robin and I were actually able to sit down and play a game with a small group of late night party goers... Neither of us did well at the game but I know that I had a wonderful time. By the time the last group of people left and Robin and I cleaned up the house, washed most of the dishes...it was well after midnight! Then Robin parted with his gifts in tow, on his little loaner scooter. What a sight. lol

When I hit the bed, I had a great time with the Lord before slumber set in. So thankful that in 3 months here I had met so many new friends and had many relationships to build into. Grateful for the opportunities that God gives every day to trust in HIM, follow HIM and grow in HIM.

I praise the Lord for this time in my life, the challenges, victories and relationships that are being forged.

Enjoy the photos! If you can get onto facebook then there is an album with more pictures.

Productive day!

Today was not like any other day of recent! IT was my birthday and I was starting to feel like I was catching a cold, so I cancelled my language helper for the day, took my extra vitamin C and a cold tablet and rested in bed for a while.

I was not going to let the cold stop me from making some wonderful Cinnamon rolls from scratch! That was really fun! Took a bit longer than I had wanted but it was a great time. They were not as tasty as Pillsbury or something that you Americans can just go and purchase in the refrigerated section, but it was like an old fashioned, Grandma approved Cinnamon ROLL.

So, I ate hommade cinnamon rolls and home made Chi tea around lunch time for Breakfast! Love it.

I got into a momentum to do some mending, not much but necessary for both me and for some others locally. When I got that done, I was really rolling and fixed some curtains for the kitchen, then some for the office and a long drape for the breezeway in the hallway upstairs. I was just working with Material that Sandi already had on hand but it was great to create.

I wonder what GOD felt like on that 7th day when he rested. Did he look over all that he had made and was pleased from the inside or was he thinking, If I would have only measured that curtain 4 inches longer?

Things that I ponder sometimes!

What a wonderful birthday! I did not get to see all my friends and family back home in person but this internet is really a HUGE blessing. I had so many notes on Facebook, ecards and comments of prayers and blessings. I am feeling loved from a very far, far away land. Sitting back today and KNOWING I am blessed! Thankyou everyone for walking on this journey with me!

Birthday dinner

I was blessed with a great opportunity, a group of new friends (3 months and less) took me out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant for my Birthday tonight! The big day for me is on the 12th so that is Thursday and there is a LARGE party being planned for me and one other person here at our home on Friday. Since it is a big number and one of my newest friends can't attend the party we decided to have a proper girls night out, with food and fellowship how could this go wrong?

The journey was off to a bit of a rough start as one of the other gals could not attend, her son had been sick with a fever and she needed to stay home to tend to him. We did not leave for the restaurant until after 6:30, I was starving already, with visions of Mexican food dancing in my head.

The food was incredible! Funny though that I ended up ordering Terriakki Steak, Sauteed Vegetables and rice! The dessert did not disappoint though as I did order the proper Mexican dessert of FLAN. YUMMMM.

I did however decide that since we were out to eat Mexican food I should try the chili that was so beautiful and looked so innocent! One bite and I was on fire! I felt as if I had put on lip liner that was eating away at the outside of my lips. My tongue was heated up past boiling. My eyes were watering and my voice was cracking. In-between I did find the energy to laugh and seek out something to cool off the inner fire. There was a lemon wedge in my coke so I started digging for it! When I retrieved it it was not enough. I asked the waiter for another piece of "citron" Lemon as he watched the sweat puddle on my forehead. He returned with a half a lemon and it went directly into my mouth. What a sight this must have been.

I know that it caused laughter and I know that I will not be testing out these beautiful chilies again in the near future!

The company was blessed! We sat, talked, relaxed, enjoyed the pita chips and salsa and having the place to ourselves. We even took pictures! I hope that you enjoy them as much as I did taking them!

The night was fantastic! Thanks so much Sandi, Colleen, Anri-Louise and Rebecca. What a great night! Sorry that you had to stay home, Shelly - hopefully next time!

Day two language learning

The second day with my language teacher was a bit on the hard side as we spent about 5 1/2 hours with each other. The first hour was ok, the second was where it got a bit harry. She started to talk about personal projective or something of that nature and I was lost. For about 20 minutes I searched high and low in my brain trying to figure out what that was and nothing came. So, I asked if we could stick to some more vocabulary and then work on the grammar down the line. From what I have heard from others this is very common and many people need to do it just this way, so I am in the clear for now. Sigh of relief goes here!

We walked to the local street market and shopped for veggies to make lunch and then we were on our way back to the house. The basket of items was so heavy that we both carried a handle and allowed the basket of veggies and meat to dangle between us as we walked

a little over a mile home. I had my flash cards with me and I was doing what I could in the repeating it all back. I might need to listen a bit more before I do any talking?

Here are some great pictures of our lunch! Stuffed green peppers... (poivrons verts) I hope that you enjoy the pictures! I posted a few more on my facebook page. I enjoyed making the meal and learning some malagasy during the process. I have lots to study on my flash cards now!

Language teacher!

Today I started proper Malagasy language lessons.

I got up around 6:15 am and left the house on foot by 6:50 am in order to catch the local bus and get into town to my meeting place by 9 am. Well, plan B was instantly in action as I was not able to catch the bus. Thee busses were all running late and because of that were jammed packed with people. Literally people hanging out the back end. So, on foot I went, tried to catch another bus and the problem was the same. Then I tried to catch a Taxi, I even arranged the price with my limited Malagasy and thought that I was on my way. Something did not feel right, as I looked over there was a screwdriver holding the door in the locked position on the passenger side back seat. I then talked with the driver a little bit and was even more uncomfortable, ever have those moments? Immediately I was out of the taxi and hoofing it toward the main road and yet another taxi. Good thing that I was wearing my comfortable walking shoes!

Eventually I caught a taxi at a reasonable price, made it into town and was settling in at the meeting place when my teacher arrived. We got right down to talking and correcting the mistakes. We have two hours of teaching and then I am on the bus again trying to make it home for lunch.

My language teacher is Noro Hanta, she is a retired School teacher that has agreed to meet with me on Monday and Tuesdays for now. We will revisit and arrange our calendar according to how much help I desperately need.

She is a mother and grandmother so she has wonderful stories to share that really help the teaching pass by. We laughed as I butchered words and then worked on them and got them straight!

The last thing that I did today was read two paragraphs out of a Malagasy book! This is awesome! Noro Hanta told me that I was good at the spelling I just need to work on the pronunciation of the words more. I am thinking that this will come with time and I won't be perfect over night! It is good however to be working on it officially and expanding my vocabulary, along with learning some of the grammar and why they do some of what they do.

Off to work on my homework and get the rest of the flash cards written. Lots to learn and tomorrow is a much longer day.. We should be together for 4 hours in one day. Pray that I will not be very overloaded!

Veloma Tompoko!

Possible language helpers

After about 6 weeks of asking people, meeting with people and talking with people about who would be good to practice and learn the Malagasy language with during my day time I may have found two women to help me along this journey.

On Monday I will get up early and catch up with local bus to take me into town so that I can meet up with Norohanto to go over Malagasy for the next couple of hours. That will be enough on Mondays, then on Tuesdays I will ask her to come to my home so that we can practice practically in the kitchen, at the market and all sorts of other ways.

Wednesday and Thursdays for about 5 hours a day another gal from church has offered to help me go over what I am learning on Mondays and Tuesdays. This has proven to be the best way to spend two days each week as Hoby is really helping me pronounce and learn the language in a conversational way, less stilted and way more enjoyable.

Please join me in prayer as I try to absorb as much as I can in this new language and culture.

Shrinking!

I have a reason for shrinking!

I have lost a couple of clothes sizes as I have adjusted to life here in Madagascar. Don't worry, I am still very healthy. This week I found out why. There is another gal here in the capital that is in desperate need of clothes and just the size that I was not able to wear anymore!

Please rejoice with me as GOD has provided so much and it was a great time to spend with her as she tried on clothes and found many that would do perfectly! It was easy to loan out the clothes, I can't wear them and they can bring joy to someone else. I am blessed that GOD choose me to help someone else!

Purchased a fridge!

Well, there is something to be said when you get settled into a new place, unpack all the oddles of boxes and put things in their proper places...

Then when you get to make purchases that make your home complete! Nothing like getting a fridge that can handle more than one person at a time!

Will you rejoice with me over the purchase of a new "American" fridge - we not don't have to go to the store every day or overly often... Sometimes deciding what will fit and had room in the fridge and what we had to leave out on the counter all fits in there there now.

Another reason to REJOICE, with my language lessons starting this week it will be great to have left over food so that I can chow when I get home! The less pressure I put on my brain during language lessons the better!

Praise the Lord for how HE provides!

NOVember Praise and Prayers 2009

PSALM 131 has been of great encouragement this month! I'm not trying to plan everything or rule over anything. I am keeping my feet grounded in HIM, Waiting with HOPE for GOD to show me every step.

Amazing month of adjustments! CHANGES are not always bad but they do take some getting used to!

PRAISES:

1.) I was blessed with a recent "spiritual retreat." A time to read, pray, think, listen and enjoy GOD's amazing creativity both in people and nature. (Pictures of God's sea creatures are posted in another blog here.) Please praise the Lord with me on HIS amazing creativity.

2.) God is providing amazing connections with other women here to pray with, confide in and walk through life together. I am so blessed and honored to be meeting and spending time with each of them. Praying for the Lord's leadership in our lives as we impact those around us.

3.) My Malagasy studies are coming along. I have just found a teacher in my price range and someone to practice with so now I will be schooling 4 days a week! What an answer to prayers! I am practicing what I know and daily learning more words. Please pray that I understand sentence structure and spend more time practicing without getting exhausted.

4.) I actually feel settled here, now that I have unloaded my container and moved into the house that I am sharing with Sandi. I still have a little bit more to unpack and put away so please pray for that to get done soon and out of the way so that I can focus wholly on Malagasy studies. So blessed to have my blankets and pillows for that level of comfort and the knowledge of "yes, this is where I live now!"

PRAYERS:

1.) Please pray for communication. With nationals (Malagasy), with co workers, with other missionaries from other countries and with friends. There is so much to learn when you are in such a melting pot of customs, word choices and plain old daily routines. What may be common sense to me is very foreign to others. Communication is such a critical part of life here and things are so easily misunderstood or taken out of context.

2.) Pray for regular, accountability time with other believers. Amazing prayer times and a full rest and understanding in the LORD not my own understanding.

3.) I have been so blessed with the Lord in refreshing ways daily. Still, absorbing my surroundings. Pray that I will not be offensive to those around me and that I will soak up all that I need to learn and know on God's schedule not anyone else's.

4.) Please pray for my Malagasy lessons and conversation time four days a week. Pray that this is lined out just as GOD would have it and that I don't try to overwhelm myself but that I move ahead with HIS understanding and patience.

Faith, Power, Works, Wonders. Those four words are packed with dynamic and creative force.