Community

This past week I've been enjoying big city life. For the most part. (Don't ask me about the ridiculous amount of time I've spent downtown speaking with immigration this week. I will forget all the things I am grateful for.)

In general, I hate cities. They stress me out, and make me want to go lay in a corn field.

The nice thing about cities is that cities have people. Lots of them. And with people comes community.

Yesterday in my discipleship group we were focusing on fellowship, and why it's so important to be involved with other believers. This made me very grateful.

It took me a while to really get plugged in here in Harare, but now that I have, I am so thankful for the people in my life. I get to meet with two amazing ladies every week as we all can learn from each other and the different cultural experiences we have had.

Last weekend I was at a Young Life event. As I sat in an ant-infested tree waiting to take group pictures of the 200 teens gathered there, I couldn't help but smile and think about how much God has blessed me this year.

Like, how incredible is it that there are so many amazing Christians in the world who are excited about discipling others? When I start to get frustrated or discouraged with the great need in the world, it's people like this that inspire me to press on. I love people. Especially young people.

I'm so glad that God has led me to different communities of believers to help me as I grow this year. It's insanely hard to be alone in an unfamiliar place. For a few months I struggled a lot with being motivated to press on in ministry and doubting why I was even here in this country.

Perhaps I am here to be changed. Well duh. I came here knowing it would change my life. But the community God has placed me in this year is one that has made me step out of my comfort zone. I have become less timid in jumping into new things. I'm now an aggressive city driver and have learned to tailgate cars turning through intersections to survive haha. I talk with police officers on the road. Stand alone when there is no one to stand with me. I am building the confidence that it will take to pioneer new ministries in the future.

In my church here I have been able to be a quiet observer. I'm a doer. I'm used to helping with Awana, sound, PowerPoints, children's church, Sunday school, etc. This is great, but boy did I need a break. I'm so thankful for the community of believers that is my church here. I can blend with the congregation during service, but I can't escape invitations to tea and lunch or requests to come sit by new faces.

I've seen how powerful the church in Zimbabwe can be... if they put their minds to it, they could change the world. And that's what community is all about. If we gather together as Christians, we can literally do anything. There is no force that can stop us. So get together in your communities today. Talk to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Get inspired and fired up to keep investing in others and make the Gospel known to all corners of the earth.

There is power in community and fellowship with one another. Alone, the task ahead of us is impossible to achieve. Together, the task ahead of us is impossible to fail.

Prodigal

Hi. Sorry for being the prodigal blogger. Haven't even thought about it for months!

My last post was in May, so here's a quick summary of the last four months:

June: I met some cool Americans interning here, spent a week in the bush, and photographed a big conference on missions hosted by OM.

July: I went to Kenya, saw baby elephants, and kissed a giraffe.

August: I got fed up with being in an office. So I went and found myself some fun-loving youth. Joined Young Life and helped with VBS. Also on an unrelated note I learned how to make tortillas.

September: Eden decided I need to see Zimbabwe. So we've started a list of destinations we must squeeze into the next two months.

In all seriousness, I need to get back in the habit of posting weekly. I'm taking life for granted and not documenting how God has been changing my heart from day to day. I've grown so much this year. My way of thinking has changed and I've experienced things that will forever change my life. 

I want to remember these things forever and be able to use them to influence others. Life abroad gives you so much perspective. I've gotten to watch the US elections from the view of the world. I've grown to appreciate and be proud of where I am from, but I've also learned to pray from a new perspective. Americans are often stereotyped as ignorant. And that's cause lots of us are. What we do affects the world. Whether we like it or not our movies, products, music, and style stretches way farther than you'd think. And with that, our sins, our faults, our big big mistakes and failures.... those stretch far, too. Positive or negative it affects the world. Not just through war or hunger, but in a much deeper way.

The church in America has gradually stepped further and further away from the Bible. Social media has let opinions go wild and has changed our culture and our Christianity (among other things that have changed over the years). The church here is confused that the people that came as missionaries not so long ago are now promoting a whole different lifestyle. 

The church in America is doing amazing things today in our own towns and all over the globe, but let's keep encouraging each other! We are strong. We can be stronger. Let's be willing to learn from our foreign brothers and sisters, and let's always put the Bible at the forefront of our actions and decisions.

"Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" - John 8:31-32

Seasons

Hey friends. It's winter here. I'm dying. Well, I mean, technically we are all dying... I just feel like my death process is accelerated at the moment. The past month has been a bit of a blur. In fact, this whole year is becoming a blur. Lately in the office I've been working on our Social Media and preparing posters and flyers to be printed that help communicate what OM is all about.

On May 18 I went to Pretoria, South Africa with the communications department. It is here where I found fall. Green grass and sunny skies, but lots of leaves on the ground! It was so fun to explore a new place. Pretoria is like the perfect city cut out of a postcard that's actually been well kept up for it's whole life. South Africa is not Africa. It's Europe. It was a blast to be able to visit!

While a lot of fun was involved in this short trip, the main purpose was to get some training in OM communications. We met some of the OM International communication team and got inspired to keep doing what we do. As you can see here, we were freezing in Pretoria as well.

To get there I enjoyed a 16-18 hour bus ride chilling on the top deck of a double decker bus. I had yet another excited land border experience. They're so different from the usual airport immigration lines I have experience passing through. I am falling in love with this land more and more each day.

Last night I got to have a little taste of Chicago and home as the Moody Men's choir performed in my church's sister church. It was good for my soul to see and hear people from not just the US but basically my backyard. I kinda felt like a creepy fan girl wanting to go talk to them afterwards, but it was worth it to hear about their adventures in Africa and to be encouraged by them as I shared about what I am doing here.

Pray:

• I'm freezing. Pray I stall well and my nose stops running.
• Pray for the economy in Zimbabwe.
• Pray for continued opportunities for me to get involved in the community. I can't always find opportunities within OM, but I am praying for boldness to go out and do things on my own as opportunities arise.

Toilets

Today I have been inspired to write about toilets. Why? Because I now know more about toilets and plumbing than I ever have in all my life. Here’s the thing. Toilets break. Water shuts down every now and then. And about one in every three toilets I encounter the back is open and you have to figure out just what lever or string to pull inside to make it flush.

                 

As I was chilling in my room this past Saturday reflecting on life, this random revelation about toilets came to mind. I’ve kind of forgotten that at one point all of this random knowledge about how toilets work was foreign to me. When I arrive at new places I’ve learned to backtrack plumbing and figure out how to turn water on and off. Often times I get to search for a water source to manually dump water in to flush it myself. Hand sanitizer and toilet paper are always in my bag because literally like every public toilet is most likely lacking these things. Not to mention the fact that quite frequently public toilets are missing the seat – and occasionally the lock or the door itself is missing too.

(This is probably the weirdest blog post you’ve ever read, and I’m only a little bit sorry about it haha)

That being said, I’ve noticed that God has been teaching me some serious flexibility and patience. I don’t miss the comforts of home very often, and I consider that a huge blessing to my sanity haha. I don’t think twice about cold showers. Boiling water for a bath is my new normal unless I’m too lazy and would rather freeze. (Ashamedly I admit that 5 out of 7 days a week I am too lazy and would rather freeze.) Hand washing clothes now seems super economical and appealing to me even when I get back to the States.

This lifestyle makes me appreciate everything so much more. While I know doing simple daily tasks here can be a little more entertaining than at home, I also know that we have it pretty great here. Others out there are struggling much more and I am so thankful that God is a faithful provider in all ways for what we truly need.

But wait. There’s one more thing.

Target. I get to scroll through Facebook and see angry posts about Target, movements to boycott Target, reasons why it’s not a big deal, and all kinds of stuff about their new decision on their public bathrooms.

Friends. I agree that this is unsettling and yet another sign of how sin is gripping our nation. But at the same time…. PEOPLE. Just be thankful you don’t have to pay a dollar to use their toilets (that actually have seats) and you don’t have to bring your own soap and toilet paper and then try to figure out how to flush the stupid thing.

Disclaimer: Don’t get the impression that every toilet in Zimbabwe is a disaster haha… I’m just speaking from random experiences as I have traveled around.

Vernacular

A day in my life... using as much common vernacular from here that's unfamiliar to home as I can:

Typically in the morning I'll get up, bath, plat my hair (being thankful I no longer have fringe) and grab a quick bowel of muesli for breakfast. If it's nice and I'm feeling ambitious I'll throw on my trainers and go for a jog. Then when it's time for work I put on my slippers, put my trousers over my pants, grab a jersey if it's cold, and head out the door.

Taking Kombi's isn't really my ideal transport situation, so I'm totally chuffed that I found a car that is my own. On my way to work I throw my pack in the boot and drive to the gate. The gardener or amai Vally will typically open it for me, and I'm on my way! I pass a few robots on my way to work and always get frustrated when they turn amber. Wouldn't want to be late. My tyres need to be replaced so I put my PHD skills to use and take it slow. Also don't want to drive straight and look drunk.

At work I get out my laptop and get busy. Sometimes the zesa goes out, which is pretty frustrating especially when my laptop's almost flat... even more frustrating when network's down, too. But zesa isn't down often and when it is you know it will always come back just now. Some days I forget my power cord and have to ask a friend to borrow me theirs. Once a month I'll get my GWUG after they take out zimra. I'm seriously so thankful for those of you who support me and make getting my GWUG possible.

A few days a week we get take aways for lunch. We go to Food World, grab a trolley, and fill it with meals of sadza and veg, rice and stew, or a thousand other options. We may buy some plastics for a few bond coins and push the trolley to my boot. We typically don't have any drink for lunch, preferring to just drink water, tea, or coffee instead. However, occasionally someone will ask for a small pulpy. Sometimes we'll have fresh chips with tomato sauce or get some crisps to snack on... and some days I'm keen for some biltong, but it's expensive. We eat outside in the garden for fellowship. (We have an avocado tree and a swimming pool. Our garden is awesome.) Eventually someone's gotta say, handei, and we get back to work. We bin our serviettes (napkins are for babies) and throw our take aways in the rubbish bin, too.

We're responsible for hoovering our own office and keeping bathrooms clean. If we actually have Jik, Andy's, and mop cloths lying around this is a lot easier.

On my way home I may hoot for a dollar airtime so I can buy my bundles. Bundles of Joy are my favorite kind of bundles. I'll get a few of those every week. If I'm out of petrol I'll stop at a Zuva station and sometimes they'll ask if I can pop my bonnet so they can check my oil.

I have dinner with my family here and then get ready for bed. For dinner I often do get drink of some kind... Blackberry Mazoe is my favorite, otherwise I go for Fanta. After putting Colgate on my toothbrush (though mine is Crest...) I brush my teeth. I go to bed and whatsapp friends from here and home as I fall asleep. Network is terrible in my room so I'm grateful for TelOne.

Handiti? Zvakanaka. There's the story of my typical life... from A to Zed. Iribo.

Now read it again with an African-British accent.

Sentiments

A team from the OM Ship the Logos Hope is here in Zimbabwe for a few weeks. As a result, I've finally had the opportunity to break out of the office a do some hands on ministry.

The Ship Team is made up of five people, all from different nations (Russia, Japan, Netherlands, South Korea, USA). It's been really cool to see such a diverse group of people working together for a common goal. I was able to photograph one of their outreaches last week and see some places near Harare that I hadn't yet had the opportunity to see.

We visited a squatter camp out on the edge of town and I was able to photograph the activities that the Ship Team had for the kids. It's so weird to be on the opposite side of things when there's a short term team around. I really enjoy getting to show them around a bit and have knowledge about this unfamiliar culture that I can share with them. Harare feels like home. It's a weird concept for me to fully wrap my head around.

Like I live here. This team comes, they visit these places once, and then they go. But when they go I am still here. And I have a car. And I can choose to get in that car and go back. I love this. Like I literally love it. I was born to explore and go to places I don't know. I always have a tendency to fall in love with people with a different language and culture than me. This year is changing me and changing my heart in so many ways. God has been preparing me for this life since I was a little kid and it just feels so right to be living it now! Thank you everyone so much for all your prayers and support. I can't believe I'm already a third of the way through this year. It's flying by way too fast.

I guess that's all the sentimental thoughts I have for today. I'll just leave you here with this adorable photo of what kids do when you use your hands to tell them to smile for a picture.

Refresh

This week I went to Zambia. My passport will soon be out of pages. This is kind of an awesome problem to have. It’s always been a dream to have a passport completely full of memories. I just feel real blessed to have the opportunity to travel and be a part of God’s plan to reach the nations. Just this week I interacted with people from at least ten different nations. My culture-loving heart is very full.

So let me tell you about my adventure to Zambia. First off, I was kinda terrified. Apparently in my mind somehow spending two days in a plane to travel halfway across the world by myself, not knowing what’s on the other side, is less terrifying than taking taxis by myself in Africa. Turns out neither is really that frightening. I was able to meet up with an SBU Intercultural Studies team (Kailyn and Jamee if you know them).

Zambezi River

Ever since I saw Niagara Falls and heard there was something bigger I’ve always wanted to see Victoria Falls. Yes, I just flew to Victoria Falls and spent 6 days in Zambia… but no I still have not really seen the falls haha. Didn’t really have time to go visit the official parks since I spent my time at New Day Orphanage with Kailyn and Jamee. I had my first walk-across-the-border experience – and it was a pretty beautiful experience. The bridge over the Zambezi river is full of mist from the falls and has incredible views in all directions. The reflections from all the water create a beautiful double rainbow over the rushing river.

The Falls in the distance

I traded a hair tie, an apple, and some spare change for a wooden carved hippo at the border. That’s a pretty funny story involving a nice old man who kept me from being bothered by other salespeople and walked with me all the way to immigration. But in efforts of keeping this short you’ll have to ask me about all these stories another time. After arriving in Zambia I went to the grocery store with the New Day Orphanage staff and there were literally tears in my eyes. Not sure if I was just overwhelmed with the variety of stuff, just so happy to see canned food and a variety of snacks… or even just still overwhelmed with the realization that these were really the first Americans I’ve seen since January 10th.

Reading in the library

At New Day I am so grateful to have had just a small taste of American culture. I was able to speak using cultural references no one gets in Harare, I ate Mexican food, and I quoted my way through the Princess Bride while watching it with staff. I didn’t realize how badly my soul needed a refresh of familiarity until it happened. It also was wonderful to have a bunch of little kids to play with. This really could not have happened at a better time. I’m pretty sure I would have passed my breaking point just in simple cultural stresses if I hadn’t had a chance to see another American. Now I am refreshed and recharged and so excited to be back in Zimbabwe. I have just moved into my new home and gotten my car all sorted out so that I am “now free to move about the country” as that one airline says.

Happy birthday to you!

Learning points:

• I had a pretty big breakthrough in confidence this week. I did enough walking around and across borders by myself and rode enough taxis alone to get over any fear and uneasiness I had about that.
• God is always there. Looking back, I can see how he placed so many total strangers in my life to make this trip flow smoothly and make me feel safe. From the old man at the border to meeting someone who knows my uncle to the kind man at a convenience store that fed me and let me hide from annoying guys asking for money while I waited for a bus… God’s hand was in all of this even when I forgot to ask for it.

Insanity

The word insanity has two meanings for me these days: (1) I have been going stir crazy and a bit insane for the freedom and independence and familiarity I miss from home. (2) I have had the most insane week of emotional ups and downs and craziness until it finally settled down.

Writing in the office right this minute

I suppose it's been a few weeks since my last update, so I'll make an effort to bring you up to speed. I have started working in the office. In fact, I just so happen to be here right now... hanging out after hours. I have a great team here in the communications department and am looking forward to new ideas we have this year.

Now onto the insanity part. Right now I've been blessed to be able to stay with someone here while I get my life sorted out. The first week after training I had some time off. Time off, while typically wonderful, was driving me crazy because I had nowhere to go and no one to see because I know no one outside of work at this point. If you know me you know I don't do nothing well. I have to do something. Always. God provided some design projects from 4 differed people back home (thank you for not forgetting me, people!) and then made me learn to rest a bit.

The last couple weeks I've been looking for accommodation and a vehicle. Last week, I had the car figured out. After some searching and lots of online research we found one that would work. Then a few days later another OMer offered me a temporary opportunity for accommodation that would have me set for a couple months. Temporary because I could just stay there and pay discounted rent until a full-price paying renter surfaced.

God is good. After weeks of wondering how I'm supposed to figure life out when I don't understand how things work in this country... He provided.

Then Tuesday happened.

I got up and called the car place to let them know we could come today to get the car they were holding. They said they sold the car over the weekend. I was kinda speechless. Lots of searching, hopes up, then it's gone again. "Okay, this is fine, I can handle this." Spent all morning making calls and searching online and getting real comfortable navigating the Zim Classifieds and talking to total strangers. Found some prospects to look at today.

Tuesday lunch came and I ate some food, relieved progress was again being made.

Then I get another call. The flat I was temporarily staying in became super temporary because renters were already found. Yikes. Great news for the owner, but now I was back on the hunt. God again provided an option for me to stay with a family here.

It's a 2001 Honda Fit for those who care

Today I spent four hours going around town, making calls, and forgetting to eat food... and then I bought a car. (Which just happens to be this beautiful colour that I love, thanks Jesus.)

Please excuse me for a moment while I freak out that I just bought a car in Africa.

So here's what I learned this week.

• I am not in control. Never have been, never will be. God knows what is best and his plans are already in place.
• People are wonderful to have. I have been so blessed beyond measure by the OM office here. They've been so gracious to let me stay with them, to let me visit churches with them, to drag me around car shopping, to negotiate and ensure I get a good deal, and to spend time and money on making sure I get settled. I seriously am so grateful. If you're reading this feel free to take a moment to praise God for nice people and just pray for the office staff here.
• It's okay to do nothing. I hate doing nothing. I totally missed the part in school where they teach you how to rest and chill. If you know me, you know this. I create work for myself and I go do things just because it's better than sitting. But rest is good and rest is needed, and I have learned how to fill up my rest time with productive - yet restful and needed - things. Like time with Jesus or sleeping 10 hours. 

Thanks, friends, for journeying with me this year. Sorry for all the words and not many pictures this time. Turns out a combination of rest and insanity does not yield much opportunity for photography.

Oh, and on Friday I get to take a mini-vacay to Zambia. So be praying for that. :)

Missions

This isn't so much an update about what I've been doing, but just some thoughts I'd like to share. I've had this week off to rest a bit from training before I go to the office. Honestly it's been a bit boring to have a week off in a place where I don't yet have friends or connections or transportation to go to places I want to go. It has, however, been a great time to think about life.

Growing up, mission trips were always one of my favorite things. I love to serve. It was so great for me to have a week or two of nothing to worry about except loving others and exerting all my energy on doing things that were so fulfilling.

I wondered what it would be like to spend more than just a week or two focused on serving. Now that I'm here living mission trip life almost every day, I have realized that I already knew what it felt like. Service is a lifestyle... missions is a lifestyle. The last four years of working at SBU and Gitche Gumee Bible Camp and helping at church have got me used to a lifestyle of service. So yes, maybe now I sleep in tents sometimes and eat cow intestines and chicken bones and can't find Dr. Pepper in the store... but that doesn't make me any more of a missionary than you. The opportunities I have here are just like the ones I had at home. I'm not saying I have this missions thing down, but I've just been wondering about how many opportunities I have passed up over the years because I was waiting to go somewhere else rather than making the most of every opportunity where I was. All of us are called to Go and preach the Gospel, making disciples of all nations (and our nation is part of all nations, too).

This week is Spring Break for many, and I've seen a number of photos of people who've had the opportunity to go on Mission Trips over break. As always, it's a wonderful experience and people love it and they will miss it when they come home. I totally know the feeling! Hold on to that feeling! Take what you learned from other cultures about the joys in life and being content with what you have. Don't forget the smiling little faces that looked up at you or the awesome things you got to experience - or the strange things you got to eat. Remind yourself that the feeling doesn't have to end when you come home. Get plugged in at home and live that life every day. Missions is a lifestyle that we are all called to and it's not bound by country or workplace or culture. Don't be afraid to get up and go when God says go, but until He says that don't forget to stay when he says stay and do what He has called you to do.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in (Missouri/Illinois/wherever you live) and in all (the United States), and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8, modified to fit us where we are

Prayer points:

• I'm still apartment searching. And also now car shopping. Pray for wisdom and guidance!
• Pray for opportunities every day to serve others and share the good news. Not just for me, but for you, too, if you really mean it.

Graduation

This week was my last week at the training house. We had an absolute blast playing games and having a cookout to celebrate our last nights together. We have a slight addiction to the game Crazy 8’s and have a tendency to get a little loud haha. This week in class we talked about support raising. Since I had to raise my support before I left to come here, it was all very much review. However, it reminded me of how blessed I am to have the support system that I have. Thank you all so much for still reading my updates and praying for me even after 9 weeks. Thank you so much to those who have been giving financially for the peace of mind you have blessed me with by not needing to worry about funds.

To explain these pictures a bit, on Thursday we had a cookout. We spent as much money on meat for that night as we usually do for half a week’s groceries. It was delicious. I love meat haha. It was a great time of fellowship with one another and reminded me of grilling out at Gitche and having bonfires with friends. The friendships I have developed here will certainly last. Each of us are now heading off into our different ministries, but we have created a network of encouragement and support that will be valuable to each of us in the future.

On Friday we had a graduation ceremony to wrap up the two-month training. While everyone else was in the mindset of being excited to go home, for me it was a little bittersweet as I am again heading off into the unknown.

This week I will start working in the office and begin searching for permanent accommodations for myself. It’s crazy and exciting to think about settling down and starting life here. I will have to relearn how to do a lot. How to travel, how to pay bills, how to communicate, where to go to church… please keep me in your prayers during transition. I’m flying solo and my comfort zone is forced to expand each day. It helps that I love it here and the weather is perfect and the people are friendly. Please enjoy this photo that mirrors my love for meat haha.     

Prayer points:

• Transition into the office.
• Finding accommodation.
• Working out visa trips in the near future.

Outreach

The last two weeks I've been off with my team on an outreach to Ebenezer Agricultural Training Centre. If you remember from previous updates, I was supposed to be going to Mozambique, but due to some travel issues we ended up just going here instead, and I'm so glad we did. It's located about an hour from Bulawayo, Zim. In a nutshell, it's an agricultural college with a two year program that trains apprentices in not just agriculture, but also business and other life skills. It was an absolutely beautiful place with a passion that reminded me a lot of home. No, I'm not from a farm, but I do love mentoring and working with students that are in the same age range as the apprentices there.

We pretty much spent our days helping in the fields and talking with apprentices so that we could here some of their stories. We ate sadza morning noon and night, led some classes/Bible studies, and played soccer, volleyball, cards, etc. We also got to attend and share in the local churches here. It was so fun and encouraging to sit in on the dance party that is worship and see the genuine love for God come out through all that was said and sung.

If you've ever traveled internationally with me, you know how frustrated I get with language barriers. As great as it was to be in this type of familiar environment of training young people, it was also extra frustrating that I couldn't just go and talk to anyone and connect with them on a deeper level. Please be praying for me as I try to learn a couple languages and be more bold with forming relationships.

Perhaps I'm just tired and getting overly sentimental, but it has been so good to be here. Every new and crazy thing I come across is an incredible adventure just waiting to happen. I love finding giant snails, running into donkeys and cows on trails through the middle of nowhere, standing in the rain, being lulled to sleep in a tent by the sound of a wild pig... pray that I never lose the joy and wonder of exploring the world God has made and meeting His people.

Please sign up for my email updates if you want to hear more stories. I'll be sending something out in a couple days. To wrap things, up, here's some random stuff I learned.

Learning Points:

• True joy is from the Lord. Not from where you are, who you're with, or what you have.
• Blisters heal in approximately 2 days.
• When blisters break open they don't heal in approximately 2 days.
• Throwing rotten tomatoes at people is exactly as fun as it looks on TV.

Solitude

Harare Botanical Gardens

This week has been a great week of reflection and rest. Last Wednesday I literally spent the whole day in solitude at the Harare Botanical Gardens, most of it hanging here in my Eno. Training has focused more on practical skills I can use and learning to really spend time refilling myself when I pour out all my energy and passion into others. I can't believe how quickly time has been going by. I am already halfway through the month of February. Soon I will be able to really start what I came here for. I'm excited to get to explore more of town and get myself established.

Resting after running... look, I'm
smiling and it's not even 6am!

One of my favorite parts of each day, believe it or not, is waking up early to run. There's something so satisfying about knowing I've been awake as long as the sun and haven't wasted away my morning. The city of Harare is so beautiful and green... I have grown to love running into an orange sky while dodging the many potholes in the road. The consistency in running has started to help form some small relationships with people in the neighborhood. I now recognize the faces of many other morning joggers and walkers. While our greetings may be brief and short of breath, it makes this place feel more like home.

Serving supper

Please be in prayer for me as training winds down and a whole new world of opportunities awaits around the corner.

Learning Points:

• It's not just okay to take a break, it's necessary. Pray I continue to have time to rest and reflect during these busier weeks.
• Walking to the shops for groceries almost every day provides great opportunities to get to know faces and connect with people/employees. Why don't we do this more at home?

Chillaxin'

After church last week

I just sent out an email update (which you can sign up for on the home page of my blog), but I thought I'd share some more photos and silly stories here for posterities sake. ;)

So, here are the highlights of the past week. First off, in case you haven't already noticed, I get to hang out with some pretty crazy people. Every day is full of hilarious adventures. Every Sunday we attend a different church. Since we are all here for training, everyone is out of their comfort zone to some extent. It's been so fun for me to walk through exploring new things with this group of people.

We like TV. Like, too much. So much that we need to like keep the TV in a different room... and we may have plowed through four seasons of Psych and like one or two dozen movies in the past two weeks. It's also possible that we spent 16 hours on Saturday eating popcorn and sitting on couches. While this is great bonding time, I promise we've also been learning a lot and the breaks are well-deserved. This photo is from training last week. We've been studying the characteristics of the Father and the truth of our identity in Him. We nailed all our insecurities and worries and fears to the cross - literally. Then we burned them. It was an eye-opening experience and has been so freeing for me as well as others.

Yesterday after church I finally got a chance to explore downtown Harare a bit. There is a chicken restaurant with the slogan "Luv dat chicken." I have yet to try it, but I can only hope it will fill the Chick-fil-A shaped hole in my heart. We were able to get some ice cream and make memories. It wasn't comparable to Whitey's Ice Cream in the QCA or to Andy's Frozen Custard in Springfield, but ice cream is ice cream, right? I am halfway through my time at this house with these wonderful new friends, and I'm sad to think that it will come to an end soon.

But alas, new adventures lie ahead. Thanks all for supporting me on this journey. Please enjoy this photo of sausages that spell "God."

Learning points:

• Don't wear red in a rainstorm because apparently the superstition is that if you wear red you will get struck by lightning.
• People are people no matter where you are. I love people.
• I should probably stop writing updates late at night when I'm deprived of sleep.

Routine

Well this week kind of flew by way faster than I could have imagined. I apologize that the weekend came and went and I sort of forgot to share anything. Take this as a good sign! We are truly like a little family here in the house I am staying in. We cook together, eat together, pray together, watch countless hours of TV together, work in the garden, go shopping…. we do life together. It’s been a blast. This update will be rather short as not much new has happened, but a lot of learning has taken place and I am beginning to settle in.

My, "what the heck am I
supposed to do next" face

This week I have officially been convinced to wake up at 5:30 every morning to jog. God is obviously doing big things in my life because if you know me you know this doesn’t happen haha. Here are a few photos of life here… I’ve been getting pretty good at cooking sadza, one of the staple foods here. The phrase, “she’s white on the outside and black on the inside” has officially been stated, so I guess that means I’m doing quite well. You can see me cooking this playdough like substance in these photos. I have some pretty great and patient teachers, and have enjoyed learning to eat it with… basically everything.

Sadza success

Lastly for now, one of my favorite things has been venturing into town to go grocery shopping every few days. I have been blessed with some great friends and I am excited to travel with them in the weeks to come. Hopefully I will have some more exciting stories soon!

Learning points:

• “Just now” means something is about to happen in the next hour, not “something happened just now.”
• I am still not a morning person no matter how much I get up to run.
• KKK in a text means HAHAHA not the pointy hat wearing people...

Connecting

Most of the OM team in training

I arrived in Zimbabwe on Friday last week with some pretty serious jet lag. I had the opportunity to attend a local church that Sunday. Most of the members were Zimbabweans of British descent, so naturally there was tea time after the service where I was able to make some connections that will be beneficial as I transition.

Sunday afternoon I went to the training center where I will be staying for the next two months. I soon learned that we are not allowed to use WiFi except for limited use on a particular computer… and my phone didn’t work. I was unexpectedly and immediately disconnected from familiarity. This has been a little tough, but it’s forced me to focus on getting connected here.

Connecting has been made much easier by a particularly sweet 8 year-old that has latched herself to me as a friend. Shalom always wants to be doing something with me, whether that be making bracelets, drawing, looking at every photo and video on my phone, doing homework, dancing, or running around the yard in a wheelbarrow… I am very grateful for her!

This week has been rather long and full of so many new things. The group I am here with has been so gracious to include me in everything and laugh at/with me when I face new cultural differences. The best adventure has been cooking. We are assigned certain days to cook with a small group. It’s been absolutely hilarious and perhaps a little bit stressful to discover the differences in how we cook things and learn to work together to create something edible.

Our days this week have been full of team building activities and lessons. I have been continually humbled as we learn and grow closer together as a team. There are seven of us, three girls and four guys ranging in age from our early 20’s to late 40’s. Some are headed the same direction as me, some are local pastors, and others are preparing to head out into cross-cultural service elsewhere. Pictured here is our group and the trainers that have been with us this week. This gives you a picture of the personalities we have in this place – literally haha.

Learning points:

• “Pants” means underwear. So don’t talk about your pants.
• You should intentionally eat cereal soggy by heating the milk before you drown the cereal in it.
• If you don’t close your windows by 6pm you will be eaten alive by mosquitos. (Lucky for me I got a heads up and didn’t have to learn this the hard way.)
• Every time is tea time, so there should always be water boiling.

Thank you all so much for your support! I’m so excited for more traveling adventures to come.