Save the Date!

Repost....Directions

I was telling my husband the other day that with my recent posts (Old Town pics and our wine choices) that my blog looked like a "Wino Tour of Old Town" rather than a blog about mission work.


But, I don't find this inconsistent. After my last trip to Tanzania and before this last trip to South Africa, my prayer partner had put a challenge in my heart. She (not sure how intentional it was) had begun challenging me to think about working for God in other ways than just "in the field". Is a job at an NGO not still "mission" work she asked. Or rather, that is how I interpreted one of her questions. And, it was a good question.


During this last trip to South Africa, on the weekend when all the missionaries were to go to stay with host families, I found myself in South Africa drinking Pinotage and shopping at the mall. My host priest had become ill. While going up the escalator at the mall, I caught myself trying to figure out what God had in store for me. Shopping and drinking wine? Hmmmmmm.....


Well, I am open to finding out. So for now, probably more pictures of wine and Old Town than of African AIDS orphans. But, that is fine. My life is complex and that is, in my opinion, part of the journey.


Merry Christmas!

Directions

I was telling my husband the other day that with my recent posts (Old Town pics and our wine choices) that my blog looked like a "Wino Tour of Old Town" rather than a blog about mission work.

But, I don't find this inconsistent. After my last trip to Tanzania and before this last trip to South Africa, my prayer partner had put a challenge in my heart. She (not sure how intentional it was) had begun challenging me to think about working for God in other ways than just "in the field". Is a job at an NGO not still "mission" work she asked. Or rather, that is how I interpreted one of her questions. And, it was a good question.

During this last trip to South Africa, on the weekend when all the missionaries were to go to stay with host families, I found myself in South Africa drinking Pinotage and shopping at the mall. My host priest had become ill. While going up the escalator at the mall, I caught myself trying to figure out what God had in store for me. Shopping and drinking wine? Hmmmmmm.....

Well, I am open to finding out. So for now, probably more pictures of wine and Old Town than of African AIDS orphans. But, that is fine. My life is complex and that is, in my opinion, part of the journey.

Merry Christmas!

Full Circle

Ok, I'm trying really hard to focus on this upcoming trip to South Africa. I took this picture in August 2008 at Mdekwe Game Reserve (Etali Lodge). Cabell says he sees this picture as a metaphor for Africa. Maybe it is a metaphor for life, we climb the tree and just hang on!

But, I don't like that metaphor.

I am American. I like to believe I can chart my own course. With all the crap with my ill family member, my computer dying and trying with the aid of half of India's Customer Service to resurrect it, then dh's travel schedule, my taking on a new volunteer position on top of my other commitments and the probability that I am "Team Lead" on this trip.... I still believe in charting my own course.

Besides, like the Lizard, I like the sun. I hear it is Spring in S.A. this time of year. Its all coming full circle from where this began. ;-)

Interesting week

The past seven days have been interesting. I have been anxious lately for "the next step". What will come from Medair? From the trip to South Africa in November? Was the timing right for the transition into International Development and Aid work? Questioning, questioning, questioning....

And just as I was about to turn into Doubting Thomas, I had two reminders that it is all in God's time.

In a few weeks I will be on a much needed vaca with the dh. I try and not place expectations on vacations. Too much pressure and disappointment can really be the only result of that. Rather, this place means so much to us. We can take the precious Duke. And, it fulfills my one request "NO airplanes"!!!! ;-)

About to come full circle

I will try and post more later, but it looks like I will be in South Africa for two weeks this November.

I am very excited about this trip.

Visas

Yesterday morning I went to the Tanzanian Embassy to get my visa. Jeff went with me. After a false start – I had forgotten to get “proof of income” – we were on our way by 9:30 a.m. I was very uptight and that put me in full ditz mode. You see, my only previous experiences getting visas (with friends) were not good.

First there was South Africa in the late 80’s with a college boyfriend. Read: Apartheid. That was a long day.

Then there was the Japanese Embassy with a girlfriend in the early 90’s. That was like hell on earth. We spent all day there. It was so packed I was afraid to leave my seat, lest it would be snatched-up.

Flash forward to March 2009 – Tanzanian Embassy. Well, we quickly find a parking space on a side street. We walk in and we are the only people there. A smiling, HAPPY receptionist takes my papers. We even JOKE with her. Whoa…is this different from what I have seen before!

Three cheers to the Tanzanian Embassy in D.C. ~ well done!

Skirts, she wants skirts...

One of the fascinating aspects of going into a new reality is how so much of my current life doesn’t fit. There isn’t one piece of clothing of mine that translates to rural Africa.

The most interesting to date has been trying to find long, light colored, unlined skirts for summer weather. I haven’t worn long skirts in summer since I went through an extremely frumpy phase 14 years ago.

It took me a week, umpteen shops and over a dozen catalogs to find these at a reasonable price. Kudos to the girlfriend who suggested Sierra Trading Post. They had fallen off my radar. But, they came through last Friday night.

So, yes, you can have a fashion crisis in mission work. Take that Anna Wintour!

The Beginning

Last summer I had the wonderful opportunity to accompany my husband on a business trip to South Africa. The short version of the story is that I assumed I’d go, see some interesting animals, take some pictures and come home. Resuming my life as it had been before.

That was not God’s plan.

The moment I believe my heart was broken and I began to hear God’s call was seeing the little boy – maybe 6, maybe older – malnutrition does a number on your height – standing on the street corner. He had cut off the tops of his shoes to give his feet more room. He wasn’t begging. He wasn’t crying in pain. But his image encapsulates in my mind the moment God clearly called me to mission.

Back in my office in Old Town Alexandria, by the umpteenth day that I sat crying, I realized I either had to get over it or do something. Not sure what to do, I turned to our assistant rector. She was so wonderful and understanding. I cried so much to her that I hope she went out and bought Kleenex stock.

Thankfully, she put me in touch with the diocese and from there I was able to being this journey through mission. She also guided me through a discernment process which helped clarify if I was truly being called. And if I was being called, to what or to where was the calling.

I won’t write the thousand and one things that have brought me to this moment. Nor do I believe anyone would want to read them. Rather, this is the where I am in the journey. I am now blessed to be going to Tanzania with the person I call my “mission mentor”. I feel called to take this journey for many reasons, two of which are the spiritual growth I need and the ability to work under an awesome missionary.

I still believe my calling is to South Africa. But I also believe that I must make that journey through this trip to Tanzania.

I am afraid. I am hopeful. And I am mostly so thankful for the opportunities and blessings that are ahead.