Good news first…my dinner turned out great last night. I now have two things I can make well. I believe the Lord had His hand on that casserole, I will admit I was going swear off cooking forever if it failed. So, needless to say, the same great casserole I made for dinner showed up on our plates for lunch today, and if I don’t get creative soon it just might reappear for dinner tonight.
The hardest part of this move has been the loneliness. I live among a people I don’t understand and they don’t understand me. We use different body language and voice inflections. We get hurt and upset by different things. We have come from different backgrounds and seem to always be missing each other. I’m learning that words are only a small part of communication, the way we hold ourselves and our facial expressions seem to be just as important. I wonder how long it will take for me to catch on. The culture shock is that nothing I have learned in life seems to apply here. I am an infant in an adult body looking at the world around me trying to take everything in, trying to learn. Maybe one day this will all make sense, but right now I seem to cry all the time because of over stimulation. I am overwhelmed by the simplest tasks just because they are done differently here. Washing dishes is a good example, too much bleach in the dish water = stomach cramps, not enough = parasites = stomach cramps. It’s a no win situation. Going to the bathroom in the middle of the night isn’t any easier; I can’t seem to find my way out of the mosquito net to go. I have learned, however, that a three year old just figures it easier to wet the bed than hassle with the net (and in my new found infancy, I don’t blame him). I wonder how long it will take for these things to become second nature me. Will I ever be able to drive on the other side of the road, dodging livestock (that look so pathetic, I’m sure they are praying for someone to put them out of their misery) and bicycles? Will I ever fit in here? Will I ever be useful here? For now I will go on thinking that one day this will all be easier.
Pray for my Nattie she has been very sick, high fever, vomiting etc. We are going to see if she is doing any better today and if she is not take her to get some blood tests. The doctor wants her tested for Malaria. We serve the Great Physician who can heal her in an instant, just lift her up before His throne.
3 comments:
Hey Ju, it's Jules ... crying 'cause of Nattie, and realizing it is yet another test of FAITH for all of us. When Chloe gets home we are going to hit our knees in prayer. Sorry I have no great insight on cooking; I never have, so I'm not surprised. At the very least you can play the blame game! How are you expected to cook in a foreign country? Blame everything you can on your foreign status, and take comfort that we are all foreigners in this world! Hugs to everyone ... keep your chin up! (Unless that is bad in African culture, in that case keep your chin down.) Luv, Jules
Hey Julie its Crystal, we are praying for Nattie, we will lift her up at home and at church tomorrow.
I wish I could help you with the cooking but I can't cook with our own food so I am sure it would be worse there. I will however I will ask a friend of mine that is a great cook.
Hang in there.
Love Crystal and the rest of us.
Hi Julie! - Your comments make me laugh, cry, convict me, and challenge me to become more like Christ. I am reading your comments and wondering if I can back out of going to South Africa, and yet they encourage me to press forward. Strange, huh? I know what you mean about having to learn things all over again. We felt that last year, and that is one of my biggest fears about going again. But at least I know how to pray for you! Next time you're tangled up a mosquito net remember that there's a host of people back home who love you and pray for you. Love, angela
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