I thought I was totally better this morning, so I started my morning with a GIANT cup of coffee in my most favorite Mary Poppins mug (a recent souvenir from Disney World). I read my new favorite series I'm about to finish (Miss Match - adorable!) and, I actually showered today, put on loud Bob Jones music (Don't judge!) and sang my heart away.
It was pouring outside, so I put on my super-cute red-and-white polka-dotted rain boots, and off to do some school work and errands. I was feeling fantastic!
Until 20 minutes later when I'm so weak and lightheaded I'm sitting in a heap on the floor of one of my classrooms.
You may not know me personally or that well, but I'll let you know a little secret about me: I get excited very easily and tend to go 90 mph (or km for the Africa friendly metric system) or nothin'.
What can I say? Bob Jones music gets all pumped up! :)
Well, now I'm sitting at the hotel bumming internet with some chips (fries) and a Coke. Tomorrow, we go to Lilongwe (the capital) to get supplies, etc. So, I need to take it kinda easy so I can drive the 4 hour drive to and fro AND teach on the road. Busy, I know.
The whole reason for this post was to update re: my Malaria, and to let you know kind of a prayer request update.
Most of you have been praying for me to find a friend, and I got a phone call today from another missionary here saying a girl my age was coming for a month here to work in the Crisis Nursery. She wanted to know if I would like her to stay with me.
Of course, I shouted and jumped and screamed and could barely contain myself (90 or nuthin' remember?). However, I slowly remembered that the entire month she was going to be here...I would be in Zambia....in training.
Does it feel like God put it right in front of my face, dangled it, and then quickly jerked it back before I could grab it? Yes.
But, just as quickly has I was questioning his Ways, I remembered what He has taught me so far about His Timing and Sovereignty. He is in control, and I'm still trusting Him to bring a friend into my life. Even if He doesn't, He'll still be there and be a way better comfort to me than a friend.
But boy, sometimes lessons stink.
(I think I was really parentheses happy in this post)
(and maybe when I'm in Lilongwe, I can upload videos and pictures!)
(and thanks mom and dad for the video!)
(okay, I'm done now.)
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
A whole lotta firsts...
Monday night brought about a lot of firsts for me. First time to have a dog wake me up vomiting, first time to an African doctor, first time to sleep in a bed at the African clinic, first time to get a shot in the butt (that I remember), first time for Malaria, and first time to miss just the 2nd day of school!
It all started with this horrible headache I got right behind my eye on Monday night. Just a few minutes later, my puppy started throwing up on my floor. Then, she woke me up at 3am on my bed and dry heaving. I pushed her off just in time for it to hit the tile floor and not my bedspread. After I let her out, I struggled to get back to sleep because the headache was pounding. I thought, finally, no more dog to wake me up, I'll be better in the morning. :) ha!
Finally, around 7am, my alarm clock went off. The headache was still in full force, but this was our second day of school! I wasn't going miss that.
When I stood up, nausea ensued. But, since I'm also the bus driver for school, I thought that I would hold out until I went to pick up the kids. Maybe this would just pass.
When I arrived at the Laffoons, I could barely get out of the car. I told Lisa I couldn't do school. She asked my symptoms and told me to go immediately to the doctor.
So, off I went to the clinic down the street. I walked very slowly up the steps and into the clinic where everyone just stared at the white girl walking in. It took a few minutes before someone acutally asked me why I was there. I filled out the paper work and was called back to get the dianostics done. The nurse immediately thought it was Malaria as well and sent me back for a finger prick. The test confirmed...I had Malaria.
I was kinda just in shock. The sweet nurse that diagnosed me, led me back to the doctor. He finally figured out what to give me because of all of my allergies to medicine. They decided to give me a shot in the butt for the nausea, but that would make me sleepy.
When they found out that I drove myself and there was no one with a car to pick me up, they decided to put me in a bed there at the clinic. AND because, I hadn't eaten that morning, they ordered me breakfast from a restaraunt next door. So, I immediately fell into the bed, the sweet nurse gave me a quick prick to the hiney, and I fell right to sleep. Breakfast came an hour later, and I ate it so I could have my first dose of meds. The nurse told me to just sleep there since I was alone at my house.
So, I slept in the bed at the hospital from 8:30-1:30. They took such good care of me. I felt awake enough to drive, so I drove home, made some rice for lunch,a nd fell into bed and slept till dinner.
I ate dinner with the Laffoons, but went back to bed at 8:00.
I'm still really tired and weak, but the headache and nausea are gone. Praise the Lord. I keep taking medicine everyday until tomorrow. Then, I should be just on my way to recovery.
Well, I think I'm officially an African now!
It all started with this horrible headache I got right behind my eye on Monday night. Just a few minutes later, my puppy started throwing up on my floor. Then, she woke me up at 3am on my bed and dry heaving. I pushed her off just in time for it to hit the tile floor and not my bedspread. After I let her out, I struggled to get back to sleep because the headache was pounding. I thought, finally, no more dog to wake me up, I'll be better in the morning. :) ha!
Finally, around 7am, my alarm clock went off. The headache was still in full force, but this was our second day of school! I wasn't going miss that.
When I stood up, nausea ensued. But, since I'm also the bus driver for school, I thought that I would hold out until I went to pick up the kids. Maybe this would just pass.
When I arrived at the Laffoons, I could barely get out of the car. I told Lisa I couldn't do school. She asked my symptoms and told me to go immediately to the doctor.
So, off I went to the clinic down the street. I walked very slowly up the steps and into the clinic where everyone just stared at the white girl walking in. It took a few minutes before someone acutally asked me why I was there. I filled out the paper work and was called back to get the dianostics done. The nurse immediately thought it was Malaria as well and sent me back for a finger prick. The test confirmed...I had Malaria.
I was kinda just in shock. The sweet nurse that diagnosed me, led me back to the doctor. He finally figured out what to give me because of all of my allergies to medicine. They decided to give me a shot in the butt for the nausea, but that would make me sleepy.
When they found out that I drove myself and there was no one with a car to pick me up, they decided to put me in a bed there at the clinic. AND because, I hadn't eaten that morning, they ordered me breakfast from a restaraunt next door. So, I immediately fell into the bed, the sweet nurse gave me a quick prick to the hiney, and I fell right to sleep. Breakfast came an hour later, and I ate it so I could have my first dose of meds. The nurse told me to just sleep there since I was alone at my house.
So, I slept in the bed at the hospital from 8:30-1:30. They took such good care of me. I felt awake enough to drive, so I drove home, made some rice for lunch,a nd fell into bed and slept till dinner.
I ate dinner with the Laffoons, but went back to bed at 8:00.
I'm still really tired and weak, but the headache and nausea are gone. Praise the Lord. I keep taking medicine everyday until tomorrow. Then, I should be just on my way to recovery.
Well, I think I'm officially an African now!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
2 months
I have lived in Africa for officially 2 months now. (2 months, 1 week, and 2 days). It seems like it has been forever though! The first 7 weeks FLEW by, but the last 2 have crawled.
School starts tomorrow, and I am feeling nervous. I realized I haven't taught in over 9 months. That is a long time to take off from teaching, and it is a bit frustrating not to have everything so readily available like I did in the States.
BUT, man...through these past 2 months of lonliness, perfect peace, weeping, laughing, confusion, nerves... God has taught me a lot.
I've realized that my dependence on Him HAS to be a daily thing. He is teaching me not just from his Word either, but from novels or shows I have watched.
Example: I was reading a Christian fiction book the other night and one of the characters said, "When I moved here by myself and I was all alone and didn't know anyone, I had to depend on God so much back then for everything."
WOW! If I didn't relate to that!
I do love Africa. God put it in my heart a long time ago. Just because I love this country and these people doesn't make being away from friends, family, my aptarment, my job, American food, or my idea of "normal" any easier.
I've realized though that if I did have a roommate right now, or even a good friend in town that I wouldn't be daily looking to the Father for help to get through the day.
I can't tell you how many prayers He has answered almost immediately for me every day. I have seen Him work here more vividly than I was tuned into in the States. Sure, He was working at my church, NewSpring, in amazing ways, but I wasn't that personally involved in it. I just got to go and witness it all.
So, I'm learning. I've learned this Christian walk is so much more than how I was so comfortably living in the States. Not saying that everyone needs to be a foreign missionary, but only that God had to bring me over here for me to finally understand some things.
Contentment in whatever situation I am in.
Contentment in that I have food, clothes, a car, and a house.
Anytime I start to feel sorry for myself, I think about all of the people who are around me. They are why I am here. I, at least, have a Comforter and know Him well.
So, I need to get up and go tell them about Him too!
School starts tomorrow, and I am feeling nervous. I realized I haven't taught in over 9 months. That is a long time to take off from teaching, and it is a bit frustrating not to have everything so readily available like I did in the States.
BUT, man...through these past 2 months of lonliness, perfect peace, weeping, laughing, confusion, nerves... God has taught me a lot.
I've realized that my dependence on Him HAS to be a daily thing. He is teaching me not just from his Word either, but from novels or shows I have watched.
Example: I was reading a Christian fiction book the other night and one of the characters said, "When I moved here by myself and I was all alone and didn't know anyone, I had to depend on God so much back then for everything."
WOW! If I didn't relate to that!
I do love Africa. God put it in my heart a long time ago. Just because I love this country and these people doesn't make being away from friends, family, my aptarment, my job, American food, or my idea of "normal" any easier.
I've realized though that if I did have a roommate right now, or even a good friend in town that I wouldn't be daily looking to the Father for help to get through the day.
I can't tell you how many prayers He has answered almost immediately for me every day. I have seen Him work here more vividly than I was tuned into in the States. Sure, He was working at my church, NewSpring, in amazing ways, but I wasn't that personally involved in it. I just got to go and witness it all.
So, I'm learning. I've learned this Christian walk is so much more than how I was so comfortably living in the States. Not saying that everyone needs to be a foreign missionary, but only that God had to bring me over here for me to finally understand some things.
Contentment in whatever situation I am in.
Contentment in that I have food, clothes, a car, and a house.
Anytime I start to feel sorry for myself, I think about all of the people who are around me. They are why I am here. I, at least, have a Comforter and know Him well.
So, I need to get up and go tell them about Him too!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
A Date??
I have to go to the Hotel up the street to get internet, so that is where I was last night from about 7:00-9:30.
I was sitting in the lounge, and there was another party sitting across from me, laughing, eating, etc. We were both there for a long time.
I wanted to order some food, so I headed to the reception desk. On my way, one of the men asked "How are you?" I answered polietly, and continued on my way. One thing about Malawians, they are ALL about their greetings. It's rude not to greet people.
So, on my way back to my seat, this man stops me again. This time he asks me all kinds of questions like "Why are you here?" "How long have you been here?" "What organization are you with?" This isn't strange. In fact, I answer these same questions almost everyday! People are curious why white people would come here. So, I answer and then he informs me that he is a Member of Parliment (our government) and the Minister of Labor.
I realize I'm talking to a big wig, and he is part of the "rich" here in Malawi. I head back over to my seat, but he follows me over there.
"Here's my business card. I would like one of yours!"
"Oh sorry sir, I don't have one."
"Well then, give me your phone number instead."
Okay, this isn't like it is in the States. Cell phones here are kinda a big deal, so everyone exchanges numbers all the time. I was a little leary, but I didn't know how to polietly refuse. So, I gave it to him. He proceeded to call my phone right then to make sure I gave him the right one.
I was a little bewildered by the whole thing. Then, the group decided to leave. And he comes back over to my chair and says,
"So I will be in Mzuzu until Friday, why do we go get drinks tomorrow night?"
So I say the first thing that comes to my mind... "Um, well as Baptist we aren't allowed to do that actually."
I meant, GO ON DATES.
He thought, GO GET DRINKS.
"Oh, that's right, they are strict. Well then, we can go for lunch on Thursday then. I will call you."
I was speechless!! This 40ish year old guy, a member of PARLIMENT, just asked ME out on a DATE!
He left, and I was a little shaken up. It was really dark and I was alone. I even made sure I wasn't follwed home!
So, this morning, the first thing we did....
We went and got a new cell phone number. :)
I was sitting in the lounge, and there was another party sitting across from me, laughing, eating, etc. We were both there for a long time.
I wanted to order some food, so I headed to the reception desk. On my way, one of the men asked "How are you?" I answered polietly, and continued on my way. One thing about Malawians, they are ALL about their greetings. It's rude not to greet people.
So, on my way back to my seat, this man stops me again. This time he asks me all kinds of questions like "Why are you here?" "How long have you been here?" "What organization are you with?" This isn't strange. In fact, I answer these same questions almost everyday! People are curious why white people would come here. So, I answer and then he informs me that he is a Member of Parliment (our government) and the Minister of Labor.
I realize I'm talking to a big wig, and he is part of the "rich" here in Malawi. I head back over to my seat, but he follows me over there.
"Here's my business card. I would like one of yours!"
"Oh sorry sir, I don't have one."
"Well then, give me your phone number instead."
Okay, this isn't like it is in the States. Cell phones here are kinda a big deal, so everyone exchanges numbers all the time. I was a little leary, but I didn't know how to polietly refuse. So, I gave it to him. He proceeded to call my phone right then to make sure I gave him the right one.
I was a little bewildered by the whole thing. Then, the group decided to leave. And he comes back over to my chair and says,
"So I will be in Mzuzu until Friday, why do we go get drinks tomorrow night?"
So I say the first thing that comes to my mind... "Um, well as Baptist we aren't allowed to do that actually."
I meant, GO ON DATES.
He thought, GO GET DRINKS.
"Oh, that's right, they are strict. Well then, we can go for lunch on Thursday then. I will call you."
I was speechless!! This 40ish year old guy, a member of PARLIMENT, just asked ME out on a DATE!
He left, and I was a little shaken up. It was really dark and I was alone. I even made sure I wasn't follwed home!
So, this morning, the first thing we did....
We went and got a new cell phone number. :)
Sunday, March 14, 2010
African Church...
Today, we decided to attend Mzuzu Baptist. However, they do have a English service at 8:00 am, but since we are trying to learn Tumbuka, we decided to go to the 9:00 Tumbuka service.
So...we arrive at 9:15, and it hasn't started yet. Okay...that's pretty typical. The benches are wooden that have slits in the seats, so its not that comfortable, and the back of the bench starts about mid-shoulder blades.
Finally about 10 mins later, "Sunday School" begins. There are currently 10 of us in the room. Obviously, I have no idea what's going on. Sunday school lasts till 10:05ish...
Then the flood gates open and probably about 150 pour into the church. Men on one side, women on the other.
We sing a song to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne" I only hope that the words weren't the same.
A quartet of boys sing this beautiful song with beautiful harmony...Lisa leans over and informs me that the song was about "You pregnant girl, you should have waited until you were married to get pregnant." ha.
More choirs singing.
One little kid runs up to the offering plate to make change.
Another hymn and some annoucements...well, alot of annoucements.
The whole church makes us stand up and sings a welcome song to us as first time vistors. Then, we have to introduce ourselves and they all clap for us. They asked Lisa, the mom, to pray and she prays in Chichewa. They were so impressed, some people clapped after she finished praying.
Another baby crawls towards us Mzungus (White people) looks up at us, and immediately starts wailing because he was scared of us. This interrupted the whole service because people were laughing.
Another quartet sang; but this time it was about the Bible.
Then, we sang these two songs that the whole church was singing so loudly, in such perfect harmony, with dancing, that it gave me chill bumps the whole time we sang. I was blown away!
Sermon starts at 11:15.
And finally, at about 12:05ish, church was over.
9:00-12:00....on those wooden benches....whew!
So...we arrive at 9:15, and it hasn't started yet. Okay...that's pretty typical. The benches are wooden that have slits in the seats, so its not that comfortable, and the back of the bench starts about mid-shoulder blades.
Finally about 10 mins later, "Sunday School" begins. There are currently 10 of us in the room. Obviously, I have no idea what's going on. Sunday school lasts till 10:05ish...
Then the flood gates open and probably about 150 pour into the church. Men on one side, women on the other.
We sing a song to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne" I only hope that the words weren't the same.
A quartet of boys sing this beautiful song with beautiful harmony...Lisa leans over and informs me that the song was about "You pregnant girl, you should have waited until you were married to get pregnant." ha.
More choirs singing.
One little kid runs up to the offering plate to make change.
Another hymn and some annoucements...well, alot of annoucements.
The whole church makes us stand up and sings a welcome song to us as first time vistors. Then, we have to introduce ourselves and they all clap for us. They asked Lisa, the mom, to pray and she prays in Chichewa. They were so impressed, some people clapped after she finished praying.
Another baby crawls towards us Mzungus (White people) looks up at us, and immediately starts wailing because he was scared of us. This interrupted the whole service because people were laughing.
Another quartet sang; but this time it was about the Bible.
Then, we sang these two songs that the whole church was singing so loudly, in such perfect harmony, with dancing, that it gave me chill bumps the whole time we sang. I was blown away!
Sermon starts at 11:15.
And finally, at about 12:05ish, church was over.
9:00-12:00....on those wooden benches....whew!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
I'm a Mzuzuian. :)
I am borrowing internet from my family, so I can't really give a good update, but I just wanted to let everyone know we have arrived to Mzuzu safely.
Picture living up in the mountins in a quaint little North Carolina town! I was just in awe when I drove through the city of what beautiful scenery there was. We have 3 stoplights (or Robots as the Africans call them) and 2 roundabouts. (European Vacation anyone??)
I would like to ask you to pray for me though. I have not been doing so well living on my own. A lot of anxiety that is taking a toll on my body and my emotional well-being.
Today, after a lot of crying and praying, I have had my first good day that was almost anxiety free! I went out into the city and explored the market and our grocery store, Tutlas.
My family is wonderful and I will give you a better update on my daily life as soon as internet becomes more available!
Much love,
Lauren
Picture living up in the mountins in a quaint little North Carolina town! I was just in awe when I drove through the city of what beautiful scenery there was. We have 3 stoplights (or Robots as the Africans call them) and 2 roundabouts. (European Vacation anyone??)
I would like to ask you to pray for me though. I have not been doing so well living on my own. A lot of anxiety that is taking a toll on my body and my emotional well-being.
Today, after a lot of crying and praying, I have had my first good day that was almost anxiety free! I went out into the city and explored the market and our grocery store, Tutlas.
My family is wonderful and I will give you a better update on my daily life as soon as internet becomes more available!
Much love,
Lauren
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