With all the excitement of the keyboard, I nearly forgot to update you all on the really cool day we had working with World Vision in a rural area outside Lusaka. We had met the Zambian Director of Operations at a small church we visited several weeks ago. Eric and he had a good initial conversation, and so scheduled a meeting to go into more detail about what it might look like for World Vision and Special Hope to do some work together here in Zambia. After a great meeting and a couple weeks passing, we got a phone call asking if we would assist one of their field teams in assessing several children who had disabilities in an area called Chongwe, east of the city. Of course, we eagerly agreed, and were picked up at 10:30 (standard Zambian time, half an hour late) this morning to join the team.
After a nice drive, chatting with the workers about dowries men have to pay for their brides (one woman in the car was given for 10 cows, which is pretty dang good here in Zambia), we arrived at the field office located just outside of a small village. We were ushered into a room, where 3 families were waiting for us with their 4 children.
I don't mean to pick favorites, but for the sake of time I will write about the highlight of our visit- a little boy named Ignatius who had Down syndrome. We recognized it right away with those cute almond eyes, small little ears, and sticky-out tongue that we love so much- he was just adorable. We began assessing him by asking the standard first questions we ask- about the birthing, about when the family first realized he was developing differently than other children, etc. His father told us that he was born normally, and the doctors told them he was 'fine, but sometimes children are born this way when their parents are old,' and then sent them on their way. Since then, the father told us, he has just been different than other kids and he's not sure why.
Eric and I (who were representing Special Hope for this trip) looked at each other with the realization that this father did not know his ten year-old son had Down syndrome. How could that be? He was a sponsored child with World Vision, for goodness sake- how could they not know that he had Down syndrome?
We spent the next half hour talking with this dad about his wonderfully made son- describing all the unique things about kids who have Down syndrome and how to best work with him to learn and understand. Although I am sure we completely overwhelmed this parent- I think there was also a glimpse of hope in his eyes; a sigh of relief to know that his son wasn't some mutant or weirdo- that there are actually lots of kids just like him.
With each beautiful child I get to meet, I feel more and more privilege to be a part of this crazy ministry. Pray with me, won't you, for Ignatius (first of all, pray that one day he might be able to say his own name, because with a name like Ignatius, it's gonna take a lot of work) and for his dad that they might feel loved and cared for today. Even more, that they might know that God has richly blessed them with a son unlike most- a son so uniquely created for the display of the glory of God.
August 31, 2010
PTL
So I have been praying that God would somehow allow me to have a piano. I looked in the one music store of Lusaka. I have been looking around on the Lusaka-equivalent to craigslist. I even thought of having my mom buy one in the US and bring it as a piece of luggage when she came to visit. None of those options worked out...
And then, when we were sitting at dinner one night last week, at the end of a long day of 'mommy boot camp" (what I like to call the week I had cooking and kid-watching while Holly was sick), a missionary friend texted to ask if I would mind "babysitting" her keyboard for the next year while she was doing some schooling back in the States. I literally started to cry, and said absolutely yes.
There had just been so many times that week when I thought, if I could only sit down and worship for ten minutes- I would feel so much better. There is something about singing that just refreshes me- renews my heart, refocuses my mind, and realigns my emotions. I am so thankful for this gift...isn't she a beaut?
I just finished with a long session at the keys- Madds, you will be happy to know that your teaching has not been forgotten!
And then, when we were sitting at dinner one night last week, at the end of a long day of 'mommy boot camp" (what I like to call the week I had cooking and kid-watching while Holly was sick), a missionary friend texted to ask if I would mind "babysitting" her keyboard for the next year while she was doing some schooling back in the States. I literally started to cry, and said absolutely yes.
There had just been so many times that week when I thought, if I could only sit down and worship for ten minutes- I would feel so much better. There is something about singing that just refreshes me- renews my heart, refocuses my mind, and realigns my emotions. I am so thankful for this gift...isn't she a beaut?
I just finished with a long session at the keys- Madds, you will be happy to know that your teaching has not been forgotten!
August 29, 2010
Opening My Mouth
"Open your mouth for those who cannot speak; for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth; judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and the needy."I have a confession. Since I have been in Africa, I haven't thought much about the repeated phrase of this passage. When I was still in Charlottesville, speaking on behalf of orphans with intellectual disabilities was pretty much all I was able do for them, and so I thought about it a lot. Now that I am here, and faced with a thousand needs that require much more than words to meet, I haven't thought much about the 'speaking' aspect of the call that is on my life.
Proverbs 31:8-9 (emphasis mine)
The thing is, 'opening my mouth' is actually the first and primary thing I am called to do. Now that I'm here, however, it has taken on a whole new meaning (are you noticing the same trend I am?). I have actually met those who cannot speak. I have looked into the eyes of the unfortunate. I have been with the afflicted and the needy. Speaking with passion about an idea or concept is one thing; but defending the rights of people you love is quite another.
'Opening my mouth' has also taken on a new meaning because I have learned there are people who don't actually like it when I do. I now understand why Solomon had to firmly command it twice in this passage- it is not the easy thing to do most of the time. The easy thing to do would be to sit here in Africa and pretend like the way the rest of the world lives is just fine. The less complicated thing to do would be to continue meeting people who are dying of easily preventable causes and act like no one is to blame. The effortless thing to do would be to simply shut my mouth and let those who cannot speak, the unfortunate, the afflicted and the needy remain just as they are. It would certainly cut out of my life a lot of the hard conversations, tense emails, and uncomfortable blog posts...
Reality is, as far as I can read and understand in Scripture, it's not fine. Someone is to blame. And simply shutting my mouth so as remove a bit of difficulty from my life would be an utter failure on my part.
And if 'opening my mouth' sounds a bit like judgment- it should. It's a command of this passage as well. It's the really hard part; the remarkably complicated thing to do; the aspect that takes a lot of effort. That does not mean we are not called to do it. I used the first person plural ('we,' for those of you not dealing with grammar these days) on purpose- this verse is not addressed to me. As far as I can read, it doesn't have qualifiers attached- it is a command to the people of God to care for the poor.
Part of doing so is to recognize when the opposite is going on and to have the boldness to call it out. The Hebrew word used here, shapat- 'to execute judgment,' is also used to mean the same thing in another passage-
"These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true..."In an effort to open my mouth to speak truth to you all, and to render judgments that are righteous and true- I will keep having hard conversations, sending tense emails, and writing uncomfortable blog posts. I know that I will mess it up along the way; and I will go overboard more often than necessary. But, I guess if nothing else, you can consider yourself warned.
Zechariah 8:16
August 27, 2010
Verbs, Verbs, Verbs
So this week, we have had some sickness going on in our house, and since I did not catch the bug- I have been spending a lot of time studying. I have been studying Hebrew for the past four months, and this week, I finally made it to the section on verbs. And when I say section, I actually mean an entire 2/3 of my big textbook. Apparently, there are like 2 verbs per verse in the Hebrew Bible, and so I guess that means I will be studying them from now until...well, a long time.
Now that I am learning verbs, however, I am able to do a bit more actual translating, which has been really fun. An obstacle I have come across, though- I find that when I translate, I am always tempted to rearrange things, or slightly twist them in order to make them fit the way I think they should. Don't we have the tendency to do that? To bend just a bit, or adjust only slightly so that things work the way we want them to?
I have found that while that may work for some people for some things, it just doesn't work when it comes to the Bible. For whatever reason, God chose His Word to be written in Hebrew. He chose the actual words to be just as they are. He ordered them in such a way to mean something. I don't get to decide; I don't even get to understand all the time- I just get to read.
And so read I will. Although it takes me 15 charts, about 100 flashcards, and a lexicon to do it- read I will. And study my verbs, of course.
Now that I am learning verbs, however, I am able to do a bit more actual translating, which has been really fun. An obstacle I have come across, though- I find that when I translate, I am always tempted to rearrange things, or slightly twist them in order to make them fit the way I think they should. Don't we have the tendency to do that? To bend just a bit, or adjust only slightly so that things work the way we want them to?
I have found that while that may work for some people for some things, it just doesn't work when it comes to the Bible. For whatever reason, God chose His Word to be written in Hebrew. He chose the actual words to be just as they are. He ordered them in such a way to mean something. I don't get to decide; I don't even get to understand all the time- I just get to read.
And so read I will. Although it takes me 15 charts, about 100 flashcards, and a lexicon to do it- read I will. And study my verbs, of course.
August 20, 2010
What it Really Means
I said goodbye to my family about 4 months ago. It was hard; it was painful; it made the whole 'moving to Africa' thing real. In hindsight, however, there is no way I could have actually known what I was saying, or what 'goodbye' actually meant.
Now that I have said goodbye again to my sister and mom, I feel I have gained newer, and more comprehensive understanding of what that word really means- and found that to say it is actually even harder; even more painful; and even more all-encompassing than it was 4 months ago.
It means that I don't get to share a room with my sister/best friend, like we did for so many years of our lives, and did for the couple of weeks while she was here. It means we don't get to help each other choose the right outfit for the day ahead, nor just the right snack to have at the just the right time. It means we don't get to do life with each other on a daily basis.
It also means that I don't get to have my mom here to make sure I am eating enough, like she has had to do for most of my life. It means we don't get to run errands together, or go grocery shopping for the dinner we are making together. It means being really far away from each other most of the time.
The reality of goodbye is heartbreaking. For all involved- it is hard; it is painful; it is very, very real. After dropping my sister and then my mom at the Lusaka Airport, I came home and just cried and slept most of the rest of the day- it was just too much too handle all at once.
But both times, I woke up, realized that the heartbreak was as inescapable as the call on my heart for orphans here in Africa, and so I turned to the only place I knew to provide guaranteed comfort and encouragement in the midst of sorrow. I opened the worn pages of the gospels, to the very passages that brought me to Zambia in the first place, and re-read them-
These are things I have found to be completely and utterly impossible for me to do- my selfish heart is in no way willing to sacrifice, lay aside, or die to the things and people I love. The only hope I have for actually doing so- and therefore, for faithfully obeying God's commands- is if He gifts me with the strength and ability to do so. His Spirit alone provides the means for holiness and godliness- it is not something I could ever muster on my own.
And what that really means is that He, alone must receive the honor, blessing, glory, and fame- for He is the only deserving. He is the only one worth the sacrifice, the cross-bearing, and the death. My prayer is that, for the sake of Himself and His Name, He would allow me to forsake all; to live a life surrendered to His will and purposes; and that, if it please Him, my treasure would be stored up in heaven, not here on this earth, to have for the eternity to come.
Now that I have said goodbye again to my sister and mom, I feel I have gained newer, and more comprehensive understanding of what that word really means- and found that to say it is actually even harder; even more painful; and even more all-encompassing than it was 4 months ago.
It means that I don't get to share a room with my sister/best friend, like we did for so many years of our lives, and did for the couple of weeks while she was here. It means we don't get to help each other choose the right outfit for the day ahead, nor just the right snack to have at the just the right time. It means we don't get to do life with each other on a daily basis.
It also means that I don't get to have my mom here to make sure I am eating enough, like she has had to do for most of my life. It means we don't get to run errands together, or go grocery shopping for the dinner we are making together. It means being really far away from each other most of the time.
The reality of goodbye is heartbreaking. For all involved- it is hard; it is painful; it is very, very real. After dropping my sister and then my mom at the Lusaka Airport, I came home and just cried and slept most of the rest of the day- it was just too much too handle all at once.
But both times, I woke up, realized that the heartbreak was as inescapable as the call on my heart for orphans here in Africa, and so I turned to the only place I knew to provide guaranteed comfort and encouragement in the midst of sorrow. I opened the worn pages of the gospels, to the very passages that brought me to Zambia in the first place, and re-read them-
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
Luke 9:23-25
Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife of brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.
Luke 18:29-30
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.Figuring out and feeling more deeply what 'goodbye' really means has, in turn, allowed me to better understand what these words really mean. To deny yourself, you actually have to sacrifice. To take up your cross, you actually have to drop everything else. To lose your life for the sake of Christ, you actually have to die.
Matthew 10:37-38
These are things I have found to be completely and utterly impossible for me to do- my selfish heart is in no way willing to sacrifice, lay aside, or die to the things and people I love. The only hope I have for actually doing so- and therefore, for faithfully obeying God's commands- is if He gifts me with the strength and ability to do so. His Spirit alone provides the means for holiness and godliness- it is not something I could ever muster on my own.
And what that really means is that He, alone must receive the honor, blessing, glory, and fame- for He is the only deserving. He is the only one worth the sacrifice, the cross-bearing, and the death. My prayer is that, for the sake of Himself and His Name, He would allow me to forsake all; to live a life surrendered to His will and purposes; and that, if it please Him, my treasure would be stored up in heaven, not here on this earth, to have for the eternity to come.
August 9, 2010
Guest Post from Mom!
Hello from Sue, here in Lusaka! After over 24 hours of travelling, I decided I still don't like to fly. But I, and my 3 large suitcases made it to Zambia safely- and I didn't even get charged for an extra bag!
Beth knows me very well, and so allowed me to take a shower the minute we got back to the house. While taking a rest, the girls cooked me a fabulous Martha Stewart birthday dinner, consisting of pasta with chicken and eggplant, a yummy salad, and a caramel cake! The next day, we were off to the Zambezi River- chock full of hippos, elephants (we saw at least 50!), and lots of birds. We even saw one croc- pretty scary. It was a gorgeous, sunny, breezy day- and for the first time in 30 years, my hair wasn't frizzy.
On our drive south, we saw several Zambian tribal villages. It was shocking to see some of the conditions people live in, but I guess it makes sense since 70% of the Zambian population is unemployed. Beth told me that the average income is less than $2 a day! However, things are very expensive. I'm learning a lot...
Last night we had a chick-flick extravaganza (I'm sure Allen really feels like he missed out), complete with popcorn, cake, Mike and Ikes (I brought Beth a 5 lb bag!), and Sleepless in Seattle. They don't have a TV, so we all gathered round the computer screen to watch.
Today began with my wonderful daughters bringing me coffee in bed, and then a day out around town in Lusaka. We went to a cute cafe for brunch, and while we were there, we set up my Facebook account (yes, I finally caved). Then, we went to a cultural craft marketplace, where families live and sell their crafts. We got some paper jewelry and baskets for Beth's room. After that, we went to the mall, where they have a few stores that remind you of a mixture of Pier 1/Target/Super Walmart. The grocery store was very interesting, and very hard to tell how much things cost. I am currently working out a formula to figure it out, you know me, I am math girl through and through.
We had lunch at Curry in a Hurry- it's funny that I only eat Indian food when I am outside of the continental US, but it was very yummy. Now, we are having a relaxing afternoon on the patio. I do find it interesting that Beth's house is surrounded by a 10 ft cement wall that has glass shards stuck in the top, as well as a four tier electric fence on top of that. I guess that means we are safe. Not to mention, the two South African mastiff puppies who roam around the yard.
Here are some pictures for you all to enjoy...
Beth knows me very well, and so allowed me to take a shower the minute we got back to the house. While taking a rest, the girls cooked me a fabulous Martha Stewart birthday dinner, consisting of pasta with chicken and eggplant, a yummy salad, and a caramel cake! The next day, we were off to the Zambezi River- chock full of hippos, elephants (we saw at least 50!), and lots of birds. We even saw one croc- pretty scary. It was a gorgeous, sunny, breezy day- and for the first time in 30 years, my hair wasn't frizzy.
On our drive south, we saw several Zambian tribal villages. It was shocking to see some of the conditions people live in, but I guess it makes sense since 70% of the Zambian population is unemployed. Beth told me that the average income is less than $2 a day! However, things are very expensive. I'm learning a lot...
Last night we had a chick-flick extravaganza (I'm sure Allen really feels like he missed out), complete with popcorn, cake, Mike and Ikes (I brought Beth a 5 lb bag!), and Sleepless in Seattle. They don't have a TV, so we all gathered round the computer screen to watch.
Today began with my wonderful daughters bringing me coffee in bed, and then a day out around town in Lusaka. We went to a cute cafe for brunch, and while we were there, we set up my Facebook account (yes, I finally caved). Then, we went to a cultural craft marketplace, where families live and sell their crafts. We got some paper jewelry and baskets for Beth's room. After that, we went to the mall, where they have a few stores that remind you of a mixture of Pier 1/Target/Super Walmart. The grocery store was very interesting, and very hard to tell how much things cost. I am currently working out a formula to figure it out, you know me, I am math girl through and through.
We had lunch at Curry in a Hurry- it's funny that I only eat Indian food when I am outside of the continental US, but it was very yummy. Now, we are having a relaxing afternoon on the patio. I do find it interesting that Beth's house is surrounded by a 10 ft cement wall that has glass shards stuck in the top, as well as a four tier electric fence on top of that. I guess that means we are safe. Not to mention, the two South African mastiff puppies who roam around the yard.
Here are some pictures for you all to enjoy...
August 6, 2010
Bailey Girls' Weekend
The last weekend we had together was Easter in C-Ville, when we went to all our favorite restaurants and even on our favorite hike at White Oak Canyon- all things we had done together a million times.
This weekend, however, will be completely different as it starts out with Emily and I picking up Mom at the Lusaka International Airport (she will have been traveling for about 30 hours). We will then bring her home for a nice nap while Emily and I cook dinner and make her a caramel cake, since today is her birthday! Sunday we will be going for a boat ride on the Lower Zambezi River, where we will see hippos, crocs, and elephants out in the wild. Monday, we plan to have a fun day exploring Lusaka, and then we will end the night (and our fun weekend together) with a meal out at a yummy, new cafe.
From there, we will say 'goodbye for now' to Emily on Tuesday, and then it's just me and my Momma for another week and a half! Pray for her safe travels, and for her time here- the Lord has been bringing Africa into her peripheral vision for a while now, so I am excited to see how He uses this amazing place in her heart and life.
Some pics from our last Bailey Girls' Weekend-
This weekend, however, will be completely different as it starts out with Emily and I picking up Mom at the Lusaka International Airport (she will have been traveling for about 30 hours). We will then bring her home for a nice nap while Emily and I cook dinner and make her a caramel cake, since today is her birthday! Sunday we will be going for a boat ride on the Lower Zambezi River, where we will see hippos, crocs, and elephants out in the wild. Monday, we plan to have a fun day exploring Lusaka, and then we will end the night (and our fun weekend together) with a meal out at a yummy, new cafe.
From there, we will say 'goodbye for now' to Emily on Tuesday, and then it's just me and my Momma for another week and a half! Pray for her safe travels, and for her time here- the Lord has been bringing Africa into her peripheral vision for a while now, so I am excited to see how He uses this amazing place in her heart and life.
Some pics from our last Bailey Girls' Weekend-
August 3, 2010
Tucka Luv
Oh Maggie. There are so many moments during the day that I wish I could get inside that Buggy brain of hers and understand what is going on. Whether it's things she says (or doesn't say), or things she does (or doesn't do)- there are just so many things I cannot figure out about her.
For example- lately Mags has begun saying a particular phrase. At first, she only said it when a good song would come on the iPod. But then, she began inserting it into random times of the day as well. I have asked her several times to explain its meaning, and have even interrogated Sam to see if he knew anything about its derivative or connotation. Maggie's reply consisted of a wide-eyed stare and two kisses. Sam responded by explaining that it just means "Tucka Luv." Very helpful, I know.
Figuring out the complex meaning and emotion behind this phrase is only one of the many facets of figuring out, knowing, and loving Maggie. The reality is- I will never figure her out, or ever get it right. Most likely, I will not ever get to know what's behind the phrase, at least not on this side of eternity. Maybe there will be a day when I get to ask her to explain it all, and when she will be able to describe every detail- just maybe there will be a day when we are able to communicate with each other in a way that we both understand.
But for now, I will delight in the glimpses of understanding the Lord has given me. For those of you who know her know that it is an absolute privilege to be let into the world of Mags- even if your time there only lasts a few minutes. For now, I will take those minutes whenever she chooses to give them to me, and pray that the Lord would continue to give me insight into speaking her language so that she might know how much I really love her. As she might say (but then again, I may be using the phrase out of context), so that she might know how much a tucka luv her.
For example- lately Mags has begun saying a particular phrase. At first, she only said it when a good song would come on the iPod. But then, she began inserting it into random times of the day as well. I have asked her several times to explain its meaning, and have even interrogated Sam to see if he knew anything about its derivative or connotation. Maggie's reply consisted of a wide-eyed stare and two kisses. Sam responded by explaining that it just means "Tucka Luv." Very helpful, I know.
Figuring out the complex meaning and emotion behind this phrase is only one of the many facets of figuring out, knowing, and loving Maggie. The reality is- I will never figure her out, or ever get it right. Most likely, I will not ever get to know what's behind the phrase, at least not on this side of eternity. Maybe there will be a day when I get to ask her to explain it all, and when she will be able to describe every detail- just maybe there will be a day when we are able to communicate with each other in a way that we both understand.
But for now, I will delight in the glimpses of understanding the Lord has given me. For those of you who know her know that it is an absolute privilege to be let into the world of Mags- even if your time there only lasts a few minutes. For now, I will take those minutes whenever she chooses to give them to me, and pray that the Lord would continue to give me insight into speaking her language so that she might know how much I really love her. As she might say (but then again, I may be using the phrase out of context), so that she might know how much a tucka luv her.
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