Life as we know it.....

I just keep waiting……..I’ve been looking for some great revelation, some magical God breathed words of wisdom. I’m waiting and waiting. Today as I was riding, in a cramped taxi with my kids and husband to do something totally ordinary like go to the market and pharmacy, I realized I was waiting. I’ve been waiting for my life here to start. We are a little on hold since our house isn’t complete and the container with our stuff isn’t available to us. So, I’ve been waiting. Then I took a good look around. The sights, sounds and smells around as I rode with the windows down in the rain, were ordinary to me. I was looking at kids playing on the streets. I didn’t notice the trash. I was watching an older man tease his grandchild; I didn’t pay attention to her clothes with the holes in them, just laughed at his joke.  I simply shook my head in a way that told the woman with packages of tang that I wasn’t interested and she walked off, instead of apologizing and wondering if she needs me to buy that. With confidence, I found the store I was wanting to go to and even took the lead when Michael had no idea where to go. I told my children to “come” when we got out of the taxi. I didn’t freak when they went an isle over or stopped to look at something. I walked into the store and told everyone exactly what I needed and they totally brought it. I even know the guy to look for when we decided to buy bread on the street. These things that are now very ordinary to me were something that I couldn’t have imagined only 2 weeks ago. I noticed the trash, I smelled the fires and rot of sewage, I was completely freaked out by the honking of the cars and apologized profusely when approached by a vendor, but now it’s life.  While waiting for God to give me the go ahead to live life here, I started. Granted, that will change as soon as we are in Bauya, but for now, we live here. I LIVE here. This is home.  It frustrates me that I so easily look to him and say, “ok now do your work.” And he’s already done it. He’s created me for such a time as this. He has to shake his head and refer to me as his dumb child so often. I’m so slow sometimes.

Ella has also caught on to living life. One day last week we were riding down the road. She was “middle shotgun” her favorite place to ride, right between her daddy and Uncle Sainy. While sitting in traffic on the way back from Bauya, Ella announced to us she was hungry. (If you have spent any time with my daughter you understand this happens every 10 minutes or so) She then saw a man on the side of the road selling popcorn. Uncle Sainy spoke up and told the man to come. He of course came to the window and we bought some popcorn. I watched Ella as this transaction took place. It was like a very bright light bulb went off in the child’s head. She turns around and yells “momma, I can get food in the car anytime I want. I just hold out my hand like this and say come!” OH NO! Today, as I apologized the third time to a vendor for coming to our car because the 5 year old yelled come, I realized a monster may have been created. She has found a way to get around waiting.

African-ish

So basically, my kids are the most awesome people I know. Their faith kicks my faiths butt. I have stepped on SL soil before. I have read a ridiculous amount of books and other research. I have talked with people here, got advice from friends and family, met with pastors and even went fake shopping at several markets. My kids, on the other hand, totally “pulled an Abraham”. (yes, you can use that) With blind faith they followed their parents to a place they have never been. On every plane they had to catch they delighted in the TV’s, the ability to lay back their own seats and the “amazing airplane food”. I watched their hearts hurt as they left family and friends but I was completely blown away when they bravely wiped their tears, smiled and said “I can’t wait to go to Africa.”

Before we took the kids into the center, I was a wreck. We all know Anna does not enjoy being touched and Ella tends to freeze and not speak. So I warned them all and gave them a safe word, then I could swoop in and rescue them. I just knew this would be crazy overwhelming. Then I stood back and watched my kids amaze me again! There were gobs of kids holding their hands, hugging them, asking their names and trying to braid their hair. I saw Aubrey light up when Betty grabbed her hand. Anna was, literally, knocked over by the love shown to her in the form of a bear hug by Isata. They were glowing! Even Ella found a few friends to play tag with. They can’t wait to see and do everything. What was I worried about again?

I look around and see all the change they are experiencing; their lives are not the same. Last week it was Phineas and Ferb and some string cheese, this week……we hear the mosque up the hill playing the call to prayer, the goats in the neighboring compound and let us not forget the former presidents peacocks (do you cook those the same as turkeys, cause seriously). They on the other hand, see so much fun and adventure; they are excited about visiting the kids for worship tonight and can’t wait to see what Auntie Marie makes for dinner tonight. Oh to be like my children.

Now, I’m sure you are wondering what crazy things my children have said and done. Well, there really are so many! The best so far, Ella came to us and said, “I really like the kids, but I wish they would quit speaking Spanish to me. Don’t they know I don’t speak Spanish?” Krio isn’t even on her radar! There is Anna and all her crazy faces she thinks she is making on the sly while trying new foods. Of course, we see the scowl! Then Aubrey announced that she wanted “American extensions”, cause they are related to continents, of course. So, when asked to give a quote-Aubrey: I often smell armpits. Anna: Africans are much louder than Americans. Ella: This place is a little freaky. All in all, stuff freaks them out a lot less than us.

Hopefully, there will be a few pics to come soon! Much love from SL!