Settling in

The African guinea hens this morning were squawking in the trees, sounding like squeaky swings, and I was reminded of the rooster that has lived near the window of every place I’ve stayed in a foreign country – from Mexico to Zambia to India to Romania! So I’ll appreciate the noise as a reminder that I am not in my home culture.

Last night as I was walking home from the “launderette” with a bag full of damp clothes that I didn’t have time to dry again because I wanted to be at our place before dark, I looked up at the sunset light on the mountains and was amazed. I’m here doing regular life in South Africa. Just like I did in Zambia and India, where it becomes normal and we develop routines – well, some routines anyway.

I’m thankful to be here. We are really enjoying a bit of slow-down in our pace of life. Toward the beginning of this week, I had a rough spell of homesickness/discontentment. A few people have vocalized a bit of “wish-I-were-in-your-shoes-instead-of-being-a                   “ and here I am feeling like I wish I was a stay-at-home aunt in Roswell! Because L just had her second baby, and I missed it. L

BUT – two things:

1. God provided a sweet, new friend here (thanks for the connection, Sarah!) who had her second baby just a few days after we arrived, and I’ve gotten to be a part of their family life a bit through the transition and to have some surrogate baby snuggles.

2. God reminded me in that “unexplainable but deep” sense that it doesn’t matter if I do something amazing here or leave a mark on Cape Town. What does matter is that I’m faithful to what God has called me to and that I love those I come into contact with.

Another culture thing: Mark and I have agreed that the main thing that keeps South Africa from being developed is the lack of indoor climate control. Everywhere we go, it is COLD!

Please pray for us:

- That God would undo the lies of law school culture that have been seeping into our minds in the last two years about competition, perfection, and intelligence.

- That God would lead me in how I spend my time and that I would glorify Him in whatever He calls me to.