Highs and Lows

I'm going to keep this blog post a bit simple since I am swamped, but I wanted to write so that I could do some of my own processing!

High: 

How our team laughs together over meals. Two of them pair up to prepare dinner once a week (=4 dinners a week prepared by team) and a competition has broken out.

Low:

Not having a day off, as the team is staying at my house and I do most of the meal planning – although thankfully not most of the cooking…except that I did this weekend and now feel burned out

High:

Knowing that this month of orientation will pass quickly

Low:

That finances are a much bigger part of the job than I expected them to be, and that I am caught between Western accounting polices and lived experiences of a different approach to money in Congo. -- When I have more time to think, this will be a bit exciting, as well, because it is one of the primary places I see the need for cross-cultural understanding, humility, and growth. I am passionate about finding ways for North Americans to let go of the power that comes from having resources to give, and to find ways to work together collaboratively while holding differing worldviews about what money means. (This should have its own post eventually, or maybe more than a post.) 

High:

Mark’s incredible supportiveness of me during this incredibly stressful month

Low:
My lower back has been hurting.
High:
We got to play ultimate Frisbee on Saturday afternoon

Low:

Wanting to go camping with Mark and be alone outdoors far away from other people and realizing how far away that dream is to being fulfilled.

High:

Some of our Seed participants said they really loved their experience of our church this morning

Low:

Being anxious that we don’t have concrete plans for installing our Seed participants in their various placements with organizations.

High: 

Going to visit my EMU CJP classmate’s sister in her home, meeting her husband and kids who were all very sweet and happy to meet us.

I hope these things tide you over until next time.