Be Careful What You Pray For...

I would like to begin this story by saying two of my greatest fears (besides my paralyzing terror of sloths) are public speaking without a translator and singing in front of people. These may not seem like a big deal to many people, but to me...they're pretty scary. Unfortunately, these two things were the farthest things from my mind when I prayed for confidence and boldness in Christ. And our God is a God who answers prayer. I should have known I wouldn't just wake up one morning and think to myself, 'Wow, I sure am feeling confident and bold today!" It should not have come as a surprise to me when, within two days, I was asked to plan to speak in chapel in a few weeks and also to lead a song with Aimee in church this weekend. I agreed to both of these things before my mind could process what I was saying yes to, and when my mind finally caught up to my mouth, my stomach joined in saying 'what were you thinking?!' (more so about chapel than the singing). This went on for a day or two, as I was desperately trying to come up with ideas...then I decided I should pray. I believe my prayer went something like this, "God, if this is something you want me to do, please tell me exactly what to speak about. If it's ok for me to back out, then please make that clear." Another day or two passed, ideas came and went, yet I still was slightly freaking out mentally. And suddenly, as I was brushing my teeth last night, I remembered my first prayer...the one that went something like, "God, please make me confident and bold in You." I literally started laughing. God definitely answers prayer, and here I was praying that He would make it ok for me to back out! haha! Once I realized that, I felt totally at peace about the whole thing. Yeah, I'll probably still be nervous about getting up there and speaking to the whole school...but I'm actually kind of excited about the opportunity now. I know God is totally, 100% in control, and since He put me in this situation, His will will be done, and I am sure that He will provide all the confidence and boldness that I need. What a comforting thought!

Well, this was my third week of school already! I added on another subject, so I'm now teaching the whole class for Bible, first grade reading groups, and first grade math. Monday I am adding on first grade language/letters and sounds. It is going pretty well! I am learning a lot, and I am happy to be working with Patricia. She is encouraging to me - after every lesson she sits down with me and her notes that she took and takes me through strenghts and suggestions. She is such a great lady. A few days this week the kids were a little...hmm...rambunctious...haha, and I got a little flustered teaching on those days - just feeling like I had no control. But it really wasn't that bad, and as the week progressed things got a little better. Today was a fun day. I just taught math today, and it was fun! The kids really listened and got involved with the manipulatives and stuff that I used. So I was definitely encouraged today.

This week went so fast, but I am glad that it is the weekend now! It should be an interesting weekend...I am going to a wedding tomorrow and to a church outside of the city on Sunday! I am looking forward to these different experiences and to more exciting answers to prayer! :)

Color Blind?

"I'm color blind." An expression I have heard many times. "Color doesn't matter to me. I don't even notice it! A person is a person, we're all human beings. When I look at you I don't see "red or yellow, black or white"...I just see another person." The first time I heard someone say this, my initial thought went something like, "Oh cool, that's great that they aren't prejudiced! What a good way to think." But then as I let what they said sink in I began to question the comment. Should we be "color blind"? Yes, God has created each and every one of us in His image and likeness, and we are all human beings, but hasn't He designed each of us individually? God has given us all unique characterisics...blonde hair, black hair, blue eyes, tall, green eyes, red hair, short, straight hair, brown eyes, curly hair.... We are not often blind to these aspects, but appreciate and compliment God's beautiful designs. Why should skin color be any different? Hasn't He given us each our skin and placed us each in a specific culture?Instead of being "color blind", shouldn't we rather celebrate God's incredible handiwork and see the beauty in every individual?

I have been thinking about this issue of "color blindness" this weekend as I have been given many opportunities to interact with people of different cultures and colors over the past two weeks. God has really been showing me the beauty of His creation, and His creation is so colorful! The richness of the diversity at CAM is overwhelming. Having 11 students in my class representing 9 different countries is incredible! And the staff is just as diverse. I have become friends with Rose, a lady from Singapore, and was blessed to spend today with her, her daughter (who is Chinese I think), and her friend (who is German but lives in France). We all are fairly new to Mozambique, and today we were invited to a Zimbabwean church by a Zimbabwean lady that also works at CAM. If that is not confusing enough, there were visiting Portuguese pastors at the church, and another visiting pastor and his family from Botswana. The service was awesome - I loved it. We sang songs in Swahili, Portuguese, and English. What a beautiful compilation of people in that small building! As I sat there during the service I couldn't help thinking what a shame it would be to be "color blind". How sad to look at the beautiful people all around me and say "I don't see any difference. We're the same...people are people." Yes, people ARE people, but what a blessing to sit in a room full of so many shades, so many rich backgrounds, knowing that God designed it so that we could all be there together, learning from one another and worshipping our Master Artist.

You don't say!

Well, today marks the end of my second week of student teaching...I can't believe how fast the time goes! I love the kids in my class - they are all so wonderful individually, and it is completely hilarious to watch them interact with one another! This has been a busy week at school - I went to the OMS prayer meeting on Tuesday afternoon, which was great! Then grabbed dinner with Susan and Aimee at the "cockroach cafe" around the corner. I was told they call it this because of the roach a girl found in the middle of her cream puff...but that was years ago, so it can only have improved...right...? After dinner, we went back to school to unload, sort, stamp, and put away the massive shipment of books that just arrived. So we didn't get home until about 8:30...meaning I had been at school for almost 14 hours...a long day indeed! Then Wednesday there was a faculty meeting after school and some lesson planning, Thursday I taught my first lesson to the whole group of K and 1 (which went pretty well :) and we had a missionary couple over for dinner, and today we had Open House for the parents right after school. So it has been a full, but good, week! I really feel like I'm getting to experience the "life of a real missionary" haha! I'm ready to sleep in tomorrow!

So this is a picture of my room at the Weil's house - it is great! I really am thankful to have the opportunity to stay with Susan and Larry, and I'm glad Aimee is staying here too. It has been a lot of fun! Felix, the cat, seems to know that I am allergic to him...he always comes into my room and stares at me longingly every time I walk by him. I haven't decided if it is flattering or creepy yet...either he just really likes me, or he is planning to kill me!

And this is the CAM guard dog, Molly. She loves looking into our classroom throughout the day. Especially when the windows are open. One of these days she is going to get her head stuck between the bars - that will be quite a sight!

Well, as I said, the kids in my class can be hilarious at times. I find it hard not to laugh at things I really should not be laughing at. For instance, the other day Gabriel took his scissors and snipped off the bottom half of two of Kimberly's braids! Not funny, I know, but when the little braids just fell to the floor I didn't know what else to do besides laugh to myself! And when little Monique (the youngest girl) was out yesterday Gabriel goes, "I am glad Monique is not here, she always takes my things. I am so glad". Mrs. Patricia scolds him, saying that is not nice to say about our friends, especially when Monique prayed for Gabriel when he was out sick. Then Gabriel gets this pitiful look on his face and sighs, saying "It's hard, sometimes I forget these things." haha!

So these may be some "guess you had to be there" quotes, but I thought they were funny, so I'll share them regardless :) Many of these involve this little boy Ariel. He is from Nigeria, and he is so cute!

As we are talking about how we put our names on our papers so we don't have to guess whose they are....

Gabriel: I never guess! It's not good is it?
Mrs. P: No, because you might guess wrong.
Ariel: My brother says I have gas in my stomach.

Ariel has the funny habbit of calling Mrs. Patricia "Mr. Patricia" which has fascinated some of the other kids...
Kimberly: Why do you call her Mr. Patricia?
Ariel: I don't know. Because my brain says so!

A little later...."Mr. Patricia! Mr. Patricia!"
Gabriel: She's not a boy! Boys don't have titties!
Mrs. Patricia: (smothering a laugh) Thank you for that description.

Anotida came to me because her tooth was bothering her...I told her it is loose and will come out soon.
Anotida: How do I get it out?
Me: It will get very loose and then it will either fall out by itself, or you can pull it out.
Anotida: Eh?! When she moves by herself??
Me: When it moves a lot, yes, then you can pull it out.
Anotida: Ohhh! I want YOU to pull it out!
Me: oohhh...

I am still awaiting the day when I get to pull out Anotida's tooth. A few times every day she comes to ask me "is it shaking yet??" haha!

Well, on that note! It has been a great week and I am excited for this coming weekend! <3

Sights and Sounds

I am sitting in the dining room of a house located on the OMS compound outside the city of Maputo as an OMS meeting is going on in the next room, and can't help but reflect on the amazing impact that Africa has on one's senses. There is a lovely breeze coming through the open door; it is almost cold but quite refreshing. It is also causing the trees to make the most comforting rustling sound. I can hear children playing in the distance, and though they are yelling in a language that I do not understand, they sound like any other children I've ever heard. The subtle bass from someone's stereo is quite a contrast from the rooster that keeps crowing outside! When I look out the window, the peaceful glow of the setting sun is illuminating the huge tree right outside, the palm trees in the distance, as well as the loops of razor wire which loops around the fence encircling the yard. The smell of campfire coming in with the breeze is such a great smell and is starting to make me hungry! The combination of these sounds, smells, and feelings is making me feel as though I could fall asleep right here...if it weren't for the mound of sand stuck in my shoe from walking across the driveway!

My first week has been going very well. I absolutely love the kids in my class and am excited to have the next seven weeks to get to know them all. Susan and Larry are great and are a lot of fun to spend time with! We went out to Spicy Thai for dinner the other night, which was delicious, and I've been enjoying leftovers the past few days :)

Having a little time to sit back and think about the past few days since I got here has brought to mind many ways that we are all so alike, yet so different. The Mozambican people are people just like Americans. We are all basically the same. But at the same time, we are so entirely different. There are many things that are normal in this culture that just make me smile when I compare them to what is "normal" for me. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with the way things are done here, or the way things are done at home, I just find it interesting to think about. For example, driving. I don't think I will ever say that driving in NYC is crazy after what I have seen here! Yes, there are stoplights, but they do not always work...and even if they do work, hardly anyone follows them. You have to be extremely pushy with your car, or you will never get into the flow of traffic. Sometimes it is hard to tell who is going where or what side of the road they are supposed to be on. And pedestrians definitely do NOT have the right of way (unless they get hit)...so walking home from school is an adventure!

A lot of the houses and buildings where I'm staying have huge metal gates, padlocks, guards, and sometimes dogs. CAM (the school I'm teaching at) has a pitbull names Molly chained out front. It is very amusing to see her looking down at us through the window of our lower level classroom throughout the day! Speaking of school, it is beautiful! It is fairly small and many of the classrooms are separated into two to make room for K-12. Every day I laugh when one of the kids has to heat up their snack or lunch because we have to turn off the lights in our classroom in order to run the microwave! All the kids cheer when the lights come back on haha. It is also interesting to hear the Muslim prayers coming over the loudspeakers each evening....it is such a diverse place. I am excited to have more opportunities to experience the culture here - it really is a beautiful place.

Arrival

Well, I made it to Mozambique! I left Saturday evening and arrived here Monday around noon. It was a long trip, but it went smoothly and was fun! My flight from Jo-berg to Mozambique was delayed because the Mozambique airport was shut down for the president of Tanzania to fly in! It was quite an event haha - apparently there was a red carpet rolled out and cannons shot off, as well as a band and dancers! Pretty cool!

I am excited to be here, and after dropping my luggage off at the house I went straight to the school to meet my co-op teacher and my K-1 class. My co-op, Patricia, is from Zimbabwe and is a very nice, fun lady and I am excited to work with her over the next two months. There are eleven students in my class from nine different countries! I have students from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Canada, Kenya, South Africa, the US, Brazil, Germany, and Nigeria! They are all very cute and I think it will be a lot of fun to get to know them all!

The couple I am staying with is great - they are a lot of fun and are very hospitable. There are two other young people staying here too, and it has been fun to get to know them! Well, I am being called for dessert, so until next time! <3