tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18173858740134922422024-03-27T00:12:01.452-07:00.kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.comBlogger336125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-69888934104968618962015-07-22T19:32:00.005-07:002015-07-22T19:32:54.534-07:00ChangeChange is in the air!<br />
<br />This blog is some 8 years old and we are updating our communications and streamlining a bit. It is migration season - this time involving zero wildebeest. Hooray for simpler ways to do things! This will remain here for posterity. For now.<br />
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New links coming soon!<br />
<br />kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-14666654359068642092014-09-10T17:05:00.001-07:002014-09-10T17:05:58.635-07:00Back to School 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwHMG54KFiXqE7aWPYv3dpQs04VYs9grFnpgYKr3c8qUrygM0iwJI0KeH61k_j4JpzFB3nLmxElrm4xqUkcSuB2qhkpwQj2WHz7tapUiUBbPsifW2nHGl72kZi5PbdcVinx9QYhVA0DWP/s1600/IMG_4997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwHMG54KFiXqE7aWPYv3dpQs04VYs9grFnpgYKr3c8qUrygM0iwJI0KeH61k_j4JpzFB3nLmxElrm4xqUkcSuB2qhkpwQj2WHz7tapUiUBbPsifW2nHGl72kZi5PbdcVinx9QYhVA0DWP/s1600/IMG_4997.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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James, Joel & Anna are heading back to school and growing up entirely too fast for my taste! Anna is becoming quite the chapter book reader and can't wait to start cursive and multiplication. Joel is honing his writing skills and still loves drawing dragons in his free time. James is learning about organizing several different subjects and teachers into one 3-ring binder.<br />
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Joel turned 10 this summer and for a week was as tall as his older brother! His feet are a full size bigger already, but James shot up another inch or two. It won't be easy to pass him! All three enjoyed lots of swimming lessons and pool time this summer, but we are all looking forward to some cooler weather!<br />
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They all join Mom for BSF on Monday nights again this year and have grown so much. This year is Life of Moses, which James and I began several years ago before moving mid-year back to Congo. It will be fun to finish the study in one place!<br />
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The dust is settling. The moving boxes are all finally gone. The last suitcases are finally unpacked. And we're feeling more and more at home, even if we will never feel like Texans!kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-83820389599492060502014-07-18T09:50:00.001-07:002014-09-10T16:30:37.615-07:00GAPS Diet 3-years anniversaryIt's hard for me to believe James has been grain-free for three years! <br> <br> Most of the first two years were in Congo. People here in the US often wonder, "How could you do such a limited diet in rural Africa?" But I found the farmer's market (huge likelihood that produce was organic), local grass-fed beef and help in the kitchen truly a blessing. I think the abundance of options is a bit overwhelming here in our world of Whole Foods, co-ops, online orders, etc. Farmers and butchers are few and far between - at least in cities! When I first entered my trusty old friend of a grocery store to realize there were maybe 3 items edible for James - it almost made me panic. I had been looking forward to clean long aisles full of food options, (pushing a shopping cart!), but this heavenly experience was soiled by the realization that there weren't 'food options' in the average grocery store anymore.<br> <br> Taking our family on the road also provided challenges. Gas-station snacks? Not really. Fast food? Nope. We found a high end steakhouse for a fancy family meal. I called their chef ahead of time. Do you have any grass-fed beef? Nope. Any pastured or organic chicken? Nope. Wild-caught seafood? Nope. So you don't have any meat whatsoever that has not been fed corn & soy? Nope. What oil do you fry in? Soybean oil. ARGH! To their enormous credit, they were willing to let us bring in a raw grass-fed steak from Whole Foods and prepare it special in 100% butter for the special meal. Food is just way more processed and commercial than I ever imagined. It <i>slightly</i> helps that so many others are dealing with allergies too.<br> <br> James is doing amazing. He grew an inch last week! His feet are officially bigger than mine. This year I have kept him full GAPS and added more dairy and he has been tolerating it for the first time in 2 years! He now does well on ghee, butter, kefir, yogurt, raw sour cream, parmasean, gruyere, comte. The occasional illegal treat of raw whipped cream or raw whole milk doesn't seem to bother him either! No eczema, no chronic illness, no toileting issues, no emotional meltdowns, and lots of gaining ground! We were able recently to return to that steakhouse and order one of their grain-fed steaks (cooked in butter!) without reaction!<br> <br> In GAPS, as people heal, they often see retracing patterns. Your body is working backward through the healing it wanted to do in the past. So issues that came up recently were dealt with first and issues that had been under the surface from the start are the last to heal. We saw retracing in four of us. James' regression journey began with a chronic UTI and bad case of giardia. His giardia had been popping up every few months even on GAPS. Initially we would continue to treat with the recommended tinidazole antibiotic. After a while, kefir and garlic seemed to make it go back into remission after a few 'windy' days. And the giardia seemed to resurface less and less often. So when it seemed to come back (around a full moon, which is normal for parasites) in February, we began a regime of diatomaceous earth in water (a very inexpensive and gentle parasite/yeast cleanse) before dinner each day. I figured we all might have a few extra stow-aways after so many years in Africa. Within a week his giardia symptoms were gone and within a month he no longer had the bloated tummy that goes with it. We continued for several months. Initially he would feel something around a full moon, but now, 4 months later, we just had a 'super moon' and noticed nothing! Hooray for DE!<br> <br> I feel like that was one huge last 'frontier' for James' gut. He had to find a way to kill off the last of the parasites and keep things in balance. Healing that his body wanted to do when he turned three... We'll have to see what time tells us, but we may have fought the 'last battle'! <br> <br> We had a great conversation last week:<br> <br> MOM: James, is that eczema on your leg?<br> James: What's eczema?<br> MOM: You know, the itchy spots you had when you were little?! (age 6 mos - 8 years)<br> James: Nope. No idea what you're talking about.<br> <br> (it turned out to be a few mosquito bites)<br> Hilarious.<br> I'm so thankful he doesn't even remember nights when he couldn't sleep for the itching.<br> <br> James is headed for the teens quickly, growing like a weed, and becoming a wonderful young man. He is doing really well in math, still loves architecture and engineering, and Suzuki piano instruction. He still has an amazing capacity for patterns and in 6 months of piano instruction can play about 12 songs in almost any key you name. He has recently discovered a love of clay and molding figurines to order. He has finished Occupational Therapy for gross motor delays and has one reflex still not integrated. He has enjoyed playing baseball and soccer this spring. The biggest thing James accomplished this year was a week away from family at Summer Camp! He had to bring a cooler of food along, but he had a blast intertubing on the lake, ziplining through the forest and diving in the pool! Such a far cry from the 8yo who couldn't make it through an hour with peers on his own...<br> <br> My guess is that James will benefit from continuing GAPS foods for the majority of his diet, but that he won't be limited strictly for too much longer. The only hesitation from moving on now is that for some kids (like myself) hormone levels and detox can get messy ages 12-14. We'll have to navigate it one day at a time. So thankful for the wisdom of Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride and GAPS!<br> kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-18434706130660450492014-07-07T20:12:00.003-07:002014-09-10T16:32:20.447-07:00Cultural IndicationsA year ago this week, we were piling our worldly possessions into a moving truck to cross 5 states and move to Texas. We had no idea what Texas was like, but we knew we were moving there. We didn't know any Texans, but we knew we could meet some.<br />
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Joshua 3:17 was our rock of comfort. Israel was nervous. They were crossing into the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering, knowing that strong enemies were likely waiting for them. A new land. It's scary. We were only moving five people. They were moving thousands. God doesn't just send them swimming. He doesn't have them construct boats. He goes before them. He plans ahead and provides before their very eyes. The Ark of the Covenant passed into the middle of the Jordan river "while all Israel crossed on dry ground" as the slimy, rockbed turned into firm, dry ground. With each provision we would cheer, "Dry ground!"<br />
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For years we have moved. Migrants. Nomads. Seventeen times in fifteen years. You'd think we would get better at it! Texas is yet another culture for us. We've spent decades on the West Coast. We've spent years in Kenya and Congo and France, Kent even knows China, but Texas? And it's not different just because people say "all y'all" or "fixin to", it's how people drift across freeway lanes like they're ice skating in circles around you. Blinkers? Nope. It's how there is an understood but invisible social network. It's how you have to water a house's foundation and drive 10 over the speed limit. It's how 100 degrees for months on end is normal, and the plants that thrive are all foreign to us. It's all new.<br />
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But He goes before us.<br />
And made us to walk across on dry ground!<br />
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<br />kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-61932737755225411592014-03-05T09:07:00.001-08:002014-09-10T16:31:04.602-07:00The Advice of an MK (Missionary Kid)James, Joel & Anna are still traversing the globe emotionally and socially. Physically we have lived in the same United States for over a year now, but only settled for six months and still missing what feels like home: Africa. Some days the red dirt and smiling friends are far from their minds, but other days they wake up and want to sing in Swahili and plan a trip. Anna misses airports. What a strange thing to miss. Their whole lives have included travel, so there is a strange thing missing now.<br> <br> We had the privilege to get to know another family just as they were heading out. Opposite direction. It was wonderful to be able to share a love of Africa and her gorgeous people with someone who just understood. As part of a writing assignment James decided to give advice to his new friend soon leaving for the motherland. I found some of his advice profound:<br> <br> <br> <meta http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> <font face="DejaVu Serif, serif"><font size="4">From One African MK to Another</font></font> <font face="DejaVu Serif, serif"><font size="4"><br> by James, the African<br> <br> <font size="4">Because I am an African missionary kid myself, I'd like to provide you a bit of advice before your upcoming move.<br> <font size="4"><br> Play in the dirt.</font> Mo<font size="4">ld houses, mo<font size="4">nsters, ornaments, figur<font size="4">ines, etc. out of the red African clay. You can have a lot more fun in the dirt.<br> <br> <font size="4">Play with every kind of b<font size="4">ug! Interestingly, they make fun pets<font size="4">, and if you use them right, toys. My brother liked to trap two moths and pretend they would 'fight' with each other. He called it "Moth Wars<font size="4">". It's hilarious.<br> <br> <font size="4">Learn the language better than I did and have fun playing with African kids, because they know all the funnest games and things to do there. In choosing your friends, money, skin color or houses totally don't matter.<br> <br> <font size="4">The trees there are awesome to <font size="4">climb.<br> <br> <font size="4">Watch out for rabid dogs<font size="4">. They can kill you with one bi<font size="4">te. <br> <br> <font size="4">Eat piles of mangoes for me!<br> <br> <font size="4">I chose a verse for you that helped my family when we first moved to Congo:<br> <font size="4">"The Lord replied, 'I will personally go with you Moses and I will give you rest - everything will be fine for you<font size="4">.'"<br> <font size="4">E<font size="4">xodus 33:14 NLT<br> <br> <font size="4">I hope you take my advice and love being a missionary kid in Africa.<br> <font size="4"><br> </font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font><u><i><b><br> </b></i></u><br> kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-42893762731682598672013-08-29T08:18:00.000-07:002014-09-10T16:31:17.859-07:00Out to CoffeeWe have been on the move for about 9 months now, and the waters are beginning to recede. We can see the grassy knoll up ahead. He has carried us and made our path into flat, dry ground that is easy to walk on.<br />
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I didn't have much time for filling you all in here, but thankfully got to see so many and 'do coffee' to talk about all God has been doing in us and in you since we last met. It is good.<br />
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And if we were 'Out to Coffee' right now, I would continue singing. Singing the song that is his Faithfulness and Love for us in the here and now. These are a few of the verses of our song:<br />
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That when Joel needed men's sized extra wide sneakers for his new PE class, they just happened to show up at the missionary barrel in just his size.<br />
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That when James was feeling alone, some new friends from Co-op just happened to call and invited him over for the day.<br />
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That when Anna needed closure with her best friend from Congo, ticket prices were cheap, we traveled safely and laughed and cried for a week.<br />
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That when Kent needed a reliable car, desk, ladder, etc. we found them all right away on craigslist for less than they are really worth.<br />
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That when Kim unpacked the random boxes from storage, the random bags from the missionary barrel, and the random suitcases of our gear, 14 years of stuff started to 'match'!<br />
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That Kim's dream of working with Congolese refugee women here in Dallas will start tonight as a church right in our neighborhood just happens to have such an outreach.<br />
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It is a good song.<br />
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I hope you can sing it with us.<br />
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Maybe write a few verses of your own.kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-79515079631604263912013-02-28T08:32:00.000-08:002013-02-28T08:32:54.754-08:00Previously on tenfootfamily...What do you call those little clips from your favorite show that catch you up quickly on important plot developments? They might be annoying to some, but useful to others. The reason you missed our plot developments from the past 4 months has been that we didn't write them down. <i>We were too busy living them. </i>But I will give you the "previously on..." sequence to catch up those who like it.<br />
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Seeing that my last post was the kids' Back-to-School pictures...<br />
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<b>School: </b><br />
Anna had a great beginning to Kindergarten and is much more comfortable with addition facts and reading these days. James is doing great with 4th grade Calvert. This is his first year with a correspondence teacher, transcript and grades, so there is more accountability to get least favorite subjects finished well. He went from a few painful sentences to writing a 3-paragraph essay on his own. He continues his grain-free, allergen-free diet and is doing well. Joel used to think of Spelling like pulling teeth. No. Fun. He is kinesthetic and Spelling is visual. These days he is acing Grade 2 Spelling thanks to <a href="http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/all-about-spelling">All About Spelling</a> - which emphasizes letter magnets on a white board (Check it out if you are looking for kinesthetic-friendly options.) Just ask him if he likes school. He will say, "Y-E-S!" <br />
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<b>September:</b><br />
At the end of September, I had the pleasure and joy of co-teaching a workshop for Congolese Literacy Experts and Translators to become checkers for publication. I had previously been the only certified checker in our organization and it was wonderful to pass the baton to so many. Lots more detail about this in our next newsletter! Our 4 years in Congo was quickly coming to an end and we wanted to make the most of it.<br />
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<b>October:</b><br />
In October, we started soaking up all the things we loved most about our home in Congo. We played more with our doggies. We ate more pineapple. Kim sang more often in choir. We spent more time with friends. We took one last week off in Uganda and started bringing out our luggage for "the move". We were blessed with the mamas choir deigning to sing and pray over our living room. Part of me wanted to videotape everything, but the greater part of me just wanted to relish in the goodnesses God had given. I didn't want to miss a minute behind a camera (or on a blog...?).<br />
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<b>November:</b><br />
November started out mundane enough, if anything is ever mundane in Congo. It brought the selling of our household items, packing and storing of others. Arranging for the absence between our departure and the arrival of a new family to live in our house. We scheduled my last Ladies' Bible study, Thanksgiving with friends and the kids' Fall Music Recital for the second-to-last week in November, but they were never meant to be. The town erupted in unrest Tuesday that altered everything about our last moments in our home. Most of our expat friends evacuated with their children. Our last chances for goodbyes were gone before we knew what happened. God kept us safe. <i>Perfectly safe</i> in a bubble of peace passing all understanding, but it wasn't easy. You will hear more about this one day when we are ready to write about it. We joke now that our 4-year-term ended with a bang. :)<br />
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<b>December:</b><br />
We spent the first half of December visiting supporters in France where we studied, and where our Joel came on the scene, in 2003-4. We walked off the plane with a mountain of luggage, no coats or socks and only sandals for shoes. It snowed 2 feet that night. <span style="font-size: small;">We felt like displaced Africans.</span> We found warm clothes eventually. And enjoyed warm fellowship. We ate our fill of fabulous cheese and chocolate. We made it to the grand ole USofA and back to Gramma's house for Christmas. It was lovely. And COLD.<br />
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<b>January:</b><br />
We quickly moved all our earthly belongings (except for the 2 boxes we forgot at Gramma's house and the 4 barrels we kept in Congo that is...) into the same furlough house in Oregon we had in 2002 and 2007. Some of the upgrades we left behind were still there! After 6 days of frantic unpacking and repacking, we left for a ministry retreat in California. Here we had time to breathe. Time to think again. Time to grieve the home and life we knew in Congo. Time to realize which country we came from. Reverse culture shock is always a bit overwhelming. It comes in waves when you expect to understand someone or something. But you don't anymore. It has changed. Or you have changed. Lots can change in 4 years...<br />
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So we are "home"!<br />
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We are just not "at home" yet.kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-63186453478995173262012-09-14T08:21:00.001-07:002012-09-14T08:21:35.815-07:00School pictures are here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwd1Bfk_bemuO4jSIVeWAM0TtulvqaOF-FSfKJytVsWim6mBtdOO57L6NCRlnRhBJoJrsRiexPjFfgYh8awiKNMZLFF3i7prPs2jwPM4P1J986uUIttjPfd5vTK1ESLUFLMNx8tghQBAZ/s1600/KidsnKatie.E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwd1Bfk_bemuO4jSIVeWAM0TtulvqaOF-FSfKJytVsWim6mBtdOO57L6NCRlnRhBJoJrsRiexPjFfgYh8awiKNMZLFF3i7prPs2jwPM4P1J986uUIttjPfd5vTK1ESLUFLMNx8tghQBAZ/s320/KidsnKatie.E.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to keep it serious with our wonderful teacher Katie.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Here are a few 'outtakes' of this year's school pictures. With Anna in Kindergarten, we have three full-time students! </div>
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Having a stellar 4th grade year so far, <br />our almost 10-year-old James looking dapper <br />(and growing up too fast for Mom's taste!). <br />I have the same teeth in my old 4th grade picture... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTorPEqfRP3Avwfe0iNoSb9gUvduiKjSltrzY0I2pAgAKDanziMfjsw7tK8ikABIYV2tji8C0QJMTG2R7WdtJNAoomA-AozW3n18M6ndKc1R9In9O4I0VNE-XAB9iRtM05PKxltKRWGn9Y/s1600/James.2.E.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTorPEqfRP3Avwfe0iNoSb9gUvduiKjSltrzY0I2pAgAKDanziMfjsw7tK8ikABIYV2tji8C0QJMTG2R7WdtJNAoomA-AozW3n18M6ndKc1R9In9O4I0VNE-XAB9iRtM05PKxltKRWGn9Y/s320/James.2.E.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Last year was the year of no teeth for Joel, but this year they are coming in! Joel has recently taken up reading chapter books for fun, is the best coloring kid in the house and loves learning multiplication (believe it or not):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v8lQ63BXiEWks8Oy0NpjzuBzm9G_ZcJbhyWhCp7wjzBPwPs5Y17VnMQP2QUEAZEXDQQi4_KX1QJ3I8QTTliOVQDfzY3bH0RGYQWAi8RSB9tFY5QzQt-7jjhMr8FN-3fTWmg-guxLxLiK/s1600/Joel.3.E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v8lQ63BXiEWks8Oy0NpjzuBzm9G_ZcJbhyWhCp7wjzBPwPs5Y17VnMQP2QUEAZEXDQQi4_KX1QJ3I8QTTliOVQDfzY3bH0RGYQWAi8RSB9tFY5QzQt-7jjhMr8FN-3fTWmg-guxLxLiK/s320/Joel.3.E.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Anna is really enjoying Kindergarten, but speeding ahead in math. She must have some math genes from Grandma... :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzi4nlIKwx3EAbGZHsq8rhd82E51h0ycYwxdHHnyAC1zQvktrU-MFXzc3wLzGfrqrsNnYHpwljAwbGC4TMPct98fSFYE4V2sx3dWwktVoC8c5K0Fd_qRApQlshWBSXg3z2bQQf3DH9LS6/s1600/Anna.3.E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzi4nlIKwx3EAbGZHsq8rhd82E51h0ycYwxdHHnyAC1zQvktrU-MFXzc3wLzGfrqrsNnYHpwljAwbGC4TMPct98fSFYE4V2sx3dWwktVoC8c5K0Fd_qRApQlshWBSXg3z2bQQf3DH9LS6/s320/Anna.3.E.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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There's our winning lineup for the year! <br />It will be an interesting school year chopped in half by an ocean and travels far and wide. Katie's help last spring and this fall are such a fun help for us all! The kids are all working on their French - we'll see how far they get before we visit! </div>
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I'm so cliche, I admit it - they grow up too fast!</div>
kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-59586929371312541242012-09-01T02:09:00.002-07:002012-09-01T02:09:47.925-07:00A Heavy LoadI tread slippery bumps up the muddy hill.<br />
Dogding piles of washed up garbage<br />
Discarded bags<br />
A broken shoe.<br />
The road is messy, muddy and slick.<br />
It's hard work.<br />
I feel ready to fall at any moment. <br />
But I enjoy the crisp morning air and bright sunshine.<br />
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A woman ahead of me struggles under a heavy load.<br />
Many gallons of water for her family weigh her down.<br />
She bears them on her back.<br />
And cloth wrapped around her forehead to hold it.<br />
She grunts, bent over under the heavy load.<br />
I pass her easily, without that burden.<br />
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Time freezes for an instant.<br />
The gospel illustrated before my eyes.<br />
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We walk a broken road.<br />
Under a heavy load.<br />
He takes the burden upon his own back.<br />
He grunts and groans under the strain.<br />
The Mender of brokenness carries our load. <br />
While we walk freely.<br />
Our path is not easy.<br />
Still full of garbage, bumps and slick with mud.<br />
But the burden is light.<br />
We are free.<br />
We can walk easily.<br />
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I tread the slippery bumps up a muddy hill.<br />
I am free.<br />
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<br />kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-22916867464050139782012-08-31T01:18:00.002-07:002012-08-31T01:18:48.490-07:00Day In the LifeIt's been a couple years since I chronicled an average day. This was yesterday:<br />
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3:32am Wake up coughing (between dust and charcoal smoke this isn't uncommon).<br />
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3:45am Almost back to sleep when 2 shots ring out on main street a few blocks away. Probably the police keeping order.<br />
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4:02am Dive bombed by a stealthy mosquito who snuck into our net somehow. I zap him with my bug racket and try to go back to sleep. Again.<br />
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4:28am Our mosque next door calls everyone to wake up at top volume. I think he has new speakers. At least he only takes about 2 minutes (unlike the patterns of last month!)<br />
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4:44am He shouts it out again. I'm beginning to give up on the idea of any more sleep.<br />
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5:00am Finally back to sleep for one last hour before the day begins.<br />
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6:30am Dressed, up, meeting with employees. They want to work early today and leave early to fight long lines of parents trying to sign their kids up for school by next week.<br />
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7:30am Fried eggs and papaya made for breakfast. Headscarf donned to head out to my choir rehearsal (which 'starts' at 7:30, but I usually go around 8).<br />
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8:30am Walking and greeting my way down slick muddy streets stepping over the discarded plastics of the world. Finally get to church to find that no one is rehearsing today. I surmise it is not rained out, but probably they are traveling to sing for some event somewhere.<br />
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9:00am Back home to see that the kids get their schoolwork started. Katie, the wonder teacher arrives to help. Anna needs to finish a subject or two before leaving for her art class. Joel and James dig into school at home. James learns to cross-multiply fractions while Joel takes 30 minutes coloring elaborate pictures on his Greek mythology assignment.<br />
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9:30am Anna and I head over the muddy roads in our car. It's about a mile away, but roads aren't safe over 15 mph. The parking lot is small and full, so we pull into the weeds right outside the gate. We arrive just in time for art class.<br />
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11:00am Anna enjoys a magazine-collage decorated box project, which doubles as a game she can play with her brothers. She loves the sandbox at recess and the little toy horses she brought along for the occasion. Next to 3 preschoolers, she looks pretty big these days.<br />
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12:30pm We drive home for lunch, hear about the boys' day, and enjoy homemade bread and soup before a busy afternoon.<br />
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2:00pm The boys head next door to deliver invitations to their friends to come to a last weekend of summer party tomorrow. They stay and play with friends, building shapes and toys out of local clay.<br />
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2:30pm Anna and her bff Brooke learn cool French ballet terms in the living room with their fabulous weekly ballet lesson by Jennings.<br />
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3:30pm A colleague and friend, Maryanne, arrives to help us print, copy and collate 22 books that are 200-pages long! James has fun calculating how many pages we will need. The power has been off for 2 days and isn't likely to return. Given that Kent's class starts Monday, we need to use our own generator and printer to get the books ready in time. We think we can do it in about an hour.<br />
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4:30pm What were we thinking? Piles of paper are strewn all over our living and dining room. Four of us are working non-stop and an hour later we have barely finished 25% of the book!<br />
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6:30pm That big pot of beans is perfect to feed extra workers tonight! We all dish up a bowl of beans and top it with sauerkraut, cheese and yogurt while we keep working on the books. The table is too full, so we let the kids have a 'picnic' on the floor.<br />
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7:30pm No power also means no hot water. So between sorting papers, I heat water for the kids' bucket baths and they finish chores in time to read some Dr. Suess and Narnia before bedtime. After they are all tucked in and asleep, Kent drives our friends home. It's rainy and muddy for walking and not very safe to be out alone at night.<br />
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8:00pm While he's out, I dish up the food and tea for our night guards and feed the dogs their dinner. One last glance at Email adds two more urgent requests to the morning's work. But that's tomorrow.<br />
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8:30pm Our generator has now been running for 12 straight hours (on ONE tank of diesel). It is fabulous. We finally let it rest and turn off electronics and extras overnight, leaving only the fridge and security lights for the batteries to manage all night. Kent and I debrief the day and watch a few minutes of Downton Abbey Season 1. I'm so tired I barely hear the mice outside our bedroom window.<br />
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<br />kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-34344523739374086462012-08-04T02:33:00.000-07:002012-08-04T02:33:12.157-07:00Celebrating Joel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjCRgsEx7fMgcZGsUpvX4UKPx_tTerCHggAsNvj9qmv3C4njwDGu3_hzchGJGAGiPg3oqPOyVX3jTA8JqS6TjlSrfWj4HMeYZ97WTmHtAAUWt1FsbvV2JoDpgUqL_eGtEsbXJ_kCzjzRb/s1600/JoelBible.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<br />Joel has always loved that his birthday usually coincides with summer vacation! He spent his 1st, 2nd and 5th birthdays at the Kenyan coast, and was thrilled to get to spend his 8th there too! After all, 1+2+5 = 8.<br />
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The day started quietly. Our family tradition is that on their 8th birthday each kid gets a full-sized Bible of their own. Here Joel reads the dedication Kent wrote to him in the front:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjCRgsEx7fMgcZGsUpvX4UKPx_tTerCHggAsNvj9qmv3C4njwDGu3_hzchGJGAGiPg3oqPOyVX3jTA8JqS6TjlSrfWj4HMeYZ97WTmHtAAUWt1FsbvV2JoDpgUqL_eGtEsbXJ_kCzjzRb/s1600/JoelBible.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjCRgsEx7fMgcZGsUpvX4UKPx_tTerCHggAsNvj9qmv3C4njwDGu3_hzchGJGAGiPg3oqPOyVX3jTA8JqS6TjlSrfWj4HMeYZ97WTmHtAAUWt1FsbvV2JoDpgUqL_eGtEsbXJ_kCzjzRb/s400/JoelBible.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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The morning was spent at a sort of Vacation Bible School with lots of friends. Perfect birthday for our social Joel, or what? :) He planned out his travel wardrobe to save the blue Lego Star Wars shirt for the big day!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gtXDhyphenhyphen2XgoWTlbPGFQWuIxsehgB4GNdQ_3nk44utoWLgvd5iUVGPZs48flXH7zx7I8HWHuFqFR6UVuQZWvurOS6mQScQs0Iy4zxJODSDmsjqAMltzul9_raHdDksD6o-a29dyk12P0qj/s1600/Joelfrenz.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gtXDhyphenhyphen2XgoWTlbPGFQWuIxsehgB4GNdQ_3nk44utoWLgvd5iUVGPZs48flXH7zx7I8HWHuFqFR6UVuQZWvurOS6mQScQs0Iy4zxJODSDmsjqAMltzul9_raHdDksD6o-a29dyk12P0qj/s320/Joelfrenz.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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The hotel surprised us with a small cake at teatime. We ordered a large one at lunch to share with his friends, specially made without flour or sugar, so it was disappointing to have a surprise cake we couldn't eat. But he took it all in stride, and didn't mind having more people sing to him!</div>
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At lunchtime we ordered up a big pile of 'hedgehogs' (what we always called at home 'criss-cross mangoes'), which is Joel's favorite fruit. We flew in a few small boxes of 100% juice and added that to the blue-colored club soda to make a 'Blue Splash soda' without the Sprite (corn syrup) - more about foods later! <br />He ate to his heart's content:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KNQsoaRojkVbTTz9GEayfKvCa1-3S_Lm9tJ1MA2tDBrcPMStfrG0nh6oaGcS2huZx9kWXBbAKGh5VsaQUOL7kdGru6kFzgnktw4WoHZrLVUrr7btCXpT6zAuuK1T9EzIB8cLuX3lmgqL/s1600/Joellunch.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KNQsoaRojkVbTTz9GEayfKvCa1-3S_Lm9tJ1MA2tDBrcPMStfrG0nh6oaGcS2huZx9kWXBbAKGh5VsaQUOL7kdGru6kFzgnktw4WoHZrLVUrr7btCXpT6zAuuK1T9EzIB8cLuX3lmgqL/s320/Joellunch.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Then the singing, clanging began and the floral chair and special-order cake arrived! It was gorgeous chocolate banana-peanut honey cake covered in honey-vanilla whipped cream and decorated with 8 sticks of mango chunks and Enjoy Life GF Mega chunks. The best part is the huge grin on his face:</div>
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As a bonus, it was the best cake I had eaten at this hotel in several years. They are not famous for desserts... So many people asked for the recipe and wanted a bite! The hotel felt bad about our food restrictions and only charged us about $8, half what you pay for the smaller, less tasty cakes! Here's the inside view: </div>
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Yum!</div>
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No kids seemed to mind a less-sweet cake. And it might have been the first birthday party where no one left with a sugar high! </div>
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His friends lined up with plates right away! :)</div>
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We brought out the presents after the cake and singing. This one had been carried across the world to Congo and then back across Uganda and Kenya in the suitcases of two other MAF friends just to be there for him on his special day. Transformers!</div>
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This is one of several presents smuggled into the suitcases of colleagues all the way from Grandma and Grandpa's house. The most anticipated was his Star Wars Lego set of Ewoks, but I didn't get any stellar shots of that... </div>
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<br /><span style="font-size: large;">Super Joel, we love you and <br />had so much fun celebrating your first 8 years! </span></div>
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<br />kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-14565601770216351372012-07-27T01:03:00.000-07:002012-07-27T11:55:00.773-07:00GAPS Diet AnniversaryWe spent our GAPS-Diet anniversary on vacation at the beach. Somehow
it is hard to believe we have been grain-free for a whole year! The following is an abridged version of our one-year overview. Go <a href="http://tenfootfamily.blogspot.com/p/our-diet.html">here to the 'Our Diet'</a> tab for the whole enchilada. Or if you have lots of time to read, <a href="http://tenfootfamily.blogspot.com/search/label/SCD%20-%20GAPS%20Diet">go here for all our GAPS-SCD links.</a><br />
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We originally started GAPS for the health of James and I, but the
other three have seen benefits too. Kent, Joel and Anna were never
feeling sick, but they are healthier and stronger now for having
gone through GAPS. In
June, the three of them added potatoes back in without any trouble,
so they are officially coming off GAPS gradually. Next will be sweet
potatoes, fermented millet porridge, sourdough and eventually rice
and sprouted grains (maybe by Christmas?!).<br />
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<b>ME (THE MOM):</b><br />
In the past 6 months, I have been able to discontinue blood pressure
medication and daily antihistamines. For the past 20 years I have
taken daily antihistamines to control my running nose. These are no
longer necessary. <br />
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As a primary schoolteacher with a weak immune system, I was prone to getting colds and developing secondary infections every time. If only I had a dollar for everytime I was diagnosed with sinusitis or bronchitis (or both)! My second year teaching I think I took 12 different courses of
antibiotics. I was on antibiotics more than half of that year! Ten
years later, our GAPS journey has changed all that completely!<br />
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During our 2nd month on GAPS, I got a cold I couldn't
kick. As usual, it turned into bronchitis, and I took antibiotics as usual. The
5th month on GAPS, I got a cold and was able to fight it off a few days later without
getting infected! (This had probably happened twice in my living
memory.) The 9th month on GAPS I got a cold, but fought it off
within 48 hrs. The 11th month on GAPS we traveled internationally
(gets me every time!) and as expected, I got bronchitis a few days
later. I doused myself in bone broth and slept lots. I upped my
doses of probiotics and FCLO (fermented cod liver oil - in
capsules!). And 8-10 days later it was gone! <b>Finally I don't
have to be envious of people with an immune system!</b><br />
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<b>JAMES:</b><br />
The biggest gains in James' healing happened in the first 4 mos. on
GAPS. But the more subtle changes we see a year later are just as
significant. He has very few Asperger's meltdowns - maybe 1-2/mo.
where they were daily or more often than that a year ago. He
regained all his auditory processing in the first 2 mos. His allergies seem gone. He
hasn't needed antibiotics of any kind in 14 months. His sensory
processing troubles with tactile under-responsiveness are gone, fading gradually over the past year. They
have left in their wake a few gross motor issues we can now address
(basically re-learning to keep your balance when you've been mostly
numb for 4-5 yrs or longer). The last pieces of tactile numbness
have faded in the past month or two.<br />
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This week we're preparing for another homeschool year. I found
myself taking down the labels on his workboxes. I made them in desperation,
searching for answers, 3 years ago. We haven't needed that familiar
structure and routine for months. A wave of nostalgia hit me like I was putting away
the last of the baby's pacifiers. My baby (10-yr-old
baby) has outgrown his Asperger's supports. Whether we technically
still qualify for a diagnosis is really not important. <b>James is
feeling and doing great!</b> The bulk of the work we have left to do is
in social skills and organizational skills, but I can't think of too
many 10-yr-old boys who have mastered both of those already...<br />
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We are so thankful for the healing protocol of the GAPS Diet (and
for SCD too!). They have served us well. I am a bit nervous about
re-introducing starches and sugars, but we'll get there as they say
in Swahili: "pole-pole" (step by step, or slowly, carefully).<br />kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-54526469042130067922012-07-25T06:26:00.000-07:002012-07-25T06:28:15.885-07:00Home Again, Home AgainWell, we made it home sweet home to Congo! <br> There were only two times that I thought we must be on Candid Camera or in a bad movie - maybe Home Alone Strikes Back? But we made it home.<br> <br> Thanks to all who were praying for a safe, productive, restful holiday. <br> <br> It was all of those!<br> <br> And more.<br> <br> God blessed us around every corner.<br> <br> I'll leave it at that for now. <br> <br> With a picture that seems to sum it all up:<br> <br> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8RuJcWfBzCSAogNGWsqikinjLKFxU-d0YESsMHYvt4LUoz9-mB2uG8ofnfjlXoLH7jKcHhyphenhyphenpENHVJ6g_uuHgyybyN53dUXALSZZeo0fcGay9zwQm1vSc5OzHDuxtkXwrFAQEth7ENn1i/s1600/camelflightE-795886.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8RuJcWfBzCSAogNGWsqikinjLKFxU-d0YESsMHYvt4LUoz9-mB2uG8ofnfjlXoLH7jKcHhyphenhyphenpENHVJ6g_uuHgyybyN53dUXALSZZeo0fcGay9zwQm1vSc5OzHDuxtkXwrFAQEth7ENn1i/s320/camelflightE-795886.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769098413582953186" /></a><br> kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-68530942825955785132012-06-30T05:16:00.000-07:002012-06-30T05:16:55.051-07:00At the end of a hectic week of appointments in the big city, it is probably good to take a moment to reflect before heading off on vacation next week.<br />
Yesterday I had some time to reflect, as I spent an hour and a half driving 12 km to pay a debt and pick up a few things we needed before the weekend. I did some calculations after I got home:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
12km/1.5h = 8kmph (and 8kmph/1.6km/mi = 5mph)</div>
So I drove an average speed of a slow parking lot, or maybe a fast walk, through traffic for an hour and a half. Welcome to Nairobi.<br />
But there were some consolations, like being able to listen to <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/06/08/154576808/car-talk-guys-are-retiring-but-their-best-stuff-will-be-rebroadcast">Car Talk</a> podcasts I'd downloaded - one and a half of them. And another was being able to reflect a bit more casually than I normaly do, about the life going on around here. I got to see a lot of people walking (and faster than I was driving, to be sure), and I got to read more of the signs.<br />
We had many appointments booked with various doctors and therapists, and it is somewhat amazing to see that we got it all done. But there are a couple doctors we didn't get to see, who advertise along my route of yesterday, and I was driving slow enough (did I mention that?) to take pictures:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-upe88Bs4XPo5ra_eXLgMHlLMPLff1UBCEmaAiFeFPGkjPkbPMx6w30P9y-CrL4LyJ1qonUhHAOluYJe8s32o3ZbdBO9xhSd-zMptbeeU5xbTcQ-R4qrU7nE2Sl4lXVW3hhnRZhxDbY/s1600/Dr_Kalif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-upe88Bs4XPo5ra_eXLgMHlLMPLff1UBCEmaAiFeFPGkjPkbPMx6w30P9y-CrL4LyJ1qonUhHAOluYJe8s32o3ZbdBO9xhSd-zMptbeeU5xbTcQ-R4qrU7nE2Sl4lXVW3hhnRZhxDbY/s320/Dr_Kalif.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
But even if you don't wood to make a sign for a telephone pole, or color ink, or a website, you can still advertise (this is an A4 sheet of paper taped to a tree stump):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnA9parL5hEq0KkLBh7QQwVG3C6jjbrLaD_vnEN9y5a7Rw5bpLTTjqWuWz_7ZxQTfJagsXaKqGBq17BPjK1tbTpvShQWTVUGQtQkiLdsQJTBW6CwVDoh91vuCh4lHEIAVFkYpRmO2yX4/s1600/Dr_Karim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnA9parL5hEq0KkLBh7QQwVG3C6jjbrLaD_vnEN9y5a7Rw5bpLTTjqWuWz_7ZxQTfJagsXaKqGBq17BPjK1tbTpvShQWTVUGQtQkiLdsQJTBW6CwVDoh91vuCh4lHEIAVFkYpRmO2yX4/s1600/Dr_Karim.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I particularly like the breadth of competence Dr. Karim has. He isn't limited to helping you with your marriage/sex/relationship problems, like Dr. Khalif. Dr. Karim can also help you with politics, and with 'lost items'. I wonder if he can help me find that hour and a half...<br />
<br />kentlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10963142607492117908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-79247731734633076532012-06-29T09:30:00.000-07:002012-07-27T01:03:55.486-07:00Snapshot 10: 4 x 4<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>In case you missed it, the Snapshot series <a href="http://tenfootfamily.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/snapshot-1-power.html">began here</a>. </i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We will be taking a break from blogging in July to have a family vacation and get ready for another school year. Don't worry, we'll be back to posting updates in August! And you'd rather be picking luscious berries, hiking mountain trails or just enjoying sun anyway, right?</div>
<br />
Now we are at the tenth, and last (for now) Snapshot. I hope it has
helped give you word images to better understand our daily life in
Congo.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Snapshot 10: 4 x 4</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Man & Machine v. Road & Elements</b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Background information of note: </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>There is no pavement where we live in Congo.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>None.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Not even a little bit.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I hear there used to be...</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> </i><i> </i></div>
<br />
<u>The contest: </u><br />
Driver and vehicle travel as fast as possible while the road and the elements of the natural world struggle against all travel.<br />
<br />
<u>Disqualifications:</u><br />
Bodily injury or harm of pedestrians or passengers<br />
<br />
<u>Venue:</u><br />
Main street, driveways, highways in Congo<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Who will win? </span></div>
<br />
<u>The contestants:</u><br />
<br />
<b>Road & Elements </b><br />
Rock, paper and scissors are nothing to water.<br />
When it rains, it pours.<br />
If water wins over rock, then it certainly conquers dirt.<br />
Water picks up dirt and carries it away in victory<br />
To create unexpected new potholes, new drainage ruts.<br />
For any opponent who dare try to travel. <br />
<br />
<b>Man & Machine</b><br />
Armed with the most ingenuity and perseverance in the known world,<br />
the Congolese driver knows his machine well and pushes it<br />
to it's outer limits.<br />
This unstoppable pair overcomes constant obstacles<br />
with ease and agility, prepared to fix almost anything<br />
with only a plastic bag.<br />
<br />
<br />
And everday the contest begins!<br />
The obstacles have moved.<br />
Riding with some drivers is slow and bumpy like a horseback ride.<br />
Riding with others makes your insides feel like hamburger.<br />
It can take constant effort to hold your organs in their right places.<br />
The shocks take the brunt of it and call it quits.<br />
You don't play music in the car.<br />
You wouldn't hear it.<br />
Each rock or bump sounds like a crash. <br />
The driver must focus on the contest.<br />
For the stakes are high. <br />
<br />
<br />
<u>Results:</u> <br />
Man & Machine give it their all.<br />
Many times they fall by the wayside, tip over or breakdown. <br />
In the absence of industrial-sized road graders,<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>'Road & Elements' </b>wins every time! </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
P.S.<br />
We are Dr. Seuss fans. Just in case you've ever read Hop on Pop... We usually drive our bumpy. lumpy roads shouting:<br />
<br />
Bump, Bump, Bump!<br />
Did you ever ride a Wump?<br />
We have a Wump with just one hump!<br />
We know a man named Mr. Gump.<br />
Mr. Gump has a seven-hump-wump.<br />
If you like to go Bump! Bump!<br />
Just jump on the hump of the Wump of Gump!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe you can try it when you go over speed bumps and think of us. ;0)</div>
<br />kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-2687884199313842582012-06-26T06:30:00.000-07:002012-06-26T06:30:04.793-07:00Snapshot 9: HospitalityI don't know that American English deserves to have this word in our language: Hospitality. I have known Americans who practice hospitality, some more than others. I am positive I have not usually been among them.<br />
<br />
I don't think we know half what it means.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Congolese Hospitality (and African Hospitality in general), on the other hand, is <span style="font-size: large;">rich with depth</span>.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(All these things I have seen or experienced recently.)</i></span><br />
<br />
Congolese Hospitality welcomes you to eat at the table any time, any day. No reservations desired.<br />
<br />
Congolese Hospitality sees that you may have cold feet and lends you
slippers so you can go to the cold tiled floor of the toilet without
getting too cold.<br />
<br />
Congolese Hospitality lends you matching clothes, so you will look good at that choir performance.<br />
<br />
Congolese Hospitality takes in that widowed cousin with her two fatherless children to make sure they belong to a family, have a roof over their heads and can pay for a decent education. They may stay 1 year, they may stay 10. They are family.<br />
<br />
Congolese Hospitality loves it when you arrive unannounced at the back door.<br />
<br />
Congolese Hospitality is not offended when you need a favor.<br />
<br />
Congolese Hospitality walks you halfway home.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Oh that we would learn the depth, the breadth, the importance of <br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'Consider others better than yourself"</span></div>
<br />
<br />
Make room for those in your midst.<br />
<br />
Seek to meet needs.<br />
<br />
(Self-sufficiency is a lie.)<br />
<br />
Share life,<br />
<br />
not just the pretty parts.<br />
<br />
True Hospitality.kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-30305164516823571952012-06-25T21:07:00.004-07:002012-06-25T21:07:37.785-07:00Bye Bye Baby Tooth<div style="text-align: center;">
The moment we've all been waiting for for weeks, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
finally arrived last night.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My baby girl lost her first tooth. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It would really not be possible for her to be more excited about this step in growing up.</div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3_iHKfB-iHSJdEsf0jxtXCQ4XWWE1UmqVji-UUNSxUyGcWAsF-Tmr6VPlHhUrPpbk1eZ007SSDxk66BsGtu-CnyJGIM3rl0g5-bF_FwadGD9OVhDW55pMRSsHNDrqyNWzehDwRBqvtQ8/s1600/toothless.Anna.1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3_iHKfB-iHSJdEsf0jxtXCQ4XWWE1UmqVji-UUNSxUyGcWAsF-Tmr6VPlHhUrPpbk1eZ007SSDxk66BsGtu-CnyJGIM3rl0g5-bF_FwadGD9OVhDW55pMRSsHNDrqyNWzehDwRBqvtQ8/s320/toothless.Anna.1.JPG" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheer bliss of the long-awaited</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
James had seen it hanging by a thread and threatened to pull it out yesterday evening. They were watching Rapunzel (again?!), but decided to watch it in Spanish. [And no, they don't really speak Spanish. They just have the movie memorized. Anna was surprised to see that Rapunzel does know Spanish, and since her Mama also knows Spanish, she decided to try learning a few words.]</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
She just pulled it out herself somewhere when Rapunzel and her novio were singing about Las luces. =)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She kept marveling that she lost her first tooth on vacation and that it was in the same place she was born (Kenya). People here told her she is Kenyan, so now when we pass the Kenyan flag, she says 'There is my flag!" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And in case you were wondering, the tooth fairy <u>does</u> make it all the way to Kenya, but prefers to do business in US Dollars...</i></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFfHY6ZJYs3w5S9ZNvkugDwOIz1SO486Z4X9dw36byGCemeJbClz95Ov6h-cd1UGl1hof_AN2In5x2JzQ5R23DT5cVFdH2QBFIfJ9s_ftFIsPeWw-y2KTE3_wKczg6lE9R765nB-1VNUi/s1600/toothless.Anna.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFfHY6ZJYs3w5S9ZNvkugDwOIz1SO486Z4X9dw36byGCemeJbClz95Ov6h-cd1UGl1hof_AN2In5x2JzQ5R23DT5cVFdH2QBFIfJ9s_ftFIsPeWw-y2KTE3_wKczg6lE9R765nB-1VNUi/s320/toothless.Anna.JPG" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Absolutely thrilled to be growing up!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-59694099220820650892012-06-24T06:00:00.000-07:002012-06-24T06:00:02.769-07:00Snapshot 8: Fruit is for kids!Walking along our muddy street last week,<br />
I noticed a few kids throwing rocks at my house.<br />
Band of ruffians doing harm?<br />
Nope.<br />
<br />
You see, we have mango trees.<br />
It's mango season.<br />
Any fruit falling over the edge of a wall is fair game.<br />
It's practically a law.<br />
But sometimes the mangoes need convincing. <br />
They chuck rocks up into the air trying to knock down a snack on their way home from school.<br />
You see, fruit is for kids!<br />
<br />
Remember those commercials for Trix cereal?<br />
The rabbit always wants to taste it<br />
and the kids always stick it to him:<br />
"No Silly Rabbit! Trix are for kids!"<br />
<br />
One sweltering day on which we happened to have huge luscious papayas,<br />
I decided dinner would be fruit.<br />
And I was the rabbit.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">No Silly Rabbit! Fruit is for kids!</span><br />
Guavas, papayas, passion fruit, mangoes.<br />
Not considered dignified 'food' for adult consumption.<br />
Trees brimming with packaged snack foods.<br />
Free for the taking. <br />
Perfect for hungry kids between meals.<br />
Just climb up and pick.<br />
Stick them with a pole.<br />
Hit them with a rock.<br />
They don't even have to be ripe. <br />
<br />
You say you like mango?<br />
No Silly Rabbit! Fruit is for kids!kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-79507645693895408832012-06-22T23:50:00.005-07:002012-06-22T23:51:25.238-07:00AnswersJust in case you haven't followed updates on facebook...<br />
<br />
Anna did continue to improve and healed completely just in time for our long journey across Congo, Uganda and Kenya. She did amazingly well in the taxis and buses. The night before we left she downed a double serving of her dinner and topped it off with 3 small bowls of potatoes! She made up for lost time after keeping nothing in for days.<br />
<br />
So all's well.<br />
<br />
And none of us ever did get this flu, though we all thought about it several times and wondered... I'm fighting off a sinus infection. But what else is new?<br />
<br />
Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement!<br />
<br />
As I began to worry about whether this trip (<a href="http://tenfootfamily.blogspot.com/2010/11/photologue-lake-albert.html">much like this one!</a>) could or should really happen given the sickness and logistical hiccups, several of my sisters from <a href="http://tenfootfamily.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/lumiere.html">choir</a> came over to pray for our trip. They read from Exodus where Moses heads out and God promises,<span style="font-size: large;"> "I will go with you."</span><br />
<br />
This particular verse is the one that I clung to when moving to Congo. And here it was again.<br />
<br />
As we skimmed the choppy waters of Lake Albert, a beautiful white wagtail raced us in front of the wooden motor boat (and he won). And this verse rang in my ears... "I will go with you."<br />
<br />
As we arrived at a tough, rural immigration office and found 2 helpful strangers willing to fight for us.... "I will go with you." <br />
<br />
As we thumped along bumpy roads in a small game park in Western Uganda, we were surrounded by gorgeous herds of gazelle... "I will go with you."<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
I could list tiny moments for 10 pages and not get them all. </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Sunsets, kind officials, potty stops just when we needed them, crisp apples for sale on the roadside, patient kids enduring a 14-hr bus ride without movies... </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
safety</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
health</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
taxis waiting for you on arrival</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
entertaining the kids with the reverse-cam in their car.</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Overflowing grace.</i></span>kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-37447750682151249932012-06-16T23:55:00.001-07:002012-06-16T23:55:18.086-07:00Guessing gameThanks for everyone's prayers for Anna's health.<br />
It's always a guessing game as to what is really going on.<br />
All you can see is cookies tossed, lethargy, fever and total lack of appetite. Which could add up to about 30 different diagnoses. Food poisoning? Flu? Brucellosis? Hepatitis? Giardia? or Deadly malaria?<br />
<br />
Not that easy to tell, at least in the beginning. And if we treat for one thing, we may mask the symptoms of the real thing. So the stakes are high. I've been studying faith and trust in God's provision for us. Job says, "How can we accept good things from God and refuse trouble?"<br />
<br />
It's so much harder to reach this 'accept' when your baby is so sick.<br />
<br />
So we take things one hour at a time.<br />
Keeping our records,<br />
looking for patterns in fever readings,<br />
trusting that the answer will be obvious soon.<br />
<br />
Then this morning she woke up<br />
and ate breakfast like nothing ever happened.<br />
Like she didn't spend the past two days<br />
groaning and puking on the couch.<br />
We hum<br />
and play<br />
and look well this morning.<br />
But morning is usually best for her.<br />
Malaria can come in cycles.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Is this the eye of the storm?</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> Or is this recovery?</span></i></div>
<br />
It's anybody's guess.<br />
<br />
It's hard not to remember the hundreds of kids fighting for their lives right now in overcrowded bush hospitals.<br />
An epidemic of deadly malaria.<br />
<br />
For now, I'm thoroughly enjoying her 5-year-old jokes!<br />
And keeping the thermometer and treatment meds in my back pocket.kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-21167058880823203782012-06-12T06:00:00.000-07:002012-06-12T06:00:11.058-07:00Snapshot 7: Beauty Parlor<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>In case you missed it, the Snapshot series <a href="http://tenfootfamily.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/snapshot-1-power.html">began here.</a></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">My Mom used to tell me stories about her mother.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The grandmother I never knew.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">She would go every few days to the local Beauty Parlor.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">To have her hair set.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">It became an idyllic 50's scene in my head.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ladies sitting under driers in curlers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tiled floors, chrome and bright vinyl. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chatting.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gossiping.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">In front of huge mirrors. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Laughing about the latest news.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Heads full of curlers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Local community sharing the mundane.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Doing hair. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I just never in a million years expected to find the same thing in Congo.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were preparing for a big university women's event.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had planned to dress up over at her house before arriving.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Could I just follow her to the hairdresser's for a few minutes?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unexpectedly, I was transported to that idyllic 50's Beauty Parlor</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">in Congolese veneer.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Three women in shiny chairs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Heads full of curlers,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">(one under a drier!)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Discussing women's issues.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Local gossip.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Should women really be allowed certain freedoms?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Real questions were argued.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Laughter over the latest news. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">In front of huge mirrors with a few cracks.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Plastic chairs, peeling linoleum, wooden shack on a dirt road with a generator and extension cord coming in through the boards in the wall to make things work. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Local community sharing the mundane.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Doing hair.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The decade, the country and the language may be different. </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">But I'm sure it was <span style="font-size: large;">the same Beauty Parlor.</span></span></span></div>kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-53818589171604380252012-06-10T06:00:00.000-07:002012-06-11T10:25:06.088-07:00Snapshot 6: Honor<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>In case you missed it, the Snapshot series <a href="http://tenfootfamily.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/snapshot-1-power.html">began here.</a></i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
Over tear-streaked cheeks, wails of sorrow ring out.<br />
Our family attends the funeral of an employee.<br />
The crowds mourn a beloved provider.<br />
Father.<br />
Grandfather.<br />
Husband.<br />
Son.<br />
In his late sixties, Obedi had the national life expectancy rate beat by 17 years.<br />
But his Mom is still around to mourn him at almost 90.<br />
<br />
As the rich foreigners, his employers, we are viewed as Guests of Honor.<br />
Fancy wooden chairs are placed in the dust.<br />
Tied up tarps provide some shade in the heat.<br />
For us. <br />
Other mourners file in around us on benches.<br />
<br />
The wooden casket is carried out with a wake of wailing women.<br />
His mother.<br />
His sisters.<br />
His wife.<br />
His daughters.<br />
They sit in the dirt.<br />
Reminds me of those who mourn in Israel in dust and ashes.<br />
<br />
But there is also not much room anywhere.<br />
How could <i>his wife</i> be in the dirt, while I am on a fancy chair?<br />
Ancient truths ring in my ears: <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Whoever wants to be first must <span style="font-size: large;">take last place </span><br />
and be the <span style="font-size: large;">servant</span> of everyone else." </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mark 9:35 (NLT)</span></i></div>
<br />
Honor can be difficult.<br />
It was painful to me to stay in that seat.<br />
It was wrong to sit in the dirt - the family section.<br />
But it <u>felt</u> wrong to stay in the chair.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Last week a friend gave me a string of beads. </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
They were important to her.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
I didn't need them.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
But I took this Gift of Honor,</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
because it honors her. </div>
<br />kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-4173077251525966472012-06-08T06:00:00.000-07:002012-06-08T06:00:12.860-07:00Snapshot 5: Storm<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
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<pre class="western"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">I wake to the rolling and rumbling in the distance.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">1:45AM.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Wondering if (hoping?) it was just something on the roof.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">But no, the rumbles grow.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">A thunderstorm approaches.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The counting begins.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Sheer force of the King of Nature.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Silhouettes of the barred window panes flash bright light across the dark house.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8-one-thousand</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Wind rushes through like a squire</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">He announces loud and clear,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
“</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Arise! His Omnipotent Lord of the Storm is here!!”</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Then the pounding begins.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><a href="http://www.theveryworstmissionary.com/2012/05/oh-portland-youre-silly.html"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Jamie says the heavens try to 'drown you in a vertical river'.</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">She's right.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-one-thousand</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The beating of hundreds of drums.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Gallons of water. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Pounding on the tin roof overhead.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">In a loud steady beat.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">So loud you cannot hear your own voice.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">I try not to remember the colleague's roof ripped off by this Wind.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Another blinding flash.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The shape of our papaya tree outside is etched on the insides of my eyelids.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">1, 2, 3 – one-thousand</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">That's my cue.</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Once it is less than 5 miles away, we manually disconnect our house from the city's electrical chaos. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Storms can move fast, and we've lost several appliances to neighborhood lightning.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">(In the mountainous region to the south of us, they boast the highest number of lightning strikes
per mile in the world. Here in town several people have been killed by lightning.)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Then the water creeps in.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">That window I didn't latch.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The floor floods, seeping into the small rug.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">This time it's not toys left unattended.</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Or books.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">When the <span style="font-size: large;">full force covers</span> us,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">I can't help but recognize my place.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">I stand by the back door, in <u>awe</u>.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">At 2:30AM.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">I am confronted with a terrible Force, Power, Strength.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">I can only try to keep my books dry.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></pre>
<pre class="western"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">I feel so finite, infantile, tiny, powerless.</span></pre>
<pre class="western"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span></pre>
<pre class="western"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">I am tired, but could never sleep through this.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">I don't want to miss it.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">As I watch the flashing, beating, pounding, blowing</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">I worship.</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The only song that seems to fit...</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> “</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">My God is so big</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> so strong</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> so mighty!</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> There's nothing my God cannot do!”</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></pre>
<pre class="western"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></pre>
<pre class="western"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></pre>
<pre class="western"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Eventually, wind blows over, pounding turns into dripping, and water is mopped up.</span></pre>
<pre class="western"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">I reconnect our power system and head back to bed.</span></pre>
<pre class="western"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">3:15AM</span></pre>
<pre class="western"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">And the question lingers in my sleepy head:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> If this is God's power in an everyday thunderstorm,</span></pre>
<pre class="western"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> what must his wrath be like?</span></pre>kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-74781639392839916892012-06-06T06:00:00.000-07:002012-06-06T06:00:06.428-07:00Snapshot 4: Fame<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">News spreads like wildfire
here even without social media.</span></div>
<pre class="western" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are only a handful of foreign families in residence.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Wherever we go, people stare.</span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>White people! Mzungu!</b></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"> Look! It's his wife! </span>
<span style="font-size: small;"> And children!</span>
<span style="font-size: small;">They check out our shoes.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;">They critique our clothes.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The children touch our skin cautiously.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Once, someone I've never met or seen </span><span style="font-size: small;">called me by name on the street.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;">This must be how Paris Hilton feels.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;">For someone who loves to sit in the back row and </span>
<span style="font-size: small;">work behind the scenes, it gets old.</span>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">During a big ceremony, we were seated with the guests of honor.
</span><span style="font-size: small;">We didn't flinch at the many cameras and camcorders in our faces.
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Par for the course.
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">The shock came 2 days later.</span>
</span><span style="font-size: large;">A stranger in the market shouted,
“</span><span style="font-size: large;">Hey! Aren't you that guy I saw on TV last night?!”
</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></pre>
<pre class="western" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Guess so.</span></pre>
<pre class="western" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had our television debut, and didn't even know about it. </span></pre>kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817385874013492242.post-74495400241160097572012-06-04T06:00:00.000-07:002012-06-05T06:51:40.535-07:00Snapshot 3: MainstreetMain street never rests in the daylight hours.<br />
It is a constant bustle of activity.<br />
Traffic can stop you.<br />
But not like any traffic you've ever seen.<br />
Anywhere.<br />
<br />
Women carry heavy loads of firewood on their heads 8 feet long.<br />
Young ladies chat in groups about the latest fashion, crossing the road ever so slowly.<br />
Porters try to keep control of heavy carts loaded with stones or re-bar. <br />
Couches line up in fancy velvet advertising themselves.<br />
Vendors use cement steps to display their wares.<br />
Pedestrians gather around shops with TV or music videos blasting into the street. <br />
<br />
Motorcycle taxis zoom past at dangerous speeds.<br />
They make things happen affordably here.<br />
You might see them carry a pile of plastic chairs to a party.<br />
Goat squealing his way to slaughter.<br />
A basket of chickens to market.<br />
10 foam mattresses for a friend hosting relatives.<br />
A family of 5 to a wedding.<br />
Businessmen in suits running late for an important meeting.<br />
Middle-class housewives shopping for dinner.<br />
A subwoofer needed 30 minutes ago in a church service.<br />
All of these fit on a motorcycle.<br />
<br />
The stray dog runs across your path.<br />
And that woman learning to drive for the first time can't seem to let you pass.<br />
Kids running home from school play frogger in groups,<br />
their blue and white uniforms getting brown in the clouds of dust.<br />
The wealthy new cars are mostly foreign organizations who ignore their shocks and drive over potholes at twice the posted speed limit.<br />
<br />
There is no pavement.<br />
Just clouds of dust. <br />
The potholes change with each rain.<br />
There are no crosswalks or traffic signals. <br />
You're lucky if drivers stay on the correct side of the road.<br />
You're driving English-system cars on French-system roads.<br />
And socially, it's important to stop and shake hands with people you know.<br />
And yet I like it.<br />
You are never alone here.<br />
I begin to take on the African fear of solitude.<br />
<br />
It's been said, <i>"People drive here like they're riding a horse in the Wild West."</i><br />
I wouldn't know.<br />
But maybe.<br />
Maybe that helps explain this bustling chaos.<br />
Daytime quiet?<br />
Not here!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just another day on [Congolese] Mainstreet.</div>kimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01649635019876669212noreply@blogger.com1