Lazy Post

Lately every time I sit down to write a post, I can't decide where to start. Too many themes I could start on, I get overwhelmed and decide to do it later! So, instead of forming a cohesive and thoughtful piece of writing, tonight I think I will just take advantage of this good internet connection to give you some random blurbs of life in Guinea thus far:

-We buy our bread on the street, and then flame it over the the stove to kill any fly eggs that may  have made homes there

-We bleach our fruits and veggies before eating them (well not everyone does this, but many westerners do)

- I learned how to make homemade tortillas, yummy, but a lot of work!

-I had my first fresh coconut, and drank all the milk out of it-  which I heard has like ten times more potassium than a banana.

-I have been terrible at taking pictures here, I just feel lame every time I pull it out- so I stopped, I promise eventually I will show some real Arica-y type images!

- Climbing in and out of a landcruiser in a long skirt gracefully and non-harmfully.....more difficult than I thought

I am seeing that most of those things have to do with food in some way....lol, well that pretty much sums it up, I think outside of ministry, food has been a big topic of conversation in both my orientations, procuring and preparing food becomes such a bigger deal when you have no walmart to go to!
Voila my lazy post, Happy Thanksgiving my friends!

What I have been reading lately

With the purchase of my kindle, I have been going back and forth between several books, and now have for you my own little review of what I have been reading. Going in a rough order from most recommended to least. 

Miraculous Movements by Jerry Trousdale- Oh my goodness, I would love for all my supporters to read this book, to get an idea of the ministry strategies our team would like to use, and to see just how much their prayers can affect the Kingdom! It is full of real life stories of people in this area of the world encountering Jesus in  powerful ways. Please stop reading this blog and go buy Miraculous Movements right now! 

Spiritual Survival Handbook for Cross-cultural workers by Robert S. Miller- this little book is full of wisdom on spiritual warfare and staying strong on the mission field. It is written by a missionary to missionaries, and it really challenged me to step up my game when it comes to being dedicated and steady about spending time with God and not just studying the Bible but “lingering with God” as Miller puts it. 

The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler- I really like Matt Chandler’s kind of in-your-face style of teaching and preaching.This book was pretty much what the title indicates; he talks about how the Gospel should be central in every message and action of the church, and goes on to distinguish between the ‘gospel in the air’ and the ‘gospel on the ground’ and then their implications and applications.

Praying God’s Word Day by Day by Beth Moore- this is a wonderful devotional that is a great quote followed by a short prayer made up entirely of scripture based on different themes for each day of the year, so good. 

How and When to be Your Own Doctor by Isabelle Moser- wow, that title is really good. Sounds like it would be great for life in Africa, right? I thought I was so lucky to find it free on Amazon….no  I am being unfair, I haven’t finished it yet, it’s just not what I was expecting/hoping for.  From what I have read so far, it is all about cleansing our bodies of the toxins introduced to them by the gross American diet. So a lot of fasting/colon cleansing/right nutrition kind of talk happening. Which I could be on board with, but I am not in the states anymore, and telling someone to fast when they get sick isn’t what I am going to be doing here in West Africa. 

Dreaming in Black and White by Laura Jensen Walker- I think being in Africa is changing my tastes a little. I used to love these light chick-lit books, but this was just ok. It was fun that the main character was a classic movie fan, and I like old movies too, but the jokes and references were kind of lame, I thought. Plus, I don’t know whether to be amused or annoyed, but the main character said stuff like “Dear God, I’ll go be a missionary in Africa, just don’t make me { insert some task]”  Maybe it’s just that I can’t relate to the character or her problems so much.

Ruth by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell- no, not the one from the Bible. I really like some other stuff from Gaskell, she is kind of Jane Austen/Louisa May Alcott-ish.  But I couldn’t finish this one, I was skipping whole pages (well kindle pages, they are smaller.) Soo wordy! Like a whole page on the way the land looked after  a rainstorm, or something-again it is possible that my tastes are just changing. So yeah, gave up on that one.

Halloween (posted late, but I actually did write it on Halloween)

Happy Halloween! On this day a year ago, I was boarding a plane for France. Today I have since been ten months in France, a month and half in the US, and half a month in Guinea. What a year!  I got to experience so many new and exciting things, and meet so many wonderful people.  In that time I said some tearful goodbyes, learned a good deal of French and formed relationships in France, came home and reconnected with family and friends, said more tearful goodbyes, and now am in the beginning stages of culture learning here in West Africa. 

But of all the cool and glamorous things I got to do this year, I can honestly say my relationships with the people around me are what make my memories so sweet.  Yes the French scenery is amazing; yes, the buildings are old and beautiful; and yes the people here  wear wonderfully colorful clothes- but all the things like that aren’t enough to make me say “that was worth leaving my friends and family and home.” The only thing that makes me say that is getting to share God’s love with the people around me through investing in relationships with them.