I’m not sure how it’s already Friday. Each week has been going more quickly than the last. My brother is borrowing my laptop, so my internet time is becoming more infrequent. I’m a fan of multi-tasking, so it’s hard for me just to sit at a computer without TV or something [probably a bad thing that I need that much sensory overload].

So, on that note. FAQs continue…

Aren’t you bored? [at home]

I’m in the States for a couple of months before I go back to South Africa and I get asked this question a lot, which kind of makes sense. I grew up in a small town-about 30 miles from Wal-Mart or Target [that tends to put things in perspective for people] and I’m staying with my parents. Bored, no. Stir-crazy, a little [more so when it was so cold and I'm a wimp--now, it's not so bad].

There is plenty to do. There are tubs and boxes full of my stuff from Orlando [and high school and my freshman year of college] still crowded closets and the basement just waiting for me to sort through. Paint is sitting behind me, waiting to get on the walls of my brother’s old bedroom [I volunteered. It's been sitting there nearly a month]. And I have an inbox full of emails waiting to be answered. I’m not sure how I got so behind.

I’m doing some work for Thrive Africa each week.  Some days more than others. Between that and my own support-raising, the hours are passing quickly.

But, it’s definitely not all work. It’s nice being home. I’m able to pick up my grandparents from the nursing home and take them for a much needed break- usually lunch out and a trip to the store. And run errands with Grandma Fluff [our trip to Algona yesterday was uneventful- no roadkill-you may remember the story about the cow]. I spent the weekend in Minneapolis catching up with old friends and spending quality time with family. 

I’m excited to get back to South Africa. But, for now, I’m enjoying being home. 

Over the past few weeks I’ve talked to a lot of people about my experiences over the past year and what’s planned for the future. There seem to be some reoccuring questions…so, I figured this would be a good place to answer some of them. Thus, this begins a week of my FAQs.

Today’s Question…
Why South Africa?
Almost two years ago, I went to South Africa on vacation with friends. My best friend works at a South African restaurant in Orlando and met quite a few people from Southern Africa [mostly South Africa, but Botswana and Namibia too], so it seemed natural to visit them when they returned home at the end of their contract with Disney.

We had an amazing experience and I knew I wanted to go back. There are a lot of things that draw me to the Country, here are just a few:

• People: I feel like that’s a little bit of a cop-out answer…anytime you ask someone why they do anything they say “oh, the people are great”. But, it’s true. South Africans are an interesting bunch. Especially when travelling [the first time 2 years ago and the first couple weeks in December] we’ve had some crazy experiences. And still, I’m a big fan of South Africans. There is a level of buoyancy or resilience I think is unique and admirable.
• It’s so Beautiful: This is a total perk-South Africa is probably the most beautiful country I’ve been to. It continues to amazes me. There are 9 provinces, I’ve been to 8…I love that within a day’s drive you can see so much different topography [check out my pictures to see what I'm talking about].
• There’s a need: South Africa is the country with the most cases of HIV in the world. Depending on where you get your statistics, it’s estimated that either 1 in 4 or 1 in 5 people have HIV. Nearly 1000 people are dying daily from the disease. Something needs to be done, and I think that Thrive Africa has the right idea. By training next-generation leaders, we’re building up leaders that will make sustainable change in the Country and the Continent.
• I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be: Sometimes I wish it was more tangible than that. It’s can be difficult to explain that, as hard as it is sometimes, or as much as there are moments that I would rather be somewhere else, it’s where I feel like I should be. Overall, I have a deep sense of peace that South Africa is where God wants me. So, for now, that’s where I will be.

If you have anything to add, or a question you think I should answer, shoot me an email. I’ll be happy to add them to the list!

I took piano lessons for a long time. I didn’t think I was very good, so I essentially gave up. 

Today, I had coffee with my piano teacher. She said I was good. That I was one of her best students back then. Funny how, in middle school, my perception of that situation was entirely different than the reality. 

Now, I’ll still argue that I wasn’t very good. I’m not very diligent and didn’t practice nearly as much as I should have. But, I suppose, I had potential. I could have been decent. If I would have realized my ability, maybe I would have tried harder. 

This is a silly thing really [but, I was really pretty excited about it today--I woke a couple friends up to tell them this morning...]. But, it makes me wonder what there is in my life now that I’m perceiving completely different than reality. 

Have you had anything in your life like this [or, am I the only crazy one...]? 

I’m not a fan. It makes me nervous. The idea of it isn’t so bad, but it’s when I start trying to figure out what I’m going to say that I get a little overwhelmed–even if it’s something I know a lot about.

I talked a little at my Grandma’s church this morning about South Africa and all that jazz [geez, Grandma Fluff is getting a lot of blog time lately].

It’s reassuring to me to know that where we are weak, He is strong [yes, I think I just quoted from "Jesus Loves Me"]. But, it’s so true. In the moments we feel weakest [which seem to be a lot for me lately], are those that God can show His strength through us–whether it’s something seemingly silly like talking in front of people, or the really tough stuff, we are more than conquerors through Him. 

In the past, visits home seemed like a whirlwind. When I was living in Orlando it was usually either a long weekend or just a few days; I was lucky to see a few people beyond my immediate family. One of the benefits of being home for a little while longer is that I get to spend time with more people.

Last night my mom, Grandma Fluff and I ran [not literally] to Mason City to pick up a few things. While shopping for printer ink, we ran into my cousin, Tafeeta, in the paper aisle at Staples. We ended up having dinner with her and her family [at Pizza Hut--my brother was the manager, we got the family discount].

Her kiddos are so cute! 

Tafeeta and I are both 24…we were born a month or two apart. I remember playing together when we were about the same age as her oldest. Oh, how time flies!

My cousin Jill is studying in Spain this semester [apparently her Spanish skills are just a tad bit better than mine...].

We had our first skype webcam convo today and discussed important things like: if there were cute guys, how smoking is so much more culturally acceptable in other countries and why she compared her host family to people in East Des Moines. 

Here’s a screenshot from our convo. Her in a coffee shop in Spain [clearly mid-sentence...]. Me in my parent’s living room watching it snow outside.

i heart skype. mucho. 

el fin.//

I’ve spent the last couple of days in Chicago with my friend Kristi. We met in Orlando through Status and a mutual love for dancing. We’ve now managed to embarrass ourselves in the land of Obama and Oprah nearly as much as we did while in Orlando.

While traveling the last couple of weeks I’ve had unexpected God moments that have both made me laugh and left me speechless.

Here’s one of the ones that made me smile:

I was having a moment earlier and knew I needed a little cheering up. Instead of hoping on the freeway (or motor-way as the beloved TomTom calls it), I drove through Chicago neighborhoods talking to God and hoping to spot someone or something make me laugh and get me out of my funk. Then I noticed Harpo Studios to my left. I know Oprah’s a little nuts, and I haven’t seen much of her show in the past few years…but, I’m still a closet fan. It totally cracked me up. [confession:: then I called and emailed the show to try to get last minute tickets...no cigar, but I'm crossing my fingers for sometime in February, phone lines open tomorrow...].

done .//

Two of my close friends, Carolina & Melyssa, have a group of amazing women meet at their house each Wednesday night. The Babbling Brookes graciously invited me to join them last Wednesday evening.

I felt honored to be in the presense of such cool people. I loved having the opportunity to share life with them, even if it was just for a couple of hours. As we sat outside and talked, warmed by the fire, it was neat to be able to get a snapshot into each of their lives.

One of the things I love about Orlando is the sense of community. I’m continually impressed and encouraged by how much friends are intentionally creating it in their city.

My friend, Jenn, asked me an amazing question over breakfast at Panera yesterday:

What  have your conversations with God been like lately?

I love it because I feel like it’s so challenging. It implies dialogue. Conversation. Communion. Exchange.

It emphasizes the importance of listening AND hearing Him.

This weekend I was at the park with a friend. We were wrestling through some life stuff…doubts and fears, things that don’t always have an easy answer. 

A few minutes into the conversation, a man came by and started talking to us. He began with a random comment and we could tell he just needed to talk. We invited him to sit with us. He went on to tell us about people in his life and how he feels so lonely, but that he was trying to live in a way that pleases God.

Thoughout the course of the 45 minute conversation, we had the opportunity to pray with him. And then, without our prompting, our new friend began talk about the specific topic we had been discussing moments before he arrived. As he talked, he spoke about nearly everything we had been talking about in a decent amount of detail.

We were immediately encouraged by his words and, even now, as I replay the conversation in my head, I am amazed by God’s timing. We could have easily blown the man off–not  given him the time of day. After all,  he was a little rough around the edges. But, by opening our hearts and encouraging him to sit and talk with us, I was blessed in an amazing way by his words, one I’m sure he will never know.

Sometimes timing is everything.