Ah-hah moments
I had an ah-hah moment today while talking to my friend Rebecca. We were talking about how we each needed to spend time blogging, but it had been a long enough lull between posts that we felt we needed to write about something significant. We both agreed that our lives didn't seem to be presenting any interesting material. Then a few moments later Rebecca received an email from home filled with small, seemingly ordinary, but very significant information. She was so happy to know the slightest news concerning her family and at that moment truth hit me like a lightning bolt. All of our friends and family who take the time to read our posts don't expect eloquant thesis on the meaning of life. You're just looking for some news, any news about what's happening in our lives. You're not expecting wordy well written stories, just the nitty gritty of daily life. So that being said let me tell you about some of the latest moments.
We have hit the sixty day mark and the reality of our choice to move to Africa is beginning to set in. We've been here long enough to have the newness wear off, but not long enough to have complete confidence in our knowledge of this city and it's nuances. We are missing family and friends and realizing how hard it is to build significant friendships while raising three kids in a third world country. We are acknowledging the difficulties of learning a new (and VERY hard I must add) language as adults with minds which are more like swiss cheese than sponges! We are adjusting to being daily bombarded with poverty, crime, desperation, neglect, hopelessness and pain, but we have not yet reconciled living among it without being affected by it. I don't know if we'll ever be unaffected, but the brutal reality will hopefully be tempered by the knowledge that our presence in this place is affecting change for the better. At this point we are still "rich, white Americans" to the needy around us. It will take much time and effort on our part to become accepted participants within the community. We'll never be Africans, but we WILL be well adjusted, caring, Portuguese speaking, Jesus loving freaks living among friends and neighbors who accept us for what we are and don't constantly ask us for what they need.
We are struggling with the realization that our very practical, family friendly vehicle is not in fact practical and family friendly for traveling outside of the central roads of Maputo. We have accepted the fact that we definitely need a four wheel drive vehicle which will allow us to drive on all the roads (including the unpaved dirt road which floods in the rainy season and leads to Kaleb's school) instead of just some of the roads. We are trying to reconcile necessity versus extravagance while living here. What seems an extravagance when living in Deephaven may be a necessity in Maputo. And vice versa. Life is very complicated here and the answers are not always instant. We are learning to talk and plan and WAIT in ways we did not have to in the USA. God is refining our character in so many ways.
Along with a needed change in vehicles it is becoming very clear that our lack of yard and play area is wearing on our kids. (AAGGHH I just lost my whole post from here on and have to rewrite!!! Bear with me!!!) Although they have been troopers and we have been creative in offering alternatives they need more area to play. They need to be able to run and play, laugh and yell, be crazy and silly kids. Although we love our house it is becoming obvious that it is not the best fit for our family. We have spent some time house hunting (I know what you're thinking, you can take the realtor out of the hunt, but you can't take the hunt out of the realtor!) which has been challenging. We think we have found a house which is a great alternative and has good possibilities for us. We hate the idea of moving again, but this seems to be a better fit for our needs. We'll keep you posted on our progress.
We are happy to say that we have begun to eastablish "favorites". We have a favorite chicken take out restaurant. A favorite bakery where we buy bread. A favorite fruit stand where we buy a lot of our produce and even a favorite cashew stand at the central market. We have regular routes we drive to schools and shops around the city. We are beginning to feel more like locals and comfortable with living here. We are establishing routines which helps Maputo become home.
Today was a beautiful day much like an early summer day in Minnesota. The sky was a clear, bright blue and there was a slight breeze which kept the temperature just right. There were some threatening clouds around noon time which disappeared by late afternoon. Mia, Rebecca and I went for a walk along a pretty tree lined street which boasts many beautiful high dollar rental houses. During our walk we paused outside a green gate which was home to a litter of three week old black lab pups. The mama dog barked a warning to us before she proudly showed off her new babies. Mia was delighted when the owner of the home handed her a snuggly black puppy over the fence. I wished I had brought my camera to capture the moment! Soon after returning the puppy we came home for my Portuguese lesson and lunch. Steve was out for most of the afternoon and when he returned we went to pick up the kids. We stopped to show the kids the house which seems to have the most potential and then we picked up take out chicken on the way home. Right now I can hear Steve and the kids laughing downstairs as they battle it out in a mean game of Candyland. Life is complex here and yet still very simple.
We are happy to be living in Maputo. We are very aware of our strengths and what we have to offer this country while we are here, but we are also painfully aware of our weaknesses and how much we have to learn. We are constantly being pushed out of our comfort zone and forced to grow and change. We embrace the metamorphasis even though somedays we struggle against it. We know that it will take time, but we are excited to think about the possiblity for lasting change in Mozambique and we are delighted to be part of the transformation. We are encouraged by our kids who have adjusted so well to their new environments and are rising to the challenge of learning Portuguese. We are beginning to get a handle on the language as well, thankfully Steve and I make a good team. I understand a lot and he speaks like a native. Once again our differences are well matched. Thank you Lord!
We so appreciate all the emails and SKYPE chats we have received from you all. We feel loved and well connected even though we are so far from home. Thank you for caring about the ordinary details of our days. We will continue to share them as long as you continue to show up to read them. We hope that you will be blessed today and truly experience joy!
Gratefully living and learning in Maputo,
Sarah for all
We have hit the sixty day mark and the reality of our choice to move to Africa is beginning to set in. We've been here long enough to have the newness wear off, but not long enough to have complete confidence in our knowledge of this city and it's nuances. We are missing family and friends and realizing how hard it is to build significant friendships while raising three kids in a third world country. We are acknowledging the difficulties of learning a new (and VERY hard I must add) language as adults with minds which are more like swiss cheese than sponges! We are adjusting to being daily bombarded with poverty, crime, desperation, neglect, hopelessness and pain, but we have not yet reconciled living among it without being affected by it. I don't know if we'll ever be unaffected, but the brutal reality will hopefully be tempered by the knowledge that our presence in this place is affecting change for the better. At this point we are still "rich, white Americans" to the needy around us. It will take much time and effort on our part to become accepted participants within the community. We'll never be Africans, but we WILL be well adjusted, caring, Portuguese speaking, Jesus loving freaks living among friends and neighbors who accept us for what we are and don't constantly ask us for what they need.
We are struggling with the realization that our very practical, family friendly vehicle is not in fact practical and family friendly for traveling outside of the central roads of Maputo. We have accepted the fact that we definitely need a four wheel drive vehicle which will allow us to drive on all the roads (including the unpaved dirt road which floods in the rainy season and leads to Kaleb's school) instead of just some of the roads. We are trying to reconcile necessity versus extravagance while living here. What seems an extravagance when living in Deephaven may be a necessity in Maputo. And vice versa. Life is very complicated here and the answers are not always instant. We are learning to talk and plan and WAIT in ways we did not have to in the USA. God is refining our character in so many ways.
Along with a needed change in vehicles it is becoming very clear that our lack of yard and play area is wearing on our kids. (AAGGHH I just lost my whole post from here on and have to rewrite!!! Bear with me!!!) Although they have been troopers and we have been creative in offering alternatives they need more area to play. They need to be able to run and play, laugh and yell, be crazy and silly kids. Although we love our house it is becoming obvious that it is not the best fit for our family. We have spent some time house hunting (I know what you're thinking, you can take the realtor out of the hunt, but you can't take the hunt out of the realtor!) which has been challenging. We think we have found a house which is a great alternative and has good possibilities for us. We hate the idea of moving again, but this seems to be a better fit for our needs. We'll keep you posted on our progress.
We are happy to say that we have begun to eastablish "favorites". We have a favorite chicken take out restaurant. A favorite bakery where we buy bread. A favorite fruit stand where we buy a lot of our produce and even a favorite cashew stand at the central market. We have regular routes we drive to schools and shops around the city. We are beginning to feel more like locals and comfortable with living here. We are establishing routines which helps Maputo become home.
Today was a beautiful day much like an early summer day in Minnesota. The sky was a clear, bright blue and there was a slight breeze which kept the temperature just right. There were some threatening clouds around noon time which disappeared by late afternoon. Mia, Rebecca and I went for a walk along a pretty tree lined street which boasts many beautiful high dollar rental houses. During our walk we paused outside a green gate which was home to a litter of three week old black lab pups. The mama dog barked a warning to us before she proudly showed off her new babies. Mia was delighted when the owner of the home handed her a snuggly black puppy over the fence. I wished I had brought my camera to capture the moment! Soon after returning the puppy we came home for my Portuguese lesson and lunch. Steve was out for most of the afternoon and when he returned we went to pick up the kids. We stopped to show the kids the house which seems to have the most potential and then we picked up take out chicken on the way home. Right now I can hear Steve and the kids laughing downstairs as they battle it out in a mean game of Candyland. Life is complex here and yet still very simple.
We are happy to be living in Maputo. We are very aware of our strengths and what we have to offer this country while we are here, but we are also painfully aware of our weaknesses and how much we have to learn. We are constantly being pushed out of our comfort zone and forced to grow and change. We embrace the metamorphasis even though somedays we struggle against it. We know that it will take time, but we are excited to think about the possiblity for lasting change in Mozambique and we are delighted to be part of the transformation. We are encouraged by our kids who have adjusted so well to their new environments and are rising to the challenge of learning Portuguese. We are beginning to get a handle on the language as well, thankfully Steve and I make a good team. I understand a lot and he speaks like a native. Once again our differences are well matched. Thank you Lord!
We so appreciate all the emails and SKYPE chats we have received from you all. We feel loved and well connected even though we are so far from home. Thank you for caring about the ordinary details of our days. We will continue to share them as long as you continue to show up to read them. We hope that you will be blessed today and truly experience joy!
Gratefully living and learning in Maputo,
Sarah for all
posted by Sniders in Africa at 9/29/2005 04:15:00 PM
<< Home