What does one have to do to get a cup of Coffee around here!!!

I am passionate about coffee. It's not JUST about the caffeine that gives you that extra energy in the morning or even the intoxicating smell that creates a smile appearing into your very soul, no, rather it is the very essence of coffee that I love. Coffee symbolizes love and character, it is a sweet memory and confident reminder that life is good.

 To experience this delight in Nagishot takes patience and dedication yet, as Jacob was willing to wait for his sweet Rachel for seven years so I willing to wait for my sweet coffee...Well, maybe not for seven years.

Anyway, to relish this coffee in Didinga, first one must find a tree, preferably a coffee tree.

Coffee tree.

After you have made friends with the coffee tree owner, you must wait patiently as the berries begin to ripen.

 

When the beans are ready, they must be laid out to dry, now you are getting closer. Once they are dried, these little beans of potential are getting closer to meeting their destiny...Me.

The dried beans

You must gather what you can for fuel and get a hot fire going.

A fire fueled by corn husks

Now, it's time for roasting! If you are strong like the Didinga, you can use your hands to stir the beans as they begin to roast.

Now you must ask your self "Do I want a dark roast, or light roast or something in between?"

Light roast.

A little darker

and darker...

 Now you can pour the beans into another basin to cool.

Now, you ought to take a few moments to appreciate the beautiful color and essence of the beans.

Now it is time for the grinding.

Rising up!

Pounding down!

Gotta get that coffee ground!

After pounding in the hot sun the beans will be roughly grounded

Now, it is time for the second grinding.

At the grinding stone...

You can imagine how long it takes to grind wheat for bread...

Finished!!!!

Now is the part we've all been waiting for...

TA DA! Mmm!!! As usual, worth the wait!

Trash, or Treasure???

Today was the last day of the 2012 school year.  Whoop!  Whoop!

After results were distributed and discussed, the classrooms swept and scrubbed and the grass outside the school slashed we celebrated in true Sudanese style…

How?

Well, for months Kim and I have been saving our tin cans, empty shampoo and lotion bottles, egg cartons, cardboard boxes and well, (don’t judge!) most of our garbage. 

There was jumping up and down, spontaneous clapping, shouts of joy, uncontrollable laughter, dancing and the biggest smiles of the term today while our students chose a partner and took turns picking their “treasures” from our trash bin.

Once the materials were distributed each group set to work making their very own terah (planes) and toromile (trucks).

Their joy was contagious. 

We all had a good time!  For, as the saying sorta goes, one teacher’s trash is another student’s treasure!

Arkangelo's Plane

Happy as a clam

In the making...

Abuba with her creation!

Lubalo with his airplane

Adomi's car and Langa's plane

Logidishi's plane.

Michaels plane.

 

Thanksgiving day!

Today I am thankful for God choosing me.

“I don’t want to get up God!.” I complained, as I gathered the covers around my chin. Whether or not God is really telling me to ‘Get up’ or not, I’m not sure and yet I often find my drowsy, ”Just five more minutes” directed towards him. 

I had planned to get up early this morning so that I could spend extra time with Jesus, just like I had planned the day before and yet didn't.  Finally I did get up, more to do with the roster screaming his head off then with conviction. As I waited for my coffee on the stove I went outside the gate to see the sunrise, the sun was just beginning to peak over the mountains. I could hear drums beating and singing in the distance and felt ashamed of myself, here I am greeting the day, Thanksgiving day, with complaints and the Didinga people rise early to dance. 

The sunrise was beautiful and I exhaled as I thought how much I really do love early mornings (Once I'm up) and how beautiful it is in Nagishot. After pouring my cup of coffee and grabbing my Bible, I began walking to a reading spot, I saw Mama Josh (the pastors wife) on the way, planting a field of tomatoes, she greeted me and said “Happy Thanksgiving!” Mama Josh remembering that it is Thanksgiving is just like her, not because she has a great memory or loves American holidays, rather, she remembers because she knows it’s important to us, so she chooses to remember. 

Anyway, back to the subject, when I finally did start reading and spending time with God…I was reflecting on being here in Didinga, and how in so many ways it is the fulfillment of my heart’s desire. I started to think about who God could have called instead of me to be here. A doctor would be so useful or an actual trained teacher, maybe someone who has experience overseas or is gifted with languages, or maybe just someone who doesn't complain when raising early in the mourning, instead he chose ME to come…Why?

If you are faithful reader of my blogs you know that grammar and spelling are not my strong suit. You may think that I just don’t use spell check or re-read over my writing, nope, I agonize over it and yet it’s still full of  glitches. I have to fight my pride every time I post something, because, I know it’s probably not perfect and it’s embarrassing to me. Today I am thankful for even my academic weakness, I'm even thankful that I am clumsy and scatterbrained and that I say the wrong things all the time. The other day I told our South Sudan director that 'I've always wanted to work in a brothel.' It wasn't until his confused look, that I realized my mistake, "I mean with WOMEN, WOMEN in brothels...You know to share the gospel!”  Oh, I could go on and on but I won’t… You may be wondering why am sharing this with you? Strangely, today I am thankful for my weaknesses, is not because they are good, rather it's because I believe the goodness of God can be shown through them. 

God loves to use the unlikely, the incapable and the unworthy, Why? So that his grace can be shown through them. If I can do anything good here in Didinga, it isn't me, It must certainly be God because I am incapable, I am unlikely, I am unworthy but I am so thankful God has brought me here to Didinga! I am blessed to be able to share Gods word. I would chose no other life, I am so blessed! This has been the most fulfilling time in my life. Not necessarily because God is using me but rather because I know he wants too and he can.

Isn't it beautiful! I'll welcome weakness if Gods strengths can be seen clearer!  Bring on humiliation if Gods glory can be shown brighter! I want to show Gods glory through my life. You see you cannot show Gods glory without seeing it yourself…And it is the most beautiful thing in all heaven and earth. 

As David said, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked."

Also, "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his Temple."

Even though my Thanksgiving is different than most Americans…For instance, I am the only American in Nagishot at present and my fine meal consisted of leftover soup I made yesterday, if I get real crazy I’ll make some popcorn… Yet, my heart is so utterly content and thankful.

Who cares about my frailty or imperfection being seen when I am confident I am fully known as well as fully loved by the one I care about most?

I wrote this in my Journal today…It doesn't exactly rhyme… but for my sake, pretend it does.

He uses fishermen as Apostles, shepherds  as kings, the stuttering as speakers to set nations free. He turns harlots into mothers birthing great queens and kings.  He uses sinners and beggars and he can use you and me.

He changed little into much and water into wine, death into life, persecutors into preachers, Old women into warriors, The perverse and profane are now fetching glory to His name. Yes, He who walks on seas can change you and me.

As I beat my chest, crying “Mercy unto me!” Finding his love abundantly free, I thank God who for the wonder of his glory can use you and me. 

Today's Sunrise.

Alright, I'm not going to agonize over this one...I'm going to go make some popcorn! Happy Thanksgiving!

Day #5 Thanks!

Today I am thankful for YOU! 

Thank you for reading my blogs and staying interested in what God is doing in Nagishot. Thank your for your notes of encouragement or just letting me know whats going on in your life. Thank you for those who have sent me letters or packages that always bring a smile on my face and a touch of home.

Thank you for your prayers, which have not only brought me here but have been the source to any fruit whether it is seen or not . Thank you for the prayers for my students and for our bible study members...Thank you for BEING WITH ME HERE in prayer and for not leaving me alone!

For those of you who financially support me, thank you for your sacrifice  You are in a very true sense sweating here with me by working to support me, I pray God blesses you for your generosity to me and ultimately to Him.

I was told before I came here that God would do more IN me than THROUGH me and I have found that to be true. He has shown me wonders and glories because of you. Thank you!

Some friends came over as I was working on this, so I told them they could join me and say “Hi” to you all…Here’s what they said.

Safari  says, "I'm learning the word of God so much!"

Bakita says, "I want to lean the words of God"

Arkangelo says, "I like Abraham, he believed what God said"

Lino says, "I need to think about Gods word."

Eha says, "Thank you!"

One of my favorites, "I want to learn the worlds of God...COME TO NAGISHOT!" 

Thank you for joining in this great commission!

Thanks Day #4

Today I am thankful for every one of my students!

Often as I walk to school and as I prepare for the classes ahead I find myself signing a song... By the end of that day in some little counter of Nagishot I will hear that same song repeated by one of my students. Often the words aren't exactly the same, as they don't understand English. The other day I heard a kid singing at the top of his lungs "Go see the world, the lord kiss some!"

Today during break I saw all the kids lined up and singing the song I was singing this morning...It made me smile, so I went and joined them and decided (against my better judgement) to share it with you. 

Thanks day #3

My brothers and sisters and me

       

 The echo of laughter, the ray of sunlight through the window, the memories of my family. Today and everyday I am thankful for my family. 

My little brother and sister- Amos and Naomi.

I am thankful My older brother and sister who have been such an example to me in loving Jesus and my little brother and sister who are my greatest friends and companions. 

 

Samuel

Hannah

My older sister has an amazing husband who is truly like a brother, together they have four beautiful rays of sunshine...My nephews and nieces, I never knew I could love children so much...My heart is so tied into each one of them.

Grace.

My older brother who is a student in China, is married to a incredible woman as passionate and dedicated as he is, they have a darling little girl whom I have not met yet, through I'm praying for her and love her!

My older brother Seth and wife Jeaniene

My little Niece Leah

I am thankful for my Mom who listens to me and my Dad whose love I've never doubted. My family has given me a glimpse of the glory of  God through their lives. 

Me, with Dad and mom last year. 

Today I am thankful for my family.

    

Day #2 Of Posted Thanks!

Thankful for Miriam.

 Miriam is a faithful old mama that comes to Bible Study every week. You'll find Miriam wherever there is work to be done, she will be sweeping a floor or washing a dish and always quietly bringing no attention to herself. Miriam is not Didinga, she is illiterate and only speaks Arabic, but she is so eager to learn anything new. She is an example to me of faithfulness and that it's never too late to learn. Miriam is a Jewel!

I thank God for Miriam!

Miriam at Bible Study!

SIX DAYS OF POSTED THANKS! DAY #1

Day #1

Today I am thankful for my chickens. I am so thankful for the beautiful fresh eggs they have been giving.

Three weeks ago one rooster and four hens arrived on the plane from Kenya..They where then carried the two miles from the airstrip and into their cozy little home.

We waited two and a half weeks and no eggs came. In frustration and with my finger pointed at each one of them I said,  "As far as I'm concerned there are two different types of recipes in the cookbook one requires eggs the other chicken, you young ladies, decide which one you want to provide!" Well, whether it was the stern talk, the provision of music, the extra food warmed and decorated or the "Home Sweet Home" sign, three days ago I found eggs, nicely laid in one little corner of their pen and hence forth they have laid every day.

 What wonderful little gals!

Jamie Oliver...We call him "Oly"

Folks, meet the gang, Left to right. Julia Child, Margriet Foolen, Doris Longacre Jamie Oliver. In front Wycliffe

Eggs, beautiful Eggs!