Meeting Aslan

Sorry! Its been a while since I blogged last. I'm glad you are still reading this after one year! Can you believe its been one year this month? What an adventure. :)

Emily came and went. Another volunteer came with me to Jo’burg to pick her up. I’ve never laughed so hard since I’ve been here. We had over sensory with all the 10 stores in the airport and posters of Gizelle and perfume. It was like America. We went to three restaurants while waiting for the flight. Coffee shops, smoothie places, and fast food. I felt fat and I didn’t even care. I felt American. And no one could take that away from me. We decided to take it easy on our third meal within a six hour span. While we ate Subway at the gate, we could not stop laughing. Maybe because the joy of seeing things that also exist in America were surrounding us, maybe because we were tired, or maybe because Africa stole our sanity...all I know is that while tears of laughter streamed down my cheeks, joy beamed from my face as I ate a meatball sub.

We then realized we had no actual reservations at the backpackers and didn’t have any idea how to get there, my friend drove us anyway and we were welcomed by a bunch of drunk guys at reception (including thee receptionist). After being creeped out by the other backpackers (lonely middle aged men...who looked like the were eager to see females), we were asked to share a room with them in a bunk bed dorm. We all opted to wear our shoes, go straight to bed, and cling to our cell phones.

It was so fun having her here. It was difficult to see her leave because she brought a piece of home with her and it made me happy and sad at the same time. It went so fast too. She basically saw all of Swaziland. We took a koombi for two hours towards Mozambique only to see the game park was closed. So we ate breakfast, took pictures of our food, and talked about cats with another volunteer. We played “family” at the cultural village with our tour group. Emily landed the 2nd Wife role. Kim Bartling would be proud. I, on the other hand, landed the role of “carrying people’s cameras and taking pictures of them participating“. Once Emily received her role and we began the tour, she looked at me in confusion and asked, “Do they always do this?!” I looked at her with a creepy smile and whispered, “Yes...and at the end the "2nd wife" has to make out with the tour guide before you can leave.” Well clearly I laugh at my own jokes drawing the tour guide’s attention (middle aged man wearing a furry loin cloth…) to us, so he asked Emily to come forward in the middle of his presentation and had the “grandma” discipline her in front of us for talking. Haha It was so weird.

We went to a game park which was AWESOME!! We saw lions this time! Not only one either. We saw two females and a male. We kept yelling, “Aslan!” but were the only ones amused by the joke. Sometimes the lion would come up to our jeep from behind and so in order to get a good picture Emily were climb the seats to the back. I would help by pushing her butt over the seats…to get her there faster. It was the best part of the Safari. The lions ROCKED.

Emily spent time with my brothers and held the new baby. The baby can support his own neck now…probably because no one else does. And eats sour porridge. I’m no pediatrician, but I know that's not right. 10 weeks and the kids feed the baby candy, radishes and once meat...until I intervened. I prefer to not use my expired CPR certification on “Mr. Potatoes“ due to a 5 yr old’s version of parenting skills. We call him “Emazambane” which in translation is Potatoes, because he’s bundled in blankets in a sack shape and is lumpy. Nothing like knocking the kid’s self esteem before the age of one. So Emily left and it was sad, but I was thankful to have even just a little time with a friend from home.

This past week was great. We celebrated being here for 1 year. Its crazy to think about. We had to select two girl volunteers to meet with Inkhosikati, the King's wife, next week for a lunch with other government officials and Peace Corps staff. My friend Jennifer was chosen because she is on VAC. Well, the stars aligned and my name was drawn from the hat representing PSN. I lucked out and hope I don’t act like an idiot in front of royalty. Its like meeting the Swazi “Michelle Obama“ and I'm like Barbara Walters. Talking with her, exchanging past adventures, and trying to get personal questions answered about the King like "What'
s his favorite pizza topping?" or "Does he have a court jesture? Is he looking for one?" and "...what would he make it wear?" :)

This month is my year anniversary. Now that all my meetings have seized and my large project is over, I’m left sitting in my hut wondering “What’s next?” On a good day I play soccer with the kids and visit the clinic, but as I kick a flat ball to one of my little brothers (who no longer thinks I‘m cool because I'm old news now) I wonder what God has in store for me here. Sure, there are moments I’m glad I didn’t miss. For example, watching cheap Chinese films dubbed into English with my host family and watch them sit in suspense as a Chinese ninja (aka A white guy with a black “Chinese“ mustache...the Chinese film couldn‘t even afford real Chinese people...that‘s when you know its bad.) prepares to do a back kick. So, yes, I do have moments I am happy I got to see that. There are special moments, but the other 23 hours of the day can be a struggle. I've been praying hard these past few days and I'm waiting to see what's next. I know there is a lot more work to be done in my community and I have hope that God will find a place for me again. I just need to be content with waiting for His answer of what's next and maybe all that means is being good to people until I know. Its in my heart, my attitude towards others, and being with the people around me fully. Showing God to others is a job in itself and a lot of work. Where is God leading me and what does he see as the need for New Haven?

“More often than not, God’s invitation to us to seize divine moments is found in the needs of ther peoples’s lives.” Pg 10

“We miss divine moments when we treat what we consider nominal influence as irrelevant. We must never underestimate te importance of the one moment, one word, one deed in the life of another human being.” pg 121

Chasing Daylight