And the Thunder Rolls...

If anyone out there is questioning the power of prayer, I would say you probably shouldn't. I know there are probably many times when we feel like the Lord isn't answering but have you ever thought, maybe He's just telling us what we don't want to hear so our ears are closed off? Anyway...that's not really the point of this blog. The point is that after 7 months of living here it has finally thundered for much of the day. Yes, it rains here and it has been much of the last month and never has it thundered. Then the day before my birthday and even on my birthday there was a moment of thunder...one of those where you think it may be, but question the possibility and say it could have been a plane. But I missed thunder so much that I say it was definitely thunder. Plus, I had been praying for it and I trust that the Lord will provide even in the things some may think are silly. I continued to pray for it and guess what?!? He provided! And today it's unquestionable...it was definitely thunder because it happened more than once and it was normal, God is bowling thunder. So thank you Father for giving me thunder! I missed it greatly, You knew that and You provided! :^)

We Hosted a Christmas Party...Can You Believe It?

Last night we had about 25 of our friends over for a Christmas party. Yup, 25 people, it was pretty crazy but if everyone we had invited had come we would have had almost 50, so 25 was nothing. We had a lot of fun! Whitney and I spent the day getting things ready for it. We went to the store and bought some cellophane and ribbon to put some gifts together. We came up with some games to play. We made pizzas and brownies and then we set everything out and got ourselves ready. Our first guests arrived exactly at 5 pm, which was the time we had said it would start so we were actually pretty surprised. I mean, time doesn't really mean anything, I hardly even wear a watch and if you recall the last time I had guests over they were almost 2 hours late. The people trickled in until about 630 and we ate and laughed and everyone talked to everyone which was awesome. Then we played our first game...pictionary. Whit and I came up with some Christmas things for them to draw. We did our very best to make them things we thought they would know, but we failed on a couple of things so we turned it into a learning about American culture and what we think of when we hear Christmas. But then they really didn't know how to play pictionary either, but we managed. We finished that game, ate some more and then played another game...hehe, this one was great. We had 6 people volunteer not knowing what they were getting into and then we told them what they would have to do. We were going to put peanut butter on their faces and they would have to stick their face into a bowl of cotton balls to make Santa's beard. They all went and sat back down but we got them to do it. It was hilarious! I don't think the girls we made do it were too happy with us but they were good sports. After that, Whitney read part of the Christmas story to them and we talked about why we celebrate Christmas and what it means for us. Then they all left. We had a good time and after a really hard week with no one being in touch with me and having no Bible studies, much needed. As Whitney reminded me this morning, it's why we do what we do. To be able to bring girls together from all walks of life and they all enjoy each other is incredible. To be able to share each of our lives in a group setting is awesome. It was great to have them over too because it caused me to remember how much I do love them. Yes, they cancel on me, yes they are inconsistent and some just don't get it, but I love them.

We Have a Tree!

I never thought I would ever spend Christmas in Africa. And when I decided to move here and realized I would spend Christmas in Africa, I didn't think I would actually decorate my house for it. I had no idea I would be able to purchase decorations here. And if you asked me a couple of weeks ago whether I would be decorating my house, I probably would have told you "I don't think so" or "maybe but how and with what I don't know". But then we heard some of our friends here were selling some of their stuff because they are leaving in a month and one of those items was a Christmas tree. Whitney and I jumped at the idea and the next day we had a Christmas tree. We took it out of the box that night and put it together. Then we went to the "mall" and bought some Christmas lights, flashing ones at that (it's all they had) with no ability to plug strand to strand because the strand made a loop and so basically there is only one end and we added a few ornaments that were given to us. This week we finally bought some ribbon to put on the tree and I guess you could say it's finished. It's a little bare of ornaments, but we haven't had a chance to go out and buy some. We could go this week, but not sure that we will. But it was fun to decorate. We have stockings hanging on the wall, not by the chimney with care, but by the window with care :^) Maybe Saint Nicholas will soon be here, but only if Whitney is lucky...I'm thinking she's getting coals in her stocking.

And Then There Were Two...

This past Tuesday, our roommate Keri took off for the states...the start of big changes to our team around here. She was the one who could keep us in line and keep us from forgetting things. I'm now afraid that our house is going to fall apart. She was a rock of a woman, amazing prayer warrior, awesome friend and very wise in the Lord. She will be greatly missed around here but we know that the Lord is going to do even more great things with her as she walks through this life. So as her last hoorah we decided to go spend the day at the beach. I know, I know, we spend a lot of time at the beach or at least it seems that way, but if you lived this close to some of the greatest beaches in the world you would be there as much as you could too!

My prayer for you is that the Lord would give you "wisdom and understanding so that you will walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord". That even if quite a few more months go by and you still aren't sure what He wants you to do, you will not be discouraged or dismayed and you will continue to walk faithfully in Him, knowing that He is faithful to you. I love you!

To My Family...

Over the past few weeks I have been thinking a lot about my family. It's the holiday season, a time filled with many traditions and I am not able to participate in any of them with my family due to being miles and miles away from them. But since moving here I've grown to appreciate them more and more with each day that I can't just hop in my car and go see them. I miss my dad with whom I can just sit in a room with and not say a word, knowing that all we need is to be there and all is well. I miss my mom who asks me tons and tons of questions and while I usually got flustered with so many questions, I always knew she was interested in my life. I miss my sister whom I hardly ever talked to when I was 15 minutes away and now wish I could talk to more but can't because there's a 9 hour difference. I miss Glenn, my sister's husband, who pesters me like only an older brother could. I miss my grandparents who always knew how to take care of me and who just wanted me to come over so they could tell me about the good ol' days, whether it be true or some crazy, made-up story and I was the only one who would listen. I miss the laughter of my family. I know that this is a bit of a downer of a post, but there is much that I have learned from all of this. I've learned how to appreciate my family. I've seen how much they love me. I've been able to take a step back and look at them and love them even more than I once did. I long to see them again but I trust in the Lord and know that He will comfort me as I spend this season basking in His presence and completely relying on Him because He is all I have. I am getting to truly see the Lord as the baby in the manger who came to reconcile my relationship to His Father. I am getting to experience Him in ways that I have never experienced before. So in this season, family, as you spend it with one less chair at the table, remember that I am being held by a most loving Father. Remember that I miss you greatly and long to be there but my life is not my own and so I walk in faith towards the Father.

As all of you know the other day was Thanksgiving and it was my first major holiday here in Africa. We had a good time and most of the day was a bit different than "normal". We decided to head out to the beach and spend the day there. This was the first time for that...the beach on Thanksgiving. The only problem was that the beach we usually go to we couldn't really get to...they are developing a lot out there and so the roads are being closed off. We found a road that got us there but we weren't suppose to do that and the guy came out and told us we had to leave, but we could park somewhere else and walk to the bungalows we sit at. So we went a little ways down and parked and then trekked out to our bungalows, it was a lot farther away than we first realized. And then we got there and the guy said we still had to pay the 2000 shillings to use the bungalow which we all thought was ridiculous but we still paid. We enjoyed being out there and the ocean was great as well. But then while we were out there the crows came and ate some of our food...half of mine and Whit's food so we had a sandwich and a small bag of cheese nips between the two of us. Oh and the crows attacked a book too. They weren't very nice crows. Well we really didn't do a whole lot there just relaxed which was beautiful. I did get to open one of the gifts that my mom sent me...Grey's Anatomy, Season 2...so exciting! And I could then say I got to spend my birthday on the beach...I've always wanted to do that, either the beach or a pool party and I finally got to! After that we went over to one of our friends' places and had a turkey dinner...turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, potatoes, the works. We had a lot of fun and this year I didn't have to sit at the "kids" table. And that's about all to the day. It was a great day! And it was good to do something different from "normal". However when we got to dinner, I did start to miss the fact that my family wasn't there. I was happy to be with my family here but I missed my grandma's turkey and stuffing and celebrating my birthday with my aunt because hers is a couple of days before mine. I missed it but there are a lot of things that I am grateful for:

1. I have the greatest friends here...wonderful roommates who encourage me and hold me up, great friends on campus who I get to pour my life into and encourage and a beautiful community surrounding me.
2. I have the greatest friends located around the world...people that know exactly what I'm going through, people that are very wise and I have learned a great deal from!
3. I have a supportive family in the states, who loved me so much that they were very proud to send me overseas.
4. I live a life that is worth living...my faith is in Christ and He has given me life and for that my greatest desire is to glorify Him.

Part of our trek down to the part of the beach we normally go to...we had to go over barracades and brave the sand and heat :^)

This was me and Whit before the crows got to our lunch. Keri thinks were weird because we don't have very many pictures where we are just smiling without our mouths wide open.

My first birthday present...Grey's Anatomy...woohoo! And Mom you would be very proud because Whit likes to take multiple pictures so she got a few shots of me opening the gift.

Our turkey dinner...it was yummy! Nice to have a great dinner with all the works.

Us roomies...see we can take a "normal" picture, but who's to say what's "normal", isn't it all relative anyway? Don't worry we really weren't that red, just a little glow from the day in the sun and as always it was completely tan the next day, no red left.

Oh and I have to add...did anyone see that the Aggies beat t.u. the day after Thanksgiving?!? Yea we did...first time in a few years but who's really counting. It just makes me happy that we closed out our regular season this way! Gig 'Em Ags! WHOOP!!!

Dinner for 8 anyone?

Last week I invited one of the girls I study with and her roommates over for dinner on Sunday. I spent the day slaving in the kitchen trying to put together something that was nice but also easy to do for 8 people. I chose to cook spaghetti, a family staple back home in the Moorehead household. Of course I cooked it a bit differently from my mom, the main difference being that I put meat in the sauce (yes mom, I eat meat in my spaghetti now and dad it's a lot better when the meat is cooked in the sauce so that it can soak up the flavor). I also made some homemade chocolate chip cookies using my favorite recipe, mommy's of course, she always made the best cookies (the cookies were made possible thanks to Mama P and her sending me chocolate chips). And so when it came closer to time, the meal was pretty much prepared, I just let it sit there and soak up the flavor, and then I hopped in for a beautiful cold shower (it's getting really hot these days, we are unsure of how we are going to make through the next 4 months). And it was time to just wait for them to show up...well about 615 I got the phone call..."we are just now getting prepared." What does this mean I ask myself and hope that it means we are gathering our things to walk out the door and catch the daladala (bus). Alas, 645 rolls around and still haven't received the phone call saying we're at Survey so that I can meet them on the road and bring them back. So I call again and Nancy says they are still in the room getting prepared and she'll call. Finally at about 715 I get the message that they are near Survey so I start to walk, taking Whitney along with me for it is now dark. We met them and then saw how dressed up they got for this very informal dinner...I always forget that they really like to get dressed up when they can. We started eating around 745, only 2 hours after the meal was actually ready. But it was great to have them here. We had a lot of fun just hanging out and talking about life, all the general getting to know you stuff (Whit had never met them so questions were being asked and I learned a few things myself). Then I brought out the cookies and everyone dove in (they loved them Mom). We took a few pictures and then we looked through my photo album that my sister made for me before I left. It was great to go through it and tell them about my family and friends. Then of course I had to explain the tattoo on my back, which for me is always fun because I get to talk about the greatest girls in the world! But after that they had to leave because many of them had tests the next morning...but before we left one of them was like we should pray before we go (someone else taking leadership so amazing!). I prayed and then we piled into the Rav and I drove them back to campus. This Rav doesn't have a radio though so I told them they had to sing and they did. It was so much fun. I love these crazy girls!

All of us: bottom-Erika, me, Mary, and Rose; top-Esther, Nancy and Angel

Angel, me and Mary

Nancy, me and Erika (these are the girls that I specifically study with, many times some of the other girls are in there hearing what's going on).

Rose, me and Esther

Nancy wanted a funny face contest...we tried to do a funny face pose before but the girls in the front wouldn't make a funny face...we finally got them to do it.

A Few of My Friends...

I finally remembered to take my camera along with me this week and snap a few photos of my new friends here. So now I can share with you who some of them are. It's definitely not exhaustive of the friends that I have here but a couple of them are who I spend most of my time with. This is Edna...she's one of the first girls I started a study with. And she is one of the girls that I have told will be a leader next semester. She chuckled a little but she agreed to it which is awesome! She's from Uganda by the way.

This is Angela...she's in the same study as Edna and also another one I've told will be a leader next semester. She chuckled as well...what is it with people laughing at the idea that they are going to be a leader?!? But she's willing as well and that's all I need to keep pushing it.

This is Agnes...she just started coming to the study I have with Edna and Angela. She's really cool too, has a lot of knowledge and is usually able to relate what we are studying with another passage...it's really neat.

This is Nancy...I just met her a week ago and she started coming to one of my studies where I am storying through the Bible. She's very talkative and has a lot of insights into what we are reading.

This is another Nancy...I met her a while back. She's really awesome too, I look forward to seeing her every Monday and am very sad when she can't meet. This is the room where I go and there is usually a lot of other people around, provides for some great opportunities. She and her roommates (there are 6 in her tiny room) will be coming over on Sunday for dinner...I'm so excited about this!

This is Stella and well she rocks! We just started meeting this morning and we are talking about the various women in the Bible so to kick it off we talked about Eve and everything she caused. She's very wise and has a lot of insight into what God is telling her. It has been pretty amazing to get together with her. She's from Uganda as well, one of Edna's roommates.

So these are just a few of the girls I meet with...these are the ones that I spend most of my time with. They are all really amazing and I know that God is going to do some amazing things through each of them. I'm just here to help them get out of the boat. :^)