Home is the place you come from, the place you "hang your hat", the place where your family is, or maybe it's where you keep your favorite books. I was thinking about home this weekend since it was Christmas and I am "home". Well I'm at my parent's house which was home for me for a lot of years but now it isn't as much. Part of growing up is shifting from your childhood home becoming your parent's house with things the way they want them and you having another place that is your own. But since I'm with family in a familiar place in some ways it is "home". Yet I'm also torn because I've come to feel "at home" in Malawi - not just another city but another country and continent with another culture. My roommate and coworkers at Malamulo have become family and I feel at home there. This year even some of my "real" family is there and so that might be part of the reason I feel torn... It made me think more about the meaning of home, I guess and what it actually means.
I believe that when you go through challenging times with a friend or with anyone you become bonded to that person in a deeper way. I think that is part of the reason I feel close to the people I live and work with in Malawi because we have been through SO MUCH together. I think specifically of Cristy - we have lived together for the past 2.5 years and have been through highs and lows and every days and all in between together. She is the closest friend I have and knows me very well and feels like family. For me our house in Malawi feels like "home" and I think it does for her as well.
Maybe the holidays bring out this kind of reflection and the meaning of "home". I guess for me there is more than one place and maybe more than one meaning. Home is where I feel the most comfortable and where I can be myself the most....AND i think my favorite books might also play a part. :) I'm thankful for these safe and comfortable places that are a shelter and haven for me in so many ways.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
A Southern Feature
It is ironic, I suppose, that we are still friends and all working together in Malawi. Funny how God has a way of working things out and leading us along the journey that we have called life. I am so grateful for Randy and Cristy both and how they are such an encouragement to me personally.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Thankfulness
Much has been happening and I rarely seem to have time to update my blog. So here's some updates and photos:
ADRA Malawi contacted me about the bicycle ambulances that they are distributing around Malawi. They asked if the communities around the hospital would be in need of them. We discussed and requested 15 set ups for the area villages that Malamulo serves. They came back and said they would give 14!! We arranged to have the official "hand-over" with the Malawi Union SDA church meetings so the president of the church handed them over to the "Head Chief" of the area. It was an amazing gift and neither me or the head of ADRA were the focus but rather what the church is doing in the community. We were merely facilitating and that was so wonderful! Now the communities around Malamulo that can't get vehicle access have a way to get patients to the hospital easier.
About 3 weeks ago Cristy and I went to Zomba Plateau to Plateau Stables to go horseback riding. Maggie and Brian run the place and are lovely people and we have ridden there several times. It was a beautiful day and we were so excited to be out in nature. We got suited up and I was riding "Duchess" who loves to gallop especially following another horse. You can guess - we were going at a good gallop, my horse closely following Cristy (thus you can't stop) and I began to feel a bit out of control in my English saddle. Suddenly the horse took a sharp turn on a trail to the left and I took a sharp turn to the right and landed HARD on my right hip. Thankfully I had a helmet and landed on pine needles so only had some deep bruises and scrapes. Needless to say my riding was cut short! I got back on and we rode back to the stable but I couldn't go much further.
Maggie was so sweet and offered for us to come to to their house so I could take a hot bath and drink some tea. While in the bath they decided that Cristy and I really shouldn't camp as we had planned but rather stay in their guest room and rest in their house. So instead of riding I got to rest, read, walk around their garden and take photos. It ended up being a lovely weekend (Cristy went riding again the next day) and we have made even better friends with Maggie and Brian. Bella also got to know their great dane/rhodesian ridgeback mix dog in hopes to eventually have puppies! Here are a few photos of the house and flowers.Thought I'd spare you the bruises and scrapes. :-|
Thanksgiving was a lovely feast as was last year. We had about 40 people get together at Dave & Susan Woods' house in Blantyre. There was lots of food and good time with friends. This year we actually thought if EVERYONE was invited (American or not) there would be way too many people so we just tried to invite the Americans and a few others and still ended up with a houseful. We have many volunteers here now and also some additional families of Ryan & Sharlene Hayton, Randy & Nicole and all of their kids. Before eating Ryan gave us a 5 minute history lesson of what Thanksgiving is and where is started. After lunch Jacquie (Peds NP) pulled out her colorful paper, blow up balloons, and kept the kiddos entertained making turkeys, indian headbands, and balloon animals.
After making stuffing, finishing making the soup, and all the craziness of my long week I enjoyed sitting down and putting my feet up after stuffing myself! Sharlene's apple cranberry crisp was a hit as well as Drew's pumpkin cream cheese pie (and even better the next day).
Friday after Thanksgiving I was busy wrapping things up in the office and packing to leave Sabbath morning. Earlier that week we had 2 days of board meetings and the week before was meetings all week for the church. Needless to say I was exhausted and found it difficult to even find the energy to be excited to go home. (Some of that might have had to do with the people I was leaving behind in Malawi as well!) I have so much to be thankful for this year - especially for the life I've been given since last year's Thanksgiving. There have been many hard days, many happy days, tears, laughter, and for all of it I'm VERY grateful!
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| The MU President is far left in suit - others are area Chiefs |
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| Official handshake |
About 3 weeks ago Cristy and I went to Zomba Plateau to Plateau Stables to go horseback riding. Maggie and Brian run the place and are lovely people and we have ridden there several times. It was a beautiful day and we were so excited to be out in nature. We got suited up and I was riding "Duchess" who loves to gallop especially following another horse. You can guess - we were going at a good gallop, my horse closely following Cristy (thus you can't stop) and I began to feel a bit out of control in my English saddle. Suddenly the horse took a sharp turn on a trail to the left and I took a sharp turn to the right and landed HARD on my right hip. Thankfully I had a helmet and landed on pine needles so only had some deep bruises and scrapes. Needless to say my riding was cut short! I got back on and we rode back to the stable but I couldn't go much further.
Maggie was so sweet and offered for us to come to to their house so I could take a hot bath and drink some tea. While in the bath they decided that Cristy and I really shouldn't camp as we had planned but rather stay in their guest room and rest in their house. So instead of riding I got to rest, read, walk around their garden and take photos. It ended up being a lovely weekend (Cristy went riding again the next day) and we have made even better friends with Maggie and Brian. Bella also got to know their great dane/rhodesian ridgeback mix dog in hopes to eventually have puppies! Here are a few photos of the house and flowers.Thought I'd spare you the bruises and scrapes. :-|
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| hibiscus |
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| The house - our room was the door at the bottom. Butch and Bella in the foreground. |
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| View from the yard - spent some time on the bench. |
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| bougainvillea |
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| amaryllis |
Thanksgiving was a lovely feast as was last year. We had about 40 people get together at Dave & Susan Woods' house in Blantyre. There was lots of food and good time with friends. This year we actually thought if EVERYONE was invited (American or not) there would be way too many people so we just tried to invite the Americans and a few others and still ended up with a houseful. We have many volunteers here now and also some additional families of Ryan & Sharlene Hayton, Randy & Nicole and all of their kids. Before eating Ryan gave us a 5 minute history lesson of what Thanksgiving is and where is started. After lunch Jacquie (Peds NP) pulled out her colorful paper, blow up balloons, and kept the kiddos entertained making turkeys, indian headbands, and balloon animals.
After making stuffing, finishing making the soup, and all the craziness of my long week I enjoyed sitting down and putting my feet up after stuffing myself! Sharlene's apple cranberry crisp was a hit as well as Drew's pumpkin cream cheese pie (and even better the next day).
Friday after Thanksgiving I was busy wrapping things up in the office and packing to leave Sabbath morning. Earlier that week we had 2 days of board meetings and the week before was meetings all week for the church. Needless to say I was exhausted and found it difficult to even find the energy to be excited to go home. (Some of that might have had to do with the people I was leaving behind in Malawi as well!) I have so much to be thankful for this year - especially for the life I've been given since last year's Thanksgiving. There have been many hard days, many happy days, tears, laughter, and for all of it I'm VERY grateful!
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