Fat Cook

Little Damas...We painted faces our first day! Her eyes captivate my heart.

Some of the kids at the preschool during morning play-time...We took about 6 pictures but it's impossible to get them all looking the same direction and smiling, all at the same time!

Charlie Chicken (as I call him because he looks like a chicken when he sits up) and Suka...Already grown up so much but still so cute!

Lulu and her massive meat meal of zebra, Kudu, ostrich, alligator, and more...She loves meat.

Our "goodbye Amanda and Mollybea!"dinner out at Joe's in Windhoek last weekend.

I love the bread in Rehoboth. Almost weekly, I get a piece (or two) of Braii bread, which is a specialty here and is basically a thick fluffy, flaky lump of bread grilled over open flame/coals and loaded up with butter and jam. Delicious. Then, Lenie made this sweet, dessert type bread for dinner once. And THEN, Thursday, she made what’s called “Fat Cook”--you know it’s good based on the name alone. It’s balls of dough deep-fried in oil. I added a final ingredient by pulling the oil-oozing bread apart and dipping the inside in sugar. Like a donut at the State Fair! Mmmm. When the meat looks suspicious, I just get a double-order of bread! Good thing I’m walking 1-2 hours to work everyday.

Me, Lulu, and Stephen went to the preschool again on Thursday and the weather stayed cool all morning, which made running around with 20 kids a lot easier. We have been put in charge both days we’ve gone, so you can imagine the time we’ve had trying to teach a roomful of children ages 2--5 lessons, games, and songs in English (when they most definitely do not speak that language). They ARE really good at repeating us, though, but sometimes I forget that they can’t tell when I’m finished with a “repeat” section, so I get a chorus of little voices saying things like, “Ok, does that make sense?” or “and now listen to the next part,” etc. It’s frustrating but funny, too. I’ve created a wish-list of things I would love to do with these children while I’m here, and the one I think would be the most fun is TYE-DYE! I can’t even imagine their faces to see a bright, white T-shirt dunked into a rainbow of pretty colors and then get unfurled to reveal a different pattern for each child. I still think it’s a bit magical…So I would love to share that with them (: Other ideas include decorating sugar cookies, making a candy-filled piñata, and perhaps building a giant playground right next to the school that they could explore for hours and still discover something new each day.

We began painting at the Center and one room is now half Pepto-Bismo pink with one wall a mottled attempt at a cream-color. We’re going to have to do a second coat, I think… The color choices available were very limited (which surprised me based on the extreme variety of colors found on the houses in town!) so we’re doing the best we can. The walls may be in need of a few flowers, butterflies, and polka-dots to liven them up once we’re done.

Yesterday during my devotions, I was struck by what Jesus says in John 5:30, “I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me.” I’ve been thinking about my purpose on this trip and how sometimes when I’m frustrated or bored, I’ll think, “Oh, I should just buy myself a treat,” or “I wish could watch a good movie” and then I will feel better. My focus is so inward and I’m constantly trying to figure out a way to be happier or to make myself feel better…But what should my purpose be on this trip? Jesus lived on earth for just a short time, but his purpose that entire time was to please the One who sent him…not himself. If I’ve been sent to Rehoboth by God, and if I desire to live like Jesus lived, then my goal here should be to please Him who sent me. Not myself, with ice-cream bars, movies, music, or whatever else I can dream up. To be honest, sometimes I walk down the aisles in the grocery store and just imagine how delicious this or that would be and how I can’t wait to come back and buy it…and that’s my source of entertainment for an afternoon! Wow. Can you imagine having so much free-time on your hands (something I felt I never had at home) that a trip to a 7-aisle grocery store is exciting? I want to use the gift of time God has given me for a bigger purpose than my personal satisfaction. Which led me to the question of what true satisfaction is. I made a list of “What Satisfies Me?” It included things like: the beach, nature, hugs, baby animals, my family, wearing great shoes, and bread. I filled a whole page, but it wasn’t until the near the bottom that “praying” flashed across my mind, and I wrote it down. I was shocked! It honestly took me that long to come up with something that wasn’t centered on myself and my desires. Next, I made a big list of “What Satisfies God?” This was so interesting for me to do…to think of specific scripture and realize that what is written there is something that satisfies GOD! Like: patience, goodness, self-control, ME!, purity, a guarded mouth, slow anger, taking care of orphans and widows, faith with action, and discipline. I looked at both lists and it really pointed out with stark clarity how self-centered my satisfaction is and how love-centered God’s is. Jesus says again later: “The One who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.” (John 8:29). I can be sure of God’s constant presence as I try to please Him with my life and actions, words and thoughts.

“He must become greater; I must become less.”
--John the Baptist in John 3:30

Prayer Requests:
*That I would see clearly the things in my life that I need to give up or fast in order that I would not be pleasing myself but making myself and my desires less and God’s more!

*For community involvement with the Youth Center…we’ve had a few encouraging moments but nothing too solid yet. It’s hard because we do feel a bit like the Americans who have come in and are cleaning this place up all by ourselves and it will have no lasting meaning for the people of Rehoboth. It’s for their youth though, and therefore we need people to step up who are going to be passionately involved in the center, it’s continued well-being and the programs that could happen there that will have a HUGE impact on the youth! The kids are all so excited, but we need some leadership from the adults!

*For contentment in the quiet, still, and slow moments.

Have a LOVE-filled Valentine’s Day my dear friends and family! We’re having a party with the Worship team tonight and then a Reho team-party, as well. Which means lots of sweets, good food, and laughter…What a beautiful way to live the day of love (:

Ek is Lief vir you (I love you!)