It was difficult for me to be here at the very beginning, but now, after being here for a little while, I almost forget ‘why’ it was so difficult. I don’t really see all the sand and dirt much anymore, and the trash thrown along the sides of the road goes almost unnoticed. Actually, I really like our new home. And even though it’s not all ‘peaches and cream’, I’m thankful that we can be here. As I was in a reflecting mode today, I thought I’d just jot down a couple of my thoughts here.
Things I really like about our new home:
I think it’s wonderful how the children use their imaginations here. The kids running around outside rarely have ‘toys’, yet they happily amuse themselves with whatever they can find… sticks, cardboard boxes, an old tire, etc.
I like how much family time we have had since being here. As we don’t know very many people yet, and as our extended families and friends aren’t around , we have spent lots of time together.
We all really like the ice cream here!
I like the simplicity of things here.
The beauty of the nature. At night it is so dark outside, with no street or city lights. I love looking at the bright stars in the clear sky.
I really look forward to Sunday mornings, studying and sharing together with our co-workers.
(Here, Aria and Nina are enjoying playing with Josiah in one of their closet drawers!)
Things I find a little difficult about our new home:
Since being here these past couple months, I have seen and had quite a few contacts with drunk people. Where we lived the past two years in U-U, there were also lots of drunks, but, I think here there are definitely more. You can see drunks at any time of the day… morning, afternoon, evening, night… doesn’t really matter when. Often, when I’ve been outside with the girls, I’ve had drunks come up to me. They’ll ask me questions such as, “what day is it?” Or, they’ll just start talking away to me. One lady confessed to me that she thinks her husband must be bored, as she’s away drinking all the time. I couldn’t help but agree with her! One other time, a drunk man stood not too far away from where the girls and I were playing and just stared at me. I was beginning to get very uncomfortable and almost grabbed the kids and ran, when he turned and walked away. We can often see those that have had too much to drink, fighting right below our bedroom window. And during the night, you can hear them screaming around outside. I find all of this terribly sad. I think about the so many lives that were created for a purpose, just being wasted away by the bottle. I especially find it heart wrenching when I see young men drinking. Perhaps it’s because I think of the potential that is there to make such a difference in this world, and it’s all being thrown away.
I also find it difficult seeing the poor people day after day. Sometimes, you wonder if they could have it better… if they’d just stay away from the bottle… but other times, you just realize that they are just plain poor. Our co-worker told us that the other day, she saw a lady and her son go to the garbage bins with a big soup pot. As the mom held the pot, the little boy went through the garbage. He proceeded to pull out a rotten head of cabbage, some rotten tomatoes and a few other things, and put them into the pot. I can only imagine how that soup tasted. Almost any time throughout the day, if I glance toward our garbage bins, I can see one or two people searching through the trash. Sometimes I just want to put a whole loaf of fresh bread or other good things in the garbage, just so these people can find them and have something decent to eat. It definitely makes us more conscientious about not wasting food. We have oh, so very much, while so many have very, very little.
In the more daily, every day living, I find it difficult being ‘stuck’ inside so often with the kids. We do try to go out when we can, but some days, we are inside all day. I know that when it gets colder, it’s going to be even more difficult to go outside. At times, my patience is definitely tried as I do my best to try and keep our two little ones content and happy. Yet, day after day, it does ‘get to me’, and I find myself asking for His strength so often throughout the day… for I am well aware that I have none!!!
I also find it difficult not having close friends around with whom to fellowship. Don’t get me wrong, I share everything with David. He has a great listening ear and is very understanding. And our co-workers are great! I feel like we can share with them what’s going on as well. But sometimes (perhaps it’s selfish of me) I just long for even more fellowship with others! (Hopefully once we get to know more people here, that will come.) Last evening I was feeling down about this, and after tucking the girls into bed, I put on my sneakers and ‘went to town’ on our exercising bike. (When we first got here, David and I both realized that we needed something to help keep us fit. Going on a little stroll here and there outside with the kids, just doesn’t quite get my heart beat going! And, I’m not about to go jogging or walking around outside by myself yet. And when it gets cold… really cold… well, it’s not healthy to exercise outside. So, we got a stationary bike to help keep those unwanted pounds off. :D) Well, as I was exercising, I began talking to Him about how I feel lonely at times and just long for some good fellowship. He was so encouraging, as He reminded me that I can talk to Him about anything, anytime… and it doesn’t matter if He’s already heard it many times before! :D
Every day it seems such a challenge for me to know what to make my family for meals. I try my best to make appetizing and nutritious meals, but sometimes… wow, it is hard! I have a cookbook here from the States, which I only look at when I’m really desperate for ideas. I would say 75% of what’s in it, I could never make, as the main ingredients are no where to be found here. The other 25% of the cookbook, I do my best to improvise on. It gives me ideas anyway. So what if I have to leave out 2 or 3 ingredients, right? I usually just end up making up my own recipes. My family, wow, they are great sports, really. The girls never complain when I put their food before them (they may not eat it all, but they don’t complain :D), and David doesn’t either. Sometimes, I apologize before I serve the meal, because I just feel so bad that they have to eat it! (But, compared to rotten cabbage and tomato soup, we can NOT complain!!!) Often, I’ll open our refrigerator to find it bare… which makes it even more difficult to make meals! We don’t live in walking distance from a grocery store (we just have a little kiosk that sells bread, milk, and juice), and, since we don’t have a car, whatever we buy, we have to carry. So, we don’t do a good job on stocking up on things. :D David usually goes to the store by public transportation, and then gets a taxi to bring him and the groceries home. (He usually does our grocery shopping, as he can carry a LOT more than I can. A bag of potatoes, some milk, sugar, and flour, and I’ve about reached my limit!) I do miss grocery shopping, but am proud of David. He does a wonderful job doing his best to get what’s on the list I write up. Yet, if he doesn’t bring something home that I’ve written on the list, I don’t ask if he forgot it. I already know the answer… it just wasn’t there that day. :D