What makes up the best Saturday yet in Bundibugyo? The recipe includes:
-2 perfectly baked loaves of bread. After struggling with my propane oven, burning everything, and being afraid of making my first loaf of yeast bread, success x2! Delicious and a boost to my baking ego :)
-1 plate of fried pork and cassava from Pat’s favorite new local eatery.
-1 full hour of reading a good book without being interrupted more than once by knocking at the door.
-1 hour of time spent chatting with Joyce at her clothes stall in the market. Bought a beautiful piece of tie-dyed fabric from her and she lifted me off the ground when she hugged me hello and good-bye. I’ll work on getting a picture of her—she is a small woman to be lifting me off the ground!
-1 massive papaya given as a gift, 2 guavas, and a piece of jackfruit from RMS. Went to RMS with 4 boys, armed with a rolled-up magazine to keep dogs from jumping all over us in excitement and watched as they climbed up the guava and jackfruit trees like professionals. We returned victorious and none of the dogs even got out of the fence! I enjoyed my first taste of jackfruit with the boys, sheltered from the rain by our porch.
-Innumerable squirts of Bendaryl spray bringing sweet relief from the mosquito bites covering every square inch of my arms.
Thanks God for Saturdays filled with rest, fellowship, fruit-picking adventures, and delicious food!
Sounds like a wonderful Saturday, indeed! I'm impressed with your baking skills, and loving your cute neighbors :)
ReplyDeleteLooks just like Village Bakery bread to me, so happy that it turned out so perfectly for you w/your very finicky oven! Would love to taste the fresh fruits too. The boys are adorable and would definitely get a squeeze from me. Joyce would get a hug too for giving you those motherly hugs! I love Joyce. And I love you too.
ReplyDeleteI just read your last few blogs this morning and want to comment. Let me also surprise you by saying that it's 6am. And I'm awake. I have been awake for about 2 hours now. Rough morning though. I woke up to the unbearable pain of my wisdom teeth. However I did tell God that if I woke up before 9, then I would spend time praying. 4am was not the wake up call I expected. But as you struggle with sleep, my encouragement to you is that you spend that time not being able to sleep as a time spent with God. I would rather spend my day run off of energy I prayed to God for then off of a good nights sleep. God will use your time and your desperate need of His power and energy and strength in abundant ways.
ReplyDeleteConcerning mosquitoes, benadryl cream had been my best friend in Cambodia to help with the hundreds of mosquito bites I would get. Idk if that's even possible for you to get there but maybe I can find a way to send you some. Concerning fruit, Im happy that your enjoying jackfruit and all the othe amazing fruit God decided to bless the non-American world with. Soo good! I loved reading your highs and lows and being able to truly see how you're feeling these days. Know that you're on my mind and my prayers. Especially this morning since I have lots of time to spend praying. And definitely know that the Gid who distinctly called you to go to Uganda, and the same One who provided all the funds and support to actually go is the same God who wants you in Uganda FOR A REASON. A reason we often won't learn about until years later, and a reason that often gets ignored under the struggles of the day. A lot of missionaries have told me that their lives are hard. They dont always feel a connection and love and impact on and to their people and ministries but God didn't call them there and keep them there for that ministry and even for those people--but God had them there because of what He is doing in them personally--like having to live in complete dependency and humble before God--And occasionally the stuff that God is doing in their life overflows into affecting the people around them.
Also. I love you. And miss you.