Lost and Found

"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."
T.S. Eliot "Little Gidding"

I used this quote in another blog entry, but it has new meaning. There are two true things about me: I love exploring, and I want to belong. It has taken living in Mozambique to convince me that I belong here in the Northwest, not where I began my life, but where I have lived most of my life. I would like to think that my ongoing exploration has taught me more about how to live and love well here.

What do I know about this place? It's where my children, dad and siblings live; it's a place of natural beauty; it's where my friends invite me over for games or a meal; it's where I find meaningful work; it's where I have found a bit of contentment, but not complacency.  

Home, Sweet Home

World AIDS Day 2010

I am more compelled to honor WAD while living in Sofala Province, Mozambique
where the HIV prevalence rate is 26.5%. That means more than 1 in 4 people are infected with HIV, including children who get it from their HIV positive mother.













Many in the community came together to say, “Contra Sida em Sena,” which means “Against AIDS in Sena.” One of the more inspiring moments of the morning was a dramatization done by local youth (Peer Educators). They portrayed a family introduced to HIV through the father’s infidelity and the negative ramifications of certain cultural practices for those with AIDS. They managed to put some humor into the skit (for example the traditional healer was a man, but played a woman). I think this is the start to some good conversations.

A Day in the Life

I’ve been in Sena, Mozambique for two weeks now, and I can honestly say no day is like another. Still, I’ll try to sketch out what my day looks like:

4:30 am Get up, put on my tennis shoes and walking pants.

4:45 am Out the door to walk with Joseph (the local Lutheran pastor), assorted guests to the project or by myself. This walk can last for up to 2 hours, but it is typically an hour if I go up the hill and back again. I meet the local people going to the “mashamba,” a garden area over the hill. We tease that I am going to work there also. Yesterday, an older woman actually teased me by jogging past me. I tried to join her, but she was tough!

6 am Heavenly shower in my own bathroom with running water. Mind you, it’s a trickle, but it’s refreshing. George, the young man who helps with chores, is usually at the house by the time I return sweeping the yard with a homemade broom. It looks nice and keeps the snakes away….good thing!

6:30 am I make a cup of coffee with my Italian coffee pot that works on my stovetop. Fortunately, I bought coffee in Beira because they just have instant in town. I either have eggs, bread, fruit, yogurt, or cereal for breakfast. I couldn’t find oatmeal in Beira, but I’m going to look on my next trip out.

8 am The staff of the Kuwangisana project (for whom I am an advisor) meets under the tree just outside my gate for morning devotions and daily updates. I have to say something too, but still need a translator…except to say “Bon Dia Todos!” (Good Morning Everyone!)

8:30 am – 5 pm This is our working time. I have the only air conditioned office since it is also the IT room. On the days when it reaches 40 C or higher (over 100 F), I am extremely thankful. I break for lunch for an hour and walk over to my house where George has typically made rice and beans. I did teach him this week how to make hummus and fruit smoothies!

5 pm – 8 pm I am typically exhausted, especially these past two weeks because of all the guests to the project, getting acclimated to the heat and serving as the second driver because one of our drivers is on holiday. I eat something (last night it was pasta with feta and tomatoes – pasta and feta purchased in Beira which is a 6 hour drive away), check to see if my kids are online, read a bit, take the second shower of the day, and crash!

A few other highlights of the week have been the goat feast up on the hill Wednesday night to thank several of our guests for coming to help the project and visiting a crocodile farm down the road to pick up some hippo meat for the orphaned children we serve. Next week I’m off to Uganda for a fund raising workshop.

Love List #1: Things I Love

1. Kris Carr’s blog Crazy, Sexy Life. I got this idea of making a list of things I love from Kris Carr’s blog. I first heard about Kris when my daughter pointed out her video at the library, and I discovered someone with a lot of irreverent joy and tenacity when dealing with cancer. I’d love to be as inspiring as Kris, but I’m learning to accept who I am and go with it.


2. Mom. It’s still hard to believe Mom died early this month from cancer. She will always be remembered as my dear Mamawe. The 16th would’ve been Mom and Dad’s 53rd wedding anniversary. Dad and I shared a meal and a Dairy Queen blizzard to remember the day and their great love.



3. Gorgeous, colorful, vibrant flowers. My former coworkers at Argyle Winery sent me this bouquet this week, and it makes my heart happy each time I look at it.

4. The Oregon coast. I just spent a rejuvenating weekend in Newport with my dad, kids and sister, Laurie. With the heat inland, the coast’s cool air and shifting clouds were a respite. Walking, s’mores, game of Hearts, reading Lit, sleeping with the surf, eating at Local Ocean…all good.















5. Bitter Melon. I was turned on to this strange vegetable by the owner of my local Thai restaurant. She claims it will reduce cancer tumor growth. I can claim it is the bitterest thing I’ve ever tasted, but I keep going back for more. The following equations were found on the National Bitter Melon website:
One Bitter Melon Equals...
One Bitter Melon = 2 pieces of large bananas
One Bitter Melon = the beginning of understanding bitterness
One Bitter Melon = a size of my foot
One Bitter Melon = 89 cents in Oakland Chinatown
One Bitter Melon = one story
One Bitter Melon = conversations with grandmothers

Moody, yet hopeful

I have always said that life is a mixture of moodiness (sadness) and hopefulness. In fact, when I commissioned this picture from my daughter's friend, Rachel, in high school all I asked is that she make it "moody" yet "hopeful." Lately, that has been my state of mind. I can't explain it all here, but life is like that. We experience great joys and great sorrows. I imagine Easter like that....moody, yet hopeful. We are in the dark in a lot of ways, but Jesus brings hope and validates our brokenness. I want to be more and more like that...no glossy words that make everything better, but walking alongside those who hurt. I can think right now of those who are walking beside me...Gaby (#1), Martha, Linell, Melissa, Pat, Laurie, Dan, Susan, Mom, Dad, Josiah, Stephanie, and the list goes on. I love you and appreciate you.

Possibly My New Digs

 

Guess where I might live?