lessons learned

Hello friends and family!

Sorry this blog is just now being updated... long story about the internet. I can only blog today so I haven't checked facebook or my email in case you sent me a message.

Well, wouldn’t you know! After staying healthy and dodging every stomach bug and runny nose all summer, I finally caught the stomach flu and a chest/head cold at the same time. I was up all Sunday night running back and forth to the toilet with my “runny tummy” and let me tell you, diarhea (sp?) just isn’t fun when you only have 1-ply toilet paper. Although the stomach bug only lasted a couple days, I still have some nasty cold lingering.

It’s quite something to be considered sick when you live at a children’s village full of HIV and AIDS. It was bitter sweet to walk into my classroom on Wednesday and hear the children tell me that they had been praying for my runny tummy. It’s awful to know that some day, when their CD4 count is low enough, that a dumb stomach bug could end up taking their lives. I never knew how blessed I was to have a healthy immune system.

This last week two different teams came to Rehoboth on short-term mission trips. The first team was from Lakepoint Baptist Church in Dallas (Rockwall) and the second from a small church in Canada. I made sure to wear my Baylor shirt so they would all know that I was a Texan. It was strangely comforting to be asked, “where are you from?” and be able to answer, “Amarillo,” instead of “America.” I was reminded of the joy and excitement I felt the first time I came to Rehoboth on a very similar 10-day trip last May and was encouraged to regain my enthusiasm that has somehow become more “routine” in the past three months.

I decided, more for my own benefit than for yours, that I would catalogue some of the lessons I have learned over the past 84 days in hopes that I won’t forgot this summer as I get sucked back into student life. Here goes…

Independence: It is hard to go back in time with technology. My dependence on my iPhone, laptop, internet, automatic steering, central heating and air conditioning, etc. has been shamelessly exposed in Africa. I realize that almost all of these “necessities” exist so that I can be independent. I loathe inconveniencing people with my needs and will find any way around asking for a favor. That mentality is ridiculous to Africans; because almost everyone lacks resources, relying on one another is the necessity—not technology.
Standing still: I’m more introverted than I ever would have guessed. I seek the moments that I will be alone so that I can journal, process thoughts and write letters. I still battle with the ever-present FOMO (fear of missing out) but find myself more upset if I miss my alone time than if I miss a braai (BBQ).
Time and distance: I still struggle to be in the present time and place. I spent months, weeks and days counting down for this trip and once I got here I started counting the months, weeks and days until I’d be coming home. I wonder why time, which is completely outside of my control, is able to control so many of my thoughts.
Hygiene: I am proud (and a little disgusted) that showering once or twice a week is my new norm and I’m totally ok with it.
Self-image/self-confidence: Did I ever mention that for the first month and a half at Rehoboth I had the strep virus on my face followed by ringworm? You don’t get strep throat here; you get strep face. As soon as that began to clear up, I got ringworm all over my nose, on my arm and on my leg. I suddenly became very insecure with my hair an untamed mess, my face covered in red rings (with NO make-up to even begin to cover it up) and my wardrobe only consisting of five t-shirts, a few skirts and two pairs of ill-fitting jeans from high school. Let me just say, my self-confidence is wrapped up in my self-image far more than I’d like to admit.
Immediacy: When I look through the “before and after” photos of the kids here, it is obvious that huge progress is taking place. I can’t even begin to describe the impact that Rehoboth has had on their lives but while I am here I still see many of the kids years behind where they should be and get frustrated. I want to sit down and fix it. I realize that some problems are just too big to deal with in one go. Progress takes time. There is no use in getting frustrated. Slow and steady does actually win the race.
Being alone: It’s hard to come alone. It’s hard to start over and re-establish who you are without the people and places that “make” you who you are. On the other side, it is helpful to strip yourself of everything that makes yourself “you” and dig deeper to find out more.
Adults: Yikes! People see me as an adult here!! I am not seen as a student but as an adult. All of my friends are almost 30 or older…. Not sure what to add to that other than I am glad that I get the chance to be a college kid again next year.
Weekends: Real, legitimate weekends are bliss! Try not to do any work at all for one weekend and not worry about it. It’s challenging but so wonderful when you get the hang of it!
Family: I am so grateful for my family. I could ramble on forever about the importance of my family.
Generosity/ hospitality: When I went into the community to a house mother’s home, I was shocked by the poverty and hospitality together. Her house was as spotless as a house could be with a dirt floor. Although her family had very little, they shared all that they had and were proud of their family. We walked by their avocado tree and I said something about how I loved avocados. (shout out to kaylyn and chad) And when we left her son had picked probably 20 of them to give to me. I hope to imitate their hospitability and generosity.

I think I’m getting a little long-winded so I will stop there. I have learned so much in these three months and am excited to integrate these lessons into my American life.

I miss you all and am beyond excited to see you all in only 10 days!!!

-b