Photographic Memories 2

 

(The boat ride across the lake to Taal)

 

(The view partway up.)

 

(At the top!)

 

(Looking back down part of the trail.)

Humble Pie

Sometimes I surpass levels of awkwardness that surprise even me.

When we're in the village, I wake up early and putz around my room until a godly hour to be awake.  Once we're in town, though, I've been getting up when I wake up and I eat my breakfast over FaceTime with my mom.  That usually takes place around 5 AM.  Now, I thought it was fine because I took my call outside.   A week later, I just found out that everyone inside has been able to hear every word of my morning calls. 

My first reaction was, "Oh my word, I'm so sorry for being rude." Second reaction? "Oh shizzle wizzle, I hope I haven't said anything to my mom that I wouldn't want anyone else hearing."  The reality is, I'm just embarrassed and I can either handle it with grace and humor, or I can crumble.

Truthfully, I'm praying the Lord would give me grace, because this homeskillet wants to crumble like a stale cookie.

Jesus, help.

Photographic Memories 1

 

(Workers in the rice fields)

 

(Some of the cows that like to chill in the road)

 

(Always room for one more)

 

(When I die, bury me under a cement birthday cake.)

Especially Wasabi

God created certain foods in holy matrimony. Peanut butter and jelly. Cinnamon and sugar.  Tomato and basil.  Hummus and pita bread.  And...the shining stars of my dinner this evening: wasabi and soy sauce.  More on that in a minute.

Sometimes vacations start out rough.  Over-excited kids, over-exhausted adults...it really isn't a recipe for a swell beginning to any venture. This vacation didn't start that way. Despite all the different emotions, we spent an extremely chill morning splashing around a sunny pool. J and B each got a quick swimming lesson and our morning vanished like a mountain mist.

After a low-key lunch, we divided and conquered.  The kids tromped around the guesthome playground; the guys took on the hardware stores; Shannon and I traipsed through SM with minimal guidelines for this week's menu.  It was...*ahem*...we did not tell ourselves no about very much. Lo and behold, that is why we have leche in the fruit bowl, melon seeds in the snacks, and wasabi powder in the cupboard. Avocado season is upon us, so we scrounged around for cilantro and corn chips for guacamole.  We found a random jar of Dijon mustard...and bought it.  Same thing with a bottle of sriracha sauce.  Eggplant, lemons, a white cucumber. You get the idea.

Upon returning to the guesthome, another pair of missionaries treated the family to a barbecue dinner.  This was a great blessing to Shannon because it meant she didn't have to cook.  It was also a blessing for me because it meant I got to make whatever I wanted!  THAT is how I ended up with wasabi-sesame-soy fried eggplant and tofu over rice with a little more wasabi. My tastebuds were in so much love that I made a second batch to eat tomorrow for lunch.

As if these blessings weren't enough, I have been praying for an opportunity to talk with Shannon about the future.  The opportunity arose this evening and we were both able to share our hearts with each other.  You have absolutely no idea how great it feels to know we are all on the same page.  

One step at a time, remember? And who knows! You might even get to learn how to make wasabi paste along the way.

One Small Step

Mom, do you remember when I was a kid and we listened to Jungle Jam and Friends? I find myself humming one of the tunes from the show all the time these days. "If I take one small step, one step at a time/ I can do anything that I have in mind." Baby steps. We can do this.

When I left the US, I didn't anticipate having any real health issues.  I mean, sure, I thought maybe I would have a few hiccups especially considered my plant based diet.  Going to the doctor in a foreign country, though, absolutely not.  Except, that's where I'm going next week.

I feel like everything was chill and there was an easy groove forming.  "All was well."  Then everything decides it wants to hit the fan at once.  Okay, God, where are You going with all of this?

So, I'm just going to explode information, take a deep breath, and keep taking baby steps.

1) Starting in March, I noticed some irregularities in my cycle.  Okay, weird, but nothing panic inducing.  We're going on three months of nothing, though, and Google says that merits a doctor appointment.  Google obviously knows best, which is why I'm headed to an ob-gyn and blood lab.

2) One hundred days. (Give or take a few.) That's it until I board an airplane and head back home. But for how long? I requested info on coming back to teach in the Philippines a couple months ago, and it all looks like I would be permitted to return, but is that what will bring God the most glory? Do I try to go back to school in for spring semester 2018? Lord, what would You have?

And then, in the middle of this slowly building stress post, I got a package from my sister.  She isn't a Believer, but she has sent goodies from home on numerous occasions.  That the package would arrive in our village today of all days, when there wasn't even a scheduled supply flight, just fills my heart to overflowing.  God used her to give me the encouragement I needed.  I know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, He will provide the answers for "What next?" in the most unexpected way.  

If I take one, small step/ One step at a time/

I can do anything/ He has in mind/

Whether I stumble/ Whether I fall/

I'll just take one, small step/ One step at a time

Breathing Fresh Air

 

(Honestly, I don't know what the words mean, or why they're written here.)

 

(S and J cooling off in the river after a walk, both sporting braids by yours truly.)

 

(The view downstream.)

Beautiful Things

Imagine following a narrow footpath through cornfields climbing the sides of low mountains at an impossible incline.  The intense sun threatens to overwhelm the elements.  Where agriculture ends, jungle-like bush takes over.  Under the covering of the tree canopy, the oppressive air becomes cool and damp.  Here the ferns are the size of saplings; fiddles swell beyond the length and girth of a man's arm.  Dao trees stretch skyward around a gentle waterfall that pours out over a tremendous calcium deposit.  This water does not disappear in dry season so it is our water source, roughly 2 km deep into the bush.

Earlier this month, I was privileged to have the opportunity to see all of these beautiful things firsthand.  My companions joked that I was the first white woman to complete the trek to the spring.  First or not, my heart was in awe of creation and its Creator.  The words of the old hymn describe the feeling best: "Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee, How great thou art!"