clear skies and butterflies.

Well, I must be adjusting quickly. Last night when we were watching Marley and Me, I found myself slightly surprised that they drove on the left side of the car instead of the right. Ha! Silly me.

Today we had guests for lunch, and afterwards the husband was telling snake stories. My breathing started changing and become more labored as he told them. Oh goodness, this could be an interesting few months. I don’t do well with giant snakes (or spiders!).

It seems every day here is one of firsts... Yesterday I had the most curious opportunity to try a cashew fruit… If you take off the cash and leave the rest that pretty much sums it up. Glad to have tried it. Once.

One of my first days here, Tricia and I went into town. I was sort of scared to death after my first experience of driving through town and being stared at. But you know, you kind of almost stop noticing after awhile. I got to go to market and everything. Wow. Colorful foods. Colorful people. Lots of funny smells. The worst was that if someone would try and say something to me, I couldn’t respond with much more than a smile. Maybe I should have studied some Portuguese before I headed to a country such as Mozambique! What a novel thought…

This week I’ve enjoyed sitting in on some of Garrett and Avery’s classes and seeing what they’re like. Hehe, nothing like keeping the kiddos on their toes with a strange person in the classroom! Yesterday I even got to take a math test with Garrett’s class and got second place in a competition too.

Life is good around here: we get to take rests every afternoon. And trust me, you need it. After almost constantly feeling wet and sticky from humidity, and getting up early, you are drained by then!

I’m having to learn Portuguese via Google now that I’m here in Mozambique.. Makes getting around by blog and gmail a lot of, umm, fun? Well, whatever, it’s work and guessing that’s for sure!

DJ and Tricia are some of the most patient, gracious and calm people on the planet I have decided, and it’s such a blessing to live around them. Dear Lord, please help them to rub off on me. The Lord must constantly teach me patience. Don’t you wish you could just absorb patience instead of having to learn it by experience? Oh life…

This family makes me smile and laugh, and it’s like I finally have siblings. Garrett’s such a stud, and I’ve decided he’s a night person. He comes alive and actually carries on conversations from dinnertime on. Avery has a huge personality, and when she likes something, you know about it. Right now it’s Chicken Fried by the Zac Brown Band, and we’ve heard it more than two times tonight. I’m sure her parents were thanking me in their head earlier tonight for bringing my iPod with crazy songs on it… ;)

My mama dear would be thrilled to know that I’ve been doing some baking… And seriously, it’s rewarding stuff to make just about anything that involves food. We don’t have a mixer, or even a proper whip. So when you actually get something done, YOU FEEL ACCOMPLISHED!

I discovered the tiniest little baby lizard I’d ever seen in our window the other day… I felt happy after that and wondered why. Then I remembered the little guy.. It’s the small things in life sometimes J

I must also take the time to mention that I am fresh blood and the mosquitoes love it. I don’t care if DEET is bad for you: 40% of it is protecting me and I am thankful! …I’m white as a ghost in the dark night sky, and we’re beach bound on Monday. Dear Lord, protect me from lobsterdom.

I have had my share of longings for home and the familiar. The honeymoon stage of loving Africa and all that it entails wore off after a few days. But after it did, it felt so amazingly wonderful to take comfort in Jesus and give it all to him. I was reminded that I am just as safe in his arms here as in the U.S. Is there any more wonderful a feeling? I am so thankful I can take God with me everywhere! J

This is the place where we sip Coke from glass bottles, discover exotic bugs all the time, and every day is a new adventure. This is the place where rain comes down in a hurry and is often accompanied by some of the best thunder and lightning storms I’ve ever experienced. This is the beautiful place where God has me right now, and I am excited for the next six months of opportunity and firsts (and seconds and thirds and fourths…) J