It’s been absolutely ages since I last wrote- life just happens, and to be honest there are more exciting things to fill my time with then writing. Although, it is nice to be reminded of those things, but if I don’t write them down, I’m probably going to forget them.
The weather, the weather. I think it’ll be a never-ending saga- I am starting to understand why it’s said people talk about the weather a lot (I used to think it a bit pointless and boring and it can still be boring and pointless), but when one week we go from 24 degrees Celsius- vest top and flip-flops, to, in the very same week, cold and 20 cm of snow, I for one find it quite fascinating. Especially as the rise in temperature a few days later left rapidly shrinking snowmen on the lawns as the only evidence that we’d indeed had snow, and it wasn’t some dream we thought was real.
Life as an intercessory missionary is good. I keep thinking that I’m finally settling into it and then I get a bit culture shocked or miss familiar people and familiar surroundings. In those moments I need to remind myself that I’ve only been here for 6 months, and someone said to me once that it takes 5 years for a missionary to completely integrate into the new culture they’re in. I have no idea if I’ll even be here that long- God alone knows. So for now I extend a bit of grace to myself, and remind myself that it’s a bit unrealistic to think I’d feel totally at home a place I’ve not even spent a year at. I guess the summary is I still have up and down days, but I am here. And God is constant. And I mostly have up days.
And I keep getting asked is I’m South African. That makes me a tad concerned about what’s happening to my Queen’s English. (Don’t get me wrong, I love South Africans and their accents, that’s not my point.) I must be getting influenced by the hundreds of non-British speakers around me. And I never even went to South Africa. Well, almost never. I don’t think travelling through Johannesburg airport on my way home from Zimbabwe really counts. Although it was a very pleasant experience. I got to hang out in the VIP (or whatever you call it) lounge because I’d been upgraded to 1st class. It was cool, except I was travelling alone and so I had no-one to share the experience with.
On the travelling note, I have exciting weeks ahead. The first 2 weeks of May I get on a plane and head south to visit Fortaleza. It’s been 2 years since I last set foot on Brazilian soil and I must admit the “saudade” is great. I am so excited, but also a bit nervous, because although I know I will love to see everyone again (and warm sunny weather is also nice), I don’t know what it’ll be like to be there visiting. I’ve never really visited Brazil before- I’ve only lived there… I am excited to see how the Elisabeth who has lived 2 years outside of Brazil will view everything. What will life and people and situations look like through the eyes and perspective I now have on life?
Well, I could keep on the ultra-philosophical trail, but I won’t. I am excited! I try not to be too focused on it because I need to focus on where I’m at right now. But, yeah, I am so grateful God is giving me this chance. And I hope that I can be a blessing to those who are faithfully continuing to build God’s Kingdom in Fortaleza. That it may be a city where Jesus is the fortress in peoples’ lives.
I’ve not officially counting down the days, but I know it’s less then a month away.
The weather, the weather. I think it’ll be a never-ending saga- I am starting to understand why it’s said people talk about the weather a lot (I used to think it a bit pointless and boring and it can still be boring and pointless), but when one week we go from 24 degrees Celsius- vest top and flip-flops, to, in the very same week, cold and 20 cm of snow, I for one find it quite fascinating. Especially as the rise in temperature a few days later left rapidly shrinking snowmen on the lawns as the only evidence that we’d indeed had snow, and it wasn’t some dream we thought was real.
Life as an intercessory missionary is good. I keep thinking that I’m finally settling into it and then I get a bit culture shocked or miss familiar people and familiar surroundings. In those moments I need to remind myself that I’ve only been here for 6 months, and someone said to me once that it takes 5 years for a missionary to completely integrate into the new culture they’re in. I have no idea if I’ll even be here that long- God alone knows. So for now I extend a bit of grace to myself, and remind myself that it’s a bit unrealistic to think I’d feel totally at home a place I’ve not even spent a year at. I guess the summary is I still have up and down days, but I am here. And God is constant. And I mostly have up days.
And I keep getting asked is I’m South African. That makes me a tad concerned about what’s happening to my Queen’s English. (Don’t get me wrong, I love South Africans and their accents, that’s not my point.) I must be getting influenced by the hundreds of non-British speakers around me. And I never even went to South Africa. Well, almost never. I don’t think travelling through Johannesburg airport on my way home from Zimbabwe really counts. Although it was a very pleasant experience. I got to hang out in the VIP (or whatever you call it) lounge because I’d been upgraded to 1st class. It was cool, except I was travelling alone and so I had no-one to share the experience with.
On the travelling note, I have exciting weeks ahead. The first 2 weeks of May I get on a plane and head south to visit Fortaleza. It’s been 2 years since I last set foot on Brazilian soil and I must admit the “saudade” is great. I am so excited, but also a bit nervous, because although I know I will love to see everyone again (and warm sunny weather is also nice), I don’t know what it’ll be like to be there visiting. I’ve never really visited Brazil before- I’ve only lived there… I am excited to see how the Elisabeth who has lived 2 years outside of Brazil will view everything. What will life and people and situations look like through the eyes and perspective I now have on life?
Well, I could keep on the ultra-philosophical trail, but I won’t. I am excited! I try not to be too focused on it because I need to focus on where I’m at right now. But, yeah, I am so grateful God is giving me this chance. And I hope that I can be a blessing to those who are faithfully continuing to build God’s Kingdom in Fortaleza. That it may be a city where Jesus is the fortress in peoples’ lives.
I’ve not officially counting down the days, but I know it’s less then a month away.