kristiapplesauce

Encouragement

It is strange how people are all connected. It surprises me and makes me all warm inside every time somebody comes here - all the way across the world to share in the lives of the South African people. It then shocks and revives me when those same people invest and love us; beyond what they do when they come on a team. We (although we have some friends here) are a little isolated. We work a lot and we spend the majority of our time with the Xhosa people, so we absolutely rely on contact from “home”, even though we are trying our hardest to make our home here. So last year there was this amazing young woman who came by herself. She was trying to find her way and (I think) trying to see where her path was leading her in this maze of serving people. She came with many questions and left with even more. I didn’t get a chance to spend a whole lot of time with her because she actually didn’t come under Oceans of Mercy, but with a partner we have over here…but there were 3 or 4 days in there we hung out. Anyways, since then, we have emailed and she has grown an amazing heart for the S. Africans. She has been praying and loving the people here and I am so encouraged. I have always thought that it takes an army to accomplish what God is doing – and she is one that is making it happen. The other day, we received this package. Inside, there were some goodies for Daniel and I – but also there were gifts for the people we work with as well (school supplies, scarves, vitamins, picture frames....) It was like she reached right into my chest and massaged my heart. So thank you, Friend. Thank you for not only loving me – but for loving the people of South Africa. I don’t know what we would do without supporters (friends) like you!

Shelly.

Today, (for the second day this week) we found this in our yard. Our neighbor saves animals that have been mistreated or abused, so we returned it to her. I don't know how a person would ever go about mistreating a giant turtle, but whatever.

Oh Sheep!

Small sheep:

Big sheep:

Oh sheep:

2 weeks

In two weeks I will be on a plane to America. It will be my 31st birthday and I will be anticipating that warm fabulous grande cup of not fat, 6 pump, no water, with whip - chai latte from the nearest airport Starbucks.

Last night I tried sushi sandwiches for the first time. I don't know why that is important to tell you other then I didn't really like them but I thought it was a deal for $2.80.

I am reading through Matthew right now via the 28 day challenge...and yesterday it struck me in chapter 2 vs.8 how Harod says "Go and search carefully for the child. When you find Him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship Him." I know that Harod was looking for other reasons to find Christ....but when I read that I kind of thought and have been thinking since about how carefully do I search and seek for Christ for the purpose of worship? Do I really do that? Harod was pretty focused and purposeful in his quest and I think that I need to be more determined in mine in my pursuit to find the KING.

I can only eat so much of this stuff....dang.

Floating words

Thanks Anne. New favorite thing: Wordle:

You have to click to see it...

Ha-ha...I have a cool life.

So a quick som' some that happened on our trip this past week was that we stopped by the new museum in the Transkei where Nelson was born and raised. So it isn't even really up and running quite yet, but it is like a tribute to him and Rosa Parks. In it they have letters from kids all over the world that were sent to the both of them and it is all about human rights and the world we live in. I guess they are going to put up a similar museum up in her home town. Anyways since Mr. Mandela still lives there (in the area) and since this week was his birthday, he came by the museum the day before we were there. His autograph was in the guest book...so I of course took a picture. There was an open slot for our name...so we got to sign it too.Yay for cool stuff.

I am

in South Africa. Where are you?

5 things that make you happy

So I was reading last night in this book about healthy living, and in it-it talked about having a healthy view or outlook on life...and one of the questions asked something like "Can you name 5 things off of the top of your head that make you happy?" then almost immediately I started thinking about previously in the day we were grocery shopping and they have these things here called "Prickly pears" which are fruit that grow on top of cactus's. They taste kind of like kiwi. But there are all kinds mishaps when you buy or try to eat them because of the pricks. So the people (either on the side of the road who sell them, or at the store) get them off for you, and sometimes you still find the pricks inside of the yummy fruit, regardless of all the trouble to get them off...Well worth it though because they are so so so good. So I was asking Daniel about his 5 happy things, then I started laughing, and well, this is what ensued:

me: "I just like saying 'prickly pears' you should try it."
Dan: "You are so dumb"....-laughing, laughing.
me: "I think I am going to name all our kids 'prickly pears'."
Dan: "I don't think that will make them very happy." Laughing hysterically
me: "It's okay, we can blame it on the dog." Tears are now rolling down my face...
Dan: "How are you going to blame it on the dog? Um, yeah...so you see, kids...we had to name you ALL 'Prickly Pear' because we had your other names on a list but the dog ate that list, so we had to go off of the grocery list instead and since your mom loves to eat Prickly Pears, that was the first 5 things on her list...I can see that going off real well."
me: "We could pull it off"
Dan: "yeah, we could call them 'PP' for short."
-We are both laughing and snorting, and crying. Okay...me, more then him at this point.
me: "So what's on your list of happy things?
Dan: "You and the dog."

I love our life.

If you lived far, far from America...

What would you miss?
Today, I miss me some poptarts.