Why?

Drinking from the tap is fun!

“You must have really loved it to be going back!”

I’ve heard that idea expressed countless times, yet I continue to take issue with it. Yes, there’s a part of life in Africa that gets me and pulls me back. But if it had to do with loving a particular place, I certainly wouldn’t stay on Clove Island. It’s not a very easy place to live. I dread the nosy questions of strangers, the weird smells, the inconveniences, frustrations, and being at the mercy of somewhat capricious authorities and seemingly capricious circumstances. I love the people, but not always because they're being lovely.

“What a wonderful calling!”

I’ve never felt like my calling was location-specific. I’m called to “deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow.” But aren’t we all called to that? I’m called to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love my neighbor as myself. But aren’t we all called to that?

As a young, single person I’m uniquely capable of being mobile for the sake of a greater cause, and I’m taking advantage of that opportunity. Is it forever? Who knows. But I want to leverage “all that I am for all that He is.”

As Thomas Aquinas put it, "If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever."

When I left Clove

Is it because I love Africa that I go there? Nope. The romance of adventure dies after prolonged exposure to the banalities of life overseas. The cost is real.

Is it because I’m “called to Africa”? Not really. I get that some people feel a pull to a certain location. So far that’s not been me.

But I’m invested, I’m qualified, I’m committed to seeing Him glorified around the globe. And I’m going back.

Stay tuned for fun stories as I resume my African existence!


P.S. This isn't meant to be a downer post. It's just real. And it's also real that I have fun, laugh, treasure the moment, enjoy the adventure, and try to keep a positive spin on life whenever possible. Don't worry, folks.  :)

Staying connected with your friend overseas

One ocean to another-- Africa's far away!

Long-distance friendships aren't always easy. When you're getting off work and want to connect, it may be 4 in the morning where your friend resides. Or you're good at making phone calls, but those are expensive, so you have to write emails. And writing isn't your favorite thing in the world.

But you care about the friendship, so you try. Well, today I'm going to share some ways that help in staying connected even when sitting down for coffee together isn't possible.

Figure out what works, and do it regularly. 
Phone? Skype? Instant messaging? Handwritten notes? Don't diss it until you've tried it all. I've found that different friends are better at different types of communication, but if you care about staying connected, you need to find something that works.

Listen to understand.
Even if you can't relate to the scenarios, listen to what's going on and learn your friend's environment. It pays to remember random details, like their friends and colleagues' names, or pet peeves. Even if you can't identify with the situations they're finding themselves in, identify the emotions and relate to those.

Share normal life.
Something happens in your life? Share it. There's nothing like coming home to discover that someone died, or got married, or broke up with a boyfriend and you never knew. You burned dinner? Snap a picture and send it. Something funny happened? Tell the story. The little connections make a big difference.

Postcards. Or any cards/letters/etc.
Never underestimate the power of a note. You don't have to be a good letter writer, or even write anything long. Even if it's just a "I thought of you and decided to send this," sort of message, old-fashioned mail, with familiar handwriting, is amazing.

Don't be afraid to initiate.
Life gets busy on both sides of the globe. It's hard to get a read on how busy your friend is unless you connect... yet if they're really busy, connecting might be nearly impossible. So keep trying.

Forgive.
It's easy to be angry or feel neglected if communication isn't happening. But when it does finally happen, don't hold the failures in communication against your friend. Just be grateful for whenever it happens, and use it as a reference point for what works. 

And at the end of the day, our lives are made richer by the friendships we have. What sort of things have you found helpful for staying connected with friends long-distance?

The day the music stops

In case you haven't noticed, today's Election Day in America.

You knew that? Okay, good. Just checking.

But let's do a little compare and contrast between elections here and elections on Clove Island.

Timeframe: Clove Island-- Candidates aren't allowed to start campaigning until a certain date, normally about a month before the ballots are cast. You know when the campaign has started by the deafening noise around town. You know when the campaign has ended (a day before the vote) by the deafening silence and the fact that you can hear other things again.

Timeframe: America-- you think the election's over? Just kidding, let's start the next one!

The sounds: Clove Island-- music in the streets.
Candidates pay songwriters to put new words to old music and support their party. These songs are then blasted from loudspeakers. And where are the loudspeakers? EVERYWHERE. Empty storefronts become campaign headquarters and blast their music any time the power is on. Loudspeakers are mounted on top of taxi vans and blast their music as they roll slowly through town. Rallies are held, blocking neighborhood streets for hours and driving out the neighbors with the incredibly loud music and speeches.

The sounds: America-- the phone rings, it's your alma mater telling you who to vote for, or the political party du jour, or the firemen, or your enthusiastic neighbor. Then again, the phone rings and you quit answering. Who calls landlines in this day and age anyway?

Registering to vote: Clove Island-- visit your neighborhood polling location, get your picture taken, give all your personal information to them and they'll post it on the wall with everyone else who's registered to vote there.

Registering to vote: America-- go online and it's done.

And finally, election day on Clove Island: it's the day the music stops. Quiet. No vehicles are allowed on the roads other than official election vehicles (to prevent people from visiting more than one polling station). People stay home, other than going out to vote. Around 10 at night the noise level rises with various parties declaring their victory.

Election day in America: do what you want, visit the polls when you want, go to work, check results online or on the TV after it's all over.

Yay, democracy!