Sunday, October 30, 2005

Birthday Parties!

Happy 2nd birthday Katie! It’s my niece’s birthday today and I can’t believe that she is already two. It amazes me how fast time goes, how fast she is growing up and all those other things that people say when they are getting older and they think that the rest of the world isn’t. It fascinates me how she already has her own personality and everyone knows it! This is birthday #2 that I have missed of hers. I have been out of the country for the last 13 months of her life. I ask missionaries and expats what the hardest thing is about living overseas is and surprisingly enough it is not electricity, toilets for even a good steak. They always say that the most difficult thing is not being able to see their grandchildren or nieces and nephews grow up. I don’t think it ever get easier. My family is great at sending me pictures and my favorite tear jerkers, the Katie and Mandy movies. However, all I want to do is play with them, giggle with them, and give them big hugs and kisses. I am counting the days until I can do that again. It brings tears to my eyes when I think about how much I am missing in their little lives.

But my day was not without a birthday party. Our house worker has eight children and two of the youngest ones had a birthday in the end of October. So we invaded their house with a cake, candles, hats, party favors, popcorn and cold drinks. Birthdays here are an important event. The happy birthday song is just about the same but it is sung at a greater volume and more enthusiasm. So it was great to be able to bring these children a bit of a party and I’m sure it is one that they won’t forget too quickly. It was great to see them smile and laugh as they blew into their party favors and just to see the family come together and celebrate these two precious lives. So I couldn’t be with Katie on her birthday but I got to bless two children for theirs. I guess sacrifices are rarely without their blessings.

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Welcome to my blog! I hear that this is the 'cool' thing to do so I am going to give it a try. I have had a hard time doing regular email updates because honestly... Finances are nothing to write home about. So I hope that I will be able to find daily adventures to write about to try and keep in touch with everyone and share my life here in Mozambique with you.

I have called my blog 'pieces'. I think that is because it's how I feel most days. I live in a world that is falling to pieces all around me. The roads are full of holes, the sidewalks are crumbling and the once beautiful Portuguese buildings are deteriorating into deserted structures. Not only are the physical things falling into pieces but families, relationships and the future of Mozambique is declining. Being surrounded by this day after day breaks my heart into pieces. However, God is able to take all the pieces of this country and of my heart and form them into something beautiful to bring Him glory.

So please enjoy my postings and feel free to comment. For all of those who are blog illiterate you can still comment if you don't have a blog id, just use the 'other' option and you can comment away. I will also try to share some of my favorite pictures here. All of my pictures are posted on my yahoo photos site but this one is one of my favorites. I took it while I was out in the field with a team from Ireland. Yes, it is true that African sunsets are as beautiful as everyone says. I just wish that I could bring you the smells, sounds and heat that go along with them that a camera will never capture. So enjoy my rambling and I would love to hear from you.