9- Life in Ivuna

"Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God; not only by unbelief, but by thinking that you know what He can do.  Expect unexpected things 'above all that we ask or think'.  -Andrew Murray

I've been pondering recently on who God really is, and have been challenged to my very core to pursue knowing HIM in a reality much deeper and fuller then I've yet known.  To lay aside the ideas and limits I've unconsciously placed on Him and to allow Him to impress upon my heart and soul who He is. How can I make Him known unless I know Him intimately?  The quote above has been on my heart a lot as I consider these things.  I don't know what He can do, but yet I am so quick to place Him in a box and limit His power in my life and the lives around me.  He's been taking me at my word and allowing some very purging experiences in my life lately.  I'm thankful for the opportunities to grow in holiness and to be more like my Savior, and am learning to embrace the painfulness of the process as well.

The cool breezes of the beginning of rainy season sweep through the open window and out the window on the other side of the house.  It's utterly refreshing, this rain is: refreshing, invigorating, and downright cheerful.  It's been over a month since we had our 2 amazing downpours, and dry season seemed to have come back for an endless duration.  We were battling the dust storms again, and I was despairing in keeping anything clean.  But last night after a day full of wind, dust, and heat...the first welcome sprinkles were heard on the roof.  By this morning, there was evidence of a good night of rain, and the air was so clear and everything smelled so very good.   I'm nursing a nasty head cold, currently sipping on some type of "dawa-ish" (medicine-ish) tea that Teresa gave me to try, and hoping that my head clears up soon and energy returns.

An area that has really been burdening my heart recently is the rampant polygamy among our people and the surrounding tribes.  A scenario in the clinic recently has majorly reignited the burden and righteous anger I feel in regards to it... One of my first prenatal patients this past Friday was a beautiful, young Sukuma girl named Quimba.  She was merely 16, young, fresh, and absolutely stunning.  She had a beautiful smile that only peeked out on a rare occasion when she dared show me a glimpse. What maddened me was her 'husband'- a man practically old enough to be her grandfather.  She obviously hated his presence and avoided him like the plague.  When I asked her to lie down on the bed for her check-up, she refused to do so until we finally asked him to leave the room.  When he was in the room, he treated her like a useless piece trash.  An object.  Which, I am positive, is exactly how she is treated by him all the time.  As I did a prenatal on her firstborn, and found the precious, life-giving heartbeat, I just wanted to weep. It's child abuse, and in the States, it would be completely reportable.  But here?  There's nothing I can do! Nothing.  I tried hard, in my limited language ability and cultural knowledge, to show Quimba love and care, but ached in my innermost being to do more.  To rescue her and to show her even more love.  

It happens repeatedly...rarely do you have a situation where there is only one wife.  And if there is, the chances that the husband is not being faithful is incredibly high.  When we need to ask my patients questions like that, I watch their eyes closely for hints of feeling.  What I see is a lifeless sorrow.  They've given up- they know it's going to happen, why even fight it?  The first wives know they'll eventually be replaced or added on to by younger women, and the younger wives don't have a reason to believe they'll be the last.  It's a vicious cycle and I see the pain.  The hurt.  Oh that God would raise up men in this valley who would love HIM with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength; and would turn and love their wives as the Bible commands.  What a difference it would make.

Today I wasn't feeling extremely perky with my head cold, and partway through the afternoon began feeling a bit housebound.  Granted, I had spent the morning over at the clinic, but that didn't really make a big difference.  I bumped around the house for awhile- cleaned a little, sprayed de-roaching spray in the choo (bathroom) and then watched as the deranged insects ballisticly began pouring out of every available crevice and crack.  I came back inside and started this update but was much too antzy to sit inside drinking hot tea and feeling all lonely, so I got up and went to buy maandazi (an unsweetened doughnut) from our friends who have been frying them in Kilabuni these days. Once I got out there, Zanobi was only finishing forming all the maandazi and Joyce was making them ugali and fish to eat, so they made me eat a fish first- even tho I insisted I wasn't hungry.  When the oil was hot over the fire, Zanobi called me over to help fry them- particularly because I told him yesterday that he should teach me how to fry maandazi.  It's a hot job, laboring over the wood fire and huge wok-type frying pan, but it was so much fun and a wonderful change from the normal pace.  Also a definite way to get people's attention- "WHAT? The Mzungu is working?? You can fry/cook maandazi?!"  I had my fill of maandazi in the process- nothing better then a piping hot one fresh from the oil.  I tried not to think about all the nasty things oil does to your body upon ingesting it. :)  By the time the entire batch was finished, I figured I better head home as I hadn't brought my phone, or told Trudy where I was headed.  I met several of the secondary school girls (probably age 16-18) and made friends with them.  With my growing Swahili and their small knowledge of English, we managed to communicate quite well and they invited me to come hang out with them some more.  It would be amazing language practice, as well as a wonderful opportunity to get involved in their lives, so I plan to do that.  By this time, Trudy had fried yummy looking pancakes, but I was stuffed from my maandazi feast and regretfully had to decline.  I told her I'd be glad to eat my share tomorrow morning.  But before another hour had passed, 5 neighbor ladies and one of our neighbor boy friends happened to pop in and were thrilled to help us finish our pancakes.  No question of what to do with the leftovers tonight!   

I love being out and surrounded by people, but sometimes its hard to make myself go.   The language barriers are still very real, and I, being me, like to talk and find it incredible frustrating when I can't express myself.  That can work two ways: 1, make me try harder then ever to build my knowledge and vocabulary so as to be able to talk or 2, make me hole up inside- scared to even try.  The more I get out and practice, the easier it becomes to do more.  Not to mention it's much less lonely.

Tim and Sheryl are gone on a 10th anniversary trip this week and dear, faithful Teresa is doing a wonderful job caring for their 4 children and keeping the house.  I often find myself over there in the afternoons and/or evenings- popping in to help with something or just to be a bit of emotional adult support for Teresa. I read my Swahili Bible and look up words in the dictionary while perched on their couch watching the children play.  They leave for furlough in January, and my heart aches at the mere thought.  Teresa's become an incredibly dear friend to me and I shall miss her tremendously.  Or, as our dear African friends say..."nitamkumbuka sana, SANA!"(literally translated: I shall remember/miss her much, MUCH!)

I forgot to mention an update on Mele in my last update.  I wrote about her 2 updates ago and her freedom from demon possession.  A few weeks ago, she suddenly left and returned to the area where some other of her family is from.  We have not heard from her since.  We wonder how she's doing and we continue to pray for her, and pray that God will direct her life and acquaintances to allow her to continue to find truth and light in Jesus.

We look forward to the return of our dear Rachel and Rebecca Oberholtzer, as well as their parents who are coming for a visit, on Sunday! After 3 1/2 months, it will be very good to have them reenter our team.  Our neighbors are extremely excited and are anxiously awaiting Sunday.

God bless each one.  May His peace be yours today as you walk closely to His side.