We now sit at four days after Christmas! It’s been a while since I’ve posted, and yet there isn’t much to update on. The farm continues to provide a steady flow of work for Jon. In the last number of weeks, they have planted maize, butchered chickens, weeded gardens, placed a new flock of layers, and done repairs & maintenance. With each passing week there are new contacts and relationships built in town, as well.
Planting maize by hand
We've gotten quite used to the sights around here. The roads don't blow our minds quite as much as they used to, but there are always those times when something stands out and makes us wish we had our cameras out and ready. Like this truck, filled with people and pigs :)
A few weeks back I went to town on my own on a Saturday. There is a new spot that the police like to sit for radar checks, and I was aware of where they would be. There are virtually no speed limit signs here (not sure if they all get stolen or why they’re lacking), but I was aware that the limit was 60 km/hr. I thought I had passed the radar check, and that the police just weren’t there that day, so I increased to 70 km/hr, juuust as I passed the police car. Ugh! They waved me over, and I stopped on the side of the road. I was told how much my fine would be, and he started to take my information for the ticket. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask if I could get a warning, instead of a ticket (I’ve never in my life had a ticket in Canada!). He responded, “If I can have your line (phone number), and we hang out on New Years, then you can have a warning!” Wait, what?! I couldn’t believe it. I told him I wouldn’t give him my number, but would love to still get a warning, and he went for it. I laughed the whole way home.
Another change is that we moved in to the farm house! Evan and Trinda & their kids were able to (finally!!) leave with all the things they needed for their adoption, and made it back to Canada. We are so grateful for the time we had in John & Susan’s home (especially the bathtub 😊), but are loving living on the farm. It’s quieter, and has been nice to add our own touches with little plants and decorations of our own. (Many people ask how far away the farm house is from where we were before…it’s only about a 1 minute walk. It’s just outside the inner wall.)
Life at Grace has been more quiet than usual. When exams were completed, and school was let out, many kids left for holidays. If there are family members (maybe an aunt, or uncle or something) or family friends on the outside, they are encouraged to host the kids for 1-3 weeks. About 2/3 of the Grace kids are on the outside right now. It was a really strange feeling watch the kids hop on the bus, or jump in the car to leave for a few weeks. Prayers for their safe return would be appreciated!
We spent Christmas Eve at Mwaiseni, enjoying dinner with the people that live there. It felt so good to play some volleyball and games, laugh, and listen to music with the wonderful people there. God has blessed us immensely with all the amazing people we have gotten to know.
Christmas Day, we enjoyed a beautiful service. The kids here worked so hard at practicing singing and dancing, and got to perform it yesterday afternoon. London, Austin and Zara even participated in the dance routine! It seriously warmed my heart to see their bravery, as they stepped far outside of their comfort zones, and performed. We have Auntie Nelly and Mapalo to thank for their great deal of encouragement and instruction 😊. After the service, we enjoyed a Christmas meal with the Grace kids in the cafeteria. We sang a loud “Happy Birthday” to Jesus, and then wrapped up our day!
We miss you, back home – our family, our friends, our church, our neighbors, our school, our co-workers. We wish we could have been there to gather with our church family, and read and remember Christ’s birth. But the silver lining is that we are in an amazing place where we got to celebrate with new friends, a new church, new neighbors, and new co-workers. What a beautiful silver lining that is! God has given us a great deal of peace through this season. Yes, the ache to be with our loved ones is there…but it isn’t overpowering and joy-sapping. We are loving the people we’re surrounded with here. Our hearts, fuller than ever, somehow still tuck inside. A perfect fit. While this Christmas wasn’t traditional, it was definitely merry.
God bless you all as you prepare for the start of a new year this week!
With love,
R
I always love to read your blog and see what GOD has been doing in your lives and the life of Grace :) Maybe 2022 be even more amazing for you all. Blessings from Nanaimo, BC - snowed in and -7 degrees - very different but very beautiful as well.