Colors of the World

Let's just say that I felt like I really needed to share some pictures. Here below are a collection of my favorite photos from my Pinterest Board 'Colors of the World'. I personally feel like this is the one board that took any kind of artistic talent to put together. I didn't take any of them ... or edit any of them ... but hey! The collection itself was in original idea that was begging to be put together.




























 








So that's the beauty of people! Credits to God for the artistry. Thanks to the photographers.

Moriah

I wrote a message for my facebook page, Bible Verse of the Day, just to share with the people who followed the page, but I decided to paste it here too ... so read below for an itsy-bitsy-short-little Kailey sermon.

[Gen. 22: 8] "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." - Abraham

Hey Guys,
I wanted to do something different today.
I recently watched a video meant to depict Abraham and Isaac's journey to Moriah, where Abraham knew he had to kill his own son. It was emotional, to say the least; it wasn't that Abraham didn't love his son. It wasn't an easy decision. He knew what God asked and he acted on it, regardless of the pain he felt.
How much am I willing to give to God? I sing 'I surrender all' in Church, but 'All' is an awful lot to give up.
I'm not sure what Abraham meant when he told his son that God would provide; Isaac had been provided by God, hadn't he? Maybe he meant he would give up his son because he belonged to God anyway.
It takes risk and pain surrender EVERYTHING to Jesus. But God doesn't forget it when you do.
The knife was raised, prayers said, cheeks hot with fresh tears ... the situation already explained to his son. In Abraham's heart, the sacrifice was already done. That's as far as God planned on letting it go.

"Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God , since you have not withheld your son, your only son from me." Genesis 22: 12

Wanted Signs

I haven't posted anything in a while, which is silly, because I'm in America, but my heart and my dreams continue to fly me back to Africa ... and that seems like good blogging material to me! 
 
Let's put it this way; I don't know what's up; my heart feels like a silent film sometimes. There's so much going on inside, but there's no way to put it to words. It's not that I don't want to be here! Still, I'm a little torn inside.

If you live in Namibia and you happen to come across a little boy with a smile more blinding than the sun, dark, mischievous eyes and an outstanding supply of silliness, tell him I miss him so badly, it still hurts. 

If you come across a deaf girl with The Number One Most Infectious Laugh on the Planet, cuddle her till she's sick of it - which she never will be, by the way. You're actually at risk for being cuddled to death if you start.

 Should you run into a girl with remarkably big, dark pools for eyes that could swallow you up in their depths, tell her Kailey is coming back soon; two months is a long time, but it won't last forever. I miss her skinny arms and her crazy, unkempt hair.

If you're lucky enough to meet their oldest sister, the eight-year-old Beloved Queen of Everything, ask if she has a gap in her schedule and tell her I'll be back to watch Barney and make cookies with her in no time.

If you see a heart wondering the streets of Otjiwarongo at night, tell her to go back to sleep - her body will be arriving in about two months.

Packing Light

Tomorrow, we begin a trip through the United States of America - that's right! We're back in our passport country and beginning our 'Graham World Tour' - which is the weird little nickname I've given to this month long journey.

Just think.  28 days gone - Roughly 60 hours in the car. 7 different states. One camp sight, two Grandparents' houses, one hotel, and I-don't-know-how-many friends are letting our clan invade their homes. Also, a handful of presentations.

Today, I gave a presentation of my own to my little sisters before I helped them back their bags. A presentation which I cheesily named How 2 Pack Light

 

1. If you don't know if you'll wear it, don't bring it.

     Have you ever wanted to want to wear something? Those are the things you leave behind; it will still be there when you get back.

 

2. Keep the weather in mind.

     We're mostly travelling in September. I told them to bring 2 pairs of shorts, 2 pairs of jeans for bottoms and a variety of comfortable shirts for tops. They'll only need one jacket each.

 

3. Keep to a color code.

     I wear a lot of browns and navy blues, so I made sure that was basically all I brought. If your outfits look boring, bring some fun jewelry, but your clothes should be simple and versatile.

 

4. High-low skirt.

     Unless of course you're not a girl. Have you seen how many ways you can wear one of those?? (Click on it. You know you're curious.) These are also (usually) the perfect packing material; don't even bother to fold it.

 

5. Tights.

  Girls, tights take up NO SPACE. I'm also one of those people who loves to layer shorts and tights in autumn weather.

 

6. Stuff your shoes.

      That's exactly what I meant to type; if you're packing an extra pair of shoes, that might be a good place to hide the little things like socks, makeup, jewelry, tights  - and *cough* (undergarments).

 

Hopefully, your shoes smell pretty fresh.

 

You know those objects that gradually get lost in the bottomless abyss you call your suitcase? Let them take refuge in your shoes.

 

 

And I wish I had more! I have to get up in 6 hours, so I'm heading out. Blessings.

 


 

The Question (Part II)

I just said so many good byes that were so heartfelt and teary, I began to wonder how blind (or forgiving) friends are to love me so much. Really, it was beautiful. And tragic. I'm going to miss my home here in Africa.

Six months, you better fly by like a dream.

I never thought I would put roots down here - I moved when I was twelve and it took AGES for me to find comfort on a continent I would always be a foreigner in. When I was fifteen, we moved to this town which, by the way, is perfect. It's a small town, but big for Namibia. Everywhere, the trees are a deep green ... except for early spring, when the jacaranda trees spread their lavender flowers over rooftops and sidewalks. The winding streets are peaceful and (frequently) quiet. In the center of town, the streets are lined with tables and stands covered in veggies, nuts, raisins, biltong, fresh milk and all kinds of wares. The churches are active. The people are varied and multicultural. I have a network of beautiful people here. I have a family. I have an American friend who bakes me good food.

And that's my little bit of Africa. (I could keep going.)

When I asked some of my friends about the question 'How's Africa?', more than half suggested that it was an annoying question. A few of them skipped the whole words-into-sentence-making-thing and gave me lists of particular adjectives. One girl wrote me a complete essay. None of them were able to answer it easily or in a single sentence. Here are their descriptions of the bits of Africa they have seen.


 I answer usually with "Its awesome!" and think about the rest of the answer and why its so awesome. This was Mikayla's answer. She's a friend a grew up with (in the U.S.) who recently went on a short term mission trip to Ghana. She went on to describe in detail. It was so great because of how free going they are there. The culture is different. I love how whenever we had church or worship, EVERYONE (not just the kids) got up and danced and worshiped.  I really feel like that is what its going to be like in Heaven. The faith of the people amazed me.


A friend of mine who's spent her teen years in Namibia told me that people ask her that question all the time.   I just say I love it!! And I always laugh about it later!!

Alanna has spent her childhood and teen years in a variety of African countries and has been asked 'the question' several times.  I always say it's hot and dry but now that I live in SA and RVA, it gets cold. It's very different to what people may think it may be. Like people think that lions live right outside my house.

 
My friend in town said,  I reply with "Oh, it's goooood. It's hot and stuff." And that's about it. There's not much else to say unless you want to go into writing a short novel of all the dramas of your life lately. Well. Said.

Tai, a short term missionary I met a while ago shared about her view of Namibia.  It's the most phenomenal experience I've ever had. The culture is so different from America; they value other people more than themselves. And I've also never seen so many stars in my life. (To the end she added, to my delight -) I can't wait to go back and stay for a VERY long time.

Hannah, a long term missionary on our Otjiwarongo Team, moved back to her home country last year. I found her response well-put and relatable.   I just got asked that just today! It's too hard to sum up really. I think also people say 'Africa' rather than Namibia, Kenya etc. as if it's all the same. (Amen, Sista.)
I suppose if I had to think of words to describe it I might use:
frustrating, beautiful, heart-breaking but also heart warming.  But, it's so much more than that!

Another lady on our team said the words to best describe life as a missionary in Africa would be 'it's great, it's horrible, it's wonderful, it's exhausting'

Abby, a MK who grew up in Southern Africa, is now living in the States, keeping busy with college. Her response was,  I would probably say that Africa is one of the most amazing places to live. The people are friendly, even though the culture is different - it makes it more fun. The scenery is stunning, and just being able to drive around and see a zebra makes Africa unique. Africa is one of the most diverse places both land and people wise. From the beach to the desert, there's not much to not love.

I also asked Lucynda about her life as a TCK in South America and how she responds to people's questions about the country she's lived in for so long.  It's very difficult to answer. I'd say I usually reply with a quick overview of the people who live there, as that's the most important thing to me. Then I add in cultural differences, or geography if people are still interested.


Last but not least, Carrie, a girl presently living in South Africa, offered her opinion. The depth of this message (*aghem* essay) says it all. Notice her use of the word 'we' - there's a certain point where you consider yourself one of the Africans.


Well, the first thing I say is "there are definitely no wild animals roaming around like you see in the movies! I do not have a lion or elephant in my backyard!"  And (depending where you live) there aren't bushman just walking around. Africa does have civilization. With high-populated areas like Cape Town & Johannesburg, we do have very wealthy countries & people do live a very well-earned life. We are not all dead trees and sand. We have major cities and we do have tarred roads & massive buildings. We may be behind in technology but we are still educated people.

The weather is nothing like it is in America - when we have the dry season, we sure mean DRY season. & when we have the rainy/wet season, we do have a WET season, though that still depends on where on the continent. It's a very beautiful place! With amazing sunsets and beautiful mountains. The landscapes and deserts are found in a variety of beauty. Truly a spectacular place!

But just as breath-taking as it may seem, there are still high-poverty stricken areas and people do suffer. Diseases slowly kill off the people  - with the lack of water and proper resources, our people are struggling to survive. A huge percentage of the people living in Africa, are not even aware of Christ! We need more trained missionaries to go out deep into Africa and we need those people to learn and hear the Word of God. Africa is really one of a kind, with a wide variety of different cultures and peoples, our history is not like any other. Our unique land is roamed by many different animals and people ... and it is called Africa.

The Question

As of today (Thursday) we have a week and four days till we leave Otjiwarongo. Our trip back to America starts July 1st (driving to the capital, then spending the night there) then arriving at Dulles on July 3rd. My room is a wreck of half-packed clothes, makeup and miscellaneous items. Anyone want a denim Bible case? A pair of size 3 [US s6] heels? A box of random craft stuff I've never found the time to use?

A week and four days.
AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAAAAHH!!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS.

This is the weird part where I say good bye to people in Africa (who have become my entire teen-hood) and say 'See you next year!' and go back to the people that, in a certain way, I left behind with my childhood (not that I've forgotten you - I love you, my Americaners!) - this is the part where I see what remains of the friendships I've been (not-so-diligently) keeping alive through letters and Facebook since I was twelve years old. For those who don't know, we're going on six years since we moved to Africa.

Returning to our old churches, Co-ops, dance classes and Youth Groups, we'll likely face warm welcomes and bear hugs. On sabbatical, like any other missionary, we'll go to friends' houses, "need-to-catch-up" meetings at restaurants and visit our supporters' Churches. The missionary goes from volunteer work in hospitals, schools and growing churches on the mission field to suddenly adopting the job of 'Nomadic Socialite' on their trip to the Motherland. Yep. My job (and that of my parents) is to talk to people.

Oddly, in the middle of that, I will likely face the Alien-sensation; take that however you want. The MK (oooor military brat, exchange student, immigrant, etc.) who faces their childhood home again will probably find it odd to be back ... and feel like the world has moved on without them. And depending on how different their other culture is, they may also feel like they have a third eyeball growing in the middle of their head.

 It's great to have friends greet you with enthusiasm and ask you questions about your life in Africa (or wherever). Even better is the look on their faces when you speak as fast as you can in some crazy foreign language that they've never even heard the name of. All that is fine and dandy - in fact, most of the above mentioned are pleasures enjoyed solely by Third-Culture-Kids.

But there's something huge missing. Let's return to the phrase above - which, by the way, I completely made up - Alien-sensation. I remember how I felt like a foreigner in my own country. Yep. I said it. I was surrounded by friendly people, but down in my spirit I knew very well that I didn't belong. My clothing, the things I said, and my social awkwardness didn't help me much. (This second-go-'round, I think I'll be better at all of that.)

But something else separates the American-African that isolates them in a crowd of Westerners. Honestly, there are emotions and situations that very few single-culture people understand - this can lead to a deep loneliness in those separated from their mission field. (Interestingly, studies have shown that MK's from completely different countries tend to feel at home in each other's presence. We share 'the commonality of our differences'.)


 Of course, the loneliness is not the worst of it! There's one thing ... one terrible, awkward, heart-wrenching question that Americans and other Western non-travelling citizens use to terrorize their poor, victimized missionaries on a regular basis. And by a regular basis, I mean just about every single day. *deep breath*  (I can hardly type it).



                                                How's.        Africa.



That's it. Just plain ol' 'Hey, how's Africa?' from a friend or relative is destructive to the Missionary's view of said person. You have lost about ten brownie points. Did your I.Q. level just drop? Did you just get 3 inches shorter? Now that I think of it, you kind of smell. And your brow is protruding ominously over your eyes.


I'm just kidding. I started that paragraph trying to make a point, but then I couldn't stop my nasty facetious personality from taking control of the keyboard. Do understand, there's no one I look down on that much. Especially not someone who unknowingly walked into the Danger Zone of a sarcastic, talkative, I-know-everything redhead. Really though, roughly half of the MK's in Africa you'll come across will be annoyed by this question. And practically all of the ones I talked to found the question very hard to answer.

My response is usually a smile with a connotative 'All kinds of stuff. How's the continent of North America been lately?'



The Part II of this post is coming up where I will provide solutions for the problem I have brought up. Mean while, do refrain from asking the question.

Dumpsite VBS

Seem a little extreme? A camp for kids mostly between 4 and 14 ... hosted at the local trash heap (more like a mountain). The ground surrounding the dumping site is sprouting almost as many glass shards as scraggly thorn bushes (which are everywhere) and broken electrical equipment is lying haphazardly all over the place.

It's not exactly ideal, but it's definitely where we need to be.

Every day, dozens of children (and almost as many adults) head out to the dumpsite to (1) - gather recyclables, wh
ich the government pays them a few cents a day to do and (2) - search for bits of food and other things that could be helpful for their survival.

Most kids wouldn't sacrifice their day at the dump to walk somewhere else and hear a few Bible stories, so the mission team decided to make it easy and bring the camp to them.

Driving to the mainroad on day one - in front of us is the other kombi (driven by the other missionaries with us) with some of the kids riding on the back. The Back of our car looked pretty similar!

The dirt road leading up to the main dumping site. This is the area where we were working.

  A girl hanging from the side of our car.

 

 My Mom and sister helping wash hands before snack time.