This week we got ourselves a kitten. And let me tell you, that cat CANNOT BE ALONE!!! She will NOT eat the food we put out for her (rice), but will go next door and eat with the neighbor’s cat (rice). I ran over to get her, horrified that the neighbors would think that I don’t feed my cat, but they said knowingly, “She needs a friend. Leave her be.” She howls and howls if she is alone—to the point that a little bit ago I looked up from my bed, and there were 2 cats in our house! They had come in through the open window, searching to console the cry of a desperate fellow cat. Wow.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
"KAWAN" means companion or friend
Okay, so having a companion is a big deal in this culture. I know this, because ANY time I don’t have someone by my side, I get asked where or who my companion is? And likely I will then have the company of the inquirer, whether I want it or not. But really, it has gone to a new level now….
This week we got ourselves a kitten. And let me tell you, that cat CANNOT BE ALONE!!! She will NOT eat the food we put out for her (rice), but will go next door and eat with the neighbor’s cat (rice). I ran over to get her, horrified that the neighbors would think that I don’t feed my cat, but they said knowingly, “She needs a friend. Leave her be.” She howls and howls if she is alone—to the point that a little bit ago I looked up from my bed, and there were 2 cats in our house! They had come in through the open window, searching to console the cry of a desperate fellow cat. Wow.
This week we got ourselves a kitten. And let me tell you, that cat CANNOT BE ALONE!!! She will NOT eat the food we put out for her (rice), but will go next door and eat with the neighbor’s cat (rice). I ran over to get her, horrified that the neighbors would think that I don’t feed my cat, but they said knowingly, “She needs a friend. Leave her be.” She howls and howls if she is alone—to the point that a little bit ago I looked up from my bed, and there were 2 cats in our house! They had come in through the open window, searching to console the cry of a desperate fellow cat. Wow.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Fun with Crabs
I am into detail. I love sitting on the beach and studying the sand and shells and crabs. They make fun photo ops, too! :) I have just discovered that they like to congregate in coconut shells and husks--as long as you don't get in their way.
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An Example from King Asa
Asa must have learned from those before him...
Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, "Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you..." (2 Chronicles 14:11).
"They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul.... They took an oath to the Lord with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them" (2 Chronicles 15:12, 14-15).
Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, "Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you..." (2 Chronicles 14:11).
"They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul.... They took an oath to the Lord with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them" (2 Chronicles 15:12, 14-15).
A Lesson from King Abijah
"The men of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their Fathers" (2 Chronicles 13:18).
A Lesson from Rehoboam
"[King Rehoboam] did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord" (2 Chronicles 12:14).
Friday, July 4, 2008
Happy Independence Day!
Look what the cat dragged in for the occasion! :) Zoom in. She is licking her lips. Butch (female--we had high hopes for her) is the camp cat. Not mine. She is a good girl.
45 mintues to go 5 miles?
Well, it oly takes 30 minutes on the motorcycle. 45 minutes is if we are in a truck.
There are a few potholes to be dodged. Can never tell quite how deep the potholes are if it has rained recently. And it usually has. :)
In the truck you MIGHT make it into 3rd gear at one point over this 8 km stretch. It is quite exciting if you do! :) But the thrill only lasts a few seconds before you have to hit the brakes and downshift again.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Death... and Life
On the 17th of June I got an email saying that a friend from my days in language school passed away the night before (American). I was shocked. He was 29, married just over 3 years and had a 2-year-old daughter. We used to go over to their home for celebrations, movies, and games all the time. A few days later, here in the village, my next-door neighbor's 5-year-old niece passed away from illness.
On the heels of that came news of life.... Friends who just went home to the U.S. to have their first child. On the same day I found out that a close friend is pregnant again after losing several pregnancies. It has been a bit of an emotional ride these last few weeks. The attitude of people here is one of, "We can't be surprised no matter how young or how healthy a person is who passes away. When it's their time, it's their time." While there is truth in that, let me cry! And yet, for my friend who passed away, I don't cry without hope.
It is odd, when lives have parted ways and moved on, then news like this suddenly comes. I feel guilty for continuing with life, guilty for laughing with my friends, because Phil is gone and what's more, Esther and Anna's lives have been turned upside-down overnight. But I feel guilty for NOT carrying on, because I feel as if I don't have a right to grieve--knowing that my grief is NOTHING compared to theirs or their family and close friends. But yet I think about it daily and still can't believe it's true and still cry at any picture, memory, or news from Esther. I do think grappling with the reality of death has made me love more fiercely as I look at the people around me.
Anyway, I don't know if I'm making any sense, just still trying to process a bit.
Here is a U-tube of a video from his memorial service:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsmisXYW06M and their family blog, which Esther has been updating regularly: http://www.eslip.blogspot.com/
On the heels of that came news of life.... Friends who just went home to the U.S. to have their first child. On the same day I found out that a close friend is pregnant again after losing several pregnancies. It has been a bit of an emotional ride these last few weeks. The attitude of people here is one of, "We can't be surprised no matter how young or how healthy a person is who passes away. When it's their time, it's their time." While there is truth in that, let me cry! And yet, for my friend who passed away, I don't cry without hope.
It is odd, when lives have parted ways and moved on, then news like this suddenly comes. I feel guilty for continuing with life, guilty for laughing with my friends, because Phil is gone and what's more, Esther and Anna's lives have been turned upside-down overnight. But I feel guilty for NOT carrying on, because I feel as if I don't have a right to grieve--knowing that my grief is NOTHING compared to theirs or their family and close friends. But yet I think about it daily and still can't believe it's true and still cry at any picture, memory, or news from Esther. I do think grappling with the reality of death has made me love more fiercely as I look at the people around me.
Anyway, I don't know if I'm making any sense, just still trying to process a bit.
Here is a U-tube of a video from his memorial service:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsmisXYW06M and their family blog, which Esther has been updating regularly: http://www.eslip.blogspot.com/
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