Category: Other Page 91 of 181

How to Plan a Bridal Shower in Africa

By

On November 1, 2012

In Other

This is me and my very good friend, Lauren.

 

 

We have another really good friend, Carley.  I have known Carley since 2005 when she became HOPAC’s kindergarten teacher (and is now the assistant principal).  Carley is getting married in November to a wonderful Kenyan guy. 

 

 

So Lauren and I wanted to throw a bridal shower for Carley.  So here is what we learned about trying to do this in Africa: 

The guest list:  No one has physical addresses, so you can’t mail invitations.  Hand them out in person, or send emails or text messages.  Since you are inviting people from multiple countries, explain, explain, and then explain again what exactly a bridal shower is.  For some ladies, it’s just a matter of using another word.  Others need a whole description.

German, British, Tanzanian, Irish….

The food:  Don’t even bother Googling “bridal shower food ideas.”  You’ll just get depressed.  And hungry.  Every single recipe involves strawberries, raspberries, ginger ale, pretzels, chocolate chips, cheese, or other foods that are either impossible to find or atrociously expensive. 

Instead, invite a lot of friends who are great cooks….and have them bring food. 

The decorations:  Don’t bother Googling “bridal shower decorations” either, since you will just get depressed again by all the cute ideas you can’t replicate….and since you don’t have a Michael’s or a Party America or even a Walmart, you know that your decorating “theme” will be based on whatever you happen to find at the mall. 

Our choices of plates/cups were red, blue, or yellow.  No matching napkins.  Lauren and I reluctantly gave up our dreams of silver or floral or even pink.  Yellow it was.  Bright yellow.

And the cupcake liners had green apples on them.  Because that was the only choice. 

 

 

So instead of cute matching decorations, we used lots of bougainvillea….

 

 

….and the ministry center/house of a friend who is such a beautiful decorator, that nothing else was needed.

 

 

Carley was registered at the one and only store in all of Tanzania that does registries.  It is kind of like a minature version of Bed, Bath, & Beyond.

So Lauren and I headed down there, and one of the things we purchased was this:

Lovely, isn’t it?  (Isn’t she?)

So when we got to the check-out, we asked if we could have a box for the platter.

“Oh, we don’t do gift wrapping,” we were told. 

Well, that wasn’t a surprise. 

“We just want a box,” we said, “because it’s breakable.”

They brought out an enormous box, about 10 times bigger than the platter. 

We tried very hard not to roll our eyes. 

“A box that fits the platter,” we insisted. 

So they got out scissors and tape, and this is what they came up with:

Lauren and I left the store with our platter and started cracking up.  Definitely not Bed, Bath, & Beyond, that’s for sure! 

Anyway.

It was a happy day. 

Because the toilet-paper-wedding-dress game is a hit no matter where you are.

 

And even without pink balloons, cream cheese, or stores that wrap your gifts with pretty paper,

there are always

good friends

love

and laughter

that come from women joining together to bless a bride. 

Bicycle Kick

By

On October 28, 2012

In Other

You might have to know a bit about a soccer to understand the significance of this accomplishment!

‘Fro

By

On October 27, 2012

In Other

 

 

 

People (of European decent) say to me, “It’s so cute; why don’t you just leave it like that?” 

Hahaha.

Because the maintenance of such a hairstyle would drive me to drinking. 

The complicated braids?  Much, much easier. 

 

Hope

By

On October 20, 2012

In Other

There’s another story that has been unfolding ever since I went to meet Lily the very first time.  I haven’t been able to tell you about it.  I am dying to tell you about it; in fact, I wrote an entire post last week, and when I was done, I realized that it was too much information and I still can’t publish it.  Not yet. 

But I can tell you this: 

 

This little girl desperately wants a Mommy and Daddy.  She is almost seven years old, very smart, and knows all about adoption.

Our good friends desperately want to adopt her.  But this is a very tricky, complicated, unprecedented case.  And it all depends on the decision of one man, and he will be making that decision any day now.

This is her last chance.  If this does not work, she will permanently be transferred to another orphanage, which will be her home for the rest of her childhood. 

Many are praying and fasting on their behalf.  Please join us! 

Our Haven

By

On October 19, 2012

In Other

As I sit here, there’s a breeze blowing through the house, birds singing, my kids playing on the trampoline outside.  I can hear the Call to Prayer in the distance, which is such a part of my life now that I don’t even hear it unless I am sitting quietly. 

Peaceful.  Which is strange, really, because I know that this city is not peaceful right now.  So much so, that at 9:00 this morning, HOPAC’s administration started calling every parent to tell that that school would close at noon instead of 2:20.  Because this city is not peaceful today, and they were worried about the safety of our students.

A week or two ago, in a far away part of the city, two teenage boys were having an argument over whether a Qur’an would turn into a snake if one urinated on it.  It was, perhaps, a Double-Dog-Dare.  But this was not little kids and a frozen flag pole.  And when the actual event did take place, far worse than the fire department showed up.  The foolish kid who happened to try it would have been beheaded had not the police intervened.  Rioting insued, including the vandalization of a few churches and some cars set on fire. 

Then we heard about rioting on Zanzibar (the predominantly Islamic island off the coast), which is sort of a normal thing for Zanzibar, and I really don’t know if it had anything to do with the teenage boy incident.  But then today, there were reports of a large demonstration (rumors have said 100,000 people) starting this afternoon since some rioting-leaders had been imprisoned.  And apparently, if sources were right, Christian churches and institutions would bear the brunt of their anger. 

So.  Since HOPAC is one of those “Christian institutions,” we sent the kids home early. 

To be honest, it’s hard to even find out right now what is going on, but it sounds like police have essentially shut down the city.  And to be honest, I don’t even know what the real reasons are for all this unrest.  But the truth is, the whole world is unrestful right now.  Unless you have your head in a hole, you’ve been able to see that. 

Tanzania has been proud of their reputation for being a peaceful country.  It has avoided war for 50 years, which is almost unprecedented in Africa.  And Dar es Salaam means Haven of Peace.  So the question is whether or not it will live up to its reputation. 

If you want to pray for our safety and that of HOPAC, then that’s great and all, but really?  There are far more important things at stake right now.  Here.  In our world.  We don’t just pray for peace, but for Peace.  And sometimes, it takes some riots and some anger and some churches being burned down, for people to start to recognize their need for Peace.  So be it.  To God be the glory.

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