Eternal Investments

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On April 5, 2011

In Other

Remember Maggie?  She is a part of our family this year.  Grace still insists on calling Maggie her big sister, though today she said worriedly, “Mommy, is Maggie going to leave us soon?” 

Now why would she say a thing like that?

Maybe because I just happened to hyperventilate today when I saw the package Maggie got.  FedExed.  From Stanford University.  Yeah.  I’m from California, and grew up 40 minutes away from Stanford, yet they never FedExed me anything. 

We knew a couple of weeks ago that Maggie got accepted to Stanford and MIT, but she didn’t receive her financial aid package until today.  (FedExed–did I mention that?)  It says:  Parent contribution:  $0.  Student contribution:  $0.  They even gave her money for books.  And airfare. 

Oh my word.  Do you think they want her to come?

My best friend in high school was valedictorian.  I wasn’t too far behind.  Where did we go to college?  San Jose State University.  Not sayin’ there’s really that much difference, of course, between Stanford and SJSU.  Oh–you haven’t heard of it?  Well, your loss.

When I went to high school, everyone pretty much talked about their three college choices:  SJSU, West Valley Community College or De Anza Community College.  Here, at HOPAC, so far this year students have been accepted to Princeton, Dartmouth, and Yale.  And MIT and Stanford, of course.  Among others.  And there’s only 25 students in the class.  Um, yeah.  Did anyone from my graduating class go to any of those schools? 

I just kept staring at that piece of paper.  Never seen anything like it. 

And you know what else?  She’s probably going to turn it down.  She hasn’t received her MIT package yet, but that’s her first choice, and we’re all guessing it will be just as good. 

We’ve always known, teaching at HOPAC, that we would be impacting students who have the capability of changing the world.  Since this is only HOPAC’s third graduating class, we haven’t been able to really see the fruit of that investment yet. 

But now we are.  Maggie wants to return to Tanzania and help change her country.  After she majors in aerospace engineering at MIT, of course.  To God be the glory.

Waiting to Meet That New Little Life

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On April 4, 2011

In Other

Last week I ran into William and he told me the doctor says he will do a C-section on Stella this Thursday.  I was a little shocked to hear that, and decided not to post it until I had it confirmed. 

So Dr. Carolyn did some investigating on Saturday.  The OB doctor was too busy to talk, so she asked around with the various nurses.  You have to understand that even though this is a “good” hospital, the methods of running this hospital are very different from what you would be used to.  Nothing is computerized; everything is hand-written. 

She said that what she discovered is that there is certainly an ultrasound scheduled for Wednesday to determine the size of the baby.  She is guessing that based on the ultrasound, they will decide when to do the C-section.  So it’s possible that if the baby is big enough, they will take it on Thursday.  But it hasn’t exactly been scheduled as William said, so he probably misunderstood.  

I wondered why they would do a C-section when she is already staying at the hospital and it seems logical to let her go as long as she can.  But Carolyn thinks that because she lost so much blood during her last delivery, that this doctor doesn’t want to take any chances.  That seems to make sense. 

Carolyn says that all her other reports are good.  Stella and baby both seem to be doing great.  I’ll keep you updated as much as I can! 

Thankful Things In My Life That Simply Do Not Fit Into a Cohesive Post

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On April 3, 2011

In Other

I read all seven Harry Potter books for the first time in the last four months.  I am now officially a Harry Potter fan.

I finished six classes towards my Master’s degree in Biblical Counseling at the end of February.  It took me 3 1/2 years.  I had paid for those six classes, and so I was determined to finish them, but I had decided a while ago that I wouldn’t go on and finish the MA for a number of reasons.  Now, I am free and clear and don’t know what to do with myself.

Maggie, the student living with us, just got full-rides to Stanford and MIT.  Oh my.  My first thought was that she would freeze to death.  My second thought was that I am scared for her to be introduced to American culture.  Oh, and of course, there was plenty of screaming and hugging and dancing.

Grace just did a back flip into the swimming pool for the first time yesterday and shocked all of our socks off. 

Grace and Josiah’s current favorite song is “Shackles” by Mary Mary because they saw it performed at HOPAC’s Talent Show.  I think we have listened to it about 300 times in the last three weeks, and every time they try to perform it just like the kids at the show.  Josiah always asks me, “Mommy, Can you put on “Take the Shackles Off My Feet So I Can Dance?”  I wake up in the middle of the night and the song is going through my head.

The rain has finally come.  Good for the earth.  Good for the soul.  Bad for the traffic.

Now that I am done with my online classes, I am praying about what is next.  Pretty sure I am going to get involved with Teacher Care at HOPAC.  My mind is swimming with ideas. 

I am incredibly proud of Student Council this year and all the great things they have done.  A few weeks ago, they put on a huge “Community Night” which included a Talent Show, basketball game and soccer game.  Over 400 people came.  It was fantastic.  Hence the origination of “Shackles.” 

My grandma’s memorial service was yesterday.  Sad.  Missing my family.

Spring break is coming in a couple weeks.  We are thinking of going up to Nairobi to visit with three other MK schools and get inspiration and ideas.  That is, unless we will be going to Mwanza to pick up our little girl.  Not very hopeful on that, but it could happen.

Social worker told me on Thursday that the commissioner has given us approval.  I would be more excited, but am waiting to see it in writing first.  I have learned the hard way about getting excited too soon.

God is good.  I love this Season. 

Getting Close

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On March 25, 2011

In Other

Stellais at 32 weeks.  Just after my last update about her, the doctor admitted her to the hospital as a precautionary measure.  She will stay there until the baby is born.

I went to see her the other day, and she is enormous.  She’s a tiny woman to begin with, which makes her look even more huge than she is.  That’s got to be a good sign, right? 

Her main problem right now is that she is anemic and can’t seem to get her blood level up.  In fact, on Wednesday the doctor decided to give her a transfusion, so William donated some blood.  Apparently she was too afraid to receive it and wouldn’t let the nurse give it to her.  I’m sure this is because the last time she had a transfusion (during her previous delivery), she had a horrible reaction to it.  Dr. Carolyn told me that at her current hospital, they automatically give the drugs to prevent a reaction, so that should not happen this time.  Carolyn was hoping that Stella would agree to the transfusion today, but I haven’t heard yet. 

I’m sure Stella is struggling with fear these days.  She lost her other babies around 32 weeks.  Please keep praying!  If she makes it at least 3 more weeks, it seems like the danger zone will be over.  It sounds like the doctor might even give her a C-section at that point if the baby is big enough.  There is no NICU in the country, so the baby needs to be big enough to survive on its own.

Spring Trees

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On March 22, 2011

In Other

There was once a chapel speaker at my college who spoke on the topic of complaining.  A ripple of conviction went through the whole school.  I remember once hearing a student proclaim loudly when walking to class, “It’s hot as hell, but that’s what I deserve, so I’m not complaining!”

I don’t even know who said it, but it goes through my mind all the time.  Because, well, I live in a place that is as hot as hell.  And this has been the hardest hot season of all my eight years in Tanzania.  It has seemed endless.  And 60-hour-a-week power cuts have certainly not helped. 

And so I grumble.  And complain.  And whine.  All those things that I discipline my kids not to do.  Oh, you usually won’t hear me do it, of course.  But I think it.  And that’s just as bad.  Because it’s ultimately not trusting God, isn’t it?  Just like the Israelites in the desert.  I can make it sound spiritual.  “Oh God, fix the power cuts, so that I can be more effective for your kingdom.”  Ha.  Since when is productivity a priority to God?  As if he needs us to do anything.  Think Mary and Martha.  He’s got more important things in mind.

You would think that after eight years of living in Africa, I would have learned contentment in all circumstances.  After all, I am a missionary.  ha Ha HA.  I get tired, really, of being smacked in the face with how interested I am in my own comfort.  It’s easy to think that I’m doing pretty well spiritually, that I’m doing a darn good job living this life God has given me…and then He does something like take away electricity for 5 months, in 90 degree weather with 90% humidity.  And I am driven to my knees.  But I realize, of course, that there are far greater types of suffering.  I am not in prison.  I am not in Japan or Libya.  I am not in Hell.  I am only uncomfortable.  What an entirely weak person I am. 

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water…It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.

The last four days, the power has stayed on.  The city is holding its collective breath.  Is this the end?  The days are still blistering but the mornings and evenings are cool.  Technically, this is southern hemisphere “autumn.”  But it still feels like spring to me.  Yes, the days are getting cooler instead of warmer, but it still feels like spring.  Refreshment.  Renewal.  Rejuvenation.  All the things that represent spring. 

It has no worries in a year of drought, and never fails to bear fruit. 

I thank God that even when I complain, He always, eventually, sends Spring.

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