We are adjusting to sleep here in Africa. Our days are pretty much determined by the sun as there is no electricity at night. And our mornings are determined by the bright sunshine and rooster crows - which originate in the dirt right outside our window.
We had worship with the family this morning. They do not participate in a local church as they do not want the villagers to focus on them rather than the Lord and they are trying to do as much behind the scenes worship as possible. So Nick and I gathered with the family in their banda (cement slab with grass roof - African equivalent of a gazebo), and with mismathced hymnals we all sang under the beautiful Tanzanian sky. We followed by each of us reading a favorite psalm and then the father brought a word from Acts 3. We talked about the importance of learning to say no. This sounds a little strange but in cultures like this, you will always be tempted to help everyone. But sometimes it is not yet in the Lord's timing and we need to wait for the prompting of the Holy Spirit to act in Christ's love and reach out to others.
This afternoon was mostly spent resting and conversing with each other. However, Esta's daughter came over. Before I get into that, let me tell you about Esta...She came over yesterday with her son. She wanted to welcome Nick and I and had actually been practicing saying my name for the past week! (the -er sound is not used here and everyone has had trouble pronouncing my name, haha). Nick and the missionary father fixed her sewing machine, her son played in the yard with us, and the missionary mother looked at a sore tooth of Esta's. I enjoyed the conversation I was able to have with her - she is funny! Well anyways, she sent her daughter over with a rug she made for Nick and I - it is made of many of the local fabrics and really neat.
We're about to eat dinner and tomorrow we are going into town to meet the officials and register ourselves for our month stay here.
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Nick is really enjoying yawls feathered alarm clock, huh? Do you sleep in hammocks or mats? I enjoyed our semi-Skype sooooo much yesterday afternoon. The prayer gathering last eve was attended by a handful of God's children - He knew just who to send! Does the village have a Christian church already? Can't wait to see your photos. Wish you were making a stop here on your way back to TX. I know the GA's/youth will want you two to share your experiences when home next. Remember Fran wants yawl to speak on a Sunday night after xmas I believe? I could certainly learn from your scripture lesson this morning. Just read aloud to myself Acts 3. Did you learn how to discern when it's truly a prompting from the H.S. How to know when to say No and when to say Yes? What beautiful friendships God is blessing yawl with. Esta sounds like a wonderful soul. Can't wait to see your rug - I'm imagining Joseph's coat of many colores :0) Praying now for a smooth tomorrow. May our good Lord use yawl effectively and wonderously :0)
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