If you want to know my heart, read this

written by Hannah, one of my dear friends and a missionary in Gabon, Africa. this is the story of hope, of sadness, of revelation...of our hearts.

Chocolate chip cookies

So last night Dan made chocolate-chip cookies and they are temptingly sitting in the other room. I could go get one right now if I wanted to...I might...

And tonight I have been commissioned to make Greek for dinner. This...should be interesting. I am planning to keep it simple and make plenty of Ranch dressing. Because everything is good with Ranch dressing.

I never would have imagined that I would come to Africa and find lots of modern conveniences here that I don't have in America. Like, for example, a large flat-screened television (although we haven't watched anything yet), an ipod dock to make charging and listening to music very easy, and...yeah, at the moment that is all I can think of. But still, those are pretty crazy! I think something I would struggle with if I was going to be here long-term is that there is really nothing different about our lives here compared to America in terms of comforts in the home. We eat American foods, have music playing, games stacked in a cupboard, and loads of peanut butter! Aren't you supposed to go to a third-world country as a missionary and be stretched in terms of how you live?? I will tell you, we are being stretched, though. Yes, we may have a running car and a driver but we also have waited many times for our ride to pick us up or take us where we need to go. Every night the water shuts off so after 6 we can't do dishes, shower...plus, living in the middle of a different culture, you must draw support from the few people around you who understand your lifestyle and needs.

But most of all, here where things are not constant and unpredictable, there is One unchanging element to our lives--God's goodness. He is our Solid Rock and from Him we can find comfort, peace, companionship, protection, and love.

Please come to us snow!

Today I sent an e-mail with the link to my Africa blog to a bunch of people. I hate doing stuff like that...it just seems so narcisistic and like I epxect everyone to want to read it or something. I mean, I love it when people do obviously but I hate promoting myself in that way for some reason...well, I know the reason.

I hope we get snow today! The forecast calls for it, but down south in the city where our house is rarely ever gets snow. :( I think this calls for a unisonal "Poo-hoo!"

What a crazy weekend I have ahead of me. Today I got to French class and take a test. After that I go babysitting. Then I come home and work nonstop on my chemistry test. Tomorrow morning I go babysitting again until mid-afternoon. I come home and, guess what? Work nonstop on my chemistry test. Then we are having friends over for dinner. I'll probably sleep over with a friend and in the morning I have dance at 9:30. At 1 I have a CNA training thing and then after that I go straight to some friends' house for another sleepover. I get up in the morning, go to church (and hear my dad preach!) then come home and, yet again, work nonstop on my chemistry test. By the point depending on how much I have done I might go to Perspectives (my missions class). If not, I'll stay home and work on the test. Which is due Monday morning.

Only a few more weeks of this school madness! I think the fact that I'm done with high school in December is making me a wee bit apathetic.

I really want to spend money and buy the Celtic Thunder Christmas album! But no. Well maybe. We'll see...

I raked a big pile of leaves yesterday. I might go jump in them before it snows...

:)