back at it

so here I am - back in my place on the couch in the living room, reflecting on the past couple weeks where sometimes time seemed to be standing still, but now I can't believe it's already over. I'm trying to catch up with life here at home - everything I missed while I was away, while trying to process everything that now seems to have gone by in a blur.

Overall I just find myself feeling ridiculously blessed beyond words. For the first time in my life I am actually really excited to be home. My life is overflowing with love from all directions. so much that I find myself at times not even knowing what to do with myself because I am so overwhelmed with it. It is the most incredible feeling ever. and as cliche as this all sounds, I have no other way to describe it.

My last night in Pemba was seriously one of the most amazing nights of my entire life, thus far. I got to hang out up at my friend Rosa's house for the whole night, and at the end she ended up gathering up all the girls in her room and sitting me in the middle of the floor and getting them to sing and pray over me. that is a memory that I will cherish for the rest of my life. holding little 2 year old Christina on my lap, the sound of those girls singing. their perfect harmonies, and tiny voices just telling God how much they love him. them all around me praying for me and my family in Portuguese, and then Rosa and Chantel continuing to just soak me love spoken directly from God through them... it is a moment completely beyond words.

Leaving the next day was hearder than I remember it being the last time. Knowing it may be years before I get to go back. not knowing where certain friends will be at that point.

The few days we had in South Africa after leaving Pemba were good, but pretty difficult for me. I wanted to either be with my friends in Pemba, or back with my friends here at home. being stuck in transition was really hard. but while we were there I met an amazing south african couple, who I hope to go back and work with the next time I go to africa. and we went on a pretty amazing safari. Saw lots of amazing animals up close and personal - very personal in some cases.... sarah and I definitely got attacked by some monkeys...! aaahahaha.

So now I'm home. happy, and overflowing. job hunting, missing far away friends but thankful for the ones here, and praying that I won't lose anything I learned or experienced there.

*sigh*

life is good, my friends.

Closing time

My last few days here in Pemba are coming at me at ridiculous speed. I can't believe we only have 2 more days here! that's insanity..... I've definitely been feeling the urgency of that the past few days, andhave just spent as much time as possible hanging out with friends here.

This trip has been different for me - less spiritual (although there's been plenty of that as well) and more relational stuff. I've spent a lot of time just building up the friendships I had here from the last trip. there are a couple people here who I've gotten pretty close to this trip, and my heart is already really sad to be leaving them in a couple days. but ... that said - I still have a couple more days to hang out with them, so I'm going to take advantage of that as much as possible, so this will probably be my last post from Pemba.

South Africa in a couple days. should be fun. life here is good. it only continues to get hotter, and I don't seem to have enough minutes in the day for everything I want to do and everyone I want to see!!

Speaking of which - I gotta get going! See you in South Africa! See you for real in about a week.

hearts

The past few days here have been amazing. I can't even begin to try to remember it all, and even if I could what I write here wouldn't do it justice.
My friend Heather finally arrived - I don't remember if I mentioned that or not yet.. so it's been so great spending time with her. I've gotten to play lots of music in the past few days. My friend Rosa and I spent some time up in one of the gazibos the other night and she taught me some portuguese songs, and we worshiped and talked. It was so great. Last night we had a (brace yourself....!! haha) techno dance party!!! bahahahaha!! up in one of the gazibos, one of the long term missionaries here organized this worship/rave/amazing dance party thing that was fricking amazing!! hahaha. God was sooooo tangible during the mellower worshipy times, and then it was just SO much fun dancing and jumping around toghether. haha. I loved it. that's something I've wanted to organize at home for a long time, so it gave me the extra excitement I need to hopefully do something about it this time when I get back. hehe.
This morning I think I realized that I just have less than a week left here in Pemba, and I'm not quite sure how I feel about that. I'm excited to go home - I miss it (weird!) - but the past couple days have been so amazing. I finally am getting into the rhythm of life here, building some amazing friendships with people from the last time I was here, spending time with old friends, and meeting some great new people. As usual, it's going to be pretty bitter/sweet when I have to leave here.
but! now it's time for church, so I gotta get going!! yay carnival style piano and crazy dancing! hehehe. then the church team is headed to this crazy beautiful beach about 20 minutes from here. *ahhhh, the hard life of a mssionary* hehe.
tcheu!