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joymu
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Name: Joy
Interests: Worship, feasting on God's word, reading, cooking, studying, enjoying God's creation, mentoring younger girls, teaching and reforming education in Camden...
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Member Since:
7/27/2005
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| Hi friends
If you haven't read it, my assessment of life is below. I think
most of the people who read this blog are friends from NJ. I'm
settling in, which is fun. I had pizza today. I've had
pizza every week so far (last three weeks we've made it). Today I
decided I'd had enough matoke for lunch and came home and made grilled
cheese (I had made the bread for it Monday). I'm still cooking
lots. =) I showed people pics from home--Katie, Beth,
Ryan, Phil, Neal, Joel....
Thank you all for the wonderful book Drae got together. I've
cried 3 times so far reading it. I am blessed by your
prayers.
I'm awed by how this is His work. It's a privilege to be
involved, but there's quite a bit that God's doing with out me.
Pray for elections !!!!!! We anticipate violence in
Kampala.
Please keep me posted on life. I read blogs today, which was
fun. I'm just settling into an internet schedule. My pc
didn't work. I'[m borrowing one from the team leader.
yawn. My bed is calling me. But music is in the background
beckoning me to dance (in my house only). The music is rather
funny-- every once in a while you'll hear Brittany Spears or
something. I've watched 2 movies since I've been here.
There are some unexpected things about life here. mix cows and
goats into the equation along the road...
Hi stateside friends,
Now that I’ve been in Bundibugyo for two--going on 3 weeks, I’ll tell
you what an average week looks like (I’ll never have an average week).
Schedule:
My school schedule is bonkers. I teach 3 different subjects: Senior 1
English (freshman ESL), Senior 3 literature, and Senior 5 general papers. I have 71 students between my two senior one
classes, which makes for a ton of grading.
The classes meet at different times each day --Eg. My S3 literature class meets Monday at 2:45, Tue. At 3:30,
Wed. at 11:00, and Friday at 3:30. S1-4 is O level, after which students take
exams, and, if they do well, go on to A level, which is S5-6.
So I teach 18 lessons a week, and no day remotely resembles
another. Wednesday morning is team
prayer (at 6:30 it is still
dark). Wednesday afternoon is school
chapel. Thursday evening is team meeting
and pizza night. Weekends—I don’t know
what regular is. There’s
school
chapel—it is such a delight to see the students leading prayer and
worship. And they do the same worship on Sat. afternoons,
too. The girls have asked to do a bible study--so that'll be Sat.
or Sun.
Living situation: I
live in a house on the girls’ compound.
There are two dorms with a total of 80 girls so far. If I walk out of my house and look to the
left I see the Rwenzori mountains. My
house has a living room, a kitchen (which I’ve already put to good use. It has a stove/oven, refrigerator, and
running water, which I filter), my bedroom, a bathing room (cold shower, sink),
and an extra room (could be bedroom or office, but it’s just storage now). I have an outhouse—it has a hole that serves
its purpose, and it doesn’t smell. I’m
content.
I’m enjoying getting to know other teachers at Christ
School. the 3 other female teachers and I are planning to meet weekly to pray, study, and fellowhsip.
Americans:
There are 6 other singles right now, ranging in age from 22
to 50.
Pat does women’s health and counseling
Pamela just came (though she was here last year) to work on
HIV/AIDs prevention
Kim and Amy teach the missionary kids (Rwenzori missionary
school, RMS)
Matt teaches at RMS and at Christ
School
Scott just arrived—he’s staying for about 6 weeks to work in
the clinic as part of his Physicians Assistant training
The singles sort of function as a family—so far, anyway,
we’ve had several meals together.
The Massos—Michael works on water development and general
maintenance; Karen works at the nutrition center a few days a week and cares
for her own 3 young children
The Bartkoviches—Kevin is the headmaster of Christ
School; JD cares for their 4 kids
and is about to celebrate her twins’ first birthday.
The Myhres: Scott and
Jennifer are both doctors. They usually
work in various clinics, except Jennifer’s dad is dying and she just left with
3 of her kids for America. Scott and Luke(the oldest son) will follow
next week.
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| i've updated my blogspot: www.joymu.blogspot.com | | |
| The "beginningness" of the new year is overshadowed by my impending move to Uganda (Jan. 25, God willing). I now observe things mundane, annoying, and wonderful (hot showers, traffic jams, and time with family, respectively) with a bit of nostalgia. I've started packing, now knowing my weight and size limitations (5 ' 6" and... kidding). My grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins went in together to buy me a digital camera--pictures soon to be posted! Among the niftier items for Uganda, my brother got me a handcrank flashlight--no electricity required.
I've been reading Shadow of the Almighty, Elizabeth Elliot's biography of Jim Elliot. Seeing his passion for God reinvigorates mine. Yet I also recognize my impulse to turn to another gospel of self-effort (Gal. 1), not to mention my tendency to be lethargic and empty in faith (a form of godliness, denying its power...). I hear Paul's rebuke: "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Gal. 3:3ish. Self-effort is no gospel at all, and certainly no gospel to spread in Uganda. I have nothing to offer except the Jesus Christ, who is the hope by which I'm saved. God is stronger than my flesh and pride, which threaten to devour me. "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9ish). | | |
| I just got back Nov. 18 from Mission Training International's SPLICE training in Colorado. Colorado was beautiful--mountains (which I enjoyed climbing), gorgeous sunrises, fellowship with brothers and sisters, and snow (I borrowed a few families' kids and went sledding and had snowball fights), and yet it was warm enough to enjoy walks almost daily. Mostly I enjoyed knowing that God is with me and will be with me when I go much farther from home. Among the dear friends I met were some people who'll be in Uganda, so God willing I hope to see them when I go to the capital, Kampala.
- Spiritual-- God gives me no guarantees for an easy, happy, or successful road, but it's worth it because God is in it and with me.
- Personal-- I put a high value on intimate friendship--pray for this on the team and in the surrounding community. To fight my self-absorbed tendency, I need to gaze at Jesus, bask in His acceptance and love, and from that boundless love love others.
- Lifestyle It'll stay hard to have more than people around me. Lifestyle choices don't have simple answers and will affect effectiveness.
- Interpersonal-- I'm seeing gifts in leadership/administration that I've shied away from because it seems "unfeminine" or abrasive. God's rattling my conception of who I should be. I keep praying that God would enable me to reflect the aspect of Christ that He's designed me to reflect (I Cor 12:18ish). Perhaps the responsibilities of teaching and discipling the girls will be a better fit than anticipated. Pray that I can walk in wisdom and humility, neither overriding others nor withdrawing from what I should do.
- Cultural-- Here I simply came away with a renewed commitment to openness: to observe, listen, and inquire when things conflict with my cultural norms.
- Endure/Enjoy
· It's gonna be hard, but it's worth it.
· Your determination and zeal won't keep you afloat; only a vital relationship with Christ will.
· There's always more need than there is of you. | | |
| God sometimes just blesses our socks off. Almost everyday this week, I've gotten some unexpected encouragement or financial support. A generous check, a late graduation gift, monthly support. You know, especially after a week where I felt down (being sick for a week +, having oral surgery--mom calls me muttermouth). It just reminds me that God shows mercy on people who don't have their act together. I was trying to encourage a Christian friend facing some consequences by saying, "isn't it amazing that we have an advocate with the Father?" --to which he responded, "well, it's a good thing, because who else would?" | | |
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