Cappuccini - but not the drink

On the first day in Rome we visited what friends had described as "the bone church" also known as Chiesa Di Santa Maria Della Concione.  

Attached to this church was a newly established museum recording the history of the Franciscan order.  My favorite quotes:

 I discovered that they are known as the Cappuccini because of their style of dress:
    

I really wanted to ask him if he'd been to the bone church too...

Walking through the row of crypt chapels, with walls and ceiling decorated in patterns/displays of bones was a mixture of disturbing and thought provoking.

One of the plaques among the bones reads: 

‘what you are now we used to be, what we are now you will be’

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capuchin_Crypt has more info and a photo.

This Benediction I read today is the challenge I'd like to leave with you:

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships - so that we may live deep within our hearts. May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people - so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war - so that we may reach out our hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in the world - so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor. Amen. (Franciscan Benediction)

Top 10 Lessons Learned Driving in Italy

First let me introduce my favorite Mercedes "Putt-Putt".  He proved is worth  many a time with great pick up, good reflexes and was the perfect size for Italian village roads and parking spaces!!  Here we'd stopped halfway down a mountain (more or less the edge of a parking lot) to say hello to our first sheep sighting of the trip.  Yeah for the emergency break!! :)

Driving Italian roads and Autostradas was as much of an adventure as I'd been warned, but oddly enough a thrill quite to my liking!!  Here's a pic of the beginning of one of the many monsoons I drove through!!

So here's what I learned:

1) BEWARE of the Autovelox (Radar speed trap photo box) - there may be signs, but they are EVERYWHERE!!

2) If trying to leave town, follow the green signs, they will get you to the big roads that just might be visible on printed maps!

3) White signs with black bulls-eyes will lead to the center of town = tourist spots.

4) Brown and white signs are probably just what you're looking for!

5) Lanes are MERE suggestions.

6) When the car behind starts to cuddle your back side, it's just a kind reminder you're driving too slow, and move to the granny lane on your right.

7) Roundabouts are particularly educational the fourth time around!

8) Yield signs give right of way to the owner of the bigger cojones!

9) Autostrada restrooms are of the "bring your own toilet seat" variety.

AND...

10) The views are ALWAYS worth the drive!!!!

Creative Rest

This picture from Zambia symbolizes "creative rest" to me. It's an old tire leaning against two home-made bricks. The man who "made" it, had just gotten up - he had been sitting supported in a reclining position with legs outstretched!!
I read this post last weekend. I appreciated the reminder from Adrienne that as we pour out into people around us - from our "full cup", we need to be continually allowing God to refill us.

Refilling happens in my life in many ways. Reading God's words. Spending time focused on His attributes - in silence, with words, through music. Taking my concerns, my pain, my hopes, my joys and placing them in His capable hands - sometimes "prying" my fingers off first!!:) But in turn, God fills my heart with peace, comfort and joy - peace that's not logical, comfort in the midst of pain and confusion, and joy even in times of sorrow.

The past week here in DC God has also used conversations to build up, comfort and encourage my soul. Opportunities to share about the many blessings and miracles I have seen God work in my life over the past 6+ months. Opportunities to hear what God has been doing in the lives of friends! Reminders - bright pictures - of His faithfulness, deep love and constant support - in the midst of hardships and blessings.

It amazes me to look back over the past year and see how even last January I had no interest -AT ALL - in moving away from DC, and yet God has really changed my attitude and now I have peace and a sense of excited anticipation toward this move! I am grateful for these days to say Goodbye - for now - to precious friends. A great last paragraph to this chapter of my life! Thanks God!!!

In the midst of this joy and gratefulness, my heart is breaking for the people of Haiti. Watching the photos on the news brings tears to my eyes. What heartache, pain and confusion. Pray with me that God's hand of comfort and His strength would be felt. And that He would give wisdom in the many difficult decisions being made in the midst of such confusion and chaos. The Livesays are living in Haiti and are sharing their experience here...

Snow!!!

I do believe I've seen more snow in the past month at my parents in WI, than I've seen in the past decade:)!! It's BEAUTIFUL!!! The coldest temperature I saw was -17 F last Saturday... I tried to take a photo, but my camera froze!!:) Strangely enough 20 has started to feel warm:):). I have learned to always wear LOTS of extra layers!!

Christmas was great!! The blizzard brought some of the family in early and so we had nearly six full days ALL together!! It was GREAT fun!! We had some serious Rook competitions, ate lots of yummy food and laughed a lot! ...and played with the niece and nephews!!

Here's the youngest... Jonathan!! He's got the greatest grin!!

While in Zambia I felt God clearly directing me to move closer to family. In the past few weeks, God has orchestrated a fabulous new job and place to live in Minneapolis! I'll be two hours from both my parents and my older sister and her family!!

I'm back in DC for about a week, picking up some of my stuff and catching up with old friends!! It's fun to be back around, but a little sureal as well:). May God bless you richly in the year ahead!!! xoxo L

Traveling North!!

Well, it's been a busy couple weeks finishing things up in Marion. It was great to have time with family and friends!! I was able to visit Kirsten on the way north and enjoyed spending time with both her little girls - Vienna (2 yrs) and Anthia (2 months). Here are Kirsten and I in front of her Christmas tree!!

I broke up my trip north by staying with Carla (she was our history prof in Zambia). It was great fun to meet her family and catch up a little on her life! We ate at a FABULOUS Thai place... it was hard to believe, but it had been nearly four months since I'd eaten those flavors! Delish!!:):) Thanks Ladies for a great weekend!!
So then I drove the rest of the way up to Wisconsin on Monday, and by evening when I got to my parents it was a GLORIOUS 6 degrees Fahrenheit!! That's a serious drop from the 120's not so very long ago!! Thankfully my blood is slowly getting thicker!!:)

I did have a couple interesting moments on the way - one of them involved a beautiful male pheasant posing in the middle of the interstate!! I had a truck next to me at the time so couldn't avoid hitting it. Feathers flew!! Thankfully my CRV seems to have come through unscathed! If it had been on a side road I'd probably at least have TRIED to go back and pick it up. :) Mom is good at cooking pheasant!! Welcome to WISCONSIN!! It IS good to be back with my parents! Great conversations and lots of hot tea!!

Last week pics...

While in Livingstone we visited a small game park... the first time I got to see Giraffe's in the wild!! LOVED THEM!!:):)

Here's a picture of the deep fried termitets... I ate one of those!! It was actually yummy:), with it's crunchy buttery taste. Mind you, they had taken the wings off them... but it still took a while to get all the legs out from between my teeth:):):).

The last sunday I wore a traditional Zambian dress... with head scarf. Here's Lauren posing with me:)...

Here are some of the kids from our last trip out to villages...

It's good to be back in the US safely. I'm at my brother's home right now... enjoyed fixing my own breakfast! Looking forward to going grocery shoping later this morning, and then spending the next couple days with family and friends!! Happy Thanksgiving all!!

Last few days in Zambia!!

Hello! I've tried multiple times to upload photo's, but without success... so I thought I'd write a quick note and promise to upload pics once I'm back in the US next week!

We've had a busy last couple weeks with saying many goodbyes. The students baked various goodies to take with cards to the many places around Choma and Zimba where they had their clinical experiences. We also served a tea to the WHIZ staff and prepared a meal for the team who have been taking care of us at the guest house all these weeks. The many friendships we've developed will be the most valuable thing we take with us from our time here in Zambia!

Since Thursday evening, we've been here in Livingstone. Friday (yesterday) we visited the local game park - saw zebra, giraffe, buffalo, impala, bush buck, crocodile, monkeys, some stranded fish (after flooding the night before) and all kinds of birds! My favorites were the giraffe!!

We also visited Victoria Falls. Stunning!! This was definitely the moment where I missed my time in Zimbabwe the most - the river is much deeper on the Zim side and so in the present dryer season, there is not much water on the Zambia side. Amazing, regardless... and a tad intimidating for those with any fear of heights!!! BUT we didn't get soaked by the mist like we could see happening on the Zim side. It was really neat to be back there again!! God gave us sunshine between the clouds and we got to see the rainbows in the mist at the bottom of the falls!! Cool pics:)!!!

We have a few more things on our schedule with some down time as well. Our flight home will start Monday. I'm looking forward to being with family in Indiana for Thanksgiving!!! Where will you be for Thanksgiving?? Any good traditions you'll be upholding??

Where does YOUR water come from??

This week, we visited a few villagers and were able to see where they get their water from. This first photo is of an open well, with a bucket that can be lowered down to fill with water. This is close to one family's home, but a longer walk for many who live multiple km away!

Alissa took a turn at carrying a bucket full of water. It was a rather long walk, on a sandy road! What a challenge!!

This was one of the local women filling up the bucket... imagine trying to do that when pregnant!! This hole was about a foot deep. They said that it would fill about 3 buckets, then took about an hour to refill!

Carrying water back up the hill from the creek...

Filling our buckets up at the creek!

It was a big reminder of all that we take for granted... clean water in bottles IN THE FRIDGE, or coming out of the tap! Safe "instant" water - a privilege or a right??

It's rained a couple times over the past week. The bugs are out in full force... flying termites, misquitoes, etc. Six of the group have already battled malaria over the past 5 weeks, we are praying that this influx of mosquitoes does not cause any others to fall ill!!

We've started to say our Goodbye's. The tears have begun to flow. It is hard to believe we're leaving Choma this coming Thursday and then starting our flight back to the US the following Monday! The students are working hard to finish all their papers and projects!!

Village life III

Well, we spent the day out in the village today. These photo's are actually from other villages than the ones we were in today, but Internet has not let me upload photo's the multiple times I have tried over the past week. Sadly I got my first real sunburn... it was a cloudy day and I didn't manage to put sunscreen on before we left... and lo and behold, the African sun is not so gentle on my skin!! Hopefully a few coats of aloe will help most of it turn into "tan"...:)

Back to the more important part of the day... we visited families that are caring for orphans, and others where the children would be considered "vulnerable" due to poverty, illness or similar issues. One the one hand, it is exciting to see what communities are doing to support and provide for those in their midst who are in need, and yet the harsh realities of their needs are deeply humbling. God keeps reminding me how deeply blessed I am on so many levels!! I pray I never loose sight of this - but will always remember to pray for children like Yolanda (one of the girls we met today) and for the families who are caring for them! At a couple of the homes, we walked with them to where they get water - one a creek a 3-4 min walk down a hill, and another an open well a 6-8 min walk away. Each time, the students helped fill buckets with water and then took turns carrying the full buckets back to the homes.

The photo below is of a "soccer ball" we found at another home earlier this semester ... it's a bundle of plastic bags. Carla (pictured below) proceeded to kick this same ball around with one of the young boys for a little while.

People's homes in the village are made up of small "compounds" - though they do not have fences around them in rural areas, they are a collection of small buildings. Usually the largest building has a roof and is where people sleep. There is often a cooking hut, storage huts of various kinds as well as toilets off to one side. Today we saw similar storage areas to the one pictured below. We also saw a dish rack similar to ones I saw in Sierra Leone and even a solar panel lying in the sun next to one of the homes.

The chickens have these really cool little huts that are up on stilts, with tall ladders attached.

Like this:
This is another photo of the colorful chetenges we see most women wearing.

The 90 min drive, much of it on washboard dirt roads was a little bit of a challenge, but what a great experience! We have really been blessed with a real diversity of experiences and have been exposed to some of the extremes of culture and lifestyles seen in this part of Zambia!

It is hard to believe that we have only one more week here in Choma and will be back in the US in less than two weeks time!! I am grateful for God's continued faithfulness and blessings. We have seen His hand on our lives in truly remarkable ways!!

Village life II

Hello all! We've just gotten back to Choma from five days in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. It was a six hour drive north. It was a little of a culture shock for us all... seeing traffic lights for the first time in nearly eight weeks!!:) Also the first set of stairs since we walked off the plane (down those rolling stairs) to the tarmack in Livingstone in early September! I still need to upload the photo's from the last week, but here's a few from earlier visit's to a village.

The women can often be seen carrying a heavy load on their heads as well as a young child on their backs!