The Slow Move Has Begun

Today I unpacked the first carton in the new house, hung up a few clothes, made sure there is soap and toilet paper in the bathroom (My late Daddy drilled me on the importance of that one!), moved a few of Dan's toys over, and enjoyed first cup of coffee in our new house.

But before any of that, I went from room to room saying a multitude of prayers for our new life there. I pray it is a home of comfort, security, fellowship, and peace.

Since the kids and I are on holiday for about another month there's no reason to stress about moving in haste. I'll do a little each day while the kids are at soccer camp. Tomorrow we'll move some furniture and the new refrigerator and the tailor measured for curtains today.

I put up a picture of my parents too. Little by little it will all be done.

I look forward to setting up a new place, but it's kind of overwhelming to go through all the nooks and crannies and know what to move and toss, but as I said the other day, it will all get done one way or another.

Maybe in a few days I'll post a few pictures, but it will take awhile before it will start to look like our home. Maybe I'll find some more pictures to set around. Stay tuned!

Back Home

We arrived back in Jos a few hours ago. One thing that hit me hard is how much clutter we have. That was one thing I enjoyed about being in our Yola house...no clutter!

It's amazing how easy things add up. Even now, I need to unpack, but since we're moving soon I don't really want to unpack, only to pack up again soon. I'm tempted just to run my suitcase over to the new house on Monday and just unpack it there. I'll still find stuff to wear, especially after our clothes are washed.

I think I will try to be selective about what I take to the new house and then look at what's left and decide if I really need it or not. It's easy to give away things that don't fit the kids anymore, or things they have grown out of, but it's really hard to start giving away books, things I MIGHT need one day and so on and so forth. At the same time, I look forward to the opportunity to have a fresh start.

It is a good time to scale back...I'm sure I could find good homes for some of the things and I'm sure there are some things I should just toss out.

At least I know some places that can use some things and I can think of a few people who might be interested in some of the other stuff. It's summer break and a good time to scale back and examine priorities. Wish me luck...or better yet, pray for discernment between things that would be wise to save and those that are just clutter at this time in my life. Perhaps you want to join me in this effort!

Holiday in Yola

HI, we've been in Yola for over two weeks. It has been a wonderfully restful time. I've had time to read novels, magazines, a few devotional books and had time to bake. The kids and I have enjoyed time with our extended family here in Adamawa. Amson's cousins and their families are here and his mom spent two weeks with us.

We are really blessed to have this home here. I really love all the space we have and we've gotten to know one neighbor better, they have two boys Daniel enjoys.

Now we just have a few days left before we head back to Jos and move into a new house. As much as I have enjoyed our time here, I'm ready to head back...besides, my novels are all read and I only have one devotional book left and the magazines are fun, but I much prefer relaxing with a good book.

Amson arrives today to spend our last weekend with us and then we head home on Tuesday...we are so rich to have more than one home we can enjoy!

I have often wished I could share some of the various thoughts I have pondered on these past few weeks: thoughts on living more simply, rediscovering my faith in God, enjoying my children and family in Yola, and just being able to slow down. It has even been good to have less access to the internet.

Well, it's time to sign off. I've been on internet while Nat is taking confirmation class....more about that another day. Now it's time to go.

Hope you too are enjoying some downtime this summer!

Schools Out!

Well, we've been on break for two weeks now. The past few days haven't been so fun since I've been sick, but I am feeling better again.

It's been a bit busy too. Last Sunday I preached on Mark 8:28-34. It was a good experience and I felt the Spirit's guidance.

Now we're getting ready to pack up from the "Blue House" in a few days and then head to our home in Yola, or Jimeta as the locals call it (not to be confused with Yola Town where the traditional ruler has his palace).

Staying in this house has had it's ups and downs, but then I guess that's just life in a nutshell. No matter, I'm ready for this chapter to close.

We'll have three weeks in our house in Yola and then come back to start moving into the compound where there are other ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) missionaries. It will be good for us to be on a larger compound again, I like having a little more life around us, even though I tend to be a homebody.

I also look forward to having a larger community to be a part of, I know the kids have missed that a lot. It will be different though, we've never lived around other Americans here in Nigeria, but at least one of our neighbors will be Nigerian/American like us so that will be good.

It's hard to explain how that makes a difference, but I guess it is kind of a tribal thing...though our husbands are from opposite ends of Nigeria. I've been in Nigeria long enough to know that while tribal tendancies can be dangerous, they're also quite understandable....and comfortably familiar.

Perhaps that's what I've missed most these past months, feeling at home in my home. I pray that as we move to our new house it won't take long to feel at home. In December 2008, when we spent a month in our brand new home in Yola, it was home from the moment we walked in the door. I pray that might happen again.

Well, it's time to turn off the gen and go to bed so I'll sign off.

I pray that as you read this, you too feel at home where ever you are.

Dorthea

Inner Peace

Life in Jos, Nigeria continues on. School is in its last quarter and is going fine, kids are managing fine with their own school work, staying in touch with friends they see only on the weekends, church activities are going fine....everything is going on well, in spite of occasional outbursts around town, the state, or nation.

As I was making supper last night I found myself aware of the inner peace I was feeling and giving a word of thanks for it.

Most afternoons I head home tired from the day at school, and it doesn't take much stress added to the tiredness to where I feel exhausted and overwhelmed, but at the end of the week the load of work and family was feeling much more manageable.

It's amazing how much difference a positive attitude transforms life's challenges to become minor inconveniences.

At school this week I wrapped up a chapter on WWII in one class and discussed the Great Depression and earlier revolutions in others so perhaps that's part of why my own life's challenges seem so minor at the moment. Survivors of these events endured so much and lived to share their experiences.

When the kids and I were on spring break last week it was wonderful to take note of their frequent smiles and enjoyment of the restful week. I thank God that in spite of the many things, life is good and His love and care is ever present. May it also be apparent in your own life.

Spring Break

After a good weekend of fun with the family in Abuja we are back in Jos and will be at the guesthouse for the next week. For the rest of the week I don't have any big plans. I did sit down and make a list today, but I don't feel compelled to exhaust myself with lots of baking or stress myself thinking about the reports I collected last week.

I do hope to do some baking. I have two pumpkins waiting to use and today I bought some cheese for pizza, but I think I'll put it off a day or two. I may do some marking too, time will tell. For now though, I just feel the need to rest and enjoy a few things I don't always have time for. Writing a few blogs, watching some mystery/detective shows on TV, reading for pleasure, tickling my kids...those kinds of things.

Tomorrow I will meet a longtime friend who has been inviting me for a lunch date since my birthday in October. When I realized I had no big plans I sent her a note and look forward to spending some time with her.

I have another lunch out planned too, but that one is a little sadder. One of my fellow Nigerwives is leaving Nigeria. Her children have pressured her to move back to her country of origin. I pray that it will be a good move and that her husband will follow. I also thank God that my family understands my calling to Nigeria.

Nigeria, and Jos in particular, continue to be full of uncertainties but we are still here and pray God will give us courage to trust Him. Uncertainties or not, I still feel God has work for us here in Jos.

Living for the moment...

For the past two months we have continued to spend the week at the house on the other side of town and the weekends at our home at the guesthouse.

In between the longing for a normal routine in the midst of our constant state of flux I try to imagine that going between two homes is a luxury Truth be told, I miss knowing where I left my book, not worrying about leaving the kids' school stuff at the other house, having the right spices or cookbook when I need it, and the list goes on.

I've been thinking a lot about living for the moment; these days in Jos the dynamics of daily life often change with little notice. Last Monday, for example, there were rumours of possible riots so soon after lunch there was an announcement at school that parents were being called to collect all children and in about an hour everyone was on their way home. School resumed the next day, but that night many of us heard shooting and several received messages that attackers were coming from outside the state. In the past few days more then one group of suspected attackers have been discovered, some even today.


On Thursday students' attention was claimed during the morning while the Christian women of Jos marched past the school during a peace march. Some how my student's managed to finish their essay test, but it took a fair amount of effort...but then most school assignments demand an extra effort to be able to concentrate these days.

Even within our own family we live by the moment. Yesterday we had planned to spend the weekend in the Blue House, but soon after Amson arrived he suggested we go to the guesthouse compound and within twenty minutes we were on our way.

Living for the moment and being ready for any change...that's where we're at now. It can be exhausting and emotionally draining, but we trust God's steadfastness will sustain us.

Today, Saturday, we had some fun at school as the annual Carnival was held. It was five hours of fun for the younger kids as they enjoyed the zip line, horse rides, dirt bike and motorcycle rides, water slide, kiddie pool, time to chat for adults, and other games for the middle school kids. All was organized by the sophomore class and their sponsors and parents. For a few hours we parents just worried about our kids having fun and not getting sunburns.

Living for the moment...or perhaps I should not say "for" the moment, we live trying to concentrate on the most pressing demands so that the larger issues of security and stability do not overwhelm and consume us. Granted, those issues are vitally important, but as a mother and teacher I find I need to focus more on caring for the immediate needs of those closest to me, that is where my attention must go first.