Land ho!

The organization I will be working for in the fall, Small Steps for Compassion, has found the property that God set aside for them. It's in Usa River, Tanzania. Right outside of Arusha. (here's a map). Things had gotten a bit crazy for awhile with the search for land, it's a long story that I would love to tell you about in person sometime.

The great thing is this property looks wonderful! I haven't been there to see it yet but I was in the area last fall and I liked it. It is 11 acres, has mango, guava (my favorite!) avocado and macadamia nut trees! There are also corn and coffee plants. A fish pond, a wall with gates already built, There are so many varieties of flowering plants, trees and bushes! Lots of colourful birds and a view of Mt Meru and Kilimanjaro on a clear day.

Part of the 11 acres

The outside of the first house on the property.

The inside main room of the house.

Beautiful isn't it?

If you would like to see more photographs please click here!

I don't know what all God has in store for me and the children of Tanzania. But I trust and will take life one step at a time following where He leads.

Shoes

I bought a pair of shoes on Friday.

They were cheep and I needed them.

However, the description of them is a bit more than I wanted in a pair of shoes.

"Patent pending technology with two curved pods that create slight instability while you walk which encourages muscle toning."

I'm not sure I want "slight instability" while I walk. I'm already slightly unstable.

And the patent is still pending. Does that mean they aren't safe?

And they're white. I hate white shoes on my feet. They are distracting to me when I walk.

But they were cheep and will get the job done.

Life.

"The place God has called you to is where your deepest passion
and the worlds deepest hunger meet."

Go where God is calling you.
Be present where you are.
Your deepest passion, that's where He is.

Complicated

What a word.

My student used it today to describe working together as a team. On talking about learning how to communicate, learning how to accomplish a goal.

It was complicated, she said.

I liked that word.

It's complicated.

Summer 2010

I've recently watched the summer camp staff video from 2010 and it has made me miss many things.

I've smelled the fresh pine air with the warm sunshine and it makes me think of mornings in the summer.

I've cleaned the Cowgirls bathroom and the cold porcelain smell reminds me of summer camp.

I miss it.

I miss:

• Good long talks with Kimberly
• Counseling with Laura Brownlow
• Laughing at Nick and Ashley's antics in the morning
• Chris Cluzet's ability to always amaze me with his awesomeness
• Having a needed deep conversation with Beth Hartman
• Being inspired by Jessie Turner
• Brainstorming with Chelsea
• Getting clean clothes from Kaitlyn
• Trying to understand Fraiser
• Seeing Allison in all her beauty
• Watching the Keele's interact on stage- "Whatever Jill"
• Crying about Peter with Gabe
• Jamming at the Poolympics with DJ Donnie Crook
• Watching Rambi perform
• Laughing at the Klusterhuises work without their shirts-always
• Hanging out at the river with Princess
• Camping out at Indian camp with Katie for her first time
• Loving all the energy Paulette puts to use for us
• Watching my campers interact and knowing how awesome they are
• Watching God do His greatest work at night with the stars
• Feeling real on Friday nights

What do you miss?

Running Fever.

It's spring and I think instead of getting cabin fever I have gotten running fever and it's catching!

I love hearing how other people are thinking about or actually getting out and running! It's good, it's fun and what a great thing for your body and heart.

It's good for my heart because I think while I run, I process life. When I'm not thinking about how I will get enough energy to make it up the hill, I am thinking about what God has done in my life or what He will do. My heart has a chance to get cleaned out.

Today I ran with Brittany, I was tired to start with but I wanted to go. It's strange how I want to go even when my body doesn't. The extra milage was a bit hard but it can't kill me. I even attacked the hills with some vengeance and Brittany gave me encouragement by informing me I was going faster than I had before.

I never thought I would be training for a Fresno 1/2 marathon.

I'm excited about it.

I can call myself a runner now right?