wise words from the sis...

"most girls are jealous of me. Sorry you get the backlash." i personally thought it was hilarious.

Some favorite things...

That my dad will text a whole sermon--minus a few pointers, but definitely more than is usually in a text.

That my sister and I are usually writing the same thing to each other via text and then simultaneously write "That was scary" in response.

Riding with the roof down, wind and hair blowing in my face.

Naps..which are extremely rare these days.

The feeling of being organized....another rarity these days.

and

the idea of summer....looming in the near future.

beauty

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
2 Corinthians 3:18

recent pictures

While I m trying to think of a new title for my blog...i thought I d share some pictures from the past...hmmm...6 or more months?!

poster and cake

I forgot to say that the delicious looking and very creative cake in the photo blogged below was made by the infamous Mrs. Adams!! Being the greatest next door neighbor that she is, both at Christmas and when we arrived home in June she brought over a homemade decorated chocolate cake! She also made the sign when my parents arrived home from visiting us in Malawi. Anyway...i had to give credit where credit was due! Thank you Mrs. Adams!

"Life is a Highway"...

Oh...i have no idea where to begin. I recently just read the blog of a friend who has just arrived home from Malawi as well. I told her that she has completely put me to shame as she actually blogged all throughout the closure and departure from Malawi, then into being home. I, however, just opted out. There seem to be just too many thoughts in my head. Sadness, nostalgia, high levels of anticipation, some anxiety, even feelings of questioning whether or not I completed my role/job in Malawi. 

I miss Malawi, the culture and people. I miss the warm-hearted nature they provided and with which they loved me. I miss the simplicity of life in Africa. It is so refreshing. Church...wow, do I ever miss Flood Church. Not really sure how to describe that. I miss the African or Malawian phrases--well the ones I knew. It catches me off guard when people look at me strangely when I am sure to greet them first in the grocery store instead of just bluntly asking them a question. I miss the African handshakes. I actually do miss driving on the left hand side of the road and right hand side of the car. It takes some serious focus when pulling out into traffic. I miss the simplicity of having no or one or two options in the stores. The sheer volume of variety here is entirely overwhelming and consuming. I had a mini-freak out when finding myself accompanying my mom (unexpectedly) to Sam's. I stuck to the book aisle which was enough. Wow...the surplus is just phenomenal.

So here I am...one month into being back in the US of A. I am glad I am here as I know this is where the Lord has me, but it's a rollercoaster. I cant begin to describe the cultural experiences of readjusting to America. My sister and I have sent countless text messages back and forth all throughout the day of various things we see and hear people say. It's complete comic relief. My sister clearly more interesting and comical than myself.

We have both found the beach to be a great place to transition. Our parents have been very generous to let us literally 'move' in at the beach each weekend. Rachel has stayed here fairly permanently for this month and a half before the next change in zip code--California. So...yeah...our heads are spinning with thoughts and attempts to debrief from Africa while the move to California looms in our eye sight. It's crazy to think that in less than two months I m going to go from standing at the front of the classroom lecture to sitting in the chairs taking notes as hurriedly as my students were.

Here's to more transitioning. Learning that all of life is one big transition...it s just that some are more life-changing than others. Whew..

a painful reality

Goodbye's hurt. I knew that and have experienced that in several capacities before arriving in Malawi...but I think i am experiencing it in a whole new realm...no i dont think..i know this for a fact. It is strange, surreal, moving, emotional, exhausting and life-changing. My mind is very much 'all over the place.' It's a total rollercoaster....chatting online on tuesday night with one of your best friends in the states and discussing just how soon you will see them when you land in MS, then going the very next morning and saying about 30+ goodbyes, to continue the mind-boggling list of packing essentials. What?! Excitement to bittersweet-ness.
To put it into perspective...Last week I was discussing with a full-time missionary family, whether or not one of the (ridiculously talented) musical groups at the college actually recorded. He said no that the recording is just not good enough. He then said that it's not something you can record and then play again in the states. It wont sound the same to the ear and heart when back in the States. He said "you literally have to take it in your memory and heart." Pretty good explanation. Not to sound self-righteous or 'no one can understand'...just that it s hard to explain in words.

pictures

what will you tell them...

With just over a week left in Malawi, my head and heart are full of emotions...ironically they are all contradictory emotions...Very ready to see friends and family...and ready to start school, yet not ready to say goodbye to friends and 'family' life here.  I have never had this kind of pull before.  As one missionary friend here said (seeing just how teary I was last Friday), "Caroline, you dont have to leave!"  

These last few days have been great...with less and less teaching.  I am ready for the year to be over in that sense.  It is strange thinking of packing and confirming the flight home, yet exciting in the same way.  Like I said...contradictory feelings.

I know I havent blogged in forever...i quickly realized it was getting harder and harder to not only keep up but to put into words all that was going on.  I cant wait to see many of you.  Hard to believe it s been about a year since Rachel and I first came.  As one friend recently said, "How will you ever begin to describe the experience you have had in Malawi?" Not sure that I ever will...

innocence...

fun times with kindergardeners:

--you say the word 'celebrate' and they break out into a song 'celebrating jesus'...clapping and all.  so what do we do? of course we have an improve music lesson in the middle of computer.

--then i overhear one little one saying "Curtis, I really dont know what to do. I know i am 6 and older than you but I'm not a computer aspert." aspert...i mean hilarious.

--presenting a third Ms. Harper to the already twin resembling Harper teachers on campus.  Talk about throwing little kids for a loop.  They just stare.  Then out of amazement "She came all the way from America??!" pretty quick for 5 years old.

--the hugs on the way out the door are priceless.  they are so little so they basically wrap themselves around your waist and legs.  

PARENTS!!

Our parents are IN malawi!!  Wow..it is hard to believe.  They arrived yesterday around 3 pm, which is a miracle in and of itself that they actually got here on the flight initially planned.  Basically the Lord carried them through each airport and connecting flight.  They had quite the experience though.  Hopefully one day I will write about it.  

But they are HERE! Like I said...hard to believe.  I emailed my dad's long time office manager asking which was harder to believe:  That mom and dad had 2 daughters living in Africa or that Mom and Dad were actually going to Africa to visit them!  Earlier this week I told several people...it is just surreal because for so long the possibility of someone coming to see you is...well...not a possibility b/c you are on the other side of the world.  And then all of a sudden you are getting ready for them to come...and THEN...you SEE them in the airport and it is pretty shocking.  Mom said she can understand now why/how we think (all the time), "How did we get here and What are we doing?!"

I m excited about a fun week of letting them see/experience our life here.  We are having a braii on tuesday night (that s a south african bbq), showing them the regular day at school, basketball practice, dinner with our favorite families here, etc.  It is just the normal routine but with our parents!  Dad has been asked to speak in chapel which i am very excited about.  i love hearing him speak.

I just wanted to give a quick update.  I will try to do so as much as possible throughout the week.  yay for family visitors!

over stimulation

so at any given moment in the same moment when driving in malawi, you might have...one car at a dead stand still in your lane while simultaneously having a car trying to pass from the oncoming traffic (on a double yellow mind you...if there is an actual double yellow line painted on the street), with various pedestrians on the side of the road as well as two or so casually crossing the street...yet everyone is still driving at about 50 kph passing within a hair thickness of the car next to them.  This happened today as I was driving to the grocery store.  I turned the corner and was able to look down this 4 lane road in Lilongwe...i saw all of this at the same time.  I chuckled to myself.  Shocking thing is....it didnt phase me...i was one of those people continuing to travel at the same speed.  I clearly remember the days where i would have flipped from the slight stimulation overload! 

It's hard to explain

It's hard to explain.  Life in Malawi--it's hard to explain.  It's so complicated yet so much more simple.  It's hard yet a lot easier.  It's sad yet so inspiring.  There is such beauty yet desolation and clarity of the effects of sin.  It can be completely depleting yet simultaneously rejuvenating.  It can bring about severe dislike for various aspects of life, but a total love for country and people.  It brings about laughter quickly accompanied or paired with tears.  

Perhaps because of these various realities, emotions, feelings, and observations, I find it hard to blog more often.  I wish I could and I often find myself saying "i have got to write about this!" Yet when i sit down to actually type it out or put "pen to paper" I seem to go blank and my mind starts wandering as it fills with various moments of "i still cant believe i live here."

As routine begins to develop and the things I thought once to be so taxing (going to the grocery store) become second nature, I realize June will quickly approach and this simpler yet more complicated way of life will become the crazy highways of America.  

I love that the biggest road in Lilongwe is a 4 lane and it is seemingly huge!  

I actually enjoy (to some extent) being blinded by another's head lamp b/c we are eating dinner in the dark for the upteenth time this week and we subconsciously forget not to look straight at each other as we shine the light in their eyes.  

I love seeing improvement in the girls on the basketball team.  Who knows how or why they have decided to play since Christmas break...but they are improving a lot and it is really fun to see the surprise and excitement on their face when they make their shots.  (ok...just want to say that while i am typing this...the electricity just went out.  i have exactly 32 mins left on my computer battery.)  

I love having the college students come up after class to ask a question regarding counseling b/c they have thought through various relational aspects.  

I love how big of a deal it is to make chocolate chip cookies while in Malawi...and then how bigger of a deal it is to eat them.

I love how our house is directly behind the soccer field so periodically if not more often than less we will have a soccer ball fly onto our condi.

And I love how our house (affectionately named the Brown house or Larry's Angel's) is Grand Central Station.  I counted 5 knocks on the door in less than 30 mins yesterday.  

So...here are just a few things...

I ve attached a pic that has really not much to do with any of this...but is an updated photo of sis and me.  We returned from Lujeri...the Tea Estates...a few weeks ago.  Seriously...one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.  I wish i could show all of the pics...but it d take til June to upload them all.

until next time.

A new look...

Happy New Year!

Im trying out this new background...for some reason, though, every time I look at it, I laugh.  Probably b/c it s really girly and here I am living in Africa?  Not that if you are girly you cant live in Africa...b/c clearly you can.  Case and point.  But still the background choice seems kind of ironic.  

It has been quite a while since I have written.  Rach and I are back in Malawi after a really great Christmas with family and friends.  There is much to write about the three weeks we had there (apart from the culture shock of experiencing the entire row devoted to chips alone at the new Kroger).  Rach and I hit the ground running in the States and didnt really stop until we left again on Jan 8th.  At one point my sweet friend Laura said "have you gone one day without having breakfast or lunch with someone?"  I simply said "no" then we walked into the restaurant.  

So all to say...it was a great three weeks, busy and too short, but wonderful.  

I have a lot to write.  It s still swimming around in my head so hopefully I will get it all out on paper or the world wide web soon.  Many stories...the flight back to Malawi is a blog entry in and of itself.  Oh my word.  All of the grey hairs that Rachel and I found when we got home (b/c there is not necessarily primping worthy lighting in Africa) returned on that 2 day travel extravaganza.  More to come on that.

I didnt exactly handle the whole sleeping pattern-getting rid of jet lag thing as I should have so I am still reaping the consequences of that.  So I will hold off on any particular stories.  However...I hope to write soon about Christmas stories and adventures in the Joberg airport. Ciao.

american-ized

Americanized--is that a word?

This morning i ventured out with my mom...and i unexpectedly found myself going into two of the most culture-shockish places.  Kroger and Target.  If there is such a thing as Super Kroger then Jackson has it.  oh my word...I m sure some local Jacksonians thought I had totally lost it b/c i walked around with my mouth hanging out partly b/c the store is new but mainly because i was having complete culture shock.  I saw one aisle and then directly went and found my mom and said all too loudly..."They have a whole aisle devoted just to chips!"  I then illustrated for my mom what would constitute as the Malawi version of the cheese selection there compared to the American whole wall full of cheese here.  Mom even pointed out the speciality food selection with a designated Oriental aisle followed by an International aisle.  I felt more at home in those aisles than I did in the chip or bread area. Interesting. 

Target is a whole different scenario.  I dont want to be overwhelmed the week we are packing to return so tried to pick up a few things that other missionaries have asked us to bring back...not a great idea.  Should have gotten through the first week before I was so confident.  I quickly learned I m going to have to do this in stages.  There is just too much!!

I find myself being gawk-eyed everywhere I go.

Driving is a whole different ballgame.  Mom and I had to pick up my dad's car from the shop...well it s a standard.  I have JUST learned how to drive a standard in Malawi...desperate measures I know.  So...this would be my first time driving a standard on this side of the pond.  I usually do better when I am driving solo (all my friends who have had the unfortunate experience to ride with me during the early days of shifting gears would laugh to hear me say that)...so it s a good thing mom was only following me.  I didnt stall which is a huge improvement.  But...i still panic when turning b/c I m used to driving on the left side! Crazy...

So heres to becoming reacquainted to more Americanisms.

"I'll be home for Christmas"

My sister randomly played this on the way to the airport...admist Britney Spears...and "Come fly with me."  She is the designated deejay.

We have made it home!  Strange...very strange to say that.

We are jet lagged, weary, ready to eat, sleep and be merry.  

It's weird being here...one would think.. "oh you ve only been gone 4 months."  Yeah, well that doesnt change anything...it's still weird being here.  I feel like I am living a double life right now. My mind (and heart?) is still in Africa but my body is in America....America in the middle of Christmas that is.  

The trip over was interesting from start to finish.  I spent the first 20 minutes or so of the flight from Jo-burg writing out all that had happened.  Rachel and I were very disruptive as we laughed our way through each event and quote.  I went from hysterically laughing to crying...talk about feeling bipolar.  We were beyond delirium.  

It all began with trying to load the car with 4 trunks and two large suitcases admist the two campus Christmas turkeys running around our feet.  There is no other car that would have fit our luggage...thanks to Danny!  Then came the Lilongwe airport...I was very anxious...in rachel's words "on edge."  It was everything from being frisked in the Lilongwe airport...I wish you could have seen Rachel's face and she went first and had no idea what was coming...i had tears streaming down my face I was laughing so hard... o our roommate Michelle saying from the airplane window (we flew together to SA) "you know Africa is not that different than any other place in the world, it has trees and dirt" to which I said "Yeah...everything looks the same from 10 000 feet in the air" to spending 7 hours in the joburg airport followed by 4 hours sitting at the gate...to upon arrival in Atlanta having the trajectory path of customs, toilet, starbucks...talk about providential...the Starbucks was across from our gate...to seeing your mother pseudo-prancing around in her high heels at the Jackson airport with her blinking reindeer antlers upon your arrival....to hearing your sweet nephews voice over the phone just after you arrive home...to emails from friends and students back in Malawi... to many tears and hugs and telling stories about living in Africa...

Merry Christmas!

the sweeter moments of life...

it's 5 am...i ve been up since 3...well really all night...but i am wide awake and i dare not sleep without writing this!

i have just spent the past 2 hours Skyping with all my classmates from RTS.  Really the word "classmates" doesnt do this group of friends justice.  Let me just tell you how much fun it was!! They had all gathered together for a surprise 'going away' party for our classmate (and dearest friend, Bev) as she is about to make the venture back across the pond. It is hard to believe she will not be in Jackson when I come home for Christmas.  I told others that I haven't known my adult life in Jackson without Bev being there!!  So sweet Mike set up his camera so that I could 'attend' the party.  oh my word...how special!!  I had warned them that i might get a bit teary as it s hard to really put into words how much i have missed these 12 people (and their spouses, families, etc). well before i took my cat hour nap leading up to our 3 am planned skyping appt (keep in mind it s 7 pm their time), i thought "no..i m fine."  well let s just say to go from spending the past two years living every step of life short of sleeping on the classroom floor with these people, to moving 4000 miles away and not seeing or talking to them for 3 months to seeing all of them in ONE room at ONE time saying "HEY!!!" is slightly moving.  They were dear enough to let me get through all the tears enough to talk for TWO HOURS to EVERYONE! 

It was wonderful.  i m still beaming.  

the sun has officially risen now.  honestly, it was cool to be up all night.  we had our biggest rain yet all night tonight.  Rain pitter pattering on the tin roof followed by the gradual sun rise is pretty amazing here in Africa.

So..here's to 4 weeks til I am blessed to spend more time with these precious friends...

sunshine and rainbows...

I havent mentioned the heat yet for several reasons...probably b/c in some small way I subconsciously think that if I dont talk about it, it will just miraculously go away.  Denial has worked before....at least for a short while.  However, seeming as it s November and I am officially tanner than I was in the 'heat' of the summer in MS, I figure it s time to pay homage to the current temperature in Malawi.  

It's hot.  And I grew up in the south.  It's a different heat here.  The sun is powerful, which makes for some interesting situations for this fair skinned brunette.  It's so hot you begin to wonder if taking a shower really accomplishes anything, you sweat more than you sleep, you wear more clothing in one day than you thought possible, and there is no such thing as getting two 'wears' out of a shirt here.  Everything is washed after one 'wearing.'

My good friend, Mike, said the other day "Harper, last time we chatted, i learned to be thankful for non-bleached fruit.  What can i be thankful for today?"  I said "The power in Lilongwe goes out every Tuesday night at 6 pm."  To which he replied, "Ah, no AC all night long.  Not to mention lights...Ok, I can be thankful for that."  I chuckled to myself and said "Oh no Mike..there is no AC in Malawi.  But yes, you can be thankful for lights."

But alas...after much talk (and complaining) about the heat...there is a respite on the way.  Rain season.  Yesterday, we got a brief preview of just how wonderful it is.  A discussion today at lunch made me realize something that I had noticed but not actually 'put together' in my mind yet.  The love for rain here is different than anywhere else I ve ever been.  (Probably b/c i grew up in the south where it rains all the time...thus not promoting much of a 'thankful' spirit for the weather).  However here...the rain brings greenery, grass, cooler temperature, crops, flowers, softer ground (to play Ultimate), serenity, great napping atmosphere, and most prominently as exemplified yesterday...rainbows.  Wow....the most 'neon', if i can describe a rainbow like that...colorful--complete ROYGBIV, rainbow i ve ever seen.  It was a double, with the second being faintly present behind the main.  It was gorgeous.  The sound of the raindrops on our tin roof were heavenly.  I was already asleep and awoke to the sight, smell, sound, and almost taste of rain.  It was grand.  

I kind of feel like my friend Carrie who said "what are we 69? We re talking about the weather??"....no..it s just that when you live in Africa it's hard not to talk about it!

Here's to more sunshine and rainbows...

signs

you realize you have been in Africa for a significant amount of time when...

--you have a distinct Chaco tan

--you dont blink an eye when the power goes out

--being dirty is just a normal part of the day

--conversations like "can we get chicken at Food Zone?"  "Sure...chicken is chicken.  it's fresh here.  There are a bazillion of them walking around everywhere."...are a regular everyday occurrence (esp between Rachel and me)

--you are on round 2 of the gallon size shampoo bottle

--your sister says to you "wow, i m really gonna miss these power adaptors."

--you can officially say "I will be home next month for Christmas!!"

--you begin to wonder if you will actually be able to drive on the 'correct' side of the road when you return home

--converting Kwatcha to dollars in your head is actually getting easier

...just to name a few

little snippets

We have had our first ABC Lady Lions basketball game!  This past weekend Rachel, our roommate, Michelle, and myself coached the college girls to their first win over Bunda college! It was very fun and exciting.  Rachel and I have loved coaching and playing some basketball together in this weeks.  It is deja vu all over again from the high school days.  The Thursday prior to the first official game the staff scrimmaged against the girls in order to give them and idea (and their coaches) of how they are doing and what to expect in a game.  It was so fun! Granted we only had 5 staff members, one of whom has never played an actual basketball game, so needless to say it was hilarious.  There were actually spectators in the stands.  awesome.  It was a fun time by all here in Malawi.

Some brief adventures as of late:

--held a braai (South African way of saying BBQ) for some friends a week ago.  There was a lot of porch sitting and a lot of eating...i loved it!  Unbenounced to the guys coming, but they were the main chefs...grilling...something I havent learned how to do yet.

--One saturday morning I awoke to Rachel coming into our room saying "The computer lab is underwater."  Yeah...an air conditioner was initially left running all night (not by me....), proceeded to freeze, and then thawed all over some of our computers.  A guaranteed $10,000 worth of damage if the computers did not recover.  The Lord was good...all the computers except one hard drive are currently working.  We are trying to fix the other piece.  "We" does not include me.  I love that pple here assume I actually know something about computers.

--yesterday in computer class a kid asked "Ms Harper...did you teacher computers back in America?"  Resisting my initial impulsive response of "HA! Are you kidding! NO!" and trying to instill confidence in this older kid that his year of computer will not be a total failure...I simply said "Um actually no I didnt."  To which he responded "well then how do you know so much about them?"  I could have kissed the boy.  Amazing how much comfort and encouragement comes from a 3rd grader.  Little did he know...but anyone who can move a mouse could do what i was doing at that moment.  It's all in perspective...

a few pictures from different occasions...some old..

one of my adopted nephews for the year...reminds me so much of my own nephew...

a night out on the town...

stuck on the side of the road for 2 1/2 hours with a flat tire...the second flat of the day...what do you do?  You entertain the local children coming to watch this three ring circus of 5 americans trying to get a tired fixed on the border of Mozambique and Malawi...you teach them hopskotch!!  Yeah...that s right...we made up games...entertained...VBS Malawi style...