Watch the Walk

My almost-warm toes Some days I forget about socks. No, I don't mean that I forget to wear socks, although that's the result of me forgetting about socks. I just forget that the uncomfortable feeling in my feet is them turning to blocks of ice. And I forget that socks exist for the purpose of warming said blocks of ice. I forget about the existence of wearing socks as an everyday sort of thing (unless for some strange reason I'm putting on tennis shoes). Yet I'm willing to bet that a lot of you also forget about socks. You forget their existence, even though you're wearing them day-in and day-out. Because socks are normal. They're not normal for me. But that's okay, because there are a lot of things that are normal for me which I haven't yet experienced in everyday America. Like hopping in a taxi with a bunch of random strangers. Or being stared at because of my skin color. Or having people start conversations with me just to practice their English. Or r...

Saying goodbyes at the airport As most of you have figured out by now, I'm home in the US for a few months. I haven't been in North America since 2013. Do you remember 2013? That was the year of "What does the Fox say?" So it's been awhile. And although America hasn't changed a whole lot, it still feels different to be experiencing it again. Let me just list a few of the "normal" things which seem strange to me: -- Vehicles consistently have the driver on the left side: there's no guessing game of "which side is the driver on in this car?" Nope. Just hop in and go. -- Fridges are huge: and you can open them and stare at the contents, knowing that the consistent power supply will bring them down to temperature quickly. -- Evergreen trees: yes, I live in the Evergreen State, and there's a surprising lack of palm trees and banana plants here. -- English everywhere: I keep swiveling to stare at people when I hear them speaking English....

Students performing I'm not very good at talking with crazy people. I tend to stand there, nod my head as if I get what they're saying, and then say things like "why don't you go eat your food at home?" (this particular person was eating fish out of a mug and standing close enough to spit bits of fish at me as she babbled) In America we're mostly sheltered from those who have mental illness or are demon possessed. I totally get why Paul got annoyed at the demon possessed girl who was following him around and cast the spirit out. It's not convenient. Then again, sometimes I seem like the crazy person. I think that signs should mean what they say. I tell people that they can know for sure where they're going after death. I like to be on time and get fidgety when things make me late. I believe that prayer changes things. Maybe I'm a little crazy too. But I'm crazy in the best way possible. I believe in the power of Him who breaks the chains of add...

A ladies' music group. "If you carry two bags, that's jealousy ." "Put your purchases in a black bag so no one can see it. You don't want jealousy ." "When you travel, don't forget to bring back gifts for your friends. Otherwise there will be jealousy . Next time you travel, it won't go well." "Don't wear your island wrap inside out, people will think you're jealous ." "Cover the top of your market bag, otherwise your neighbors will have jealousy ." Why do islanders strive so much to avoid jealousy? I've decided that it's another incarnation of the Evil Eye. According to Wikipedia "The evil eye is a curse believed to be cast by a malevolent glare, usually given to a person when they are unaware." Here on my island people fear what they call " jealousy ", not because envy is sin, but because they fear an accidental curse. Just because someone loves you doesn't mean they might ...

Let me ask you a question: how often do you check your email? In technology-saturated America-and-beyond, I'm guessing the answer would be "several times a day." Well, this story features an American (me) and a Tanzanian (undisclosed). One of them certainly does not check their email several times a day. Shall I begin? It all started with a plane ticket. In order to exit this island of mine I must deal with airports, security, capricious restrictions, unpredictable schedules, and language barriers... but all of that is precipitated by a plane ticket. Would you buy a plane ticket from a company that only accepts cash and wire transfers? Well, I did. I made the reservation online, set up the wire transfer with my bank, and waited confidently for the confirmation and official ticket. It never came. How long would you wait after sending money before worrying about not receiving a plane ticket? I was on vacation, so, after calling the company shortly after sending the transfer...

Not dressed for island life... As I bought some meat and veggies at a shop today I had a pretty normal conversation with the lady at the register-- Her-- "Whats your name?" Me-- "Abby, and you?" Her-- "Fatima. Have you given birth?" Me-- "No, not yet." Her-- "God will give you children." Me-- "God-willing." Her-- "So, you live here?" Me-- "Yes, I'm an English teacher. I live in M-town." Her-- "Oh, so-and-so wants to learn English." Me-- "Great! Here's the administrator's number." Yes, I'm back on Clove Island. And yes, this feels normal. I may need some help when I get back to America.

The weekend before I left "other Africa" I took a trip. You've already seen a few pictures from that trip, but now I want to share with you a thought that solidified as I was exploring. Fear is a powerful thing. It's powerful, not in the sense of being strong, but in the sense of making you weak. I saw the outworking of that during my weekend away. We went to a place that used to have a ton of tourists, but fear has pushed them away. Entire grandiose hotels sit empty because of fear. We prefer to think that we can guarantee our arrival at our vacation destination. Minimizing risks, maximizing profits, vacation-wise, at least. Now, I'm not saying that people should be stupid. It takes a special type of thinking to knowingly risk death on vacation. But when it's not vacation, it's for other reasons, can we trust the Father to make us brave? Bravery is choosing to be strong even when fear tries to make you weak. And just as the Christmas story repeats over an...