Euro-Africa Conference - Part One

This is my favorite place in Beni - my tree at the park!

Well, I promised some details about the conference that brought me here to Hungary. . . So here they are!

Grant, Meredith and I left the Congo bright and early at 5am on Tuesday, July 28, 2009. Noe' Kasali came with a car to take us to the Ugandan Border. After giving away 3 suitcases of clothes, electronics, personal hygiene items, books, etc. - I still had four bags worth of stuff to take with me on the plane to Europe. On our way out of Beni, I gave my "I LOVE YOU" sign language symbol to the town I still call home and the place that I left my heart with all the people I love. Then, I broke into songs from the Ebeneezer Choir that Noe' had wrote. It was comforting to sing his songs with him in French. Noe' said that he would truly miss my talent and that I now know his songs better than him. We continued singing in Lingala, Swahili and English until our driver started asking questions about the fact that I could sing in four different languages and I was a mzungu. Grant proceeded to tell our story of how we came to the Congo.

Once we got to the border, Grant had an extensive conversation with a man in Swahili and I was really proud of him at how far he had progressed in the past 3 months. He was just excited that he understood him. We said goodbye to Noe' and switched cars and drivers and headed into Uganda. The first noticeable thing was that the roads were now paved!!! YEA - I will never take that for granted again! The second noticeable thing was the amount of people speaking English. When we went into the immigration office to get our visas we had an extensive conversation about our President Obama - which always happens in EVERY African country - but also the immigration officers asked Grant to pray over them. So he did - right there in the middle of the office - it was AWESOME! The drive was quiet because all of us were so tired - so we all took turns sleeping or listening to ipods or just watching the beautiful scenery pass us by.

We arrived in Entebbe mid-afternoon and after checking into our hotel, we decided to go check out Lake Victoria. We found our way down to the beach and then just spent some time wading in the water, taking pictures, and enjoying the sun, sounds, and smells of the beach! We had a lovely dinner at the hotel and then settled in for the night. The next day, we decided to go exploring and we went to the Botanical Gardens and then back to the beach. All in all it was a great day of hiking through town and then resting at the beach.

We flew out that night at 10:30pm to Amsterdam. It was hard getting on the plane to go to Hungary, knowing that I was leaving my beloved continent of Africa behind. I looked at Meredith as we boarded the plane and said, "I'm not going to cry because I am coming back, it's just a matter of when!" However, as we loaded on the plane, the tears couldn't help but come. I've left people behind me before in all my adventures, but I have never left my heart behind me. I just kept praying, "Daddy, You know my heart's desire - I trust You love me enough to give it back to me one day!" I still believe that to this very second!

To be continued. . .

Things I Learned in the Congo

Over the six months of living in the Congo, I learned some valuable lessons about myself. Along the way, I was making a list - today I decided to share the list with you! I hope that today you decide to start your own list. On days that it has been hard, I pull this out and remind myself of who I am now and how far I've come even in the past 6 months! Thanks for being my friend and going on this journey with me! The Adventures of April have only just begun, so HANG ON!

Things I have learned:

God does love me!

I am worthy!

I am strong!

I have spiritual power!

It is ok to need other people!

God answers prayer!

I am lovable!

I do receive knowledge!

All those people who picked on me were wrong!

I have authority!

I cannot let money control me!

I am beautiful!

I do hear from God!

Anyone is redeemable!

My gifts are from God!

Boundaries are ok!

I do receive prophecy!

I know what unconditional love looks like!

My dad does love me!

I can discern spirits!

I ravish the heart of God when I look at Him!

I am THAT girl!

Your Afro Conference!

As most of you know - I've been at the UWM Europe-Africa Conference in Budapest, Hungary. I will update you with more details about that later. But I wanted to share this great video of Grant on his 24th B-day! Happy Birthday Grant - I was glad to get to spend the day with you!!!

Culture Shock 101

I'm not sure what characteristics are trying to be developed in me - but I've been on a wild ride lately! They say the first 3 months in a new culture is the "honeymoon" phase - no problem. They say the second 3 months is the downhill slide. As you all know a lot of interesting things have happened to me in the past three months. So I decided to do some research on "culture shock". Here is what I found out below!

Outlined below is an example of the stages people go through with culture shock:

Stage 1 - Excitement

The individual experiences a holiday or 'honeymoon' period with their new surroundings.

They:
. Feel very positive about the culture
. Are overwhelmed with impressions
. Find the new culture exotic and are fascinated
. Are passive, meaning they have little experience of the culture

Stage 2 - Withdrawal

The individual now has some more face to face experience of the culture and starts to find things different, strange and frustrating.

They:
. Find the behaviour of the people unusual and unpredictable
. Begin to dislike the culture and react negatively to the behaviour
. Feel anxious
. Start to withdraw
. Begin to criticize, mock or show animosity to the people

Stage 3 - Adjustment

The individual now has a routine, feels more settled and is more confident in dealing with the new culture.

They:
. Understand and accept the behaviour of the people
. Feel less isolated
. Regains their sense of humour

Stage 4 - Enthusiasm

The individual now feels 'at home'.

They:
. Enjoy being in the culture
. Functions well in the culture
. Prefer certain cultural traits of the new culture rather than their own
. Adopt certain behaviours from the new culture



Well, the latest info. is that I've had another moto accident. I'm ok - but I will have a souvenir from the Congo - a circular scar on my right leg. I always said that I would never get a tattoo, but now I've been branded! Oh well! Maybe I'll reconsider the tattoo?

Don't worry - I'll keep you posted on the latest! School's out for summer - I just finished my church history class - 2000 years in 8 days! It was crazy and I'm tired now. This next week we are going to rest as a sabbath from the school year!

All my love - you guys prayers have been working!

Beginnings

Today is a new beginning. First of all, Meredith & I are starting a new small group based on the "Sonship" Program at lunch today. The whole program will be in English without translation so that students in other departments have the chance to interact in a small group with just english.

Tomorrow, I start my new class - History of Church and Spirituality. How do you combine 2000 years of history into an 8 day class? We will see! Stay tuned for all the gory details!

Last time I talked of endings - today its beginnings. Anyone who doesn't believe in the universe being cyclical - come talk to me! I have another beginning in my life this month - the possibility of being lovable! I have truly come to Africa to help transform others, but it is me, myself & I that is being transformed! I am overwhelmed and undone - but the happiest I've ever been in my whole life. I am so blessed and unworthy. I think of that Sound of Music song "I must have done something good." Throughout the crazy world of humanity, God has put people in my life to teach me lessons. Some of these lessons have been hard and painful to learn. Some of them have been delightful and lovely. I've just walked through both during the month of June. July is proving to be my idependence! I've let go of it all - and I know I am a stronger and better person for it! I am free indeed!

Goodbyes

Goodbyes are so hard - these past few weeks there have been many and it has been hard. In my life, a lot of people have left me. Unfortunately, it had been one of my many fears - abandonment. I am continuing to be amazed that I am surrounded by people who love me, even when I don't love myself. I have been blessed with great friends who encourage, support and lift me up. So when they have to walk away to go on with their own lives, it makes me sad. I know that they go on to what they need to do and that unfortunately, most people can't forget me! Lord knows that I am very UNIQUE!!!! They take my love with them when they travel and luckily most of them I already know I will see again. It's just hard - to let go!



This is one of my favorite poems that I think sums up my feelings:


"People - a reason, a season, a lifetime"

People always come into your life for a REASON, a SEASON, or a LIFETIME.

When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, or to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually. They may seem like a godsend too you, and they are. They are there for a reason...you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die, Sometimes they just walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season. And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall, the season eventually ends.

LIFETIME relationships teach you a lifetime of lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway);, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you for being part of my life.....

A Reason, A Season, and A Lifetime written by:Brian A. "Drew" Chalker©2002

By the way, my beloved friend and roommate Meredith Knuckles (Sandwich) has encouraged me to begin sharing my poetry. So, I am starting a new blog with my poems on it. If you want to read it feel free - they do not follow the "rules" of normal poetry - they are just the outpouring of my heart. Feel free to check it out here: http://soulnakedness.blogspot.com

Bachelor's Degrees

A couple of my friends from the English Club have surprised me this past month with a couple of excursions to places that would make me happy because they have to do with my bachelor's degrees. Most people here know me for theology, since that is all I have taught so far. However, I have a bachelor of science degree in forestry and a bachelor of arts degree in geology with both of them emphasizing hydrology.

The first trip was with my friends Malonga & Angello. They are friends with a family here in the town of Beni that have their own private estate with a park in it! It was amazing - check out my flickr photo site for some great pictures. It was just good to walk around the grounds looking at the flowers, to relax on a tree stump and talk and to just be surrounded by the beauty of nature! Plus, the family told me that I can come visit any time I want!

The second trip was with one of my students from English Club, Marveix. He wanted to take me to greet his parents and he just happens to live next to one of Beni's hydrology plants. So, he organized a tour for me with the plant managers. The picture above is me sitting at the reservoir.

The month of June truly has been about making true friends who want to share life with me and get to know me on a deeper level. All of this has given me even more blessings and life lessons than I could imagine!