So I learned today how to play backyard cricket. It is like baseball but the bat is flat and you hold it near to the ground, and there are three pieces of wood behind you called wickets that the bowler (who throws the ball over hand with a straight arm) tries to knock over, while you (the person with the flat bat) try to hit the ball and run before they get the ball back to the wickets. Basically, it is like baseball, but not. Except that when we were playing the only ball we had was a bouncy ball (hard to catch) and it was getting dark (hard to see). But it was fun. Maybe we can upgrade to a tennis ball next time. Even during day light! That would be great! I’ll let you know how it goes!
EWWWW!!!! February 28, 2007
So, you know the old saying “sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite”…. well, the bed bugs have bitten. Yes that is right, we have bed bugs. Worse indeed. So far only three of us have been bitten, I being one of them. They just itch like tiny mosquito bites, but the idea is really gross. My problem is that I don’t have sheets just my sleeping bag and too many times I end up sleeping just on the mattress. Oh, the lessons I learn in life! So hopefully we’ll have the problem fixed soon. But until then, I am definitally sleeping INSIDE my sleeping bag!
Dirty feet… February 27, 2007
So if you guys don’t know because it has been so long since you have walked around barefoot outside, your feet get really dirty!!! I know that sounds silly, but it is true! Don’t laugh! I have been walking around barefoot alot, almost every day now for a while, and my feet are filthy! But you know what?! I don’t care! So what that my feet leave dirty marks on the floor when they get wet, or that I have to make sure I wear socks to bed so my sleeping bag doesn’t get gross, or that the bottoms of my feet are now black! It is worth it! But don’t worry, I do put on shoes when I leave the base….. as hard as it is I do.
coconut marshmellows?!?!?!?! February 24, 2007
Yes, that is right COCONUT MARSHMELLOWS!!!! Last night we had a bonfire and roasted marshmellows and us Americans made s’mores (which is appartently another American thing!). It was so much fun. But I was shocked and intrigued by the fact that some of the marshmellows were not round but square and covered in coconut!!!! And oh were they good! And to top it off South Africa also has pink marshmellows that taste like strawberry! Any s’more loving american would be in paradise! I ate until I was sick! I must say that I truly enjoyed my first African bonfire!
I am so American! February 22, 2007
So apparently I have the most American accent of all the people at my DTS!!!! Who knew!!! I didn’t even know Washingtonians had accents but appartently it is the most American because the other Washingtonian here also has one of the most “american” accents! Once I was told this I asked as many people here if it was true, and I guess I have the cliche stereotype american accent! I don’t know, I think it is pretty funny! And you have to realize that there are close to 20 americans at the base including staff! And I, LIndsey from Washington, have the most american accent! I don’t know, I am kinda proud of that! So way to go Washington!
I love Africa! February 21, 2007
Let me say it again, I LOVE AFRICA!!!! It is a beauty place with wonderful people and is in great need of people to love those here. And I am sorry to say it Mom……. but I am going to live here someday.
Holy Spirit February 21, 2007
Last week at Worcester we had our week on the Holy Spirit, and boy was it intense! God moved in such a powerful way in people’s lives- people were laughing, and crying, and dancing, and singing, and shouting, and screaming, and just laying in God’s presence. It was good! The whole week was hard for me though because I was struggling as I learned so many things that I had already learned and seen, yet wondering why I wasn’t experiencing it like everyone else. But God was able to breakthrough to my heart and set me free from alot of what had been hindering me. He helped me see myself as his child, that I am precious to him. He brought down alot of walls I didn’t realize I had built up around my heart. And I got to experience joy like never before! All in all, I left with so much freedom! One night I just danced and jumped and sang for joy! Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is INDEED freedom!
wet jeans and a leap off a dam! February 19, 2007
Tuesday, while staying at the YWAM base in Worcester, all a hundred some of us DTSers and staff went to a wild game park where I got to see lions, giraffes, elephants, and zebras all from the back of a pickup truck! It was so great! We got to stay there and eat our supper on the mountain. BUT before we ate we got to hike up a dam where there is a river you can swim in. Well, me being my normal silly self forgot my swimsuit, figures huh? So I contemplated the pros and cons of leaping in fully clothed and like most previous times in my life decided that it was well worth being wet for the rest of the day. Then, there while in the river I saw it….. the dam we had hiked up to and a brave soul leaping off of it! Whoosh and SPLASH! I had to do it!!!! So I pulled myself out of my water in my now extremely heavy wet jeans and climb back up to the top of the dam. Looking over the edge of that dam I started to wonder if it was really such a great idea after all! But standing on the edge there i had to make a choice and i knew that if I didn’t do it i would regret it for years to come, plus I had the chance to be the first girl to leap off that sucker! So I walked to the edge took a quick peek over the edge, took a deep breath, looked up to God and took the plundge…… SPLASH!!!! It was so worth it! As soon as I could get to the shore I was heading back to the dam for a second jump! In the end I took three jumps…. the last one being a deal to get Simon to jump, if I would jump off the highest part so would he so as soon as he jumped I knew I had to too (I can’t let a boy show me up!). But it was great. To me, jumping off symbolizes where I feel I am in life and what I want this time to be. I want to be willing to take the risks and live fully off the edge for God! I don’t want to be afraid to jump in!
Woodside February 9, 2007
Yesterday I started my local outreach to a care centre for severly disabled kids. They house about 90 kids there, plus some adults that have been there since they were children. It was hard being there at first. I just walked around not knowing what to do with myself as my heart was breaking for these kids…. most of them can’t talk, most of them can’t walk…. and all of them love to be loved. As I was walking around trying to absorb it all, I found a little boy in a wheel chair. He wouldn’t talk but would laugh and laugh when I would hug and ticklke him! That is when I started to feel at home there… he was my little buddy and wanted to go everywhere with me. After that I started to meet other little kids and hug them and love them for a while. It will be difficult but I am excited to be used in that place to show them God’s love and affection for them.
the rain February 9, 2007
So today it has been raining all day!!! To be completely honest, I love it! I walked around in it this morning while listening to some music and that was amazing! One of the leaders looked at me like I was crazy and asked why I was in the rain! It is from Africa so he doesn’t understand my connection to the rain! And later I rain around in the rain and spun around until I was so dizzy I almost couldn’t stand and jumped in the little puddles that were there! One of my roommates took pictures of me jumping in the puddle…. you can’t see that it is a puddle, but it looks really cool to see me leaping through the air! It is really peaceful right now with the rain gently tapping on the roofs. Ahhh…… home sweet home!
