Facebook. (or, the pros and cons of living life in a "far away" place)

3 November 2010

 Facebook.  Sometimes, it’s one of those love-hate relationships.  Generally speaking, it is AMAZING to be able to keep in touch, see pics of friend’s kids, and be updated on the daily happenings in people’s lives (see red arrows above!).  But sometimes, it’s also a way for me to realize that there is “more out there” than what I have, and to yearn for these things, these people, and these relationships myself.

A less-than-important example of this concerns the recent changing of seasons.  Lately I've been seeing pictures of friends in the States who are bringing their kids to the pumpkin patch.  Others are planning apple orchard trips.  Sweaters are coming out, and comments about the cool, crisp air are flowing through the posts.  Here in Tanzania, though, we have officially reached the season of multiple cold showers a day; sweating in the heavy, humid morning air; and being thankful when we realize that even the Tanzanians are sweating profusely... and not just us expats!  The feeling of being far away can be minimized or maximized by FB and other communication, depending on the day, the weather, the mood, or whether the power is on or off.  Here are a few of the things I’ve been missing as of late…

I miss snuggling under a comforter to get warm at bedtime, or putting on a sweatshirt at night...
I miss eating ham and being able to get good, Swiss cheese!
I miss autumn, and the changes of the seasons...
I miss being able to text and send pictures via phone with my fam – grr, AT&T!!!
I miss wandering in the woods or in God's creation by myself... or sitting under a tree in a park to journal... and not being seen as asking for a proposal…
I miss walking across the street and NOT suddenly wondering if I should have put on a kanga (a piece of fabric to cover the outline of my legs)
I miss Christian radio stations in the car and new music in general...
I miss Target. Meijer. And the Dollar Tree...
I miss my family...
I miss having other teachers at my same grade level...
I miss sitting face to face on a couch to talk, process, laugh, pray, whatever with close friends in the States...
Yet with all the things I miss,
the food, the places, the people,
the end of the matter
is that GOD has brought me here.
Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life (Mark 10:29-30).
Then, on the flip side…

I love the pace of life in Tanzania, and that relationships are way more important than any scheduled meeting time...
I love being a part of an organization that is spread all over the world, and yet has a common purpose and goal in mind...
I love working in a school where the gospel is of utmost importance… and where kids can feel free to be themselves…
I love seeing baobab trees, umbrella acacias, and bamboo growing on our school property…
I love eating FRESH pineapple and knowing how to make spaghetti sauce from scratch, starting with a visit to the market down the street...
I love going for semi-daily walks with a friend, and finding ways to “get away” from the city within the city…
I love having roommates that go on emergency ice cream runs for me when life gets difficult…
I love living in a place where my family has gotten to visit and can understand (at least a little) why I'm here...
I love living in a place where I can hear cows mooing as they walk past my window…
I love getting out of Dar es Salaam and saying, “I’m finally back in Africa!”
I love knowing what I'm doing is making a very real difference in the Kingdom, mostly because this is where I'm supposed to be...
I love living in a place that is highlighted at least once a week in the Picture of the Day on National Geographic…
I love knowing that I can wake up to see the sun rising over the Indian Ocean every morning... and feel the cool (sometimes!) breeze coming off the water at night…
I love having “family” here, there, and everywhere around the globe… and having people I can go to at any time of day or night – and realizing that God puts these people in my life no matter where I might live, work, or play…

I love realizing and remembering that God is faithful to those He has called.  That He is going to stand firm in His promise to never leave us or forsake us, even when life gets hard.  I love that, despite never thinking I wanted to do missions (or understanding what it was!), God has called me to this place, this time, and these kids to serve and love on and pray for.  And despite the hardships and difficulties… despite feeling very out of place and far away… despite wondering what the future really does hold… I have a peace to know I’m exactly where I am for a reason.  And that, through it all, God is going to be right there with me.