Having just spent the last two months away, it is really nice to be back home in South Africa. That said, our last two weeks in Kabwe, while crazy busy and exhausting, were quite amazing. We had dinners, a big luncheon with the whole service centre staff and their families, and even a morning of maize farming with Lawrence and his children…the latter being something I really truly enjoyed. There was just such an incredible sense of satisfaction that came from feeling the cool earth beneath my bare feet as I dropped maize kernels into the damp soil…kernels which in just months, maize would be harvested, dried and ready to be pounded into mealie meal. The experience really sparked a desire in both Tyler and I to one day have our own garden.
But as I said, we are now back home with our friends whom I missed dearly, and feel so blessed to be able to catch up with them over this Christmas holiday. Plus we made it home in time to be apart of the delivery of Pragcidence and Levy’s little girl, Taonga (meaning “thankyou God” in Chichewa). Born on December 23rd this little one has already found her way into our hearts and has certainly caused Tyler and I to think more about that “stage” in our lives.
As for Christmas, I can’t deny that it just doesn’t quite feel like a “real” Christmas when it is 30 degrees outside and there isn’t a Christmas tree in sight, but I have come to terms with the fact that it is just a different kind of Christmas. No less beautiful, just different. That said, we (Tyler and I and about 10 others who didn’t return home for the holiday) still managed to recreate many of our family Christmas traditions…we had a full appetizer spread on Christmas eve, turkey with all the fixings, stockings and even Christmas carols on Christmas day. It was a day of swimming, cooking, skyping with family, eating until we almost burst, and staying up late due to a very competitive game of Dutch Blitz. It was awesome. You can click on the link below to check out more pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/taralph.africa/ChristmasTimeIsHere#
Plus there is still a week of holiday left! A week which I am so excited for because it will really be a time of relaxation and fun. We actually head out tomorrow with another couple to spend some time in the Drakensburg Mountains and Durban…mmmmm the land of delicious Indian food! We’ll fill you in when we get back…hope you all have a good New Years. Lots of love…
-a
