palm trees. sunshine. winter?

We now live in the Southern Hemisphere. What does that mean? It means it is winter here in Mozambique. We went from the heat of summer in Cambodia to the start of winter in Mozambique. The difference between the two is really just the amount of humidity we experienced - the sun just keeps on shining. I still walk around in t-shirts and sandals.

With a lack of clues like colored leaves to tell one that winter is coming - how does one know?

Without snow or sweaters - how does one define winter?

I realized recently there is a clue. It isn't in fall leaves and pumpkins. It isn't in gloves or wool. It has to do with the sun.

There are shorter days in winter. It is dark by 5:30pm, thus, it is winter. I look forward to the summer, when I can get home before dark.

Could you live without fall leaves, snow, or spring blooms?

coconut water

Back in the day when I used to travel to India a few times a year I was given coconuts to drink. In fact, we were given many coconuts in a day. I wasn't a fan of this gift then. Out of courtesy for their hospitality I would take a sip (or pretend to drink it) and then on my way out of the village I would hand it off to a woman or child to bless them since I knew they would enjoy it more than I.

My attitude about coconut water has changed. I don't know how. I don't know when. But sometime during our months in Cambodia I started to really enjoy this. It became a treat. If I received a fresh coconut in a village. I drank it up. Sometimes I'd even finish off someone elses because they felt the way I used to about coconut water.

On a recent visit to Massinga district in Mozambique I was noticing all the coconuts in palm trees. I said outloud to one of the staff that I like watching the guys climb the trees for coconuts - it is amazing. This was not stated as a request, but it was taken as one. I must watch what I say outloud. It wasn't long before he asked someone to climb a tree and get a coconut for me.

Chivalry is not dead. This kind gentleman was more than happy to climb a tree for me...and obviously also liked posing for pictures too.

His brother also climbed a nearby tree to get more coconuts. Watch him go! It truly is an amazing site.

Then a third brother helped hack them up with machettes. Look at the goat watching in the background.

My wish was granted.

Mmmm...good!

My knight in barefeet even made a spoon out of coconut rind and scraped out the meat so I could eat it.

Maybe you are asking yourself how they get up those trees?

I noticed on this recent trip that at least part of the way they have carved in foot and hand holds. The rest is all skill.

Are you a fan of coconut water? I know my friend Teresa is and she has a very memorable experience from India as a result! Let me just say that too much coconut water can act as a diarrhetic. Enough said.

Dubai 2

did I mention all the skyscrapers in Dubai? that is pretty much all one would see when driving around town.

this building is under construction. I found it fascinating because it looks like it is twisted.

a view of some skycrapers from the base

Joelle just finished her pudding cup. nice!

inside our favorite mall. looks very similar to the forbidden city in China.

another part of the mall. there were at least 5 starbucks in this one mall alone.

dancing water choreographed to music at the base of the worlds tallest building. only in Dubai!

waffles?

Where I am from waffles are simply a breakfast food. We eat them with butter and/or syrup. I am partial to Belgium waffles with fruit and whipped topping. Until I moved to Cambodia I never imagined waffles being anything more.

In Cambodia waffles are sold similar to a sandwich. They have meat fillings. Can you read the signs in these? Tuna, ham with cheese, and tuna with cheese.

Appetizing? What do you think?

Dubai

skyscrapers, skycrapers, skyscrapers...there are skyscrapers everywhere in Dubai!

Man-made marina in the middle of the desert. Who dreams up these things? They are VERY innovative - and rich!

Iconic skyscraper. I always see this in pics of Dubai. That round bit is a helicopter pad. It is built on an island, with high security. It is very exclusive. I am told that breakfast alone at this place can run $200. A one night stay could be $10,000.

My friend Yaz taking her daughter to swimming camp.

The aquarium at Atlantis. I love this pic!

Notice Kenyon's Dubai shirt, I got this for him on my last visit. This time he didn't collect a t-shirt, but he collected memories instead.

I'm a lucky girl!

On our way to Africa we got to stop over and visit my very good friend Yasmine who lives in Dubai. What luck!

We had a great time touring the city. This was Kenyon's first visit to Dubai. He commented continually on how clean it is, how new everything is, how nice it is. We basically visited malls and fancy hotels - is there anything else in Dubai?

The last time I was here it was crazy hot, this time of year the weather is great - sunny with a breeze.

I wish I could have spent a week with Yasmine, Gamil and Joelle, but unfortunately duty calls and we had to continue on our journey. I am so grateul for the time we did have together. Come back tomorrow for more photos of our city tour.

Sihanoukville

Here are some photos from our vacay in September on the coast of Cambodia. This photo is Otres Beach where we spent a whole day lounging and doing nothing else.

Kenyon on the boat the day we went snorkeling (before he got sick from the rocking waves).

A photo taken from our boat while traveling toward an island for lunch.

Maybe now is a better time to ask if you want to come for a visit - anyone? anyone?

Manila Day 2

newspaper: in the paper this morning there was a full page add about what to do to take care of your automobiles engine in the event of a flood. It was actually an interesting read. I also read an editorial where the guy is talking about a natural disaster providing an opportunity to reassess priorities - people, not stuff ,are what matter most.

work: I spent the morning working on grant proposals and submitted one just after lunch. Then we went to the field.

volunteers: our national (local) partner has an amazing network of volunteers. Over 200 volunteers have packed around 9,000 food packages. They also help distribute the goods. Our partner is the local church. Regardless how you feel about God, it is my belief that the local church, when functioning right, has incredible potential to be a force for good in the world. Today, I witnessed the local church at it's best - people giving selflessly to anyone who had a need. They were giving with a smile and willing to get their hands dirty (sometimes their whole bodies, literally). It was inspiring!

water world: Since arriving in Manila, I'd only seen paved streets that were wet with rain, but definitely not flooded. Today, I saw something I have never seen before. We drove a short ways to the south part of town and the picture is completely different. Waist high water. We are not talking clean water either, this stuff is filthy. It stinks. There is all kinds of trash and debris floating in the water. People have no where to go, so they just walk in it. The kids swim in it. They have made these make shift boats out of anything they can find, including a bath tub. They transport stuff, women and children on these boats through the streets. There were also a number of air beds being used as rafts. In one area, they have started building raised walkways made of sticks. Their ingenuity is astounding! Our host tells us that people are developing rashes because of the water - I'm not surprised. The food that had been given in this area in the beginning is already gone or growing stale in homes with no electricity. For this distribution we only have 400 food kits. There are thousands of desperate people living without basic necessities. We are driven in to the community in a giant military truck, riding in the back with the food. If I had enough, I would have given something to everyone.

dignity: as I watched the crowds form to receive our measly offering I was struck by the question, how can we restore their dignity? earlier in the day as I was working on grant proposals it had come up that some of the needed items were underwear and sanitary napkins. I am the only woman on this team of men and they considered sanitary napkins an unnecessary need. I made a case to include them as part of the hygiene kit. I watched many of the women at the distribution. Many were in their pajamas (not uncommon in Asia in public), but the difference was lack of undergarments. I noticed them trying to retain their modesty (very important in Asian culture). A nearly impossible feat while wearing cotton pajamas in waist high water. I know food matters for survival. I know in order to make food that kitchen items such as a pot to cook rice are necessary. I know the need for clean water. I don't deny the value of any of these things. On a list of competing priorities with limited resources, some things have to go to the bottom of the pile. After my experience today, I've decided to those who survive something like this disaster restoring dignity is also a worthwhile goal. At least for the women, sanitary napkins and undergarments are an important part of that response.

contrasts: after spending the afternoon in the water and muck we went back to the part of town where my dry hotel is, with my comfortable bed and warm shower. We ate dinner at an Italian restaurant until I was full to the rim. I thought about how in my surroundings it was easy to forget what I had just seen and experienced. it was easy to forget that there are people up the road who don't know what they are going to eat tonight for dinner and don't have a dry place to sleep. I wondered how often in my day to day life I am oblivious to the struggles of those around me. How often do my comforts blind me to the needs of others. I'm sure it is more times than I can possibly count.

Manila - inital and random thoughts

McDelivery? McDonald's delivers in Manila. Twenty-four hours a day and they seem to advertise it everywhere.

Rain, rain go away. This place has already experienced a major typhoon, and extreme flooding as a result. Super typhoon number two is on it's way and it is raining quite a bit. I am told it started in the afternoon and hasn't stopped. Silly girl, I came to a typhoon without a rain coat!

Guns and security check. The only thing I've seen of Manila is the drive from the airport to my hotel. There seem to be a lot of billboards asking people to put down or give up their firearms. One said "Be a Peacekeeper" and then had some difficult to decipher English about disarming. Before entering our hotel the car was thoroughly searched, including the underbelly with mirrors. I should pay attention to the news more often so I could understand what all the fuss is about.

Family of 9. My driver spoke broken English and seemed to want to talk about the events of recent days. He was telling me stories about water as high as two stories, about bridges being washed away. As we were driving down the highway to the hotel he said, "this road was flooded." Then he told me a story of a family he knows. A family of nine. All of them killed by the typhoon. Then he was silent for a little while. The next time he spoke he asked if I had a family. I told him I have a husband, but no children (yet). He told me about his boys and how they wait up for him at night just to say hello, even if it is after midnight when he gets home. I don't know if I've been through an experience where the PTS is so fresh. I imagine everyone has stories like this, of loved ones lost. Maybe they are wondering why they were spared. I know that is what I would be thinking, and I would be grateful for the loved ones remaining. Heartbreaking!

I've only been in the Philippines a few, short hours. I have quickly realized I don't know enough about this country. I had to even look at a map before I came to see where I was going. I am open to some lessons and background information if there is anyone out there with some pointers.

super typhoon - yikes!

I'm getting on an airplane in a couple of hours headed to Manila. If you've been watching the news there is a super typhoon headed right for that area. The area has already been devastated by a recent typhoon, which is why I am on my way there. The news report is below:

Oct. 1 (Bloomberg) -- The Philippines mobilized its armed forces as Supertyphoon Parma headed for the country, threatening more heavy rains a week after Tropical Storm Ketsana devastated parts of Manila in Luzon and left 277 people dead.

The Navy has assembled a task force in northern Luzon, where Philippine forecasters expect Parma to make landfall on Oct. 3, spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Edgard Arevalo said in a phone interview. The Air Force will send trucks and rubber boats to facilitate evacuations when local officials request them, Air Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Gerardo Zamudio said.

Parma’s winds increased to 241 kilometers (150 miles) per hour today, according to the U.S. Navy Joint Typhoon Warning Center, making it a Category 4 storm, the second-strongest on the Saffir-Simpson scale. It’s forecast to get stronger before making landfall, according to the center.

LINK: http://metocph.nmci.navy.mil/jtwc/warnings/wp1909.gif

Please pray for the safety of those of us who are going to serve in this disaster response, pray for the families that have already lost so much, pray for the southeast asia region that is getting pummeled by natural disasters in recent weeks. Pray that in the midst of the chaos I will be able to see the people who are hurting and be an example of God's love to them through my actions, regardless of how much (or how little) sleep I am getting.

I've never been through a typhoon before, but just the word "super typhoon" and "150 mile per hour winds" scares me a bit. The team that is there is already looking for a safe place to shelter us from the storm.

I'll be on the computer quite a bit and will post when I can.

going to Manila

You may have seen the news reports about a recent Typhoon in our region. Well, my employer has decided to respond to this need and I was selected as one of three from the organization to be deployed. I found out last night that I was going and I will be on an airplane tomorrow morning (Friday morning my time).

In case you haven't seen the news reports here is the most recent report from
CNN:

The worst-hit country, the Philippines, began the slow process of clearing up mud and debris Wednesday. Even as they did so, Filipinos kept their eyes peeled on another storm looming in the Pacific Ocean. In the city of Pasig -- part of metropolitan Manila -- enterprising residents used inflatable mattresses as makeshift boats to ferry people through flooded streets. The government, which some people said did not act quickly enough, opened up part of the presidential palace for aid distribution. Ketsana left at least 246 people dead as it passed over the Philippines. Another 38 people were still missing, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said. The storm affected nearly 2 million people and forced the evacuation of 567,000. At one point, 80 percent of the capital Manila was under water after experiencing the heaviest rainfall in 40 years. As the death toll rose, so did the collective grief. "I did not know what happened," said Gingerly Comprendio. "We were on top of a roof. We got separated. The next day when I came back to our house, I saw my eldest already dead and my aunt saw my other child buried in the mud." Ray Lee, a prominent judge, single-handedly saved 32 people using his jet ski. "There were cries for help, so I returned to other houses or roofs and retrieved
all the people there," he said. To help avoid a humanitarian catastrophe,
several nations have rallied to the Philippines' side.

To read the rest of the article, click here.
Irin News also has a good article on the need, to read that article click here.

I've never been part of disaster response before. I've never been to the Philippines. I imagine I will be living on adrenaline in coming weeks. I'll keep you posted as I am able.

travel essentials: canteen

On my last day in the office my boss in Boone gave me a gift. He and his wife had spent a few years serving in Africa and he had lived in Vietnam prior to that. He said there were two things he really appreciated in the field: his knife and his canteen.

He said he didn't think it was appropriate to give me a knife.

I told him women's clothes often don't have pockets or belt loops so I wouldn't have anywhere to put a knife anyway.

Why is a canteen such a good travel accessory? Because it keeps your water colder for longer than any plastic bottle available. They also often come a handy carabiner so you can attach it to any bag you may be carrying.

Above is a photo of a canteen we bought after I received one as a gift so we could each have one. My mental image of a canteen is what you see army men drinking in movies, but I quickly discovered that canteens are all the rage in our environmentally conscience society. Even Old Navy sells them with trendy designs on the outside. So far, it has worked very well to provide us a handy source of water in our new location.

What is your favorite travel accessory?

City of Fountains...

We are currently visiting family and friends in Kansas City for the next couple of weeks before we officially move to Cambodia. I lived here nine years and always thought KC was a beautiful city. One of the things that makes it beautiful is all of the water fountains. They are everywhere! Here is just a small sampling of the fountains available in one small area of the city. The visitors center has a brochure outlining the locations of all the fountains and a tourist could spend a whole day seeking them out. I always thought that would be a fun way to spend a day exploring this city.

These pictures were taken in the heat of the day so they are a bit overexposed, trust me, the fountains are beautiful! What is your favorite thing about the city you live in?

Ewwwww!

Kenyon and I recently rented a U-haul truck and drove the remainder of our furniture to Virginia. We picked up a passenger along the way. In the rural communities of Virginia among the peaceful farmland when we were nearly at our destination I heard a very loud THUMP. I was looking around to figure out what could have made that sound, and to my dismay I saw a large insect with it's head lodged in the windshield wiper. It was looking right at me. At first I thought it must be dead based on the force of the impact and the position it was currently placed, then it's little bug legs started to move and I knew it was alive. I asked Kenyon to stop and free the passenger we had picked up since it was still alive. Instead, Kenyon decided to turn on the windshield wipers to see if he could set him free that way. That strategy didn't work and I imagine the only thing it succeeded in doing is to make our passenger dizzy. Kenyon wouldn't stop driving until we reached our destination and I had those little bug eyes staring at me the whole way - very unnerving! When we arrived we were quickly distracted by unloading the vehicle before nightfall. In the morning we needed to return the truck to the rental place so we loaded up and that is when I saw the bug eyes again and was reminded of our passenger. By this time the life had been drained out of him and little bees were swarming him, though I don't know enough about nature to understand why bees would be attracted to our passenger. When we reached the rental place I took a photo. What a way to go!

This post is in memory of the passenger we picked up on the road during our move. That isn't a super close-up shot, it really was that large. What is it? If you know, do share, because inquiring minds want to know...

Travel Essentials

When going on a short international trip I recommend packing Tide travel packs. Laundry facilities are not always available and when they are available they can often be very expensive.

One packet in the sink and you can do a load of wash, hang it to dry. Wa-la, clean clothes!

My hometown: Santa Fe

When in Albuquerque...

I love New Mexican cuisine. The spices and unique flavors are unmatched as far as I'm concerned. When we visit New Mexico my husband always says, "I never see you eat like this!" True, very true. Other food just doesn't taste like it does here.

There are many good restaurants in New Mexico...many. But, there is one restaurant I love above all others. It serves authentic New Mexican cuisine. It has amazing patio or interior dining available. When I graduated from college, I held my graduation party at this location because it is one of my favorite places in the city.

If you are visiting Albuquerque, New Mexico I recommend you have at least one meal at El Pinto. I'm confident you will enjoy it.

What is your favorite restaurant?

my favorite souvenir

I've been to many interesting places in the world that have many interesting things, but I'm really not a collector. I don't collect dolls, shirts, shot glasses, key chains, magnets or any of the many other souvenirs most travelers collect. My favorite souvenir is pictures. I love to take picutres of the places I've been and the people I meet while traveling. I share the pictures with friends and family. I review the pictures often. I love looking at the pictures taken around the world, not because I'm good at photography, but because the memories are precious to me.

Since we are moving overseas, I'd like to improve my photography skills. I have a digital camera that is great for taking quick shots. However, many times I've felt limited by the zoom capabilities and wanted something with a better optical zoom.

Introducing my new camera: Nikon L100

Expect to see some photos from our new location from my new digital camera.

What is your favorite souvenir to collect when traveling?

Independence Day

This year, for the 4th of July holiday Kenyon and I are traveling to my hometown - Santa Fe, New Mexico. I'm looking forward to eating loads of green chili (not the stew variety most are familiar with, but the authentic chili's). I'm looking forward to the sunny days and cool nights that New Mexico offers. I'm looking forward to time with family. It will be precious time since we are moving to the other side of the world in a few short weeks.

How will you be spending your holiday weekend?

Moving East

I started life's journey in Santa Fe, New Mexico. When I finished my undergraduate degree I moved to Eastern Kansas. Nearly nine years later Kenyon and I moved to North Carolina in the eastern part of the United States. Well, we are moving further east. How's that possible, we are nearly at the coast? This time we are going over the Atlantic Ocean, the continent of Africa and the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia. Kenyon and I are moving to Cambodia in August!

I told a friend "we just keep moving east, this time we had to cross an ocean."

She replied, "if you keep that up you will eventually come back to where you started." Possible, very possible. (Mom, don't get your hopes up. It will be a while.)

I received a two year contract to become the Deputy Country Director in Cambodia. We will be moving to Phnom Phen (which I have visited three times prior). Kenyon has some opportunities too...more on that when some of the dust starts to settle. I've moved many times and it is always a chore, I can tell you that moving overseas is a whole new level of stress.

Please be praying for us in our newest adventure