Five things worth learning

I subscribe to a weekly newsletter for artists.  The author often recounts his own experiences and comments on letters he receives readers.  In one of his recent letters he lists five things worth learning about art.  I jokingly said there were five things you need to know to be a missionary then stopped to think these are just good things to know where ever you are, whatever your life style is.

Bush Mechanics– When setting up and maintaining a house in a rural area like the one where I live now you need a basic understanding of how to install and fix electrical, plumbing, and building basics. You may be able to hire a skilled worker to do the actual work needed but if you can’t tell them what you need they may not fix the problem.  Some people think DIY projects are for those who can’t afford to have someone else do it.  In my opinion it is just common sense to be able to take care of the basics yourself.  Besides it is a lot of fun to do projects with the kids like building a solar oven.  You can use a cardboard box, aluminum foil and a black pot to cook bacon and eggs or brownies.  I built one that had temps reaching over 190°.

Primary health care– Learn how to treat yourself and others when there is no medical care.  Ok so maybe this one is extreme.  You may not need to know how to handle Malaria, bubonic plague or Dengue Fever but you should know basic first aid.  I’m not talking about slapping on some Neosporin and a band-aid.  I mean giving CPR or stabilizing a fractured bone until you can reach medical care.  Check with the local Red Cross to see when the next training is being offered.

Bush cooking – Learn to feed yourself if there is a disaster.  That means knowing how to light a charcoal or wood fire without lighter fluid or fire starters.  Learn how to properly prepare food and clean, safe drinking water.  I have found that between drinking and teeth brushing I use almost 4 liters a day.  That’s a lot of water!  To really kill all the parasites in water it needs to boil at least 20 minutes and that doesn’t filter out the minerals so it might still taste funny.

How to dress– So this one is personal preference and some societal influence.  In some cultures it is highly inappropriate to show your knees or a bare shoulder.  People will judge you by your appearance.  If you are dressed sloppy people notice, just as they notice when you are dressed up for a holiday like Halloween.  Ladies think twice before wearing tank or strapless tops.  Guys let me suggest that you investigate how, where and why young men started wearing droopy jeans.  Who do you “belong” to?

Jesus is our Savior – This is the most important thing you will ever learn.  Know it well and share it with others!

Christmas blessings

Christmas is over.  The dishes are all washed and the floors are mopped.  The Christmas tree is coming down and looking for a good storage place until next year.  Friends have gone home and the leftovers are dwindling.  I had hoped to write another post or two about Christmas, the Magi, and what I was doing.  I just ran out of time. 

This is my first Christmas in East Africa.  It is not the first time that I have spent the holidays away from family.  I know all too well what it is like to wake up alone on Christmas Day.  I had thought about going to a beautiful beach and enjoying some time alone with God.  My thinking was “He knows my heart and will give me what I need.”  He did give me what I needed but not in the form of a cresting sun over an idyllic beach.  My plans to go on hiatus were canceled. 

As the holiday approached I learned there would be some special church services.  I also heard that some friends were going to only spend one day in town between advanced language classes and vacation.  I asked their family of 6 to join me for lunch.  Then I learned other friends from Norway would be here in a local hotel for a couple of days.  As time passed opportunities grew.

On Christmas Eve I baked cakes and made candies.  In the evening I went to a special service at the Church next door to my home.  We sang Christmas hymns by candlelight and listened as scripture was read.  When it was over I came home and had tea and chatted with my guard who knows no English.  I checked Skype before going to bed and had the blessing of talking to my family.  The kids were watching Santa travel around the world and had checked to see when he would be arriving here.  What fun that was.

When I woke Christmas day I felt an extra measure of peace and joy.  I had 16 people, from 3 countries, coming to my home for lunch.  I made a somewhat traditional American meal complete with cornbread dressing.  We ate, laughed and fumbled with languages.  Then in the evening I went to a social next door.  We sang carols, laughed some more, ate again and watched the Nativity Story. 

I realized that my best memories of Christmas were lots of people and lots of food.  God knew that and provided exactly what I needed when I needed it.  This was a fabulous Christmas!  It is my prayer that you were equally as blessed.

The Christmas tree

I will start this post the way I ended the last.  What do you think of when you think Christmas?  What are some of your favorite holiday memories?  Are they religiously based?  Are you sure?  I have found that most people answer those questions simply with the birth of Christ and some sentiment of time spent with family and friends.  In this post and subsequent posts in the next week or two I will be looking at some history of our traditions.  I am looking for ways to appropriately blend my cultural traditions with those of my host culture.

I had prepared myself to have no Christmas decorations this year.  I am in a country where simplicity is a virtue.  I have described my mother’s and my own decorating style as “over the top”.   The more things sparkle the better I like it.  I struggled with whether or not I would put out even one Christmas decoration and what that might be.  I did not know that artificial trees were even available here.  So one afternoon about two weeks ago I walked into my favorite stationary store which is run by a pair of Muslim brothers.  I was shocked to find three trees, blinking lights and a handful of decorations for sale. 

I realized as I was standing in that store that a Christmas tree was an ingrained tradition for me.   I missed it and I wanted one.  I had to question that since I knew that the tree was originally part of a pagan winter solstice festival.  I went home and searched my heart in prayer.  I also searched my bible for any reference I could find to anything that might resemble a tree of pagan or other origin.  Finally I resorted to searching the internet for origins of traditions. 

I found the first documented Christmas trees in churches date back to the 15^th century.  In Germany in the Middle Ages an evergreen tree was part of a popular play which depicted the expulsion of Adam and Eve from paradise.  Soon after that time trees began to show up in the homes of the upper class, adorned with nuts, fruit and gilded candies which were collected by children on Christmas day.  By the 18^th century trees were a regular part of Christmas traditions in many parts of the world, especially with royalty.  They were introduced in Britain in the early 19^th century when Prince Albert brought the tradition from his native Germany. 

By the 21^st century Christmas trees, garland, electric lights and ornate decorations could be found around the world.  In America a decorated tree is a strong symbol of Christmas and serves as the center of attention for many families.  We place gifts under it and gather around it for family time.  There are decorated trees found in town squares and most every mall in the states. 

Whether you regard Christmas as a celebration of the birth of Christ or not, it is hard for many Americans to think of Christmas without a tree.  I guess I am one of them.  So I bought the little scraggly tree and a strand of lights.  I made decorations from scrapbook paper and erected it in the corner of my common room.  While I can find no connection of a tree to the birth of our Savior I do find it gives me a special feeling.  I think that feeling is called Christmas spirit.

For me a tree brings up special memories of family and friends.  For me it does not represent anything religious.  It is just a symbol of a season that I recognize, like a pumpkin is fall or daffodils are spring.  A sparkly tree brings me a feeling of warmth in my heart.  That feeling is a cherished memory for me.  What are some of your favorite memories?

Eating Dagaa

a hand full of dagaa

Recently one of my young teachers went with me to the open market to get fresh vegetables and fruit. Earlier in the day during our class study she had told me about Dagaa. She obviously loves them and thinks they are delicious. She is a very private person and as far as I know has not asked for anything.

While we were at the market we happened by a stand which was selling Dagaa. She used it as a great teaching moment. She asked if I remembered what they were called and told me a short story about when they are used. She then asked if we could get some and she would come to my home to teach me how to cook them. I agreed and bought some.

I had bought several things that day which were all put in black plastic bags which you cannot see through. When I got home I had to “clean” everything. As I opened the bags each one was a surprise. I got to the Dagaa bag not realizing she had sent them home with me. Dagaa is a bit like dried minnows. When I opened that bag and saw all those little eyes looking at me I was a bit shocked.

My teacher and her young sister came to my home about a week later and gave me a cooking lesson. To make Dagaa you pop the heads off and fry them in oil with potatoes, carrots, and onions. They also taught me how to make ugali and mchicha. Ugali is boiled corn flour. It gets very thick like a dough. You form a small ball in your hand and dip it into your meat or vegetables and soup. Mchicha is a green similar to collard greens or spinach. It is fried with onions and tomatoes.

When we sat down to eat I had such a hard time. I just kept thinking of my mother saying to me as a child, “you don’t have to like it but you do have to try it.” It was important to my teacher that I try these. She was very excited to know what I thought of them. I ate a few bites and said I was very full and could eat no more. The truth is my mother just didn’t teach me to eat that and I could eat nothing else for about a day. I have been asked how I could have eaten it. All I can say is there are some things you do for others. This was one of those things. It was such a small thing to do. It was a blessing to have this young woman share this part of her culture with me! I hope I conveyed that message.