I was barely able to Zoom last night with a dear friend that I’ve known since 1992. While the graininess and freezes were palpable, we were still able to connect through three power outages during the conversation. I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect after 4 days of being without Internet!
When asked, “How are you doing, really?” I replied that actually things are rather well. Yes, there are challenges and unknows that my INFJ (Myers-Briggs temperament) doesn’t thrive with, but really, I’m managing rather well. Yes, there are times of isolation. Yet, there is a deeper peace that comes with the palpable presence of a peace that “passes all understanding” that would be rather understandable with some of the daily issues. I know people are praying for me. I received 3 emails yesterday with the reminder of being carried in prayer.
Let me give a couple examples from Sunday. Most of my days, nobody knows where I am. I go, stay, make some visits, and the past 2 weeks, I’ve been walking to my Kiswahili course lessons. On Sunday, I need to get on the dala dala van/small bus to get to the English-speaking service, which has been important for community as well as making important connections. (A few have been Providential with a capital P!) As an introvert, it could be emotionally demanding to be squished in a row of 6 people with 4 seats and navigating what the unwritten social systems are in crammed van. (I often wonder what Jesus would do in these contexts!) However, I’m not having to psych myself up for the van ride or keep a mental alertness that is typical for me. I have a deep peace that I know is under-girded by the prayers of people on 3 continents.
It used to be my dad’s prayers that were the wind beneath my wings. I would Skype with him and let him know my special prayer requests. (And the tears come remembering this love he expressed in relentless prayer for me—as well as 66 other widows every day.) Before he died, he appealed to others to pray for me. I am deeply moved and grateful for all the prayers.
Today, before the power went out, (I’m now writing emails in a Word document that I cut and paste into email when I have electricity), I was listing to the Hidden Brain podcast by Shankar Vedantam. The current episode is on gratitude. I encourage a listen and then sing a chorus, “Count Your Blessing,” the old praise song that always seems to be heard in my head with my mother’s voice.
I am well. I am grateful for: all the prayers, email check ins, lovely Kiswahili teachers, being the only student getting individualized attention, Tanzanian friends who send a text just to wish me good night, three weeks of good lunches with good greens and veggies from their organic garden on the campus (that I don’t tend to cook for myself or want to risk buying from the market), the troupe of Colobus monkeys, the electricity that just came on, and the return of the Internet!
Colobus monkey babies are white (mzungu!)
Mungu akubariki! (God bless you!)