Proverbs 31 for the Single Girl

This month was my last month writing for Grace & Honor. I had so much fun over the years sharing articles and things that the Lord was teaching me, and I'm going to miss working with the great authors and contributors that we had!

Here's this month's article:

She’s that illustrious goddess of domesticity. Her husband is crazy about her, the kids adore her, she is business-savvy, Martha Stewart, Paula Deen, Mother Theresa and Jackie Kennedy all rolled into one. The epitome of poise, her house beautifully decorated, her table laden with healthy and delicious foods, her family’s needs all met, and her entrepreneurial spirit bringing in a little extra cash. At least, that’s how we usually picture the Proverbs 31 woman.

I remember quite a few years ago as I was reading through Proverbs 31, and I was struck by verse 12, “She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.”

Continue Reading "Proverbs 31 for the Single Girl"....

{God is good all the time}

"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." 

Proverbs 10:22

I've been thinking quite a bit about this verse, and the applications that it might have. I certainly feel very rich these days in so many ways.

Looking back through the chapter of Proverbs 10, Solomon makes several observations about wealth. He tells us that righteousness is better than the treasures of wickedness (vs 2), that the hand of the diligent maketh rich (vs 4), that the tongue of the just is as choice silver (vs 20), and that the lips of the righteous feed many (vs 21). And then he makes this statement that it is the blessing of the Lord that maketh rich, and that He adds no sorrow to it.

I like what Matthew Henry had to say about this verse: "That wealth which is truly desirable, has no vexation of spirit in the enjoyment; no grief for the loss; no guilt by the abuse of it. What comes from the love of God, has the grace of God for its companion."

God has been so very good to me, in so many ways. In hard times when it's not easy to trace the hand of God, He is still good. In times like the last few weeks, when so many exciting and happy things are happening in my life, God is very good. He is good all the time. 

My life is full and blessed in these days of preparation - preparing details for the wedding, preparing to move across the country, preparing to be a wife. Everything is so much better than I ever even dreamed it would be - God's perfect timing and perfect will is certainly the best, and there is no sorrow with it.

In other (very related) news, my cheeks are almost constantly sore from smiling so much. :)

The Beauty of Worship

The air was a bit close in the room where they all sat, stuffed around a low table, relaxing as the meal came to a close. The candlelight flickered off the walls of the little abode, and the conversation has dropped to a low murmur. The door hesitatingly creaked open, and a small woman slipped in, carrying a vessel in her hands. Eyes followed her movement across the room, past the men, and to the head of the table. She was intruding in a man’s world, this small woman with her small box.

Continue reading "The Beauty of Worship Through Sacrifice"...

That article went up on Grace & Honor several days ago, but I'm just getting around to posting it here. You might say I've been a bit preoccupied lately. :)

Something Happened

So, this happened...

And now you know why the Lord was working in my life so much in the areas of faith and trust and just waiting for His perfect timing. In the midst of all the visa paperwork and uncertainty of days, I began corresponding with Ethan, but for a while didn't know if things would work out or not, so it just added to the confusion of those days.

I'm happy to say that things did work out. :) We are now planning a January wedding and I'll be moving to my new home in North Dakota. Bring on the snow!

God has been so very good in our lives. He has made it evident that this is His perfect will and we are so excited about spending the rest of our lives together. This past week has been spent in happiness in each other's company and it didn't take us long to start finishing each other's sentences. (That is to say, we are perfect for each other.) It was with great sadness that I said goodbye to him at the airport today. We're counting the days until his next trip and using up all our cell phone minutes in the mean time. :)

"The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad." Psalm 126:3

Some little things occupy the biggest parts of our hearts...

Today the breeze blew warm and sweet, and then I knew that summer was coming. It's been chilly here (for Botswana) - getting down to freezing at night, cool breezes during the day with partly cloudy skies. Makes you want to drink lots of coffee and tea. :) But today was different.

I sat in the back yard to read and noticed that the wind had changed directions and was blowing warm and easy, rather than sharp and cool. So, yes, it is true - summer is right around the corner. (I'm afraid spring weather doesn't last long... maybe just a few days!) Then I started thinking about rain, and how lovely it would be if the heavens just opened up and poured it down. I think our last rainfall was in March, if I'm remembering correctly, and yet, it could be months before Francistown sees rain again. I had almost forgotten how dry everything gets at this time of year... how thick the dust lies, everywhere!

I'm now at two weeks from my departure, and I'm starting to go through the piles to sort and pack up. This is an interesting process, as I still find it hard to believe that I have accumulated so much stuff in just two years. But really, when it comes down to it, it's not all that much - there are just several bulky or fragile items that are going to be interesting to pack, and then a lot of little things spread out all over the house.

I'm coming down to another series of 'lasts' in my life. It's hard not to want this time to be over... knowing the departure date is looming makes me want to just speed past everything and get there already. Not that I'm very anxious to leave; I just hate this in-between time. You may have noticed that patience is not my strongest quality. :)

Mom's birthday was this past week, and we celebrated the way we always do for all birthdays and holidays - with lots of good food. Good food must be the love language of Hammetts. :)

So how about some more pictures? It's been a couple weeks since I've done this, and there's a nice menagerie to share.

First, some Namibia flashbacks...

Poolside sunset	Fish River Canyon
Coming in to the coastal town of Luderitz -  this was one of my most favorite days	And back home again,  across the Central Kalahari

Second, some Kiara moments...

Sulking

The hazards of having a fat nose

Third, good food and other stuff...

The Pioneer Woman Cooks is one of my  favorite cookbooks, a gift from a good friend... and my kitchen is always a disaster after I've been using it, a very good sign

Sweet Orange Rolls.... from that very good cookbook :)

The power went out on one of the coldest nights this winter - but I love our fire place!

My orchid is so close to blooming out again... think I'll be here to see it?

White Chicken Enchiladas for Mom's birthday

And apple pie, per her request

The day before Mom's birthday, we went to a nearby lodge to watch the sun set over a watering hole. It was so beautiful, and not very far from our house! As it got darker, we couldn't see the animals coming to drink (kudu and waterbok, mostly) except for their silhouettes in the reflected last rays of sun. Very cool...

And just because... one last picture to make you smile.

This was our rebel coconut...

3 weeks = 21 days

3 weeks.

I have 3 weeks left in Africa. 21 days from now, I'll be packing my carry-on and trying to go to sleep for the last night in my room.

It still seems rather surreal, as it is not yet close enough to start panicking about the to-do list. Yes, the to-do list is there, but I got quite a few items checked off of it this weekend, so I'm feeling pretty good about it right now. (Of course, such lists have a tendency of growing very much in the last days.) I am trying to enjoy the bit of downtime with lots of reading, though, because I know I'm going to be terribly busy as soon as I get back to the States.

Oh, another thing. Where did all this stuff come from? I came here with two suitcases... how could I have possibly accumulated this much stuff in that time? I'm being ruthless with my clothing (it's all had a hard two-year term in Africa, anyway) but I'm having a hard time parting with my souvenirs from all our road trips. I have feathers from Zimbabwe, shells from Namibia, sand from South Africa, rocks from northern Botswana, rocks from western Botswana, rocks from eastern Botswana... okay, I'm not really a geologist, I promise. I just like interesting rocks and always find nice ones to pick up, just about everywhere I go. I guess you can see where most of that 'stuff' came from! :)

No worries, though... what I can't take with me will stay safely packed up here and can come back with someone else at another point - someone who isn't trying to travel with quite as much stuff as I am! (ie, someone who has room for a bag of rocks :)

I was reading Psalm 34 today and was struck by the list of promises that are given there. I've been thinking them over all day. What a blessing to know that we have such a kind God to give us such promises, a Father who has His eyes and ears attuned to our needs!

• The Lord heard me and delivered me from all my fears.
• There is no want to them that fear Him.
• Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.
• They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
• The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous.
• The ears of the Lord are open to their cry.
• The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.
• The Lord redeemeth the soul of His servants.
• None of them that trust in Him shall be desolate. 

New Articles...

It's that time - every two months - when the Grace & Honor goes up with new articles! I've got two in this month's edition.

It was Corrie ten Boom that said, “God has no problems, only plans.” How wise for us to remember, as His much-loved children, that what we perceive as problems, pains, trials, and temptations, are merely God rearranging events to fit His plan, orchestrating lessons for us in the school of faith.

It is not reasonable to think of God as simply a mere human being. We are surprised at unfaithfulness in our fellow man; we are taken back at the wickedness we see around us. When our best-laid plans are upset, we reel in shock that we must begin our planning again. Events out of our control have the ability to set us on our ear just when we thought we were really starting to go somewhere.

------> Continue reading "When God Has Another Plan"

Down through Bible history, we find women who waited. Should we think it strange when we have to wait for what God has for us?

------> Continue reading "Women Who Waited"

Recent Life from the Camera's POV

Gotta have a Wawa... oh, wait	Just chillin' with a big, BIG croc @ Chobe
Water monitor @ Chobe	Malakite Kingfisher @ Chobe
Some freehand nail art... it's a lot harder than it looks!	My favorite shot from this trip to Chobe
Sam 'shooting' the croc	New earrings from Ireland - I love having international friends :)
The view of Francistown from Nyangagbwe Hill	Can you spot the roller?
Chicken feet on sale!	A beautiful evening for a walk
Feeling a bit African today	Homeade pretzels in progress
All finished - some look better than others ;)	Delicious with a jalapeno cheese sauce
Some signs of Francistown
The Shoes Doctor	Sunday in the village
Another road trip to Gabs... starting the day with a sunrise	...and ending the next day with a beautiful sunset
An inquisitive buddy on the way to Tantebane	This winter's favorite -  Butternut Soup

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Leopard Video

This video is from February of this year, but I'm just now getting it uploaded. :) While in Kruger Park in South Africa, we spotted a leopard up in the tree with his fresh impala kill. An amazing siting - I could have sat there all day and watched that magnificent creature!

NEWS

The official word is in, although incomplete. My final appeal to immigration has been denied, so I will be going home within a foreseeable time. Not sure yet how much time I will get on my final waiver, or if I will even get a final waiver, so I could be leaving anytime between next Sunday and 3 months from now. I'm kind of hoping for the 3 months so that I have some time to say my goodbyes. :)

I've been waiting for so long for an answer, that it's kind of strange finally having one. It comes with greatly mixed feelings. I'd thought through both scenarios previously, and was honestly excited about either one - visa granted and being able to stay here for a couple more years, or visa denied and going home to PA. When the word came that it had been denied, I was honestly surprised at the sadness I was feeling.

I'm relieved that I finally know. FINALLY. This has been over two years in process and I'm glad that the trips to immigration and waiting in queue is soon behind me.

I'm very, very sad to be leaving my Africa. It has a way of reaching down and planting roots in your heart. It's more than just the place - it's the people. It's the culture I've come to know, the language I'm struggling with learning, the customs I'm just becoming accustomed to. The people I love and who love me. The land, the animals, the scent, the whole experience of Africa. It makes me so very, very sad to think I'm leaving it behind.

I'm sad to be leaving my parents. I know that may be a strange thing for a 27 year-old daughter to be saying, but it really is true. We came here together on this great adventure and we've grown together so much. Closing this chapter of life is heartbreaking.

As hard as it is, as much as it may break my heart, I wouldn't trade the last two years for anything. God has grown me and shaped me through all of this... I can't even imagine myself without this time in Africa.

Even through the hardness, there is excitement.

I'm going home! Home to Pennsylvania and things that I miss. People there that I love and who love me that I've hardly seen in the last two years. My beautiful PA where there are four distinct seasons and SNOW! There's excitement at spending a proper winter in the US and not in the sweltering Botswana heat. There's gladness at the thought of being back in my home church and involved there again. My heart misses it so.

There's anticipation at the next step in life - so many things to be decided and thought out as far as job, housing, etc. Many, many things.

I'm so thankful that God has it all in control, and I am very glad that now I know. Just one more trip to Gabs to find out how much time I have to work with and then I can start taking some steps toward home. God knew about this all along and has been preparing me for it. So thankful that He's had it all worked out since the beginning - I'm enjoying just being along for the ride. :)

Elephant Crossing

By the middle of the dry season in Botswana, the elephants are having a hard time finding grass to eat on the mainland. The bachelor elephants begin crossing the Chobe River to the middle islands to find lush sweet grass - they can do this because they are big enough that the crocodiles won't bother them. The mother elephants have to be a little more desperate to make the crossing, as they have their babies to think about, a much more vulnerable target to the hungry crocs. It's a brave matriarch that decides to take her herd of mothers and babies across the river, and they have a very special way of doing it, as you will see in this video. The mothers extend their tails and the babies their trunks... as you can see, the babies get completely submerged in this crossing, so they have to stick close to the mothers, who know just the best path for a good foothold. This particular herd that we watched crossed safely with no casualties. Sorry for the 'waves'... we were in a boat :)

Days like pearls, slipping off of a string..

The road to Gabs... this is pretty much what it looks like, give or take  a few donkeys, goats, chickens	An evening visitor
A new necklace from Zim (I love zebras!)	Evening traffic in Gaborone (Rush hour stinks)
I desperately needed a bookshelf so I 'built' one. :)  (Empty boxes and a piece of fabric!)	Coffee from Wimpy's -- It's not *too* bad ;)
"Fabric Paradise" Gaborone	Cooler days call for warm hats and boots!
Happy Birthday to Me! (Pt 1)	Happy Birthday to Me! (Pt 2) I know, I'm so spoiled!
Another visitor... we get lots of drop-in guests!	I think it's so funny that they call  chicken feet stew "Runaways"
Back home with my birds after spending several nights in Gabs	I made a friend on the bus home
Lilac-breasted Roller (National bird of Botswana)	We see hundreds of these during the dry season!
Came home to a new shoot on my orchid. I'm convinced that these plants thrive best when you just ignore them. :)	1 free Saturday + 1 pot melted chocolate = Wonderful relaxing afternoon Happy Father's Day!
African Road Hazard	I love having a brother who bakes

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