Cream Puffs

*Lest the sight of a text-only blog turns you off, fear not- PHOTOS follow*

This past rainy Saturday was the day my sister and family moved to town. I rode my bike the mile to their little apartment and found the unload already in process. Bypassing the stream of friendly and grunting helpers, I promptly made my way to the interior to find my niece Cream Puff desperately awaiting my constant attention. She first melted my heart with her gush of giggles and then we made our inspecting way over to the kitchen for edibles of interest.

Let it be known that without fail, when at the home of M&C one finds oneself to be deliciously and generously well-fed and accompanied with good music. This morning was no exception. Even though the clock had recently struck 8:30 and even though they'd only lived there a total of about 15 minutes, it was already true. Cream Puff and I found a glistening box of...donuts! on the beginning-to-be crowded countertop. And, well, I made myself at home. Cream Puff got her sweets in a processed form, later.

The move-in process was impressive. The pack-job from the night before had been done in flawless reverse order of today's installation. I hardly lifted a finger and well, they did a great job! But hey- I was grunting too. I was lugging a 7-month old who is in 1-yr old clothing, ok?

In a matter of hours and a few meals later, their one-bedroom apartment looked better than my own room, which I moved back into a week ago, which I explain thus: 1) my brain operates differently and 2) I'm moving "in" and moving "out" at the same time. Most importantly, what a blessing it is that we can afford to have sturdy roofs over our heads. Yahoo!

Welcome to town you guys!

Cream Puff and her uni-curl

That's what I'm talking about

Uncle Jake! What a guy.

Good crew = Quick business

Niece and I on our 7-month reunion, at her birth site

Periscope

I feel like I'm holding a periscope- I can finally see, or at least peek, around the next corner! That's exciting and glaringly soon.

This new landscape in view is temptingly tangible and demands that I organize practical things. Parfait! that's what I like to do. And yet, I've just come through some intangible and difficult-to-summarize experiences in the Congo. The challenge for me this month will be to turn that periscope around...

*Editor's note: Dragonfly has always wanted a periscope. If any readers know how to make one, feel free to inform the blogger.

Voilá

Is it possible to "expect the unexpected"? To me that phrase grasps at the mystery of trusting in/living into God's Presence in the world. I feel like I am on the crest of a wave that might be full of those mysteries.

Monday of this week found me making myself finally at home again~ baking whole wheat bread (scarce in Moz and DRC), squeezing fresh lemonade, washing clothes, receiving friends~ an ideal welcome home. I was settling mentally in for a nebulous month of discernment and deliberating and decision-making. And then the phone rang.

The aid organization for whom I'd interviewed in February was calling to offer me a post in Niger for half a year, working in malnutrition. This took me very much by surprise for I had been planning to put my application on hold because my French is not up to full speed.

But they beat me to the punch; they've decided to take a risk on me, if I'm ready to risk language immersion. The fact that the placement has few security risks, makes this possible. The short story is that within 24 hours, I said yes and within 24 more, they confirmed it. So much for a foggy August! This next step came bursting into focus with a "take it" or "leave it" choice. I took it.

A friend once gave me a quote that I keep on my mirror: When you come to a fork in the road...take it. (Yogi Berra) The decision was not made that randomly, but the spirit of carpe diem is there. The cummulative processing/praying/exploring done with my community these last months came to rest on that moment. The recruiter declined my request for extra time to consider and I had to decide. Voilá! I'm off to Niger.

*Editor's note: The accent over the a in the title should be slanted instead to the left. I can't find the keyboard shortcut for that one. Please pardon my French.*

Marriage

He's gone and done it. My twin and only brother got married this week. Look how beautiful they are! We had one shot at a sister-in-law and I'd say we've done real well :).
Welcome to the family, Anita.

Sibs
My sisters and I
Congrats, Dave!
The clan.

Locator

It's a small world after all. If anyone wants to locate where I was in the Democratic Republic of Congo, you can see a satellite image by typing Kajiji (the village) or Kinshasa (the capital) into "Google Earth". If you don't zoom in too closely, you can see the lay of the land and the plateau of Kajiji.

Landing

I've been landing since Monday. The air was choppy over DC and not a little scary to float a big plane through, but we made it down alive. Since then I've hardly spent an hour in my little rented room other than sleeping for a few.

Actually, I've had the rare treat of spending most hours with my blood family, celebrating the marriage of my only brother. There were about 9 hours where all 12 of us were in the same place- the first time in years...and now there are 13 of us.

So I've been landing slowly- spending time in Kinshasa (Congo's capital city) after leaving Kajiji; spending a few days in London after leaving Kinshasa; spending a night with sibs after landing in D.C., and now spending time in Pennsylvania after the wedding, reunioning with extended relatives. It has been such a gift to be with my parents and sisters and their husbands and kids.

Yet I am not yet grounded until I've spent time in the presence of my friends...and that I am eager to do. The people who have prayed for and wondered about me, encouraged me and listened, and kept the home fires ablaze and dreams alive--these next few weeks are dedicated to you.

Following are some pix of my travel modes in the last month. The above picture is the little Cessna that flew us to Kajiji.

A boat to the coast of the Indian Ocean in Mozambique:
A drive through a game park in Moz (stay in the vehicle!):
Traffic in Kinshasa:
Kenyan Airways (super service!):
Walking to the Kwenge river with Congolese colleagues:
All in a day's walk:

Café Village

Tired of processed foods? Come to DR Congo!

On the village menu:

Fresh water eels- dried and skewered
Bush rat- also skewered
Caterpillars- easy to harvest from burned trees, crawling out of the pot or dried from last season
Grubs- fat and juicy as a small cucumber, but more wiggly
Bird- freshly struck by passing motorcycle
Chicken foot- be prepared to crunch and chew and block out your knowledge of anatomy (see photo)
Gazelle- size of tiny deer, the prize of a happy hunter



All foods on our menu are locally grown, free-range, no pesticides, no antibiotics, no artificial coloring or preservatives.

Homegrown and hand-picked!

All dishes served with a side of fufu (thick paste made from manioc root) or rice, and greens.

Inquire in person for more menu options. Dishes served all day long.

Bon Appétit!