9/27/2009

A Week in our life

We don't have the 9-5 working hours that most of you do...but no one here really does. Life is pretty relaxed. This week Jody visited with friends after helping them work in the rice field.

Then he attended the wedding of this family. They already have a 3 month old baby. Most couples here only get married when the woman is already pregnant. That way they know that she is fertile.

Jody got up at 5am one morning to help our neighbors roast a couple pigs in their yard. I slept in and joined the party later!

Jody sat with the men on our street to visit. The women were too busy to sit and visit.

These are some of our neighbor's kids.


Then we taught English to some local children for two days. A national believer shared a story with them in their language.


These are some of our college students, meeting on our front porch to study the word in english.

One day we hiked a long way to a village high up in the mountains. The view of the rice fileds with the ocean in the background was breathtaking.

I had taken my watercolor pencils so we sat and sketched, in awe of our Creator and His creation.


Our week ended by driving 3 hours to the capital city, where Jody preached at the English service. I got away with a girlfriend from the states for a couple days of spiritual renewal.

9/23/2009

The very best pumpkin soup


It is a stretch to say that fall is in the air. With temperatures in the 80's and humidity even higher, I am wistfully dreaming of cool weather and all that comes with it. I am pretending that those days will visit the equator some day very soon. Here is my favorite attempt to bring the season of Autumn here:

The very best pumpkin soup

2 T butter
2 onions
1 carrot
1/2 c celery
1 t curry powder
1 t pumpkin pie spice
2 15oz cans pumpkin
2 14oz cans chicken broth
2/3 c water
1 c cream
1/2 t salt
1/4 t black pepper

Saute onions, carrot and celery in butter until soft. Add curry powder, pumpkin pie spice, pumpkin, broth and water. Simmer 15 minutes. Process in a blender until smooth. Stir in cream, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with dried cranberries, parsley, the zest from an orange peel or croutons. Serves 8

9/18/2009

A Walk on the beach

One of the joys of living on an island is that you are never very far from the beach! Sadly it seems like we hardly ever make the time to go. Last night for our weekly date night we walked on the beach at sunset before eating at a great little restaurant on the beach. The beach near our house is a black sand beach due to volcanic eruptions.


9/03/2009

Martha turns 5

One of the blessings of living so far away from home and family is that you become "family" with the people who work with you. Even though they are not biologically related to you, the bond that you have in Christ unites your hearts. To their children, you become an "Aunt" or "Uncle" and are invited to share their milestones in life only reserved for close family. Today was Martha's birthday. I felt so honored that she wanted "Aunt Jordan" to help her decorate the house and the cake! We invited people over and celebrated her. Her brothers have been asking all week about their own birthdays, not wanting Martha to steal the spotlight so we also celebrated their "Un-Birthday" today! Here's what happened:








9/01/2009

Just Kidding

We are spending the week with our supervisors' kids while they are out of town. There are 4 of them so we are outnumbered. It is definitely a change from our quiet and predictable life without children...like last night when we went out for pizza and someone's sippy cup spilled in my seat, making it look like I wet my pants. We arrived at the restaurant, packed with people we knew! How funny. Who would have thought I needed to bring a change of clothes for myself? Fortunately we have some good help washing the baby. In fact I'm starting to wonder if I'll even get to hold the baby before she turns two...that's how much good help we have!

We spend a lot of time outside riding bikes with Martha,

Nathan,

and Caleb.

Oh Martha!...don't hang on the clothes line in a skirt...

Everyone wants to ride with Uncle Jody on the pink bike. Careful guys!