maybe she's russian

wow. it has been a while.

and now, after weeks of silence... a random story:

today i was walking downtown and wasn't particularly in the mood to be sociable. now. any musungu (particularly female) will tell you that not interacting with others in a crowded african city is not super realistic, considering the fact that you tend to draw a lot of attention simply by being there.

so i thought to myself, "i should just start responding to people in (what teensy bit i know of) russian, just to throw them off." i kind of laughed to myself at the thought and then promptly forgot the issue as my mind wandered to other super important topics like chitange patterns, downton abbey, agatha christie, easter plays, and spanish vacations (yep. cause i'm taking one)

about 5 minutes later i passed a group of zambians who started calling after me. completely forgetting my plan, i nodded and kept walking. 

they called after me again, "how are you?!"

"fine." kept walking.

they seemed slightly confused and pretty soon i heard one say, "maybe she's russian!"

haha! and i didn't even have to say a word.

drawing near

"well, like i always tell you; draw near to God and He'll draw near to you."

these were the last words my beautiful grandma spoke in my ear as she hugged me goodbye christmas night.

now, as i sit on my bed in africa while my family makes funeral arrangements back home, these are the words that keep coming to mind, bringing with them a myriad of emotions

honestly, there have been a few times over the past couple days that i've wanted to do just the opposite.  when i've had no desire to take the time to bring this before my Father, simply because i don't want to deal with it (i know.  super healthy way to deal with grief)

i don't want to be reminded that i'm still in africa while the rest of my family is grieving together.  i don't want to listen to my grandmother's funeral service online or talk on skype or blog about how her life was rich and meaningful and cherished because it all reminds me of how i'm still here... and not there.

and then i hear her voice in my head, "draw near..." and in my heart i know her words are true and full of wisdom.  i know that in spite of the pain of this sudden loss and the seemingly terrible timing He will draw near.  He will work this for good.  it's kind of His specialty.

so i'm still here.  the grief is still potent and oh so very real.  but my God is very near.

thank you, grandma b.  i love you.

a new kind of fall

every once in a while (when i can forget the fact that i'm sweating through my clothes from the heat) i almost feel like i'm experiencing a fall season of sorts.

like when i occasionally drive to the bush and breathe in that blessed smell of autumn decay.

or when i go on a walk over a blanket of dried leaves that crunch under my feet (i think this is what happy sounds like)

or when i come upon the red flamboyant trees (yep, that's their real name)

all in all, it makes for a very different, but beautiful kind of fall.

tried and failed

a few days ago i woke up and saw this over my head:

i guess you can't blame the poor little guy for trying.  

(in case you can't tell, my mosquito friend here is laying on the top of my net with his mouth, or proboscis, hanging inside the "no mosquito zone" with the hope of a possible bite.  but thanks to a treated net, all he got was death.)

thank you, mosquito net, for saving me from one more malaria breeder.  you shall forever more hold a special place of honor in my heart.

yours truly, leslie ann

slippin and slidin

1 roll of black plastic + water and soap = a very fun girls Bible study (don't worry.  we talked about the Bible before we slipped and slid.)

mitz and sheila unleashing their inner child (fortunately for me i was the only one with the camera... don't hate me girls!)

races: cause what's fun without a little competition

all in all... a good day.

and just for kicks i had to include the video of e, because i find his form and expressions pretty stinkin' cute.

overcast and thoughtful

today it's overcast in zambia.  it feels like rain.  though if the dry season is true to its name, as it usually is, we won't see rain for another 2 months at least.

i have to admit, i miss the rain something dreadful, but today provides a glimpse of the real thing with its cloudy gray sky and cool crisp breeze.

it made for a thoughtful morning as i walked to the market in my oversized sweatshirt and leggings to buy talk time for my phone and then to the school to map out a plan for a mural on the baby class (preschool) wall.  

to onlookers i was buried in my dictionary sized book turning each page with expectant wonder as the plot to the novel rapidly approached it's climax.

oh if they only knew how my mind was flitting from thought to plot to prayer to plot again.

it was good.

i can almost feel guilty at how good it felt to walk, read, pray, and think without rushing towards the finish line of another project.

but then i think of my Jesus.  i think of how He never rushed towards the end but walked steadily, knowing when to rest and when to press on, taking necessary time to escape with His Father.

too often i forget.  too often i see the need around me and feel the necessity to respond to it without taking time to respond to my Father.  

so today i welcome the clouds and the melancholia that so often accompanies the weather.  today i am taking time to think and pray... and maybe even finish my book.

taken past the two gates on the edge of our property
looking down the street where i live.

success!!!!

it was a joyous day today in lusaka for 6 kids, their 2 teachers, and 5 parents (2 of the kids are siblings) when the man at the us embassy stated that seemingly simple statement of

"you can pick up your visas tomorrow at 14 hours."

"what!?!"  i asked, not believing he could have uttered such words without light coming down from heaven, angels singing, or at least a simple drumroll.  but he did.  and i was happy.

so... what does all this mean?

it means that they're coming to america!

it means that they'll get to stay in the house i grew up in for 2 months!

it means that they will experience christmas with me and my family!

it means that they will get to travel to multiple churches and meet some of the people that make their education possible!

it means that they will get to perform at with these guys!

jeromy and jennifer of ffh!

and it means that we've got to get practicing!  eek!

say a prayer cause we just might be coming to a church near you!