Party time!

Thanks for all of you who came to our engagement party last Saturday. We felt very loved by all of the faces that made time in their packed schedules to met Simon, celebrate our engagement and kiss us goodbye again.








We spent the day decorating the house with fresh flowers, rearranging furniture, and handdrawing a timeline of our relationship. Dick and Dee were the first to arrive and it was nice getting to sit down for a bit before the mad rush began.

One thing that I don't like about hosting parties like this is that all of the conversations are interupted by an empty platter, or a new guest arriving. I constantly felt like I couldn't settle down for a meaningful conversations. Parties like this remind me of school openhouses where everyone wants to talk with the teacher all at the same time.

Overall the night was a big sucess and actually a miracle. My whole family made the two and a half hour drive up from Portland.My sister flew in from San Francisco. I was a little anxious about having my divorced family all together in one small room. We prayed for my mom to feel comfortable and that she would be able to be herself and that my dads would be able to interact. Well, it was so great because all of our prayers were answered. My dad and Tommy spent most of the night together talking, laughing and teasing Simon. After talking to both of them the next day they both said that they had a great time and enjoyed eachother company. Tommy said they have a lot in common. My mom found her space in the kitchen helping Abby clean and refilling the food platters. She also spent some time relaxing and mingling with my
friends.

I was also really pleased to see how well my family was getting along with Simon. He got to spend more time talking with them than I did. And he is offically accepted because they teased him relentlessly.

Once again, thanks for coming and thanks for supporting and loving us.
Cheers until the next time we meet!

Nights that make it all worth it

All day I was looking forward to hanging out with some of the coolest people I know in Tacoma. Around 6:20 Simon and I bundled up and and walked over to the artistic haven of the Llewellyns. A couple seconds into the door Deb announced they were starving and dinner was ready. We sat down to a table which breathed artistic inspiration into me with each place setting a different color bowl and unique shape, with candles acting like a table runner down the table and crusty cheesy bread to dip into our steaming soup.

Simon and I have told our story a couple of times a day for the past month and half. After a great lunch with friends were I retold our story like a stoic, passionless, salesman we agreed that Simon would get to do it the next time. Even your favorite Sinfield episode if seen 100's of times get old after awhile. But, tonight we enjoyed our time sharing. Instead of draining us we interrupted each other adding in missing details, we laughed and we were smiling when it was over. What a difference!

After dinner was done I saw Simon creaking his neck into the direction of the family room that houses a couple of towering book shelves. He and Tom walked through the house talking about quotes, authors and rare editions. Tom was the perfect guy to encourage Simon in his writing and one of his favorite passions, books.

For four hours I didn't move from my cushioned window seat. I got to fill Deb in on all of the scoop of who we had seen over coffee, lunch, and walks. We ended the night by looking at the Beautiful Angle posters Tom and Lance collaborate on. This was one of my favorite parts being caught in a swirl of artistic expression and hearing Simon exclaim that he wanted to do this in Byron Bay.

Walking home Simon said that he felt sane again. I agreed.Just being with them in their house makes me want to run home and do art. What a great feeling. Unfortunately we can't take the Llewellyns home with us to Australia but this interaction makes me long for the artistic, hippy community even more.




One of my favorite posters by Beautiful Angle called Hole.

Snow Shoeing

While in Tacoma Simon and I have been staying with Tim and Abby Isaacson and it has been really great to have a home base. We can let our suitcases explode without worrying about them being in anyones way. It has really warmed my heart to see Simon connecting with some of my best friends. I'm going to miss picking our next Nextflick order, debriefing about our days over delicious home cooking, and being comfortable enough to make fun of each others idiosyncrasies.



This past weekend it was around noon when we finally had the car loaded with our snow gear. We spent the morning gathering mixmatched waterproof wear. Simon looked ridiculous with black water resistant slip pants bunched over his jeans. Since Simon is used to the dry bush environment it was his one desire to tromp through snow.



Our two mile snow walk stretched into hours as we had a lot of intermissions for a snowball snacking your back or freezing chills as it slided down your jacket. The snow had this magical effect on us turning us from 20 somethings to elementary children. It was great. And for once I felt I had an equal advantage when defending myself because with help from the snow shoes with one push I could send Simon tumbling.



We had a great time as we ended our day in a pub to celebrate St. Patrick's day over chips and pints of amber beer. Our time here is quickly coming to an end and when the 26th rolls around it will be a teary goodbye to loving friends and snowy, wet adventures.

Shelly is awesome!

Dashing through the Gauntlet

What a beautiful day! The sun made a star appearance today and I got spring fever. I changed my outfit three times today because I finally got to bust out the short sleeve shirts and flip flops. It was a great break from the rain.

Last night Si and I were talking about this rigorous schedule I had arranged for us. We decided that we didn't need to be putting ourselves through the social gauntlet. It is difficult because I want to see so many of you but I want to enjoy doing it as well. It has been exhausting for both of us as we met and introduce ourselves to some of my favorite people. Constantly the best foot has to be put forward. Constantly we are telling and retelling the story of our meeting. Constantly we are packing the car and driving to our next destination. Gratefully, we have a wonderful base here in Portland and in Tacoma as well. Instead of packing, driving, and charming we are going to spend a couple more days at my parents home.

It has been really good for Simon and I to have this place with an overflowing refrigerator, space for individual time, and stimulating conversation with my stepfather who teaches at a university. This rest will do us well as we recuperate for another mad dash through the gauntlet.

But, I don't want you to take this personally. I have LOVED seeing those we have seen, and am looking forward to seeing those who will be seen. I love everyone of you and appreciate the effort and love we have shared.

In the next half an hour Simon and I will be piling into the Suburu and directing our four wheel drive up North. We are going to Tacoma today for a short visit. I have a doctors appointment to make sure all of the African bugs that were in me have now died. What I'm really looking forward to is staying with Abby and Tim and seeing some very important friends. On the 2nd we head back to Portland for dinner with my Podge and my sister who is flying up from San Fran. She is coming up to join us on our boating adventure.

This is quite a pleasant surprise; getting to see my dear friends so soon again. When leaving for Africa I really didn't know when I would be home again. What a nice turn of events.

We are off to pack the car!

Traveling through Africa

Here are some pictures that I promised from the school. More are to come once I get my lab top in Australia.

The beautiful Pemba beach palms.

Emme and me taking two of the toddlers to the beach. Each Saturday students signed up for the tramp to the beach where the children would role in the sand and splash in the rolling waves.

Tiago dancing on the beach. He was a crazy character who loved attention and was full of life. If you ever wanted to laugh Tiago was good company.

As we walked along the beach we would were easy prey for those selling treasures such as necklaces, chocolate, and fruit. Who could resist a smile like that?

************************************************************************************


Time has passed, adventures were embarked, life changing decisions have been made. . . and I've not written a single word about it. I'm sure you've been wondering did that dark hole of Africa suck Meag in and devour her completely? Sorry about my lack of communication. In all honestly when life starts moving at neck breaking speed it is difficult to keep the updates coming.

This past month has been wonderful. I went on my three week outreach to a district in Mozambique called Zambezi. This time was challenging due to leadership miscommunication, vigorous schedules, and spiritual tension but I felt Gods closeness during the entirety of the trip. Thank you for your prayers concerning safety and for the direction of my next steps.

After Simon and I returned from our different outreaches we decided that we never wanted to be separated like that again. It was more difficult than either of us imagined. This vow lead us to change plane tickets, buy new ones and donate a load of clothes and extra goodies to lessen our weight as we made our way up to Tanzania.

We traveled through Tanzania making our way up to Kenya where we were going to spend some time at Empowering Lives International. However, we never made our final destination. But before I explain that let me tell you about our favorite place in Tanzania; Zanzibar. We loaded ourselves onto a ferry and 3 hours later had arrived being welcomed by the tantalizing smell of spices, fire lit vendors with fresh displays of squid and bustling streets flooded with passengers and tourists. We loved wandering around the stone town. Everyone greets you with a friendly "Jambo" and Simons dreads quickly won us favor with many of the locals. As we walked through the maze we would pass children dressed in the Muslim skull cap with books tucked under their arm or old men resting against an intricately wooden carved door. They would flash their toothless smiles at us and raise their hand in frail greeting. Our planned three days quickly expanded to four than five than six as Stone town nestled itself into the depths of our hearts. But, eventually we decided it was time to continue our travels so we loaded onto a personal dhowl (a boat) with 40 other people, bundles of clothing and a chicken to make the journey across the sea to Tanga.

Earlier I had mentioned that we didn't get to our final destination. We had full intention and had boarded a bus called the Eldoret Express. Lonely Planet informed us this trip would take three hours. Knowing the unpredicatableness of African travel I added a couple of hours expecting a five hour journey. As we waited for the bus to fill up I started to pray because I'd been sick recently and could feel the affects already creeping up. Eight hours later we are still bumping along the Kenyan roads and our destination was still a couple of hours away. I had to get the bus driver to make a personal stop for me to use the restroom which was me squatting behind the bus. I gradually was getting worse and we were frantically praying for Jesus to heal me. The bus stopped to let off another passenger and we quickly decided that this was as far as I could go. The night was spent in a dingy hotel that reminded me of the film Born into Brothels. The next morning Simon made the executive decision that we would return to Nairobi where we could get a doctor more easily if the need arose. And it did. I slept terribly that night on a top bunk which I had to descend every 15 minutes to run to the restroom. I had a constant fever that made my face swelter but the rest of me freezing. In the morning we started me on malaria pills and a blood test confirmed that I was positive. The next five days were spent in bed resting and with Simon making runs into town for food and medicine. Praise God though. The case was really mild and I'm all better.

These are just a couple of our adventures in Africa and now we are back in Oregon recuperating and preparing for the next stage of life.

Yesterday we had gradation that lasted a really long time. We had to greet everyone who had come to visit from neighboring churches. It was a big celebration of the Holy Given graduates and the Pastors. The stage was filled with garbage bags of presents for them to take home to their family.
We sat through many hours of colorful drum dances, upbeat African worship, and drawn out greetings. My stomach was growling even before the ceremonies started and was only satisfied at 4:00 with a special meal of chicken, salad, and coke.

I’ve officially finished the school part of the Holy Given and now I’m resting for two days before Tuesday when I have my team leaves for two days of traveling to a town called Zimbeze. We have two and a half weeks in their town where we will be doing children’s activities and teaching. We may official a big wedding. Many couples here don’t get married because it is too expensive so doing a service for free is a great example of incarnational love. .

Our last week of school was full of cramming reading into our brains and catching up on missed films. As I write this people are bustling around me packing their belongings and deciding what to leave. I’m heading into town later to do some quick email and then Simon and I most likely will spend the afternoon on the beach resting in the shade and dipping into the ocean when we get too hot.

Last week I checked my email to find one from Don Rogers the international director for ELI. The gist of the email was that I have to raise 80% of my support to begin my full time work with them. They suggested that I still come to Kenya and then they want to send me to Sudan to take pictures of the children there. My jaw dropped to the ground when I read this because it is my dream job. I am realizing that God gives us dreams and then he makes them come true. I’m in a season of intense blessing where dream after dream is being fulfilled.

My prayer requests for this next season of outreach is mostly that I would sense God’s love for those on my on my team and those that we get to meet. I want also to go with an open, teachable heart that receives all that God has.

As of right now I’m not excited about this outreach because my house is full of people who are packing and heading back home to be with families for Christmas. This is my first Christmas away from home. It does help that I don’t feel like it is Christmas. Instead of fleece jackets, Christmas trees, and egg nog I’m surrounded by flipflops, palm trees, and iced cokes. I’ll be celebrating Christmas in the bush of Mozambique.

Simon is going to be traveling through Africa by random African transport and he is unsure of where he is going for the next six months. You could pray for us in this time apart that our relationship would strengthen in this t and that we would grow more in love for Jesus and each other during this time. Also pray for safety in general for both of us as we travel through Africa. Simon is going to set aside a week to pray and fast for direction concerning the next steps with us and with his time in Africa.

Thanks for praying and I really am blessed by your emails. If you need my email address it is meagdiamond@yahoo.com I love to hear about the daily activities of your lives. I love you all!

Hey

I just woke up from a nap/rest from our rock cement porch. My pillow was my journal and the book “There is always enough” that I just finished. Today we had church and a funeral for a baby girl that died yesterday. They had prayed for her to be resurrected but while praying someone had a vision of her in the arms of Jesus. She had begun to get warm which is a sign of resurrection but then she had a choice. Did she want to stay in the arms of Jesus or did she want to come back to earth. In my opinion this is not a difficult choice. Why would you ever want to leave the arms of Jesus especially after your life has been struggle after struggle. She had arrived at the Iris home a couple of months ago. Her parents were both dead and her grandparents brought her. Her arms were covered with witchcraft bracelets.

I went to a little part of church and not to the funeral at all. I am trying to discern what to be involved in and in general have had a desire to rest. It is a struggle in me though because I want to be involved with the nationals and part of their daily life joys and struggles but I don’t feel that this is the focus of this time. Our teachings are deep and our time is intense. I know that God is changing the deep channels of my heart and often I am drained of energy and resort to the tile floor of the back porch. I just have to trust that God will put me where I’m supposed to be and give me the desires that I’m supposed to have.

It is just so different than my time in Kenya. The first day there I was interacting with the children and scrubbing windows with rags. Different seasons and I really feel that this is a season of receiving because I am going to enter into something so different after this.

Earlier this week I realized that I had hit a wall. My tolerance level for grubby hands touching me and pulling me and hitting me became nil. I didn’t want any one to hug me or tug me or pull on my skirt. This touch that I so loved before now is a bother. But, there is something different about it as well. I feel that it has increased. I feel that the children have changed their tactics here. At first it was the angel approach of sitting politely on laps, or playing gently with hair. There were no demands or rude requests, no slaps on the back or punches in the arm. Now the devil tactics have surfaced and it is the endless demands for a football, a pump, a pair of shoes. And it doesn’t end. Last night Meadow and I brought out this lit up Frisbee to play with the children. As we were throwing it the usual fight broke out and one boy went pouting to the stairs and sat watching. One throw ended up in the near by bushes and as I bent to get it an object flew by my head and landed near by. I glanced at it and saw a rock the size of a softball! I picked up the Frisbee and Meadow and I turned to walk back to our compound all the while praying that no more rocks would follow. I feel like this story represents the state of Mozambique. There is no discipline here. The kids aren’t disciplined at their home, school, or anywhere. They run and hit and punch without any consequences.


When I was in America one day driving through the streets of Tacoma I was hit with the revelation that there were in fact a lot of similarities with many nations around the world. I came to this conclusion after thinking about theft in third world countries and how often a purse will be stolen from your body or a house ransacked of all possessions. Then I realized that the same thing is happening in America. It’s called identity theft. People steal your life and they ransack your bank account of all possessions. Same spirit, different manifestation. Who is to say which one is worse?

At the beginning of my time here in Mozambique I shared that I was struggling with the mentality that I didn’t have enough. As I spent time in prayer I realized that this is the same spirit that is over all of this country. This spirit looks like desperateness for the basic essentials. It isn’t uncommon for someone to repay kindness with rudeness or to suddenly turn. Remembering what I learned in Tacoma about same spirits I realized this was like the spirit that causes one to climb the cooperate ladder taking down all of the other competition as you get higher. Friends betray friends to get what they want. Same spirit, different manifestation. Who is to say which one is worse?

All of this to say please pray for us at this school because we are in a place where we want to respond by hiding and withdrawing. This is opposite of what I want to do. I want to have a rock thrown at me and not let it land in my heart. I want to have a kid hit me and call me nasty names and not let it land in my heart. I want to have Latina demand everything from me and not let it land in my heart. I want to choose to love when not loved.


My most consuming prayer the past couple of weeks has been for dove eyes which is in Song of Songs. I learned once that dove’s mate only once in their life and even if their mate dies they won’t mate again. They have eyes that are unfaltering and fixed. I want eyes that lock on to the face of my Beloved Jesus that don’t dart to loud manifestation or to a handsome guy or to the beckoning ocean shores. I’ve been crying out from Psalms 26, 27 and 84 to DWELL in the house of the Lord and to constantly GAZE upon His beauty. I want this so badly that I find it my first thought in the morning the second I wake up and a desperateness is growing inside me that will contend for this because surly I will die if I don’t have intimacy with Jesus. So, you can pray that I would be a dweller in the house of our Lord and that all distractions would fade.

I love you all and am really enjoying the personal emails. These mean so much to me because I still want to be connected with what you are doing on a daily basis. It is my lifeline to you and it is important for me to have it living and active.

I found out that we can receive letters here. The rumor is it takes about a month to get it. So, if you mail it soon I will get it and it would make my day.
I leave for Kenya on the 9th of January so mail them before December.

The address is
Ministerio Arco Iris
Attn: Meag Diamond
Praia de Wimbe
Pemba, Mozambique

Kisses!

Bummer

On the way to the internet cafe today Meadow, Ky and Jessica and I hitched a ride on the back of a truck. The wind felt fresh and was welcomed against our sticky skin. Summer has crept up on us and it is hard to stay cool. We walked the remaining miles to the cafe and on that walk I realized that my pocket wasn't holding the jumpdrive that held the most recent update from my time here. So, I have to keep you in suspense because there is are lot of meat coming next week. I hope that you are hungry. And sorry, no pictures yet. I try every week to get the best pictures up and it never works. Perhaps God can give you dreams and show you things that are happening here until I get to Kenya. In the mean time I will try again next week.

LOVING YOU!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARME!!!

Loving Life!

A typical day looks like this. I wake up and I lay in bed for a while, mostly because I don’t have to get up. There is nothing crucial that needs to be done. Classes don’t start until 8:30, breakfast until 7:00ish. And the sun has woken me up at 5:00. I lay in bed and catch my bearings. I still haven’t fully adjusted to waking up in a stuffy room that has a view of a slanted metal roof through a blue mosquito net. It takes a couple of seconds to remember where I am. I often grab my Bible or just lay there thinking. I climb down the wood ringed ladder, slip on my black Chaco sandals and meander into the bathroom. There I brush my teeth rinsing with my pure mineral water and swallowing to save every drop of purity. I usually shimmy into my bathing suit and surf shorts wrap a sarong around my waist and join a friend heading down to the beach.
This is my daily bathing place. We take turns dipping into the refreshing waves of the Indian Ocean. One stays on the shore and watches our processions. While I wait I take the white sand and rub it all over my legs, feet, and arms. I have to pay no sauna fee for this luxury.

This week we have been taught by Guy from Toronto. His book is called Turnings and he has been turning my theology upside down and then the Holy Spirit gets to shake me. The contents of my pockets fall out in a heap beneath me and I don’t bend to pick it up again. Actually, I am not going to even begin to pretend to know what God is doing. I want to serve dinner to the pastors and He says “No! Sit!” I want to dance prophetically while people are being healed of sickness He says “No! Sit!” I want to sign up for teaching Sunday school to the children and He says, “No! Sit!” So, I sit and part of me dies as I sit. This is good. What is dying is a performance based mindset. I don’t deserve His anointing, I don’t deserve His touch. I don’t deserve His death. I can’t earn His anointing. I can’t earn His touch. I can’t earn His death.

As I sit in silence His presence is coming and it makes me drunk. I can’t talk, walk or sing. I am soaked. There is little jerking, no dancing, no singing. He is stripping any false comforts and any false identity. He is teaching me that when I shake or dance this doesn’t necessarily mean that His anointing is there. As I said before I am not fully understanding what He is doing but my Spirit cries out YES JESUS!!!!

I have been here for a couple of days. Honestly I am not even sure. The days just seem to melt together and it is hard to keep track. I don't have my calendar to constantly check every couple of hours. This is very nice.



I'm really enjoying my time here with my new friends. I live in a house with 9 other people. I live on the top bunk of a bed that I share with Linda. There are people at this school from all over the world but for some reason in our house we are all from America or Canada. I can see that living with others has prepared me to live in a small space with this many people.



The weather is warm and I am constantly sweaty, but don't mind. Today I'm wearing the skirt you made me mom. Everyone loves it and joked about looking you up in America to make them ones.



Each day we go to class to hear speakers. We open with some worship that always goes longer than planed, we sit on benches or mats that have been placed on the sand. Often people are on their faces during worship or up dancing. There is a lot of freedom here to be as you are.



We have homework and are excpected to work with the nationals by visiting them and talking with them. The children have a lot of personality and quickly will lay on your lap and put their arms around you before they even ask you your name.



Everyone has a story here of what they have been saved from, of what their life used to be like. It is powerful to talk with them and learn from their experiences. I am surrounded by a library of life and victory. Their stories should be collected and read by everyone in the world. They have been changed and now are changing others.



Yesterday I went for a swim in the Indian ocean. It was so refreshing and beautiful. The ocean is a one minute walk outside of our gates. I am surrounded by beauty of heart and land.

Multiplication

I'm in Mozambique and having an amazing time. Today during breakfast I sat next to George. He is one of Mama Idas sons. He and I were talking and he began to tell me stories about having everything stolen from him. Everything he was given something it would be stolen and he told me that if they just asked him he would freely and gladly give it to them. I sat there his words piercing my heart because God has begun to stir in me a new revelation. It started a while ago as I was reading the book "There is always enough" by the Bakers. They have story after story of Gods multiplication of food, money, resources.

Yesterday Mama Ida taught us about the be attitudes and how the mourners are blessed because they shall be comforted. One thing she said was she was always giving away things. One day her son came to her and said "Mama you know, I am not complaining but I just wanted you to know that you have given away all of my clothes again. This t-shirt I'm wearing and one other is all I have." When a new child came to the home she had nothing and Mama Idas daughter had a favorite dress that she willingly surrendered to this girl. These testimonies of giving have pierced my heart.

God is already breaking me of many mindsets that I have, one in particular is the mindset that I need to hoard and keep things for myself. This is a deeper work than before because earlier I would easily give because I knew that I could easily get. It was simple to give over half of my paycheck to missions because I could comfortably live on the rest without luxury. But, right now I have nothing. I am living off of others generosity and literally the clothes I brought are all I have. But, at the same time my mom could easily send a package with anything that I do really need. This is such a humbling place because I can't just return to America and have abundance again. But, God is telling me to give and it is so hard when it is my only pair of flip flops. Please pray for me that I would be broken knowing that He will always provide. I want to truly believe in my heart that there is always going to be enough. That is the type of anointing on this ministry and God has done miracles of provision and multiplying. I am getting desperate for God. I wan to be able to give my best.


God is the God of multiplication. He doesn't just do the addition. He multiplies. When I don't give the heavens and locked and closed, but when I give out of a grateful heart he will rend those heavens and release blessing upon blessing into my life. I want my choices to rend those heavens unlocking the blessing of knowing my Father as a multiplier.

I need to save the pictures to my jumpdrive and then I can add them to the blog. I will add a lot of pictures next time.

Oliver's

I walked down the alley for the last time to the Oliver household. They live just a couple of houses down and the walk is quick. Angie greeted me at the door with her usually shy grin and deep hug. "There's a boy." She said pointing to Orion who was flat on his belly infront of the dancing flames of electric fire. Soon E'lin joined us with his hair stylishly pushed into a feathery wave by his bedtime pillow. We took pictures as Angie arranged her usual gourmet feast in the kitchen. E'lin brought down pillows from upstairs and we gathered around the trunk spread with the banquet. As we ate we talked about writing letters, how Orion thought meat had seeds, and how they want to eat all organics when they grow up. After breakfast the boys rushed to calm down their hair, gather some last minute parting gifts, and grabed their school gear for the day. "I'm proud of you." Angie whispered in calm voice that I will so deeply miss. We said our goodbyes outside their house before they quickly piled into the maroon Volvo and putted down the road hitting their tail pipe as they zipped over the speed bump. I watched as they passed barely able to make out their smiling faces and waving hands through the foggy windows that Wasington fall mornings so well paint.

Farewell Tacoma

Here is my busy calendar for the past week. I was so grateful to meet one last time with so many of you.

Well, this is it. My last day in Tacoma. I have had a crazy busy week filled to the last minute with sentimental partings. It has been really good though. I don't think that our American culture takes enough opportunities to tell someone how we truly feel about them or let them know the impact they have had on our lives. It is so important to let someone know what they mean to you. I have been flooded with encouragement these past three weeks since I found out I was leaving on a jet plane and not knowing when I'll be back again.

Today my mom will drive up and be here by 9:30 to spend the day with me busily finishing the last minute details like washing my car, closing my bank account, and picking up the remaining eight Malaria pills from Costplus. But, before that I get to eat breakfast with the Oliver family before they head off to school and work. In fact I need to go right now, but here in my flight itenerary so you can pray for my travels.

Loving you!


IRIS MINISTRIES MOZAMBIQUE
PO BOX 275
PEMBA CASO DELGADO


BRITISH AIRWAYS From: 23OCT SEATTLE WA To: LONDON Depart: 640P
Arrive: 1145A


BRITISH AIRWAYS From: 24OCT LONDON To: NAIROBI Depart: 835P
Arrive: 725A


LAM MOZAMBIQUE From: 25OCT NAIROBI To: PEMBA Depart: 505P Arrive: 615P

Valhalla pop in

Today I had a great surprise hidden up my sleeve. Earlier I had called to find out when the third graders eat lunch at Valhalla. I wanted to surprise my students at their lunch tables. When 1:00 rolled around there I was and there they were. Like a Where's Waldo book they quickly found me and ran to me like little programmed robots returning to the motherboard.

I wish I could describe the joy their faces held and how they were all interrupting each other to tell Ms. Diamond that they brought their hamster to school yesterday, or that they couldn't bring their birds to school any more, or that now they had a remote control car and truck. They all wanted to show me their latest tricks. Kiana did a million cartwheel splits, Steven and Gavin raced to the yellow fire-hydrant, Damanpreet dominated in the four square court.

They begged me to come into their classrooms and excitedly called me their new teachers name on accident. They all were doing so well and seemed so happy. It was hard to say goodbye especially with Aaliyah and Megan holding me in a death lock. I had a great time seeing these precious children that poured so much life into my heart. Their estatic greeting, their popcorn questions about Africa, and their pleas to stay or at least visit each of them at their individual homes deeply touched my heart. This was one of the most rewarding moments in my teaching career.

For your dining pleasure

After my last day of school I quickly drove home to pack my car with all of my belongings that wouldn't fit into my one suitcase and my one backpack headed for Africa. These items were too precious to give away so they will be stored in the convince of my old bedroom that my mom faithfully keeps as mine and has my old stuffed cat ginger guarding my bed and forever waiting for my return. This job of packing my car was easy since I had been really preparing for this school two months ago when I applied. Backs were back and just needed to be jigsawed into my trunk. The tricky part was a desk that couldn't make it's way down the stairs. Just when Ray and I thought it impossible we would remember that it go up this narrow jagged stairwell and what goes up must come down. I worked quick because some of my most favorite people in the whole wide world were driving up from Shelton to visit me. I wanted to be ready to drive south homebound after our dining at East and West Cafe.

When Sandra, her daughter Sage who is ten and Allena who is living with them for a year and is from the Ukraine came we all wanted to start crying right then and there. Sage gave me a amoeba hug and as I she pulled away said "No, I'm not done yet and would come in for another tender squeeze only to decide that she needed even more. Don't you love kids because they have this amazing ability to make you feel like you are the most important person in the whole world.

We ate a delicious dinner that was sprinkling with deep conversation then a little of funny face squishing, and completely covered with side splitting laughter. I was excited to have my favorite dish Swimming Angel because I had tried to eat it last Wednesday with Bill and Kathy and Le Le but because of the crazy spinach they were serving it. The first time I had this meal that is a yellow sea of peanut sauce surrounding an island of rice and spinach was with my adopted mother Christy Romfo. She took me here when it was just a one roomed house for my twentieth birthday. I've also celebrated a handfuls of other birthdays here as well. Maybe every birthday. . . I'm not sure. Anyways, I loved my time with these people that are so gentle, peaceful, brilliant and compassionate. They are my favorite!

And of course we couldn't say goodbye so we made plans to see each other again next week for our final amoeba hugs and teary smiles because then it will truly be our last, for a while anyways.

After dinner I drove home to Oregon and don't tell anyone especially my parents but I plugged my headphones into my ears and listened to my ipod all the way down. Otherwise I was sure that sleep would have had victory over me. I realize this was a law breaking solution to a detrimental problem and I promise to never do it again.

I got home at 12:30 where my mom greeted me with a half awake hug and smile and then I drifted off into my own slumber fully aware that it was close to the last time in this twin bed beneath my window. Well, last for a while anyways.

Last Days of School

So, I have a lot to update you all on.I'm going to break this into bite size chunks so that it is easier to digest.

Thursday I woke up for my last day of "I'm a teacher" mode. I went to the Y at my normal hour and started my day like every other Thursday. But, this day was different. It was my last day at Rainier View and my last day with these children that I had been building community with. Laura the sub that was taking over my position came that morning and spent the day in our class observing our routines. The bell had rung, homework was turned in and children were quietly finishing their Thursday morning work of D.O.L. Then bursting through the door was my lovely housemate Tray, toting in her hands two plastic boxes filled with teeny carrot cake muffins which where mostly frosting and delicious. She had come to surprise me on my last day of teaching. Then one minute later just as I was adjusting from that heart attack in walked Jamie asking "Does anyone know where Ms. Diamonds class is?" and in his arms were brilliant orange tiger lilies beautifully complemented by neon green tissue paper and a hand written note from Tray. They stayed for about 20 minutes. Before the announcements came on James and Tray had all 20 kids minus the slow pokey ones that always need more thinking time, on the couches mezmorized as James read from Aladdin. This happened to be a perfect choice since Aladdin was one of our new vocabulary words that we found during our read aloud two days ago.

This whole last day was filled with joy but at the end of it I was ready to head off into new adventures and am excited to see how my teaching hat will look in Eastern Africa, but I was also really glad that I got to meet some really kind and caring friends at Rainier View. Specifically my friend Dotty who teaches fifth grade and was so nice to approach me on our first inservice and introduce herself. We knew right from that time that this was a friendship that only God could have ordained.

When 4:00 came I wasn't in the least sentimental about handing the classroom keys back to the chatty office manager Kay and head home for the last time past Wild Waves and Native American smoke shops.

Wonderfully Blessed

Thank you to all of you who came to the going away party. It was so great to see so many people at one time. Our house was full to capacity with a steady flow of friends from 5:30 to 10:30. I felt encouraged and supported by the great show of people. I also enjoyed seeing people connect or finding out that they knew each other through a brother or work. I love it when God connects his people. The room was crowded and buzzing with conversation. The doors slamming every couple of minutes letting this kid in and that kid out. Jamie set up my slide show outside to play on our garage. The food table was quickly devoured and replaced with what ever we could find in our kitchen.


I was overwhelmed at times with some of the goodbyes. I didn't expect it to saying goodbye to be such a challenge for me. I find myself covered in tears as I drive to school or as I huge Abby even though I'll see her tomorrow. It is hard but it is so beautiful and I wish that everyone would get the opportunity to feel as loved as I do.

So, here is the progress on the grand departure. I still am working out the details of the tickets. I had a crazy idea of asking my friend Tim who has family in South Africa to come with me on that leg of the trip. I think that Tim and I would have a blast traveling together and he would help in the transition to my new world. Hopefully by tomorrow I will have heard from the travel agent and had finalized the details.

I've sold my car to my housemate Rachel but I need to get the carpets cleaned to get rid of the moldy milk smell that decided to pop up its ugly head this past weekend. It's a mystery smell.

Yesterday I cleaned out most of my possessions from my room and divvied them up to their new owners. Giving away all of your stuff is actually very liberating and I am really enjoying the process. I like the idea of living out of two bags. I don't need that stuff anyways and this makes me feel like I can zip around with a new found freedom.

Now, I'm off to bed so that I can wake up early to welcome the morning with a jab and squat at my kickboxing class.

Thanks for all of your love and support! I'm overflowing with love. It's oozing out of me through every pore.

Loving you!