Tantalizing Tea Tree Treatment

Me and one of my housemates,Phoebe, at a local beach.

Ruthie and Me at our friends garage sell.

A view in Byron.

Tygar Hanlon who I babysat for every day for two months. His mother was the makeup artist for a tv series being filmed in Byron Bay. This is him playing with his best friend Sasha.

My and Tony at a cafe in a local town nicked named "Meeting place of waters."

Mali the little five and a half year old I nanny for. He is always smiles and giggles . . . unless he is hungry.

Tonight I am going to update some of my pictures from Australia. Well, let me correct that. I'm going to put my first ever pictures from Australia up on my blog spot.

Today I had a lovely day full of adventure and relationship. It started with a birthday party for Simons sister Phoebe. It was a vintage surprise party complete with tea and delectable dainties. It was women only except for an occasional appearance of Phil, Simon's dad.

After that Ruthie and Tony and I drove to a little town called Lennox Head. It is only about 30 minutes away but it feels like a grand adventure because of the surrounding country side. There is a beautifying lake surrounded by tea trees. That is why it's beautifying. Not only is the swimming good for your heart but the natural oils in the brown water turn your skin smooth and your hair shiny. It felt ahhh so good.

This was a good break as I have started school this week and it has made my schedule full on now. Each day we go to classes starting at 1:00 and ending around 4:30. This week we learned about the spiritual disciplines. For me the timing is impeccable as this past month has been one of tearing down my faulty foundations of who God is and what does Christianity look like. The approach to these spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting and etc. is very grace based with the opinion that we can only be stirred to the disciplines by the Holy Spirit. And we can only keep the disciplines by the grace of the Holy spirit. It's been a great first week and I can already feel the process of reconstruction happening.

I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Humor of the Holy Spirit

I'm not sure if you know the story of me and Simon breaking off our engagement and ending our relationship. It happened almost four weeks ago. It is crazy that this time has passed so quickly. I wanted to let you know how I am doing.

I'm completely broken, every day, almost all day. I can't even explain to you the deep work God is doing in my heart. It is like the standard has hit the roof and He is really stripping me of everything that would keep me from that. This break up is just a part of this stripping. I'm welcoming it because I know the fruit of it will be closer intimacy of Jesus, a heart of grace and love towards others, and an increased sensativity to spiritual matters in general.


Some more stripping happened last night because I went to a different homegroup because Simon is going to continue to go to the other and he needs space. It was so difficult. It is my housemate who is leading it, but it was just the added newness of not knowing the procedures. There was a new girl who is just visiting from New Zealand. I didn't feel like talking and knew I was breaking all of these social expectations but I couldn't be outgoing and charming. I was mopey and sad and silent. I could tell it was making her feel awkward.

I came home from group and Megs commented "home sweet home" and this just made me want to go upstairs and cry because I don't feel this is home or sweet. This house feels expansive and lonely. I did go upstairs and cry. After I changed into my pjs I got into bed and just cried and cried and cried. I begged God to let me know him as a friend. I sang about him being closer than a brother and more intimate than a mother. I just so badly need Him. I have nothing! NOTHING! My housemate came and prayed for me and I felt peace and after she left I heard the Holy Spirit say " Look at you, you are wearing a bag on your head." And I was. . . along with two layers of pj pants. And I started to laugh! I had the the bag on my head that Ely lent me to help my dreadies form. It is a wool bag and doubles as a hat. I stuff all of my dreadies into them at night to help them form. Isn't the Holy Spirit sweet? He really does comfort and this time it was with humor. I so needed to hear that. Even now it makes me smile.

I'm lonely and really wanting to be known. My biggest cry right now is that I would know the intimacy of Jesus. I am so needy of it! I guess I'm in a good place. I'll continue to throw myself at him and cling to him with a death grip. I'm declaring that he has an everlasting love for me and that he swirls, dances and delights over me.

Life

I hope that you are doing well. We just had a great house dinner and we laughed a lot. Deep laughter feels so good. It is like medicine. I'm really enjoying living here. Early today I went for a walk with Megs, one of my housemates. And yesterday at church Megs, Me and Kristie sat on pillows with our backs against the wall. Megs spread her blanket over me and Kristie sat on my coat since the pillows were all taken. We shared part of Krisities sandwich I had brought for her since she had to be at church early. It was a really sweet bonding moment. A guy and wife who work with Compassion showed up and spoke about sponsoring children. I have to admit that at the beginning I thought oh poor them they don't know that they've are going to share their hearts passions with a very poor group of people because most people in the Tribe are living by faith. But, afterwards I was pleasantly proved wrong as the booth was flooded with a constant stream of people who would skip away with a new child who shared their birthday, or who had liked to play soccer as well, or who lived in a high sex trade area. It was a really beautiful thing to watch as people showed off their newly adopted children to each other.

Today it has rained all day, buckets that make me feel like I'm going through a carwash. My laundry is hanging soaking on the outdoor line as we don't have a dryer. I hope a sunny day is in line for tomorrow as my underwear is getting low. I love the rain here, it is intense and heavy.

I'm reading this book called Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. It is about the future of civilization, much like Fahrenheit 451 in theme. My favorite part so far was when this happy civilized people of the future venture to Santa Fe during a vacation to visit the Savages. The Savages are Indians who still give birth and are monogamous. They have dirt everywhere and mend their clothes. Everyone from the civilized city is programed from an embryo and conditioned with morals and beliefs that they repeat like robots at the push of a button. I'm enjoying it.

This weekend I'm part of a team from the Tribe that is driving two hours North to a town called Brisbane. There we are going to join a New Age Festival called Mind, Body Spirit. They are held all around Australia. We go and bring dream interpretation, spiritual cleansing, healing, and spiritual blessing. They also have stage time where they do prophetic words. The last one was a month ago and they everyone they prayed for healed, the queue was the longest of the whole festival, over 15 people were saved. If you think of it pray for us on your Thursday, Friday and Saturday because we are lights going into dark places.

Man, I wish I had a camera so I could show you all my life here, my room, little Tygar, the beach that I like to run on, where Simon works. But, my words will have to suffice until perhaps our wedding.

Vocab lesson #2

Here are a couple more words that I've been learning. Now, the best way to learn these are to take a risk and begin to incorporate them into your own life. Don't be scared... be brave and drop one word in here and there. Just like a fine sprinkling of salt on a dinner dish.

Australian/American

Cuppa/cup of tea
oua(this is just how it sounds to me, the spelling might be wrong)/afternoon
cruzy/easy going
carpark/parking lot
park/parking space
boot/trunk of a car
sparkie/electrician
dishie/dish-washer at a resturant
the letter z/zet
runners/tennis shoes


Dang . . . I know there is more. They are surrounding me here and then I forget.

Well, I guess Lesson two was shorter than I thought. Go ahead and take an early recess. We'll continue later.

Everything is cruzy

Nannying is good. I do enjoy the kids. Mali is three months but he is dang cute. He sleeps a lot on good days, but when he is awake I can make him laugh and giggle. He likes it when I sing. This causes a huge smile to spread across his face. Tygar is okay. He is very talkative and loves playing with a tiny dog named Sasha that lives downstairs. He says I can't be his friend because I'm an adult. And he thinks I come from a different world. Yesterday he told his nanna that I have cowboys in my world. He had asked me when I first started if there were cowboys where I lived and I thought yes, there are because in Texas and even the ranch that I worked at had cowboys. He said that he couldn't be my friend because I live in a different world. He doesn't understand this concept of America yet. This makes me laugh. I make a big deal out of him teaching me new things. The other day he taught me what eyebrows, noses, and ears were. :)

I saw a kangaroo on the side of the road tonight. It wasn't dead. It was just standing there and I was so happy that I started to laugh out loud and scream in delight. I have always wanted to see a real kangaroo and now I have. Next time I want to see it in the light, but do they come out during the day?

Simon has gotten some extra days of work because one of the girls is out of town for a month traveling. This is great because it means five steady days for him, but the down side is those days are during my days off. I have the weekends off and those are two of the days he works. We are still seeing each other but I wish it would be neverending.

I realized how in the country it is when Si and I drove up north to a city for our immigrations appointment. I forgot how strange it was to see tall sky scrapers and even stop lights. In Byron the tallest building is probably two stories and there are
only rounds abouts instead of lights. As I drive from where the Masons live to where I live it is a completely country road with one lay both ways and on either side of the road there are rolling hills with scattered trees and spread out houses. You can see the beach and lighthouse as you drive into Bryon and the coastline is like a magic marker painted line with a golden strip of coast.

Today we were supposed to go into a nearby town called Ballina. This is where we get most of our basic clothes, bath essentials and car registration. It is cheaper than Byron. Byron is one of the most expensive towns in Australia. I guess beauty has it's price. We were heading out of the neighborhood when our car staled. Yesterday I had taken it in for a tuneup and he had adjusted the idle speed. now it was too low and the car kept on turning off and actually Simon had to get out and push it while in neutral. It was a crazy adventure. Eventually we made it to the near by mechanic and we got him to change the idle speed but
this meant that we didn't have time to go to Ballina. We will have to wait until next week because that is the only time we both have off of work at the same time.

Life here is sooooooo much slower. Luckily I like it but I could see how this would drive some people nuts. You just sort of adjust. I was actually thinking about this on Saturday because every weekend and day off I'm like. . . Hum what will i do and it turns out that I always do the same thing. Read, journal, paint, and spend time with God. There isn't a whole lot of opportunities for activity. I'm liking it though and am really glad I don't live in a big city like Sydney. Everyone is really chill here. They call it cruzy.

The depth that Simon and I are going is such a confirmation that this is right. We are really growing in our communication and get along really well. We talk through areas of frustration and through theological differences and at first I had a fear that he wouldn't love me if he found out more about me but the truth is just the opposite. He is kinder, and more loving than ever. We both are getting very ready for marriage and I know that God is laying a beautiful foundation.


Hey Deb if you are reading this can you email me because I sent you an email but it was to the old address and I forget your new one. Love you and thanks for keeping up with my life. I wish we could gossip over a cuppa in your kitchen.

A New Stamp in my Passport!

Thanks for all of your prayers. This morning after working from 5:00-9:00 I walked with Mia to the bank to deposit the huge wad of cash we were borrowing. Afterwards Simon and I filled out some paper work for our intention of marriage and I took a five minute nap on the floor cushions in the waiting/meeting room at the Tribe office. After a quick stop at home to shower and get pretty we piled in our white now slightly tan van, there is a muddy road on the way to work, popped in a new CD and drove North up the Pacific Hwy. Simon had done all of the research on exits and location and we found the immigrations office with time to spare. We ate a lunch of Japanese delicacies which didn't agree with Simon's stomach and than sat in a nervous waiting room for our number of H5756 to appear on the screen and be read over the intercom. After 30 minutes our time came to enter cubicle 4 where our government man was ready to assist us. We told the skeleton story of our relationship, answered his questions correctly, and were rewarded with a new stamp in my passport which means I am legal in the country of kolas until we are married. All went really smoothly except for Si's stomach.

One mention of a miracle though. He was completely surprised that I had gotten into the country without a return ticket. This was the second time this happened as Simon got into America without a return ticket and less than 200 dollars to his name. With the government mans shock at this Simon and I both felt more confirmation that we were doing the right thing and that God has our backs.

Once again, thanks for your prayers. We know that God wants me here but the process has been a test of our trust and perspective. I wish you could see my new stamp. It is a real beaut!

Over these past two months I've been immursed into the Byron Bay culture and have been introduced to many new words.
Since some of these words will be now found in my writing I thought it would be good to teach them to you as well.

Australian /American
Nappy/Diaper
Dummy/ pacifier
lift / elevator
mossy / mosquito
togs / swimsuit
saultanas/raisins
popo / papaya
rock melon /cantalop
avo /avacado
You have a go / It's your turn
Iceblocks/popcicle
jumper/sweater
thongs/flipflops
bench/counter top
ta/thank you
footy/ football
rice bubbles/ rice crispies


Bascially they take a lot of words from the Britians. So often I have to ask people what they mean and really use context clues to understand. There are so many others so we will continue this lesson later. :)

Renewing a visa

I am going through total reconstruction. I'm needing to soak myself in the reality of God's grace and affection towards me. I'm asking God for a new revelation of his character because my old one has some areas where that are dominated with fear and performance. Basically he is taking the foundation of my identity and laying it again.

Today I opened a bank account and it was so easy and quick. I didn't have to fill out paperwork at all. I just had to present my passport, visa card and drivers license. We are opening one and having Mia put around 5,000 dollars in there because later on this week we have to drive up the coast for a couple of hours to have an interview with immigrations to see if they will extend my visa. We have to prove to them that I have about 1,000 dollars for each month I want to stay here. Since we don't have the money we are just using Mias money to make it look like this. Then after we get the visa we will put the money back into her account. Pray for us as we do this because it is just such a demanding process.

Tomorrow I work a 12 plus hour day. I awake at 5:00 and need to leave the house at 5:30 to get to Mullum by 6:00. There I'll fall asleep on the couch under layers of blankets until around 7:30 when Tygar wakes up. After breakfast and a quick play session we will pack into the van which he looks so small in and drive to daycare. I drop him off and head back to Byron to watch Mali who is 3 months and likes to sleep and has a smile that lights up his chubby face. I'll make sure to put him in his pram and take him on a walk so I can get some exercise and escape being indoors all day. At 2:00 Melissa will come home and I'll drive back to Mullum to watch Tygar for my second session which includes reading books and eating lambchops for this all he likes to eat. Well, that and sausages. We alternate from day to day. Today was lambchop day, tomorrow is sausage day. Never changes.

So, I'm off to bed because I have to tackle this mammoth of a day with energy and life. Dream land here I come.

Living in this house has been a good challenge and a good stretch. There is five other girls and two of them I get a long with really well. Because some of the connections aren't organic it has really caused me to come in the opposite spirit and to practice what I preach. I want a community that is loving and vulnerable and I've been challenged to be this even when it isn't reciprocated. This is always the biggest test isn't it? Doing what you believe when it isn't easy. Overall, this has been good. I've been enjoying swimming in the pool and the spontaneous conversations that fabricate. Also it has been nice to be so close to Simon. Time wise it is the same amount as when I was living in Bangalow but there are convenient paved paths inbetween. It is a lovely ride.

As you know Simon and I've been looking for a van and we were running short on time. This week I started working as a nanny for 41/2 year old named Tygar. He lives about 30 minutes away but it is in another town called Mullum. I need a car to get there. We bought the van on the day that I started work. We had been looking at others and non passed the registration check but this one did and it passed other tests as well. We bought it from two Germans who were here on vacation. We spent two days cleaning it and organizing the heaps of camping gear and fishing gear it came with. There is a huge bed in the back so we can go camping once we are married. I'm excited to see more of Australia and to get on the road.

Like I've said I've started working and the first day was crazy. I tried to get Tygar to eat a very small portion of peas. I reasoned that if he ate them he would get an iceblock for dessert. He didn't like the peas idea but he liked the iceblock idea. This set him off and he threw a tantrum for what seemed like the better part of an hour. He ended up falling asleep on a beanbag under the coffee table. I would have left him here but he needs to wear a nappy for bedtime and I had to wake him up and try to get him out from the table. He cussed at me and he ran out of the house. I cased him down the street and them gave him a timeout in his room. All day and into the night it was battle after battle. Luckily I won the big ones and the next day that I came he was nice to me and listened. It is difficult laying down boundaries on a child who has never had them. He doesn't understand choices because he's never had consequences.


Let me know how you are doing. I really enjoy hearing about the details of your life as well.

Togs

Well, you will be very happy to know that I bought a new swimsuit and I tested it out with Simon day at the beach. We just went for a little bit but we had so much fun body surfing. And tomorrow morning I'm waking up early for an 8:00 swim from one bay to the next. I'm doing it with Simons Aunt. She does it every Sunday morning. Since it is winter it is starting to get cooler but the water is still warm. I do wish it was a little bit warmer though. Here they call swimsuits swimmers or togs.

Things on the housing front have changed again. It turned out that the girl taking my place couldn't move in for five weeks so I'm going to live there while a guy named Fabian lives in the garage and then I'll move back after Serena moves in. I'm really glad with this situation and feel that everyone wins. Especially Fabian because his girlfriend Ruthie, who is my close friend doesn't have any money and needs a place to stay and I'm glad that he is coming back into town. Hopefully he will get a space with Simon after those five weeks. Also this way I get some time with the girls in the house and then I get to come back to the Masons.

I was supposed to babysit tonight but they called and canceled but I was away from home all day and had forgotten my phone at the church cottage. Phoebe tried ringing tons of people and even the people I was with and got ahold of non of them because we were tracking through the forest with fire torches and made a big fire at the beach. When I went to babysitting they didn't need me but I didnt' know so they paid me 20 dollars anyways. I tried to talk them out of it, but they insisted! Isn't that great? I'm getting paid for doing nothing and we had a great time on the beach. The stars are incrediblly clear. They have a constellation here called the Southern Cross and it is only in the Southern Hemisphere. You can use it to direct you towards south. They don't have the North star here however. I never knew this.

Well, I hope to connect with you all sometime.

Oh, If you could pray we need a car. Twice Si and I have taken in a van to get checked and twice the results have been fail. Since I start my jobs soon and will be living away from the Masons I need one ASAP! I'll be walking or hitching into town until we get one. We are holding out for a van but have given up on the dreams of the VW since the parts and services are rare and couldn't imagine being stranded in the bush.

Packing and Unpacking

Sunday I packed up my room and was all set on moving into a new house but I reallly didn't want to. I actually asked God for an out so I could stay with the Masons. I just really enjoy living with the Masons and they really like having me here. Being here I get to help Ree with the cooking and offer friendhsip. I am loving the behind the scene look at ministry and learn a lot from just being around. At church there was a girl who said she would move in instead of me and as I was puttting some blanket into the house Phil and Ree said Meag we were just talking and do you feel like you need to leave? Have we made you feel that way because you are really welcome to stay. And so tonight I unpacked and put clothes back into drawers and pictures back on the walls. I feel a peace about this decision and everyone is all around very happy. This way Simon and I can continue to save money because I'll just pay a low rent to them instead of the full deal of the other house.


This morning I went and helped in the soup kitchen that the Tribe runs. We made a chicken curry. I cubed the chicken, pealed onions, and snapped beans then served it to people in a nearby park. There is something really satisfying about being able to meet someones physical need of hunger. People are so grateful.


After soupie I went on a beautiful long walk today with my friend Ruthie. It is the lighthouse walk that passes by two surfing beaches and overlooks all of Byron. You might have seen the lighthouse in pictures of Byron. At a look out we saw a shark swimming in the waters below. It was huge and was just sailing along. There might have been two but we couldn't tell.


Tomorrow we are going to take a van in to get what they call a Regro check. If it passes we will buy it. Our dreams are answered in this bring blue VW van. It has a new engine but it needs some TLC on the inside. We are looking forward to working on it together.


Well, this update is going to be shorter than normal, which you are probably grateful for. I have a really hard time being concise.

Making positive progress

The Masons were out of town for two weeks and the home was so quite and lonely, now that the Masons are back my life is really active. Each day I go into Byron with them and help them in the office. I like being there because all day people come in and out. People are always so full of joy and life that it is a really healthy environment to be in. Sometimes there is no work so I lay on the cushions and read a good book. I just finished The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald. Simon has a continual book list for me and I have like six books waiting on the docket right now. I just started one called Affluenza about when too much is never enough.

I went in the Indian ocean yesterday before church. The two younger Masons Toby and Phoebe and I packed the surf board and boogie board into the back of the wagon and set off to enjoy the sunny, hot day. The beach was crowded with buff bodies decked in skimpy bikinis and tans. I have to admit I felt like a old prude woman in my one piece Nike race suit. I really had to build up my courage to get into the water because with each person that walks by there are fifty pairs of hungry eyes following them. I don't like this and I almost didn't go in. I'm not ashamed of my body but I just felt pressure to be hip by wearing a bikini which I've never liked. However, I did go in and I even spent some time on a board! It felt great to be out there in the waves and float so carelessly on the board. I've not done this since I was very young. I am looking forward to learning and expect to become fluid eventually. One of the girls I'm going to be living with is a surf instructor. She was talking about getting a group together on Sunday mornings.

I'm currently living in the Masons garage. I love my private space here and have gotten to dig into my chest and bust out all of my belongings. It is wonderful that everything I own can fit into one small room. But, I'll only be here for two more weeks because on Saturday my friend Christy picked me up and we caravaned with another car to a nearby neighborhood. Me and the four other girls were going to check a rental house that just became available and because of Christy's connections we got the inside scoop before it went onto the market. The owners showed us around the three story mansion ducking us in and out of rooms. Some of the great features of this house is it comes complete with a beautiful pool extending from the side of the second story. I'm excited to use this to work out in. The opposite side of that story has a veggie garden freshly manured! After a while of touring we decided that we would love to rent it and told them we were committed. Since it was through friends we don't have to apply or have the normal 100 point system that it takes to get a place here. The location is close to the main part of Byron and I can easily ride my bike there on the convenient bike trails. It is also only a couple of minutes away from the beach. You can't see the beach but we can hear it.

Also on Saturday night we celebrated my birthday with the family. We picked up Simon, Pete and his girlfriend Phoebe. Bev who is like part of the family came as well. There was a delicious banquet of Thai complete with Pad Thai and Lamb with Peanut sauce. I was really touched by their card that wholehearted welcome me into the family and encouraged me that I was a true gem suiting my name.

Simon worked today at the bookstore. It isn't a very nice book store aesthetically but I guess the owner is really helpful and he has been relying on Simon for a lot of wisdom is what books to order and stock. I think that Simon could easily become manager of this job since he is so well read. He will start Uni around August when the new term begins. He is looking forward to this and will most likely continue to work while he does. Here he actually gets paid to go to school. He will get 200 dollars every two weeks. Crazy, but cool for us!

I called a person about a nanny job today that was advertised in the newspaper. All I know is that it is for a 4 1/2 year old and it will start in Mid May and end in July which will be good for now. She is going to call me tomorrow morning but I have such good qualifications that it is very rare that it won't work out.

We are thinking about flying down to Sydney to buy a car. There are just no reasonable cars here. Byron truly is in the country. Did you know they don't even have stop lights? I didn't realize that until yesterday. It is very country and I love it. But, this means if you want to shop for anything reasonable you need to travel like 45 minutes away. There is a VW van we have our eyes on and I actually need to get Simon to call them since it is long distance.

Kiss someone we both love hello for me.

Love you heaps!
Meag

Every day's an adventure!

I've started to pick up on a slight Australian accent and would be greeting you with the question "How is it doing?" They ask that instead of "How's it going?" and also ending a lot of sentences with the word hey and looping the end so everything is said in a manner that seems to be hanging in the air dancing above our heads, unsettled. There are tons of little differences like that. For instance on the stove top the dial for heat is opposite. The high is to the left instead of the to right and they have all sort of different names for things. Here a comforter or blanket is called a duna. Right now I can't think of any others but they attack me sporatically all day long.

Today was the first day without rain since we arrived a little over a week ago. The Mason family jokes that it is because this huge Blues Festival is over and finished, now the sun can come back out. I guess it has rained for 88 years straight during Easter here. That is always when they have the Blues Fest and it leaves hundreds devoted groupies caked in mud and looking as happy as a soaking wet cat.

Sometimes I really look forward to rainy days because I feel that it gives me permission to kick up my feet, dig into the couch cushions and dive into the dream world of a good book. When it is sunny I feel beckoned to come and play and engage in the welcoming weather.

I'm just about to finish my busiest day yet. I helped the Mason clan get ready for their departure to Tasmania by hanging up laundry, donating a random suitcase, and in general staying away from the mad bustle of a rush. Simon and I walked the five minutes into Banglow downtown to meet up with some of his old college mates, twins actually, who were in town because of the Blues Festival. It was a brief catchup before we had to return home for lunch with a married couple called Liz and Hans. They brought over sandwich makings and to end our time together we played two rounds of this fantastically fun game called Killer Bunnies. Then they took Simon off to his new temporary home of a friends garage while he continues the search for a more permanent home. I didn't have enough time to get too sad before Bev came home to make dinner of buttered chicken, which is like a curry sauce and totally inappropriately unsuited for the name. We had a wonderful conversation while balancing our chopsticks. It was quite a change after having a flamboyant dinner table where the conversation is juggled and bouncing unpredictably to one where the conversation is direct and uninterrupted. It is nice to not have had to move to another house but to be able to stay here while the Masons are away, but it is a little stretching having to get used to a new persons habits and rituals while I was just adjusting to the Masons. I will be glad when Simon and I settle down for a more routine life.

Today something exciting yet devastating happened. I have been using my electronic toothbrush and it needed to be recharged. I plugged it into my adapter and saw the little green light blinking informing me it was getting power. After breakfast of bao and dumplings that Phoebe brings home from work I went to check my email and noticed something wasn't quite right with the toothbrush. I went to turn it around to see what was happening and it popped and sparked making me scream. The whole family came running to see what was wrong. Then the charger began to smoke like crazy and sizzle menacing. Someone unplugged it and it began to fill the room with a metallic stench and smoke. It definitely had met its end. We opened wide the widow, blasted the fan and shut the door to let the smoke escape. The reason this happened was that I had forgotten there was a difference in voltage. While I had used my adapter I forgot to use the converter! So, goodbye Sonicare. I'm very sad about this because it has keep me faithfully cavity free. There is always some drama here.

At first I was feeling really welcomed by the people here and then I began to get really overwhelmed with it all. There are a lot of adjustments big and small that I've had to do. One is being part of a big family. Everyone is demanding attention here and it makes me want to shrink back and become one with the wall paper. Everyone is really looking forward to getting to know me better and I'm excited to have some one on ones with people because I tend to be overwhelmed with small group functions where the only person I know is Simon and I want to cling to him like glad wrap to a bowl. One thing I'm finding is that Maria and Phil are so busy, often all three of the kids here will be trying to talk to them at the same time and figure out their mini dramas. It makes a flexible attitude and outlook absolutely key to survival.

We made another big decision. We were looking at possibilities for me to live. Simon thought it would be good for me to get into one of the girls homes since no official opening in a home has developed. I want to spend time with the girls in the church and get to know them but I'm not too keen on spending time on a random couch in a house full of strangers. Nice strangers, but still strangers. I feel it is really important for me to have my own space where I can retreat to if needed. Maria agreed and so we set it up for me to stay here in their home while they are on vacation and further extended if I need to. This was a relief to me at the moment. Si moved into Brads garage today. I am looking forward to the separation but I was really sad saying goodbye to him. I cried as we parted. Since we have spent 5 and half months together every day with only a 2 and a half week break in the beginning this will be an adjustment for me.

Here are some more pictures from our engagement party. Tommy my step father sent these to us. I think they turned out really well. I hope you enjoy! Well. . . unfortunately Simon isn't the most photogenic. I love him heaps anyways. And I get to look at the real deal not some captured moment.

Pemba is a stunning place. These pictures are taken from the local beach located right outside the Iris gates. Since didn't often have running water and had to collect it from the lower well I often would take my daily dip into the Indian Ocean for a cleaning off and refreshing cool down.

My house shared a compound with over 100 orphans. Each of these children have an amazing story of being saved and redeemed by Heidi Baker. Many were dying in the dumps of Maputu and were taken to live with the Bakers where they could get three meals a day and all of the love they needed for a healthy life. Many of the children where really rough when they first came. They would bite, kick, and run way from the home. Numerous times Heidi got scabies from holding these children who would hit her in return. She would just run and chase them and love on them until they were healed.

This is the women preparing either lunch or dinner. We would have a meal called matapa and it was like a spinach. They would sit stool that were close to the ground and would shave tons of coconut skin to flavor it. It was served on a heaping pile of rice. After breakfast was served immediately the preparation for lunch began. We would be eating breakfast to the thumping of millet. They worked very hard to feed the 130 students, the 100 pastors, and the 100 orphans. Needless to say this job was all consuming.

This is Alberto. He was one of my favorite children at the children's home. I was drawn to his quiet personality. Our joke was calling each other pastors. I'm not actually sure why he thought this was so funny but it made him laugh which in turn made me laugh. I called him my professor since he taught me some Portuguese and this is how we first became friends. In this picture he has a car that he had made with left over rubbish. There were multitudes of other things he had made as well. As gifts I would give him empty vitamin bottles as building material. He would come and sit by me during teaching and my favorite times where when he would fall asleep leaning on my lap. I didn't even mind the drool that would cover my skirts afterwards because of the trust he was putting in me.

Good day Mate!

The plane began to descend. It was our last couple of minutes of our 25 hours of transit. My eyes were filled with images of towering leafy trees, rolling meadow sides, and white crashing waves upon a welcoming shore. I was enjoying the view when a startling realization hit me. This was my life!

I had been sharing my story of meeting my future husband at a mission school in Mozambique Africa and how we had made plans to move to his home of Byron Bay. The story was a great romance and captured the heart of the listeners. It had beautiful tiny details of adventures traveling through foreign countries and falling in love with the backdrop of swaying palm trees and opportunities to love the dirty, rugged orphan. The only problem was I was telling it as a narrator to someone elses life.

The startling realization struck me as I was the one in the airplane descending into new community who spoke with a funky accent. This was a permanent move and I was going to be living with my new family of blond haired and blue eyes beauty.
Hold on here. . . I'm not the narrator, I'm the main character in this novel.

I began to cry and all of the grieving of leaving my parents, of not living a block away from Abby and Tim, of having a different local market than Metropolitan market became a fierce reality.

I began to recall the confirmation of peace that ruled my heart concerning this decision. This helped. I began to remember all the prayer from many people that went into the making of this decision. This helped. I began to remember that I was moving to Africa anyways and had decided to leave the lush Northwest for good. This helped.

By the time we had landed I was back in control and had the mindset of an adventurer who had exited one season of being a single in her mid twenties living in Tacoma and equipping the Sparkle Diamonds for a life time of learning. And the adventurer who was entering into another season of being a hippy engaged to a bookoholic living in Byron Bay and equipping the New agers for a life time of Jesus.

I'm really excited to be here and have already been learning so much about myself and trying to tape into what God is doing in the deep down places of my heart.
I'll keep you updated on where this adventurer embarks next.

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!!!!