The Itsy Bitsy Bug

Have you ever gone to a new place or started a new job/school/position and experienced a roller coaster of emotions from experience to experience or day-to-day or even minute-to-minute?  I have certainly done that in the past in a variety of circumstances, but this move takes the cake.  It isn't always a bad thing - the "highs" can be exhilarating, but the "lows" can be pretty low.


I was watching a moth/mayfly type bug in the shower a couple of days ago (stay with me here - I will connect the dots.), and it was flying upwards next to the curtain towards the light.  It kept slipping down, and then trying to fly up again...sort of like the Itsy Bitsy Spider.  I noticed a similar bug this morning while in class - it would fly up toward the light, then seemingly slip down 2,3, or 4 feet.  It seemed to catch itself in midair, and then attempted to fly up again.  Here is said bug:

So, I started thinking about it (really, I was paying attention to the topic of the class too!), and I decided that I have been a lot like this "Itsy Bitsy Bug" lately.  I strive to reach the happy, comfortable places, only to slip repeatedly to various depths.  The cause of the slip can be inconsequential!  For instance, when we learned that we didn't all have to share one dorm room for 3 weeks...I climbed; then visited the bathroom...slip!  Figured out how to do laundry...going higher; electricity went out in the shower...slip!  Grocery store is really different than home/can't find what I hoped for...slip, slip; find the wonderful market in town....climbing, climbing!  And it goes on and on.

Washing machines

Dryer

Why can't I be more steady?  Well, I focus on myself and lose sight of my purpose (God has given me a job for this time, and I seek to bring Him the glory and honor that He is worthy of); I forget that He is ultimately in control and loves me; sometimes I just don't want to surrender to Him but want to do what I want to do and be comfortable.  During our devotion time this morning, we sang I Surrender All.  Here is the first stanza:

All to Jesus, I surrender;               
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I struggled with the second line, because I realized that I was not freely giving Him my all-yes, I came to Africa, but I have not always had a good attitude!  I found encouragement in Psalm 139 (copied below).  There is no where that we can go where He is not with us, leading us, and watching over us!  He, the God of the universe,  is with me - why should I be discouraged?

 I am including some photos of our afternoon adventure - a trip to Machakos town in teams to talk to people and learn about their culture.  

Here is our team - our new friends the Daubenmiers, with 3 of their 7 kids.

The "youth team" in front of the restaurant they ate lunch in.  Ted learned that if you order things with unknown words, you may end up with intestines! (No, he didn't eat that.)

This all purpose "medicine" was in the grocery store, not the chemist.  The pharmacies are called chemists here.  We stopped into one to inquire about probiotics (they do not have them), and met Eric a young chemist from Machakos.  He went to University to study pharmacy, is now in his 9th of 12 months of community internship, and then will move into his permanent job in Machakos hospital.  He did sell us 20 tablets of Cipro to have "just in case," for about $2.50, and gave us a lesson in telling time in Kiswahili.  I would have loved to post his photo, but am still trying to figure out when it is okay to ask for a photo.

The woman in the center wanted to have Rick for a husband!  You'll have to ask us about that one later. ;)

We rode home in this Tut-tut.  Seemed a little sketchy at first, but it is actually a great form of transportation.  Emily loved it - it felt like a fair ride!

Our team won the prize of Snickers bars for having the best story to tell-the Marriage Proposal story. :)

Finally, here is a photo of my dinner.

Love,
Sarah
Psalm 139: 1-10, 23-24
O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
² You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.
³ You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴ Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
⁵ You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.
⁶  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is high; I cannot attain it.

⁷  Where shall I go from your Spirit?
    Or where shall I flee from your presence?
⁸  If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
     If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
⁹ If I take the wings of the morning
    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand shall lead me,
    and your right hand shall hold me.

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart!
     Try me and know my thoughts!^[c]
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting!^[d]