How Great is our God

Saturday, July 24th was my last night on the ship and in Africa but home was not my first stop. When I bought my tickets for Africa I decided to spend a few days in Switzerland visiting relatives. I was not sure what to expect of my time in Switzerland but I was looking forward to connecting with family. I arrived on July 25th in the morning.  First, task was to drive by Lake Geneva and then on to one of my cousins’ houses for breakfast and then lunch with the family. After breakfast Yves suggested a walk. Although I was tired from my flight I felt great to stretch my legs. We walked by a river with a slight waterfall. It was such a great reminder of how great our God is. That he created such beauty

When we arrived back at the house  Yves sister, Fabienne and her husband had arrived for a brief visit before then headed to Spain on vacation. We had sushi and the only other time I have had it I was unable to swallow it but I tried here again.

Ok so it is not a favorite but I do know that I could eat it if it was placed in front of me but no Shannon, Becky, and Maria, I will not go out for Sushi with you.

I then headed to Jacqueline and Eduoard’s house where I was staying.  After  I arrived at the Trottet’s I decided to take a nap and shower before more family arrived. We had dinner with Bernard and Ordeile, Vincent, Gregory, Paulette and Andre, and my hosts. This was the first time I really started taking about my trip and showing picture. This was difficult because I was still processing and there was a language barrier for some.

On Monday, we headed out for a picnic with more family in Aigle. We were in the mountains overlooking Lake Geneva. I was excited to see the family and meet new ones. Here is a picture of part of the family that was there.

After the picnic, I headed with Jean Claude and family to the Chalet farther up the in the Swiss Alps.  I spent the night here with the family. For dinner we had a traditional Racullete, which I was told the goal is to eat the most. After dinner, I played a form of Dutch Blitz with the two older kids for a while. Even without being able speak or understand very well we were able to communicate. The next morning after  breakfast four of us headed out on a hike in the Alps. I am not sure I know what I was getting into.  I headed out with Jean Claude, Berntando, and Samuel to the first summit. It was an easy climb at first but them it started to get steeper. Here are some pictures.

After we reached the first summit we went to meet the rest of the group for the last part of the hike.

After hiking and a small lunch it was time for me to take the train back to the Trottet’s to pack and get ready to head home. On the train I was able to just sit and relax. I put my IPOD in and looked out the window. As I was listening and watching the mountains float by the song “How Great is our God” came on and I was once again reminder of God’s greatness.

The splendor of a King,
clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice,
all the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light,
and darkness tries to hide
it trembles at his voice,
trembles at his voice
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great
How great is our God
And age to age He stands
and time is in His Hands
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End
The Godhead, three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
the Lion and the Lamb,
the Lion and the Lamb

How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great,
How great is our God
Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing

How great is our God
Name above all names
you are worthy of all praise
and my heart will sing
how great is our God

How great is our God,
Sing with me
how great is our God,
and all will see
How great,
How great is our God

 

THE GOODBYE

Friday night and Saturday was a mix of emotions for me. I was sad to be leaving the ship but excited to come home and see family. The goodbyes started when we said goodbye to our kids on Friday afternoon after having a slumber party and watching Toy Story 2.  One of my roommates and co-workers left on Friday night, so we all met in reception to send her off. Next thing we knew parents and kids from the ship came down to say goodbye to her.  After sending Carrie off, we decided to do a movie night in the Queen’s Lounge. We started with Under the Tuscan Sun and finished with Troop Beverly Hills. It was a great last night on the ship. We had finished packing at least some of us thought we had.

On Saturday morning, we woke up with plans to hit the markets. I had one thing I was still looking for. At the beginning of the trip I decided that I wanted to find Salad bowls for my siblings from Africa but I had not found ones that I fell in love with. I was hoping that today would be the day.  We piled in to the Land Rover and headed out on the Streets of LOME. The first stop was supposed to be the Bronze shop but after navigating the street of Lome we found that the shop was closed. So we headed to the Artisan Village to see if we could find the things we were looking for. I found salad tongs I really liked but still not salad bowls. I was starting to think that I was not going to find the bowls I wanted.  The group of us decided to head to the big market because we still had some time left with the Land Rover.

In the big market, we headed to the Craft Market right away because two of us were looking for salad bowls and we thought we might find them there. AS we walked in we had men coming up to us trying to sell us their goods. It was difficult to just look and not feel like you need to buy in this market because they didn’t understand that we were looking for something specific. Although we did find many bowls that were nice they were not exactly what we wanted and the price was so high and there was no talking them down at all.  I decided that I was just going to have to find something else for my siblings. As we were walking back to the car I found a few mancala boards they were absolutely gorgeous, so after much negotiating I got three of them for a good price. Although I had bought mancala for my sisters  and brother, I had not completely lost hope for finding the salad bowls. As we continued our trip back to the Land Rover I saw one more shop I wanted to look at. I walked in and what did I find my hand craved, shallow, salad bowls that I had been looking for. I was so excited to have found them. The only thing left I needed to do was fit everything into my suitcase and have them not be overweight.

So we got back to the ship and the packing begins all over again. I now have three more mancala boards and three salad bowls to fit in my bags. After the packing ended and we had been checked out of our room, we went upstairs to begin our goodbyes. The families of the kids, others from the ship, and those departing all headed to the dock from reception.  Although we said Goodbye to many people on the dock the Goodbyes were not over yet we still had a few. Five of us were flying from Lome to Paris together. In Paris the goodbyes, although quick began again.  After a long night of traveling I arrived in Switzerland for a brief visit with family and to start processing my trip.

THE SANDYLAND

On Thursday we went to the beach for our last field trip. Last time we went to the beach we had a blast, jumping in the waves and being out in the sun. Once again I had a preschooler to watch over. Luke was a little bit more fearful then Max. He would go to the water line and then run away for the wave. I was able to plant myself in the water and watch him run to the water and then away. The preschoolers left at noon so I was free to play with the bigger kids and body surf in with the waves.

After playing for a while and counting heads of those in the water, Libby, one of the first graders came down to swim with me. We would stand in the water waiting for the next wave to come so we could jump over it. After a while, Libby started to let her feet go out from under. She would hold on to me and let her legs float and go with the waves as they came in and out. After repeatedly doing this with Libby and two other kids, I was reminded of the song Sandy land Kid’s Praise 2.

Don't build your house on the sandy land,

Don’t build it too near the shore.

Well, it might look kind of nice but you'll have to build it twice,

Oh, you'll have to build your house once more.

You've got to build your house upon the rock,

Make a good foundation on a solid spot

Oh, the storms may come and go,

But the peace of God you will know.

As Libby and I stood there in the water playing in the waves I started singing this song with her. We probably sang it 12 times. It reminded me that it is so easy to build your house and our lives on false beliefs and forget about the rock in our lives. Libby, Megan, and Shalom knew to hold on to me or they would be under the water. It was such a good reminder to me to follow their example of clinging to the rock.

THE MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

NO, I AM NOT ENGAGED. We were told upon arrival that the Togoliese men want us to take them home to the States so they will ask us to marry them. I really didn’t believe that they would come out and ask us to marry them or to take them to the states until it did. Yes, I had encountered how they act when we walk down the street. I had gotten pretty use to ignoring the kissing noises and calling you to come like we would a dog but someone asking me to marry them because they wanted to come to America, no way. But it did. At first I was taken by surprise. I was ordering gelato when this man started talking to me and grabbing my arm. He said he wanted me to take him to meet my mom and dad. At this point, I told him I was married. It helped a little bit.  We had this happen a few times throughout my stay, once while coming into the port by one of the military, once by a government official in Benin while we were trying to cross the border. MY favorite on and probably the funniest was Bruno and our zemi ride. On Thursday we caught Zemis back from the Artisan Village. Bruno drove us with two other drivers and we negotiated a price for the trip back to the ship. From the start Bruno was laughing with his buddies. I said no laughing, this brought about more laughter. I said “ALLE.”  After a little bit Bruno o asked me to take him to my country and marry him. I said right away I was married and my husband would not like it if I brought him home, hoping to stop the quest of getting to America with me but that did not help.  Well, it did not; he asked if my sisters could take him, which I quickly replied they were married with petit enfants. I was thinking he meant my real sisters but he was talking about my friends on the other bikes.  I have never laugh so much in my life on a bike. As we drove he asked me to think about someone to marry him. You are all lucky i did not marry you off in Togo. We continued to drive and would a points pass the other drivers waiting for us to catch up. Each time we passed them I would say “ Alle, Vite” which means go fast.  My friends told me after that I looked like I was having a great time and thought that we might ride off into the sunset together. I was a fun last ZEMI ride 

LE GRANDE MARCHE

Last Saturday, July 18th, my friends headed to Kpalime to see the waterfalls. I did not join them because I had not been feeling well and was not up for a car ride. Feeling much better on Saturday I joined a group heading to the big market. We headed out, a couple from New Zealand (who flew in with me), a nurse from the UK, and a seamstress from Sierra Leone. Our mission was to find soccer outfits, fabric, and experience the market.  I would have been lost if it not for Alicemaude. She goes to the market every week and knows the prices. We headed out for the fabric first. Too many to choose from and so beautiful. I was glad I had already found my fabric.  The search was on for one specific pattern for a good price.

In the midst of us looking for this fabric we walked through the meat market so to speak. I saw them unloading a full body, skinned animal, heads of animals, live chickens in basket on head of people. The meat was not cows like here in the states but either goats or dogs. We also walked through the fish market. They had live large snails, crabs, and fish. It was cool to see the crabs, but the smell and the snails made my stomach turn. The fish was not very fresh, covered in flies, and dried out. I just had to hold my breath.

While walking and looking for material, I was able to get my Togoliese soccer outfits for my nephews. We started at one shop but he did not have 3 in the same size or even three little ones. He took me down to his other shop which had them and quoted me 5000 CFAs which I thought was a pretty good price because the first time I went to the market I was quote 10000 CFAs for one. Alice heard the price and right away starting saying to the guy it is too high and come down. Eventually we got a price of 10000 CFAs for all three. Alice was happy with this.

HOLD ON by 33 Miles

Tonight I went up on deck 8 to watch the sunset.

I have tried to see one a week since I have been there. They are never the same twice and seeing them from the top of a ship is just amazing. Tonight though I took my pictures and then just sat and thought. It is hard to believe that I have started my last week here in Africa. I have learned so much about myself and who God is this summer. I am excited to share with people how God is working in my heart but tonight as I was thinking about this summer I was trying to pin point one thing that really has changed for me in the past four weeks. AS I was thinking I turned on my IPod to listen to some music as the wind blew through my hair, the waves were crashing on the beach, and the colors from the sunset was spreading through the sky.

The song Hold On by 33 Miles came on.

I've been there a thousand times,
I've felt the rain like a thousand knives.
And it hurts,
I know it hurts!
I've been there like a fighter plane,
Tryin' fly my way through a hurricane.
And it's hard,
I know it's hard!
Don't be afraid,
You'll make it through,
Just call out to me and I'll come running to you!
Hold on, hold on!
When the current pulls you under,
And your heart beats like thunder.
Just give me your hand,
And hold on, hold on!
Until the storm is over,
And I'll be fighting for you.
Just give me your hand and,
Hold on!
I'll give you hope, I'll give you faith!
And if it's dark, I'll light the way,
For you, for you!
By your side, until the end,
Until you're standing tall again!
I'm here, I'll always be here.
And if the tide, sweeps you out to sea,
When your strength is gone, and it's hard to believe!
Hold on, hold on!
When the current pulls you under,
And your heart beats like thunder!
Just give me your hand,
And hold on, hold on!
Until the storm is over.
And I'll be fighting for you,
Just give me your hand!
Ooooo so...
Hold on, hold on!
When the current pulls you under,
And your heart beats like thunder!
Just give me your hand.
And hold on, hold on!
Until the storm is over,
And I'll be fighting for you!
Just give me your hand,
And hold on, hold on!

I fell in love with the song back in February but tonight it took on a new meaning. As life gets tough we need to just hold on to God and the promises he has given us. We need to remember that all we need to do is reach out our hand and God will pull us through the hard times. One of the reason, this took on new meaning was because when you are swimming the ocean it is so easy to be taken by the current or pulled under by the rip tide. After swimming in a strong current you realize how easy it is to lose the fight and let the current take you. This is exactly what can happen when you let life get the better of you and you take you focus and hold off of God. I am so glad to be reminded of this tonight.

ALANTIC OCEAN AFRICAN STYLE

On Friday, we went to the beach with the kids from the Academy and the preschool came with us. I was so excited for this because I love to jump in the waves and ride the waves. When we got to the Academy that morning I found out that I would have a preschooler to watch for the morning. I was super excited for this but was a little disappointed because that means I really was not going to be able to ride the waves. So I headed down to the dock and swiped all the crew tags of the kids. Yes, I felt like I had 19 different identities. Off we go, except it is cold out, the wind is blowing and I really am not looking forward to getting wet but we are going and the kids are excited. We get there and Max, my preschool buddy cannot wait to play on the playground and jump on the trampoline. So we began here.  

After a little while Max was ready to see what was going on, on the beach. He was not yet ready to hit the waves but he enjoyed building and wrecking sand castles. When we left the ship Max’s mom told me that he has no fear, so I was ready for anything on this field trip. Okay, so we are now ready to jump the waves. Max was not too sure about this but I told him that we would just jump over the waves. Here comes the first wave and we were not ready.  No, we did not get knocked over but we didn’t jump the wave. We were ready for the next wave. Max has his swimmy’s on, he has both my hands, and he is ready to jump. That is all it took. We were off to jumping and letting the waves get us. By the end of the morning Max was saying “let’s go closer”, “I got you Miss Heather”, and “jump, jump, jump” We were having a blast. We only got knocked over once where I had to hand Max over in order to get up myself. So we get back to the ship and I am handing out name badges and Max runs into the dining hall to meet his parents. As I am going after him and my bathing suit cover up falls of as I walk in to the dining hall. I turned bright red, went back out, composed myself, and then went back in to make sure Max got to his Mom and Dad.