Month: August 2011

  • Dear Family,

    Hope is the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life.[1] It is the “feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best” or the act of “look[ing] forward to with desire and reasonable confidence” or “feel[ing] that something desired may happen”. [2] Other definitions are “to cherish a desire with anticipation”; “to desire with expectation of obtainment”; or “to expect with confidence”.[3]


     

    I believe in us. I believe beyond all hopelessness, and even though this transition is hard I “expect with confidence” that God is with us during every step.

     

     

    My coffee guy. Even though your brand new (to you) roaster is broken, even though you have spent over 6 hours in the last two days at Burundi Home Affairs wading through bribe after bribe in order for us to get a visa that will only allow us to stay here for another 28 days, even though you are bearing a burden heavier than I’ve ever seen you bear… I have hope. I believe in a God that can carry us if we let Him. I believe in you. You are the only man on the planet who could do this with such grace. Your capacity to keep smiling is insanely irritating, and I love you for it.

     

     

    My big little. You threw a rock through the window tonight. I know you are struggling. It makes your mommy wet her keyboard to think of it. To watch you battle with life overwhelms me. I want to protect you, to shelter you from some of the things that are a part of adjusting to this new life, but I can’t. I will be here, right by your side, protecting you from evil, but letting you experience this life with your.whole.being. You are a fighter and I see you testing your strength everyday. I wrote this for you the other day while you were playing with some kids:

    6 speak French

    1 English, and that one with a confidence lost

    1 parent watches

    wishing it could be different

    wishing his tongue could fly over the words

    just fly

    It’s true, all of it, except one thing. I don’t wish it to be so, I already SEE it. I see you talking in French faster than your mom and dad ever will. I see you playing with friends, shouting to them in French, not letting me in on what you are saying. I see it all. I see an amazing man, facing the world with confidence, love, and with abilities far beyond those who surround you. Abilities that living here have given you. Kids who grow up outside their parent’s home culture are just plain awesome. You are just plain awesome. I see it all, I believe it all.

    My littlest little. Oh, my baby, you have my heart. You make us all laugh every day and we NEED that. You tire us out too, with all your getting.into.everything.ness But then I remember as I discover the entire contents of the medical supply cupboard all over the floor… you are healthy, ingenious and beautiful. As you climb into the sideboard with all the plates, and break one while you are at it… you are healthy, ingenious and beautiful. When you sit on top of the dining room table proud as a peacock for climbing there… you are healthy, ingenious and beautiful. You are already soaring in Burundi, your family is all you ever needed. Thank you for reminding me of that truth.

    Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

     

  • Yogurt Making and Our Milkman

     

    Let me mention that I am aware, someplace in my brain, that “hooray” as in “let’s jump for joy” is not spelled (or is it spelt) with two ‘r’s and one ‘o’. But in this afternoon’s heatwave, which was a doo-zee, I lost all my senses and spelt or spelled or spell-did-dit wrong. I’m sure you will forgive me, well, I hope so. Maybe I could start a new trend? I think it looks pretty good with two ‘r’s. Anyway, this is supposed to be about yogurt, not spelling.

    Let me start with the story of our milk, or what I know of it. We get our milk from the back of a motorbike that’s driven by a man named Fabrice. Yes, Faaaaaaabreeeeeeeccccccce. That’s him in the red jacket. I like his name, has a nice ring to it, but I also like to spell “hooray” with two ‘r’s so you really shouldn’t trust my opinion when it comes to anything grammatical. Back to the milk. The milk is still warm, either from the cow or the beating rays of the hot-hot sun (I am going to guess the latter), as it’s poured from an old cooking oil can into a bowl from our kitchen. This transaction takes place in our driveway.

    Myles loves Fabrice too, because sometimes he gets a ride on the bike…. while it’s stationary.

    Hi Fabrice! We like you!

    So I guess this is turning out to be a post more about my love for Fabrice than yogurt making? Back to the yogurt. When I found out that we would be moving to Burundi, I asked my dad bring over some cheese cultures from The US of A to South Africa so that we could give it a go once we got to Burundi. They are supposed to be kept frozen, but how do you do that while smuggling them across countless boarders?

    I was sure my yogurt making would flop, but these little cheese molds make it really easy for you to do well. It turned out to be the best yogurt we’ve ever made! Shush, ok, the only yogurt… but it was such a great shock to us all that we did well. So we ate it all in one day, and then made some more.

    If you feel like giving it a go, here are the steps to yogurt making:

    1. Heat the milk to 185 F (or boiling) and strain, if previously unpasteurized.

    2. Let the milk cool to 110 F.

    3. Add the cultures (freeze dried, or 2 T. store bought yogurt stirred vigorously).

    4. Let it stand for two minutes.

    5. Stir.

    6. Fill glass or other heatproof jars with the milk.

    6. Place somewhere at around 110 F for 6 hours. I filled my Le Creuset with a little water, placed the jars inside, put the end of the thermometer in the water, and put the lid on as best I could. Then I stuck the whole thing in the oven for the day, switching the oven on and off periodically to keep the temp roughly 110 F. Although, next time, I am just going to stick the jars in the sun for the day. I think that is a much better use of my resources!

    7. Refrigerate.

    8. Devour.

    For more on the yogurt making process you can go here.

    Yay for yogurt!

    Kristy

     

     

     

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