Blog: You Are Not Alone (January 23, 2011)

I can think back to many things I’ve said in the past, things I’ve claimed I would never, ever do. Now, all I can say to that is never say never. I’ve told a few that I’d never live alone—IF I could help it. And I guess I can’t really help it in this case. Kim and Kat left Lassin 2.5 weeks ago. I really think I thought they would never really go. But they’re definitely no longer here. I couldn’t help but think thoughts like “I’m the only one left now. What’s gonna happen to me now?” I also thought things like “whatever happens, God’ll get me through it. Everything else can change, but He will never, ever, ever change. He’s everlasting.” So I’ve been living (more like camping actually haha) “alone” for almost 3 weeks now. And you know, I think I am really enjoying it! I was telling my parents that it has been so, so long since I’ve had some alone time for my little introverted mind. In the past 20 weeks, I’ve usually had to go to the toilet, my room (although I did share my room the first month or so), or out for a walk if I wanted to be alone. Now, though, I have a little more control. Instead of just my room and the bathroom, I can also enjoy quiet time in my kitchen, living room, and one of the 2 guest rooms! I typically try and avoid the kitchen and the guestrooms, though, because of the spider infestation. I think I’m housing a few cousins of the black widow. Each time I enter my house when it’s dark out, I do a very thorough inspection. I’m careful to tear down any spider webs in my path with the broom (opposed to using my body) on my way to turning on the light. Then I make my way over to my room and the bathroom. I’m completing this inspection faster and faster each night! I think I always do it with a smile on my face, too; I laugh at myself inside. I think about how funny I would look to my mom or dad or friends. Another thing I’m doing that I thought I’d never, ever do: enjoying the company of pests. Call me crazy. But I’m not. I really think of Fang, the giant spider in my room, Stuart, the cute little mouse who visits me from time to time, and Moose, the stuffed moose sent to me from America.. I really do think of them as blessings from God, as friends to keep me company in that huge house. I was thinking about these blessings the other day, and God just kept sending more. Market day two weeks ago was on Thursday (Jan. 13); I was trying to avoid the market for the second or third week ‘cause it really makes me miss Kim and Kat. I was just about to start carrying water from the tap when I met Carol coming from the market to her house. Mathias, one of my students and one of the sons of the “traditional doctor”, had followed her from the market. He is so cute. I’m sure he’s the smallest second grader—probably even smaller than many students in class one. Well, he quietly left Carol’s side and kept me company as I carried water. He helped me count the five buckets “we” carried from the tap to the house. I really loved his company. I sent him back to the market with a little bit of my Mambo bar (chocolate!). I really love the little visitors I get. They remind me that I am not alone. They remind me that heavenly angels are ever with me. They remind me that Jesus is with me always. So don’t you worry about me over here in Africa. I am not alone.