No escape

After a couple of long and quite theological posts it's time for something a bit lighter. My posts tend not to follow much of a pattern. When I'm finding my thinking challenged and I'm learning stuff then I tend to write posts a bit more like that. When things are a bit more normal then I tend to write things a bit more down to earth. It just comes as it comes to me really, so it's always a reflection of me and how I am, not just of some textbook stuff.

Anyway, I've titled this "No escape" because I'm finding that's simply how it is when it comes to the bugs out here. For the last couple of weeks I've virtually always had some form of visitor at my place including a millipede on my pillow as I was about to lie down and go to sleep! Where he came from I don't know, but I can tell you he didn't stay there! I've also got plenty of insect bites in the last couple of days. Somehow something zaps me when I'm asleep, I think, and then it itches like crazy for a few days, with a puncture wound developing if you do end up scratching it too much. I'm told that if I see any bites with two small holes I should go get that checked out by a doctor ASAP because that's likely a spider bite, and ironically it's the small ones that are most deadly. You'll generally not die on the spot, but if you leave it secondary things like septicemia will set in, which resulted in brain damage to someone Nicky knows! So if I spot that, or general flu like symptoms I'm off to the doc!

Some things never change too. There's no escape from parking wardens out here either! Got a ticket the other day for parking somewhere I thought was fair play. Actually everyone in my office thought it was fair play and have been getting away with it for months, yet I get the ticket! There is actually a sign about, though it's not really that clear until you know where it is. No one else had ever seen it, so I got busted unfortunately. Sigh!

Hmm, what else? Well, there's some pretty crazy thunderstorms at the minute. No kidding, these lightning flashes are like a camera flash for the world! Seriously, everything you see seems to light up for a split second from a strike that's so far away it's not even raining where you are! But when it's on top of you it's a pretty awesome thing. Rain pounds down, lightning flashes with great intensity, and the thunder makes a pretty fearsome sound!

On the whole I'm doing quite well though. My cooking continues to go on well, and I made a pretty impressive apple crumble with fresh custard for my english contribution to our Every Culture Sunday this week. I tried to do Special Fried Rice like you'd get at the legendary Shanghai Kitchen, but that was nowhere near as successful. It was nice, but by no means on that level. I've made a good number of friends, I'm pretty regular at the gym and increasing in fitness and strength if nothing else, I'm also playing footie regularly again, which is great. Spiritually I'm finding that the wonders of God amaze me more and more rather than less and less and there's always plenty of exciting challenge instead of dreary ritual. Thank you all who pray for me, for everything that it results in, but especially in the presence of God blessing me and making me strong.

I'm hoping to knuckle down soon and get some serious Zulu under my belt, or it'll just pass me by. I'm finding myself challenged as to how I'm going to grow in evangelism and in praying for the sick, as I've really not got anyone to mentor me in that, but I feel again the urgency of God to not just get a passing grade in these things, but to excel.

One final thing: I guess I also can't escape the fact that at some point I have to return to the UK. I do enjoy it here, and yet I would also love to be "back home". I still find myself referring to Beulah as "my church" rather than Hope, and I'm keen to hear how any of you there are walking worthy of the calling you've received. Anyway, whenever I come back I do need something to do, and that means I will soon need to start making preparations, either to stay here for a bit longer (if God so leads), or to start something when I come back. If you're one of my brothers and sisters in the Lord back home, I would greatly appreciate you both praying for me, and hearing from God for me (which is one major reason I'm even here)
on this. I really need either some direct guidance, or just the clear means to make a decision with sanctified common sense (the other major reason I'm here).

Blessings be upon you all!