The dentist had a cancellation today and was able to get me in earlier than expected. I think it took her all of 3 minutes to determine that I needed a root canal. She began the process this afternoon and informed that I had finished the worst of it today. At that moment I looked much like a stroke victim, with the entire left side of my mouth numb. I naively thought that it wasn't really all that bad and couldn't figure out what everyone was always talking about.

Now, 6 hours later, I get it. I'd do anything for another shot of Novocaine. My guess is it's going to be a loooong night.

FYI: Root canals hurt. A lot.

The end.

Will the real dentist please stand up?

It was a good thought. This idea that I could go to Ktown for a quick 3 day trip...see the dentist, get my tooth fixed, enjoy some quality time with friends, and return home in time for another week of work. Then reality strikes and I'm thrust into the knowledge that I am living within a country and cultural context that never seems to work on my time table.

And so I find myself still sitting in Ktown. Still waiting to see the dentist.

Apparently the phone number I was given to contact the dentist here was incorrect. I should have known when the man who answered didn't speak English, but I asked him 3 times if this was the dentist and 3 times he confirmed to me that it was. So, trusting this to be the case, I set up an appointment for Friday at 9am.

Friday morning I made my way over to the other side of town, found the office, greeted the guards at the gate, and was promptly informed that it was Friday and the dentist was not at work. I explained that I was told to come at this time and they asked me to call that number again and ask about the situation.

The same national guy answered the phone. We exchanged greetings. I told him I needed to see the dentist and that he had told me to come at that time. He then said that he wasn't at the office. It hit me in that moment, that perhaps, he was the dentist. (The foreign dentist I was/am planning to see is female.) I asked if he worked for this certain company and he said no.

Bummer. He was a dentist, just not the one I needed/wanted to see. So since Fridays are like Sundays and yesterday (Saturday) was a national holiday, I could not get through to the real dentist until this morning.

I now have an appointment set for tomorrow morning at 8:15am...I think.

On the plus side of all of this, I've been enjoying some quality time with friends. Late night conversations, coffee, eating out, bonfire at the "Shhh," DreamGirls, truthful moments of "kiss and tell." What more could a girl ask for?!

I'm just hoping my tooth doesn't fall out in the meantime! :)

I'm going on a road trip, of sorts, in the morning. It's a bit of a spontaneous adventure. Not one I had previously been planning (or even thinking about), but one that has been brought on by the fact that I'm having tooth issues. (Read: a little bit of my tooth fell out yesterday and since I've been avoiding the increased pain for the past several weeks, I figured time was running out.)

So yeah, I'm headed to the dentist. Only there isn't one in this city. (Well, at least not one I'd trust.) So this morning I booked a flight for Ktown and will hopefully be seeing the one and only foreign dentist in this entire country some time in the next couple of days.

I'm just grateful that I don't have to leave the country to get help!

In between my time with the dentist, I plan on seeing lots of friends!! (Yay!) I might even be too busy to write on this thing. (Gasp!)

Just when I've started becoming predictable, I go and throw a curve ball ;)....

"Honesty...is such a lonely word."

Anybody remember that old school Billy Joel song? (And don't worry, you don't have to be afraid to admit you all are as old as me. Well, at least some of you. :)

Anyway, it just popped into my head. Randomness. That's what I'm all about.

So here's my honesty...

I've been missing my friends lately. (I think I might have mentioned that a time or two these past few days.)

I hate to use the word "lonely" because, really, how can one be "lonely" when one's surrounded by people ALL the time? Besides, it sounds so desperate. So weak. So...like I need people. And we all know that tough girls like myself don't "need" people. Right?

Wrong.

I'm learning this. If ever so slowly, I'm learning. It's how we were designed. To live in community with one another and with our Father. It's just like my future husband (who still doesn't even know my name or that I exist) Donald Miller says, "We are relational indeed."

The other day, my dear friend T blogged about her own desire for community. I remember Little J and I spending hours talking about it and longing for it while I was living in JoMo. And I even think the "Patio Gang" has joked about it at times.

But what does this actually look like? And how do we get there?

And more importantly...When am I going to have a friend close by who'd be willing to go jump in the fountain with me late at night or do the Thriller dance at the drop of a hat??? OK, I'm just kidding. Kind of. But, no, seriously...any takers? ;)

I could have written about this yesterday, but for fear of looking like a total nerd (save the comments please) posting twice in one day, I decided to hold off. That does not, however, mean that my joy has wained. In fact, I'm still smiling as I type.

Technology is an amazing thing (when it works for you). And yesterday morning it did just that, as I actually got to video chat with some of my favorite people in the whole world. To say that it made my day would be a HUGE understatement. I think it made my week….possibly even my life! (OK, that’s an exaggeration, but you get the point.)

The thousands of miles between us seemed to disappear, if only for a few moments, as everyone sat around the fire pit, enjoying their spinach/artichoke dip, s’mores, and fun beverages (like my morning coffee)….catching up…cracking old jokes (Scott, the "tree" comments never get old, huh?) and some new ones (Janet-courtesy of Laffy Taffy)…sarcastic comments…awkward moments (thanks Pete for always trying to hook me up with the “nearest” eligible bachelor)...and laughter.

For about an hour, I was back in B/N. Man, it does a heart good.

I do have to confess, while I'm writing about my "mini-break from reality," that a dare was laid on the table. Unfortunately I was unable to complete it yesterday. I kept trying to think of ways to throw in a line from “Baby Got Back” into ordinary conversation, and while it was great at cracking me up on the inside, outwardly it just didn't happen. It probably would have been lost in translation, right? So I'm going to try and make it work when I'm around predominantly English speakers. I'll keep you posted. It *will* happen.

So that's it. That is/was the highlight of my week. Now if only I could transport everyone HERE. My life would be complete. ;)

Plans. Often times they are overrated.

Last night I arrived home from work early. I was feeling productive after running a bunch of errands so I thought I would go with that feeling and work out while I still had some adrenaline pumping through my veins. It doesn’t take much to unmotivate me from working out, so I thought I’d help myself out by avoiding temptation. (Remember our plan, Tricks? I’m trying to follow through.)

In the midst of my routine, thoughts ran through my mind as to how the rest of my evening would look. And I have to say; I was pleased.

5:00-5:30pm—Finish working out and take a shower
5:30-6:00pm—Make & eat dinner
6:00-??pm—Read, help J with the kids, and enjoy a leisurely evening at home.
9:00pm—Go to bed early so I can get up super early in the morning to catch the crew on the patio!

And for the most part, I was right on schedule. Until 5:30pm.

Knock on my door. (It’s J.) She informs me that one of the neighbors had just stopped by and invited us to her brother’s second birthday party. It starts at 7pm.

Me: (In my pajamas, hair wet, no make up) Really?
J: Yeah. She invited us all.
Me: OK.

Change of plans.

I got dressed. Put some makeup on. Helped J get the kids ready and by 7pm we were walking down our alley to the neighbors.

They were thrilled to see us.

The next 2 hours were filled with conversations, dancing, laughter, little boys with sharp objects (they actually gave the 2 year old the knife to cut his own cake!), more dancing, and pictures.

We left their house at a little after 9pm, just as they were insisting we stay and eat dinner. (Sometimes it pays to have kids with bed times. They are great for excuses!)

So like I said…plans are often times overrated. It’s the unexpected invitations that could make your evening something worth writing about later.

Guess what?

YEP, you guessed it...I'm smart! I figured out the problem with the profile pic. :) Whoot Whoot!

And guess what else?...I downloaded the clean version of Avril's latest hit, "Girlfriend." I'm rockin' out in my office as I type. (Thanks for the recommendation, Trix!) I'm a sucker for anything that sounds like it has a cheer in it. "Hollaback Girl" being a case in point.

And guess what else?...If all goes well, I will be hanging out on the Gaff's patio with some of my favorite people in the whole world in the morning (night for them) via ichat. It's the backyard season opener there in B/N and I can hardly wait!

Oh how I miss my friends. Seriously. Like, a LOT. I miss them. As in, "you can't even imagine how much," I miss them.

And lastly...guess what?... That's it. I don't have anything else for you to guess. :) But I am trying to figure out how to have some fun in this place. Life can be too serious at times. I get consumed with work and home and the dramas that come with living here. I need some form of escape.

Anybody have any ideas or dares for me? Something I can do and post pictures of or write about? (And yes, I'm fully aware of how I ended that sentence with a prepositional phrase. Bad. Very bad.)

Anybody? Anybody? Bueller?

So I've been trying to figure out a way to post a new photo in the "About Me" section, but have been unsuccessful up to this point. I'm going to try it here and see what happens. Sorry to disappoint if you thought I had some great, exciting news to share. :) I'm just really bored with all these old photos. AND...looking at that Starbucks pic makes me want to go there. I have to tell myself that someday I'll be enjoying my favorite location once again.

***********************************************************************************
OK...so I just tried it and it still didn't work. For some reason the URL's are not working these days. Anybody have any tips on this???

T.G.I.W.! It's the start of our weekend here and I couldn't be happier! Whoot Whoot!

It's been a long week. I'm ready for bed and it's...4:20pm. Is that bad? Although I just downloaded the latest Regina Spektor album and it's taking me to another world. (Thanks for all the new i-tune cards, people!!). I love it!

So today was *interesting* to say the least.

I came into work early, as my CDP staff and I wanted to run to the hospital to visit Sally before we left for the village. It took a few minutes of research, but we soon found out that Sally had been released yesterday. PTL! So we headed off to the "dE."

We arrived in DS and were setting up the room when, guess who walked in?....Yep, Sally! She was wearing a bright green outfit, sunglasses and a huge smile. She looked like a miniature movie star. I was thrilled. It was like seeing a completely different person than the one who lay unresponsive in her hospital bed just 2 days before.

According to her parents, the doctors had told them she had a tumor before looking at the x-rays. (Nothing like the medical system here, I tell ya!) After they examined the x-rays, they decided that she actually had typhoid...not a brain tumor. WHAT???

In that instant, part of me rejoiced while the other part of me was really ticked at those STUPID doctors!! Can you imagine the emotional roller coaster of this family?! Arrgh. It makes me mad just thinking about it.

BUT she's better. Sally is better! And here's the other cool thing...when her mom came into the women's meeting today, she thanked me profusely and then basically commanded me to pray for her again (in front of about 20 other women that had arrived previously). My co-worker said it might cause problems later, but I told her I couldn't refuse an opportunity to pray for someone.

So I did.

Now, I don't know what that means...or the effects of my simple words. But there are seeds planted. And I was obedient to the H.S. in that moment. (Who knows, I may be home sooner than you think! ...Ha!)

And then, beyond all of that, there were the conversations. Today, around the lunch table and again on the drive back into the city, serious discussions with my national co-workers took place. I can't go into the specifics of them here (And, no, none of them have changed their minds on anything), but they were open. And Truth was shared.

Looking back now, today just seemed like one of those days when His presence seemed so very near. And I don't mean the kind of nearness that fills you with peace...but the kind that makes you want to take your shoes off and bow. For I was almost certain that the burning bush must have been right around the corner.

Today seemed THAT big.

Green Acres...

I'm a city girl at heart. Small town girl by nature of where my parents raised me. And country/farm girl....umm....never.

Well, except for when I'm out in the village.

It's strange really. Maybe it's just a temporary fascination. Like when you go on vacation or during the honeymoon stages of marriage (so I've heard). The change of scenery seems to make everything come alive...if only for a moment.

Today I found myself standing on a hillside, smack-dab in the middle of about 200 sheep and goats, as we arrived to the "dE" in the height of their work day. Men, women and children were working all together, hustling the animals to and fro...cutting their hair, getting their milk, and moving them along to the next step. The animals themselves were making quite the commotion...a symphony of bah's and boo's, grunts and groans...blending together to make a kind of music of sorts.

And there I stood. A bit lost in the moment, yet completely at home in the foreign-ness of it all. I was struck again with how much I love this place and these people...especially those under-served.

Sure I know that I spend, on average, about 24 hours out of my week in the village. That leaves...well, that leaves a lot of other hours remaining. (Sorry all my math friends, I didn't want to think that much.) A lot of other hours that I spend in my nice office or comfortable house. Hours on my computer that's powered by city electricity. Hours in the bathroom where I have more than a hole in the ground and water that runs freely (and HOT water at that!). Hours in my bed...traveling in a car.

Hours that are a far cry from the realities of village life.

So...like I said, maybe my love for the village is a temporary/momentary fascination? For some reason, though, it doesn't seem to stop me from dreaming of living there some day. (Of course, I'm pretty sure the villagers aren't quite ready for a foreigner to move into the neighborhood, nor am I quite ready for such a transition.)

But there's the thought.

And maybe that idea will never come to pass? Maybe a few months down the road I'll look back at this post and ask myself what in the world was I thinking?

But right now...in this moment...I'm basking in His goodness and the privilege I have of spending 24 hours of my week investing in these areas.

For such a time as this...

Request...

A few weeks ago I, along with my national co-workers, were walking along the muddy road of DS village. As we rounded the corner, the cutest little girl, around 12 years old, came running up to us with a plate full of homemade yoghurt. She greeted each of us with her precious smile and warm embrace and then told us that her mother was sending this dish as a "thank you" for our help.

"Thanks for what?," you're asking?

Rewind with me to a couple weeks before that, when our CDP staff had been doing a house-to-house survey in this particular village. Upon arrival into one of the homes, they informed our team that their daughter was ill. After listening to the symptoms, our staff recommended the mental health hospital that was not too far away and was run by another NGO in town (the one they formerly worked for).

The following week, this family took their daughter to that mental health hospital, where she was examined and given medicine which apparently was working. (Hence, the "thank you" plate of yoghurt.)

Until yesterday.

Yesterday our team was back out working in DS when we were told that this little girl had become extremely ill over the weekend. The family had to bring her all the way into the city, where she was/is currently being kept at the hospital.

A little bit ago, I went with one of my co-workers to visit. The sparse conditions of the building only added to the feelings of anxiety and despair that filled the air. After a room-to-room search of bunches of sick little kids, we finally came across "Sally."

Instead of her sweet smile, we were greeted by her mother, as Sally lay their limp and unresponsive. My heart broke.

Sally apparently has a tumor on her brain. The doctors have suggested radiation. The family is trying to decide what to do.

As I sat there, holding Sally's hand, I was at a loss for words. I asked her mom if it would be ok if I prayed for her, and she agreed. It was all that I could do...and everything that I could do.

HE is able to do immeasurably more than all that we ask or imagine.

So now I'm rallying the troops.

Would you please join with me in asking Dad to heal this sweet little girl...."Sally." Would you ask that His power be shown in and through this situation and that somehow, somehow, He would be seen. Would you ask that He would use me and our team to be His instruments of love and peace and presence in this time?

Thank YOU!

I'll keep you posted as I find out more. Until then, I'll meet you before the Throne as we intercede for this precious child and her family....

I just returned from another fun-filled day in the village. My brain is fried, as usual, after 6+ hours of speaking and listening to another language (well, maybe 2 other languages when you consider the villagers practically have their own). I brought my ipod with me today and on our way back in to the city, I informed my co-workers that I was taking a trip to America and would be back by the time we reached the office. They all laughed. I was serious. My head felt like it was going to explode and I needed an escape.

Music. Sweet music.

Now I'm back from my journey and finishing a few things up at the office. I don't really feel like writing out a play-by-play of my day, but I thought I'd share with all of you faithful blog readers some random thoughts that have passed through my mind since this morning. In no particular order....

*Did she really say 10 years old is a good age to get engaged?

*Oh, look at the baby camels grazing on the mountainside!

*The hills are soo green right now. (OK, not "green" like IL in the spring "green", but "green" for the fact that I live in a country which has been in drought for the past 20 years "green.")

*Yep, that little boy definitely just lost his pants in a room full of women. I'm guessing he'll be embarrassed about that some day. Maybe.

*I could use a shower. The second one of the day. Is it really this hot in APRIL??

*I wonder what these women would do if I walked over there and smoked their hooka pipe?

*THIS is exactly what called me to this place 5 years ago. I wonder why it's taken me so long to get here?

One last picture from my day.

Nothing too exciting to blog about. No piercings or tattoos this year. However, I did receive some STRAWBERRY TWIZZLERS! And I even got to share them with my favorite 22 month old...The "D."

Man, I love this kid!!

Just because...

It's my birthday...

I'm...
*Listening to Will Smith's "Switch" on my computer. (And I don't even feel guilty).

*Remembering the fact that this is my 4th birthday since 2002 that I've celebrated in this country. (The picture to the right is from that first trip.)

They've all been memorable. Feathered cakes, salsa dancing, karaoke, dancing in our living room, a Dairy Queen run at the military base. Ahh. Good times. Good times.

*Eating some Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies that I received today in a package from home. Perfect. Simply perfect.

*Looking forward to a grilled chicken ceasar salad for dinner. The month of lettuce has begun!! :)

*Grateful for the well wishes I've received from people near and far. If for nothing else, birthdays are great for getting happy messages from your friends and family! I love it!

Happy Easter Everybody!

It's been a lovely day here in the Ancient City.

Quite a few of the ex-pat community took the day to travel into the countryside a bit and enjoy some time praising Our Creator in the midst of His creation.

And as we sat there--soaking up the beauty, fellowshipping with one another, and savoring some delectable food we brought for a picnic, I couldn't help but be reminded of this...He came to give us life. And not just life meaning the mundane activities that fill up our days. But life in abundance.

I personally hope to continue walking in that abundance...in that goodness...in that fullness of Him.

And I hope that wherever this finds you, you will be able to do the same.

Rejoice! He has risen!

On a positive note...

Sorry if I've been a bit down these last few weeks. It seems like it's been a bit of a roller coaster ride around here lately.

But today is Friday (like Sunday in the States). And it's gorgeous outside. And I'm feeling good.

I spent some time on my rooftop this afternoon--soaking up the Vitamin D, reading "Velvet Elvis," and listening to some happy music.

And even though the challenges of life here don't just seem to disappear, it's nice to have some moments of refreshment in the midst of them.

Rob Bell writes about how being a good "cross-cultural" worker isn't about transporting God from one place to the next. It's about pointing out where God already is. He goes on to say that, "You see God where others don't. And then you point him out."

I love days like today. Days when God is so visible in all His goodness.

He is here.

I just need to help point Him out.

And sometimes...sometimes....I need others to do that for me.

Sometimes my life seems so far out of my control it's not even funny. I'm sure that's how it's supposed to be, what with God being God and all. But still...

Right now I don't really have the words to express all of the reasons why I say that. I just have a heavy heart.

My friends had to close their coffee shop here in town yesterday.
A & J had to move out of their house due to some serious threats on their life.
And in a matter of 3 days my friends' lives have been turned upside down.

Some days the wicked web of sin is so visible in this place, I can hardly stomach it.
And some days it seems as though evil prevails.

But it doesn't.

And I have to fight to convince myself of that.

As I sat with my friends yesterday, offering up chocolate for happiness, I was reminded how little control we have over anything.

Our lives are not our own. The battle is not *ours* to win.

It's HIS.

And in the end...

It all comes back to Him. The One who conquered death to give us life victoriously.

To the one who is “more than just a pretty face”… To the one who has traveled with me to China, Europe and the Middle East… To the one whose mouth once “tasted like a chimney”… To the one whose college roommate believed she was Mary… To the one who has finished 2 Chicago Marathons… To the one who loves McDonald’s as much as I... To the one who was always questioning Owen’s whereabouts, but had no problem following Donna and Dylan as they ran around 90210… To the one who hates Boggle but loves math…. To the one who is a closeted Britney fan… To the one with whom I can do absolutely nothing and still think it was the greatest day ever… To the one who “keeps it real” for dreamers like me (i.e. Why can’t they pick up their trash?)… To the one who can get even the hardest of people to bend with her sweet talk…. To the one who deserves to be the "Golden Apple" teacher every year... To the one who may or may not have tried to look as though she had a "thyroid problem"... To the one who sent the Indians running with her wicked tennis serves... To that "one," I'd just like to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

May your day be filled with sunshine, laughter and sweet moments of celebration for a life well-lived. (Of course, cake and ice cream would also be nice!) I love and miss you!!

Photos from the "Day"

In Dari, the word for "village" is pronounced like the English word "day." Appropriately enough, here are some pictures from the "day/ dE."

Besides the fact that my voice sounds as if I've been chain smoking since the time I was in the womb...I'm beginning to feel better!

Some may say it's thanks to the meds, but I'd like to think it's happening because my AMAZING FRIENDS--A & J--brought over CAMPBELL'S TOMATO SOUP yesterday!

Yep, Campbell's Tomato Soup has finally arrived in the Ancient City!

So in honor of the Prophet's birthday (and an extra day off work)--I stayed in my pj's, ate that amazing soup, and scrapbooked. I also may, or may not, have watched several episodes of a t.v. show that I'm ashamed to admit I love (but it starts with: Dawson's and ends with: Creek).

All in all, it's been a lovely day. Tomorrow it's...back to work...April 1st...AND....(drum roll, please)...the CARDINAL'S OPENING DAY!!!!!!!!!!! I should go to bed now to prepare for it all!