My weekly mind dump...

Our friend Dave was with us for the entire week. He's visited off and on over the past month (mostly over weekends), but it was really great to have him with us for an extended period of time. He left today to spend his last few days in Joburg, and then he flies back to America on Thursday. It was sad to see him go; we've gotten used to having him around! He and Niel have had a blast, and he'll be sorely missed. Even though Amy wasn't with him, having Dave here made her feel closer as well... I miss you, Kitty!

We took the Outreach Staff to Royal Natal National Park yesterday. We spent some time hiking around, and they enjoyed a photo scavenger hunt. (Somehow, there was a bonus prize for taking a picture of me in nature!) It was a beautiful day, with the sky as blue as ever.

Though we've had a few days lately with temperatures in the 70's, earlier this week it was cold and windy. Very windy. It kept reminding me of a line from a Caedmon's Call song: "There's only One who sets loose the gales and ties the trees down tight." I've always loved that...

There was some very random music playing while we ate a local restaurant last night. When we heard "We Didn't Start the Fire", we couldn't help but laugh!

We spent quite a lot of time without power this week (causing more frustration in me than it probably should have). I realized how little I hate being powerless (in more ways than one).

I spent hours chatting online with my mom and dad this week, in an attempt to help fix my mom's laptop. (No luck.) While we were mostly talking about Outlook menus and computer frustrations, I was still glad to connect with them. I wish we could come home for a barbecue this week...

This morning I was reminded of a verse that I love: "What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the rooftops." I love the verse for many reasons, but this morning I seemed to be challenged about my hearing. If I want something to speak in the daylight, if I want something to shout from the rooftops, I need to listen. And I need to listen closely. I need to quiet myself more than I do so that I can hear more than I'm currently hearing. While I often say (indirectly) to the Lord, "Listen, for Your servant is speaking", I want to say (like Samuel), "Speak, for Your servant is listening." Then I will have something worth speaking in the daylight and shouting from the rooftops...

Niel surprised me with the personalized "Yankee" license plate for our car. (For those wondering, the "FS" is for "Free State", our province.) Seeing it makes me smile. Aside from it just being humorous to see "Yankee" on my car, I smile because while my car reminds me of God's love, my license plate reminds me of Niel's.