Bubble Note #41

"How many thirds are there in 3?" "Well, there are 3 thirds in 1, so how many?" "Ohhhh. Ok. Thanks."

Just a glimpse into the past 5 seconds of my life (Lizzie actually answered Luc, psh, they don't need me as a teacher!)

Good news: We are nearing the end of our school year!
Bad news: I have almost run out of math for Luc to do so I'll have to make stuff up for the next 6 weeks.
Update news: Both of my grandfathers are doing much better and are either home, or en route to get home. Thank you for your yarps.
Cool news: I was able to go to a volunteer session at a Challenge Course here in town that does 1-3 day sessions with groups from Dell personal to special needs children to university groups. I positively love their focus and passion and the work they are doing. I am hoping to help out there at least a couple times before I leave.
Wet news: It rained yesterday, relieving much of the heat. Woohoo! Though, many of you who have lived in tropical countries know that often after the mid-hot season rain, the heat intensifies.
Upcoming news: Easter! We have a Easter party this Sunday to which we will have tons of sweets, talking and henna. What is henna you ask? Well it is pretty much a designable stick on tattoo. It is a paste made out of an herb that stains the skin. I have designed the design below that tells the story of our Brother from the beginning of time until our Body of Friends.


Future News: Next weekend (the 10th) I am heading to the village with some wonderful ladies to do some 'stuff' there. We will be performing drama's (or rather...I am.) giving talked, telling good news/stories and just having a good time. The last time I was in the village it was an amazing and blessed time, and I'm looking forward to the same thing. Please yarp as I need to prepare for this drama and learn some stories. Thankfully I've never had the problem of talking in front of people ;-)

As a closing, I'll show a picture of how I fill my free time. Best form of transportation ever.




Blessings,
Beth

Bubble Note #40

So not a lot is happening over here, but there is quite a lot at home that I am going to ask you to yarp about. About a week ago my mum told me that things weren't going so great for my grandpa (my dad's dad). He was in the hospital because of some stuff that has happened regularly (liquid buildup in the lungs etc). Unlike other times, this quickly escalated to other problems. Fast forward a couple days and the doctor informs family that his kidneys are working at 10%, a day later he is diagnosed with kidney cancer. My parents made a quick decision to drive out to Manitoba with two of my dad's sisters to be with him during this crucial time. They made it there, but our van died en route (and the diagnoses is a new engine. Needless to say, old faithful is no longer faithful). Praise Abba that all of my dad's siblings were able to join and support my grandpa in the hospital. Unfortunately it is not only his kidneys that are not functioning properly, his heart is failing and his diabetes has taken a turn for the worse. They tried to take him home but soon after arriving home they had to rush back to the hospital because his blood sugar was very low. We're not certain what the future may hold.

Yesterday morning I talked to my mum to get an update from her. She told me all of the above, and then informed me that her dad (my Opa) was also in the hospital (in Ontario). He had 'very very high blood pressure', as my mum said. They did a CAT scan which showed that he had had a stroke in the last week, which affected his sight. He is still in the hospital and has been confused at times (to the point of not recognizing my Oma). This has been incredibly hard on my family, especially my mum and dad. Mum is flying to Ontario to be with her parents on Saturday. We're not certain what the future may hold.

Needless to say, even my direct family is rather scattered. My Dad in Manitoba, my Mum is Ontario, my brothers in Calgary, my sister in Saskatchewan and I in South Asia.

I like this passage...(insert appropriate name in the blank- See 2 Samuel 7 for the whole story)

 Then _______ went in and sat before the LORD, and he said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? "And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future And this is the custom of man, O Lord GOD."

I suppose it is still our custom to desire to know the future. Whatever is your burden to yarp for, please do. Your thoughts and encouragement are very much appreciated.

Blessings,

Beth

p.s. I'm on Twitter now, so if you have an account let me know, I am @ExploreBeth.

Bubble Note #39

I'm lying on my bed, the sweat making the my semi-long hair stick to my
neck. The occasional breeze sweeps through the open windows creating a
faint moment of relief. Okay, so really, it's not that bad yet, only
about 30 degrees Celsius (and it's 10:37pm). But, I heard hot season
wasn't supposed to start until May, so this heat has surprised the whole
city.

Tonight I was reminded why, well, or rather, reassured why I truly love
this country, people and following Dad's callings. I was riding home in
a cab (I tend to do that a lot after dark, it's much cheaper here than
in North America; the cab tonight cost about $13 and we were driving for
an hour), half listening to my ipod, watching the traffic go by, people
walking, restaurant lights, office building windows aglow, a cop walking
through traffic at an intersection Breathalyzer'ing random people (what
an awesome past time). In essence, everything was 'normal'. Maybe it was
the music I was listening to at the time, but I felt such incredible
joy. Nothing special was happening at that time...life just felt...right.

Because I've now bought my ticket (and will be back in Canada on June
4th!) I've begun to think over my time here. Sure it's only been 6
months, not really a lengthy amount of time, but long enough for people
back home to ask "How was it!" So, I want to answer that question while
I'm still out here, How is it? Well, it's wonderful. What I do isn't
extraordinary. I teach, in my bedroom, two children. Simple. But living
overseas, doesn't that make it exciting? Well that really depends on
what you view as 'overseas'...technically, for me, all of you are
'overseas'; so isn't your life exciting? I'm a simple person, doing a
simple job because the most complex Person called me to do it. Simple as
that. And because of His grace in my decision to follow, He has blessed
me abundantly and given me joy and peace beyond description.

I was reading Isaiah 43 this morning, and just because the Word is so
cool, I really want to share with you the parts that stood out too me:

"...Thus says the Lord, your Creator...He who formed you...,"Do not
fear, so I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are
Mine!...Since you are precious in My sight, ..you are honoured and I
love you....You are My witnesses...and My servant whom I have chosen, So
that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before me
there was no God formed, And there will be none after me...The people
whom I formed for Myself will declare My praise."

See...I can be serious. Sometimes ;-)

Blessings,

Beth