Week Se--no, wait! It's week eight!

As of this Wednesday I will be roughly halfway through my stay here. I think I've overused the term "wow" in reference to that. As it stands, I can't imagine driving on the American side of the road--it looks weird on TV and movies. Little things like that show me how acclimated I've become so far; it will be an interesting re-adjustment! ;-)
But I'm not there yet anyway--physically or mentally. I really need to be here, focusing on God's plans for the now now, as well as the just now. Plus, assignments coming up!

I went to a party last Wednesday that was a send-off for a young woman, a graphics designer, who is going to work in Amsterdam. It was so odd to be sending someone else off--and so cool to be able to tell her that I know a little of what she's going through!

At that party, Orit started really showing signs of a flu bug, and by Friday, she was flat-out sick. I've taken over supper cooking since then, quite of my own volition.
Reasoning:
1.) she should be resting, not worrying about supper.
2.) I love to cook, and sharing that food with others is a fun ministry.
3.) I don't want to catch what she has.

So on Friday we had over a friend, Celeste, and I made pasta with a beef mincemeat/tomato sauce that wasn't quite spaghetti sauce(I can't picture coriander/cilantro in spaghetti sauce) and, unbeknownst to them, had my "secret" ingredients of cumin and a dash of cinnamon--it gives a nice, earthy flavor to balance out out the tomato, especially when you don't have a lot of mince. I also fried cabbage with oregano, olive oil, garlic, basil, and this garlic-herb salt, which is just comfort food. :-) Then we watched this movie, Touched, which was actually pretty effective and enjoyable.

Saturday was the traditional xhosa wedding, which was very loud and very celebratory and very interesting--we didn't stay for the whole thing, because this pastor started preaching in xhosa (of course) and he was going to go on for at least an hour or so before the couple was officially hitched! I liked the custom of the bride being met halfway down the aisle to the alter by the groom and his father: the two fathers put the couple together and then the couple walks to the altar together. It symbolizes the union of families, that the two families are "married", and that the family is in full agreement with the marriage. Also, the bridesmaids and groomsmen actually danced down the aisle AFTER the couple went--and not goofy dancing, this purposeful stuff with serious expressions and an excellent sense of rhythm.

Afterwards, we were going to go to the reception, where there was going to be a TON of food(acccording to the pre-emcee at the ceremony), but it wasn't ready yet since we left the ceremony early and we couldn't stay for it because our driver had an appointment to pick up another group at that same time. So we went out and bought food instead. I got 1/4 chicken (remember, these are SMALL chickens), potato wedges, and a water--Nando's potato wedges are da bomb! The best I've ever had by far.

Saturday evening I made soup: black-eyed peas, potatoes, cabbage, onion, tomato paste, and these two beef cuts that made a lovely broth. There's still some in the fridge today, even after eating it for lunch and dinner Sunday, so I'm going to have to avail meself of that later on. :-D

Aaaand, what else to say?

To Geneva people: enjoy Spring Break!

To everyone: have a blessed day!

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”- Isaiah 55:8-9

PS--> this passage is always good to remember! I've been struggling this semester with understanding where God wants me and why, when I need to be seeking His peace and rest and setting my mind to obeying His will and hiding His Word in my heart--then He'll reveal things in his perfect timing!