2nd blog

I've been writing my blogs, but unable to post them until today, so here's the next installment right on top of the first... Things are going well so far. This team of students is incredibly enthusiastic – about everything! They are a very loud, fun-loving bunch, but also very humble and teachable. Yesterday we had the big talk with the girls about cultural expectations for the way we dress and how we act. It’s always a bit of a shock, and seems nearly impossible to adjust our behavior so drastically, but these girls were champions! They immediately stood up and asked if the way they were dressed was culturally appropriate (let me just say – they were all very modestly dressed to begin with, but for some of them their shirts were not baggy enough). And the guys are being great too. They are being careful not to talk too much to just one girl, to stay in groups, to not touch, and even to not have much eye contact – even when we are in the dining hall! They said “if we don’t practice this ALL the time, we won’t remember to do it in the village”. I am SO Proud of them! Yesterday after class they played their first game of ultimate Frisbee during free time. It was pretty intense. Most of them had at least 1 bloody knee or elbow. One of the guys ran over to me in the middle of the game and said “Nicky, if we knock a girl over is it ok to help her up?” I thought about it, and realized that even by extending a hand to help a girl up it would look bad to the Nationals – and believe me, we had quite the audience watching that game. Culturally it would be better for a guy to slam into a girl on the field and then laugh at her and walk away. Yikes! It’s so difficult to go against everything that we are taught in our cultural – to look people in the eye when you talk to them, to be a gentleman… but it’s cool to see that the whole team is trying so hard to not be a stumbling block to the testimony of the missionaries here. I have started working in the kitchen. Lo & Behold – I’m actually having a great time in there! I’m on for 2 shifts today, but then I’m off for the next couple of days so that’s nice. I managed to get a wicked cold, so I’m struggling a bit with a sore throat and stuffy face (I was going to say nose, but the truth is my whole face is stuffed up – my eyes are watery, my ears are plugged, I’m sneezing every 10 minutes like clockwork. Ugh). Anyway, the village ladies in the kitchen are very happy that I have come back. Yesterday Piku came up to me to give me a hug and held my hand for about 5 minutes and talked to me in all pidgin. I had to have her repeat everything 2 or 3 times, but eventually figured out what she was saying. It’s all coming back to me. Later, Kesi came over to say hello and I said “Moning Kesi!” She was so pleased that I remembered her that she clucked her tongue at me. I’d TOTALLY forgotten that the national ladies kind of cluck when they are very pleased or impressed with something. Ah, so much joy! I’ve been sitting in on some of the classes with the students. I’m learning so much, even though I’ve heard some of these lectures 2 or 3 times in the last couple of years. I love how God can teach us something new every time we dig into His word. I can’t even express how happy I am to be back here. I love it. It’s more than that, I feel as if I’m more myself here. Or becoming more of who I ought to be.