For Kicks and Giggles

I woke up this morning to 96% humidity and a forecast of 98 degrees (F) at midday. It didn't rain all day and it hit the predicted "high" before 2pm. On the bright side, the nights are absolutely gorgeous (pun intended). I walked out onto the deck last night as the stars were out; there was a breeze, the palm trees were swaying, the songs of forest life and city life were mingling, and I found a surprisingly long picnic table to stretch my back out on. The stars weren't too plentiful (not like in the ADKS, for my fellow mountaineers), but the fact that I was looking at them from the coast of Australia somehow made them more awe filling. It was a time that was given to me straight from the Heavens. While I love interacting with people - especially when they laugh at my jokes - (just like my dear mother), I find peace and refuge in the quiet serenity of nature, (just like my wonderful father). Laying there, staring at the stars, listening to some wonderful singer/songwriter music.... It was truly lovely. Something funny came to mind during that time- a night or two before I left...

My brother took me out for one last brother-sister date night at Outback Steakhouse (quite fitting for the occasion beside the fact that it's his favorite restaurant) and as we were leaving, I was in a sentimental mood. I looked up at the stars and said "well, last time I'll be looking at those for a while!" And of course, being the quick witted Winters child he is, he was oh-too-happy to jump in with bursts of laughter and make excruciatingly clear the fact that the stars are, in fact, the same, no matter where you are in the world. I walked into it, admittedly. We had a hearty laugh together. At any rate, there I lay, thinking that a few hours before, my family had slumbered under the same set of twinkling diamonds in the same velveteen night sky.

I must say for humor's sake that my star gazing was hilariously interrupted by one of my fellow students (on a different DTS) surprising me by coming up the steps by my picnic table. When I inquired as to where he was coming from, I heard him say "I was dodging bullets on the playground!" I smiled and nodded with an "Oh! Okay! Ha! Bet that was fun." He responded with "It was a good time. I'll see you tomorrow!" And that was that. Only slightly confused but more than a little resigned to my confusion I put my head back and proceeded admiring the Lords handy work when, after another ten minutes, a second comrade came up the stairs. I asked him the same question and this time I got "I was doing pull-ups on the playground!" After a millisecond of thought I realized what the first boy had said and it struck me how odd it was that I was so completely unconcerned at the thought of the first guy "DODGING BULLETS" on the playground. At any rate, it brought my wonderful night to a funny close.

I don't have much to tell you concerning my spiritual well being - know that I am doing well and that the Trinity is at work in this place. I can feel the Spirit walking the halls, protecting us and spurring us on in our endeavors to follow the Great Commission. I can feel the Father enjoying our nightly songs of praise, listening to our prayers (not just hearing them), answering them, appreciating our acknowledgement of those that have been answered in ways which make us overflow with joy. I can feel the Son interceding for us constantly, bearing the full force of the Father's glory when we could never.

We had a two hour worship service earlier this evening- there were over one hundred bodies all in one room with little to no airflow--we were all sweaty BEFORE we walked into the room. I'll leave the rest to your imagination... But know that we're getting good practice in focusing our hearts AND minds on Jesus even in the midst of certain uncomfortable surroundings. It's good.

Thinking that it may be possible for me to be in this environment-- Christian evangelism and fellowship structured towards the goal of reaching the unreached --excites me greatly (as well as frightens me)! We shall see. That is a thought that has just broken through the soil in the garden of my mind- I will water it with prayer and supplication and be sure to tell you all what it looks like when it blooms.

At this point, if you would like something to pray for, please pray for my physical well being. It is strenuous work, I can feel my body wearing down, I can feel my back straining with sitting for 4 hours straight (in classes) and then, say, lifting couches (during our service time). I'm being wise, but I don't like opting out of physical activity. It wears on my self esteem and psyche. I can feel my skin reprimand me for letting it get burnt to toast and bitten by the innumerable moskis (mosquitoes) they have here. My feet hurt walking all day on the concrete floors and running up and down the 6 flights of stairs between the doors and my room. My head hurts from the climate change and the heat. I have to wake up early and I don't get to sleep until late, and we have assignments and work positions on top of all else. It's not too bad, though- if you'll excuse an oxymoron, I'm doing pretty well for being pretty worn down. Thank you for praying.

Random fact of the post:

The temperature of my showers has officially dropped below the average temperature of my drinking water. In addition, I lost my phone today, even after setting it down and thinking to myself "Anna, you're going to forget that as soon as you look away from it." Three hours later as I was thinking to write this post, I began to search for it, to no avail. Then, suddenly, it hit me: ducks have three eyelids. Just kidding. Well, they do. But that's not what hit me. What hit me was where I had left it. I found it sitting there, in a public place, just as I had lovingly set it three hours before. This, my friends, is a perk of attending training in a legitimately and solidly Christian environment!