Hey, guys!  Hope this finds all of you well and not studying too hard :)

I joined this aerobics class this semester, and for our last workout we did a little Richard Simmons- Dancing to the Oldies. It was pretty much hilarious, but now I have the songs stuck in my head!  It's mostly funny because I don't know all the words...something about a rebel who is so good to me and always treats me tenderly.  Oh Richard Simmons.

Have a lovely May, all!

Joy!hannah

I cannot manage to use an entire bottle of laundry detergent to clean clothes!  I tipped my first bottle over while the top was off, and just now I dropped my second bottle and, would you believe it, the cap cracked and detergent leaked all over the floor! Aaaah!  It's that small and mighty stuff, which I thought would be great, but the problem with the 3x less with just as much power thing is that when I spill it I spill "3x as much."  Maybe it's more economical to be less space-saving aware.  So I'll swing my arms wide open and say good day to you all.

Hello, all!  I've made it back from Africa safely, and let me tell you it was amazing!  I'm not sure where to start...  I think I've changed, and God really used our team while we were there.  So to say the least it was a good to weeks.

We learned about the AIDS crisis, visited hospices and orphanages, went to markets, spent an afternoon in a slum, went to an amazing church service, learned some songs in another language, worked on a farm, walked goats, went on a safari, saw a breathtaking waterfall, did some gospel dramas, wandered around London, and saw Blood Diamond (which I recommend, particularly if you are in Africa at the time you watch it.)  So it was a full 13 days.  I saw a hippo.  They are huge!

The most impacting part of the trip was the afternoon we spent in the slum.  I led a little boy to Christ, and he was so interested.  I really felt like God was speaking through me.  When we were getting ready to leave, I told him to read the gospel for himself (although I forgot to ask him if he could read) and then I told him to tell everyone he knew.  I didn't want to leave him there, but I feel like he was the one I was supposed to reach (like the each one reach one song) and perhaps he will reach others.  When we left the kids chased the bus for about half a mile.  It was heartbreaking to see how desperate they were for attention material care. 

Our tourist day in Livingstone was amazing as well.  We got to see Victoria Falls and go on a safari and a riverboat cruise.  The waterfall was awe inspiring, and the place where we stayed had hot water and a fan!  I was so thankful for little things at that point.  It also had a swingset and a giant dog.  Picture Mac, the dog we had a few years ago, being twice as large and a little more hairy.  That was Sampson.  No kidding, that was his name.  One night on the playground I jumped on the tire bridge and he forgot he knew me and came after me.  I was afraid for my life!  He definitely would be a great guard dog if he could figure out whose side he's on.

One more story.  We spent Saturday night in London.  I love the UK.  Five of us decided to venture downtown, so we took the subway to Picadilly Circus. It was about 9 P.M., and on about the third stop these two girls just barely made it to the train.  The first one got on without incident, but the second one tried to jump on as the train doors were closing!  Her leg and arm were between the doors, and I am convinced she could have pulled her way out, but she wanted to get on the train, so she shouted (in a British accent) "My leg's stuck in the door!"  and when the conductor came over the PA and asked her to please step away from the door she hollered, "Stupid man, can't you see I'm stuck?  I know you can see me on the CCTV.  All you have to do is push the button and open the door!"  So she had a verbal spar with the unseen conductor for a few minutes before he opened the door and she got in.  Then she raved about how she was going to sue the company when she found out who the conductor was.  It was hilarious!  On the way back we were so tired that we made up card games.  I laughed more on the subway than any other time, I think.

Well, let me know if you have questions.  I have a few more stories. :)

Here's a question for you: Where would you like to go (anywhere in the world) in the next five years?

Joy!hannah

Hello, all!

Well, I'm a bit homesick this week- we went downtown and I felt rather small- there were so many people in such a hurry...it's a good thing in so many ways, though.  The thing I miss most is running down the last little stretch of gravel road right before my driveway.  That and driving along those deserted roads...But I hate to sound like a country bumpkin after all these months in the windy city :)  I really think it is the right place for me right now. Even if I do miss all of you.

Let's see. That was rather sappy.  Anything funny happen lately in my life to perhaps offset the sticky-sweet warm fuzzies?  Oh- I met this guy named David Tackett at church.  He's a school teacher at this school where all the kids who are kicked out of public school go.  He's got some wild stories.  Over Christmas break he got stranded in Hawaii for a week! He lived on the beach.  Then, he started telling us (we were out for lunch after church in this huge group- we pulled five tables together) about how he wants dredlocks (did i spell that right?) In the middle of that conversation, he changed the topic and started talking about how to interact with zombies!  It was...one crazy conversation.  The girl on one side of him looked over and said, "WHAT are you talking about?"  And he answered, "Zombies" like it was a normal topic of conversation.  Then he proceeded to tell us that if we ever want to blend in with zombies we may not ask what they are doing.  Apparently it's best to just go with the flow.  At the end of the conversation, he admitted he was not serious about the whole thing, but it was pretty hilarious.  Especially after he told us he went to rodeo clown school (that part was true...i think!)

Oh- on the subject of church, on Sunday the chairs were set up in a circle.  It was supposed to remind us that Christ is at the center of our worship.  It was sort of distracting because the pastor kept turning in circles...and wasn't he at the center?  Well, I guess the table was at the center, and he circled the table.  It was neat, though.  This church always makes me think.

K. I will be off now.  If you ever feel like saying hello, I would love to hear from you.  Call or write- writing's always fun, and I promise I'll write back if you send me a letter.

Question: who was the most random person you talked to this week?

joy!hannah

Quick update!

I didn't get my shots- which should be a relief, but is really more of a headache.  I went to Valley because that's where we always go to the doctor and found out there that the travel clinic for MeritCare is in Fargo.  I can't tell if it's my fault or theirs.  Basically I should have known- rack it up as a blonde moment, I guess.

Further, my train ride was exciting- not adventure filled, but exciting.  I think I would like to tour the country in a train.  How about you?  Train? Plane? Two Seater Bicycle? 

Night, friends.