So this is home.

Not gonna lie. I'm finding it difficult to see this place as "home," and I feel like that is imperitive to being "emotionally present." But things are falling into place. My flat is finally settled (it's the second from the top), everything but curtains.

As you may know, I'm helping coach the basketball girls. I love it. They've got me running again most days (and icing my knees most nights). This morning we just did conditioning, so we played football (soccer) and rugby--which I LOVE, pretty sure any game where you get to tackle people is a good game. We've been training really hard (they more than I) and even though they had never even touched a basketball before January, they won district last week! I'm so proud of them, they're just flying through the drills now, and are not nearly as "pansy" as they were when they started out. Not only did they have to get used to basketball, they had to get used to excercise too. Pretty much none of them had run more than several yards before January either. So, tomorrow we're going to the beach to do last minute conditioning before provincials on Tuesday.

As for teaching, I'm sure most of you know, I am not. My work permit has not come through yet, so if you're praying, that would be an excellent thing to pray for. But even when teaching, I've only been given three classes (all freshman); so, obviously I have a lot of free time. I've been spending this week to really pray about what else God wants me to be doing here, and I think I'm going to start volunteering at a library that reaches out to Muslim/Hindu youth and children. (There is a baby monkey outside my window right now.)

If you've talked to me much about my plans to work in Africa, I always planned on living in a hut. That's what I wanted. Instead, the cheapest option I was given to live in has two bedrooms, and I find myself asking God, "What's going on here?!" I feel so comfortable (and drawn to) the "romantic" idea of missions. Working in the slums or just with the very poor. Instead, I'm teaching private school students. As I spent this week trying to figure out where else God can use me, I had a very . . . I'd say providential experience today. I was walking home from the school after practice and I felt compelled to walk down this road--alley, rather. I knew it led to a slightly shady and definitely poor part of the area. (Keeping in mind, this is only blocks away from where I live.) As I was walking, I was asking God how did this area escape me before. I mean, I've been telling God, "I really would like to work in the slums . . ." and they're right there. I'm a missionary for heaven's sake, I'm supposed to notice this business! It is a very small area, surrounded by the fairly well-do-to, or at least comfortable. As I walked through, I talked to some kids for a while, and then passed by a house where a small group of people were taking tea. "Karibu, chai." (Welcome...) and so I was like, why not? I had a seat on a rock and spent about five minutes trying to communicate. Nothing exceptional happened, but I realized that God can use me right here in my neighborhood. If I keep walking through that area (and learning Kiswahili), eventually I'll make friends, and be able to help people and share Christ. So today's lesson, I guess, is don't overlook the needs in your own neighborhood. Apparently, even missionaries do that . . . .