Monday morning

Good morning all!

I see that it is 10:30 at night as I write this to you but it's Monday morning here!  I stayed up until about 8 on Sunday night.  Every time I sat down for more than a minute, I started to go blank and dose so I gave up and went to bed.  I woke up several times thinking there must be a horrible storm going on, but when I looked there wasn't any wind at all, it was only the surf hitting the beach!  It will take a bit to get used to the constant noise while I sleep but I wouldn't get rid of it for all the world!  I woke up for good about 4:45.    It was getting light so I went out and started at the ocean from our balcony for a while, read the bible for a bit.  I was reading about the unity of the body and thinking just how that fit so well with being in a strange place but that I am still a part of the same body, as are all the believers here and it didn't feel like I was all that far from home.

Everyone keeps saying that we shouldn't go down to the beach alone so this morning I was antsy to get down there, the water was calling me!  Last night we had gone down the water, and I put my toes in the Indian Ocean for the first time!  So this morning I was so anxious to get down there, but thought I shouldn't until someone else was up.  Cole, now I know what you feel like waiting each morning for someone to get up!!!!   So when Stu got up, I pounced on him and he said he would keep an eye on me from the balcony.

It was tremendous!  I was just walking in the surf and waves would come and crash into me.  It would go from dry to up to my waist in a heartbeat!  It was really strong, but the surprising thing for me was how strong it pulled as the water went back out!  It will be my new morning workout to battle the surf for a while and then walk back up the stairs to our 9th floor apartment!

Annika and I have read the Narnia series many times now, and there is a spot in The Lion, The Wictch and the Wardrobe where Susan and Lucy get to romp with Aslan the Great Lion, who represents Jesus in the story.  Well playing in the surf this morning was like playing with Jesus.  It was a little scary and exciting and thrilling all at once!

I could tell the tide was coming in as the waves were getting closer and closer to my clothes on the beach so I headed up and stepped back and bit and sat on the sand, just enjoying and thinking about how blessed I had just been to play with Jesus when a group (?) of dolphins swam by.  I could see then as they leaped out of the waves.  It was so incredible!!!   As I was sitting there though God decides this is His chance and the biggest wave yet comes and drenches me as I sit there, clothes shoes and all!  The waves were no where near me until then!  I'm pretty sure I could hear Him laughing saying I sent those dolphins by to distract you and then I sent the wave.  I must have looked pretty silly sitting there drenched and laughing out loud on the beach at 6 in the morning!

Ruthanne sent me a little note before I left to watch out, because anyone who goes to Africa falls in love with it.  I don't know how God is going to reconcile my new love for this place with my love for my family, especially my wonderful Curtis who doesn't do well in warm!

I'd better go get some breakfast so I'll blog soon!

Shalina