What a Difference a Year Makes

I must confess. Last year at this time, I was really struggling. I missed our American home, family, friends, church, and traditions. It was the first time we didn't have our own tree or the decorations Jason and I have collected over our 33 Christmas's together. I even missed the commercialism, something I normally detest. Yup, I was about as homesick as one can get.

This year is different. I can truly enjoy much that makes Christmas in Zambia unique. Don't get me wrong; I still miss everything listed above, well, EXCEPT the commercialism that is. But I can also embrace the simplicity of our celebrations here. Our tree is all of two feet tall. We bought it last year at the grocery store. The church we attend, Ndeke Foursquare, will enjoy Christmas together. Plans are still being made and in true Zambian style, probably will continue being made as the day unfolds. We are looking forward to it all.

But my favorite part of Christmas in Zambia is the ability to focus on the real reason for the season. Lorraine Simons of Cottage Grove, Oregon sent me a link to this beautiful version of Mary Did You Know which gave me goose bumps as I listened. You may have heard it before but I hadn't. I clicked on the link and read the words as it played through many times taking me back to the Sunday before Christmas twenty-nine years ago when I held my newborn son during his first church service.

Our pastor spoke about Christmas from Mary's perspective. As he shared insights into the mother of our Savior, I gazed into the eyes of my own son savoring every breath, every movement of his tiny body. For the first time, the magnitude of Jesus' birth began to penetrate my soul. Oh, I had given my heart to Him two years before but struggled to really comprehend His birth, His death, His resurrection.

At that time, Jason was not a Christian. We were very poor and had no money for presents. Marriages that we thought were rock solid disintegrated around us. I felt lonely and uncertain about our future. Yet in that moment, I had true peace in the midst of it all.

I returned home with new perspective. Even though my circumstances hadn't changed a bit, my vision had. I placed my precious son under our sparsely decorated tree and whispered, "Merry Christmas."

Our adorable two-year old daughter joined him jabbering in her sweet toddler voice about the "pwitty lights". For the first time in my life, I cherished the true meaning of Christmas.

***

Listed below are favorite songs that I've been listening to over and over these past days (more than 20 times each according to iTunes). I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Mary Did you know: Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Judd
A Baby Changes Everything: Faith Hill
It's the Messiah: Wynonna Judd
Luke2:7-14 as Told by Shaoey: Steven Curtis Chapman

I hope you have opportunity to close out the world for just a few minutes to let these songs transport you to the miraculous events that took place in a stable more than 2,000 years ago. My prayer is that you will experience Christmas in a new way this year that will touch your heart both now and ever more.

For me, the true meaning of the season became very real and spiritual that last Sunday before Christmas, 29 years ago.

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Jeremy Mickel 1974-2008

Once again we were stunned to hear that another young man in our Central Oregon community has passed away quite suddenly.

I was fortunate to spend time with Jeremy while our children participated in classes for homeschoolers a few years ago. Jeremy told the best stories and had a charming sense of humor. He was a natural with his boys and adored his wife. I know he will be sorely missed.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Jeremy's wife Jaylynn, sons Jacob, Jonathan, and Josiah, parents Glen and Rosemary, his brothers Mark and Steve, and sister Kim along with their families.

Though Jeremy's life on earth has ended, he is now living in heaven free from the pain and limitations of his physical body. It is often the loss of a loved one which causes us to realize just how precious the gift of eternal life really is.

For us, the events surrounding the birth of Jesus aren't the ingredients of another holiday story or family tradition but the inspiration of hope and peace even in the midst of our deepest sorrows and fears.

Love and peace to you all,
Beckie

We Lived 20 Miles Apart...

but it was Zambia that brought us together. I am talking about our dear friends Marlena and Carmelo Bellavia. It all started in 2007 when a local newspaper ran a story about our family. I received a phone call from Marlena shortly thereafter and our hearts connected immediately.

Marlena teaches French and German at Central Oregon Community College. Carmelo teaches French and Italian at one of Bend's high schools. During our first visit with the Bellavias in our Redmond home it became clear that we shared similar passions.

Both are part of an amazing organization Vima Lupwa Homes. Instead of building an institution for orphans to grow up in, a home was constructed where 14 children live and work together as family with a mom and dad. I can hardly wait to visit next week and meet them all. I encourage you to click on the link above to learn more.

Left to Right: Steven, Carlin (holding Cora the hen), Beckie, Shauna, Marlena, Sia, and Isata. Jason captured this photo just before Marlena left for Lusaka.

Marlena is here in Zambia to see the family at Vima Lupwa and to celebrate Christmas with them. We are thrilled at the opportunity to enjoy a few days with her in our home. What an encouragement and bundle of fun she is to us.

Above, Marlena and I sip cool drinks while sharing our experiences and ideas. Ahhhh, there is nothing more refreshing than warm friendship and stimulating conversations. What a gift Marlena's visit is to us.

We look forward to Friday of next week when Marlena will return to us for a last visit before she begins her long journey home to Bend, Oregon.

To my precious friends and family, I love and miss you all very much. May God bless you with lots of love, joy, and peace during your Christmas celebrations.

Lots of love,
Beckie

Crashing Tweetie and Chicken Update

Carlin carefully scooped up this adorable little guy off of the driveway after it smacked into our kitchen window. We were happy that it wasn't mortally wounded and the accident provided a great opportunity to inspect one of our favorite creatures up close.

Do you know what kind of bird this is?




Chicken update: We knew a lady who often talked about how much she enjoyed her chickens. I just didn't get it back then. I mean, how does one "enjoy" a chicken?

Now that we have chickens of our own, I must confess that we enjoy them very much. They constantly talk to each other although they are not loud or obnoxious. They follow us around like puppies and if we leave a door open, Annie (Shauna's hen) comes right in. Although she comes in uninvited, at least she is considerate to leave nothing behind.

I thought you may enjoy seeing our hens. I snapped these photos yesterday. The other two "ladies" were foraging in another part of the yard.



Does anyone have snow yet? I know that my mom and brothers in Colorado certainly do.

I need to get back to math. I am brushing up on my algebra skills. Boy am I rusty!

Blessings and joy,
Beckie

Quick Update

Hello everyone! I've missed blogging something fierce. Life has been extremely busy around here as I'm sure it is for you as well. Our school days are always full and it seems that I enjoy our classes more and more with each passing year. I love to learn right along with our children. I've heard it said that if you really want to learn something, you need to teach it. Truer words were never spoken.

Which brings me to another update. We now have five laying hens (pullets). Several months ago, we had the joy of watching a pair of chickens increase into a small flock. We were pleasantly surprised at how much fun it was to watch the little chicks grow all the way from hatchlings until they began to disappear one by one around the Matambos supper time.

Not only are chickens fun to watch, they devour loads of bugs and lizards. We have really missed having a pet since leaving our golden retriever Scout behind. So these new chickens of ours are kind of red like Scout's mother (I know, that's kind of a stretch but you learn to do that while living on another continent).

We didn't want a rooster because they are LOUD all day and all night. So after taking everything into consideration, we decided laying hens will still give us food in the form of eggs AND they will eat lots of bugs and small critters which we have an abundance of now that the rains have come.

The only problem is. . .their beaks were chopped off! We were stunned to discover this. I guess the purpose of that is to keep the birds from hurting each other while confined in small cages as they are on commercial farms. But obviously we are not a commercial farm! It is extremely difficult for our hens to forage around the house without most of their beaks. Actually, it made us all very sad.

Of course our children named all five hens. They are Cora (Carlin's), Penny (Isata's), Annie (Shauna's), Shirley (Steven's), and Lucy (Sia's). Jason put different colored bands around each bird's leg so we can identify them. So far Cora, Annie, and Penny are laying eggs daily. The other two haven't started yet.

We want to add to our little flock as there is nothing like farm-fresh eggs but we do not want de-beaked birds. I will keep you posted if we find any laying hens with their beaks still attached.

It's getting late so I must make this post a short one. I miss you all so much.

Blessings and joy,
Beckie