16 October 2013

Not Just Pots and Pans





I brought a few pots and pans with me to North Africa. These are not just any pots and pans. These are Pampered Chef pots and pans. But that’s not the greatest thing about them. The greatest thing is the story behind these pots and pans.

When I was just out of college and teaching at a Christian academy,  I had the opportunity to be the girls dorm supervisor of a small college. I would live in the house with them. The problem was I had nothing. No household items at all. I didn’t have any extra money to purchase anything either - I did mention teaching at a Christian Academy, right??  I remember praying “how am I going to move out without even pots and pans to cook in?”

This was right around the time the fair came to town. Our church always has a booth at the fair to witness and invite people to church. During a break one night at the fair, I went to the booths and one was a Pampered Chef booth. I spoke to the ladies, got a recipe (always good, right?) and entered to win a brand new set of pots and pans. After I filled out the card, I prayed the Lord would allow me to win them. Strangest thing, I knew God was going to give them to me. I don’t know why, I just knew. I guess you can just call it confident faith. 

A few weeks later I get a phone call saying I won the pots and pans. I think the lady was a little disappointed because I wasn’t surprised. I know, what a let down. The Lord gave me a set of non-stick pots and pans. One caveat, they couldn’t be put in the dishwasher. They cleaned up so easily it really didn’t bother me. 

Fast forward to moving to North Africa. They do have pots and pans here - and I didn’t bring all the ones I won from Pampered Chef. One thing that is really nice about them: they clean up easily and can’t be put in a dishwasher. Well, that’s good since I’m not going to have a dishwasher here - the Lord took care of even the smallest detail. Ok, the guys might not care about this, but I sure do!

Each time I look at those pots and pans, I remember how the Lord provided. It’s a gentle reminder that the Lord knows and the Lord cares even about something so simple as pots and pans.

08 October 2013

First Impressions




I’ve officially been here for 17 days. Some first impressions of living here:
  • things aren’t necessarily better or worse, just different
  • it takes time to figure things out
  • it takes time to find things you like/don’t like (like Marwa water is the best tasting)
  • traffic is bad
  • there aren’t many traffic laws except don’t run a red light - our taxi driver got a ticket for running a red light (yes, the first time a friend and I went out by ourselves this happened)
  • some frustration comes from just having to change. We are creatures of habit. Something as simple as there not being Aussie Volumizing Shampoo or Tresumme, or almost anything familiar. You have to try all new products.
  • laundry takes longer - no dryer and the washer is smaller
  • there are many restaurants and you can get food to go, since there really isn’t any fast food
  • I don’t stick out as much here compared to the other country in North Africa I’ve been to - I don’t get stared at constantly.
  • many things are not necessarily about NOT being in the States
  • being sick is no fun in the states and it’s no fun elsewhere either
  • it will be really nice when all my furniture is in place and I have somewhere to sit other than my borrowed bed and everything is not in piles on the floor. (again, this happens when you move in the States too)
  • it is really nice to be able to walk to a small grocery store
  • it is NOT really nice to try to carry really heavy bags of groceries home from said grocery store
  • prices on many things are more expensive here
  • furniture is very modern - not really my style