I love the Yearbook. It's truly one of my favorite pieces of literature because every year it's got great stories that make you feel good after reading them. But ever since I've become a need greater, the Yearbook means even more. Mainly because I'm reading about many different places in the world with the same struggles as my place and getting ideas on how to help my friends and neighbors.
Reading about Myanmar was like that. Reading the situation of many congregations when the missionaries came in made me see I'm not alone in my situation here (please see p.161). It's also really upbuilding to see that a lot of the experiences that make it into the Yearbook are things I'm getting to experience on a daily basis (see p.49 about bus witnessing). Sometimes, probably because of just the daily grind, I forget to treasure these very unique experiences I'm living.
Favorite quote? Definitely p.83 of the English Yearbook. It reminded me soooo much of my current home:
"There are three seasons: warm, hot, and hot with rain."
Classic.
By the way, I picked the photo above because it shows a city bus in Myanmar. However, I swear I see that bus on the carretera every day. See what I mean about similarities?!
Sometimes I impress myself what I'm able to make here. These are...wait for it....blueberry pancakes and breakfast sausage!!!!!! All thanks to Pricesmart. Again, I love you, Pricesmart, and your fabulous imported food stuffs. This is the only breakfast sausage I've been able to find in the country. And the bag of frozen berries (berries aren't grown here and are CRAZY expensive fresh) is half the price of any other grocery store.
This is what I had for dinner tonight--sliders! I got a bag of 12 little buns for $.40 and went crazy. Finally made good use of the crock pot to make shredded bbq chicken and topped it with vinegar slaw (Memphis-style of course). Guac, homemade tortilla chips, and a cold Victoria Maestro made for a very tasty end to a very long day.
*WARNING* Single complaints to follow....
So let me explain to you how Satan works.
Last week, we had our circuit assembly, and I, in true single sister fashion, did it all up and (if I don't say so myself) looked super cute. And then the men in my circuit, in true single brother fashion, completely ignored me. It shouldn't matter, but you know there's always that little buzz in my head as I get ready saying, "You never know who'll be there. THIS may be the assembly." And it's so maddening because then I just come back from the assembly feeling disappointed instead of upbuilt. Arrrrgggh!
The worst part about it all is what happened AFTER the assembly. As I exit my bus, I have to wait at the edge of the city for a second bus to take me home. On that corner is a cheese stand I frequent. The owner is a not-bad-looking Nica with blue eyes who's always very chatty and helps me catch my bus. Well, of course, as I'm feeling really down and depressed, what happens? He asks me out! And not in a creepy way....actually in a normal, dignified way. OF COURSE I said no, but it just made me so mad knowing that Satan is always out there just waiting for his chance. And the worst part? Now I can never go back to that cheese stand again...and I really liked his cheese :(
Breaking news about the current Pope stepping down; a move the Vatican hasn't seen since the Middle Ages as the Pope typically serves until death. I'm attaching the Yahoo! article here in case you'd like to read it in full. Anyone else think the caca's about to hit the proverbial fan once this Pope has some time to get himself to a safe place? Hmmmm.
The article was very revealing as to the abilities of this supposed "spiritual leader." The following quote made me think of the Bible reading this past week when Jesus referred to the Pharisees and Sadducees as "blind guides" in Matthew 15: 14. Check this out:
"He confronted his own country's past when he visited the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.
Calling himself "a son of Germany", he prayed and asked why God was silent when 1.5 million victims, most of them Jews, died there during World War Two.
Ratzinger served in the Hitler Youth during World War Two when membership was compulsory. He was never a member of the Nazi party and his family opposed Adolf Hitler's regime."
To sincere servants of God, the answer to this question is no mystery. If you would like to learn why there's so much suffering on earth and if God is truly blind to it, please click here. As a side note, I'd like to add that there were thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses who were affected by the same war but with one large difference from the Pope. When Germany said military service was compulsory, they refused and preferred a concentration camp rather than compromise their standards.
