Inward Renewal

Ireen kept exclaiming, “this is the best day ever!”  Perhaps that’s because it was the first day we had sunshine in about a week – we were all beginning to get cabin fever.  Saturday morning the kids got on their bikes and started tearing down the lane.  It wasn’t long before Ian found “his spot” – a lovely little mud hole.  He stayed in this spot for well over 30 min driving in and out of it, dragging his poor scooter around and around.  Even though I had just put new clothes on him and had just washed and dried the shoes he was wearing, I couldn’t bear to pull him away from his joyful bliss.  At one point he accidentally fell into the mud on his bottom giving us all a good laugh.

When he got tired he desperately wanted us to push him.  Tim humored him for a while and then came up with the idea of tying a rope to the bike and pulling him up and down the lane.  Every time Ian passed his mud hole, he steered straight into it – no matter which side of the lane he was on.  It was a good time for all of us and yes, I was able to get all the mud out of his shorts, pullover, socks and shoes.

I thought I would post some of the more positive pics of Ian’s b-day.  In spite of the day getting off to a rough start with the ants, we managed to celebrate.  We invited some friends over who have three boys, 7,3 and 1.  The two youngest really get along well with Ian.  They came for a mexican(ish) lunch and then we went to a local arcade complete with bumper cars.  Ireen and their oldest really enjoyed the bumper cars when they could get through the wild and crazy “line” of children all eager to push their way to the front.  Ian and the younger boys enjoyed the more subdued kiddie rides.

We got home and had the birthday cake.  As soon as I lit the candles and we started singing, Ian blew them out.  I had to relight them 3 times before the Happy Birthday song was over.  It’s almost as if he was saying, “Look, I’m 2 and I know what to do with these candles.”  It was a big day for Ian and he was more than ready to go to bed that night.  He got a “2″ sicker from our neighbor which he proudly stuck on his PJs and showed off before “night, night”.

A picture of Ian and Ireen together in a flower patch.  When we’re outside tending to plants, they catch the fever too and take an interest in growing things.  These flowers were absolutely brilliant and aromatic.  Ian is just beginning to learn how to smell flowers.  He stuck the flower up into his nose to get a good sample.

A couple of days ago, a young man named Mark brought a gift to our front door.  He completely surprised us by wanting to gift his first banjo to a young boy – and that young boy happened to be Ian.  Mark is known in our community for spending his free time playing a guitar and writing his own songs.  Sixteen years ago, it was his dream to be a musician.  Not being able to afford a guitar, he set out to hand craft a simple banjo for himself.  All he needed were a few wires, a plank of wood, a few nails and an old oil can.  With the wire, he made bridges and strings.  With the nails, he made tuning pegs.  He carved out the plank to be the neck of the instrument.  He put a lot of effort into it this banjo so it had much meaning and value to him.

We asked if he would play a few songs; which he did. He even recorded a message to Ian for our video so that when Ian got older he’d know who gave him the banjo.  Zambians are very generous people and love to share their blessings with us.  At times, it’s hard to be recipients of such generosity.  Nevertheless, in Zambia it’s always important to honor the gift-giver by receiving the gift with open hands.  Gifts are a seal of relationship and solidarity, so we accepted it with much gratitude.

Owning a new guitar, Mark saw no reason to have two instruments; so he chose to share the excess with someone else. Us. Living in Zambia, we see this all the time – it’s just part of life here.  The community shares commodities for the betterment of others.  Rarely do Zambians store their excess.  To store excess is considered wasteful because the potential to benefit others in the now is “lost”.  Certainly there are examples whereby Zambians may have the need to store (like their maize crop yield) but even then they share generously with others and the general trend is not one of hoarding.

Living in such an environment we too have become active participants.  As westerners we find this prevailing attitude towards “things” to be a really constructive challenge to the way that we live our lives.  I can’t help but think of the words Jesus used in Mark 12:48 when he was explaining the meaning of a parable to his disciples, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”

Over the holidays, Popop (Stanley Armes) got to spend a lot of time with Ian (Stanley).  Reading is one of Ian’s most enjoyable past-times right now, so Popop more than indulged him.  Ian’s all-time favorite book is Richard Scarry’s “Cars and Trucks and Things That Go”.  Here you can see the two snuggled up together early in the morning.  Popop’s embellished reading captivated Ian…and the rest of the house.

Ian graduated this year to a junior bed.  He’s so psyched to be able to crawl in and out of bed which he did for about 15min after the bed was set up.  And the parents? Well we’re waiting for our first encounter trying to keep him in the bed.  So far, he’s been very cooperative about his bed time and naps.  Here’s hoping he keeps it up!

Here are a few snaps of Ian at small group.  He has adopted the practice of entering the main living room area where we conduct our Tuesday evening fellowship and shaking everyone’s hand.  If that weren’t enough he also waves at everyone saying “Hiiii” and “Halo”.  So far its very cute and endearing to everyone in the group.  Eventually, he’ll have to learn that friendliness has it’s limits.

On rare occasions we’ll have a bag of marshmallows on hand.  Because Andrea made sweet potato souffle for Thanksgiving, we had a few left over.  Ian is in to marshmallows in a really big way!  So when he saw me opening up the cupboard he was sure that he wanted one – which I was more than delighted to do.  But I expect him to say “PLEASE” and “THANK YOU” when I give him something (which he is very accustomed to saying nowadays).  However, Ian had something else in mind.  With his hand trying to wrench the marshmallow out of my giving hand, he decided that he didn’t need to say “PLEASE”.  So things escalated between he and I…. I withdrew the marshmallow and sat down in the living room as if to say I was ready to bunker down for battle.  Ian of course followed me and started to pitch a fit. I laid the marshmallow down on the sofa and pleaded with him to repeat after me “PLEASE”.  He stood there reaching his hand out, acting as if he was going to take the marshmallow.  With his eyes glued on me, monitoring how I would respond to his defiance – he simply wouldn’t comply.  After flicking his little hand with my finger he turned his back to me and walked off with tears streaming down his face.  What would happen over the next few minutes seemed innocuous enough – but was still disobedience. A minute later he came back to the couch with his pacifier in his mouth.  I took it away from him because it was enabling and comforting his rebellious heart. Of course he turned his back to me again and and walked off with his lips quivering in distress.  This happened again and again in this fashion, with him: sucking on his toothbrush (item of comfort), clutching his ducky blanket (item of comfort), fetching Ireen (to plead his case for him) and finally bringing Andrea (his ultimate persuasive defence).  This whole episode was quite compelling and I felt like giving in to the little man.  But the real issue was his marshmallow disobedience and all these other things served as little wedges that kept him comfortable in the midst of his disobedience.  So, I held my position to the end.  Eventually Ian calmed down and came back to me and said “PLEASE” (pronounced peace in Ian language) and “THANK YOU” (pronounced do-do in Ian language).  It was exhilarating to see his heart of disobedience bend, so I ecstatically commended him and gave him the marshmallow.  I remained faithful to him this morning and he’s been happy ever since.  This all happened half an hour after I read the following passage in my devotional reading.

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.                                     (Micah 7:18-20)

About twice a month, Andrea and Ireen catch the pancake bug.  When Ireen catches it, she follows Andrea’s every move.  She helps Andrea by stirring the batter and “supervising” the entire process from her perch on top of the step-ladder.  Ian catches the bug too – but he’s more interested in doing what Ireen gets to do.  Inevitably he buts in.  If Ireen let’s him get to the top rung of the step-ladder… he’s all smiles.

The international community here in  Lusaka hosts a monthly Braai (cookout).  Many families enjoy the once a month outing as a way to solidify relationships with other non-profit personnel and simply to have fun.  It was our first time to go to the international braai in two years and this month Mark and Tracy Murray were hosting it at their place in Chelston.  Steve Allen announced that there were plans to have a volleyball match and that Action Zambia should be represented.

The day ended up being a little dreary with light drizzle.  Nevertheless our whole family had a good time – and we did get to play some volleyball.  Ireen jumped on the trampoline and Ian played with the Brio train collection that was set up.  Andrea dressed Ian up to protect him from the sun because he still doesn’t have a lot of hair on his head We got a kick out of this picture where Ian sports his outfit for the braai.