Jungle Adventures...

Well, today would have been a good day to have brought my camera on the hike I went on, I am sorry I left it in the car because you won't believe my story. Now, if you get scared easily, don't read the rest of this posting - exit now - don't read on...

My dear friend Brandi and I went for a hike up a paved path in the jungle (so she can take Kyra in the stroller). - I am serious about the whole don't read on thing - this isn't a book where a blue monster named "Grover" is going to say 'just kidding' at the end. There are real live monsters in this story. For serious!

SO we are walking up the steep'ish jungle path - there are jungle sounds, and jungle foliage (I love the word foliage) and we have a dog and a stroller and myself and Brandi.

I haven't seen a monkey yet though they have them everywhere in Malaysia - heard some on the roof at off campus dorm and even saw its tail briefly but no full views of these wild monkeys - Brandi assured me that I would definitely see some on our jaunt. We walked onto the path from the parking lot and what did we see?

Not a Monkey...

A scorpion that was about 6 inches long. It was dark blue and had an orange stinger and Brandi noticed it first. She assured me at that point that it was the first scorpion she had ever seen in this park... and that the bigger they are the less poison they sting with. I was not comforted., We walked on.

Finally at the top of the hill we see the first of the monkeys I saw today. They were cute little brown monkeys way up high in a tree. They chittered at me and were quite cute by all estimation. We walked on.

Next we were walking and there is a water canal made of concrete on one side of the path with run off water gushing down and we saw two random fish - big'ish fish even - that had jumped out and met their death on the path. How odd. We walked on.

Then we entered into a dark portion with lots of overhanging trees and you could hear the monkeys chattering way louder - we saw some with black faces and white around their eyes and mouth and lots of them came down further because they hate 'JUDE', the dog. Well, we lost sight of Jude for a minute and when we got around the corner there was a stand off between a very male monkey and a very silly dog. Brandi picked up a stick and called Jude to come. He finally did and then I was put on stick duty and walked between the mean monkey who was screeching at us (and the dog Brandi was carrying). We walked on.

Then we were coming down and we saw a beautiful leaf bug being eaten by ants and I just about stepped on the second Blue Scorpion of the day. YIKES! We walked on.

We were almost to the turn to go down the hill and Brandi sticks her arm out in front of me and says, 'Stop, Grab the dog" in a voice that compelled me to listen. She points and I see - my first snake in Malaysia and it is only slithering on the bottom half of its body - the rest upright and in its mouth it is carrying a huge hunk of something meaty and she says, "That is a viper, in case you ever wanted to know what a viper looks like." I didn't want to know. At this point walking on was a last resort not a choice. We walked on.

Now I had avoided, two scorpions, two fish, a giant leaf bug, Masses of angry monkeys and a viper but the worst monster of all was found in the parking lot... I walked right into it without taking notice but the second it happened, I knew I had trouble on my, well, on my shoe. I stepped right into a pile of doggy doo... The concrete jungle, it's the most dangerous of all, I tell ya.

Stuff that makes transition hard...

Jasmane and I after shopping for the right pair of sunglasses at the night market in Batu. Don't worry I didn't buy the ones I have on... Jasmane is the best at getting them to lower their prices. Hers were supposed to be 20 RM and she wouldn't buy them for more than 15 RM and 20 minutes later she walked away with them for 15 RM. She's more than just a pretty face! :)

I stole this from my friend Michelle. It is a picture of the sunset outside our windows. It makes me think of Saskatchewan when the sun sets here. It is nice after a few years of being in mountains and not actually seeing the sunset or the radiant colors it can produce. God shows off and paints the sky for us and I try to notice ...

This is a picture of two of my favorite fellas! I love my Dad and my Noah too! These are the things that make transition hard. We just had our 1st sememter debriefing for new staff. So these things are fresh on my mind.

My dad has been in the hospital the past few weeks. I have been here. I have felt pretty far away. I can't just fly home to support my family in these rough spots like I have been able to do in the past and yet God has shown me how He can take care of my family and me even from this distance. He showed me how overqualified He is in a reminder from Psalm 121 "He never sleeps or slumbers" Even in that, the smallest of ways, He is so much more equipped to care for them than me or even the health professionals who have diligently been working on caring for his needs. He got to go home today so I am happy for Him!

The other thing that makes my transition hard is missing the 8 1/2 nieces and nephews I have. I am super auntie to them! I talked to Sharla's 4 this week on the phone and look forward to the little one in her tummy being part of our family in February. Noah said to me, "Auntie, are you still in Manasia?" I said, "Yep! You still in Saskatoon?" And he said, "Yep, just checkin". I miss getting those moments with them. I have to trust that God will still allow those singing, praying, loving moments even from this distance... I miss them very much though.

I miss my friends. In the past few years, I have been either leaving Sk to go to BC or leaving BC to go to SK. I wonder if some haven't noticed I am really gone from Canada yet! :) Some have, I have heard from you through e-mails and real life mail (which I reiterate is my favorite thing ever!). It is hard to see how friendships change when convenience of being in community with them changes. I am also thankful for those who are far away who feel like they are right here with me from thier efforts to stay in touch. Blessings outweigh any sadness.

My last week since I wrote I have:

Switched dorms - There are two dorms that share time with me so I have switched over the other dorm.

I got sick - Germy kids everywhere will do that to ya!

We had Spiritual Ephasis week and saw 24 students come to know Jesus for the first time!

I ran into a student from Caronport who is here in Malaysia doing missions work at church! Yeah Meagan! How funny is that?

I slept in (wind up clocks must be wound up if you intend for them to wake you up!) too late!

I ate tripe - The stomach lining of pigs (this will be a one time event like the durian!)

I blessed friends and got blessed :)

Its been a good few days! I'll update again soon. :)
Much love