I got my second real six string...

Something on my to do list in Cyprus is learning to play the guitar. It has been a desire of mine for years... I bought my first one 6 years ago, but had to sell it to buy a stethascope when I went to school. That was a different time and different place ago. So just before moving here, I bought another one (a seagull acoustic with a hard shell case and a funky green strap:)) and let myself dream again that I would someday know how to play. It is good to be getting started - I have a long way to go. But because of this, something happened that I didn't anticipate. This morning, I was listening to a favourite song of mine (Give, by 3rd day...) Now, I'm a huge lyrics person, and for all the times I've listened to the song, they have stood out to me. But this morning, I heard something new. I heard the guitar. It was beautiful, and I couldn't believe I'd never noticed before. So I started to listen and try to pick out other things - all the instruments that make up this amazing song. And it reminded me of class last week - talking about relationships with people... how we are called to unity if we are part of God's body. To translate that Christianese statement - God made each of us different, but by being who we are and using our gifts and talents and appreciating one another, this is unity. One purpose, one goal - yes - but not made out of cookie cutter people. So do you feel different today? Misunderstood? Like you don't fit in completely? Awesome... can I encourage you to keep playing your part of the song? It's time to face the music - you're not who you want to be. But truth is that the real you is something far better... you have a place in this world and every other part playing needs you too. So get in tune if you have to, just don't stop playing. Oh, and here are some more Cyprus pics for you visual people out there:)

A Snapshot of Cyprus

Ok - pictures are worth 1000 words, right? So here is a 5000 word post:)

It's all Greek to me...

This posting is both literal and figurative. The official language of Cyprus is Greek – and unlike other countries I’ve visited, there is sometimes precious little English to decipher it. The internet’s wisdom has also translated many of my weblog headings into Greek as well, making surfing a little tricky. And – the Greek word for yes sounds like “nah”, and no sounds like “O.K.”, which has led to some confusing conversations. So literally, Cyprus is Greek to me.
Figuratively, you know you’re in Cyprus when:
- All your prior knowledge of how to cross the street is null and void… driving is on the left, and the rules and signs are not the same. It also complicates matters when you have representatives from several countries trying to cross the street with you, each trying to use their own how-to principles.
- You can eat figs, pomegranates, and olives directly from the trees. Oh - and citrus fruits galore… Jasmine fragrances the air in the early morning and evening, and hibiscus type flowers are everywhere.
- There are kebab stands and independent produce sellers all over the place – and it’s totally ok to sample fruit from the markets and stands without buying anything.
- The government buildings are only open for service 3 hours a day (including banks)… maybe the same in my country, but here no one thinks it’s weird.
- And perhaps particularly in my class, you find yourself as the only native English speaker, and one of the very few that can speak and write in only one language. I admire the non-North American world so much for this, and am hoping to change my own statistic… After Arabic, maybe French… or Spanish?
- Speaking of Arabic, they have some very common words that sound like English words you would get your mouth washed out with soap for saying… we laughed very hard in Arabic class yesterday:)
So that’s a wrap for now. I could go on but am going to header here today. Thanks for keeping up with my life here; I’d love to hear about yours!

I could have done without the drama...

There is a cost part to missions, everyone knows that. I knew that to come to Cyprus, this account would be charged to my family, friends, job, income, car, home, and cat. A couple of weeks ago, I distinctly remember saying to God (in a casual conversation sort of way) that I didn’t need any drama this time when I left the country – my dance card was full. My desire didn’t include a flooded bathroom, declawing the cat, renters changing their minds, or my house insurance getting canceled at 13:00 the day before I left. It also left out the part about Edmonton check-in telling me I would need a visa for Cyprus and refusing to check me any further than Frankfurt (the situation was remedied at the same time my final boarding call went out. I was still at the front kiosk). But that was last week... there are still ends to tie up back in that other world, and I wish I could have left everything tidy and in check, no loose ends. Even so, I knew I had to go. Even if the ends never tie there, I am to be here now. God has work to do in each of the 8 students and 6 staff I will share the next 5 months with. What we have each left behind was necessary because we were called to come here now. One student in my class has come at a great risk - and will not be able to return to their country when this course ends for literally a fear of death. When I return, everything (no matter what state it's in) will be returned to me. Not so for my new friend. Their home and family and car and pet and job left behind cannot anticipate their return. So for those of you missing me today from across the miles, think of my new friends' family and friends who are joyful for their loved one's departure - for it brings them safety and hope, and be thankful for all that we have simply because of the nation of our birth. So I could've done without the drama last week... but my perspective is a little different this week. Thank you to my new friend for coming here even though it cost you dearly - I only had to put on loan for a while.

A waitress named linda

A little insight to the title of this blog... it's in remembrance of one of my childhood dreams. I had received a tea set as a gift and was playing with it in the basement of our home, and enjoying the set, I thought the greatest thing in the world would to grow up to be a waitress. And probably since I had 2 cousins with the name, I wished my name was Linda. Well, so far neither of these dreams have come true:) Not that there is anything wrong either with waiting on others (and I'd have been horrible at it), or being named Linda (which I've since learned means beautiful), God had other plans for me. He has given me my own name (which means helper and defender of mankind, and to delight) and my own calling - my greatest vocational desire is to bloom where I'm planted, in whatever place and country that may be. So I am resigned that I will never actually be a waitress named Linda but am waking up to the fact that there is so much more than I could ever imagine that will fill up the days of my life. So may you know today that there is a God who above all you can ask or imagine wants you just as you are in this moment. His love for you is more than you can imagine, and is in fact, the stuff dreams are made of. And I hope this blog will show an honest journey of someone who is seeking to love this God with all her heart, soul and strength... and her neighbour as herself.