Sunday, April 27, 2014

To be God's people in this place,


Live His goodness,
Share His grace,
Proclaim God's mercy-
through His Son,
Be His love-
to everyone

~text & music Charles F. Brown~

(to my sisters: I'm looking forward to the next time we sing together)



Sara and I had the privilege of meeting with a small group of believers in this lovely thatched-roof building
Sunday morning in Harare. The beauty and details, and yet over-all seeming simplicity of the structure
made it feel like a perfect place of worship.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

sorrow

I was awakened at 4:30 this morning by my phone buzzing. It was our neighbor asking for transport to the maternity ward at the local hospital for his "sick" wife.

Their baby girl was born breech shortly before I arrived at the compound (a mere 300 metres away). After some minutes, the middle-aged couple and two neighborhood grandmothers emerged from the small house and entered the vehicle with a lifeless bundle. Together we proceeded to the hospital.

The nurse at the maternity ward sent us to the OPD (Out Patient Department), where the nurse told the couple to go home and wait until morning, then go to another clinic in town.

I wanted to cry and offer some comfort to their pain, but I could find no way to communicate my grief and solidarity. I left them at their doorstep just as dawn was breaking in the eastern sky.

I drove home, quietly unlocked the back door, and nabbed two more hours of fitful rest on the sofa before starting my day for the second time...

...i love coffee, i love tea.... i love the java jive and it loves me.... (anyone want to sing along?!)

a place called Pistachio's
we sat out on the veranda

A smattering of shots from our coffee and tea dates in Zimbabwe

Cute Sara and her Belgian chocolate cake


clean.friendly.perfect.


imagine that.
just imagine it!

darling!
you should have seen the tea sets they had for sale here too

those block letters are cut out of traditional fabric
super cute idea to tuck away

this place was absolutely charming!
unfortunately we arrived just as they were closing so we didn't actually get to stay for tea

fresh flowers. oh how wonderful.
my own pot of tea- wonderful as well :)
fun!
(even if it's spelled wrong)

another peek into Pistachio's

Veldemeer's Belgian Chocolates!


super cool.

nothing like fresh flowers to make a table feel elegant

ritzy shopping villa


Friday, April 25, 2014

Bulawayo


Thought you might like to catch a glimpse of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Jake at the wheel







Cairo this way
Cape Town that way
:)

fun fact for all the Americans:
traffic lights are called "robots" here


Thanks to Sara for most of these city shots.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

High Tea... and a few of my favorite things...


Do you ever have those fun little dreams that live in the back of your mind, which you’re not sure will ever become reality, but that you think would be absolutely marvelous if they ever did come to pass? 

Sara and I invited our friend Lukondo to join us for the afternoon event

Imagine my utter delight last week when a friend messaged Sara and I to invite us to high tea!

5 of the 6 in our group- ready to leave for the Hotel

I love tea and little fancies and girl parties and all things pretty and fine that are part of tea parties. Here in Zambia I’ve missed tea parties-- fun sister time, mom’s china, and girlfriends who appreciate tiny goodies.

L-R: a decadent brownie type thing, guava tart, smoked salmon bite, mini eclair, and mini savory scone
the smoked salmon was my favorite savory treat, and the chocolate eclair was my favorite sweet

The moment, the event, the beauty, the china tea pots, the friends, the breeze floating through the open doors… it was all so grand... even the cushion on the chair felt luxurious! 


more goodies!
(there were SO many!)

I soak in those moments when I can. I feast on the colors and taste the flavors and laugh with the good company… and breathe in the sunsets, as if savoring the view will make it last longer or 
be alive on the gray days of life.


I can’t describe to you what a fabulous time I had at high tea.

love that smile :)

our friend Michelle and her Mom who was visiting from Canada
(thus, our reason for the tea)


And if you’re wondering about the price… well, high tea will never compare to the price of making tea out of dusty economy tea bags and water boiled in an old kettle at home, but, considering the sheer pleasure of this once-in-a-lifetime (at least so far!) event, and the fact it was less than half the price of the quote I received in London (thus why I’d never before been to high tea), not to mention having dreamed of high tea for over fifteen years of my life, I’d say it was a bargain of a deal.


If you don’t like tea or little fancies, and could care less about sitting on a swing in a manicured lawn gazing over the Zambezi and watching the mist of Victoria Falls rise in the distance, then, I’d say high tea at the Royal Livingstone Hotel isn’t for you. If, however, you love the finery of tea in such an elegant setting, I highly recommend coming to Zambia, collecting a group of friends, and making a high tea date at the Royal Livingstone. 
You won’t regret it.


Oh- and if you’d like a private tour guide to accompany you, just let me know ;)



the view from the veranda and lawn
(that's Vic Falls down river)



sunset over the Zambezi
is that incredible? or is that incredible?!

teamies :)