I'm just thinking of all the good things that have happened the past few days. Jeff and I were traveling this weekend to speak at a couple of our supporting churches in Central Oregon. We stopped in The Dalles for dinner Saturday night. I had researched on line and found a Mexican Restaurant that offered vegetarian food. So we stopped in at Casa El Mirador about 5 p.m. and were greeted by a 12 man Mexican troubadour playing and seranading those dining as it was the restaurant's 15th Anniversary. These musicians were dressed in their full Mexican glory and sang and played their trumpets, guitars and violins as if they were in a stadium. It was great fun if not a bit over the top for us as we had no clue what we were walking into:)
Then Sunday morning at a very old, traditional Baptist church during the worship time it was a truly pleasant surprise to hear one of the worshipers sitting in a pew behind me break out whistling with the pianist as she played "It Is Well With My Soul" during the offeratory. I had never before heard anyone so overcome with that kind of joy that they just had to whistle along:)
Last night we were having dinner with a single woman who had sought us out as she needed an older couple in her life just to come alongside and walk with her. We've been in home community with her before but had never taken time to really get to know her. We chose an Ethiopian Restaurant near where she worked so when the young Ethiopian waiter came to take our order Jeff told him that we all had been in Africa and were familiar with Ethiopian food. The next thing we knew the young waiter's father, I believe, came to our table to chat about Africa. Throughout our evening of getting to know our young friend's story, which has been very intense, the gray haired father would stop by our table to chat more about his homeland. Of course, he had no idea that we were having this intense conversation. He just wanted to talk with people who have been where he came from and who can relate to sitting under the stars at his father's feet (wrapped in his father's blanket) looking at the incredible star spangled African sky. It made for a very enriching evening both being honored by a young friend who wants to share her life with us and the Ethiopian gentleman who longs for friends who know where he's coming from.
Today we're rejoicing because Erin Carkner, who was with us in Adjumani, has finally got a job. Catholic Charities has wisely taken her back in a position which she will fill beautifully.
And the day's kicker is on a lark I went to Goodwill to see if I could find an office chair which would be kinder to my back than the leather director's chair I've been using. I could hardly believe it that there was a darling leather chair on sturdy castor type wheels that fits me perfectly at a reduced price of $15 and when I got my Club discount it cost me all of $13.49.
I love it! Life is truly sweet.
