Tuesday, July 17, 2007

To go to bed or not that is the question

You are doomed to have to read yet another blog in one day because I am scared and processing my fears for all the world to see. As I am sure you know, there are snakes in Africa and even in Tanzania. I quickly learned how to say I don't like snakes in Swahili so that as I am walking in the villages, people could help me avoid the snake hang outs.

We just had another earthquake a few moments ago, small but I want to make sure that the snakes aren't freaking out and they stay nice and bundled up in their home where they belong and they don't come and bother me. As I was walking home in the dark tonight, I got a little concerned that I might bump into one of those slithery little creatures.

So, I decided to ask my roommates if snakes here at Joshua are common. Being the informative realists that they are, they shared some great bedtime stories. They shared about the wonderful variety of snakes including mambas and spitting cobras that we have here on base which enjoy spending quality time out and about outside of our house and in our trees. They even shared about how a snake fell out of our roof. We have wooden thatched roofs and apparently that is prime real estate for the local snakes. Just a few months ago a snake about a meter long fell out of the roof onto the desk of one of the teachers here. ooohh fun. And, not too long ago one of the workers had a spitting cobra "spit" on him while he was cleaning the fence in our yard.

Some of our roof is concrete, some is wooden. My bed is under the wooden part. I have slept peacefully and ignorantly under there for several nights. I miss that blissful ignorance. I meant to go to sleep some time ago but now I am just staring at my bed wondering if I have the courage to go to bed. That is a new thought! I used to have nightmares all the time as a kid, well, I might as well be honest, even as an adult I have had nightmares. I have an irrational fear of snakes. Rats, spiders, maggots, blood, cold showers, gross toilets I can handle. Snakes not so much......

And just so that everyone knows that I am a big scaredy cat. I just moved my bed to the middle of my room under the concrete part and I am sleep with the lights ON! =)

5 comments:

Vicky Dracos said...

My motto is "don't ask, don't look!" Ignorance is bliss...sometimes...especially if you want a good night's sleep. :-)

Anonymous said...

Now I know about the snakes. I have only seen 2 in Tanzania and we ran over one of them.
I know Mary can empathize with you!! Bobby

Linda Hudson said...

Megan,
Please keep sharing your fears as well as your victories. It will help us know how to pray for you. I think the bed move was wise, but remember... He will keep (her) in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him.... He that guards Israel neither slumbers or sleeps... I will pray that God will give you a supernatural peace and sweet dreams as you rest under the shadow of His wings.
Your writing is excellent. I think these entries will make a publishable book at the end of a year... the proceeds would probably support a school or two... or be support for another year in TZ... never mind... mentioning that is like talking about child #2 while still in the delivery room with #1. Just remember you are birthing eternal benefits for a nation's next generation.
Thanks for letting me accompany you on your journey through your blog. Remember to let me know your "send over with the next team" needs.
We love you and are praying for you constantly. Please give my standard 4 children my love and remind them I am praying for them also.

Linda

Anonymous said...

Meagan,

Could you tell us if our daughter, Sara and Judy Kaye made it safely? They are part of the watershed team that arrived a day late.
Chip and Lynn Traynor

Anonymous said...

Meagan,

We miss you so much. Today I was making toast and pulled out of the fridge our favorite African jelly- banana mango. It reminded me so much of our morning breakfasts.
It's so easy for people to say stand strong in the Lord about the snakes, yeah right. Their not the ones sleeping with them!! I would of slept with the lights on too :}
Can't wait to come back next June. Praying for you....Mama & Papa Paige