Mopane Madness: Tastes like Chicken

These next few posts may cause you to ask yourself, "Is Claire really on a mission trip?" because what I'm about to show you is a few of the coolest experiences OF. MY. LIFE! I promise you that I'm on a mission trip, though. If you become a little jealous, just remeber all the times in the past month I've lifted a baby covered in poo into a bathtub and started scrubbing. Ew.

This week two new interns arrived: Britt from my home church, and Vinson from Pennsylvania (Donovan and Heather Drew's home church). In the time that they are here and before Sarah leaves this Sunday we are fitting in lots and lots of fun things!

Okay, this one might not cause you to be quite so jealous now that I'm thinking about it.. but the next two will! :)

One of my first nights here I met the newlyweds, Lerato and Akani. Akani told me about one of his favorite African foods: Mopane (mo-pa-ney) worms. These are catipillars which you harvest out of trees and dry. Sometimes you munch on them dried and sometimes you bring them back to life with seasoning and... well I'm not really sure what all goes into preparing them. That night Lerato promise she would make these for me while I was here. I was also promised a taste of chicken's feet.

So! We all gathered around the table for a new experience this week!

Left and Around: Maquena (Sorry if you read this and I've spelled it terribly wrong!), Lerato, Akani, Kerry Drew,  Newton and Vanessa, Britt, Me, Sarah, Vinson, Donovan.

Chicken's Feet

Mopane Worms!

Pap. A staple food here I'll tell you more about later!

Choco lata (A sauce to go on the pap)

The pap and sauce are foods extremely common here in South Africa. A meal is simply not considered complete or filling without pap. It doesn't have a whole lot of flavor to it but is really delicious. This sauce that Vanessa made was really good as well!

The chicken's feet are a little more commonly eaten than the mopane worms. They are a much loved food here. They smelled good; it was mostly the toe nails still attached that I had to get past. All in all I liked the flavor. I wasn't very good at eating them though, there is very little meat on them so it is hard to find. 

The mopane worms are only eaten by certain tribes here. Akani has grown up with them and loves them. First, you get some pap in your hand. Then, you stick on on the Caterpillar and pop both in your mouth! I didn't prefer the mopane worm , but it was a great experience to try it!

My plate!

Sarah tasting the Delicacies :)

Kerry was being silly while she ate her first chicken's foot.

Newton and Vanessa

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of me eating mine; however, I do have videos so if you are curious just ask me to show you sometime :)

It was very fun night of fellowship and I'm so thankful to our hostess, Heather, and our cooks: Maquena, Lerato, and Vanessa!

Naughty during Naptime

Contrary to the idea you may have based on the pictures... my kiddos aren't completely perfect.. just perfectly cute! Their favorite time to play is naptime! The Bear Cup and the Newbie love to face each other and have a little chat (They are besties.) and Sweetie Pie loves to stand and scream playfully and play in the curtains. I think it is hilarious so I videoed their noises.. the plan was to put that video on here, but it won't upload! I'm so sad! Here's a picture of their naughtiness though!

The Bear Cup flirting with the Newbie during naptime

From the Roots, Up.

A major lesson I am learning here (to go along with THIS post) is to love from my roots up.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

How do you read these verses? Somehow, I think I am in the habit of skipping the part that says “fruit of the Spirit.” I look at the list and say, “Okay, Christian, this is what you are supposed to look like. GO!”

In discipleship this week, we talked about these verses. Look at a tree. Do the branches push and push and all of a sudden, pop! There is the fruit?! No! The tree and the branches just sit and enjoy the sunshine. The roots though, they dig deep into the soil and soak up the water. The roots are where the fruit comes from. Where are your roots? God is teaching me to plant my roots deep into his love. I want to live from the roots up. I want my roots to be so grounded in the truth of God’s love that fruit abounds. It is time that I stop looking to squeeze out some fruit and start loving God so that the fruit of the Spirit has room to grow.

These nine verses complete sum up what I am learning:

“I am the true vine and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide I me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless you abide in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide I me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered , thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” John 15:1-9

I love the promise that He will prune the branches so that they bear fruit. The pruning may hurt but it is completely worth it! Then right after that we are told that we are already clean! How wonderful! Jesus’ blood wiped away our sins, past, present, and future! “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” (Romans 8:1)

I want so badly to glorify God! This verse tells me how: bear much fruit, prove to be a disciple. And how do I bear much fruit? Abide in his love.

Prayer Request Update: Pray that I would abide in His love! This week I have tried to think about doing each thing I do: holding a baby, mopping a floor, etc because God loves me. Pray that I will continue to do this and continue to realize just how much my Father loves me!

Lessons on Life and Love from South Africa

Before I left for this trip, my heart was very convicted that I wasn’t living a life of love. I did things that were loving, I said things that were loving, but I didn’t live love. I want to live a life where everything I do and say, think and react to, is born out of love; not my own love, but knowledge of the love of God. God was showing me that my relationship with Him was all wrong. So many times, when I do right it is because I want to measure up – not because he loves me and sent His Son to die for me. When I do wrong, I feel like I failed; but of course, that was too dramatic to admit, so I wouldn’t – even to myself. I had been praying for God to help me change this, but it is hard when what needs to change has to do with how you think. It is so deeply engrained in me.

In my weeks here, I started asking: God, do I even know your love? It seems like such a basic questions. Should someone who has been saved for so many years really be asking that? Yes. It is good to reflect, to go back to the beginning, to where it all starts. The greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God. “How do I quit DOING and start LOVING?” I asked God. For me, “If you love me you will keep my commandments” is much easier than having the Mary attitude rather than Martha's and learning to sit at His feet. God has shown me in numerous ways, though, how important it is to Him that I learn His love.  He has shown me that it is time to stop just pushing through and taking another step; It is time to sit at his feet learn how to do things His way. It might not be easy, but it is best for me. The Father wants what is best for His children! I am learning that for me to know His love and to show His love is so important to Him! He wants me to know how much He loves me and to live a life that reflects that.

God is faithful even as he teaches us. Sarah is learning the same thing I am learning and asking the same questions! Not only that, but our discipleship book (“Comforts from the Cross” by Elyse Fitzgerald) is perfectly suited to encourage us and help aid as we change our thinking. In our discipleship meeting, we shared what we were thinking and were encouraged and taught by Debbie. God’s design for discipleship is so perfect! It has been invaluable in mine and Sarah’s growing process here. I’m so thankful for all the tools God has given me to learn about Him and how he loves me.

One way I am changing my thinking is through prayer. Another way is by changing how I read the bible. Usually I find the dos and the don’ts, the put on and the put offs. I make my list in my head and “work on it” during the day. Yeah right! How prideful I am to think I can make myself better! These are basic truths I have known since I was young, but God is sitting me down and telling me, “Daughter, it is time that these truths come out of your head and move into your heart.” No more changing for a day and going back to the easy way. That’s part of why I’m sharing this here! Not only because I want to encourage you and because I want you to share in my experience and to thank you for supporting me here, but also because sharing this will hold me accountable!

My month here is transforming my heart. God started working on it a long time ago… and I know he will keep working on it for a much longer time. I’m so excited for eternity not just so I won’t sin anymore, but so I will know His love even more!

Prayer Request Update: Pray that God keeps shooting the darts at my heart and teaching me what it means to be His Daughter. Praise God with me that He is always drawing us closer to Him! Showing me what he has and the brokenness over sin I have recently experienced are all answers to prayers! God is faithful!

Winter Wonderland... In June!

The Willoughbys are a wonderful missionary family here in Pretoria; they are a part of Living Hope Church. Debbie Willoughby is joining with Heather to disciple the interns and is an extremely godly woman! I've heard her husband, Dan, boldly sharing the gospel in my time here. Their youngest daughter, Hanna, is here with them and is one of the funnest, most joyful people I have ever met!

The girls made an initial for everyone!

Winter decorations even in Africa :)

The Willoughbys host Youth Group at their house on Saturday nights. The Living Hope youth come, the youth from another small church, and some unbelievers! They are so generous to open their house and lead this every week! Last week they had a sleepover (for the girls) and winter party! It is so fun for me to have a winter party in June! I joined in the festivities on day two. When I arrived the house was decorated with snow flakes and the kitchen smelled of baked cookies! The girls had learned to make all sorts of Christmas cookies and the boys came on the second day to help them finish all the sweets off.

We played lots of fun games: signs, pulse, etc., ate cookies, and even taught everyone how to have a White Elephant exchange! The most exciting gift was a bag of Hershey's chocolate chips!! Everyone had tons of fun!

Delicious!

Sweet Treats!

Christmas tree cookies!

The group with their White Elephant gifts!!

Prayer Request: Debbie flew to the states this week to be there for a month for her daughter's first baby's birth! Dan has an amazing parents who have suffered physical persecution in Columbia as missionaries. They have A-Mazing testimonies and have lived their lives for the Lord. They just got word that Dan's dad is very sick so he and Hanna are leaving this week for America. Pray for safety and comfort for this courageous family!

The Boss

Well I'll call this mister The Boss since he is the oldest. This guy isn't quite two but he is already in a size 3T! He's my little big guy.

The Boss is our local dancer. I mean if The Bear Cub loves to dance.. The Boss just goes crazy whenever there is music!! He bounces up and down and claps his hands on rhythm! If you suddenly slow down the song he will too!!

He really likes to ride his motorbike outside and to be pushed in the swing!


The boss is on a different schedule than everyone else since he is older so we get some one-on-one time together most days when the other babies are napping; it is lots of fun!


The boss also loooooves to play blocks and knock over the towers!

We have a game that he plays with everyone. Almost every morning when I walk through the door he will laugh.. He has this silly smile on his face and the laugh sounds fake but it isn't. Then I'm expected to laugh back.. always just small laughs to start out, but they build on each other. Each laugh gets a little bit bigger. He played this game the first time I walked through the door! It's lots of fun!

The Bear Cub

Look at the mischief in that smile!

This kid.. oh my where to start?? This little boy is 1 year old. He constantly entertaining us, keeping us on our toes, making us laugh, making us cry... okay not really cry. But he really is the best kind of handful!

Always curious :)

The Bear Cub is his name because he reminds me of one since he is so darn curious!! (And he kinda looks like one! Haha!) Donovan calls him a little T-Rex, which is just as appropriate! Are you getting the picture?? He also has tendency to growl. From what I hear, he did it all the time when he came. Now he just does it to be funny... and it is! He will flex his muscles and growl and I just die laughing!
This guy loooves to climb... especially on anything unstable! He's a fan of rocking chairs in particular.

The bear cub loves to hug you and be cuddled.

I love the way he stands. It's a random thing to notice, but all his mannerisms are just so stinkin' silly! He will stand in front of the TV when music is playing on it with his knees bent, bum out, weight forward, head up, and arms dangling like a gorilla's! It is so hilarious!

This stuffed cow is one of his favorite toys.

He has an amazing smile! His eyes light up! He's that kid that will never get in trouble because he can charm his way out of anything! You just can't resist him!!

The Bear Cub has some serious rhythm! This week he turned a windmill toy into a trumpet! He walked around humming with it in his mouth and his little fingers moving on the stick to make notes. He tilts his head side to side and hums and sings while he is playing. Any time is he crying all we have to do is start clapping and singing and he will get up and smile and dance! My little man loves to dance to the music! If I start clapping and singing "nothing but the blood" his face will light up and he will start dancing right away :)


This guy loves his bottle! He doesn't take a paci but he will walk around with his empty bottle just sitting in his mouth. It is like his paci or blankey. It cracks me up!!

The Bear Cub definitely has his sweet-as-honey side! He loves the little babies and is so gentle with them. He loves to give all the kids and caregivers kisses, with a big "MMMMMMM WWWAAAAAAA!!" to go along with it! :)