A Layne Post
As the United States transitions into Autumn and Winter, here in Mozambique the days are turning from Spring to Summer all too quickly. Did we have winter? No, no we did not. With some days already nearing 100 degrees, this pregnant woman fears December. I think we’ll plan baby #2 for the winter! Our Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are/will be spent sweating in our house trying to keep cool in any way possible.
My sister mentioned to me that maybe Anaya will just be used to it, since she is going to be raised here. I hope so. Our friends at the hospital, however, seem to complain about the heat as much as we do!
A few ways you can tell summer has come to Maptuo:
- You no longer can use covers while sleeping at night. If you use a sheet, it is only to block the mosquitoes.
- There are more mosquitoes. Hard to believe, but true. And somehow one always sneaks into the protective net.
- If you have an air conditioning unit, you begin to think about skimping in areas financially to be able to pay for the electricity to run it every night and making deals with yourself, “If you make it until 7, then you can go get in bed and turn on the air.”
- The beaches are busy on a daily basis, as kids flock to the cooler water after school in the afternoons, and weekends are packed full with people of all ages ready to party in their Mozambican way.
- Due to the busy beaches, traffic and driving on the weekends, especially Sundays, are just nuts.
Along the same lines, I feel as though I am slowly transitioning out of a sort of winter of the soul. Maybe I am alone, though I don’t really think so, but I feel like my walk with the Lord comes in and out of seasons. Sometimes I feel warmer than other times. Sometimes reading the Word is exciting and fresh, while at other times it feels more like a discipline. Sometimes the Lord feels near, while at other times you must hold on to the faith that He promises to stay near.
My mom used to always say she wanted to live somewhere with 4 seasons. It seems ideal, doesn’t it? Each season makes us appreciate the next. While I may not be appreciating the heat of summer here in Maputo, I am enjoying basking in the warmth and the presence of the Lord.
Read this verse this morning, “We give thanks to Thee O God, we give thanks, For Thy name is near…” Psalm 75:1
I experience seasons of the soul as do most of us, I think. Sometimes I think God enjoys hiding – not in a mean way – but because he knows how much fun it is for us to find him again, in a new place.
Isaiah 45:15
“Truly you are a God who hides himself, O God and Savior of Israel.”
Perhaps God, like us, anticipates the joy of jumping out and saying, “Peek-a-boo, Layne!” after a season when you weren’t sure exactly where He was. I agree with Lynne; it makes us appreciate the times of extraordinary closeness if we experience variations of season.
Happy summer, Layne!
I TRULY feel compassion for you, I am a not a fan of the heat. At least you had lots of hot humid days in Corpus to practice! I can think of ways to scrimp financially if it will help ya’ll to have more AC;) And the mosquitos? I think they came after the fall of man just like roaches..(JK). Seriously though, I pray God feels closer than ever this summer, especially with Anaya on the way. Pregnancy isn’t always fun either, but sometimes GREAT things come from a little suffering. I pray an ABUNDANCE of joy for you Hellers…
P.S. No beaches for you ma’am, I told you about all the stories on Shark Week. We’ll get you a baby pool instead:)
Oh! yes yes I relate to both seasons! The ones of weather and the spiritual ones as well I too agree the one will make the later sweeter:) So God seemed to have a plan with the ebb and flow of life! Imagine that we should catch the plan and go with it;) I love you.