The joys of technology 2

Today in church at home in Winnipeg, we connected via Skype to a family from our congregation who moved to South Africa in August to serve a 5-year term there with MCC. Between the sound delay and the logistics of using a headset alongside a microphone, it was slightly awkward, of course, so we didn't broadcast the whole service, but we shared announcements, prayer requests, prayer, and a song with them.

I was thrilled when I heard what we were going to do. It's a huge blessing to worship with brothers and sisters from another culture, but after a while, a certain loneliness creeps in, and one longs for the familiar. I'm so grateful that technology made it possible for us to provide a taste of the familiar for this beloved family.

Comments

Tracey Craigon said…

Thanks for sharing your blog, Karla!
I could relate to this line: "...It's a huge blessing to worship with brothers and sisters from another culture, but after a while, a certain loneliness creeps in, and one longs for the familiar..." from when I was living in Japan. Love your writing! Looking forward to reading more and working with you in 2009! :)

December 23, 2008 at 9:26 AM

entering the blog world

I've finally given in to the lure of blogging. Actually, if it weren't for Cameroon, I probably wouldn't be doing this; my excuse for succumbing to the pull of popular culture is that a blog is a very pragmatic way to keep in touch with people at home while I'm gone. Thus the title -- the focus is on my journey to and experience in Cameroon. So you likely shan't see much here till things heat up a bit more.

It's a girl!

I awoke this morning to the sound of my phone ringing. It wasn't the first time the bells and whistles had attempted to pull me from my slumber so I knew it meant one of two things: either I'd overslept and my boss was calling to find out where I was, or the much anticipated baby had announced her intention to make an entrance. Felicitously, it was the latter. After a lightning fast labour lasting a mere 2 hours, Mai-Anh Esther made her entry into the world at 8:35 am (the preferred interval for Braun babies. Jon, Rebecca, and I were all born between 8 and 8:30 in the morning while Lien was born around 8 in the evening.) She is a hearty 9 lbs 2 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. "She's already got more hair than Lien does!" was the first comment made by both Jon and me. She's a perfectly contented, sleepy little girl who's hardly opened her eyes once, even to let mommy see them, and she had no objection to being passed from person to person all evening, nor to Li...

Flights

I've got tickets! In faith that all the money will come together, my tickets have been purchased. So now I have to go! There was a significantly cheaper flight option with Air Maroc that involved an overnight in Paris and in Casablanca, but I opted for the same Air France flight from Paris to Douala that Dan and Lisa will be on. Frankly, I'm somewhat relieved the latter option was available. Obviously, I must have some sense of adventure to be willing to spend 10 months in Cameroon--and I do--but it's not quite up to the former challenge just yet. I'll likely be quite wound up as it is--the last thing I'll need in my state of excitement and fretful anticipation is to spend three days alone trying to reach my destination, getting no sleep, dealing with unfamiliar languages, and arriving alone to spend a half-day cartrip down roads in less than perfect condition with a local stranger. Now I'm not saying I'm unwilling to be challenged or that any one of these ...

kar0ling

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