Southern Cyprus: Stunning stones

Today we stayed close to home in the region of Pissouri Bay. We took a stroll around Pissouri Village about 10 minutes from my apartment.  As we climbed the hill to the village we were treated with stunning views of the bay.  Unfortunately I was so stunned I couldn't quite get a picture as beautiful as what my eyes saw.

Later in the afternoon we went to another stony beach near Episkopi.

Stunning.  

Stones.  

Everywhere.  

 

I mentioned to my friend how this is probably the most stones I have ever seen on a beach in my long life.  As I pondered these stones I thought about their diversity, strength and unassuming beauty.  How does a stone begin? How long did it take to get to something so small I could perch it on my knee? Does it start from a large cliff and end in sand or is it's formation much more complex?  I deeply enjoy vacation and the chance to ponder and appreciate simple yet complex creation

Southern Cyprus: Celebrating beauty

Paramali beach

Our journey continues to Southern Cyprus.  On Monday we drove down from Nicosia to Pissouri Bay. I am staying in Pissouri Bay. From Pissouri Bay area we've gone to Paramali, Paphos and Limassol all places of distinct beauty.  I am staying in Pissouri Bay. Here are photos to feast your eyes on:

Paramali: Stunning stony beach

Paphos Castle

Paphos Castle interior: Stepping into the Light

Paphos Marina

Paphos boardwalk

Limassol: Marina

Paphos: Ruins of multiple churches with one remaining

Paphos: Yes, the juice was delish

Pissouri Bay: 5 minutes from my apt.

Northern Cyprus: Antiquities and Modernities

It's been 4 months since my last post.  I am now on vacation.  After weeks of saying and thinking "I want to get back to blogging," I am inspired.   I hope it is worth the wait, informative and at the very least, pretty.

My trip to Cyprus was inspired by the desire to go somewhere else but close.  Getting a tourist visa to Benin was too complex.  I had an open invitation to Cyprus from a dear sister.  So Cyprus it was.  The reaction I got from folks as I mentioned Cyprus was the same: "Wow!  Cyprus?" 

"Yes, have you been there?" I'd reply.  Unfailingly they'd say "No, but I've heard about it."

Does it live up to the reputation it has in people's minds?  They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Below are pictures from the beginning of our journey to Famagusta and Salamis, both with antiquities dating back to 11th century BC:

On the wall surrounding the City of Famagusta. Church in background.

Abundant pomegranates at a fresh juice stand.  The juice: divine.

Beauty in brokenness.

Turkish delights.

Salamis Ruins: Columns surrounding the Gymnasium 

Salamis: One of several statues around the Pool

Salamis: Statue overlooking the Theatre

  

Sweet Freedom From Ebola!

It's true! Yesterday Liberia celebrated it's 42nd day of freedom from person-to-person transmission of the Ebola virus.  Forty-two days represents two cycles of the maximum 21-day incubation of the virus.

The victory is "so sweet" as the Liberians say.  It has been a difficult journey from being the country hardest hit in the region to the first one declared free.  I sincerely believe it's nothing short of a miracle, an answer to many prayers, and a salve to much heartache and sadness.  This news is so inspiring it helped me break the nearly 3-month hiatus from the blog.  "Sorry-o!" (my favorite Liberian saying).  It's been quite a long time.

The question on everyone's mind:  How will it affect travel and monitoring, particularly on the US.  No changes yet but I hope that I will not have to be monitored by the time I arrive on my next trip.

The question on my mind: How soon will family and friends come to visit?  Very soon I hope:) Perhaps you will follow Mama Brown's footsteps.  My mom just returned to the States from a month-long visit.  What a time to be here!  More on her visit to come.

Celebration time!

Why I pray for Angels.

It's been a while. No excuses.

I'm happy to report my inspiration has returned!

I'm taking a pause from discussing written autobiographies to reflect on a common story. This is an autobiography in the making.

Last week I was undone when I heard the story of a young woman caught in cycle of prostitution when money gets low and there seems to be no other options. I'm learning when something hits my heart to the point of tears I need to go with that feeling and invest it into prayer and intercession for the person and the larger issue.

You would think the "no-touch" culture that Ebola created would have impacted it. Not so, dear friend. The enemy is relentless. He continues to work with and among humans to kill, steal and destroy the human body, soul and spirit.

Let me be explicit: sexual abuse, prostitution and human trafficking is alive and well in Liberia. Girls are giving sex for grades, a meal, protection, and the most basic of necessities. And their parents look away in complicity. I've heard too many stories and met the girls.


While looking up resources for a study on purity I came across the following podcast.

http://www.authenticintimacy.com/java-with-juli/lessons-from-a-former-prostitute/

It pains me bringing me to the point of tears to realize that there are countless "Angels" in Liberia.

Listening to this has refueled my prayer for the Angels caught in a devaluing cycle of sexual exploitation.

Listen. Respond as your heart leads.

Greatness continues: Booker T. Washington

After a failed attempt at reading Mandela’s other compilation of writings (too disconnected for me), I downloaded a free copy of Booker T. Washington’s autobiography, “Up From Slavery.”  It knocked my socks off. 

#2 Greatness is cultivated and maintained through hard work to benefit others as much as if not more than oneself.

Booker T. Washington was one hardworking man.  As a boy he was a slave.  While still a boy, he was freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. Then through an inspiring path became a lifelong educator and founder of what is now known as Tuskegee University, one of the first all-black institutes of higher education. Two ways Booker T. Washington exemplified the principle of “right living” and hard work is:

1.  He was convinced that the advancement of his people depended on hard work.

“I believe that my race will succeed in proportion as it learns to do a common thing in an uncommon manner; learns to do a thing so thoroughly that no one can improve upon what it has done; learns to make its services of indispensable value. This was the spirit that inspired me in my first effort at Hampton, when I was given the opportunity to sweep and dust that schoolroom.  In a degree I felt that my whole future life depended upon the thoroughness with which I cleaned that room and I was determined to do it so well that no one could find any fault with the job.

I think the whole future of my race hinges on the question as to whether or not it can make itself of such indispensable value that the people in the town and the state where we reside will feel that our presence is necessary to the happiness and well-being of the community.  No man who continues to add something to the material, intellectual and moral well-being of the place in which he lives is long left without proper reward. This is a great human law…” – Booker T. Washington

2.  He recognized the indomitable value of service, a form of love.

“In meeting men, in many places, I have found that the happiest people are those who do the most for others; the most miserable are those who do the least.”

And this is coming from a former slave, a man who’s live was bound in all possible ways by a dehumanizing institution and group of people that perpetuated the system.

Recently I’ve been faced with a staffing decision.  We have a team member who is ok but not really adding value to the team.  Often responding to tasks but not initiating them.  My follow-up with them on assigned tasks has become the norm rather than the exception.  For better or worse, I thought of that person often when reading and re-reading these quotes.  

It has also causes me to take another look at my own work ethic.  Am I pouring my passion and energy into doing my best for the good of the team and the organization or am I doing just what is expected of me?  I will be the first to admit I’m not that intense when it comes to work.  Living and working in this national emergency context over the past few months has changed that drastically.  I’ve never worked so hard (at my paid jobJ) and poured my energies into the service of another country in my life. It’s been fulfilling in a way I never would have imagined.  Booker T. was definitely onto something.

Greatness lesson: Mandela

I’m starting a series on greatness, inspired by folks you probably know.

My inspiration -- Over the past few months I’ve read and watched a number of autobiographies.  It started with watching Invictus, a gift from Simone and Morris <wave & smiles> when they visited me in Benin earlier this year.  Seeing Mandela portrayed as such a remarkable man and leader inspired me to read his book, “A Long Road to Freedom”.  Though I was previously turned off by the length and weight of it, downloading it to my e-reader made it easily accessible and portable. It was worth every page!

Sidenote: If you want to read more and have some waiting/travel/down time, get an e-reader! As the Liberians say, “I beg of you”.  I think it’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made.  

From Mandela I learned that no man can be great unless he’s wrestled with and decided to move forward in doing what is right despite the inner and outer “demons” threatening to get in his way.  Mandela wasn’t any smarter than me or you and, like us, was well-acquainted with difficulties and inner struggles.  He persevered nonetheless.

#1: The root of greatness is dog-stubborn “stick-to-it-iveness” or perseverance despite internal or external resistance. 

Many know about the acclaimed battles Mandela fought against the apartheid regime.  Yet some of his greatest triumphs were personal.  I am convinced that these inner achievements, many of which occurred during his decades in prison, built the foundation for public victories.  Below are two ways he persevered in his personal life:

1.  Exercising regularly

Exercise dissipates tension and tension is the enemy of serenity.  I found that I worked better and thought more clearly when I was in good physical condition, and so training became one of the inflexible disciplines of my life.” – Mandela

Having struggled with doing regular exercise most of my adult life, feeling compelled but not always motivated to maintain the habit, Mandela’s words impacted me.  Exercise in times of difficulty isn’t only a good idea physically but also has mental and emotional benefits. Right now I’m into PraiseMoves, Zumba, tennis and I may join a bike riding club. I’m now engaging in regular exercise to fuel perseverance. 

2.  Pursuing contentment

To survive in prison, one must develop ways to take satisfaction in one’s daily life.  One can feel fulfilled by washing one’s clothes so that they are particularly clean, by sweeping a hallway so that it is empty of dust, by organizing one’s cell to conserve as much space as possible.  The same pride one takes in more consequential tasks outside of prison, one can find in doing small things inside of prison.“ – Mandela 

I’m really feeling this one.  Finding contentment in doing the smallest tasks well truly helps us build a sense of accomplishment and self-worth, which comes in handy when we are faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles and setbacks.  If I washed two loads of laundry and spent quality time in my hammock reading, by golly, I can tackle submitting that paper on time!  This satisfaction applies not only to work but also to play.  As I grow older. I’m learning to allow myself to schedule and take deep satisfaction in resting.

Recently during a conversation with a dear friend, we discussed how life is like compound interest.  It’s not simply that our decisions and investments add up or multiply, but that they add up and multiply building on one another yielding more than we can imagine for better or worse. 

Our moments of fame and recognition may be as scarce as good ice cream in West Africa but opportunities to persevere despite obstacles abound.  Right now, my single friends and I are persevering to find our partners in life – a husband or wife. In the meanwhile, each day we continue to pray, encourage one another, and invest our time building healthy relationships. Ultimately we are working to realize God’s full purpose and plan for our lives.

So what are you persevering in right now?  

You may have already had the privilege of seeing the fruit of your endeavors.  

I’d love to hear about it if you'd like to share.