Bearing Fruit
I’ve had a few different jobs in the past but my last paid one was four years ago, as a Fashion Editor for a national newspaper. As a missionary, one of the hardest things to lay down has been the privilege and satisfaction of having a good job and being paid for it. In Burkina, I have sometimes longed for the structure of a day in the office or the satisfaction of finishing a job well done. There, it can take a whole day to get the groceries and post a letter but even that doesn’t always go to plan. Living in a foreign-speaking, relationship-based culture in 45 degree heat tends to slow things down.
Now that I’m well into my second trimester of pregnancy in lovely cool England and have the energy and time, I’ve been looking for a job. It’s been a little disheartening; I’ve been turned down for work that I am more than qualified for – quite probably due to my now-noticeable bump. Still, this has left me available to work on things that I really care about; namely the accessories enterprise (which I hope to get going in Burkina on our return), helping out with the organisation SOS (www.sos-saveourskills.org) and contributing to a great young women's Christian magazine called Caris (www.carismag.co.uk). I've also been looking for a place where Steve and I can live for a year. Thankfully we’re now sorted and are going to rent a cottage near my Mum’s house and church in Lavant, near Chichester. It was through her church that I did in fact land myself one local job; as a human fruit machine in the village fete last weekend. Well, there’s a first time for everything!
Although unemployed and missing Steve, I am very grateful to be here during this time. England really is a beautiful place and I feel as though I am lying in the green pastures and being led beside quiet waters of Psalm 23. The baby seems to be growing well – the 20 week scan showed nothing abnormal, other than exceptionally long legs, which is quite acceptable especially as Daddy is 6’6”! It is starting to use them too, and judging by the kicks I think it likes the Tim Hughes track ‘Happy Day’. I say ‘it’ because I don’t know if we’re having a boy or girl – we’ve chosen to keep it a surprise. The Fulani will probably esteem Steve more highly if we have a boy, but we will be glad for whatever God gives us.
