Life in the Dark

This was the scene the other night during study time here in the Sulawesi Dorm. No we weren't going for mood lighting, but we have gotten fairly efficient at continuing life without power.  Almost as fast as the lights go out we have the stash of candles broken open and ablaze, not to mention the emergency lights that kick on the very moment the room goes dark.

I knew when we began to move in the direction of our call to Indonesia that life would be different.  I am still adjusting, and oh if I could only adjust to this life as fast as my eyes have been able to adjust to the dark.  Power outages at least once a day, rain for 15-16 hours straight three or four times a week, lack of vitamin D caused by the absence of the sun for days on end, these are all things dealt in the hand you receive when you live life here. 

 
So what do you do with a hand like this?  The only thing you can do.  ADAPT (Greg: "Good thing that is one of my top strengths.")

Eventually you learn that even if you get caught in a "toad choker" (phrase from back home referring to a downpour), you will get soaked but won't die.  Eventually you get outside and go for a walk even if it is sprinkling, because this is the only chance you may have to get that single ray of sunlight that has fought its way through the clouds and rain to reach your skin.  Eventually you break down and buy the most ridiculous looking outfits to keep you dry just to ride your bike around town.  

Greg with one of our teammates- in our "uniform" these days

Would I trade this hand that I have been dealt for any other hand?  Absolutely not!  Maybe a little bit bigger rain gear though.