{"id":387,"date":"2011-11-12T14:32:51","date_gmt":"2011-11-12T22:32:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/?p=387"},"modified":"2011-11-12T14:32:51","modified_gmt":"2011-11-12T22:32:51","slug":"the-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/2011\/11\/12\/the-good\/","title":{"rendered":"The Good"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When we first arrived, the shock of our life change hit hard.\u00a0 I wrestled many nights with the transitions and struggles that we had ahead.\u00a0 It was a long hard first month.\u00a0 This past month I have begun to see the vague outline of a home here.\u00a0 It has been a blessing! \u00a0Ethan, on the other hand, had an opposite reaction.\u00a0 The first month he enjoyed the new things of Africa, but this month the reality of the change has hit.\u00a0 Four years is a long time.\u00a0 He is mourning the loss of friends and family.\u00a0 As we are helping him through this adjustment, we have made an extra effort to point out some of the good things about Africa.\u00a0 I have found that pointing out the good has helped all of us become more settled and to enjoy life here.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some of the things that Ethan and I have come up with that we enjoy about Africa:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>* It is actually refreshing to swim in the ocean!<\/li>\n<li>* As soon as we walk out the door with a ball, a soccer team of kids is ready to play with us.<\/li>\n<li>\n<figure id=\"attachment_391\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-391\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000927.jpg\" alt=\"Time for Soccer\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000927.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000927-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-391\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Time for Soccer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_392\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-392\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-392\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000929-Copy-Copy.jpg\" alt=\"They patiently Give Ethan shots at the goal\" width=\"500\" height=\"280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000929-Copy-Copy.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000929-Copy-Copy-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-392\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">They patiently Give Ethan shots at the goal<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>\n<li>* You get to pick your favorite cartoons to watch on Saturday morning.<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_393\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-393\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-393\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000935.jpg\" alt=\"Our three kids watching cartoons\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000935.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000935-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-393\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Our three kids watching cartoons<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>\n<li>* Adventures seem to be just around the corner.\u00a0 Today we went to the \u201czoo\u201d.\u00a0 When we walked up to the chimpanzee\u2019s cage, he walked right up to the bars and held out a water bottle until we took it from him.\u00a0 He then patiently waited until we put water in it.\u00a0 Then he took it back and drank it.\u00a0\u00a0 Lets just say it was not your typical zoo.<\/li>\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-395\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000949.jpg\" alt=\"P1000949\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000949.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000949-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/li>\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-399\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000964.jpg\" alt=\"P1000964\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000964.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000964-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-396\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000951.jpg\" alt=\"P1000951\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000951.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000951-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-398\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000961.jpg\" alt=\"P1000961\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000961.jpg 375w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000961-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-397\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000955.jpg\" alt=\"P1000955\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000955.jpg 375w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000955-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>* Payment for a completed chore is $100 (francs).<\/li>\n<li>* You can always count on being able to find a taxi when you need one.<\/li>\n<li>* We don&#8217;t have to go to Goodwill, it comes to us every Saturday.<\/li>\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-394\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000938.jpg\" alt=\"P1000938\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000938.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000938-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For me there are two things that I particularly enjoy about our life in Africa.\u00a0 The first is the people.\u00a0 Even with the limited language I have, there are always people willing to try to talk to me.\u00a0 I have appreciated waiting for Ethan\u2019s bus everyday and the opportunities it has opened up to talk with the neighbors.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-390\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000921.jpg\" alt=\"P1000921\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000921.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000921-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-389\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000919.jpg\" alt=\"P1000919\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000919.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000919-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-388\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000918.jpg\" alt=\"P1000918\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000918.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2011\/11\/P1000918-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The second thing is constant reminder of the mission we are called to.\u00a0 We are here (in Africa and on this Earth) for a purpose.\u00a0 We would not be living here if it was not for that purpose.\u00a0 That reminder keeps us seeking the Lord and pointing our kids back to the Lord.\u00a0 What an amazing thing that has been!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When we first arrived, the shock of our life change hit hard.\u00a0 I wrestled many nights with the transitions and struggles that we had ahead.\u00a0 It was a long hard first month.\u00a0 This past month I have begun to see the vague outline of a home here.\u00a0 It has been a blessing! \u00a0Ethan, on the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":830,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2545],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-387","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-updates-and-news","7":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/830"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=387"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}