spotted: swine flu

Yes, here you have it ladies and gentlemen, a 'confirmed' case of pig flu in the dorms around here. It is wierd - their flow charts (posted all over the dorm) that are to help guide you to whether it is swine flu or not only give you the options of: 'yes', it's swine flu, as of now you are in complete quarantine and someone will bring you your meals with a mask and gloves on or, 'no' you are perfectly healthy, why are you reading these? How about it is really cold here and someone is bound to get a runny nose and take to bed? I am not worried.

Not to worry though, I will not eat any pork, wash my hands 37 times a day, keep away from wild pigs, and stay off of the floor the girl is quarantined to. One thing that does make me wish I had the sniffles was the fact that she gets her own bathroom. Apparently, there is a huge sign on the door warning the other girls about the issue and telling them to use another bathroom.

Speaking of bathrooms, they took the unisex sign off of the bathroom today! It's like they can read my mind! I am actually getting used to the whole idea of community bathrooms. I didn't say I was a fan, but I am saying that it is not keeping me in my room smelling for three days - p.s. that has NEVER happened.

Oh, exciting news - I am visiting a church tomorrow! There are not many here, and I am just praying that the Lord would make it known if this is the place where He has me for the next 4 months. I am just excited for some fellowship and solid teaching of the Word. I have never been more thankful for all of you at home who relentlessly love me beyond what I deserve, spur me on to things I never thought possible, and who make sure I am pressing in the right direction to further the kingdom. While I do miss Jamba Juice trips with little sisters, grocery shopping with moms, the hug and 'head kiss' of my daddy, snowcone dates with friends, playing outside with little ones and watching Martha Stewart with the 'big ones', doing ridiculous 'Biggest Loser' workout videos with 5 other girls in a living room, eating enough Jason's Deli ice cream to kill my stomach for a week, total girl nights, forehead kisses, and so much more, I am drawn in to sweet fellowship with the One - the only One- that I need to satisfy me for the rest of my life. The One who romances my dry soul, and fills me with the living waters to sustain me.

Oh, and there is a farmer's market on the way back...BONUS! I may even make it back in time for 'brunch'. The reason 'brunch' is in quotes is that today 'brunch' consisted of cereal, oatmeal, a salad bar, reheat spaghetti, roast beef, sausage rolls, rice, and some other things I didn't even care to look at. While I sat there with a huge bowl of New Zealand's version of Coco Krispies (I think?) and a bowl of oatmeal, most other people heaped spaghetti on their plates and went to town. Hmm, maybe I just don't understand the full meaning of brunch or how last night's dinner makes it in to that category. It totally reminds me of "Mom's Cafeteria" growing up when parents scrounge together the remaining reheats of the fridge in hopes of interesting us into eating them before they are thrown out. The Kiwis are going green..