I took a walk along the waterfront on Wednesday this week. It was one the best weather days so far since winter began. Wednesday was the first day of Spring and everyone was out at the waterfront enjoying the sunshine.
Though I do like to people watch I usually stick to photos of the scenery.
I hope you are all doing well. I've been a bit under the weather so I have slowed down since the weekend.
I managed to get together with a friend I seldom see. She invited me last minute for coffee and snacks and we were able to work it out. I always enjoy visiting with her. Other than that I've been catching up with various people in Kenya regarding matters that crop up during the missions outreach I do there. That always takes a fair bit of my time and is difficult because of the time and distance differences. I may have a more full some update later on the missions. I know some of you have been waiting.
Since I posted my lovely sunny photos last Friday, the weather has returned to rain. Not endless rain so it is okay but gloomy looking overhead. I am not complaining because my neighbours in the province of Alberta have had lots of snow. I prefer the rain to snow.
No complaining when I see views like these.
Other than enjoying the beautiful scenes at the beach I've been on a personal mission to save a few pennies here and there. My next post will be about saving money.
I send a lot of funds overseas to help people in desperate situations because I know we are blessed here in North America where even the poorest people have access to food banks, food kitchens, shelters and so on. I send to people mostly in Kenya not through any organization but directly to people I've met along the way. I also sponsor some children in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. I also like to try and send a bit extra at this time of year for the families of the sponsored boys so they can have something extra for Christmas.
In Kenya they like to have a meal of chicken (sometimes goat if the budget allows) and also a new change of clothing at Christmas. This is in the villages where historically the people would not have so much access to new clothing due to the cost or to things we take for granted here at Christmas or any other time. There the focus is on eking out a day to day existence and trying to ensure the children get an education. Just these two things are beyond the ability of many families. If you are a subsistence farmer there is very little to meet all the needs and some are not so fortunate as to have a farm of their own.
If you would like to sponsor some very needy children I recommend signing up with Compassion International. I sponsor through the Canadian office and have found the staff to be excellent and responsive to all my questions including following up on an issue here and there about local conditions in Kenya. I get letters from my sponsored children several times a year and I know they are all growing and developing well. Compassion tries to deal with the whole child and not just give them food or a bible. You can learn more about their approach here.
I also sponsor through a new to me group called Food for the Hungry. I learned about them last year when the wonderful gospel singer, Don Moen was here and he encouraged his audience to sponsor a child that night. The response was very overwhelming and I know this organization also does great work. Both Compassion and Food for the Hungry take great care with the funds they receive and manage to keep the administration costs down to a very reasonable level. This means your donated dollars are actually getting to the child and to the communities.
This week and last week I took a bit of time to write my sponsored children some letters and also some cards for Christmas as well as figure out what to send to their families. In case you are interested, Food for the Hungry doesn't allow gifts to the children other than what you can send via the mail. Compassion allows a gift annually to the child for general needs and birthday and a gift annually to the family.The photos below show my boys from Kenya and Ethiopia. I don't have a digital photo of my boy in Uganda and my scanner doesn't seem to work anymore.
Enjoy some photos of my recent walk along the beach.
The way people are dressed and the way the sky looks in some photos it looks as if it was very cold and windy. I guess people dressed for the way the weather normally is at this time of year; much cooler.
But in fact, it was a beautiful, gorgeous and warm day.
It was expected to be one of the last warm days before temperature dips and rains begin in earnest.
I only had on a spring coat and a light sweater underneath.
It was so warm I took off my outer jacket and walked wearing only my sweater.
I hope you have all enjoyed your Valentine's Day and are ready to greet the week with joy.
I wanted to share some beautiful photos. I call it eye candy because of the beautiful water and beach scenes.
When I see sailboats on the water it gives me a sense of calm. I think they look so beautiful with their sails unfurled and the boat calmly bobbing along.
When I stroll along the beach I am always happy. I love to see the beautiful scenery and look at all the smiling people.
It was a glorious sunny day. It was a warm 18 degrees Celsius though you'd think it was colder the way some people are dressed. The temperature can drop 10 degrees once the sun goes down.
Food for the Soul
A friend shared the video I've posted.
I enjoyed the music, photos and words so much and thought it might be enjoyable to you too!
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I'm still reading the books I shared with you in earlier posts this month. I'm working on another one for a book club meeting. I hope to join a group of people over an African dinner in town to discuss it.
A book for book club meeting.
I haven't started the book yet and just picked it up from the library yesterday. I don't have much time to read it as it took a awhile to get it. The library only has 2 copies and they were both out when I put it on hold.
I've got several books "on the go" at present and hope to finish a few of them in the next week or so.
Here is a summary of the book from Goodreads.
"Like very good dark
chocolate this is a delicious novel, with a bitter-sweet flavour. Vimbai
is a hairdresser, the best in Mrs Khumalo's salon, and she knows she is
the queen on whom they all depend. Her situation is reversed when the
good-looking, smooth-talking Dumisani joins them. However, his charm and
desire to please slowly erode Vimbai's rancour and when he needs
somewhere to live, Vimbai becomes his landlady. So, when Dumisani needs
someone to accompany him to his brother's wedding to help smooth over a
family upset, Vimbai obliges. Startled to find that this smart
hairdresser is the scion of one of the wealthiest families in Harare,
she is equally surprised by the warmth of their welcome; and it is their
subsequent generosity which appears to foster the relationship between
the two young people. The ambiguity of this deepening friendship - used
or embraced by Dumisani and Vimbai with different futures in mind -
collapses in unexpected brutality when secrets and jealousies are
exposed. Written with delightful humour and a penetrating eye, The
Hairdresser of Harare is a novel that you will find hard to put down."
These photos were captured as the sun was going down and in a moving vehicle, hence the graininess.
I hope it adds to the atmosphere, lol.
Under the train tracks for the Light Rapid Train system (LRT).
Science World, a great educational centre is the globe on the left. It lights up like a diamond at night.
BC Place, venue for concerts, trade shows, sporting events, etc. is seen just under the LRT rails
Dramatic shot of the sky
On the outskirts of Chinatown. We are at the backside of the Dr. Sun Yet Sen Garden
Entering Yaletown, a newish neighbourhood in Vancouver. This is a southwestern view along Pacific Blvd.
One blurry shot of the heart of Yaletown and one of my fav streets. This used to be a warehouse district.
A famous breakfast place so named because the original location was so small you rubbed elbows with your neighbour. This isn't the original location and it appears to be bigger tho I haven't yet been inside.
View after sundown. This is looking west at English Bay in the West End. You are looking at the Pacific Ocean straight ahead.
A few palm trees at the waterfront. The temperature in Vancouver is milder than most parts of Canada so palm tress can grow here.
It is going to rain again today, blah! It was supposed to be another one of our few sunny days, but now I have to wait for that until tomorrow. I found this picture taken on a beautiful, picture perfect summer day though though you perhaps can't tell because this side of the building is taken in the shade. I love this shade of blue.
Happy Monday!
On the other side I found the weekly Farmer's Market.
I didn't buy anything as I was on my way to other errands but I did listen to some nice music by this trio called Mazaltov Cocktail. (Mazaltov is Hebrew/Yiddish for "good luck". The phrase "Mazel Tov!" parallels the use of the phrase "Congratulations!" and coveys roughly that "I am pleased this good thing has happened to you!"). I pray some good things have happened to you this week so I can wish you Mazaltov!
past a rippling brook and a quiet place to sit
before I was let out the beautiful gate.
On the other side I found the weekly Farmer's Market.
