familiar things

It's Sunday afternoon and I'm taking some much needed down time. Steve and the kids are at the orphanage for some play time with the children and I'm working on finalizing the newsletter that really should have been sent out on Friday but this afternoon I find I am craving something familiar.
We've been in Africa for just over 10 weeks and today for the first time since arriving I made it to church. The words were very hard to understand but I was able to grab a few Swahili words here and there. The energy was awesome, the heat was as well. We went to lunch with some the members of the Calgary team and then Steve dropped me at home. I sat on the sofa and took a few moments to rest and then the work began. I can't work without music so I reached for the computer to start a playlist of music we brought from home. Deeper was the first song that I just had to listen to. Then came I Will Search, From the Inside Out, We Have Overcome etc. Then thought came to mind, "What is it that I am missing so much. Why am I still having such a hard time adjusting after 10 weeks. Why are the tears still coming so often?" It hit me that the familiarity of home is lost to me. I need it so much. The music that I sang each Sunday was only a click away. We had brought the songs with us. So I sat back and began to worship. I'm sure the neighbours thought I was nuts but I really needed it. Then my brain began to work even more. Since I have to stay wiht the children at the orphanage nearly every Sunday and miss the services, why not pull up one of Pastor Mark's sermons? So I went online and downloaded July 19th sermon. It was so simple.
I'm not sure why I hadn't thought of it before but in a moment of quiet it hit me and I'm happy it did.
So as I sit and write I'm listening to the familiar tunes from Canada, some we sang often on worship team, some we listened to at home. Later when the rest of the family comes home we'll gather round the computer and listen to that familiar and wonderful voice of our favourite lead pastor as he teaches and preaches from the Word. Now if I could just get Paulo to record the worship portion of our Sunday morning services I'd feel right at home. Until that time I'll have to be content with the MP3's we have and pray that they'll be enough to keep my mind focused on the good things God has in store.
All I can say is Thank You Lord for technology because I really need familiar things!