This is one reason I'm glad we will be serving in South Africa with our missions organization; it's not exactly the country of perpetual summer, and while it does have all four seasons, the climate is similar to that of South Carolina. That sounds great to me!
Well...it did sound great. It sounded just wonderful until I found out a little teensy-tiny detail about South Africa of which I had previously been blissfully ignorant. There is no air conditioning or--more horrifically--heat. No heat. There is no central heating. I might have a stroke.
I know what you're thinking. "What a spoiled little American girl! Doesn't she know that missionaries are supposed to live quite cheerfully without modern conveniences?!" Yes, thanks, I do. But I will confess that I thought our living conditions in the very big city of Pretoria would be strikingly different than life in a hut in the mountains of Africa (where our friends will be serving). And unlike some, I actually have experience with a heatless environment. Let me take you on a walk down an ice-covered memory lane...
The first winter we were married, Todd and I lived in a mouse-infested rental house (another story) with central heat and air...that didn't work. Despite our appeals to the landlord, nothing was ever accomplished to rectify the situation, and I nearly died. Strike that...I should have nearly died. Unfortunately, I'm far too healthy to keel over from having to get ready in a 39 degrees bathroom in the morning, but suffice it to say I was miserable from November to March, or thereabouts.
Todd was fine...he went out and bought some long underwear and wool socks and I don't know that he ever made a single legitimate complaint. He just sat around in the cold, being happy. I, on the other hand, carried around a tiny little heater and plugged it in for some semblance of warmth in whatever room I had to be in for more than a couple of minutes.
The tables turned, however, when summer time rolled around. My patient, selfless husband got a taste of what I'd felt all winter long. Come to find out, he absolutely can't stand being hot. He went out and bought two box fans (let the record show that I only got ONE tiny little heater...) and he wanted to start eating on the floor in the living room, as he was convinced the lower he was, the cooler the air. I didn't mind eating around the ottoman (we still do that, actually) but I had to object to his suggestion of taking the mattress off the bed and laying it down on the floor (I already mentioned the mice). Lucky for him, his sister and brother-in-law were getting rid of their window unit, so we used that from the end of August through September, I think. Lucky for me, they also got rid of several large heaters :) Though, to be fair, it didn't really get that cold last winter.
This unfortunate lack of modern comfort aside, I absolutely cannot WAIT to get to our new home in South Africa! Lord willing, we only have a little over four months before we'll be on our way across the planet. It has been incredible to watch God provide almost 85% of our support...such a miraculous blessing.
It's starting to get kind of exciting around here...take a look at our new city. Isn't it lovely?! :)
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