Critters

Before we moved to Congo, I would often get asked if I had a fear of bugs and snakes.  My response was usually a "no".  However, as I thought more about it, I realized that I am not fearful of bugs in the U.S.  Rarely have I seen giant bugs there (at least in my neck of the woods) and snakes have usually been of the garden variety.  Here, as probably most of you suspect, bugs can be a little bigger, and while I have yet to witness any snakes, I know there are poisonous ones lurking around. 

My two biggest challenges regarding these critters are: my inability to squish large bugs, and the sheer number of them here.  As for my first challenge, I generally let Sam handle the squishing responsibilities (unless they are smaller bugs- I can handle those).  I have yet to squish a large cockroach.  Those things are huge and I just don't think I can handle the crunch (yet)!

My second challenge is in regards to the number of critters.  They are everywhere!!  Not only have I seen cockroaches on my countertops and floors, but there is evidence to their subsisting in my cupboards.  Not to mention numerous lizards that have raced across our floor and stuffed themselves under our stove.   I have seen 2 mice and countless droppings.  We cohabitate with ants as well...they are in our bathrooms, our living room, our kitchen...really almost every room in our house.  I even showered with a few last night.  Bugs also live in the flour and rice.  This is a normal occurrence here and you just sift them out.  But it's a big gross factor for me that I am having to work through.  I have my bug radar on every time I cook and bake, just in case!  So, as you can see, I am living with a lot of bugs.  They are a constant in my life here.

Now, on the other hand, God's creativity with bugs is captivating.  Numerous times we have been hunched over an insect, inspecting it closely and held in awe.  Take yesterday for example...there were ants on my counter.  Normally, I would exercise mass genocide over the creatures.  However, there was this one ant who was carrying away a giant piece of tuna.  I was completely amazed at the weight he was able to carry.  So, as I stood there in my amazement, I decided to let the little guy live and off he went with his supper.

Here are some of the creepy crawlies and cool creatures we have seen up close and personal:

I don't think I will ever think cockroaches are cool...they just plain gross me out

Checking out the leftover crumbs

Hey God, why a cockroach?

Here is a frog carcass...pretty cool to see up close.  At one point, there were four dead frog carcasses in various stages of decay laying around our yard.  Elaka, the dog, loved to throw them up in the air and play with them. 

 While in Malindi, Kenya in June, we came across these giant millipieds.  Very cool and very gigantic.

Here is a large grasshopper on a screen outside my office window...I must confess that this guy looks much bigger in the picture than he actually is.  But still, he is rather large and so fascinating to look at.

Some kind of green bug...

I liked this fly's huge bulging orange eyes...

This moment was a teachable one: check your shoes for spiders before you put them on

These monkeys were also in Malindi, Kenya...we had some outside our hotel room and one even tried to come in when I had the balcony door open!  It was shooed away with some firm "no's" and the threat of being pummeled with my diaper bag.  Still cute though.


Talia found herself a prayer partner!  There are lots of Praying Mantises here!

Sam was able to get a picture of one in the prayer pose...