Day 36 - December 19th

Today was a good, productive day - I did LOTS of lesson planning! The highlight of my day is very simple, but was a Super Happy! I got mail - My first package from Home! I have no idea when they sent it, but I know that it got here in UNDER 4 WEEKS! CRAZY and AWESOME!
I totally needed a journal, because mine will not be enough for the whole trip. And it is so nice! And the book light is awesome! So glad to have hands free now, and not have to use my flashlight! I'm excited about all the other contents, too!
And just today, our french press got broken, so the via was timely. God is so good!
Another super awesome thing today was making plans to visit my friends over in Uganda, who are working with sixty feet! I am excited to see Kels and Kirby in action early next year!

Day 6 - November 19th

I visited the Dimako market with Jenn (the nurse on our team and mom to the cute Annabella, who accompanied us). They conduct market in French, so I was able to follow most of her interactions with the context. It was really cool to see all the many things you can buy; it may not all be high quality, but there definitely is variety!

Day 35 - December 18th

Today was a full day, but a good day. I worked on a craft project gift that I have designed for one of the kids, did wash (realize that this takes some time, with hanging things out on the line and taking them in), we had church as a team, I did lesson planning, and we lit our fourth advent candle. I enjoyed my time with people today. I am blessed to be on this team here in the bush. :-)

Day 5 - November 18

Asher (7) managed to find an ant-infested patch of grass to lay in. Laurel was unaware of what was going on, as she was working on something in the house, and I was available, so as he threw off his shirt, trying to get the ants off, I was able to grab my comb and get them out of his hair. I was glad that I was able to help, and that he trusted me to help him, even though it was my first week here.

Day 34 - December 17th

Yesterday was one child team member's eighth birthday. She had a medieval themed party and was dressed as a princess. They wanted to have all the children dress up, and I love costuming, so I got to do what I love, and it helped the children dress up for the party! And the grown-ups dressed up too....not bad for a curtain, huh?



Also, earlier in the day, I harvested coffee beans! I wore some loose clothes to try to stay cool, but also protect against the crazy ants that swarm on the coffee trees. I didn't get bit hardly, but only because I was vigilant to get them off of me quickly.
Afterwards, I helped shell the coffee for a bit. Heidi, our agriforestry team member, is working on processing them. Some of them are being dried, and some have to be fermented first. After a while, we will have our own coffee! Talk about free trade... you know it is not exploiting people if you harvested it yourself!

Day 4 - November 17

My first full day in the bush. I remember that I woke up early in the morning, like as sunrise (here, that is before 6 am). Jet lag, I guess. I just laid there for a while taking in the new sounds and enjoying the sunrise. It felt like being in one of those nature white noise soundtracks, only it was the real thing! I journaled some, and then fell back asleep (jet lag again). Everything was so different from my life in the states, and it was exhausting trying to learn an entirely new way of life at first. But Nathan and Laurel were so patient and helped me adjust little by little, giving me much grace through the process and my many questions.
And I remember the rain (possibly hail) woke me up at like 3am! It was SO LOUD! That is the only time it has rained since I have been here. Being from FL, that is so strange to me.... but we're not in Florida anymore!

Day 33 – Dec 16th

It is FRIDAY! We finished school in record time today, and did music – The Instruments of the Orchestra! Fun stuff! We also worked on projects for our China unit in History – Boaz wrote in Chinese characters, and Nandry composed a Chinese song. I love that I can help them with these extension activities!
Later I helped the kids get costume ideas for a themed birthday party we are all attending for another of the children on the team. She is having a medieval themed party, so we were draping fabric and trying to find things that could be like chain mail (netting). I had a blast basically playing dress up with the kids.
Now, time to make a present… I am LOVING all the opportunities to be creative here!