I intended to post this last night and we even had power...but Phil ran out of Internet minutes...So here it is.
As I mentioned in this morning’s blog Susan was sick and so I didn’t know what the day would hold in store for us. Well for starters three separate power outages. Even for us that is a record! So far we’ve had two more occasions to be without power than our entire two-week visit last year… Liz prayed for adventure and her prayers have been answered in oh, so many ways.
When the rain finally stopped, Liz and I decided to take a walk around the area. Actually, it was almost like taking a swim. The roads were so muddy that we came home inches taller than when we left! And so I grabbed my camera and off we went. Liz, by the way takes her job of keeping me safe very seriously. But then when I have a camera in my hands I tend to become very single minded, unaware of things like traffic! And so every few feet I would hear a not so quiet voice telling me to get out of the street!! We started the picture taking across the street with the house with the water well. The kids are just as cute as last year and just as willing to pose. As we wandered down Phil’s road the kids came out of the woodwork. And they were all willing and wanting their pictures taken and then of course they wanted to see what they looked like. And so the 100 yards down the street took us about forever. As we rounded the corner we decided to turn right instead of left like last year and that direction produced even more kids. Next thing I knew we were two Mzungu’s with a whole village of African children following behind us, giggling and laughing. One little boy in particular was as cute as could be. But every time the camera came out he ran and hid behind someone else. Finally, I captured his smile! Now you have to envision us with about 15 children, most without shoes, walking down muddy, muddy streets. Here Liz and I are trying are best to avoid the puddles and they are walking right through them. By the time we turned around to head home they were holding our hands and we had made a new group of friends. These kids probably ranged in age from 5-7 and their mothers had absolutely no concern that these white people they had never seen before were taking their children out of their sight. It was kind of refreshing to experience that kind of trust. When we came back and thanked them they waived at us and smiled. What a difference in culture. I can’t begin to imagine at that age letting my child out of my sight much less than wander off with someone I didn’t know.
It brings me back to community. It is so different here. I noticed it last year and again this year. Because there is no power in most houses everything is done outside. Therefore neighbors know each other. Women sit in the front of their homes and talk with one another while tending to their chores and children. People are everywhere. You can’t turn your head without seeing someone.
We returned because the rains returned…AGAIN. Now I am listening to the crickets and it is very reminiscent of home. But shortly after getting back a group of our girls came over. The intent was to talk to them two by two and find out about them and update our records. Well that didn’t turn out so well. We did talk two by two but only got through the first two girls. And that took a full 2-1/2 hours. It was great getting to spend the time with them and find out more than their favorite activity and color. We do have some amazing young women in our group. Afterwards I went outside with the other girls and took some pictures. And that was a great experience. As all kids they went crazy. The first few pictures were serious but then they let loose. We have some real hams in our group and they were not afraid to show it. We also might have some future models. At any rate they loved taking the pictures and had nothing but smiles to show for it. I loved the interaction and we had a few moments of dancing. For those of you wondering, yes, they have more rhythm (but not by much!).
Tonight Phil, Liz and I went through all the pictures and put names to each photo. For Liz and I it was like playing concentration which we’ve both decided we are not very good at. Though I must say, that if we played she would beat me by a mile! Tomorrow is again undecided since Susan is still sick. We plan to talk with more of the kids and see where that leads. Conversation with them is always good.
Please continue to pray that we seek God’s timing and words. I realized today that though “my” shoe plan was not working as I thought it would, spending time with the kids here at Phil’s house was a much better plan. We are not worried about getting run over for one, we have no concerns of people running up to us and distracting us, and so we can carry on an uninterrupted conversation. The two we had today went very well and we learned a great deal about the girls. Hopefully the more we do the better we will get and the more relaxing they will become. And it is really good to have someone around who speaks both languages! Speaking only one does NOT work so well!!!
Until I write again, I love you all.
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