Things have been busy around here the last few days. The church is now almost all painted except for the Sabbath school rooms. So we will have a nice clean painted church for this weekend and all the locals will be very happy.
Memere arrived here yesterday afternoon with a load of doors and produce; she also brought 3 fundis back with her to work another week and get some things finished up here. They worked on plastering the walls of the school rooms next door today. Memere brought us tons of mangoes, 15 pineapples, tomatoes, onions, garlic, green peppers, sack of oranges, and lots of bananas. So we had a great big fruit salad for dinner last night with chips (deep fried potato chunks), which we have all come to like. Most of us have shed pounds and our clothes don’t fit anymore, Mat has had to make 4 new belt holes just to be able to cinch up his belt.
I went down and washed laundry yesterday and I finally felt better so I didn’t need help from Lisungu. Hannah helped me scrub some of the socks but soon decided they were terrible to wash and they are!
Memere had brought us margarine too so I told the kids that I would make bush style cinnamon rolls for breakfast on Friday. So I started in making dough from memory right before dinner and let it rise. Then I mixed up another batch and got that one rising. Both batches of dough did really well and were fluffy.
I began making them out last night and the pans soon filled up and the rolls were rising. Hannah sprinkled the sugar on and Bella did the cinnamon and I rolled them up and cut them. They smelled so good cooking it reminded me of being home and making overnight cinnamon rolls and buns. The kids were all begging for some before bed but they were put off till morning.
Most of us were up at the crack of dawn this morning; I needed to finish breakfast and the kids wanted to eat. I had made enough that everyone could eat what they wanted. I melted margarine on the stove with sugar and cinnamon and spooned some over our rolls. Some of the men and boys ate 5-6 rolls or more and some had 2-3. We were all happy with that treat for breakfast and the kids asked for some more before we leave. I highly doubt that will happen because it was a lot of work and some of the pans were hard to cook in.
Even though we have dropped weight we have been eating very well; very healthy eating over here-No Taco Bell!
Today I had to do more laundry because somehow I had overlooked some Chris’ and some of Mat’s yesterday. It went really quick with only a few things and the sun was out this morning so they dried quickly.
The rains finally came this afternoon and we were so happy because we needed it. The weather cooled things down nice and it dampened the soccer field out in front of the church. Today Memere picked up the bikes that we had pooled our money together to get for Yona and Barasa. Those men were so happy today and immediately tried out their brand new bikes. We all felt that a bike would be helpful for the men doing outreach and bible studies, not to mention shortening the trips that they usually have to walk. We also told Miriam that we had bought her a new sewing machine but that is had not come yet and she looked surprised and happy!
Today the sewing school had finished up all the projects! I can’t believe how hard they work and they are so fast. They sewed so many things this week that it’s hard to imagine them getting it all done, but they did. I am very pleased with everything for my girls, myself, and the items for friends at home.
Tomorrow we are feeding everyone that comes to church, kind of like potluck except they don’t bring food. Miriam and I spent most of the day preparing food and
Jon, Steve, Chris, Teresa, and the kids went down and pruned the fruit trees and used a machete to cut down the tall grass in the rows. Well, its been a long week and we are all fine and just most of us still have lingering cold symptoms. Isabel is back to her old self except for a cough.
The kids are anxious to head out to Kibidula next Wednesday morning and then we will head out to do a safari somewhere. They will really appreciate it after camping out and working very hard in tough conditions.
We are all tired tonight and can’t wait to get to bed and relax. Hope everyone at home is well and that you all have a good weekend.
To Grandpa & Papa,
We are thinking of you and praying for you when you go for you surgery.
Bumpa- The kids talk about you all the time and like to tell the other kids stories, especially Mat.
Birdie- The kids have been talking about your bread and pies and hope that you will make them some!
Alanna- Thanks for the doggie updates; the kids all miss the dogs especially Bella. We wonder if they will remember us or not (Mindy will, but
The kids are excited to bring home keepsakes for their friends and family and they keep begging me to get things but we have lots of time and we will be many places the last few weeks.