So the rat is dead. Or, at least THAT rat is dead. The kids went wild in their efforts to capture him and ended up spilling the beans and causing a ruckus.They kind of got in trouble and had to pick up the beans one by one off the ground. Teresa was yelling “Don’t let that rat into my bedroom! Jonah, stand guard!!!”
But what’s a boy to do when the crazy critter runs right between his feet and past him? The chase was on through the rooms and back into the kitchen where the creature met with his demise. Actually, he was hit over the head and he hung by his tail in Chris’s hand when he came to and tried to twist up to bite… Hit over the head again and the process was repeated a couple more times!
Later there was a little mouse sitting atop the garlic bottle and two more rats were spotted racing between the cook shack and the church. Just now I nearly stepped on a mouse outside the door. Steve put plastic on the remaining windows and stopped up the holes in the kitchen. I hope it helps, but the reality is…..ICK! I can deal with it, but poor Teresa stands on a chair and squeaks like a mouse every time she hears the word “mouse”.
Jonah and Isabelle are sick in bed with a high fever. Pray this stupid bug stops soon. The poor kids! Jonah was just groaning and he has 8 blankets on his bed. I think they are finally asleep. I am worried that Bethany is next. She has the cold, and I am just hoping that she doesn’t get the fever part to go with it.
A couple of days ago there was a big lorry type truck that picked up a load of lumber just past the church and over the rickety bridge. On its way down the hill it tipped over!!!! Well, today another lorry went past the church and over the rickety bridge and up the hill to help the incapacitated lorry out and pick up it’s load of lumber.Unfortunately, as this second lorry was crossing the rickety old bridge with the load of lumber it slipped off the bridge and lost the whole load. It only had one wheel on the bridge. One was in the air, one hanging over the river and the other was on the bank. We all cheered when they finally got it back on its feet and re-loaded. A strange thought flittered through my head that wouldn’t it be a trial if it flipped over somewhere between the church and the turn off to Lupalilo locking us in…You won’t believe it but that is kind of what happened. Tonight when mom and dad left to go home they encountered the truck somewhere between here and the turn off stuck deep in the mud. Of course the only way out is over the rickety little bridge and up the road, but then that is where the other truck is tipped over. Mom and dad are making a bed on some left-over mattresses here on the floor. This could be a real trial since tomorrow morning mom is taking the fundis back to Mafinga.
The fundis have worked here for 3 weeks and they are heading back home to their families tomorrow. There was much ceremony and speechifying on their part.Joelle, the guy in charge, made little tin hearts from the left-over tin roofing and strung them on necklaces and they had Jon shake each of them and congratulate them on a job well done while I took each of their pictures. The sewing students and Waggoners and everybody came out to sing to them. Mom and Dad were both presented with a heart necklace.
Later Jason called and suggested we show a nature film in appreciation of their work. We watched on of the Blue Planet DVDs on whales and fish and then we watched a DVD on Elephants in Tanzania. Then there was speeches and appreciations expressed.One of the fundis asked for a Bible and studies. They are all good guys. We have enjoyed working with them. Tomorrow they will get paid. Mom counted out a million and a half shillings for their pay (I think that’s right, at least, I helped her count it LOL!) They earn about $65 a week. A few of them will come back and help us again. They are actually Jason’s workers.
VBS was very full today. I didn’t get a headcount, but every space was taken. The body odor was more powerful than usual. Don’t know why except that it was so damp. I had a little girl on my lap that was definitely wet and smelly and there was a little boy with more than wet pants standing behind me. I had kids pressed in all around me as I clicked through the pictures to Brianna’s Bible story. I was sitting on the floor. Metu was holding my hand and Yulie and Deborah and Mattie were all leaning on me while Maggie sat on my lap. During the health part I took all those really small kids out and they played with me Leila.I am concerned about Yulie. She is older and bigger than Leila, but doesn’t weigh as much. Her little arms and legs are toothpicks. I was swinging them each around and it struck me that something isn’t quite right. I think she doesn’t get enough to eat, but mom wonders if it is aids or another health problem going on. I would like to find out if we can do anything. She is very cute but kind of quiet and shy. The older kids are easier to teach because they can follow the program well and they can actually figure out how to do the crafts.It’s so fun to hear the children singing the songs we have taught them all over the village. Sometimes you hear them walking up the trail singing “Allelu, Allelu” and no one can resist responding with “Praise ye the Lord”.They love it.
Vanessa was in charge of supper. She did a good job. It was wonderful… however, she really didn’t get to make anything… but that’s how it goes. She organized it with my mom and it was great.She also worked with Abi cleaning up all the food in the kitchen and putting everything in bins to try and discourage the mice and rats. We always leave food on the table and that is a problem. No fridge, you know! Not even very many bags to put things like bread away in. And the bread is so huge you couldn’t find one big enough.
Christina was burned tonight. Her unnamed, dear friend was trying to help her out. She was in the shower tent taking a bath and decided the water wasn’t warm enough. She asked this friend to bring her some of the hot, hot water from the barrel. This friend thought to pour it into the tub through the zipper without looking in and she actually dumped the hot water on Christina. There were tears and Matt was sent out to the field to pick a giant aloevera leaf to sooth the burn. She will live.
The Rat guards
Rat
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 09:49 - Link
Tom and I laughed so hard reading about the rat chase. I can see Teresa standing on the chair yelling but then if I had been there I would be right beside her. I try to visualize what it must of looked like kids chasing the rat, Teresa on the chair, beans spilling on the floor and then I begin laughing again.
It gives me the shivers when I think about a rat or mouse in your living quarters. Ask Jonah about putting a furry critter on my neck. Teresa I know it wasn't funny for you but we got a good laugh out of it anyway.
It must be very rewarding to hear the African kids singing the songs you have taught them. I hope someone has taken some pictures of the African kids at VBS.
A few weeks ago we were visiting a church and the Pastor was preaching on the Matt 24:1-14. He read this quote from the Desire Of Ages ...."So now, before the coming of the Son of man the everlasting gospel is to be preached "to every nation and kindred, and tongue, and people. Rev 14:6......He does not say that all the world will be converted, but that "this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." By giving the gospel to the world it is in our power to hasten our Lord's return.".... page 633 This is only a part of the paragraph.
I ask myself what have I done to hasten Jesus return. It is a sobering thought.
These past weeks haven't been easy for you but be reasured that you are all helping to preach the gospel to hasten Jesus return. You are planting the seed for Jesus to harvest and all your hardships will be worth it in the end.
The Moscow meetings continue every Wednesday night and Sabbath morning in the church. Last night one of my customers came. I sat with her and she talked like she will come again. I invitited her to help us pack and wrap for the Christmas Shoebox Saturday night. She sounded very interested.
Yesterday we had 50 miles an hour wind with heavy rain. It was awful but I was thankful it wasn't snow.
The gas price keeps dropping. Today it was $2.14.
The Rat guards
