Work Harder...

Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 06:31

We had quite a surprise this morning! Apparently “someone” read my blog and told mom how we sat around and relaxed on Friday... she couldn’t stand it! She had to bring us some work. We were just preparing breakfast when she drove up with my dad. They had the back of the pickup full of paint to ensure that we had enough to do around here until she gets back on Thursday.  The idea is to paint the inside of the church.  After unloading and eating with us and having worship they took off down the road for Kibidula once again. I hear Dale is having a blast.

After breakfast we all went to work with a vengeance and scraped and swept and cleaned the new orphan home so we can move in. We decided the Kirby’s get the first room because it is big enough for them. The kitchen will be a nice change from using the entry way of the church and the living room will be so cozy to read our evening story by the fireplace. Vanessa gets the bathroom since it isn’t plumbed yet. Steve and I and the rest of our girls in the far back bedroom and Jon and Teresa was will get the small one across the hall and the boys the end room. We move first thing in the morning. Jon and Steve are busy putting plastic on the windows and doors in. You should have heard the singing while we worked in the orphan home. The acoustics were grand and the harmony fantastic. We were singing Christmas songs… the kids were amazed that it is that season already.

Abi was really excited to tell mom she took a funza out of her foot and she got the whole sack of eggs out all at once.

Izzy and Leila are still feverish and Leila is flea bitten. Everybody else is fine. It’s good to see Jonah and Bethany bouncing around. In fact they all just came from a good swim in the river. I went to take a few pictures. They were letting themselves slide down the rapids and having a blast. There were overhanging branches that the boy swung on acting like Tarzan.

Vanessa is busy making pizza!!! They look really yummy. She made flat biscuits and used tomato sauce made from dried tomatoes and cashew cheese and cut up a pineapple. I think she is having fun. It’s much easier to cook a little fancier now that our group is half the size. Vanessa made cobbler from soaked dried fruit for breakfast the other morning. Abi is busy making muffins.  She made some the other day that were really good. Miriam is finding it a lot easier to cook for us since we don’t want any beans and there are fewer people to cook for. We eat less bread, especially since we don’t have any peanut butter or margarine, just honey and jam and bananas. Also, since people have been sick the appetites have dwindled. Izzy is so thin her pants won’t stay on. I was wondering why everyone was visibly thinner but those in my own family… however, Dad complimented on my thinner state this morning. (I won’t tell you what else he said!!!) Really, Steve and my girls look the same as ever. Christina is taller, but so is Jonah.

I was having such a time with my hair that I asked Teresa to take off a few inches. She was busy, though, so Steve volunteered to do it. I thought he could manage a straight cut. Teresa started freaking after his first cut, however, and she wouldn’t let him finish the job. Apparently I wouldn’t have had much hair left if it were left up to him.

Vanessa faithfully does algebra every day. She is determined to not get behind in math.

from the other half of the group

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 07:45 - Link

Guess what we are eating pizza every day! Zanzibar is very beautiful. The kids say the water is warm and there are tons of shells. We went snorkeling this morning and saw lots of fish and Dakota and Ellie and Tom and Cindy got stung by jelly fish. We also saw Portuguese Man of War!! The kids wish they were there! The adults are pretty good with where we are. But we all miss you guys! The kids say tell Debo, Metu, Mati and Mage Hello.
Now from the parents: while Zanzibar is beautiful we probably wouldn't recommend that you come here. The trip is really long and expenses add up really fast. It costs alot to get anywhere or do anything. It's constantly battling with bargaining with people. You might just be better off time and money wise to go to Lake Malawi where Jason could go with you and arrange thing so that you don't get ripped off. BUt that is just our opinion.
We are going snorkeling tomorrow so we'll see how that goes.
We did find a beautiful, amazing, peaceful place though and are very content here.
Kenzie says to tell Uncle Jon "HI".
Natalie says to tell you we have all had warm showers. She misses all of you too.
Dakota says to tell the boys she had macaroni.
OK, we are paying by the hour for this and have spent most of it catching up on the blog. Besides that our pizza is ready!!!LOL

Love you all,
THe other half