Well, there is nothing quick about a trip to Mago except that we were back at Kibidula within 36 hours. Mom and I went to pay the fundis and take them back to their homes. The road is really rough since the rains have washed out huge pot holes and some places the ruts are sooo deep. We didn’t have enough in the truck to give us any weight so we bounced around quite a bit. The window on my side had fallen out of the bracket so I had to hold it up because it was raining, of course. I was really glad to see Ikonda because I knew we were getting close. Soon as we arrived there people started asking mom for a lift and she noticed this person and that person that she knew. She stopped to talk to a man about an obviously terrible abscess and make sure he had medicine. One the corner where we had left the little African Christina and her sister we found she was still there dancing and waving at us. Mattie and Maggie and Yulie were all by the roadside hollering greetings.
We saw Barasa and his son on one side of the road and on the other we saw Aruma. They were coming back from harvesting wheat. I thought it was weird that Miriam wasn’t with them. Mom asked Aruma if she knew her mother had twins and we were surprised to find out she didn’t know. She knew her mother had a baby boy…(the same sick baby we went to see the other day), but she had no idea that she had also had a baby girl and that she had died two weeks later. I think it was a bit of a shock because she packed up to go back with us right away. We found out from Brent the reason for Miriam’s absence. She has been very sick for 2 whole weeks so Shari gave her a pregnancy test J It’s positive and you never saw such a miserable looking woman. She is very ill! She couldn’t even smile at me, but we are assured that she is happy beyond words. They have been married 6 years and unable to have kids. I suggested it was the change in diet while they ate with us for 6 weeks, but mom teased that it was because of the 6 weeks of Miriam having to live with us that he had had time to “put money in the bank.”He only laughed and said, “Maybe.” We are happy for them. I asked if she had made Jonah and Sam’s shirts but she had only been able to cut them out.
Metu was very happy to see me. He and his sister were holding my hands in seconds, taking off my watch and asking to play with my camera. I visited with Shari and she was glad for someone to speak English to. We ate lunch with them the next day. Hannah was very proud that she has made great strides in breaking the thumbsucking habit. Shari has found some orphans to help. One little guy had a terrible ear infection and she has been treating it twice a day. She seems happy in her work.
Mom and I made a fire in the fireplace and cleared a spot amongst the tools to lay down a couple of mattresses. We woke up to the sound of the fundis stirring cement at 5 and peering in at us. The same donkey brayed his morning greetings, and the same birds sang their wake up songs, and the cho stinks as bad as ever, but it was strangely empty of all our friends. We ate pineapple and bananas and swept and scraped floors. We also worked hard at fixing the window. I am not at all mechanically minded but mom is and together we fixed it in time for our return trip.
We saw Disma. His face lit up like a lightbulb when he saw mom. He absolutely loves her. Mom over-heard the Godfrey at the Duka's wife tell someone else that if it wasn't for Mama Janet that kid would be dead. If only his parents took an interest in him! They don't care enough to know that she looks after his wounds. When we saw him she changed his bandages and they were very smelly. She got after him once again for leaving his bandages on too long. She doesn't want him to leave them on more than two days. His sores were doing a bit better despite the rottenness... Miriam took one whiff and went running for the cho. He had a funza but mom forgot to take it out.
The finishing touches on the buildings look very nice. I took lots of pictures. The fundis were not quite done so we waited until 1:30 for them to finish and they were not packed and ready to go until 3 pm. So it was a LONG trip back for us. The last part of the trip was through back road because that is where the fundis live. I thought we would never get off those rough roads.
We arrived to find everyone happy and picking the peeling skin off Steve’s back. He blistered pretty bad so there’s a lot to pick at. They had heard a bush baby (a little animal) scream in the night and Jason went to investigate but couldn’t see what the trouble was. The morning revealed that his dogs had killed the poor little creature.
We didn't get the phone number for Ethiopian Air until late last night and it is too late to get them to order us Vegetarian meals.... so pray for these 4 kids... we will probably be quite hungry as I don't have a single granola bar or anything for the trip. The dried fruit is down to prunes and things that are better cooked.
Come home!
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 12, 2008 at 09:13 - Link
Christina, Brianna, Vanessa, Angela, and Steve,
You are missed! Please hurry home.
Love,
Eldon and Ronnie
Happy Sabbath
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 12, 2008 at 09:49 - Link
Enjoy your last Sabbath with your family and in Africa.
It started snowing late this afternoon. I'm not to excited about the snow but it does look more like Christmas.
We are praying that you will have a safe trip home.
Love Yvonne
Hury home please!
Posted by Shiana on Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 07:03 - Link
Dear friends,
I miss you soooooo much!
It has been strange not haveing other young musicians playing for church to!
By the way, what time (our time) are you going to be flying in to the Seatac airport in seattle on monday??
Love your friend,
Shiana (:
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