Beans and rice

For lunch

Every day

Except sometimes corn on special occasions

And lollipops when I make everyone cry at the same time

Because what kid actually enjoys getting a shot?

The chicken

I was given a chicken the other day, but it is not just any chicken, but a badly injured one, in need of a long recovery and lots of care. Upon receiving this gift, the immediate issue seemed to be dehydration and starvation. The poor chicken had been on a long journey and had not eaten anything or drunk water in four days. I started by slowly coaxing her to drink water and eat a few bread crumbs. 

The next major issue is probably related to the accident she suffered - falling off the back of a motorcycle (which was going at high speed). It seems as it one of her legs is broken, or at least paralyzed. This may or may not be due to the accident, but she is unable to walk. 

I have kept her in the house because I know if I leave her outside the other chickens (and possibly other people) will probably kill her within a few hours. She is getting much better and able to stand up now, but still not properly walking. I'm hoping for the best.

Mama Sarah came in last night, took a look at the chicken sitting in a bowl on the floor. 

"Well, Kate's always up to something!"

Life as we know it...

I went into the kitchen to find the sink full of something very unpleasant that looked very much like vomit.

Kate: “Annie, people don’t throw up in the kitchen sink.” (It doesn't drain properly)

Annie: “Where do they throw up?”

Adonai: “In the toilet.”

Kate: "Yes, or outside." (Thinking of the toilet which doesn't drain either.)

Thankfully banana leaves were available to wipe it up and clean it out.

Nine-year-old Annie is missing her mom, running wild in the house and getting into mischief. “She is not coping well” her dad says. So I offered to have her come to my house in the afternoons, when I finished with work. She comes over pretty often, mostly to play with the neighbor kids, color or get into mischief.

Annie and 7-year-old Mervedy discussing Santa Claus (also known as Father Christmas)...

Mervedy (full of emotion) : "Kate!! Annie says Father Christmas doesn't come to your village!"

Annie (matter-of-factly) : "He doesn't come here either."

Mervedy: "Father Christmas DOES come here. I used to wake up every morning waiting for him."

Annie: "This is a village."

Mervedy: "He has a box with presents in it."

Annie: "And he wears red and white with black boots."

Mervedy: "And he has horses. He comes here."

Annie: "Have you ever seen him come here? Of course not, it's a village."

Afternoon concert

Today we listened to music on my computer and the band joined in, complete with drums and guitars. They insisted that I "turn the music up loud." There was quite a bit of racket and joyful noise coming from my house this afternoon.

Afterwards, the mischievous kids ran all around the hospital, hid my phone and then crawled under my bed and had to be dragged out.

The little things and the special moments remind me to say yes more often, to be more patient, and to not worry about what is not important.

where the green grass grows

2nd Chapter of Acts

This weekend we celebrate Pentacost. Tomorrow, which is Monday, is a national holiday in Congo. I think it’s appropriate for it to be a holiday similar to Christmas and Easter. 

These three church holidays each remind us of an aspect of God. 

Christmas shows us the love of the Father - sending His son to be born as a human on our ruined earth. 

Easter shows us the love of the Son - giving up His very life for us and rising again. 

Pentacost shows us God’s love through the Holy Spirit - dwelling in us and changing our lives. 

Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the Trinity.

So each of these days is a celebration of what God has done for us, and is doing in us.

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Mervedy

“If you had a TV you could watch football games that are happening in your village.” 

Mervedy recommends that I purchase a TV. Maybe he thinks it would help me not be homesick…or at least provide the encouragement and entertainment of watching sports based in America. I have never really been a big sports fan. He thinks a TV would be just the thing. I have no such need or desire. When I watch movies, I do so on my computer, and that works fine. I did not grow up with a TV and I am not really accustomed to one. What would I do with it?

“Kate, if I go to the market I will look for shoes for your baby doll to wear.” 

He noticed the baby doll is missing shoes. His little sister Benonie loves playing with the baby doll, who normally wears a onesie, but now has the addition of a hat, since the girls made too many premie hats, I donated one to the doll. Now apparently all she needs are shoes.

Mervedy: “I wish I could cut off my ears and eat them.”

Kate: “Why!?”

Mervedy: “Because I’m hungry.”

Who ever would come up with such ideas? When the hunger pains started to gnaw at my stomach, ears would have been one of my last choices of food possibilities. Yet Mervedy and his remarkable imagination, and the curious things he says….Ears seem to be the top choice.

“Kate when you go back to your village, you can leave your garden to me. I will take good care of it.”

Okay son. I’ll do just that. 

“I walked home from school by myself. Don’t worry. I stuck to the main roads.”

This child provides an endless source of entertainment. 

Another little friend

2 Chronicles 16:9

"For the eyes of the Lord Yahweh roam throughout the earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His."

Flowers

My first sunflower bloomed!

Some of the my other flowers have survived against all odds and actually bloomed. I got a picture of this one just before one of the neighbor kids tore it up.

"So lift your voice just one more time

If there’s any hope may it be a sign

That everything was made to shine

Despite what you can see

And wisdom will honor everyone who will learn
To listen, to Love, and to pray and discern
And to do the right thing even when it burns
And to live in the light through each treacherous turn..."

-Josh Garrels

Cockroaches

The cockroaches found my laundry basket and decided it was a good place to start a family. They have given birth by the dozens. 

Massive cockroaches are a part of life here; not something I have been able to make friends with but something I can tolerate. Some mornings I wake up to find I have drowned a few in a bowl of dirty dishes and soapy water. Other times they get the better deal by pooping in my water pitcher, my cup and escaping a watery grave.

They fly around the house when it’s dark - you can hear them at night. As soon as the lights are out, they come forth in large numbers. They are impossible to catch, being much too fast, and they leave a mess especially on the kitchen shelves and anywhere clothing is.

Cockroaches are just a part of life here; there is no hope of avoiding them.

Some of the different shades of pink present in the Maternity ward...

I replaced the old curtains with a nicer pattern and color:

Maternity was already themed pink but I just helped it along a little...