Once again, mosquitoes buzz around my head, crickets chirp their happy songs, sweat drips down my back, little ones constantly call for attention…there is just no place like home! I am so happy to be back I can hardly contain myself. And as an added bonus, I feel like a totally new and improved version of myself too! I can’t believe how much energy I have. There is nothing like a bit of rest and good food to restore enthusiasm and energy.
Since arriving home, there have been massive improvements made to my immediate surroundings. Nothing got done while I was gone, due to the main improvement makers being employed as babysitters. But, now that Destiny has agreed that maybe I just might be the long lost mother she was missing, the guys are free to do all the things that need to be done. To start with, Travis built me a closet for my room! It has shelves and a place to hang my clothes. It is made out of the box the airplane came in. My room is now organized and our clothes are hanging where the rats can’t chew them up! (I found that most of my skirts were eaten to shreds while I was gone by one brave rat…who understood, no doubt, that Roy is a sound sleeper!)
The next thing was that half of my house now has electricity installed. (They are still working on that project) Today brought the greatest change, however, when Travis made me a desk for the living room that became my temporary kitchen counter! (Also made out of airplane boxes) I no longer have to prepare food while sitting on the floor. My joy knows no bounds!
Now, if this all sounds too good to be true, it gets even better! You see, there are two volunteer houses on this side of the road. We live in the one at the top of the hill, but at the bottom of the hill, not a hundred feet away, live a new missionary couple from South Africa. Their names are Michael and Inge, and I know that you will be hearing a lot about them from me in the future. They are our main teachers at our missionary training school, and are doing a great job. Well, since they are so busy teaching all the time, they went and bought a real washing machine and….drum roll please….they let me use it! No more scrubbing laundry all afternoon every day with a scrub brush! What pure bliss. Now I have time and energy to play with the girls, take them for long walks, and do my job as co-director of the new training school. God is so good!
Speaking of the school, it is doing great. We have a class of 11 students now, and their entire day is structured for them, so that every moment is improved for the glory of God. We are teaching them how to have private devotions in the morning, how to study, get their exercise, work together and play together. Bible, godly music, and medical evangelism are the main focus of their class work right now, along with English since all the classes are taught in English. I love watching the kids. They are so happy and enthusiastic about what they are learning. What a blessing to have such a good group of teachers to teach them also. God certainly pulled this all together in the most incredible manner. We are so blessed to be able to be a part of God’s work.