Avocadoes, volleyball, and cultural exchange...

It is again the end to a very full, yet fantastic day. I just finished washing dishes in the buckets outside. My hands are wrinkled from the amazi and sabune (water and soap.) While washing, Lionel and Innocent were break dancing to the music on Sarah’s iphone. They seriously have some mad talent! Sarah and I also each took a short ride down the driveway on the coffee bike after dinner tonight. These bikes have huge racks on the back to carry hundreds of pounds of food, coffee, or anything else needing transportation. The uncles at the houses (Claude and Everest) use the bike or a rickety wheelbarrow to transport pretty much anything on these roads with deep ruts and potholes. Their job has to be incredibly hard, as they are also the night watchmen. Imagine staying up all night and then doing hard labor half the day. They even have time to play a mean game of volleyball in the afternoons. It is becoming a favorite past time for everyone!

Today was a mix of teaching and learning, playing volleyball, bouncing toddlers on laps, eating good beans, rice, and avocados (!), reading, getting slobbered on by toddlers, singing songs, and cooking on the charcoal stove. This morning the kids came over to have school. We read books, learned about syllables, and hunted for words. One of the girls’ favorite past times is to write stories on the erasable boards they have. Alyce’s story was about a girl named Alyce who was number one in her class at school. All of the kids seem so motivated to do well in school. First in class is the goal. The great part is, many of them have achieved it at Sonrise School or the school in Remera!

This afternoon at home number one, ministry partners from Kansas City came to visit the kids. They brought incredibly beautiful, handmade quilts for each child. Each quilt was intricately made with their names stitched into the corner. The kids loved them and are sleeping covered with the quilts as I type. It is amazing to think about all of the people involved in the kids’ lives. So many people have given time, resources, money, and prayers. It really is true that it take a village to raise a child.

One last story and it’s time to say goodnight... Donna started teaching English to the staff on previous visits, so we are continuing to do so this time. It usually consists of one or two of us sitting in the living room with 7-8 of the staff. Last night included greetings, colors, parts of the body, and clothing. Being two city girls who are committed to cultural exchange, Sarah and I ended the night teaching the tantines (aunties) and tantos (uncles) “pound it”. It was a hit. (Literally).

Muramuke! (Goodnight!)

Abby