Company Girl Coffee- Visit from the Ambassador

Our excitement this week was a visit from the US ambassador to the Republic of Congo. He met with various officials, had lunch at the Harvey's house, and did a tour of the hospital. After that he (and the group with him) came to our house for a drink and snack before heading back to the plane to Brazzaville.

The picture above shows the group beginning the tour. The picture below is most of the group posing for a picture in front of our chapel.

It was at some point this week that I realized our kids are not having a normal childhood. I don't know why I had not thought about that before. Maybe it is just that we do so many things that seem normal, like school, eating, hanging out together. However, they seem to be enjoying themselves.

Warm Weather

Time for another Company Girl Coffee.
It's been fun to see everyone's pictures of snow and ice. Personally, I think that snow is pretty, but I'm not a fan of cold weather. I was definitely tired of snow by the time we left Quebec. It has nice to see it from a distance this time.
The weather here is extremely different. We are in the dry season. I call it the slightly less rainy season. It still rains a couple times a week on average, instead of every day. The temperatures are climbing higher, but the occasional rain does cool things down. The good thing is that most of our laundry will now dry in 24 hours instead of 48.
One of the nice things is that we are able to enjoy the outdoors. The kids can play outside everyday, we go for bike rides, and we have school outside frequently.

One day this past week, the gardeners were trimming the bushes behind our house with a machete. Caleb was fascinated by what they were doing, and decided to help out. He's swinging a stick at the bushes to "help" trim them. He wants to have a real machete, but we don't think that's a good idea (for some reason).

Company Girl Coffee and Guinea Pig Pictures

Today we are having cinnamon flavored sun tea instead of coffee. It's very nice on a hot day likeou today.
Last Saturday we had an impromptu belated New Year's Eve party at the Harvey's house. Becky Harvey made lots of yummy doughnuts, and we played games and watched a movie. (Pictures to come.)
We had some more short term people arrive on Saturday. That brings us up to a total of 5 in addition to our regular team. Since most the short term people plus 5 of the long term people eat lunch here on Monday- Friday, we have had quite a busy week. But it's been a fun one, as we get to know new friends.y
The guinea pig pictures are from last Friday. At the end of the work day, they moved to the Harvey's house. I have to admit that I was quite relieved to see them go.
Today someone came to sell us honey. I bought it- all five liters- which had to have bees, honeycomb and dirt strained out. I think word is getting out that I can't say no. :)
After a little bit of a break from hearing gunfire, we have heard a little bit since Sunday morning. It's still on the other side of the river, and we are not concerned at this point. We are just taking the usual precautions- not going out after dark unless necessary, not going out alone, etc.
I have started to try to work on Lingala a little bit every day. I was trying before, but now I have it on my schedule. Hopefully, that will help! :)
We had a really enjoyable Wednesday morning. Stephen had the morning off, and we went for a bike ride as a family. We rode from the hospital to the bridge at Hippo River. I wish I could capture the looks on people's faces when they see us coming! We provide lots of entertainment.
Stephen is not on call this weekend, so I am hoping for a nice relaxing weekend. Maybe even another bike ride.
How did your week go?

Sewing

Time for another cup of Company Girl Coffee. This week I'm actually having Diet Coke. Rachel (our hospital administrator) brought me back four from Brazzaville, and there are six more on the way.
What we did this week:

1) Our "Small Things" included working on a schedule. I have a good schedule for our morning routine, school day, and up through lunch. The rest of the day is still a work in progress. I did, at least, get a tentative schedule down on paper. The problem is that I don't think it's very realistic. There are things that I really want to accomplish (like studying Lingala), and I need to figure out where to fit them.
2) We have been busy with some new short term people, and two more are arriving today. They are staying anywhere from three weeks to one year. It's always fun to meet new friends and have more people on our team. I will be posting pictures and job descriptions on our mission blog.
3) As of last Friday, the big generator for the hospital is working. That means that I can use my sewing machine. When Isabelle saw my sewing box come out, she wanted to help. In the picture below she is mending her skirt. (with help, of course!)
I have a dress for her almost finished, but my sewing machine is having problems now. Hopefully, it will be easily fixed.

4) Friday, someone came to the door selling Guinea Pigs. At first, I said no. But the lady selling them looked so poor, I changed my mind. I bought the two that she had. People here raise them for food, but I wasn't going to go that route. I didn't want to keep them as pets either. I found someone willing to take them (as a pet, not as a supper!) But the kids had fun playing with them throughout the day, and they fit in with our Biology lessons on mammals.