New Year's Goals

I tend to not make specific New Year's Resolutions or Goals, but I always have areas in which I am trying to improve. The turn of the year is a good time to look back, reflect and evaluate.
The pictures have nothing to do with the words; they are just pretty. Stephen managed to capture another sunset.

My long term goals are the following:
1. Focus on the Word "Sanctuary" throughout the year. This is a word that I have been coming across lately. I've been reading the blog Home Sanctuary, and I want my home to be a sanctuary for my family. I want to be more intentional in the decisions that I make for our home. Starting in a new house is a good time to do that.
As part of this, I am going to try to do the "small things" on the blog mentioned above. I started reading it this summer and fall, but couldn't really participate while traveling for months on end.
I'm also going to write down various quotes or verses that pertain to Sanctuary in my journal.
I also have been thinking about the word "sanctuary" while we deal with the situation here. Being in a potential crisis makes you think about our true sanctuary- God.
I want the hospital here to be a sanctuary for the hurting, whether they be refugees, war wounded, or just ordinary people hurting in some way. (Side note: War wounded is what I am calling the rebels. It helps me to remember that they are people that God loves in spite of what they may have done.)
2. I want to try to blog two times per week on this blog and at least once a week on our mission blog. I have some ideas of things that I want to put on our mission blog, it is just a matter of implementing them.
I'm hoping we can stay in one place for a year-- no moving, no excessive traveling. (I'm being hopeful, yet practical. Our evacuation bags remain packed!)
3. Read the Bible through this year. I borrowed a one year study Bible and I am working on reading it in English, and then reading the corresponding passages (from the NT and Psalms) in French. I want to get a Bible in Lingala and add that in as well.
4. Work on my French and Lingala. I can't say that I will become fluent in both by the end of the year, but I would like to make significant progress. I am taking Lingala lessons once a week, but I still have trouble working on it outside of the lessons.

My short term goals are the following:
1. Set up a working budget. We have a general budget, but I am working on tracking our daily expenses and making sure the budget that we have is realistic. I also want to be aware if there are areas where we can reduce spending.
2. Raise chickens. We have a chicken coop behind our house, it just needs to be cleaned out. I think that our cook will be able to help me with the logistics.

Christmas Day

We started Christmas morning with homemade doughnuts with cinnamon glaze. They were a big hit. :)
Then Stephen went to round at the hospital, while I wrapped the Christmas presents. The kids took copy paper and worked on making more wrapping paper for me to use.
We had the opportunity to pass out gifts to the patients at the hospital. Pictures and more details about that are in the post Christmas in Congo on our mission blog.
By the time we finished that it was about 12:30. The kids were very anxious to open their presents, and they finally had a chance.
They spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying their new things, and I made some cinnamon rolls to take over to the pediatric patients.
We ended the day by having the Ralstons over for supper.
Our first Christmas here was enjoyable for everyone.

Sunset

Team Christmas Party

We had the team Christmas party at our house in place of our usual weekly meeting. There was lots of yummy food, and lots of fun with friends.
I put more pictures on facebook, but I am not going to post them all here. If you aren't on facebook, and would like to see the rest, I can e-mail them to you.

Christmas Tree

This year we didn't think that we would have a Christmas tree. But Rachel (our hospital administrator) remembered that there was one in storage. She managed to find if for us, and the kids were so excited. There were also some paper chains and ornaments in the box.
Isabelle did most of the decorating, but Caleb was able to help a little. He was a little rough on the ornaments. Fortunately, they are all sturdy!

Donkeys- part 2

One of the refugees is a young girl who had to have her leg amputated. She is here with Dr. Harvey and Isabelle Harvey. They have been doing hippotherapy about once a week.

Donkeys

The Harvey's have 4 donkeys, and 2 of them live on the mission compound. The kids get to ride them at least once a week. It is a highlight for Isabelle every week. She really looks forward to it.