Tuesday, December 28, 2010

In which a very, merry Christmas was had, I 'intertained' a few thousand Christmas 'guests', and I kill a mouse.

Well, it has been a wonderful Christmas out here in the bush, and while it would have been even better if my family were here, getting to spend time with my Sakeji family was pretty awesome too.

Us three single ladies enjoyed a progressive, or 'kangaroo,' breakfast that lasted from about 8:30 till 1:30. There was fruit at Jill's, hot crossed buns at my place, and then sausages and eggs at Bethany's. That afternoon we watched a Jeeves and Wooster as my most estimable brother sent me the series on DVD, and then we dispersed to get some things ready for Christmas dinner at the Ronalds. I made our family's famous 'green stuff,' and even though it was chicken and not turkey, it was a wonderful meal spent in wonderful company. We played some Dutch Blitz afterwards--no injuries thankfully!--and then tried out my new Mile Borne game. My family called me at about 10:45 my time and I talked with them till just after 1. I was interrupted during my chat with my dad by a line of ants moving across my dinning room floor. Now, on Christmas Eve I came home from the carol sing at Ronalds to find my house completely surrounded by ants, and a line of ants coming from my spare bedroom, down the hall, and into the dinning room. I sprayed the ants inside, and then called Pam for advice. Apparently cornmeal is a good ant deterrent--they won't cross a line of it, so I sprinkled the places where I most expected invasion. So, when I saw them again on Christmas night, I was annoyed to find out that they were launching their assault on the front door. I sprayed those ants and sprinkled some more cornmeal, and then was able to resume my interrupted conversation. I guess it brought back some memories for my dad of fighting ants at Mukingi.

Last night after checking to make sure there were no ants in the house, I heard a noise that sounded like someone was trying to break into my sewing room. I went to check it out and found that it wasn't the window, but a little chest of drawers that was being attacked. A mouse! I went to retrieve a trap from the kitchen and fish the poison out from under the stove, and I found that the mousetrap under there had sprung with a little furry thief in it, so I got at least one. I heard the other trap go off last night, but when I checked it it was empty. Oh well, maybe he snacked on some of the poison! I'll just sent the trap again tonight and hope for the best. Of all the nerve, chewing on my drawers!

Well, I had better go--I need to get a few things done around the house this morning. I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas, and that you were blessed as you remembered our Savior who humbled Himself to be born in a manger.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Mexican Food, Mosquito patrol, and Felting

Well, this week has been busy in many ways! Here are some highlights:

* I FINALLY was able to order my laptop so it is now happily on its way to Texas PTL! It's amazing how much we rely on technology now--even in the bush!

* We three single ladies have been enjoying Mexican food this week--it's such a welcome break from our normal fare...and the beans and eggplant that are currently coming out our ears from our two gardens. I made our families beloved enchilada recipe tonight--yum! Tomorrow--fondue!

* Today of all days the health department's mosquito patrol decided to come and spray the dorm. This involved removing all the posters and things from the wall. They originally insisted on doing all the houses, but we firmly said NO to that plan. No apparently any mosquito that lands on the walls will be toast. This is all in an effort to get a handle on Malaria. I wonder if they were being paid triple or something to work Christmas week...

* I spent an epic hour and then some in the girls dorm storeroom working on felting my two hot pads and three snowmen. Let's just say that next time I'll start with a big pot of hot water or wait till second term when the solar hot water will be hotter. The felting process involved lots of kettlefulls of water on my part, and some reading of poetry in between resetting the machine. Always an adventure, felting...

So, all in all, it's been a good, though busy Christmas Adam. May all of you have a wonderful Christmas.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Dear Mouse who is currently eating everything in my kitchen,

I am warning you that things are about to get very ugly between you and me. I have thus far tried traps and shouting at you while you brazenly gnaw away, just out of reach, in full daylight. If you force my hand, I can and will resort to poison even though I know you will drag your dying body to the spot where I will get to enjoy the smell for the longest period of time. If you had restrained yourself to eating plastic bags and such we might have been able to co-exist. However, your ill planned opening move of eating a hole in the bottom of two of my silicone baking cups and then eating a hole in my bag of walnuts made this very quickly personal, and you have only escalated your terrorism from there. I know it is wet outside, but there are other places than my kitchen where you could take up your abode. I'm giving you one more night to either get out or remove yourself from the picture. Remember, it was YOU who declared war!

~L

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Well, after a few days of suspense it looks like my laptop is either a) mostly dead or b) totally dead. So, I guess I'll be spending some evenings laptop shopping... It's funny how much you rely on technology, and then when it goes out on you, BIG proglems!

Other than electronics drama things are pretty quiet out here in the bush. After the week of rain, laundry is actually getting dry and we are being reminded that the sky is blue. I went to the butchery at Nchilla today to get some meat--sausages and pork chops for the term break. I felt so grown up--I've never bought pork chops before!

Ceili got 'fixed' today--Pam's dad is a vet and he brought the stuff out to take care of several of the dogs over here and one at Kalene. She seems to be recovering well, though she can't understand why she's hurting. Poor thing!

Well, it's late and I'd better run. Happy holidays all of you!
Well, after a few days of suspense it looks like my laptop is either a) mostly dead or b) totally dead. So, I guess I'll be spending some evenings laptop shopping... It's funny how much you rely on technology, and then when it goes out on you, BIG proglems!

Other than electronics drama things are pretty quiet out here in the bush. After the week of rain, laundry is actually getting dry and we are being reminded that the sky is blue. I went to the butchery at Nchilla today to get some meat--sausages and pork chops for the term break. I felt so grown up--I've never bought pork chops before!

Ceili got 'fixed' today--Pam's dad is a vet and he brought the stuff out to take care of several of the dogs over here and one at Kalene. She seems to be recovering well, though she can't understand why she's hurting. Poor thing!

Well, it's late and I'd better run. Happy holidays all of you!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

December Update

Dear Friends and Family,

Praise the Lord for all His goodness! Third term is successfully finished, the program, “Let the Bells Ring, Let the Angels Sing!” was a great success, and thought it was very busy, we had some great conversations with parents and our other visitors. I found a lot of the parent interviews a little bitter-sweet as I’m going to miss my seven 6th graders next year as they are moving up into Phil’s classroom, but I’m sure the incoming 5th graders will keep me so busy I won’t have much time to lament the kids getting older!

This past week has been a busy one at Sakeji as we decided to hold a work week to take care of a lot of big projects that we don’t have time to attend to during the term. I helped straighten out the library and the school photo albums. In the afternoons the classroom teachers sat down to map out our curriculum so it was more unified and to make things easier for us as we plan our terms, and then in the evenings we meet for a time of fellowship and ministry. One thing we did that I particularly enjoyed was spending two evenings looking at the names of God. It was so good to be reminded of all the things that God is and what He has done for His people.

This term break I intend to stay on station and enjoy a quiet Christmas with Jill and Bethany. Most of the other staff members are going to be traveling for some part of the holidays, so it will be up to us three ladies to keep things going and hold down the fort. I’m looking forward to this special, quiet time though—Jill and I have lots of projects planned and I think we are all looking forward to cooking up some Christmas goodies!

I have a lot of reading to do to prepare for this next term of school, but now that I’ve taught through the curriculum once, I have a much better idea of what needs to happen in each term! They say your first year of teaching is the hardest, and after that you have some experience to make things easier. I would say that I do have a lot more experience than I did last January, but I’m looking forward to gaining even more wisdom on how to best teach my precious students!

November brought us another full time staff family—Doug and Maryanne Hanna. Doug is our computer person, and Maryanne is taking on some of the office duties. Both of them will be involved with the children as well, taking various supervisory and teaching roles. Their daughter, Ellie, seems to be fitting in well already and looks forward to starting third grade next month. In January Beth Sheach is going to be returning to take the 1st and 2nd grade class, and Mark and Janette are going to be team teaching 3rd and 4th grade with support from all of us. I will still be the homeroom teacher for the 5th and 6th graders, and Phil will have the 7th and 8th grade class. We are still doing a lot of praying and planning for Sakeji in the future as well as praying for more teachers. Ideally we would like to have a teacher for each grade, but we know that the Lords raises up the right people at the right time for His work, and are doing our best to be faithful in the work He has called us to.

Thank you all so much for all your letters, e-mails, and prayers over this year. This has been one of the craziest, but best years of my life, and I look forward to future years of serving the Lord in this wonderful place. I am reminded over and over again that when you are where the Lord wants you to be, you will find abundant blessings and joy. What a privilege to take a small part in His work, and to be serving Him in the beautiful country of Zambia.

May you all have a very, merry Christmas, and a blessed new year.