I was on duty this weekend which meant that I got to be involved in the most exciting event to date this term. This particular Sunday I had a very full morning—supervision from 8:45-10, sitting in on Rachel’s Sunday school from 10-11, doing letters with the seniors from 11-12, and then Senior Sunday School from 2-3. It was the Senior’s walk to Church, so Mark had taken the kids down to Hillwood and everyone on the off duty team had headed out to a local assembly. I was had just walked through the dorm to kick any kids out (it was a beautiful sunny day) when Rachel found me and asked me how to open the hall. I was just walking down the hall when I heard the familiar cry, “Miss Burklin! Somebody’s hurt!” I turned around and saw one of the first graders, Abigail heading towards me flanked by a few concerned bystanders. She was crying a bit, and the tone of her cry and comparatively how little noise she was making let me know right away that she was actually hurt. I went up to her and saw that her left arm was crooked right below her wrist and knew that it was broken.
She was still somewhat in shock, so I quickly got her over to the chotta by the girl’s dorm holding her arm and pulled her onto my lap to keep her calm and keep her arm as still as possible. Rachel went tearing over to Sick Bay to find Pam (who almost never walks to church) only to find out that she had chosen this Sunday to walk to church. Then Rachel went and got Vickie, Vickie took one look and called Pam while trying to find some ice and some pain killers for Abigail. I carried her into the dorm so we could put her arm out straight on the table for Pam to splint when she got back and sat with her till Jill came down. After that I went to help Rachel with her Sunday school. One of the funny things was all the wild rumors that were flying around the school shortly after the accident—Abigail broke both arms, Abigail broke her hand, Abigail had been jumping on the high bars… Kids! She had actually slipped off the low monkeybars and landed on her arm at just the wrong angle.
Thankfully Abigail is now back and her normal bouncy self after getting her cast. She’s also enjoying her celebrity status! Yet another Abigail story to add to Sakeji lore… Life is never boring out here in the bush…
Monday, February 28, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Nothing like a science class gone wrong...
So, I got this brilliant idea that I would do a simple experiment demonstrate the three states of matter. When I was in high school, our chemistry program used the same experiment to demonstrate everything--fill a balloon with baking soda, fill a 2 liter bottle with vinegar, and then do different things with the same experiment. Our class was enlivened by the fact that the mom in charge of lab always brought water balloons--the trying process of trying to ram 20 grams of baking soda into a tinny balloons stands out in my memory right up there with the fact that as we gingerly held the tinny balloons on the bottles, they would inflate to their full capacity and burst by your face dusting you group with a fine powder of baking soda. Good times!
So, I remembered that experiment, and decided that if I tinted the vinegar blue for visibility, it would be a great experiment to do for my kids. So, I duly dumped a good bit of vinegar into a 2 liter bottle, filled a LARGE balloon with a a generous amount of baking soda, and put in the food coloring. I vaguely remembered that the experiment was always rather pathetic, and I wanted that balloon to inflate, so I put in a good amount of both components.
The next day I duly placed my loaded bottle in a plastic tray I had just brought up for the kids to put their health assignments in, gave my little talk about the three states of matter, put the balloon on the bottle neck, tipped it up, and let 'er go. Well, all went well for the first bit--the reaction started, the balloon started to inflate, all was well and good. Then, I noticed the hole in the balloon that was letting vinegar smelling gas out. Then, I noticed that I had started something a little bigger than my bottle could contain! As I watched in horror, blue vinegar started to spurt merrily out the hole in the balloon and all over one of my 5th graders notes. I grabbed the spurting balloon and directed the spray down, but not before the notebook was liberally splattered, and a howl of shock and appreciation was let loose by my riveted class. Once the reaction was finished, I sent a kid for a rag to wipe up the floor and desks that had been spattered, and tried to recover with something approaching grace. Ah, life is never boring! I'll go down in history as the teacher who sprayed the class blue!
So, I remembered that experiment, and decided that if I tinted the vinegar blue for visibility, it would be a great experiment to do for my kids. So, I duly dumped a good bit of vinegar into a 2 liter bottle, filled a LARGE balloon with a a generous amount of baking soda, and put in the food coloring. I vaguely remembered that the experiment was always rather pathetic, and I wanted that balloon to inflate, so I put in a good amount of both components.
The next day I duly placed my loaded bottle in a plastic tray I had just brought up for the kids to put their health assignments in, gave my little talk about the three states of matter, put the balloon on the bottle neck, tipped it up, and let 'er go. Well, all went well for the first bit--the reaction started, the balloon started to inflate, all was well and good. Then, I noticed the hole in the balloon that was letting vinegar smelling gas out. Then, I noticed that I had started something a little bigger than my bottle could contain! As I watched in horror, blue vinegar started to spurt merrily out the hole in the balloon and all over one of my 5th graders notes. I grabbed the spurting balloon and directed the spray down, but not before the notebook was liberally splattered, and a howl of shock and appreciation was let loose by my riveted class. Once the reaction was finished, I sent a kid for a rag to wipe up the floor and desks that had been spattered, and tried to recover with something approaching grace. Ah, life is never boring! I'll go down in history as the teacher who sprayed the class blue!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Life is a polka...
Well, the term has started out with a bang indeed! Life has been a little overwhelming, but some troublesome things are already getting better, and God is always good. Here’s what’s been going on in the bush:
*Boils. Well, not quite boils, but a sore of similar type. I have about 7 ‘mini boils’ on my right shoulder that suddenly came up right as term was starting, and have made my life interesting. Let’s just say that the story of the plagues of Egypt will never be the same again! They are healing now so they just itch a little instead of the burning pain I had before. Those on top of everything else this week were just a little much, but now that they are healing and everything else is shacking out, I think I’ll be fine.
*Changing class numbers! I started the term with 20 kids, knowing a MK was going to possibly be joining mid-term, but after the first day of school it was proposed that one of the 4th graders skip up to my class. Her parents had requested it partly because she is so tall, but she is also very precocious academically, so after much talk, we let her do a trial run till today to see how she did. I’ve been very pleased with her work—it’s been better than some of the ‘real’ grade 5’s, and I think it’s better to challenge a kid than to leave them in a class where they are bored. So, I had to dig out some more books and figure out what number to give her, but I think we’re settled now until the other student returns.
*New housemate! The Thursday before school opened, Beth S. (my former housemate) and Rachel B. arrived at Sakeji. Rachel is living with me, and while it took a little adjusting to having a housemate again, I’ve enjoyed getting to know her. Rachel is from Scotland, and thus has an awesome accent!
*Laptop issues! Let’s just say that I now know a great way to spent a stupid amount of money is to buy a laptop, ship it via DHL to Zambia, and then try to get it out of customs. I ended up having to pay a k4,000,000 fee for customs, but God is in control and already I have had a surprise gift of k1,000,000 towards that surprise expense. God is good!
*Mouse! Remember my mouse trouble? Well, I had heard a second mouse knowing on a dresser in my sewing room, so I had put down some poison after the trap failed. Well, a few days ago, Rachel asked me if I smelled gas in the house. Now, I have practically no sense of smell, and at the time I didn’t notice anything. However, it soon became apparent that something was rotten in Valley View. I traced the source of the odour to the sewing room, put two and two together and came up with…IV. I pulled out the bottom drawer of the dresser with some fear and trembling and saw a HUGE mouse crawling with maggots. I put the drawer back quickly and considered my options. Somehow I just knew I wasn’t going to be able to deal with it. Turns out, Pam’s dad has no problems with things of that sort, so he very kindly came over to my house and removed and cleaned up my nasty visitor. I’ve been trying to get the smell out of the room—candles, airing and room spray seem to be slowly diminishing the smell. I’m just glad the thing died in such an easy to reach spot! Also, I’m glad someone else was willing to dispose of it for me!
And that’s what’s going on in my life! Hope your month is a little less hectic!
*Boils. Well, not quite boils, but a sore of similar type. I have about 7 ‘mini boils’ on my right shoulder that suddenly came up right as term was starting, and have made my life interesting. Let’s just say that the story of the plagues of Egypt will never be the same again! They are healing now so they just itch a little instead of the burning pain I had before. Those on top of everything else this week were just a little much, but now that they are healing and everything else is shacking out, I think I’ll be fine.
*Changing class numbers! I started the term with 20 kids, knowing a MK was going to possibly be joining mid-term, but after the first day of school it was proposed that one of the 4th graders skip up to my class. Her parents had requested it partly because she is so tall, but she is also very precocious academically, so after much talk, we let her do a trial run till today to see how she did. I’ve been very pleased with her work—it’s been better than some of the ‘real’ grade 5’s, and I think it’s better to challenge a kid than to leave them in a class where they are bored. So, I had to dig out some more books and figure out what number to give her, but I think we’re settled now until the other student returns.
*New housemate! The Thursday before school opened, Beth S. (my former housemate) and Rachel B. arrived at Sakeji. Rachel is living with me, and while it took a little adjusting to having a housemate again, I’ve enjoyed getting to know her. Rachel is from Scotland, and thus has an awesome accent!
*Laptop issues! Let’s just say that I now know a great way to spent a stupid amount of money is to buy a laptop, ship it via DHL to Zambia, and then try to get it out of customs. I ended up having to pay a k4,000,000 fee for customs, but God is in control and already I have had a surprise gift of k1,000,000 towards that surprise expense. God is good!
*Mouse! Remember my mouse trouble? Well, I had heard a second mouse knowing on a dresser in my sewing room, so I had put down some poison after the trap failed. Well, a few days ago, Rachel asked me if I smelled gas in the house. Now, I have practically no sense of smell, and at the time I didn’t notice anything. However, it soon became apparent that something was rotten in Valley View. I traced the source of the odour to the sewing room, put two and two together and came up with…IV. I pulled out the bottom drawer of the dresser with some fear and trembling and saw a HUGE mouse crawling with maggots. I put the drawer back quickly and considered my options. Somehow I just knew I wasn’t going to be able to deal with it. Turns out, Pam’s dad has no problems with things of that sort, so he very kindly came over to my house and removed and cleaned up my nasty visitor. I’ve been trying to get the smell out of the room—candles, airing and room spray seem to be slowly diminishing the smell. I’m just glad the thing died in such an easy to reach spot! Also, I’m glad someone else was willing to dispose of it for me!
And that’s what’s going on in my life! Hope your month is a little less hectic!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
My New Years Story...a few days late
Well, I wanted to post this on New Years Day as it’s a New Years story, but both the 110 and the 240 went off at once and I lost all that I had typed up, so I finally have a pocket of time to do it again, so here goes!
Last year on January 1, I arrived in London on my way to Zambia. I had a good sized layover, so I had planned to get out into the city and go through Westminster Abbey and maybe (time permitting) check out a yarn shop before heading back to the airport and then on to Lusaka. I had a few pounds on me from a few summers ago when I took a travel study trip to England, so I was able to buy an all day tube pass for the correct zones. This left me with about £5, but as I had my debit card I planned to get some cash when I hit the city. In the airport there is a place where for £8 you can leave a bag for a few hours, so I dropped off my bulky laptop bag and headed out into London. When I arrived at Westminster, I started trying to pull out my cash so I could pay the entry fee for Westminster Abbey. To my surprise, no ATM I tried worked. I was starting to get worried—my card had always worked internationally before, and I wasn’t sure why it would be this time.
When it became clear that my cards were blocked, I found a phone booth and called my parents to see if they could sort it out. What I forgot was a) it was New Years Day so the bank was closed and b) my parents were driving back from Tennessee. I got through and explained my dilemma before running out of change, but of course there was nothing they could do to help me. Now, I knew I could get back to the airport just fine (though somehow I failed to communicate that to my poor mother), but I wasn’t sure how I was going to get my bag back. Not only did I have less than £5 now, but I had less than $2 on me because of all the craziness of leaving from Nashville. I wondered if the place would take a check, but figured it was unlikely. I didn’t know anyone in London, and the one place I could think of to go for help was closed. I spent a lot of time wandering around Westminster trying to find an internet café to see if there was anyone I could get a hold of, but had no luck.
Shortly before I would have to head back to the airport, I decided to try one more ATM, just to make sure my card was really frozen. As I was once again unsuccessful, I muttered, “Rats” or something along those lines and started to step away. A middle-aged gentleman had just stepped up to the ATM beside me, and when he heard me he said, “Sorry?” Almost without realizing it I was pouring my story out to this complete stranger with no real goal in mind, just the need to share with someone the frustration I had been going through all day. To my shock, the man looked at me, said, “Well, in the spirit of the season,” and handed me a £10 note. I stammered some thanks as he went off to continue his life, and then sent a heartfelt “THANK YOU” to heaven for the Lord’s provision. I was then able to redeem my laptop and make a quick phone call to my worried mother telling her it had all worked out and I was safely on the airport about to get on a plane for Zambia.
I will never forget those desperate hours in London trudging all over in the cold trying to figure out what to do. I’ll never forget that kind stranger who gave me a bill that covered my need even though I had not named a sum. And I’ll never forget how God showed me yet again that He meant for me to be going to Zambia to join His work there. How many people get to start their time on the mission field with a miracle?
Last year on January 1, I arrived in London on my way to Zambia. I had a good sized layover, so I had planned to get out into the city and go through Westminster Abbey and maybe (time permitting) check out a yarn shop before heading back to the airport and then on to Lusaka. I had a few pounds on me from a few summers ago when I took a travel study trip to England, so I was able to buy an all day tube pass for the correct zones. This left me with about £5, but as I had my debit card I planned to get some cash when I hit the city. In the airport there is a place where for £8 you can leave a bag for a few hours, so I dropped off my bulky laptop bag and headed out into London. When I arrived at Westminster, I started trying to pull out my cash so I could pay the entry fee for Westminster Abbey. To my surprise, no ATM I tried worked. I was starting to get worried—my card had always worked internationally before, and I wasn’t sure why it would be this time.
When it became clear that my cards were blocked, I found a phone booth and called my parents to see if they could sort it out. What I forgot was a) it was New Years Day so the bank was closed and b) my parents were driving back from Tennessee. I got through and explained my dilemma before running out of change, but of course there was nothing they could do to help me. Now, I knew I could get back to the airport just fine (though somehow I failed to communicate that to my poor mother), but I wasn’t sure how I was going to get my bag back. Not only did I have less than £5 now, but I had less than $2 on me because of all the craziness of leaving from Nashville. I wondered if the place would take a check, but figured it was unlikely. I didn’t know anyone in London, and the one place I could think of to go for help was closed. I spent a lot of time wandering around Westminster trying to find an internet café to see if there was anyone I could get a hold of, but had no luck.
Shortly before I would have to head back to the airport, I decided to try one more ATM, just to make sure my card was really frozen. As I was once again unsuccessful, I muttered, “Rats” or something along those lines and started to step away. A middle-aged gentleman had just stepped up to the ATM beside me, and when he heard me he said, “Sorry?” Almost without realizing it I was pouring my story out to this complete stranger with no real goal in mind, just the need to share with someone the frustration I had been going through all day. To my shock, the man looked at me, said, “Well, in the spirit of the season,” and handed me a £10 note. I stammered some thanks as he went off to continue his life, and then sent a heartfelt “THANK YOU” to heaven for the Lord’s provision. I was then able to redeem my laptop and make a quick phone call to my worried mother telling her it had all worked out and I was safely on the airport about to get on a plane for Zambia.
I will never forget those desperate hours in London trudging all over in the cold trying to figure out what to do. I’ll never forget that kind stranger who gave me a bill that covered my need even though I had not named a sum. And I’ll never forget how God showed me yet again that He meant for me to be going to Zambia to join His work there. How many people get to start their time on the mission field with a miracle?
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.
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.
* 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
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
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