At the end of a hectic week of appointments in the big city, it is probably good to take a moment to reflect before heading off on vacation next week.Yesterday I had some time to reflect, as I spent an hour and a half driving 12 km to pay a Read more…
In case you missed it, the Snapshot series began here. We will be taking a break from blogging in July to have a family vacation and get ready for another school year. Don’t worry, we’ll be back to posting updates in August! And you’d rather be picking luscious berries, hiking Read more…
I don’t know that American English deserves to have this word in our language: Hospitality. I have known Americans who practice hospitality, some more than others. I am positive I have not usually been among them. I don’t think we know half what it means. Congolese Hospitality (and African Hospitality Read more…
The moment we’ve all been waiting for for weeks, finally arrived last night. My baby girl lost her first tooth. It would really not be possible for her to be more excited about this step in growing up. Sheer bliss of the long-awaited James had seen it hanging by a Read more…
Walking along our muddy street last week,I noticed a few kids throwing rocks at my house.Band of ruffians doing harm?Nope. You see, we have mango trees.It’s mango season.Any fruit falling over the edge of a wall is fair game.It’s practically a law.But sometimes the mangoes need convincing. They chuck rocks Read more…
Just in case you haven’t followed updates on facebook… Anna did continue to improve and healed completely just in time for our long journey across Congo, Uganda and Kenya. She did amazingly well in the taxis and buses. The night before we left she downed a double serving of her Read more…
Thanks for everyone’s prayers for Anna’s health.It’s always a guessing game as to what is really going on.All you can see is cookies tossed, lethargy, fever and total lack of appetite. Which could add up to about 30 different diagnoses. Food poisoning? Flu? Brucellosis? Hepatitis? Giardia? or Deadly malaria? Not Read more…
In case you missed it, the Snapshot series began here. My Mom used to tell me stories about her mother.The grandmother I never knew.She would go every few days to the local Beauty Parlor.To have her hair set.It became an idyllic 50’s scene in my head. Ladies sitting under driers Read more…
In case you missed it, the Snapshot series began here. Over tear-streaked cheeks, wails of sorrow ring out.Our family attends the funeral of an employee.The crowds mourn a beloved provider.Father.Grandfather.Husband.Son.In his late sixties, Obedi had the national life expectancy rate beat by 17 years.But his Mom is still around to Read more…
I wake to the rolling and rumbling in the distance.1:45AM.Wondering if (hoping?) it was just something on the roof.But no, the rumbles grow.A thunderstorm approaches.The counting begins.Sheer force of the King of Nature.Silhouettes of the barred window panes flash bright light across the dark house.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Read more…