Wednesday

Today was a very busy day - finishing up loose ends and checking off the last items on our to-do list.  We made great progress and are pleased to leave tomorrow knowing we accomplished a lot.

This morning we went to the Yembi Hand in Hand school to pass out Christmas Cards, belly bug medicine and sardines.  The smiles were worth the whole trip.

Next we went to the widow garden to give the widows their Christmas Present - sugar, coffee, and soap.  They were super excited and sang and danced for us to show their appreciation.

After that we drove through the Seminary property to see how the construction was progressing.

Then we spent some time at both centers delivering the rest of the mail, passing out Christmas cards and saying our goodbyes.

I finally found Dorcas - the other sister that the Gentille family sponsors.  Here are both of them together.

We are half packed and ready to go - trying to finish renaming the photo files.  We have to be ready to go to the airport at 4:30 am.  If everything goes according to plan we will arrive in Ohio- after visiting Paris and Boston - at 10 pm on Thursday night.
THANKS for your prayers!!!!

Tuesday

Today was completely different than any day I have spent in Africa.  We got up super early this morning to travel to Yaloke - a three hour trip one way.  We were very thankful for the air conditioning in the truck, remarkably smooth roads, and great company on the way.

While in Yaloke we visited Emmanuel, the Hand in Hand School Coordinator.  (Hand in Hand schools partner an American church with an African church to provide an orphan school that meets at the church for those students who live too far away from the orphan care centers in Bangui.)  Emmanuel was in a motorcycle accident last Monday and could have died.  His injuries on his legs and arms were awful looking.  He had seven stitches in his knee.
Then we visited the Hand in Hand school at the Yaloke Grace Brethren Church.  We were able to give the students Christmas cards from kids in the States, cookies, candy, and lots of smiles. 

On the way home we stopped at the only tourist destination in the country - the Waterfalls.  It was so beautiful and so peaceful.  Truly a great reminder of God's amazing creation.

We ended the day having supper at Dr. Ngoumape's house.  We had a great dinner sitting outside under the stars.  We had chicken, beef shish kebabs with onions and peppers, rice with a tomato sauce, cold veggie salad with tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, and corn, leaves of the gozo plant - it was sort of like creamed spinach, bread, and pineapple for dessert.  The food was great and the company was great too.  Dr. Ngoumape and his wife Claire said to pass on greetings to the church.  They remembered their time with us this fall fondly.

Monday

Today we went to the Big Center in the morning and took lots more pictures.  In the afternoon we went to Bercai to take make-up pictures for kids who were absent.  It feels like we are winding down, yet we have much still to do.


Today I saw:  Aladoun - our family's orphan

Joe - sponsored by Bill and Jan Hubler

Carole - sponsored by Jim and Michele Starkey

 Imiko - sponsored by the Gatton Family

Sunday Night

We went to Dr. Dibona's house to eat supper.  This was my first African meal and I was very anxious and excited at the same time.  We arrived at their house and sat in chairs in the yard for a while - then we had supper on their porch.  Dr. Dibona sat at the table with the 5 of us ladies while his wife sat at a tiny table separately.  We were served chicken with a tomato sauce, white rice, mixed veggies that consisted of green beans, corn, and peas, and makalas (a roll).  No- there wasn't any gozo, so I couldn't even try it.  Everything tasted very good.

After supper we sat in the yard in the dark and talked for a while.  It was a great evening.

Sunday

This morning we attended church at the Yembi Grace Brethren.  We arrived about 7:15 when the service was supposed to start - it actually started about 7:45 - TIA - this is Africa.  At the end of the service, a deacon got up and told them to shape up and get to church on time, so next week the service will probably start closer to time :)
One of the highlights of the morning for me was seeing Theodore, who works at the Seminary, and has been one of Jason's translators.  I was also able to meet his wife, Angel, who was very nice.  Theodore was in a motorcycle accident on Thursday on the way to the Pastor's Conference that Greg Burgess was organizing.  He was very blessed that he only had minor injuries.  A metal bar from the cart that hit him punctured his shoe, but only grazed his foot.  He was praising the Lord for his safety.

We are continually reminded of the hard life that these people lead here.  We have been told of 3 deaths of orphans in our program in the last few months.  All three of them could have been treated in the states with good medical care.   As a team we keep reminding ourselves that God is here - He is watching over these kids, orphans, and people as a whole.  He alone chooses what parents we have and where we are born.  He is working out his plan to redeem.  We pray that our small part is used for His glory.

Saturday

Today was another really productive day.  We finished packing the rest of the gifts.  It is so cool to look over the sea of green bags and think about the joy that the kids will receive at Christmas!

A fun moment of the day was when a high school boy came to see us today to request a sponsor.  We had found out yesterday that Jeremy and Sarah Barlow's orphan was not in the program anymore, and they had told me this morning to look for a new high school boy for them.  And here he was.  His name is Steve and he was so excited to have a sponsor and receive a gift from them.

Friday

Today was a great day - we were very productive.  We started to work on the gift assembly part of our job.  We were able to pack over 650 bags today.  We are filling their bright green backpacks with notebooks, sugar, sardines, coffee, crayons, candy, cookies and rice.  They will also each receive a new cup and bowl to keep at the school for lunch.
We also were able to pass out a lot of mail today.  It is one of the best jobs here to hand out mail to the orphans.  I was able to see several sponsored by people in my church:

Gloria - sponsored by John and Carolyn Carmean

 Naphtalie - sponsored by Brad and Mary Gentille.  (Her sister, Dorcas, that they also sponsor, broke her shoe on the way to school - so she was absent.  I hope to see her Monday.)

 Placidie - sponsored by our VBS Penny Parade

Cassandra - sponsored by Jeff and Brenda Smith

Kosse - sponsored by Gene and Jan Gratz