Well, we've had another GREAT week!!! Once again, we were busy with language classes, which are going well. We learn a little bit more each day!
One of the things we are quickly learning is that just living here takes time. To do any simple routine task (by U.S. standards) takes a lot of time here! For example, on Wednesday we went out with one of our team mates and went grocery shopping. No big deal back home, you get in the car, go to Wal-Mart, get what you need and are home in less than an hour, right? Well, not here! We left our house at 2:30 and headed to grocery store#1. We got the items on our list that were available. Then we were off to grocery store #2. Same thing, got the available items and then, off to grocery store #3. So, I'm sure your thinking after 3 stores we should have gotten everything on our list, not so!! We then headed to grocery store #4! Finally, after 4 grocery stores we were able to get all that we needed! Praise the Lord! We finally arrived home at 6:30.
The view of our street, when you turn right out of our drive way.
The sheep walking down our street.
The cows walking down our street. Our house is just up on the left from this angle.
On Thursday, we had our first African prenatal visit. The appointment went GREAT!! We even got to do an ultrasound and see our little Butterbean! The tech said everything looked GREAT! Praise the Lord!! Butterbean is growing and doing well. They estimated his/her weight to be a little over a pound. We lift up praises to our Father for a continued GREAT pregnancy and the health care that is available here!! God is so good!!
A typical site around Bamako...
Even in Africa...
Another typical site - firewood stacked in the back of a small truck. Don't know how they drive these things!!
On Friday, we went out to the bush for our very first spend the night trip!! We got there Friday afternoon late and it just happened to be market day in the village. In the smaller villages they only have market day once or maybe twice a week. Unlike here in town where we have market day everyday! Sara (one of our team mates) and I walked around the market. When we were done, we went back to the "camp" and sat around talking with everyone. We then ate dinner, which was an "American" meal since we were out with a volunteer team. After dinner, I took my first "bucket bath" which wasn't bad at all, especially considering it was dark and when I looked up I could see millions of stars!! After all this it was time to start the nights storying sessions. We sang praise and worship songs and then broke into small groups and told Bible stories. It was a great time. Afterwards, we set up our mosquito net tents and went to bed. It was an amazing night and through the mosquito net tent you could see those millions of stars. I even saw a couple of shooting ones!! God is so AWESOME!! We got up Saturday, ate breakfast, and headed to a nearby village to tell some Bible stories. Once we got there and told the stories we were then served an "African" lunch. The men ate out of one bowl and the women ate out of another bowl. All with our hands. We were served "tow". Definitely not one of my favorites!! The taste wasn't that bad but the texture was like sandy, gritty playdough. Thankfully, God allowed me to get it down and keep it down!! We then headed back into town.
The village we stayed at.
My first "tow"
As you can see we've had another busy week.
We Praise God for:
- Allowing us to be adjusting well to living here
- For a good report on Butterbean
- Good health care is available here
- A great trip to the bush
Prayer Requests:
- Language Learning
- We will make some friends who will help us practice the little bit of Bambara we do know
- For boldness and courage to get out there and practice language with anyone and everyone we meet.
We thank you again for your prayers!! Until next time...
2 comments:
Great report, ya'll! I can remember my first visit to Africa and looking up at night when you are in the bush. There is nothing like it! We'll call soon. Love you.
Gosh! Sounds as though things are going great. Glad to hear all is okay for Butterbean and that you two are having such a good time.
Love you both!
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