Highlights

This post has been a long time coming and for no particular reason.


The "Cooking in Joanna's Kitchen" schedule included not only biscotti and breadfruit but also forming and baking and eating 16 batches of cookies. Yes, 16 batches! Joanna invited about 20 women over for the fun afternoon. The women included missionaries, residents wives and about 8 women from Benin who are local merchants in Lebamba. The cookies we baked were mostly the type that is formed into small balls in the palms of ones hands and then baked. They were peanut butter cookies, Mexican Wedding Cookies (re-named Missionary Cookies), Cinnamon Crinkles and Graham Cracker Cookies. Joanna had prepared the dough ahead. The women sat around the dining room table and chatted with each other and with me. I always had to make sure their was someone around to translate for me since I was the only one-language speaking person there. Luke and Sarah entertained 8 children all younger than themselves. A good time was had by all.


Reading "Pinocchio" was such fun for me and for Luke and Sarah. That boy could sure get into some messes. There was always a lesson. Sadly we did not finish the book. Pinocchio was born in Lucca Italy which is where I picked up the book when visiting Deborah, Aden and Paolo there over Christmas.


Diche's is the new restaurant in town which features a printed menu, air conditioning, table cloths, stainless flatware, glass glasses and an attentive server. I feasted on Mongolian Chicken with Coucous both times we were there. I had Pomplemouse to drink. Pomplemouse is a grapefruit soda and it is yummy. Being in air conditioning was a treat!


Shopping in Lebamba is always an adventure. The last time we were there I picked up some souvenirs from some of Joanna's umbrella shopkeeper friends. It was fun buying a few items from each of them. The soft ice cream vendor was not open any of the times we were in the village and that was a big disappointment to Luke and Sarah and to me too frankly. I wondered how soft soft ice cream really is in 99 degree temperatures.


I passed on the line dancing classes this trip except for one. The first Monday I was exhausted from the trip and once Luke and Sarah and I stayed at home. Meladee does a great job as she ministers through music and dance to the women who attend.


The mission station changed its landscape greatly while I was there. Paul, maintenance supervisor and grounds superintendent, hired a crew to cut down about 10 dead trees - some being over 3 feet in diameter and over 200 feet tall. The man using the chain saw moonlights as a lumberjack but his day job is as the nurse who administers anesthesia at Bongolo Hospital. He was bare chested with no protective eye wear, no helmet and no gloves. God protected him and the entire crew with no major injuries. Most folks on the station sat in the 90 degree heat to watch the show from afar and cheer on the lumberjacks on two separate Saturday mornings. The huge clean-up was still underway when I left on the 26th.


More later.