Where Did the Time Go?

Where did the Time Go?

WOW! We have been in Bongolo for over a week now and it seems like we just arrived. Lots of memories made and remembered during our time with the Thelanders of Gabon.

What a thrill it has been to be the "new students" in Mrs. T's home schooling class. We have studied Bible (the 10 plagues), Science (learned how to "root" avocado seeds for planting in the plantation), Spelling, Greek (kinesis & phone), Music (Vivaldi's Winter - didn't remember the second movement is so short) and Reading (Luke and Grandpa, Sarah and Grandma- we read to each other). It was a challenge learning all the ins and outs of the classroom day :) Joanna does a great job of making each subject interesting and holding the attention of all four of us students. After our lunch together, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Luke and Sarah go with Aunt Rachel for art, Shakespeare, Aesop's Fables and baking of late. On Wednesday Luke shadows Uncle Paul, the director of maintenance from 1-5 for while Sarah is with Aunt Meladee for home economics. During the absence of Luke and Sarah, Joanna works on the scheduling and care of visiting resident professors (visiting doctors of different specialities from the States).

A joy has been to have dinner with some of the missionaries including Dr. Renee, pediatrician, internal medicine and AIDS/HIV clinic and Paul and Meladee. Renee graduated from Victor High School. We also attended Movie Night and liked seeing "Christmas with the Kranks" starring Tim Allen. This event is held nightly at Paul and Meladee's during December complete with popcorn and Meladee's homemade treats.

Dave and Luke on Saturday power-washed the gym floor. Dave says you can eat on it now. Luke & Keir practice basketball there 2 or 3 nights a week and have a game on Sunday at 3 PM.

The front sidewalk and the porch were also cleaned by the Dynamic Duo with the power-washer. The surfaces look so different and seem to sparkle.

Friday was shopping day in Lebamba. Joanna purchased fresh spinach (a rarity here), another fresh greens which we have to learn how to cook (I think it is similar to collard greens), 16 pineapple (This is the only time of the year they are in season. I helped peel, core and cut them up for freezing for smoothies.), sugar, butter and flour for baking, hot peppers, eggplant (another rarity), soy milk (extended life), passion fruit juice, white potatoes from Cameroon, and green tea. Lots of folks including many drunk men in the market because Saturday was election day and many people had return home to vote. We went to the tailor to have a dress and bobau made from fabric given to us by Pastor Serge (Bongolo Hospital administrator) and Jacquie (his wife). Ose, the owner of the tailor shop, is at home in Benin for six months but we did business with his staff.

Saturday was Christmas carolling with some missionaires and residents and their families on the station. We were a great sounding group. At one point, we had folks singing in 5 different languages. It weas wonderful. Meladee and I rode in the golf cart and had up to 8 kiddos in the back. Candles were provided as well as song books. More Christmas goodies were enjoyed at Paul and Meladee's home after the event.

God has provided much cooler temperatures (high 87 - low 72) than we expected or is usual this time of year. The sun has been hidden most days with the overcast skies. The down part of that is the bufoutu (no-seem-um) are out in force with no sunshine. Diann has a mass of bites on her arm that is the most painful but she has bites all over her body. Dave has about 6 total. Diann sprays every time before going outside; Dave rarely sprays. Small price nontheless...

Sunday morning we were in the sanctuary for about 30 minutes of singing before joining Joanna and Luke and Sarah in Sunday School. 53 boys and 53 girls... Joanna told the Nativity story using small stuffed props. The kids enjoyed holding the different characters and then taking them back up to the front of the room for the recap. Each "older" child got a small candy cane and the "younger" children received star candy at the end of the class.

Most nights we put Luke and Sarah to bed and read or listen to them read their devotional for the day. It is so special to be able to listen to them read and then pray. We are blessed. It is fun to see how much they have grown and matured.

When Luke and Sarah are asleep we visit with Joanna and Keir unti 10 or 10:30 (sometimes later !!) to catch up on each other's lives. Great times...

Keir has had a full schedule at the hospital and continues to get calls at night from the resident on call about emergencies that come in. He installed new shocks (which we brought with us) on their 5 year old Toyota Land Cruiser on Saturday; the difference is amazing as we ride over the bumpy unpaved roads both here on the station and enroute to Lebamba.

The physical plant of the hospital continues to grow and expand. New housing in preparation for new hospital staff who will join the team soon, new offices, new hospital facilities; the water filtration system is still a challenge (for some of the time we have had yucky dirty water coming from the faucet; praise the Lord for good water filers!). Lots of other changes going on at Bongolo Hospital with missionaries leaving and arriving; with business practices changes; and with changes in the CMA.

What a blessing to be in this place at this time:) Thank you, Lord.