Fair-weather Faith

Remember that we have no more faith at any time than we have in the hour of trial.  All that will not bear to be tested is mere carnal confidence.  Fair-weather faith is no faith.

                                                                                     -Charles Spurgeon

I love this challenge to specifically put our faith in God during an hour of trial... particularly because it is when it seems the hardest to do so. 

We're getting a dog!!

The only dogs here in Sierra Leone are mostly small little mutts.  One of our friends bred a Doberman with an (apparently enormous) Rhodesian Ridgeback.  The puppies are just a few weeks old so it will still be a few more weeks till they are weaned and we get to take one home. 

Bottlecaps and Kisses

Aden is OBSESSED with the tops to bottled water here.  I am serious.  If he could have one in each hand, he couldn't be happier.  If he sees one in sight, he MUST have it.  It becomes a sense of urgency until he has the precious piece of plastic in his hand.  (We deny him occasionally because we're not ones to give into every desire of our children)  My friend Jesi suggested that we get him a whole pile of bottle caps just to see the look on his face.  Here are a few pics from over a month ago when his friend Anna was visiting.

There it is again... in his right hand...

Leans in for a little kiss...

Anna not too happy again... (sorry Anna... we told him to do it!)

And a few hours later...he still has it in his hands.

Bubbles

I just uploaded a bunch of videos that have been sitting on my video camera so be prepared to be video-ed out from my son's cuteness.  This one also features his future wef.  His heart misses you Miss Anna!

Camping and Funny Stories

John, Aden, the Gonzales family, and I are all going to Ronurie for a few days.  John will be setting up 2 latrines and a few showers in the village.  They will just be temporary during the time when we will have a team of about 20 or so people camping, drilling a well, putting up a permanent latrine, and loving on the people there.  The team come near the end of September and we couldn't be more excited!

The other info I wanted to relay to you is a couple funny stories that our friend Deborah told us tonight over dinner.  I was laughing so hard I was crying and I'm not sure if it is because I've been in Sierra Leone and its now culturally funny to me.  So if its hardy har har funny to you just bear with me.

So Deborah stayed the night at our friend's Sada's house last week.  Deborah stays with and mentors a group of orphan girls not too far from us. She gave one of the orphan girls (we'll call "Aminata") her key to stay in the night she was gone.  Aminata was going to run a small computer class in Deborah's bedroom. 

The next day Aminata approaches Deborah and says "What is that spray you have in your purse?" Deborah immediately remembers a small spray of essential oils that she has in her purse called Thieves oil.  Aminata says "It is strong." Deborah uses it on her sore throats and it can definitely burn, even if you rub it on your skin.  Deborah chuckles to herself as Aminata goes on and on about how "strong" that spray was.  Aminata said "we had to leave the room and get out it was so strong." Deborah goes to sleep that night thinking Aminata was slightly dramatizing the issue as is somewhat common with these teenage girls (as it is in all cultures right?)

Well the next morning, Aminata comes back to Deborah and continues to ask about what that strong spray is.  So Deborah says "come bring me the spray from my purse" with the intent of telling her about the essential oil.  Well instead of bringing her the thieves oil, Aminata brings Deborah another spray bottle, but its MACE!!!!

Oh I just died laughing picturing little Aminata wanting to use "Deborah's perfume" from her purse so she could smell just like Deborah and getting doused with pepper spray.  Luckily the first spray she made was away from her and not on her skin or body so she was okay.   But maybe she will think twice next time about going through Deborah's belongings!

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After that story Deborah said that things like that happen to her all the time.  Another time she was away, one of the girls used her toothpaste... or what she thought was toothpaste.  It was in fact cortisone cream.  It was Equate brand and apparently the girl had used toothpaste that said Equate on it before.  The orphan girl somehow ignored the fact that the tube also said "anti-itch".  When the 'toothpaste' had no flavor, the girl decided to put more on.  Deborah also said that they do not swish or spit here so the girl swallowed both doses of the cortisone cream.  yech!

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Well that's it! Have a good Friday and weekend all!  I'll try to come back with some videos ASAP!

Parent and Baby Photo Day

Crazy Dad

My little strawberry blonde boy

Two Accidents Waiting to Happen

This video was taken almost 3 weeks ago so both children are significantly better at walking now, but it was a bit touch and go there for a while as it seemed they were playing a very unstable game of bumper cars.

Things that mold in rainy season...

1. My leather belt
2. John's flip flops (also leather)
3. The rolling pin
4. The shelves of spice cabinet
5. Our tile
6. Don't even start me on food (bread lasts about a day)
7. Our walls
8. Pillows not being used
9. My sourdough starter if I don't feed it regularly (yes I'm a terrible sourdough owner)
10. Anything and everything leather, wooden, or cloth not previously mentioned if not left perfectly dry

How I miss thee AC that dries out everything :)

Mischevious

He gets this look from his father...

Chubby Bunny aka Conejo Gordo

So our team members Chad and Robin and fam went back to AZ for a furlough.  They are fluent in Spanish and we are not.  I can definitely communicate in Spanish but I much better and reading or writing than I am at speaking and understanding.  John and Emily know less than me so needless to say, there are lots of miscommunications here in Lower Allentown, Sierra Leone.

Just the other day, John was planning to take Pepe and his crew of guys upcountry to drill a well for a week.  When John went downstairs that morning to pick up Pepe to leave, he was still in his p.j.'s.  That was probably John's fault of forgetting to communicate the schedule to him.

For one of Aden's birthday parties, I was planning to make a Mexican lunch.  Alejandra was going to make "pollo al horno" or baked chicken.  Yet when I texted her to come up for the party, she had thought the party was at night! Luckily we were able to enjoy her absolutely DELICIOUS chicken for dinner.

We are always looking for ways to have fun that cross both language and cultural barriers.  Emily had the fantastic idea to play chubby bunny or in Espanol... conejo gordo.  I'm sure most people have played this game but the premise is that you take turns sticking marshmallows in your mouth and saying "chubby bunny" or for the chileans "conejo gordo" until somebody either can't say it anymore or gives up and spits them all out.  Definitely not recommended for someone with a gag reflex.

We played it when Emily's family was here and it was a hit!!! Emily beat Escarlet (although I do have to say it was an unfair advantage due to Escarlet having a smaller mouth since she's only 10 years old)

Isn't she precious?

Alejandra took a turn...

and schooled Emily!

We are so thankful and blessed to have such great and fun team members!

Aden and Anna Pictures

Photo shoot of Aden and Anna in complementary outfits!

Am I allowed to have this puff ball in my mouth?

This picture just says "Purity" to me

Anna: "I know we are betrothed and all, but I'm still not so sure about you"

"Weeee, my first kiss"

"That kiss was quite slobbery Aden"

"I think holding hands is more my speed"

Look at the side pose!

We miss you Sue, Elisabeth, and Anna! Come back soon!

Final Malaria Update

Monday:

Today was pretty much the worst day of all my symptoms.  I had all day nausea.  Eating helped some... but the effects didn't last very long.  We had some injectable anti-nausea medication that I considered taking, but I was worried about side effects.  John also had left today to go into town to buy some groceries we needed so I was all on my own.  I didn't want to be knocked out by the meds and still have to watch Aden.

Tuesday:

Felt much better today.  Was able to clean the house some and have Emily and Deborah over for dinner.  They were impressed with my ability to handle malaria.  Another reason that I may have had less symptoms of the average person with malaria other than those previously mentioned (half-doses of prophylaxis for 2 weeks, catching it early, and most importantly prayer) is that I am taking decently high levels of vitamin A in the form of fermented cod-liver oil.  Ewwwww.... Gross! I know you're all thinking it, I was too when I first heard about it!  Not only is it cod-liver oil... but the grossness factor is multiplied by the fact that it is fermented.  You can read why I take cod-liver oil here.  So I take about 10,000 IU's of vitamin A a day which is quite a bit over the FDA's RDA.  However, in one article and subsequent study I found online, high doses of vitamin A were able to decrease the occurrence and severity of malaria in a population of infants and children in Burkina Faso. 

Wednesday:

Functioning at about 80-90% today.  Going up and down the stairs to use the washer and dryer today got me winded and ready to take a nap.  Still I was able to do some cleaning and laundry but the idea of dinner tired me out so I had oatmeal and John ate some mac'n'cheese.  John and I have made a scale of describing how better we are when we're coming out of sickness.  If we are at 100%, we would enjoy both coffee and be able to workout (me) or drill wells (John).  Here's to hoping tomorrow is at least a coffee day! I think the working out will stay have to wait another day or two.

Well that's the end of the malaria updates for me... thanks to everyone who has been praying and asking about me.  Tomorrow we will resume with some more pictures of Aden and Anna from their visit here :)