Christie walked to Bo - posted by Karen

Christie and others walked to Bo last week, to get supplies for JCC and she intended to update her BLOG at the Internet Cafe while she was there. However, it was closed. She tried really hard to not be disappointed cuz it also meant she was unable to check her e-mail. If you would like to e-mail Ceek while she is there her address is ceekshermer@yahoo.com I know she would love to hear from anyone who would like to encourage her. It appears that we were overly optimistic when we envisioned Internet on the compound in a week or two. So she will have to walk to town (4 miles each way, with someone from JCC to translate for her) until further notice whenever she wants to use the Internet. She is looking forward to this tho, as she will take a different older child each trip and take them to a restaurant and spend one-on-one time with them.

Christie said it is quite an experience going to town. She is quite a novelty there and people are always yelling "Pumoi-Pumoi" which is "white person". It causes everyone to turn and look at her. Kids run away from her to the end of the block and then turn and wait for her to come toward them and then run away again. It's disconcerting to have the little ones frightened of her. There is one supermarket with set prices - otherwise every other store in the market is a bartering system. She needs someone with her to be sure that she is bartering correctly and not being "taken" because she is a Pumoi. When she is sent to purchase things for Jonathan House she needs to be responsible with their funds so she needs to bring children who are Market savvy. Her goal is to become Market Savvy and be able to get good deals on her own.

She is having to get usedta the way of doing things in Africa. They live on a one lane road. This weekend they took the kids to a farm. As their van was leaving the orphanage, they met a Poda-Poda (a people transport vehicle - kinda like a bus). Both are larger vehicles and there was not enough room to pass. Neither driver was willing to back up so they both just stopped and turned off their engines and waited it out. . . for an hour! Finally one of them backed up! But in the African heat - the air in the two vehicles got mighty stifling before they were on their way again. Christie has lots to learn about patience in such situations!

She is settling into the routine. The weekend routine is different than during the week. Altho there are Cooks during the week, the JCC staff cooks on the weekends. Christie's job is to dish up the rice each meal during the week and help with the cooking on the weekends. Saturday is Laundry Day and Sunday is Church and Hair Day. They do everyone's hair for the whole week and then don't hafta worry about it again all week!!

Ceek is adjusting to the climate. Whereas she was always hot the first few days - she finds that she is using a sheet at night now! Mornings are her times with the little kids and afternoons with the older kids. She is enjoying helping the kids with their schoolwork the most at this point. The days are still long - but she is adjusting there also. Whereas she fought to stay awake during evening prayers at 8:15pm the first few nights - she is finding she is fully participating and thoroughly enjoying evening prayers now.

Specific prayer requests for her are:

• Walks to town - It is beastly hot and even tho she carries a wet cloth, she gets quite warm. And wiping with the cloth too much wipes off the sun screen and she burns a bit.
• She is experiencing Language Fatigue - Constantly having to translate everything that you hear is draining. Plus she asks them to repeat in Mende and Creole everything that is said in
• English so that she can learn both languages quickly.
• Individual time with the kids - there are so many that one on one time is hard to come by
• Refreshment when she is alone - that is also hard to come by. When I called her she went to her room to talk to me. Three year old Patrick followed her and kicked everyone else out of her room to give her privacy but then he wanted to stay - it was difficult for him to grasp that he needed to leave also. Very cute!
• Spiritual Refreshment in her Quiet times each morning. This is vital to her continued positive attitude and having something to give to staff and children
  God's will be done regarding Internet coming to Jonathan House
  

Thanks for all of your prayers and support,
Love in Jesus,
Karen