Christie and Auntie Mary went to town the beginning of this week and she had two posts ready to upload - complete with pictures! But for some reason, the upload didn't work. Hopefully she'll have more success next week. Til then, you're stuck with me.
I talked with Christie yesterday - she and the "team" (staff and youth from JCC) were on their way home with their wood supply. When told that one of their jobs that day was to "get a tractor full of wood" she excitedly asked, "We have a tractor?". "Sure - right here" . . . led her to our version of a farm wagon with sides and a tongue (which our "tractor" would pull). She was laughing as she told me that their team was the human "tractor" who pushed/pulled the empty wagon 2 miles or so over a rutted, pot holed road to the place where they loaded it. Then they walked another 3/4 mile to get the wood, loaded it on their heads and carried it back to the "tractor", and continued this process until the "tractor" was loaded. When I called they were push/pulling the loaded "tractor" home. My phone call actually gave her a few minutes to walk without pushing! It also gave her the opportunity to ask for her sisters to bring smaller Capri's - her belt is a necessity at this point!! And she loves it!! Imagine the closeness you develop when you work so closely together. Mark and all four kids usedta work in the shop together over deer season - and there were many times I remember hearing lotsa laughter as they all got the job done together. Maybe we've lost something in America when we don't hafta work so closely together so much anymore. Forgive me, I digress . . .
Anyway - Ceek is getting new African clothes for a special Thanksgiving Service tomorrow! Auntie Mary and other staff members are going to a church off campus and they are bringing Ceek with them. They are making her a skirt and shirt outta bright African fabric. I had a hard time knowing which she was most excited about . . . she is looking forward to both!! This will be her special "Sunday Outfit" from now on.
She was also relating a funny story, again concerning Patrick - who is actually two - just so smart he seems three! JCC has a locked storeroom, called the "store", where the food is kept and their daily bread is made off campus and delivered to this "store". Christie's morning job is to get this bread from the store and slice and butter it for everyone's breakfast. A coupla evenings ago the key was missing for the store and everyone was enlisted to look for it - with no success. Finally they were told that there would be no bread for breakfast since the delivery person would not be able to find the key. Little Patrick took Christie's hand and led her to his mattress where he had hidden his "treasure". It had been left on a table and the more that people looked for it, the more he knew his treasure was worth - until he found out there would be no breakfast! What a little cutie!
Thanks for your generosity in contributing to the Neck Cooler Project and to Christie's wish list for Jonathan's House. We haven't packed yet - but it looks like we may need to take an extra bag in order to get everything over to Sierra Leone!! United Airlines has imposed new weight restrictions - and the leg from MPLS to Chicago will be the stickler for our three! If ANY of their bags goes over 50 lbs it'll cost $100.00 extra for each bag that does - or we can just pay $100.00 for the extra bag. I may not be real bright - but I can do the math here!! (Actually - I researched British Airways from Chicago on - I thot we were fine . . . Ceek told me the glitch was from Minneapolis to Chicago!!!!) Thanks for being God's tools to minister to the dear people in Bo. I'm beginning to feel like they are family as I talk with Christie. They sure are her family right now!!
God's Blessings to all of you,
Karen
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