Some baggage - maybe ours? - by Karen

Some baggage has arrived in Freetown. They will be going to pick it up tomorrow. We don't know if it belongs to Shermer's or Marshalltown travelers. One of the girls, Jordyn, who had lost both her bags, got them last week, so we are still praying that our bags come.

Mark and the crew completed what they can on the fence - but without the ground posts from the bag that is missing - the system will not work. So please pray that the fencepost bag will be one of those in Freetown tomorrow.

He has been busy helping cut brush in a field. Now they are going to plow it. He said that if you picture those old Chinese movies where they have a wide hoe with a short handle as they work in the rice paddies - that is the kind of hoes they are using to manually plow the large field on which they plant the food for the orphanage. Nine of them will be working on the field tomorrow and they are hoping to get it ready for planting, as the rainy season is coming. Mark said that he is amazed at how much work these children are capable of doing. If his Sunday pants barely stayed up last week - I wonder how they'll stay up next Sunday?!?!?

Amy said that they really don't sit around much! They have been busy painting, planting hair (this is done on Sunday's so that they don't hafta fix hair again all week!!!), doing laundry, working with the kids, etc. She said that they have bread or rice at every meal and they always eat that - but sometimes they can't deal with the "sauce" that goes over the rice. She took a picture of the fish sauce to bring home and show us. She did say that the fruit is very good and that she enjoys the pineapple and bananas, and that the oranges are green, but very tasty!

They had met a man on the airstrip when they arrived who is head of the University in Bo. He gave them a tour of the University today. They were all impressed with the quality of education that the students receive with so little supplies and things that we take for granted. They have outdated computers, few books and off and on again electricity! These students take their education seriously and work hard with what little they have. Kari got quite excited about seeing if her Alma Matter (Mankato State University) would be willing to donate computers, books and supplies to this University. The biggest obstacle would be the cost of shipping things over there. If any of you know of a way to get supplies to Sierra Leone, please let me or Christie know. We would be ever so grateful!! Today I mailed a package to Christie - it weighed 1 lb 4 oz and cost $9.00 to mail!! Shipping will hafta be creative to get Books and Computers over there!! A couple of the University Students took quite an interest in Kari and Amy and came to visit them at JCC. Kar and Amers had to tell them that they were not interested in a relationship, but Kari was able to share her idea of getting supplies to Sierra Leone. If she can get them into the Country, these young men will get them to the University!

Kari was pretty excited to become reacquainted with this man tho cuz she has missed running in the mornings. She is not allowed to run off the compound alone, and in the morning the older students have chores to do so they cannot run with her. This University man is also a runner and he will come to JCC and pick Kar-Beth up and take her running! God has answered her prayers!!

Christie continues to thrive in her role as Housemother. She is enjoying having her family there - yet continues to minister to her children also. When I called, Mark, Kari and Amy had retired to their rooms for the night - but Ceek was busy hanging out with the kids. She talked with me for a few minutes, then handed off the phone to her dad and went and got her sisters and then when I asked to speak with her again the reply was that she was with the children. Of course, she'll be where her heart is!!!

Thanks for your continues prayers and support along the journey. If you'd like to write to Christie, her address is listed a coupla posts back. If you'd ever like to call her - we got a Jupiter phone card by going on line at http://www.comfi.com/Phone-Card/Jupiter . This card lets you call Sierra Leone for only 12.8 cents per minute (cheaper than my land line by far and we have International calling!!). Anyway - once you put money on this card you can call Christie. Her phone number (with country code is) 011 232 766 99256#. When using the Jupiter card you must put the # sign at the end of the number!

Thanks for your support on this journey,
Karen