PATO

My boy once again. I know I have to be more careful- as I really do love them all, but it seems Patrick is my shadow and always around so there happen to be more photos of him and I just love this one. Amy wanted to take a picture of us so Patrick said, "Mommy Christie come closer." and just held my face like this. He is so sweet. AND smart. He and Betty have a big part in our up coming school graduation ceremony. Together they go back and forth in a short reading- where each of them have a good 15 lines each. Patrick was slower than Betty to learn, but once he did he learned both parts and no corrects Betty each time she says it wrong. He can even stand there and read both parts from start to finish. One evening we were practicing together and the two of them could not stop causing trouble. So I said to them that I wanted them to each be serious- to try their best to make it the whole way through. Then as soon as they started I just got the giggles and couldn't stop. It was hilarious and we decided that a night of laughing was better for us at that time.

When it comes to this jeep Patrick thinks he is the co-driver and in turn co-owner. I remember when we were little my gramps would let us sit on his lap and drive. When we were a bit older in Elementary school my gramps lived with us while they were building their home on Elbow Lake. Each morning we took turns sitting beside him steering on the way to school. When the kids and I are in the car driving up our JCCM road I let them take turns driving with me- oh how Patrick loves that. He is always telling me to let go of the steering wheel and he honks every two seconds, but I love seeing his smile. The other day he came to me after uncle Joe borrowed the jeep. He said, "Mommy Christie, Uncle Joe spoiled the jeep." "No Patrick he is just borrowing it." "Mommy Christie he spoiled it- the voice changed." Well he was right- not that the vehicle was broken but that the voice had changed. There was an exhaust problem so it sounded a bit different and he knew that.

It will be so much fun to have my family meet all of my kids and come to know them and love them as I do. Emily and Darby Youngstrom were the first girls I nannied for- they became my parents first grand kids. My mom spoiled them and loves them. Now just think how many grand kids she is going to have.

Rat Hunt

This is one post I should have posted at the time, the story would have been so much better. I will still try my best now. While Amy and Karen were visiting I once again had some rats in the hut. They seem to know when other guests come and decide that is the best time to come welcome them too. For a few nights we could here them but could not find them, one evening we finally saw one run across the floor. Who do we go looking for but Jerry of course. As we walk out the door we run into Bockarie instead. When we ask him if he is a good rat hunter he replies YES very confidently. So we invite him in- he comes into my room, starts looking and when he sees the rat he jumps and screams like a girl. HHMMM- good rat hunter I think not. Back to Jerry. Now we have the two of them. We often see the rat but it manages to get right past them. Bock looking in the pot- why? well maybe those rats are trickier than we thought.

Jerry- more of the professional, looking behind the chair.

I was of help as long as I could hold the broom or something- as soon as they took it away I felt the need to stand on the chair. Amy and Karen just sat on the couch laughing the whole time- especially when they locked the three of us into my room with the rat- however even that didn't stop him and he managed to escape. We ended the night not finding him- we thought he ran out the front door. No worries the sticky traps we put out managed to catch him in the night. I ran out the next morning saying, "We caught him, we caught him!" However no one gave me the credit for catching him. Oh well at least we had one less visitor for awhile.

I am hoping that they do not choose to come while my family is here- that and the spiders as my mom is not good with them at all.

They're COMING

Today JK and I head to the airport to pick up my family. This trip has been a long time coming. First of all my mom missed out on the last family trip (and has honestly been my biggest supporter- so that was tough), second my grandma has been walkig everyday for well over a year in preperation, thirdly Lorie has encouraged me, listened to me talk on and on and really honestly "let me go" to be here and now gets to come see for herself, and of course Amy is my "other half" and will be returning for her THIRD time. (that is only one less flight than I have logged- granted my stays are a bit longer).
Lorie and Mike welcomed me into their family just before their second daughter Isabelle was born, hard to believe that was 10 years ago this month. Lor has become a second mom, an older sister and a good friend. I'm thrilled she is able to come on this great girls trip. JK loves that her daughters introduced him to bowling (which he became very competetive at), horseback riding, real ice cream, and the fun? game of Twister. He smiled and laughed a little when he found out Lor was coming- he has in his head that this city girl will struggle a bit here in the bush. Little does he know she is a camping queen and of course spent a bit of her childhood in the Great North. She's a tough lady who will give him a run for his money.Oh how I wish that both these ladies were able to come on this trip. The people here would get such a kick out of Grandma Syvilla and her friend Darlington would love to meet her- maybe that will have to wait for another time. For now everyone is most excited to meet Grandma Shirley. They cannot believe that my GRANDMA is coming-and she is over 80 yrs old. When I explain that Grams has been walking almost 2 miles a day for over a year in preperation for this trip they are in awe. That she lives by herself, drives a car, and rides a stationary bike is beyond them. I cannot wait to "show her off". Grams and Gramps had a big part in my being here as well. They too were missionaries and showed all of us how to build relationships that last and show a love much deeper than any love we could give on our own. I can't go into how much I wish Gramps were on this trip. JK too loves Grandma Shirley. I'm sure it helps that she often baked him chocolate cake with rich homemade chocolate frosting (and would keep an extra piece hidden for him after everyone else had one) My mom! My mentor, inspiration, friend, guide, comforter, encourager, gentle admonisher, I could go on and on. We've waited over 2 years for this- much longer actually. She knew before I did that I would be coming here. She prayed for me years before my first visit here, knowing this would be in my heart. After learning that he good friend Sandi's daughter was moving to Nigeria (I was yet in junior high I think) she started praying about the time she would have to let her own daughter go. As I struggled with my decision to come or not to come- she was a strong rock. In 2006 as I spent my first 3 weeks here the praise song "Blessed Be Your Name" ran through my head often. In some ways it became the song I associated with my time here. After returning home I knew that I wanted to come back. Many things delayed that from happening and I began to question whether it was to be a one time trip for me. As I shared with my mom she told me how while I was here the first time and many times since she has been awakened in the night with the song "Blessed Be Your Name" running through her mind. I had never shared with her that this was the song I associated with Sierra Leone. God is good and gives us these little reassurances that I really cherish. I love that my mom and I are so connected and finally she will actually see this place that I know she already feels. AND YES JK loves Karen too. I mean who wouldn't. Especially because she was so good at taking care of him while he was home. He loved playing darts for the first time- with my mom getting a bullseye while we were all NOT looking and yelling at us that "YALL MISSED IT!!!" While stomping her foot. He loves that my mom is actually the one with all the musical talent- playing the quitar able to keep the right rythym with the shaker...

AND Last but certainly not Least is Amers. EVERYONE here is waiting for Amy to come. I went a few weeks back to Freetown and traveled back with my friend Rainny- all the kids thought I said Amy so before I was even awake in the morning they were standing on the veranda of my hut yelling for Amy to come out. They were not happy when I said it would still be a couple weeks. Amy has made some good friends here during her visits. I love that my sister and best friends is loved as much as I am here. From her first visit here, before JK and I ever built a relationship- JK and Amy started to be friends. I'm thankful that they are friends too.

Not too long from now we will all be together again- in AFRICA. We are starting out trip African style right away. As they fly in with their 8 suitcases and carry-ons we are still using the jeep- 6 people with carry-ons inside and 8 suitcases tied to the top- we'll be sure to post that photo too.

We are headed to Africa - posted by Karen

Gramma Shirley, Mama Karen, Sister Amy and Auntie Lorie are in London, England! We are waiting to board our plane for Freetown, Sierra Leone, Africa! We have 8 bulging suitcases checked through, filled with your generous donations of over the counter pain meds, cortisone cream, exam gloves, flip flops and shoes, underwear, clothes, sheets and curtains for the ministries we will be serving while there! Thank you for your donations of items and money that will be used for these people that are so near and dear to Christie's heart! Please keep praying that ALL EIGHT suitcases make it to Africa!

When we arrive, Christie will meet us with a jeep, and we will pile all 8 suitcases on top of the jeep, African style. Then 6 people and all of our carry-on luggage will squish into the jeep and we will travel 90 miles (about 4 hours) to Bo. Please pray that the tires and everything else works on the jeep so that we make it to Bo without mishap!

I hope that our next post will have a picture of the jeep and all of our supplies! Thank you for your generosity and your continued prayers!

Storytime in the Hut

If anyone needs quite time in order to read their book- this is not the place for you. It is all a bit chaotic but I love it.

Who needs Toy's R Us

While visiting the river in Bandejuma we found a few boys playing with this truck they made themselves. It looks much the way the big trucks here do- with tarps covering the sides and often times make shift parts on other places as well. They were quite proud- as they should be. My kids would LOVE to have a truck like this.

Birthday Gift

I know, I know. It is almost 3 months after my birthday, but I still fell the desire to post about this great birthday gift I will never forget. The night of my birthday found Joe and I at the airport waiting for Amy Stepec and Karen Boland to fly in. Amy is one of my oldest and dearest friends- and Karen has become one of my newer (not New any more) dearest friends. Who wouldn't want to spend their birthday with two good friends from home. More than that though is that these two have both played a very vital role in me being here in Salone. Once again God used tragedy for good. Amy and Steve became friends with the Bolands shortly after moving to Iowa. The Bolands happened to be named Mark and Karen- hmmm-sounds a bit familiar. I remember Amers calling and telling me about this couple she met that remind her of my mom and dad- not just the names. Our house has always been open- seen somewhat as a free rest and snack stop on your way through. Since we live right on the main highway often times people will stop to use the bathroom and are welcome to look through the cupboards to find a snack if they need as well. We love that Amy took advantage of this from time to time (and knew exactly which cupboards to look in). She said that this Mark and Karen made her feel just as welcome.
Unfortunately the first time I spent any real time with Karen was when she drove Amy and Steve up to Cook after Amy's Mom and sister were killed in a car accident. Amy and I talked a few times as she was packing and then as they were making the trip up. She would explain how Karen was helping them through- even stopping to buy some fun shoes at Target, lightening the drive a bit. By the time they got here and I really met Karen I already felt as though we had already spent time together. That only continued over the next few weeks.
We were all able to spend some time together at the lake in the following weeks. I remember sitting on the pontoon talking about Africa with Karen and Amy. Karen and Mark had each been to Sierra Leone at that time and were also planning trips to return. At one point Karen said, "Next summer we will be visiting you in Sierra Leone."
To make what could be a very long (and emotional for me) story shorter- God used this time to connect me with this place and these people here in Sierra Leone. Steve and I came (along with Jordyn- Karen and Mark's daughter) together on our first trip here in 2006 and yet again this past June the three of us were here together again. Amy watched as Steve came two times- the Bolands came numerous times and other friends and my family had come- now it was finally her turn. I cannot tell you how much it meant to me to have my closest friend/sister come to meet my friends and family here, but more than that to be able to have her here and say thank you for opening this door in my life... Without my friendship with Amy I wouldn't have met these people here, found a new home, or have all my children who have become so dear to my heart. She is a blessing in my life in so many ways- this is just one of them.
You can imagine the fun we three girls created during their one week here. We had some pretty emotional experiences along with fits of laughter and of course not much sleep. There was no better way to end their trip than to have a little time at the beach. Joe and JK were able to come with us- I think we needed them to keep us on track.
In honor of Jordyn we had to have a vimto- it is a grape soft drink. Some people just love it but to me it tastes a bit like grape medicine (and the last two events I was invited to they served me vimto while the people next to me had fanta and coke...). Jordyn is one of those who likes the vimto. In June of this year when their team was getting ready to leave after a long two weeks with lots of tired people, we decided to try this new restaurant (well new to us- and Joe and I were the ones who decided to take everyone here). It took FOREVER to get the waitress to come over. By that point we wanted to order food and drinks at the same time. After much debate we decided to go along with what she wanted and order just drinks. The time came for Jordyn to order and she said, "Vimto" "Can or Bottle?" the waitress asked. "I don't care." "Can or Bottle?" the waitress said again. "Either one." "CAN or BOTTLE?" She asked with a bit of irritation so Jordyn replies, "Can" "We don't have the can only the bottle" the waitress responds. OH MY WORD!!! Of course at that point I break out laughing- why even ask then, and she made such a big deal about it. Anyway- Jordyn we (some of us) had bottles of vimto for you.