Greetings from Gbendembu
Life has been so busy and we are getting settled in.
We have had a number of visitors the past couple of days. L came to visit the clinic and spent a couple of days. J came to help with a literacy class and brought a load of women. Then M came for a week to help with a youth camp. Our guest house has been busy.
Perry has been busy installing our solar system, setting up the computer cabinet, and getting it all connected. We are looking forward to having everything in place and being able to settle into a more regular routine. Classes are going well and I am enjoying leading and teaching the student wives program.
In the midst of all of this, I had some folks bring me a six-month baby girl – I think to give me. The father had died before it was born and then the mother died a few days ago. Well, the family had found someone to take care of it temporarily and now we’re here. I gave them some powdered milk, enough for a week and promised to work on finding the baby a home (preferably someone who could breastfeed the baby).
So, I did find someone. The pastor and his wife in Makeni really wanted the baby. So, after a week, the family, the baby, and the temporary mom came to town and J happened to be here and she agreed to take the baby back to Makeni the next day with her. Everyone in the family agreed (by the way, the family is from a village several miles away and the temporary mom lives in Gbendembu.) The next day, J was ready to go and no BABY. I sent the watchman Pa S to find what had happened. The temporary mom refuses to give up the baby. So, J went to Makeni empty-handed and the pastor’s family was crushed.
I sent a message today to the temporary mom. I am concerned about the baby and what it’s eating since I only gave it food for one week. Apparently, they’re beating rice and making a type of cereal for the baby. I guess I just have to let the family work this out but hope the baby doesn’t suffer.
Life is never boring here. And it sometimes really stretches us in directions that often make us uncomfortable. And sometimes it is really hard to know how to respond to the needs we face.
On a lighter note, we are back to eating Sierra Leone rice chop (rice with a sauce). Today it is jollof rice and tomorrow cassava leaf. Pa S is killing a chicken for tomorrow.
We now have seven chickens and six ducks in our pen. The L’s left their cat with us and Jess calls it Sammy. Perry has bought a deer that we have named Target. It is a freetombo and is only 12 inches tall when it is full-grown. He refused to take the chimp another missionary offered us. They are too messy and can be dangerous. Chimps are very strong. I am glad he said no. I didn’t really want another monkey around. He is right, they are just too messy.
We are enjoying getting to know the new district superintendent JY. He arrived just two weeks before we left in 1989. His wife’s name is Adama and they have several small children. I think we are going to be great friends. And there is another baby named Nancy in town. Perry had to make three emergency trips to the hospital last week and one of them was a pregnancy. The family named the girl Nancy. It is a common occurrence – their way of saying thank you for your help.
Prices are crazy and rising. Inflation is making it hard for people to buy what they need. It changes fast enough that what they earn one month will not buy what they need because the prices have gone up that much.
Well, that is a quick update of life these days. Even as I write it feels like we are getting settled in and back into the routine of life here. That feels good. It is great to be back and able to serve the Lord here.
Nancy
How do you handle events and challenges that stretch you and test your skills and knowledge?
How do your respond to and treat national coworkers? What is your attitude towards them and their ability to contribute? How will this affect your ministry?