More walls, more bookshelves, a desk, and two pens

Dear Friends,

This is Pastor Kristina again at the other end of the day, tired but happy after another wonderful day in Awombrew!

The progress on the nursery was terrific today! End walls and interior walls have been put up and the ground is being leveled. We were halted by a good old fashion rain storm which cooled things down quite a bit--at least for the morning. The sun came out this afternoon with full authority!

The bookshelves now number three and the carpenter is now working on computer desks for the lessons to be taught in what is called the "storage facility" but which is also going to be used for night learning and computer lessons.

Most excellently, two pens were turned today! (Read that line twice and say halleluia!) They are really attractive. Jay is hoping for thirteen more tomorrow. We look forward to showing these to you. Everyone here is very excited about this work!

So that's what's up with "progress" in the tangible sense. But so much more happens than that on these trips. Joseph reminds us that "the most important thing is relationshi-making". This group collectively agrees with him. As the days pass and we spend more time with our new friends, names come more easily, and conversations move beyond the "how are you?" stage. I had my first marriage proposal today. (Allie racked up a few of those the first day she was here!) He doesn't even mind that I am 11 years older!

I taught our friend, Mary, who is a mother and grandmother, the song "Mary had a little lamb." Joy, my friends, really is in the simple things. How much fun! The children got into it. The principal loved it! Sharing songs is so much fun.

I taught the children a new game today using bamboo sticks, which are readily available here. They teach us new games, too. Barbara has guessed that I will sleep well tonight; I think she is right!

Perhaps one of the most adventerous experiences of the day may be that Bill, David, and Brian decided to walk from Winneba to Awombrew--about seven miles. It may be helpful to know that people here walk everywhere! Although there are taxis and cars, they are not widely owned or affordable. So foot travel, often carrying substantial pounds of produce or product of some sort on your head, is the way most folks travel. Still, the folks the men met along the road were most impressed with their walk which they said was "very far". They enjoyed stopping along the way at shops, people along the road greeted them, some walked with them a while, and a fellow with a limp walked with them all the way there--probably 4 miles beyond his destination. (We gave him a ride back when we went for lunch.) B, D, and B made it just before the sky opened up, so they were spared arriving drenched to the skin.

Each night we get back to the homestead, wash up and head to dinner at a place called Lagoon Lodge. We talk about the blessings of the day and those things that challenge us. It is easy to see God here. I hope that you will find a moment in your day to see God. Receive a blessings. And then pass it on.

Your prayers mean so much to us!

Blessings on the journey, PK