Friday, Mar. 23.2012  T.G.I.F.!

  Have just finished “concocting” a salad of tomatoes and cucumbers, combing Paul Newman’s S.W. dressing and Ranch dressings (packets I brought with me).  As usual, I am not following any recipe (why should I change, even if I’m in Africa, right, Amy?)  EXCEPT it’s for Pastor Peter’s birthday celebration…and we are trying to give him and his wife Sarah, an idea of American food. Bonnie’s making French toast (making it in front of Sarah, at Peter’s request. So she will know how to do it), Sue is now making applesauce(Pastor Lawrence LOVED the little taste she gave him that he shared with his substantial family!) and I, as usual, am making up something to serve using what I have on hand!  I brought my leftover McDonald’s packet, thinking they’d be perfect for all the salads I’d be eating, only to find out that there are no salad green to speak of.  There is something they eat…but we’ve decided it would be hard to make sure they are clean enough for us to eat.  There is cabbage, also. We’re making a few little tuna and egg salad sandwiches, plus a couple of deviled eggs.(I have a packet of mustard!)  My “hoarding: is coming in handy! And we paid $10.00  to have a cake made.  That’s quite high for the size of the cake, so O hope it’s worth it.  Didn’t think to bring any candles (people who saw me frantically trying to remember everything I might POSSIBLY need can understand why I might not have thought of them!)  I have enough small bottles of water and the little drink packets to give them a choice (Peter and Lawrence both LOVE these!) and we will offer them ice tea as well.  So, it should be fun.

I’ve had two memorable days going to see where my two sponsored ladies have their businesses.  I don’t think I wrote about my long a mile 1?2 walk to Rose’s (a Short distance, Timothy, the Hope4Kids field officer said)  Well, he’s used to long walk in the hot sun..and of course, the DUSTY paths,,,and I’M NOT.  It was great seeing Roses’s fruit and vegetable stand and hearing how much t Ihis year  of business training,etc.has helped her family have enough good food. She is so grateful and excited when she sees me.  And I wsso happy to buy tomatoes from her!  The sun was hot and I began to feel faint..Drank all my water and had to sit down..  Then we walked to her Family compound that had a hut to cook in and keep the chickens at night, a hut for the children to sleep in, and a hut for her and her husband. (She even had a tiny bookshelf up where the thatched roof met the wall.   She showed us her photo album which surprised me, filled with family pictures,etc.  She gave me on.  I will treasure it!  It was very pleasant there…and quiet. Then we walked back to Juba and met Lawrence who took us home..

  Yesterday I met  Doris (my “sister” and Timothy , my “brother” where my other sponsored woman,Lona,  got her maize husked and ground into flour.  Kathy, I got pictures of some pretty happy little chicks helping themselves to the piles on the ground! (Did I tell you, there are chickens EVERYWHERE?!)…in the streets, goin g into church, classroom,. the “staff room”….EVERYWHERE!

It was very interesting and Doris and Timothy helped me understand how the process was done and how Lona made her money.  I am so proud of her!  She used to  make  alcohol, inhaling the fumes…which was very hard on her.  This is SO much better.  And THEN!  I had my first Boda ride!  I was to meet Sue at a restaurant (TLT) and it was a bit far to walk…and there was Patrick (whom I’d  heard was a very safe driver) so I figured, “Why not?”! He was very careful and only once, .going between two big trucks, did I close my eyes!  We were not going on a busy street, otherwise I would not have gone, as it is crazy how they drive in and out, around any other vehicle, cows. goats, potholes,etc..zigzagging wildly. Sue was quite surprised to see her Muzungo friend arriving!

  Well, better stop.  I seem to have a cold…though better after taking my medicine.  I felt pretty crummy thisd morning. But I’m counting on the sun to dry it out of me!  Sorry to hear of your snow, Spokanites!