Busy Busy

           Time goes by so fast here. Most of the time I don't even know what day it is. I didn't even realize that Christmas is next week! We got our "Christmas tree" up and decorated, it's not exactly what you would call a Christmas tree, but we made it work and put ornaments and lights on it. We also started to decorate the house. We are all getting good at making Christmas crafts because of all the parties we have had and had to make the decorations out of the stuff we had. Because time goes by so fast, I apologize for the lack of updates, but all the other team members only blog once a week, so you guys are lucky! The team and I are guests and the entertainment at an up coming camp at the end of this year, so yesterday we went to a local park, that was really pretty and we discussed and practiced skits that we were going to do. We waited and waited for our ride when some of us decided that we were just going to walk home(which is really far) so of course I joined them, and it was a gorgeous walk, the scenery was breathtaking and then it got bad when we had to climb I think one of the biggest hills in all of Africa. It was definitely a work out and something I will NEVER do again! We even beat the car back.
                   Today, we were fairly busy. We started our day off with going to a babies orphanage at 7:30am. This was my first time going to this project so it was definitely an experience. One of the team members bought diapers for the babies so we didn't have to hold them while they were all wet. When we got there, we scrubbed the floors for the women and then after played with the children. And as usual they said, they were all wet. We put diapers and new clothes on them and then played with them. One of the things I unfortunately witnessed was that because the babies don't wear diapers, or underwear, the carpet in the room has wet spots on it from urine, and kids were lining up to lick it off the floor. I guess they were that thirsty, which really broke my heart. But all the kids had so much fun and were so full of life. I don't know how anyone could abandon any of these kids. After that we had some down time and then went to the slums. There, we decorated the houses of those who wanted Christmas decorations. We then played with the kids and sang songs with them. The slums were also sad, because the "houses" were one roomed and made of clay and and scrap material. But 3 people put their lives in Christ's hands today and we are all so thankful for that! On our way home we were all witnessed to seeing a goat give birth. Only in Africa...
                    Our guard to our house lives on our property and I guess adopted one of the stray dogs that came by. Stray dogs here are like stray cats at home. There is so many of them, and no one takes them in. I don't think people even have dogs as pets here. Maybe only a few wealthy ones. So of course, the dog lover that I am, I had to see this dog, and brought it water. The neighborhood people that were outside our gate said that she only drank soda! I offered her some water but she didn't take it. She only licked it off my hand. She later came in our gate and just laid down in the backyard where I just loved on her,  I named her Amina(Amena?) Not sure, but it's what the kids here say after they pray.
                 Sorry for the lack of pictures lately, my camera has decided to quit working, hopefully only for a short while, so I will be borrowing the pictures that the other team members take.




Lauren