Joel is enjoying his work at the hospital.  We are still living in two houses.  The painting was completed yesterday, so that is nice.  Now on to putting stuff away the previous missionaries left behind for us.  With a one year old, I don't want to move in until things she can get into are up and out of reach.

It's hot here all the time during the day, pretty much.  I don't have temperatures to give you.  Since it is the dry season, it does cool down very nicely at night, though.  No a/c units here in the guest house.  There is one window unit in the guest bedroom of the house we will move into.  We may get one more of those to use during the rainy season.  

We need to get back to school soon.  Maybe after the first of the year.  But also needing to get moved into our house.  No auto dishwashers here.  That's a change for us. Some have asked about food and supplies.  We can get some things in a town 3 hours away, other things in a town 6 hours away, and yet more things in a town 13 hours away.  We buy different items in the different towns. There is definitely no one-stop shopping here!  Not even one-town shopping! Here in Nalerigu you can get some dark meat chicken (not wrapped, but at least frozen), tomatoes, onions, bananas, bell peppers, toilet paper, soap bars, and a few other items.  

I'm feeling pretty good.  Typical fatigue and hunger.  Then the last few days the acid reflux that I've had with my last three pregnancies has started a bit.  

The kids are doing well. Colt enjoys playing with the other missionary boy here, Benton.  Abigail is enjoying closing the toilet lids since she's seen me do that to keep her out of them!  

We miss you and love you and would love to hear from you.  Still behind on emails and getting a bit homesick.  

I've had a nap and am feeling a bit more energized.  Between chasing after Abigail some and growing a new baby, I stay pretty tired!  Christmas was nice.  We had a traditional Christmas meal of (wild) turkey, ham, turkey gravy, dressing, green beans, sweet potatoes, crescent rolls, ice cream pumpkin pie, cheesecake, and on and on.  Needless to say, we ate well!  We all pitched in to have a nice dinner.  

We are not in our house.  The painting is nearly finished.  We still need to get a water filter hooked up, get both toilets working, and a few other important odds and ends like that.  We will keep you posted on that.  

Merry Christmas!

It's been too long since I've posted.  I've been meaning to get to this for awhile now, but things have been busy and getting to the internet is not always easy.  Joel is enjoying his work at the hospital.  Our trunks did arrive the end of last week.  They are at "House 3" where we will be staying long-term.  We are glad they are here!  Just in time for Christmas.

The painters are nearly finished inside the house.  Then we can start putting things away and be closer to moving in.  We also need to make sure we have filtered water there, among other things.  

I am feeling fine-hungry and tired!  We are eating Christmas dinner tomorrow with the other missionaries.  We celebrated Joel's 46th birthday yesterday with all of them.  Nice to be getting to know them all better.

We miss you all very much and truly appreciate your continued prayers.  

Colt's Gingerbread House from School

Sights on the Streets of Ouagadougou

Abigail 15 Months

We are back in Nalerigu now.  It is nice to be "home."  The house is being painted and looking really nice.  This is Joel's first day at the hospital since we've been in Ghana this time.  He was more than ready to get to work.  

Colt has a bike now and is riding it everywhere!  He's very excited to have one to ride. Thank You, Lord!  We are the third family to have it.  It's a great bike.  

That's all for now.  Thanks to all of you for your prayers and encouragement.   

Check out the new feature below

I added a feature to our blog on the right side further down.  Look for: Feedjit Live Traffic Feed. You should see a map with it.  It places a red dot on the map for each person who goes to our blog.  When I put it up this morning, there was one dot in Africa for us.  Now there are already several more dots in the States because several of you have been to our blog this morning.  Isn't that cool?  I got that from Alicia Raley!  

Thursday in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

I don't remember what all I have shared recently.  We will leave here on Saturday morning to head back to Nalerigu, Ghana.  In the meantime we are taking lessons from Mona on what food and other supplies to stock up on before leaving.  We will also shop in one town, Bolgatanga, on the way home in Ghana, as well.  We are taking "20 kilos" of ground beef home with us.  There is a freezer we can use downstairs here at the Baptist Mission in Ouaga until we leave.  This helps our food get nice and frozen before the trip home.  Then we will put it all in the ice chests we have.  

We have enjoyed our time here a lot.  It's been great to get to know Mona and the kids better.  They have been so helpful and great to be around.  And we are enjoying getting to know some of the other missionaries here in Burkina Faso better, such as the Lyons, Shaftos, and our wonderful housemate, Elsie!  Colt has really enjoyed being with the other children during the school session.  And we've enjoyed (mostly) constant internet and the access to supplies here, as well.  

With me being pregnant (Thank You, Lord!), we have decided to not be involved with the school session at this time.  We think one country is enough to get used to, much less two!  Joel would not be coming with me the other 8 weeks out of the year.  We are at peace with this decision, though we will miss the folks we won't get to see.  

Our house is being painted inside, starting this week.  I was able to pick out some paint colors.  Looking forward to the results!  Caitlin, from Accra, brought up our paint and an ice chest full of chicken breast and fruit and veggies for us.  Thanks, Caitlin!  

Our trunks are supposed to arrive Monday or Tuesday of next week in Nalerigu.  That will be nice.  We will then be able to get back to school with Colt, as well as many other things!  

Christmas Party at the American Ambassador's in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Colt's Haircut

Cape Coast Area

News

Are you ready for some exciting news?  We found out today I am expecting!!  We are very excited, Colt, too.  I'm about 5 weeks along, due Aug 9. Pretty cool, wouldn't you say?  Let us hear from you!

Airplane to Accra

Dallas Does Bentwood

This was an email we received from Joel's brother and his wife, Dana.  Dallas, for those who don't know, is our Australian shepherd/catahoula leopard mix dog. She's about 60 lbs.  Jay and Dana have a Great Dane.  They graciously offered to take in Dallas while we are gone when it was clear she would soon be on the streets!  :) 

Jay was walking outside through the garage of his country club home mid afternoon on Saturday when the dogs brushed past him to play on the lawn.  In the past few weeks they had proven they wouldn't run down the street or simply take off.  The two pups preferred to lie down in the freshly mown grass and enjoy the activities of their family.  The athletic father was planning to play basketball with his two children.  This would never be.  Saturday was a new day.

The smaller dog, white with gray-black spots, walked onto the driveway without a care in the world.  She seemed just about ready to stretch out in the grass for a delightful roll when a large brown truck drove by.  It was a UPS delivery truck.  The pleasant afternoon was shattered.  The small dog transmformed into a snarling, barking aggressor who ran after the enormous truck.  She ran much faster than Jay could imagine.  This was a dog who groaned when she lay down or got up.  This was the dog that occasionally just didn't get up for hours.  The small dog hurtling down the street had strength, energy, and a furious spirit.  

The bewildered human ran after the canine-wonder calling her name repeatedly.  Desperately trying to catch up  to the dog and praying the driver wouldn't stop and get out, Jay stretched his long legs and ran faster than he had in years.  Gasping for breath, unable to call for the dog for lack of oxygen, Jay determined that he would simply tackle the dog as soon as he drew near.  Four blocks later the pup began to slow her pace.  Jay indeed tackled the animal and holding her collar rested on one knee as he gasped for each lung full of air.

The dog continued barking and growling ferociously as the truck drove around the fourth corner.  Those passing by marveled that the large man and the small dog seemed so intent on breathing and barking, respectively.  After what felt like a ton of weight was lifted from his lungs the tall man stood up, keeping his hand firmly gripped on the small dog's collar. The two walked back to the house.  The dog was pleased she had chased the horrible UPS truck away from her home.  She pranced with pride and delight from her accomplishment.  The tall man bent over keeping his large hand closed firmly around the small dog's collar.  Four blocks they pranced and bent (respectively) back to the garage.  Saturday was a new day.

The tall man put the small dog within the backyard fence.  He went inside the house and drained of all emotional strength and physical energy he lay down on the couch.  The dog trotted around the backyard telling all the other dogs in the neighborhood of her accomplishment.  The large dog who watched the event unfold finally got up from his nap beside the driveway and walking to the garage entrance scratched on the door asking to come in the house.  The amazed children allowed the dog inside and brought their exhausted father a glass of water.  With trembling hands he accepted the drink then fell back onto the couch exhausted and spent.  Dallas had come to Bentwood.  It would never be the same.  

Can You Walk and Chew Gum...

Joel just saw a lady walking down the street carrying a large bowl of bananas and apples on her head while peeling an apple at the same time! Anyone want to try that at home?  I know, should have gotten a pic...

Now Joel has spotted a woman carrying produce on her head, carrying a baby on her back, and peeling an apple.  Colt wanted me to note he saw a woman driving a motorcycle while carrying a baby on her back.  

Obama

Joel, Abigail, and I walked to a few shops this morning.  On the streets there are many peddlers trying to sell you their merchandise.  Burkina Faso has a reputation for having some of the most aggressive sellers in the world.  Yesterday I waited in the truck for one stop Mona made.  There were close to 10 women outside the truck still trying to sell me things while I waited.  One woman opened the car door!  Locked doors seem a better idea!  :)  

Both here and in Ghana when some of these strangers on the streets learn we are from America, they smile and say "Obama" in their beautiful accents with great excitement.  We have learned to halfway, at least, smile and say "Yes, Obama."  We have been told in Ghana that the government has to tell the people that Obama is the president-elect of the US, not of Ghana.  They think he will help them in their country!

We were without internet for a couple of days so glad that is up and running again.  Abigail was sick with travelers diarrhea for two days straight.  She was not keeping anything down and we were at the point of needing to get fluids in her one way or the other. But yesterday morning she woke up feeling much better. She has been eating and drinking again since then.  She still has the ear infection but that is much easier to handle. All the missionaries have been so helpful in so many ways.  We are thankful.  

Colt is enjoying the homeschool session here this week in Burkina Faso.  He enjoys the other missionary children here.  They meet each morning and then come home for lunch.  He and Joel played ultimate frisbee Sunday afternoon and loved every minute of that, as well.  Colt has also learned how to play tether ball.  He is always game for picking up a new sport!  

Mona has graciously taken me shopping for groceries a couple of times.  She is telling me what to stock up on before we go back to Nalerigu.  

Thanks to all for the jokes for Colt. He enjoys them very much.  It is also a fun way to stay in touch with you all.