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.  

Ougadougou, Burkina Faso

We are now in Burkina Faso for the two week school Colt will attend.  I realized tonight that within about two weeks we have slept in: Colleyville, Fort Worth, an airplane, Accra, Tamale, Nalerigu, and now Ougadougou.  That's seven different places, three different countries. 

We enjoyed another Thanksgiving meal tonight with more missionaries here in Ouga.  There are quite a few children here so Colt will enjoy getting to know them.  We got to worship tonight with these folks and what a drink for our thirsty souls it was.  

We traveled all day and are glad to be here.  We had to wait at the Burkina Faso border for an hour or so as they were closed for lunch!  

We have seen the hand of God on us even in taking illness away in the midst of praying against it.  

We went through the belongings of a missionary family that was in Nalerigu before us in the last couple of days, deciding what might be helpful to keep.  I excitedly chose paint colors to have the inside of the house painted, as well.  I look forward to decorating, naturally!  

We still don't know anything about our trunks.  So, we will stock up on diapers while here in Ouga, among other things.  Colt's school books are also in those trunks.  We'll have to go to Plan B if they don't show up before long!  

I think I've mentioned this, but in Nalerigu we have to go to the schoolhouse to use the internet.  So we are not as often on line most of the time now.  And the connection is not always good. We are definitely thankful to have access to the internet, though.  

Kumasi

We made it to Kumasi tonight to a hotel (Treasure Land) that the Esalas recommended. We are glad to be here . We did drive by the coast, as well. Joel and Colt played in the water a bit, though the current was pretty strong so they didn't really swim.

About our trunks-they may arrive in Accra next week sometime while we are in Burkina Faso at the homeschool co-op meeting. They will be picked up and brought to Nalerigu. So, we still have only our luggage from flying over. Doing fine, though.

Tomorrow Joel will take the truck to the Toyota dealership here in Kumasi first thing in the morning. We are hoping to leave mid-moring for Nalerigu but may have to stay in Tamale tomorrow night if we don't get to leave in time.

We got to the coast after driving for two hours this morning. When we stopped to eat and get in the water, we noticed (as did someone nearby) that our rear left tire was smoking and smelled like rubber. (Yes, brand new Toyota truck.) It was noon and we still had about five hours of driving to do. The only Toyota dealerships within Ghana are in Accra (where we came from ) and Kumasi (where we were going). So, after lunch when we got back in the truck, we prayed against whatever was wrong with the truck and had absolutely no more trouble with that all day. We are so thankful for that and will see what the dealership finds tomorrow when they do the maintenance check.

Travel

We plan to leave in the morning for the coast to see the beach.  Joel and Colt may even get in the water and have talked about "surfing."  There is a surf shop on the coast here Joel has had his eye on since he found it on-line months ago!  Then we will head toward Kumasi for the night. We have an appt with the Toyota dealership there Monday morning to get our vehicle checked out as required.  Then we will get back on the road.  We will arrive in Nalerigu either late Monday or more likely on Tuesday.  I'm packing food and other necessary items for our trip.  We may or may not have internet at the hotel tomorrow night.  Thanks for your continued prayers.