** a few of the girls that performed tonight**
** A on a motorcycle with her friends after dinner**
** kids getting coins out of papaya with their mouth. papaya covered with car oil**
**A sponge painting with her friends**
Today was our country’s independence day. I was pretty sad in the morning when I found out they weren’t going to do the flag ceremony. Two years ago when we were here for the Independence Day, in the morning they had a parade that took us to this area’s outdoor theatre (Dago Tea House). Then they would do a flag ceremony. This year they did not, which meant the morning was boring… as so I thought it would be. As soon as I heard that the ceremony was not going to happen, I prayed that the Lord would open doors. A friend invited us over for dinner soon after. That was exciting. A and I headed home where like six kids followed home. All the girls wanted to come in and play house with A. I only let girls into the house to play, so like 6 girls came in and played house with A while I had my QT. That was a blessing. Later, like two hours later, there were only 3 girls A’s age here, so I got out sponge paint. The girls loved it. They painted picture after picture and was so proud to take it home. A and I had lunch. I put A to sleep and then I caught up on some e-mail, when I went to lay down, I remembered the laundry I had put in the wash, which I had to hang. So as I was putting the laundry up, A woke up with the biggest smile on her face. We then headed down to the big street where tons of kids were gathered to have races. It was so fun to watch. Games I had never seen before and I thought if it even would be legal in the states… one was sticking coins in a papaya and putting car oil all over it… the kids then had to pull it out with their teeth, no hands… it was quite amusing, but I thought some of them looked sick afterward. A had a great time and by the time it was done, she wanted to join. Ha ha…
After games, again a group of kids followed us home… boys playing on our porch with blocks, animals and swinging on the jungle gym… girls in the house playing house. It was fun. A’s language is getting so good, I smile when I hear her talking to her friends.
We did go to my friends’ for dinner and had good conversations with two ladies from my neighborhood. It was really a good evening.
It ended with an event down at the college near our house (3 minute walk). Lots of people volunteer to do something on stage, dance, sing, play music, etc. and we go to watch. A loved it. I couldn’t really explain to her what it was, so I told her it was a big party all our friends will be at… and surely enough all our friends were there and we had a blast.
It’s a little after 9:30 at night and I just put A to bed. It was quite a full day.
Please pray for me as I feel a cold coming on. I’ve actually been feeling it for a while, but tonight I can’t seem to stop coughing. I just don’t want to be sick again. Just got over my stomach thing, in which I'm still not 100%, but much better. Pray for A too. I couldn’t stop coughing and her nose wouldn’t stop running. Ha ha… it’s bound to happen I guess since it’s going on. Actually a school had to close for the week because half the students were absent because of the flu. So… please pray for safety.
Also this Friday is the start of Ramadan. A few posts back, I wrote about it… please keep this nation in prayer for this month particularly… and pray for A and me and the believers here… it is a spiritual battle everyday anyway… how much more if a whole nation is fasting. Pray for spiritual strength.
We will be traveling Thursday to get more pages in our passport. We were initially going to stay the night at a hotel, but a friend is going to help out with transport. Please pray for safe travel and quick process. It’s for both A and me.
Thanks for your continual prayer and support.
