Monday, July 7, 2008

The News at 9 O'clock PM

Hello all,



Couldn't think up a title and Shelby said "the News at 9 oclock" so there it be.



We are all doing very well and getting settled into our new schedules and new home. We shuffled some of our study and service days due to the location of our new home and locations of service meetings throughout the week. Each day is a different location.



Dennis has been busy cleaning the roof at Bethel, he went up for a quick inspection and when coming down noticed all his big footprints in the dust that had caked on for a long time, baking in the hot sun. So now he and another brother are cleaning the roof and gutters, fine fine one, in krio.



Today Dennis and I and Shelby and Lorelle went to town for the day. We went deep into the markets to find clothing. It was lots of fun. It is like a giant flea market. One street/alley after another all windy, they are covered with different colored overlapping tarps because we are in rainy season. It also helps keep off the hot sun.



Dennis gave the Sunday talk in a neighboring congregation, we enjoyed visiting. One of Dennis' studies met us at the Kingdom Hall, he wanted to hear Dennis' talk. Afterwards we went to one of the missionary homes and had Lasagna and Garlic Bread and Cinamon Rolls. They knew we didn't have an oven and would love baked food! There are 4 couples in the home, but currently only one couple there now as the others are all traveling either on vacation or visiting relatives in poor health. Only 9 of the 30 assigned missionaries are in Sierra Leone at the time. So the branch and others here are very very busy. It is a good busy.



One of the brothers we met on Sunday related that he is now a regular auxillary pioneer. He signed up for one month 2 mos. ago and that month started 16 bible studies, so he just had to change his work schedule and continue in order to keep up with all the studies. He is so overjoyed and happy with his new schedule. One of his studies has requested to study three times a week, he says he has missed out on so much in regard to serving God, that he wants to make up for loss time.



Another study was using the brochure, the brother noticed how intent he was on studying and showed him how to prepare by underlining the answers ahead of time, the next week the man had prepared the whole brochure. They just started the Bible Teach book and the first week the man prepared over three lessons ahead.

We are all doing well health wise and my burn has healed incredibly well. I had some really good burn cream and wrappings for it. Many people get burnt here because of the coal pots and frying so I got lots of advice for caring for the burn.

Temperature here has been in the mid to upper 90's. The vehichle registered 100 on the thermometer at 3:00 in town today. We get rain stroms nearly every night with strong wind, so the nights are cool and great for sleeping. The hill side we live on now is one of the coldest neighborhoods. The kids even wear sweatshirts in the mornings. DJ wore windpants all day today. The breeze is very refreshing and often feels like Air Conditioning. We have not used a fan once since moving. In our last place we had 5 fans and would still be swelting hot.

Even though the days are hot, when the rain comes it can be quite chilly, the breeze is usually heavy so you get damp and then wind chilled. We have learned to keep umbrellas with us at all times as the rains can come quickly.

Wednesday, Dennis, Hunter and I walked about 35 minutes to an outside food market. We were after dried fish, spices and oils for making an african dish. Hunter still enjoys food shoping as much as ever. He is even learning the spices and names of the different fishes.

We send our love and greetings to all,

Dennis, Lorie and Kids