Tuesday Thoughts

Due to the work Miguel and his teams of Burundians and additional I-TEC volunteers have completed so far, the stages of work here are ahead of the estimated schedule.  But that doesn't mean our fresh team is slacking!  They are working so hard that it's difficult to get the updates for this blog.  😏

Before and after work, a lot of tail boarding (remember that term from a previous blog?) goes on.  The roof over the PowerPacs is finished and looks great.  Work of digging ditches and laying conduit continues.  In order to sort and organize supplies between the ongoing work here and the work that will take place at Kibuye in a couple weeks, we talk to one of the designers, Gary (still in the US) so that neither jobs run short.  The days and nights are hot, but not as hot as they were before we arrived.  And even though it's the beginning of rainy season, it has only rained once or twice and mostly at night.  The floor fans in our bedrooms are helpful as jet lag has been keeping several of us up through the night.

Nora, Lauren, Deb and I move around the kitchen in an unscripted dance, bobbing and weaving, ducking and darting.  Sometimes Nora's girls are dancing with us too.  What a blessing they are with their help, their smiles and hugs, and joyful spirits!!  I plan to ask our I-TEC President if they could become permanent team members!!

Throughout the afternoon, the power goes off and on with no rhyme or reason making the use of the standard size electric stove unreliable.  A small apartment size gas stove next to it works great and fills in the gaps.  Almost all our baking is done in this oven as the electric oven has no temperature control.  Nora taught us how to light the oven.  To our missing kitchen helper (you know who you are...) does this picture bring back memories???

Linda sent a recipe to us that we are very anxious (I think that would be the word) to try.  I will share it with you here:
Elephant Stew
1 elephant, med size
2 rabbits, optional
Salt & pepper to taste
Cut meat into bite size pieces (may take about 2 months). Add enough gravy to cover. Cook over kerosene fire for 4 weeks at 465०. Will serve approx 3,800 people. If more than expected show up, add the two rabbits. But do this only if necessary as most people do not like hare in their stew.

We are extremely grateful for the addition of a larger refrigerator!  Speaking of grateful, two employees of HAU who clean our living spaces and do our laundry (BY HAND) three times a week are also a great blessing.  Our only disappointment with them stems from our longing to communicate with them.  They do not speak English.  They are hard working women who take pride in their work!  They quietly sing off and on as they work and the sound is beautiful.

Mama Deo & Mama Greta

Today from our kitchen window, we observed a man in the back yard "mowing the lawn".  Moving back and forth across the lawn, he sat pulling out the taller tufts of grass.

Mr Mike B leads our morning team devotion time.  It is a rich time with good discussion afterward and begins our day on a solid footing.  Tonight we look forward to our other Mike's testimony during a sharing time.  Yes, there are two Mikes here!  And when the next team arrives, there will be three.