Just Another Day In the Office

But instead of seeing cubicles in front of me, there is a tree that has a weird growth coming out of it that looks like a cow, I think. Instead of getting comments from Doug and Kenny, and seeing Allison sitting across from me, Suni and Gizmo, the compound guard dogs, are laying outside snoozing until the next unknown person walks ANYWHERE NEAR the compound, giving them a reason to get up and bark! (They have to earn their keep you know!).Some BBC radio station is playing in Lynne's office, and currently, "Hallelujah" is playing. It is 80 something degrees outside, but a nice breeze blows into the open window every once in a while. On my way to lunch, instead of searching the parking garage for my car, I heard this incredibly loud noise, and there were 2 weird and amazing birds sitting up in the tree...one flew down and landed in the yard right in front of me. Oh yeah..and the other different part...I'M IN AFRICA....I still don't think I quite believe it myself :)

so yeah...it's not just ANOTHER day...but I sure do feel at home pretty much. Last night after dinner, I went back to the house and put on the second coat of yellow paint in the living room. I was just starting to roll the wall in the kitchen when Gregg called to say they wanted to lock up the mission guest house, so I needed to come home. My stay up late, get up late, way of life is definitely NOT the norm here. Everyone is in bed it seems like by 9ish and then is up at the crack of dawn. I'm not sure really why...it may be b/c you never know when you will have electricity and during the day at least you can still function relatively well without it...who knows...but they certainly do work hard.

After a wonderful night's sleep in the guest house (I had a fan!!!!), I got up this morning and started to work on the project that Karen had left me. I had emptied the filing cabinet and had to paint it with black paint and then put everything back in it...but NOT everything as she wanted me to clean it out and organize it. Somehow I find it easier to organize stuff when I know what the stuff is...so I'm going to need to go through everything and see what we have. Anything I think she doesn't need, I will put aside and then have Karen go through it when she gets back.I have put the second coat of paint on the filing cabinet, but I didn't do a good job. There are drips all over the front..I've never worked with oil based paint (as was very obvious when Gregg came down to the garage this morning and inquired WHY I had put the brush into water....b/c that's what I always do with the brushes...:( Thankfully Godfrey, who takes care of everything on the compound here, found something to put the brush in to salvage it, and then gave me a new brush to use...I'm such a dork!). But it is painted, not well mind you, but painted. So now the long process of going through everything begins.

Lauren and Karen will get back tonight around supper time. I'm sure they have had a wonderful, educating 2 days at the island, I can't wait to hear all about it. I think this weekend we are doing some fun things (not that all of this has not been fun, but you know what I mean). Karen mentioned something about a pool...so we'll see! And the best news for all of you, is that Lauren will be back tomorrow so she can give you an update on her trip :)

In my time in the word this morning I read Psalm 9...and here is an excerpt....

"I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."

I don't know whether it is an African thing, or just a "Lewis thing", but I have been amazed at the prayers during the meal...so much during the day has not gone as planned...maybe we had not water (which we have not for 3 days now), or the electricity had gone out, or someone arrived that they were not expecting...on and on...which leaves even more work for tomorrow and more catching up to do for them...but their prayers are just filled with thanksgiving at the beginning...I don't even remember hearing a "and give us..." anything. So this morning when I read that I just sat for a while and tried to recount God's wonderful deeds...I didn't even come close to counting them all...but I certainly don't do it enough at home..just something that has me thinking.

Thank you for all of your prayers, comments and emails! And thanks to my brother who is posting pictures for me..I could not get it to work and he does a MUCH better job at it! :)