This morning we went over to campus around 8 for English class. Since CELC things are starting to happen we decided we’d do it earlier today. I wasn’t expecting any of my ladies to come since they’re helping Anne in the kitchen. Well it turns out that none of Erika’s ladies came either. It was probably a good thing because we don’t know where we would have gone for class since the table area under the tents was being used for breakfast. We also saw lots of ladies out in their gardens getting work done. So as an alternative to English class we played with the kids instead. They were just being super cute this morning and we had fun getting some photos of them.
We saw Anne and asked how breakfast was going and she requested our help to wash dishes after lunch. So after playing with the kids we came home and just enjoyed a lazy few hours. We also stopped in and said a quick hello to the pastors from America. We met Pastor Werner, Pastor Hein, Pastor Koelpin, President Schroeder; those were the four new ones that had arrived since Pastor Weiser and Pastor Cherney got here.
At home we exchanged some pictures on our computers because if we’d wait ‘til the end of our trip to get each other’s pictures it would take way too long. Mrs. Hartmann had the keyboard over here to practice for tomorrow’s opening service so when they went into town after lunch I took out my piano books and played for a while. That was nice! I also spent some time lying outside in the sun reading my book. Quite a wonderful afternoon.
A little before 1, we went to help Anne. We did dishes for a while, helped serve a few pastors and did some odd jobs like wiping down the tables, re-hanging some curtains in the press building, and picking up a bread delivery. We just kind of hung around the guest house area trying to help out in whatever ways we could. We also got to meet some of the pastors that arrived today and yesterday.
Around 3 we went to play with the preschool kids. Charity was going to start a little game of kickball with them. Aubrey was in such a good mood this afternoon, not that he is ever really crabby though. He was just sillier and goofier than he usually is. Usually he’s pretty mellow but this afternoon he was giggling and talking way more than he usually does. It was so fun to just hang out with the kids and watch them play. I also got the job of being the “orange peeler”. The kids pick these tiny, unripe, green oranges off the trees on campus. Since they’re so unripe they are nearly impossible to peel but the kids love eating them. So they all brought me the oranges to peel. Some of the kids call them lemons and that’s probably more accurate because they are extremely sour! I really hurt my thumb nails peeling all those oranges because they were nearly impossible to get off. Oh well, the kids thought it was a little treat and I was in such a good mood that I did it anyway. J
Later in the afternoon a volleyball game started up among the pastors. Some of the pastors were playing football, but quite a few joined us for volleyball. I think in the end each team ended up with 3 games. I wasn’t having the greatest day volleyball-wise. It was fun playing with Dan Koelpin, President Schroeder, Pastor Weiser and the pastors from Zambia and Malawi.
For supper Erika and I made a stir fry with eggplant, cabbage, onions and tomatoes and spaghetti. The spaghetti sauce we bought was very tomato-y and strong but overall it was pretty good! Then we went over to the other guest house because we were asked to help serve at the fellowship hour they had. We literally walked right next door and when we got there they did not have power, so we came back to get candles and lanterns from our house that they could use. We got the snacks all set up and ready to go. Then as all the pastors started arriving, I passed out 2 drink tickets to each of them. Then Erika and I were in charge of serving snacks. Overall, including missionaries and us, there were about 50 people there tonight. I think they’ll be having a fellowship hour like this every night after supper so we’ll get to help out tomorrow too. It’s so cool seeing pastors from all over Africa enjoying an evening of fellowship. It’s also cool for us to meet these pastors. I got to meet the pastors from Nigeria that knew dad. It’s nice being able to throw dad’s name out there as my connection to these people, since a lot of them either know him or know of him.
Tomorrow we look forward to the opening service for CELC and more helping out! I’m really going to enjoy these next few days.
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