Happy 7th Birthday, Selah.

Selah Brooke is our beautiful blue-eyed blonde daughter.  Many times she is misunderstood due to her demeanor but really she is just checking you out and not mad with you.  Once she figures you out she will give you a smile and maybe even a hug.

This past year we have seen her blossom as she began school, became an avid reader and a lover of maths.  She is a faithful friend to many, and adores her sister and brother.  The greatest growth we have seen this past year is one of spiritual awareness.  She is understanding more and more her need for a Savior.  She is beginning to grasp the ugliness of sin, the beauty of forgiveness and the love of God through his sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  We pray that she will one day soon have another new-birth-day.

Happy Birthday, Selah.  You are SEVEN!!

Addison joined our family for a bday dinner at Island Breeze restaurant.
The girls enjoyed "western" style chicken fingers and fries.

Selah showing off some of her bday gifts.

Who needs bday cake when you can have bday pizza?

Who doesn't like chocolate cake?

I had never really thought about it before but many people groups around the world don't eat baked desserts like Americans do, not just because they eat healthier or don't like them, but because they have never had access to an oven.  A fire is their way of cooking.  Therefore, no baked goods.

My S friends, as well as my Eth friends are some of the best cooks.  I love their rice, meat dishes, and their special bread. But all of this is cooked over a fire or a one-burner electric plate.

I have noticed, however, that whenever I have had my friends over they love my banana bread, cakes, cupcakes, and cookies.  So when Beauty told me that she wanted me to teach her how to bake some of these goodies I agreed but asked her how she would keep making them.  Without hesitation, she told me she was going to buy a table top oven.

So this past Thursday, Beauty and Happy came over to my home to learn how to bake a cake.  And their request....a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.

It was a great time of interaction.  Not only did they learn how to make a cake, but they taught me so much of their language.  We even had our own cooking show going on as Happy took video of Beauty and me as we walked through the steps.  It was quite fun.

And when we were done, they left to go to the store to buy an oven.

School Time....for all three!

The school year began August 19.  Due to it being rainy season the clouds were squeezing out there water but they weren't the only ones.  This mama had water coming out of her eyes that morning as not only did my oldest go off to school, or she and her sister, but ALL THREE of my children.  Yes, Isaiah began school this year.

Cambridge school system begins when a child is four years old.  In the UK they call it reception year. From there they go to Year 1, Year 2, etc.  Our current school in Africa uses the  Cambridge system but due to having students from around they world they have labeled the classes differently.  Reception year is KG1, Year 1 is KG2, and Year 2 is Grade 1, etc.  No matter what the name is, we are so grateful to have the children in this educational system as it is preparing them for the transition next school year.

Sofia is nine years old and in Fourth Grade/Year 5.  Mr. Garret (Mr. G as he is better known as) is her teacher.  Having a male teacher is new for Sofia.  She isn't quite sure how to greet him each morning as last year she would give Mrs. Myers a hug.  But what she does knows is that she is excited about participating in the Science Fair, running cross-country, and learning about the Vikings!

Selah is six years old (very soon to turn seven) and is in First Grade/Year 2.  Mrs. Martin is her teacher.  Her favourite subject is math and she loves checking out books from the library to read.  Selah will be participating in the Art Fair this year.

Isaiah is four years old and is in KG1/Reception Year.  His teacher is Mrs. Griffin.  Isaiah is excited about playing with new friends, learning how to read, and building towers at school.

Mommy and daddy are very excited about this picture for a couple of reasons.  First of all, it is an answer to prayer in regards to transportation.  We are thankful for the kids being able to be on a school taxi with 8 other students.  The taxi comes straight to our gate for pick-up and drop-off.  Secondly, we are thankful for the smiles each child has each morning.  They love school.  And lastly, we are very thankful for the kids' school.  It is a school where teachers raise support to come teach.  It is a school that is solid academically yet unashamedly teaches from a Bible-centered worldview.

We pray this is a most amazing school year.  One of great growth in learning academically, spiritually and physically.  And great FUN!!!!

One last picture.....there new shoes.  What is a new school year without new shoes?  And let me tell you, finding these shoes here in country was quite the ordeal.  But we found some. :)

Out country.

For me, this non-camping type of gal, living in DD was pretty rustic.  But that was nothing compared to our couple of days out in a village.

Honestly, this was not something I was looking forward to doing.  But one of our teammates knew it would be good for us as a family to see our pg in their very country/nomadic living.  It also provided us opportunity to take part of what is the Camel Project.  Our teammates are in the process of doing 100 interviews with camel herders in hoping to see how vets can help provide better meds.  At the same time, the project allows for relationships and the greatest medicine to be shared.

It was a good experience.  The kids absolutely loved it.  And me, well, if it weren't for my kind and loving husband I think I would have had a breakdown.  But I didn't, I lived to tell, and I am richer because of it.

THE VILLAGE

This is the road, yes, the road that we took off of the main road to get to the village.

We hiked up a small hill.  This is a view of the village.

They have settled here because they are able to grow corn.

This is a kitchen.

Group of homes called aqals.  The stone circular in the middle was our bathroom.

A side of the aqal. 

Close up of an aqal.  Sticks and mud are the frame.  An aqal can be packed up and put on a camel in one day if needed.

 THE SCHOOL

Kindergarten and Grade1 "building"

Grade 2-4 are housed in the new building.

And this even newer building will house grade 5-8 this next year.

The kids had quite a following.

Sofia led them into class, sat them down and began to teach.  She loved it!

CAMEL INTERVIEWS

Camel boys/shepherds begin very young.

Yet, they are very knowledgeable.  They know their camels.

These interviews are providing research for partner vets. We learned quite a bit about camels and their diseases through these interviews.

 PEOPLE

Kevin helping to grind the corn.

Sof and Selah giving it a go.  They needed some muscle help.

The girls petting the baby goat.  The goat provides milk and eventually dinner.

The face of a child representing hope.  

"ZEE" has something special about her.  She is 16 years old and helps the mamas take care of their babies while they do chores.  My heart is heavy for her.

New friends.

Bringing her camel home before dark.

Boys will be boys wherever you go.  These group of boys kept me laughing with their mischievous ways.

A young boy taking care of his evening chore of putting the donkeys in the pen then closing the "gate" of a thorn bush.

The girls coloring with some of the kids.

Every morning these young girls take the yellow containers to the well and fill them with water.  The well is about a 2 mile walk each way.

No doubt a village like this is one of the safest places for children.  Such a wonderful feeling of freedom Isaiah enjoyed as he ran around, explored, and played with new friends.

I am usually taking pictures so I was surprised to find this one of me.  My husband must have taken it while we were hiking up the hill.

Lord, we pray for this pg.  We pray for this village.  We pray that every tongue, every people and every nation will give glory to you!!!

The old city.

Our family took a day trip with our language nurturer.  We visited a very old walled city (about 1200 years old) and a city thought to be where Islam entered Africa.

Outside the main gate.

Driving around the walls.

One of the entrances.  Rather small but no one was using a car back then.

Another view of the main gate.

Taxis have character.

This is a bajaj.  They can be find in every city of this country but they were quite plentiful here.

We took time to visit a museum.  Here we are inside the living area of one of the original homes.

This was our first view upon entering through the gate into the walled city.

The further we walked in the smaller the walkways became.

Injera/bread for sale on the path.

Local supermarket.

Vegetable stand.

And butcher.

And don't forget the souvenir shop filled with baskets and old relics.

Sofia enjoyed carrying our souvenir basket on her head.

The path became so small they call this the forgiveness walk.  You can't pass someone coming from the other direction unless you have forgiven them.

Nice spot for a photo.  Say cheese!

And tucked away in the back, one of the original homes.  Such beauty.

We enjoyed our day.  Many pictures were wanted to be taken of people but we were shunned from doing so.  Bend knee for the people of this city.  There is a stronghold of culture and history holding onto them.