20 Things that I have always wanted to blog...

These are some helpful tips that i have learned over...well..my life. I would now like to share them with you and see if you have any similar advice to give.

1. When the tag bugs you on the edge of a pillow, pull the pillow out of the case and put it in the opposite way.
2. When you cat/dog/child eats the butter sitting on the counter, put it away. (If it's an animal, it's probably best to throw it away.)
3. When your animals whine, bark, meow loudly, look at you and then cock their head to the side, this is equal to a small child saying, "Please mommy. I promise I won't make you mad if you let me..." DO NOT give in! I repeat, DO NOT give in.
4. A clean bed is similar to that of a clean car. It will rain very shortly there after. It is best to find mud, rub your animal/child's paw in it, dip in water, and then place in a focal area of the bedspread. This will avoid the anger that comes when finding it unexpected.
5. Plastic bags need to be obliterated. Yes, they are detrimental to the environment. Just as important, you ALWAYS seem to bump into, hear when your cat steps on, or need to get into one at a time when you are trying to be quiet.
   
6. The forecast will always be sunnier on the days when you have the most work to do.
7. In the state of IL, we should allow for space in our wardrobe for both summer and winter clothes. This will avoid the conundrum of putting your winter clothes away too early in the spring and putting your summer clothes away too early in the fall.
   
8. The laundry is never done. You just gotta be ok with that.
   
9. Never say you don't want to do something...God's a REALLY good listener.
   
10. I have found that writing lists on my hands is very helpful, but it also shows others how behind I am. Try a notebook.
11. Salute to the fellow females with blond eye lashes...others, please don't mock us when we put mascara on to go to the grocery store, roof a house, or play in sporting events. We just gotta do it.
    
12. My backspace button is hit three times as much as the keys on the keyboard. a. because i am a bad speller. b. because my i key is missing and words look really funny without their i's. c. i think before i type about just as well as i think before i speak... that's not all that great.
    
13. You can get a zit ANYWHERE on your body! Anywhere...
    
14. When your grandmother asks your if it was tramp day at school, she is not referring to what is in your head right now...think of this word, "tramp," as a comical hobo. Generation gap...that's all that is...
15. No matter how hard Wrigley may try, juicy fruit gum looses it's flavor the fastest.
    
16. Dogs are a perfect example of unconditional love. I am in awe of my Jesus because of my dog. Now cats... different...
    
17. Crystal door handles can make ANYTHING look cool.
18. You are not a loser if it's Friday and all you have done is eat a bowl of ice cream and watched an L&O: SVU marathon. There is nothing wrong with that.
19. Jesus >MAC >Chacos >bed >artichoke > a vaction...
20. God's timing will come on your watch....so take it off and stomp on it. It's getting in His way...

That's all for now kids...I need to sleep, bad.

Our Last Days in Fatik...

So yesterday and today were our last days in Fatik.

Yesterday was our last distribution day. The morning started by visiting the High school. We split into teams and visited each english class so they could ask us questions and learn more from real english speakers. It was so interesting to see how their school system worked. They asked about President Kennedy and how we felt about his election. I answered that it had alot to do with his looks and that he was from a famous family, and i dont think that is what they wanted to hear. :)

Then, we went to a school here in town where another school traveled to recieve the boxes as well. Someone mentioned it took them two hours to walk and these were kids aging from 4 to around 15. It's a crazy whole new way of life here. We played games in the heat of day which was about 107 degrees. Us toubaes (pronounced to-bobs- their name for white people)took shifts on who had to stand out in the sun for what game.

All in all it ended up being GREAT! It was just so thrilling to see those kids walk away with all their friends with their boxes on their heads and huge smiles on their face.

Today was more of a relaxing day. We met for prayer walking and devotion in the morning, had Chicken and Dumplings for lunch and then headed home for a restful afternoon. Here in Fatik the city controls the electricity so at any moment the power can go out for up to 5 hours. They mostly choose to do that when most people use power so in the middle of the afternoon when it's hottest and fans and ACs and tvs during afternoon naps are playing, they flip the switch.

Some of us napped, tricia visited a friend, liz and i played a card game, and then around 4:30p we went to visit tricia's french teacher. We were ushered into her cement hut, and watched tv and chatted with 12 other ladies. Some of the girls were from the high school and english club that tricia and liz do.

Then we went over to the Forsyths this evening to show a bible film to a yard full of kids and some adults. The kids stayed through the entire thing, but most of the adults left as soon as Jesus entered the scene. I tried to pray extra hard for them as they walked out of the gate.

Tomorrow we head to Dakar. I will be posting all these pictures on facebook. Im sure there will be many more once i get into Dakar. Ok i have to go pack now. and I'm on facebook with my mom. :)

True test of Faith!

So yesterday was a great day and as I blogged yesterday, I was soooo tired, that i posted what i did and then went to bed. Tricia soon came to bed after and likewise, everyone went to sleep.

Then at about 1:30a there was this HORRIFYING sound. I said quite frantically to Tricia, "Did you hear that?" "Hear what?" BOOOOOM!!!! The sound was like if you were to set a washer on top of a dryer and then push it off. It was SOOO LOUD! Tricia and i clingged to each other smilier to Scooby-doo if you know what i mean. Mary came in behind us b/c she heard it as well and we called to liz.

Liz being half asleep but also not hearing the sound at all, when to the window, shined the light out and determined there was no one there. But after that, Tricia and I couldn't sleep. We were analyzing every sound we heard! This morning we were talking about our prayers that we were praying...

or poke us with a big stick.

- God, please protect us. If you really want me to go to prison now, i will, but i will ball like a baby!

- God tell the Devil to leave this place! He's not welcome here.

- Don't let them shoot us.

- God my faith is small but you are large! Save us please!

We proceeded to tell everyone in the bible study this morning and i don't think anyone really understood the fear that was racing though us!

Amidst it all, Tricia accidently stepped on my glasses so I am wearing them scotch taped together. I look kinda funny.

We did another distribution today and it was in a village outside of Fatik. We got to watch wrestling and dancing of children from all ages. Then we handed the boxes out and watched them all run home to share them with their family. Today, little girls got most excited about hair bands and the little boys loved the clothes they received.

I think now, after giving these boxes out, i understand what the children NEED! And i have no doubt in my mind that each church could easily do 100! Some of this stuff in there is soooo inexpensive and these children will use those pens and pencils and paper for at least two years. Truely amazing!

I am off to bed. We have our last distribution tomorrow and it's going to be beautiful. We have one village walking a few miles to get to another village for the distribution.