Coming to Africa, is almost like stepping back into time (a hundred years ago)… Each night we take baths in tubs where we pour in heated water from the kitchen. Laundry is hung outside on the line. We buy fresh bread (without preservatives) from the bakery and fresh vegetables from the market… Sounds simple…quaint even…
Until, I am reminded that a hundred years ago, when things seemed “simple” there also wasn’t a sanitation department, running water, or reliable electricity… And then, I wouldn’t call Africa simple any more…
We live in an area of the city where we don’t need to draw water from a cistern and can get running water in our kitchen…until the water stops working (for no known reason and for an unknown length of time) and then we realize that perhaps those that have deep cisterns are the “lucky” ones indeed!
One of the most challenging and perhaps least fixable, most frustrating things (as Westerners we love to fix things…) is the garbage or lack of waste management. Here, there is garbage everywhere! In front of our house, in the streets, on the beach…everywhere. Please don’t ask us what we do with our garbage, because we are still trying to figure it out!
On a happier note, school is going well for the kids! Josiah potty trained himself on the first day of school! Little Dale finally got all his books that he needed and Mark’s friend (team member from Scotland) was able to join his class!
Mark and Daniel lining up for class
Dale lining up for class
Our much appreciated hot water heater for baths! (and the occasional cup of tea)
Abigail is now 8 months old!!
Bat flying over our courtyard…one of many!! These are daytime fruit bats! Some can reach 4 feet in wing span.
Josiah calls them the “yellow headed” bats…Can you spot him upside down in this tree behind our house?
Teamday cake for Josiah!
What a lovely bunch of kids you have there, Gracie! I miss you guys so much. I’m thinking of you and the whole family constantly.
I love seeing all your beautiful faces!
Bonjour Grace et Dale,
je suis heureux de voir que vous vous adaptez à votre nouvelle vie là bas et que les enfants aussi! Effectivement on croit que de revenir aux sources est plus simple et que la vie est moins “dur” mais on comprend vite que ce n’est pas la cas, et avec 4 enfants c’est encore moins évident! L’heure du bain prend une tout autre aspect, et de simple chose exigent du temps. On voit que nous sommes privilégié d’avoir de l’électricité “sans panne”, de l’eau courante et propre “sans panne” et que même la gestion des déchets et bien faite pour s’assurer de la santé publique. Vous vivez 100 ans en arrière, mais avec des réalités de 2012… Bon courage, on vous aime beaucoup et on pense à vous.
Que Dieu vous garde…
PS faites attention au chauve-souris! :0)