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Published: November 12th 2007
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Andrew Connally School of Preaching
This is the school and dorms. The building behind the school is a factory that makes mosquito nets. I think one of the things people from home ask me the most is, "What is it like living in Africa?" So, I thought I would devote this blog article to trying to give everyone a glimpse into a day in Africa.
Usually, my day here is very similar to a day in America. I get up, get dressed, rock the babies, and make some breakfast. John heads off to work and I spend the rest of the day cleaning, playing, and teaching Daniel and Abby. We live in a small "housing complex" with four other houses. We have a road in front of our house and a small yard for the kids to play in. Our house is very similar to ones in America-running water, electricity, Western style bathrooms. So, despite some minor differences, it feels very much like being in America. Then, there are the "African Days." These are the days where, because of an unexpected issue or problem, you definitely realize you are in Africa!! These are the days that, if not approached from the right attitude, are enough to drive any sane person crazy. What are these days and why are they so trying?
They
Students
This is the students at the school. There are two classes--first year and second year. start much like any other day. I wake and go into the bathroom for my shower, only to find out there is no water. Well, I know that our water is pumped into our house. The pump is old, so when it is overheated it shuts down and it has to be reset. I send John out to the pump to reset it and wait patiently for my morning shower. Then, he comes back and announces that the pump is fine, it's just that the landloard let the meter run out of electricty (We pay in advance for our electricity and have to enter what we have bought into a meter at our housing complex.) This wouldn't be so bad, except that it is Saturday and the elctric company is not open. This means no water until sometime on Monday. Most likely in the afternoon because no one gets in a hurry in Africa. So, I resign myself to the fact that there will be no shower today. I go downstairs, make my coffee (thankfully the electricity is on-no shower AND no coffee would be a deadly combination. 😊 ) I look outside and notice it is raining. This means
Banana Trees
The school recently planted banana trees. I cannot hang my clothes out to dry. The dryer uses alot of electricity here and since most days are beautiful, we hang everything outside. I purchased a drying rack in town for these days. It unfolds nicely, I can hang my clothes on it, and place it in our carport. I go inside, make lunch, and get the kids down for nap. I come downstairs and start working on materials for Bible class (I teach the children on Wednesday afternoon.) I just get everything laid out and the power goes out. The kids sleep with fans in their rooms, so when the power goes out, so does their fan which always wakes them up. They have both been asleep for 45 minutes and I know trying to get them back to sleep is pointless. So, I prepare for a rough afternoon of tired babies. The power stays off most of the afternoon. Not too big of a concern. We have a gas stove, so cooking is no problem. I have already washed our daily load of laundry, so really no need for the power. There is still no water upstairs at bedtime. Even when the pump is out of
Student Dorms
The school has room to house 48 students. electricity or the power if off, we can still get a slow trickle of water downstairs. We fill the sink up with water and attempt to bathe the kids in the sink. They, of course, think this is the best thing ever!!! The power comes back on shortly before we get the kids in bed. We turn their fans on, tuck them in, and go downstairs. John puts a movie in and we both get comfy, John in his chair and me on the couch. Just when the movie gets good, the power again goes off. Now, when the power if off at night, it is pitch black. The kids wake and get scared and they start crying. We fumble around for the flashlights. John head upstairs to calm them down and I light a candle to put on the table outside their doors. We get them back to sleep and spend the rest of the night trying to read to candlelight. Thus ends our "African" day. 😊
Another interesting kind of day is grocery shopping day. This is always an adventure in itself!! We usually start about 9:30 in the morning because nothing opens until 10 .
Student Room
The inside of one of the student's rooms. Most everyone here sleeps under a mosquito net. There are no Super Walmarts, so we go to a different store for each kind of food. Our first stop in Dolly's. This is a bakery where we buy all of our bread. The kids especially love this stop because they can get glazed doughnuts. 😊 We then pile back into the car and head to Meat King. This is the butcher where we buy all of our meat. We get ground beef, chicken, pork chops, sausages, homemade tortillas, and strawberries here. This is also a place the kids love because the couple that owns it lets the kids go behind the counter and look at their fishtank. Outside the door to Meat King is a man who sells vegetables. I usually buy carrots, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and broccoli from him. He is more expensive than going to the big market in town, but it's easier to just buy here than fighting the market crowd. He always throws in a few extra veggies for me--a "discount" he says. We then get back into the car and head across town to Pick and Pay. This is a small grocery store that sells a little of everything. Just shortly after we arrived
Inside Room
This a picture of the closet and desk. Two students share the room. They each have a bed, a desk, and they share the closet. here, they started to carry more American products (cake mixes, frosting, canned soups, instand oatmeal, jarred spaghetti sauce, ect...) This is both good and bad: good because we can get the items if we really want them; bad because since they are shipped in, they are extremely expensive. For example, the cake mix is about $4. We buy our powdered milk (very little fresh milk here), peanut butter, eggs, pasta, cereal, spices, crackers, cookies, bottled water ect... here. This, again, is a place the kids love. The couple here always gives the kids candy of some type. Outside this store is another man selling vegetables. Anything I didn't get outside of Meat King, I get here. We then get back in the car and head all the way to the other side of town for our last stop, Shoprite. This is a large American style grocery store. They carry everything: meat, vegetables, fruits, dry goods, bread. The problem with this store is, it is VERY expensive. We save it for last to get anything we couldn't find at the other stores. After Shoprite, we head home for lunch and a much needed nap for the kids. This kind of grocery
Choo
The African style bathroom. Most in the bush and literally a hole dug in the dirt. shopping took some getting used to for me,especially on the days the kids and I tackle it on our own. But, I have to admit, I really like it now. The people now know us in every store and always make a point to talk to us and ask how we are. It feels nice to walk in a place and shop where the people take time to actually talk to you instead of just checking your groceries and sending you off with barely a "hello".
John thought all of you would enjoy seeing what our appliances here look like, so I am going to include some pictures of them. Also, some pictures of the Andrew Connally School of Preaching (where John spends most of his days). And, of course, new pictures of the kiddos. 😊
We hope you all have a good week. We love and miss you all.
John, Angie, Daniel, and Abby
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Grammy
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The LONG days
The ACSOP is a beautiful facility....well-equipped and so clean and well-maintained. Loved the picture of John 'pontificating' in class :-) I must say, if those babies get any bigger, you'll have to get a hoist to get them out of the buckets in the sink. I'm so proud of all of you and your flexibility and adaptability living in a foreign land. We are really spoiled folks here in America, aren't we? I'll be there soon to swing those cuties on their new swing!!!! We'll let you go shopping on your own while I babysit, and then see how long it takes you to get all your chores done :-) Thanks for the informative new blog. We are 20+ days and counting!!!! Love you Grammy