Monkey in the Middle

---

Why I’m excited about moving to Africa

My name is Emily and I am about to begin the 4th grade.

I am exited about moving to Africa because it is interesting and has lots of pretty animals there. Everything is so beautiful there, especially the plants, the people, and the old buildings. And the mountains are really beautiful too. And I already have friends over there, the best part is going and seeing all the beautiful landscapes, the plants and animals in Africa. Well, to me my favorite part of all is going to Africa and being missionaries is teaching every one over there about the Bible with all of the other missionaries in Africa. I can't wait to see Uncle Cy and Aunt Stephanie again.

I remember one time in Africa when we, went out to eat lunch and while we were eating my brother said “Look Dad there is a monkey on the roof ”. And my Dad thought he was joking. And then a BIG monkey jumped down on the table and my Mom started picking us up and grabbing us and the big monkey ran around the table and stole all our French fries while my Dad was chasing him around and around the table with his baseball cap. It was like they were playing monkey in the middle but with a real monkey! The people were screaming and the monkey was screeching. And at the time it was not funny, but now it is funny to tell.

We wanted to let the kids tell their stories and share their pictures from time to time too! Hopefully your you and your children will enjoy veiwing Africa through the eyes of a child.

I enjoy looking back over these pictures, to see how my babies have grown over the years! Emily loves to write like her Mother, so we will let her tell her stories of Africa, as she aquires them, and we'll challenge Garrett and Kelly to do the same. Gracie may take awhile to learn to write and type, but I'm sure she'll be quite the story teller when she gets there!

---

Photos

Emily
Emily remembers more about Africa than the other kids did, since she was a little older!

At the beach in Dar
The kids enjoyed going to Dar to get to see the beautiful beach.

Birthday Friends
Emily had several friends in Arusha,so she got to go to Birthday parties and have fun just like she does here in the states.

Bike Riding
Emily learned to ride a bike for the first time in Arusha too! Out in the driveway.

Planting the garden
Emily helped her Daddy plant our little garden out back in the yard.

Helping in the Kitchen
Emily helped her Mommy in the kitchen too!

The front gate
Emily loved playing in the yard. This was our front gate in 2002.

The snake park
The kids learned about different kinds of snakes at the Snake Park... which ones are ok and which ones are not. (mommy says they're all bad)

McMoodies
Emily loved eating at McMoodies. This is Emily with Sarah Fergeson.

School Uniforms
Emily and Garrett both went to a private pre-school while we were there, but this time we will be home schooling all of the kids.

The Girls
Mommy, Gracie, Emily and Miss Stephanie just after church.

In Class
The kids had an a translator in class to translate everything to English for them when there was a Swahili speaking teacher.

2002 Richardson Family
This was our Family picture while we lived in Arusha in 2002.

Ready to See My Friends!
Emily was good friends with Elly martin's girls mary and Miriam. This is Mary Martin, saying goodbye to Emily when we were leaving to return to the states.