Broom vs. medicine and medievil mayhem

I’m sorry for the silence. I can’t even try to explain how insane our lives have been the past few weeks. You wouldn’t believe me if I tried!

We have had some extreme joys and some extreme heartbreak. We pressed those in sickness and in health vows. We also had the privilege of sharing the country we love with people we love from good ‘ol TN. Between all of that, the rain and a few days of copious amounts of bathroom usage, we officially move to Bauya. (No it wasn’t cholera)

It is like no other place I have ever been. We were prepared by everyone to feel a bit isolated and lonely here in SL. Bauya did not get the notice! We have the cool kid’s house and everyone comes to hang out! EVERYONE!!

So many people have asked “what is a typical day for you?” Ha…..ha, ha, ha. Typical? Well, let’s see. Some mornings we are awoken by the town crier. (No joke, that’s his job. Hence the medieval title reference) Of course, he makes his announcements in Mende and we are pretty limited there. So it is our hope that he doesn’t warn us of some horrific impending doom. We then lay in bed, in the semi-dark, wondering if we can put off heading out to the toilet just 5 more minutes because once we are spotted it’s all over!

Eventually, the urge overcomes. I get fully clothed and head out to the outhouse. Now, we do have the deluxe model of outhouses, so don’t spend too much time lamenting our plight. It is complete with toilet and septic tank. No running water, but the jug we keep in there keeps everything……not bad.

When I open the back door to exit the house and make my way to the backyard, I often encounter various types of game that have been trapped that morning and can be mine for dinner that night. Freetown Bo (a tiny cute deer, very sad to see, very tasty to eat!), ground pig (a giant rat, complete with tail), and monkey (really no explanation needed) are a few that we have had waiting for our approval. I have been perfecting my, “Oh it’s just a regular old dead animal on my back porch” face. If you have spent more than 5 minutes with me you can understand how difficult this is for me. Said meat is then skinned and butchered and displayed on a banana leaf in my backyard for me. Ahhhh, dinner is underway!

Then, somehow, I have been confused for a doctor. It was a dream until I realized how much chemistry was involved and then my major was promptly changed to a degree that would require no lab time! I treat wounds, hand out dewormer and some general antibiotics when necessary. While all this happens, Michael is checking on the worksite, dealing with the carpenter (all of our things are in the floor of our house, 6 mos. of suitcase living is causing me to twitch), hearing people’s cases for why they should be employed and trying desperately to down that ever precious cup of coffee.

Now, it is 9 AM and I still haven’t used the bathroom!

Impromptu visits from the chief and other officials are quite common and this requires a costume change and cold cokes. We do have a freezer! Woot, Woot! We occasionally run our generator in the evening and it cools it down nicely. There are some beautiful women who have been helping with cooking and various other domestic chores that I try to accomplish between all the visitors each day. So we collectively try to catch up on laundry and cook a meal while the kids play with all the children that frequent our yard. (Don’t tell them, but school starts for our girls this week so their days of play are numbered.)

I am explaining things to them like the gas stove, why I wash my hands so much and how it is better to use a can opener than the giant knife for the tomato paste. All while they laugh and tease me for my inability to wring clothes, wash rice and sweep. Apparently, I’ve had a lot wrong for a long time!

At some point, Michael finds his way home and we eat while 50 of our friends watch. Our girls have made a theme song and phrase to our adventures. The first, “I always feel like, somebody’s watching me!” The other is Aubrey waving and under her breath to Anna saying, “Smile and wave boys, smile and wave!”

We often walk up to Chieftown at night. That’s the classy section of town. All the men engage in a game of football (soccer), while the kids play and ladies talk. Then back home, where, inevitably, there is another crowd. Eventually, our neighbor comes over and tells everyone to go home. Prayer time and falling into bed are all we can manage at that point! Whew, that day is done!

We love the village and the people. (Not to be confused with the village people. Although my hips can’t help but shake at some YMCA) We even love our little home. And it feels just like that, home. Our lives will change, the new will wear off and we will find our routine, but until then we are enjoying the chaos!

We will continue to choose meat, hold babies, doctor wounds and love on the people we meet there. Eventually, we will learn Mende, starting with learning to pronounce broom and not actually asking for medication.

Much love from Bauya!!

 

The father of all mix ups

I gave myself a fabulous pep talk before I left the US on how I was going to blog weekly. These blogs would be insightful, moving, pee your pants funny and heartwarming to all our friends and family or at least the 5 or 6 who read it! But alas, I have failed. I have had many funny moments and lots of moving, but to blog about these makes me think I may lose those handful if I’m not careful!

Today was a day of shopping for household items. I was able to bring along my faithful sidekick, Haley, and we pushed, pulled and bartered our way through the big market downtown. A few things about shopping here; there is no stopping to peruse. If you stop, you will be mobbed and before you know it you will be wearing a new dress and hat and walking away with some gari, which, if you are like me, you have no idea how to cook. So window shopping is to be done quickly and with minimum eye contact. Also, a fun question I have learned to ask, after they tell you an outrageous price, I like to say “That is a nice white price. Now what is the real price?” This usually makes them laugh and I have found ends in my negotiated price being even lower than I would have thought. (albeit higher than a nationals) But today, however, we ended up with a guide to help us. She was awesome. Someone would tells us a price, she would cluck and whisper under her breath what I should pay! Iesha is the bomb diggity! I walked out of that market feeling like a victor….a tired, smelly, sweaty, dirt covered victor! And now I have a can opener for my cans of tuna. I can put away that large butcher knife and keep all my fingers in tact! Good day.

I also took the three girls to the big market downtown. If you didn’t know, we successfully celebrated a Ropiecki birthday here in SL. Anna is 9! She had some birthday cash that was burning a whole in her pocket. We also lost a tooth in Africa (aubrey’s) and there was the fish eyeball eating dare that took place where Aubrey also made bank! (I have video, it’s awesome) So we had to go do a little retail therapy with the ladies. I also thought it was a good time to teach my girls a little haggling. Michael is not good at this. Although, with his love for not spending money, one would think this would be right up his alley. Neigh, neigh, he has other gifts. (he’s pretty) Anyway, Anna was the bomb, and we found some really great guys who were all about helping the girls out. It was so wonderful for me to see that. It can sometimes feel like everyone looks at you and hears ca-ching. (clearly they aren’t listening to us) But to see these men stoop down to talk on my kids level and actually tell them “No, that’s too much.” I wanted to hug some of those big ol’ guys. Most importantly my girls had the time of their lives! We met some really great people and I got a couple of really good laughs.

We stopped at one stall because Anna really wanted a dress. The owner of the stall was a really nice lady that I enjoyed talking to. She was asking about my children. Another woman beside her was sort of listening in on our conversation. I was asked to point out my kids. I pointed at Anna, then Aubrey and Ella was a bit further down with Michael. I pointed at her and the woman listening in, said “that is your daughter.” In the US I totally play this off and just assume people will figure this out. This does not fly here! The woman looked at Ella and said “This man is the father?” I reply “Of course.” Then I saw her face! She was utterly amazed that Michael and I could make a black baby! It was fantastic! Then Haley says, “uh, well.” I quickly add in, “it was adoption!” The shop owner laughed and said “I knew, but you might want to explain that to other people you tell!” I have laughed about this all day!!! It was epic!

I am happy to report that we will soon be in Bauya! Our house is almost completely finished and we are ready! The container will also be released soon! I am almost giddy with the thought of sleeping on my comfy mattress again. We are ready to put down our roots and put out the welcome mats! Just a few more days, then the quiet life. Ahhhhhh…….

Life as we know it.....

I just keep waiting……..I’ve been looking for some great revelation, some magical God breathed words of wisdom. I’m waiting and waiting. Today as I was riding, in a cramped taxi with my kids and husband to do something totally ordinary like go to the market and pharmacy, I realized I was waiting. I’ve been waiting for my life here to start. We are a little on hold since our house isn’t complete and the container with our stuff isn’t available to us. So, I’ve been waiting. Then I took a good look around. The sights, sounds and smells around as I rode with the windows down in the rain, were ordinary to me. I was looking at kids playing on the streets. I didn’t notice the trash. I was watching an older man tease his grandchild; I didn’t pay attention to her clothes with the holes in them, just laughed at his joke.  I simply shook my head in a way that told the woman with packages of tang that I wasn’t interested and she walked off, instead of apologizing and wondering if she needs me to buy that. With confidence, I found the store I was wanting to go to and even took the lead when Michael had no idea where to go. I told my children to “come” when we got out of the taxi. I didn’t freak when they went an isle over or stopped to look at something. I walked into the store and told everyone exactly what I needed and they totally brought it. I even know the guy to look for when we decided to buy bread on the street. These things that are now very ordinary to me were something that I couldn’t have imagined only 2 weeks ago. I noticed the trash, I smelled the fires and rot of sewage, I was completely freaked out by the honking of the cars and apologized profusely when approached by a vendor, but now it’s life.  While waiting for God to give me the go ahead to live life here, I started. Granted, that will change as soon as we are in Bauya, but for now, we live here. I LIVE here. This is home.  It frustrates me that I so easily look to him and say, “ok now do your work.” And he’s already done it. He’s created me for such a time as this. He has to shake his head and refer to me as his dumb child so often. I’m so slow sometimes.

Ella has also caught on to living life. One day last week we were riding down the road. She was “middle shotgun” her favorite place to ride, right between her daddy and Uncle Sainy. While sitting in traffic on the way back from Bauya, Ella announced to us she was hungry. (If you have spent any time with my daughter you understand this happens every 10 minutes or so) She then saw a man on the side of the road selling popcorn. Uncle Sainy spoke up and told the man to come. He of course came to the window and we bought some popcorn. I watched Ella as this transaction took place. It was like a very bright light bulb went off in the child’s head. She turns around and yells “momma, I can get food in the car anytime I want. I just hold out my hand like this and say come!” OH NO! Today, as I apologized the third time to a vendor for coming to our car because the 5 year old yelled come, I realized a monster may have been created. She has found a way to get around waiting.

African-ish

So basically, my kids are the most awesome people I know. Their faith kicks my faiths butt. I have stepped on SL soil before. I have read a ridiculous amount of books and other research. I have talked with people here, got advice from friends and family, met with pastors and even went fake shopping at several markets. My kids, on the other hand, totally “pulled an Abraham”. (yes, you can use that) With blind faith they followed their parents to a place they have never been. On every plane they had to catch they delighted in the TV’s, the ability to lay back their own seats and the “amazing airplane food”. I watched their hearts hurt as they left family and friends but I was completely blown away when they bravely wiped their tears, smiled and said “I can’t wait to go to Africa.”

Before we took the kids into the center, I was a wreck. We all know Anna does not enjoy being touched and Ella tends to freeze and not speak. So I warned them all and gave them a safe word, then I could swoop in and rescue them. I just knew this would be crazy overwhelming. Then I stood back and watched my kids amaze me again! There were gobs of kids holding their hands, hugging them, asking their names and trying to braid their hair. I saw Aubrey light up when Betty grabbed her hand. Anna was, literally, knocked over by the love shown to her in the form of a bear hug by Isata. They were glowing! Even Ella found a few friends to play tag with. They can’t wait to see and do everything. What was I worried about again?

I look around and see all the change they are experiencing; their lives are not the same. Last week it was Phineas and Ferb and some string cheese, this week……we hear the mosque up the hill playing the call to prayer, the goats in the neighboring compound and let us not forget the former presidents peacocks (do you cook those the same as turkeys, cause seriously). They on the other hand, see so much fun and adventure; they are excited about visiting the kids for worship tonight and can’t wait to see what Auntie Marie makes for dinner tonight. Oh to be like my children.

Now, I’m sure you are wondering what crazy things my children have said and done. Well, there really are so many! The best so far, Ella came to us and said, “I really like the kids, but I wish they would quit speaking Spanish to me. Don’t they know I don’t speak Spanish?” Krio isn’t even on her radar! There is Anna and all her crazy faces she thinks she is making on the sly while trying new foods. Of course, we see the scowl! Then Aubrey announced that she wanted “American extensions”, cause they are related to continents, of course. So, when asked to give a quote-Aubrey: I often smell armpits. Anna: Africans are much louder than Americans. Ella: This place is a little freaky. All in all, stuff freaks them out a lot less than us.

Hopefully, there will be a few pics to come soon! Much love from SL!

A day In the Life

So far every day in Africa has held new adventures for me. I have yet to grow bored even while inching through Freetown traffic for hours. I would like to recount a recent day in my life. It was a Sunday and so I attended church at The Covering. Church is quite the experience with visitors from the community the kids and the staff there was something like 150 people packed into a medium size sitting room praising God and worshiping.  After church I left to drive a young lady to the Ferry that crosses over to Lungi Airport. We left with time to spare but were stopped by a traffic cop. This particular civil servant spent 15-20 minutes attempting to extort money from me. He was not successful but now there is just enough time to reach the ferry before it leaves so long as nothing slows traffic for the next 10 miles. So I made a mad dash through Freetown to the Government Warf and arrived just as the ferry was blowing it horn to leave. There was seconds to spare but we made it.

From there I decide I will drive to a local stretch of beach and read for a while as I wait out the rain.  When the rain slows I take a stroll down the beach where I get to participate in hauling in the fishing nets, play a pickup game of beach soccer, and run into one of the visitors to TRS Church. Sorri is a young man that I had met on previous trips who live a few miles from The Covering but comes to the church every Sunday. He introduced me to his family and proudly showed me the family fishing operation.  They have a wooden boat and large drag nets that they use to harvest fish. Local women buy these fish and then re-sell them at market or in the street.  I got a lesson in microeconomics.

I latter received a call from my American African friend “Santigie” Andrew Sisco asking if I could exchange a propane bottle for him. Andrew is a missionary who moonlights as a DJ at African nightclubs. Upon returning to the Sisco home I run into Morli a young boy who lives across the street. Morli invites me to the 20th anniversary party for the generous couple who care for him. There were a lot of people and a lot of food. Africans are big on ceremony so there were multiple speeches and multiple prayers before we ate. There was even a ceremony of libation where a drink is poured on the floor to honor the dead. I ate many new foods to include fish balls, what I think was the male reproductive glands of a goat.  

I can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring.

Living in Freetown

I am officially an expatriate now. I have been living in Freetown for 2 weeks now. I am caring for a sick monkey and a Sierra Leonian puppy. We traveled to Guinea to shop for vehicles and returned with one Toyota Hilux. We only had to stop at 7 border checkpoints to get there 6 to return. I am becoming more proficient driving around Freetown and out to Bauya without getting lost. Krio is the lingua Franca and it is becoming easier to comprehend for me. I still can't "talk Krio" to well but I am learning "small small". African time is difficult to get used to. Today I went across town ( maybe 20 miles ) to register my vehicle and returned 9 hours later without registration in hand. One task took all day and was still not completed in full. This task might have taken 3 hours at home, if the lines where really long.

I have made friends with some neighbor children and they come visit me often. Lucinda and Abdul  live up the hill in a corrugated tin house that is about 10'x12'. I treated a face wound on Lucinda and now I am Dr. Michael. The imaginary and real wounds abound but band-aids fix everything

The Bauya Project has begun at least in part. We are meeting with contractors and soliciting bids. Once we have the official land deed signed off on we can really begin. My quarters in Bauya remain inhabitable but that should change soon. In the mean time I am eating wonderfully as Auntie Marie has cooked wonderfully meals every day at the TRS guest house.

We meet Marie a young girl at the Children's Hospital who was slowly and painfully perishing from a facial tumor. We took her to the private hospital where much better medical care is available only to learn that it is too late to operate and radiation therapy does not exist here. Marie will meet Jesus soon and will experience indescribable joy. In the mean time she will anguish without pain medication, or food in her village. Her father decided to take her home to die upcountry. She can not chew food and I am not sure she can swallow as she spit up all liquids she was given. Please pray for this young girl and her family.

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Living la vida loca

I will begin by reporting we really miss Michael! This is a lot harder than I thought. I would not make a good millitary wife. I give props to all of you spouses out there that live without your significant others over long periods of time. It is really difficult. Don't let him know, but he does alot around here. If nothing more than take the kids for 15 minutes in the evening, it is what keeps me sane!! So yes, now you know, I am insane!
We have been able to skype him which has been fun. One skype session was done while a cute little monkey sat on his lap making crazy faces at us. Don't worry though, it is a city monkey and cannot come to Bauya, it can't make it. City monkeys do not belong in the country. We will remain a monkey free home.
The kids are ok, just doing everything any kid could dream of doing. Endless sleepovers, dozens of trips to the pool, visiting all the friends and family they can stand, pretty much anything they can think of that they want to do. It's been fun, but we are ready for life to slow down a bit. I think Africa is the answer to all this madness! If you've been, you realize the irony in this statement.
I just want to use this small paragraph to let my friends and families know how much I love and appreciate them. They have loved on us, cared for us, lifted us up, cried with us, and prayed with us so fervently over the past few weeks that I am blown away. I want to bottle up all these moments we are sharing because of how precious you all are. If I don't gush and tell you that all the time, forgive me, I don't want to be too mushy! But truly, you make it possible for us to live out an enormous dream and calling. We are forever changed and affected by you. (not to be confused with infected) Thank you.
I will leave with a funny Ella quote. While sitting on the couch the other day, she looks over at me and gives me a curious look. She says, "When are we going to go get Daddy and bring him back here?" I say, "We are going to fly to Africa to live there with him." She says, "No, I don't think so, I'm kind of over it!"

Oh child! Don't worry, you will be hooked like us before you know it!