The first few days we spent staying with the Jensen family (they are the other missionary family that we have been working with), they had moved a few weeks ahead of us. I am glad that it worked out this way, so that they could take care of us for a few days.
We went to the house to assess the work that needed to be done before moving in. The Jensens had already taken care of several things before we arrived. They oversaw the building of the wooden fence around the house, before it just had barbed wire. This fence is important for security and to help keep our dogs, and kids, in the yard. They had a water tower built and a water tank added. This was to make sure that we could have water storage and have running water at times other than the few times a week that the city turns on the water. They also added a hot water heater so that we could have hot water. Yeah.
The land lord had some painters come and paint the inside of the house, but it was a mess of a job. I was told that it looked as if children had painted it. There was oil paint all over the floor, the baseboards, and paint dripping and oozing down the walls. The land lord came in and saw what her house looked like and was very unhappy.... so some of the Jensens, Luke and Lindsey, came to the rescue. They repainted a few bedrooms and helped sand down the drooping drips on the other parts of the walls. The paint in the rooms that they didn’t paint will have to wait until another day.
First Things First
To get rid of the fleas, the cockroaches, and the snakes !
The yard had been housing a few cows, so it was full of fleas.
The kids and I went to the house and the kids were played in the yard for a few hours. Afterwards, I was picking fleas off of the kids. I am not talking about one or two bur dozens. The landlord offered to have the yard sprayed with pesticide by someone in town, so we were glad about that. In the house there were still some remaining residents that didn’t want to leave so easily. The cockroaches. Carey went through the house and sprayed everything with a pesticide. We had to wait a few days for this to take place and everything to clear out.
I was having high hopes with this pesticide being really potent stuff. I was told that they had found some baby snakes in the yard recently. I don’t do well with snakes. My brother would keep them as pets in the house when I was a kid, and I often played with different kids without fear. But now, living in Africa, I see them as nothing but a danger to my family, and I hate any snake in the yard. I kinda gave myself an unreasonable expectation with this pesticide in the yard and pictured it working like a magic spray warding off any and all danger, especially snakes. I think I just pictured this in my head to make myself feel better. (Smiles)
In conclusion, we are adjusting and trying to get settled in a new place with new challenges. We have learned that adjustments to any new situation can be accomplished with time, a little work, a lot of prayer.
Until Next Time,
Bonnie
