December was a whirlwind! With all the things happening this is my first moment to breathe and tell you what's been going on.
The first two weeks of this month have been packed with school kids coming. Each day we had two to three classes of 20-30 kids in each. All of us were running on God's power. So many heard the gospel!
One day was different than all the rest, it was one of my favorite days of being here. We had 18 kids of all ages and they were all deaf. A some of them could hear a little bit due to a hearing aid but most could. I never realized how much I depended on my hearing to teach. From the animal noises to the train horn we had to be inventive.
They so loved everything they saw though most of it scarred them so much. The once "loud" donkey spooked several girls when they didn't hear the donkey running towards them but felt it touch them as if to say 'its snack time'.
May I never take for granted the blessing of hearing things...even annoying noises!
The week before Christmas, a bunch of us helped prepare one of the buildings that you've been praying that we'd get done. It is done! We had help from Florida and spent many hours painting ceilings and bunkbeds. A wall was put up and it made another room. Now 12 women who are coming to be Patmos students will have somewhere to sleep when they get here on the 21nd of January.
We also worked on another building for the 10 men to sleep. They don't have the comforts of the women's apartment but when we are able to finish the perment cottages for the students, they'll have their home. Though with all that the program puts them through, I don't think they'll spend much time resting!
Christmas Day, I spent with the Lowe family. How Andrea Lowe does all that she does every day of the week, I will never know! The family has 9 kids; 6 are under 13 and 3 are out of school. With all that kids do, demand, need, and want I don't know if I could handle it half as well as Andrea does. God bless all you mothers who have more than one child!
Two days after Christmas, I went to Florida to see my family. This was the first year that most of my family was down south rather than up north for Christmas. So for Christmas, I saw everyone but my mom and grandmother.
They were all on vacation so we "did the tourist thing" and saw lots. From the zoo to Universal Studios. It was fun because even when we were all stuck in line waiting an hour to ride a 5 minutes ride, my family was with me.
My brother Paul, my uncle Mike, and I went to see the movie "Blood Diamond". Normally, its not the kind of movie I watch due to the rating but it was recommended to me by someone who lived it. I hope to write an entry soon on what my thoughts were after seeing it.
Sunday, I got home, unpacked, and ignored the phone - not smart. I had made plans to attend Junkenoo (an all night cultural parade in the Bahamas) but thought that it was Monday night. Nope! It was Monday morning at 2am!
Laura, Darren, Leon, Chris, and I went out for the night and watch Junkenoo. The costumes were beautiful! They are all made of cardboard, paint, paper, and junk but with great talent they became a pirate ship, fish, birds, 20 foot hats, and other things going with the theme. Dancers from ages 7 to 50 were out. And the bands played so loud that the seats vibrated!
Its a competition with different groups from all over the Bahamas. And the fans are as zealous for their groups as we are for our favorite basketball team in the States. And for those who follow it, Saxons won this year. I like Roots.
Many other things have been happening and I'll try and send out a newsletter soon. Thanks for reading and praying faithfully.