Birthday Celebrations, Hardware Store, Swimming, Finished Book

Friday, August 21
Today we had Sarah's family birthday celebration. She will be 5 on August 31 when the family is at Field Forum. Her specially selected dinner of pizza, pears, cranberry sauce and peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream was a treat. The pizza, cobbler and ice cream were homemade. It was all delicious! Had another couple rounds of opening birthday gifts which produced more fun things for "Fancy Nancy of the Jungle". Sarah is a fun, bright, articulate young lady with a flair toward the creative. We are blessed to have her as a granddaughter!

Dave rode into Lebamba with Paul for an outing at the hardware store. Paul picked up locks and a variety of hardware for doors. They ran into the pastor from Paul & Meladee's church. Visited Petro Gabon for gasoline and saw the long line waiting of folks waiting with their wheelbarrow for bottled gas. Rumor has it that the strike is over and bottled gas should become more available.

Paul & Dave noticed the renovation on the bridge from Lebamba to Bongolo Hospital. The crews were actively working on dismantling and painting the bridge. Work should take about 7 months according to the government sign at the site.

Because the sun was out for the third time since our arrival, we headed to the pool for a quick dip and some fun games with the Kellys and Luke, Sarah and Joanna. Tim Kelly has cleared a great swath of jungle and now we can see and hear the Louetsi River from poolside.

Luke, Sarah and Grandma finished reading "Mountain Born". We learned some things about shepherding and were sad to know that Biddy died.

Saturday, August 22
Today we celebrated Joanna's birthday (She will be thirtysomething on August 24!). Her specially selected dinner was eating out at Marie Therese's. We dined with Dr. Dave, Dr. Bill and Marley and had fish, gazelle, rice, manioc leaves, and French fried sweet potatoes. Had another round of opening presents. The most unique present Joanna received was from Keir - a Himalayan salt lamp which she had requested.

Heard stories from Dr. Dave which are always enlightening and fun. It's wonderful to hear about his 30 years of experiences here even if some of the stories about mice and rats are gruesome. Dr. Bill & Marley shared their first time impressions of Bongolo and the hope and vision they have about Fairhaven Church in Dayton sending more Short Term Missionaries to the hospital.

This week Diann spent a couple of hours in Depot 5 sorting donated hospital goods with Meladee. The warehouse is full of hospital gowns, surgical scrubs, medical supplies with a few thousand termites mixed in with some of the scrubs. Meladee has her hands full organizing the goods so that the staff will know what is on hand. She has been making steady progress since she began in March. It is a huge task.

The sunset tonight was spectacular! To know that God made the same sun to rise and set here and in Pittsford is just overwhelming as we gazed into the sky a little before 6.

Diann was pleased today when Honoreen, house help for Joanna, walked to the Triplex to our apartment to say goodbye. She doesn't speak English and Diann doesn't speak French but she gave her a big hug when she'd see her in the mornings and did so today to say goodbye. Hugging is not a common practice in Gabon especially between blacks and whites. Diann was blessed to be hugged by Honoreen.