Bed Bugs

I am thankful for the return of Corrinne and Kay this week, but after living in the volunteer wing for 6 weeks by myself, its bit of an adjustment having a roommate again. It’s nice to have someone to share the work load with, and to have a friend. We have big changes in mind for Sunrise, which is very exciting. We are just praying and waiting for God’s plan.

Bed bugs. That is the theme of this week, and one I do not care to repeat. Over the past few weeks I noticed that I was getting bitten by something during the night. At first it was just a few bites, and then I woke up and my entire leg was covered. It continued for a few days and was getting worse. One night I took my phone (which has a flashlight….awesome!) and looked in my bed…And saw bugs!!!! Tiny bugs that otherwise would go unnoticed. So I moved into the guest room for a few days and started the process of riding my room of bed bugs.  I had to boil all my clothes and blankets, then hand wash everything, and leave it in the sun for as long as I could. I wiped my mattress down with bleach water and left it in the sun too. Bug spraying my room came next, I used so much that it took a few days for it to be safe to enter. I really hope that all my efforts pay off because it was a long process and I strongly dislike doing laundry.

I tried two new foods this week. One is called Daga, they are these tiny, really smelly fish that they eat whole, heads and tails. I wasn’t aware that is what I was eating at first; I had been really good at avoiding it. I guess it’s good that I am trying new things; however it’s not something I will be repeating…hopefully. The other thing that I tried this week was actually really hard to try; it took me like four hours to taste it. The taste wasn’t bad, a little more flavorful then chicken.  And what was this mystery meat you ask? Guinea Pig. That’s right, sweet, and adorable, your kids have them as pets, Guinea Pig. I learned last Sunday that they eat them here, and then my friend from the village brought one over for me to try.

Every Thursday evening is “special” for dinner, which means that the volunteers cook the meal. I have made soup, spaghetti with cheesy bread, pizza (not so good the first time, excellent the second), mac and cheese, all from scratch. This week I tried a new recipe. I made meatless meatloaf, which is made with mashed up beans instead of meat. It was awesome. We had it with pasta and I made a sauce, everyone seemed to enjoy it. It is such a long process to cook anything here, takes all day; plus you are cooking for around 15 people.

Corrinne and I will be going to Malawi next weekend. My 90 day visa is up in a couple of weeks, and so I have to leave the country to keep it valid. I am going to be applying for my temporary residency permit, but it is a long process and takes a month. So please pray that everything goes smoothly so I am able to get it. 

The kids are doing great this week; we are having lots of fun as usual. Corrinne met with my family when she was in America. She brought me back lots of goodies from them, including my new camera that Santa got me. I will try to post picture again soon!!! 

I have started to get a tan going on, mostly a farmer’s tan (arms, face, and feet). My hair is also getting blonder from being in the sun so much. Sunscreen is now my best friend. 

“God wants his people to understand that all life is spiritual; all of life’s activities come under his domain. How we plow our fields or how we shop at the market or even how we talk to a gas station attendant. Everything we do can be a way of worshiping him.” –Joni Eareckson Tada