Chess Mates

Two of my classes study a story (about chess and the way it can relate to life) from the book "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan. Prior to reading the story, the 8th grade classes created their own chess boards and pieces. The fact that they went over and beyond all expectations was evident as they brought in their creations on Monday morning. We went over the rules of the game and began playing. As they began to learn to play, the popularity grew. During study hall, many would grab their boards and play. Today during field day I looked over to find chess boards scattered about with players on either side.

Harmattan

Harmattan. It has arrived and left and then come back again. In every step of our day we seem to be reminded that it is here. In the mornings, the bath towels smell like dust. At school all the desks are covered with a layer of the dusty residue from the Sahara. Each day the floors must be mopped. We dust everything. Within hours, we should dust again. Fruit in a bowl on the table must be rewashed before eaten. Our noses are filled with the dust and when we wash, the water turns a bit darker due to the remains left on our body. When harmattan is in heavy, planes are not able to land or take off due to lack of visibility. It can block the sun's rays causing the temperatures to dramatic drop. Some have winter, we have harmattan.

Weekend Stuff

The weekend included:

basketball games
a FULL, FULL house
bottle cap wars
iTunes surfing
soup
taking kids home for odd reasons
stress relief product creations
new friends
cookies
Uno-lots and lots of Uno
Facebook
visiting at friends' houses
so much laughter
French toast
texting back and forth
driving
homework (for students and teachers)
koolaid
a sick child
warmer weather-much warmer
yummy (but not too yummy) grilled cheese
I love the life we live here. Never dull.

The Trick

At the beginning of the school year, I was coerced into trying a little trick. This trick was supposed to be good...real good. I should have know by the word "trick" and by muffled laughter of the two guys who talked me into the trick that it might not be so "real good"! Wanna try the trick?

Put a good amount of salt on the back of your hand.
Place an ice cube on top of the salt.
Wait.
Pride kicks in and you bear a bit of local discomfort.
Cry.
Decide your friends aren't your friends and forget about pride. Try to save the hand.
Bandage hand.
Plan sweet retaliation. (with loving kindness, of course!)

Fast forward six months-which was last weekend. A big batch of kids were over playing games, sharing music and hanging out. I looked over and saw it! On the back of one of the guy's hands was the remnants of the trick. HA! We now have matching scars!

Random Photos of Valentine's Dinner

For years I have struggled with a concept we call early death. Some days it haunts my every thought. Other days I find myself caught up with great joy until the notion hits me in a split second and the joyful moment is darkened as I consider the trauma of leaving this earth too soon. Early death seems to be one of the cruelest form of torture. The suffering is often non-existent or short lived for the one who dies, but to those who are left behind to try to put the pieces back together, it can last a lifetime.

But, is death ever really early?. Only to us, not to our Maker. Our Maker knows the number of our days, even before we were conceived. So, death will come when our days here on earth are over. Never too late and yet never too early. Even with this assurance there is still an abundance of concerns. For the one who has lost a loved one, there is the wondering of how can I continue without? Will a day ever be normal again? For the one who foresees their own early death, there is the concern of if those we love are adequately prepared, not only for a loss, but for the rest of life. These pains of “early death” can only be comforted by the One who is our Creator and the Creator of perfect timing. Perhaps in eternity we will understand, perhaps not.


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"What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14)
"Teach us to number our days” (Psalm 90:12)

Missing Girlfriends

Someone recently asked me what I missed the most while living in Africa. I quickly responded, without even needing to think, “my girlfriends!” I left behind a few incredible groups of girlfriends. Due to a very demanding job, along with various other chores (shopping, laundry, cooking, etc.) that take longer here than in the States, I have been too overwhelmed and tired to try to build those type of friendships again. Of all things I look most forward to when going back to the States, it is my girlfriends.

These words ramble around in my head when I think of my girlie girls: salads with cilantro, backrooms, chocolate, Target runs, long phone calls, lots of tears, Choxie, cross country flights, antique shopping, Ben and Jerry’s, scrapbooking together, new babies, tons of laughter, Hardee's breakfast, cleaning each other’s houses, Children’s Place sales, lime Tostitoes, white shirt/black pants uniform, Yankee candles, Las Vegas, electric toothbrushes, DDP, Croptoberfest, reuben sandwiches, long conversations, pb&j, music, sewing, trips to LaFayette, dancing on the bed, Chef’s, doctor appts, new houses, and so much more!


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But oh! the blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; with whom one's deepest as well as one's most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely. Oh, the comfort - the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person - having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away. ~Dinah Craik, A Life for a Life, 1859

Face to Face

As I sat in the little café in the middle of town this past week with my new friend, I was in awe of how computer technology can bring two together. We had such a great time chatting about Africa, family and so much more. What a gem of a friend I have from Switzerland…one that introduced herself to our family via the internet so long ago. And yet one that I have just now met face to face. Monika, thank you for submitting to that little nudging to contact us. And thank you for looking me up while in Jos. Love you dearly and look forward to the next time we are face to face. Yeah technology! Yeah friendship!

Pancake Breakfast

At 7 this morning, 39 eighth graders and a few teachers could be foun in the hostel preparing for the annual pancake breakfast, a popular fundraiser. This year's theme was "the 80's" The kids had a blast dressing up. I had to laugh because I was their age at the beginning of the 80s. One of the kids asked me, "Mrs. Parker, have you ever heard of these old songs?" HA! My answer was two-fold: 1) not only have I heard of them, I know all the words and 2) these songs are really not old.

After all, who doesn't still sing:
Another Bites the Dust
Smooth Operator
We Built This City
Working My Way Back to You
Walk Like An Egyptian
I Just Called to Say I Love You
Eye of the Tiger

By 11 am, hundreds of pancakes had been cooked, served, and devoured. (Just heard that a boy eating 27 pancakes had won the "who could eat the most" contest.) Money was raised and everyone had such a great time.

Whatever It Takes

Reading...what I encourage the MOST in my middle school English classes. So, to encourage (or should I say 'bribe'?) my students to read, I have a reading contest each quarter. The class that reads the most pages wins a party at my house. Along with unlimited hotdogs to roast, we have FUN (and very messy) games. The sixth grade class beat out all the 7th and 8th grade classes last quarter so they were at the house on Thursday for THE PARTY!

On the bus on the way back to school, one of the boys said,
"Listen everyone, we ALL have to read a BUNCH of books this week. We have to win again!"

Whatever it takes to get them to read!

Medicine for Two, Please

We have had to talk to a doctor twice in the last week.

Mattie has had some skin problems on her back and it didn't clear it up its own. We hope the medicine will kick in soon and relieve her discomfort.

Naomi had malaria-again. After crying in my arms at night and sleeping in my classroom's storage closet during the day, she has turned the corner and is much better.

The week was long, but we are thankful tonight for good health. So very thankful!

Please pray for
-the families of Nigerians who have lost their loved ones due to an outbreak of Lassa Fever in jos.
-the family of one of our school's security guards who unexpectedly passed away yesterday
-a friend who lost his brother (who was like a father to him) last week

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Quick Update

Wow...never knew we could be SO busy!

*Jon spent some time last week with the chief of a tribe trying to negotiate a land purchase. He also helped out with the pe class' rock climbing/rappelling trip. Pray for Jon as he has felt a bit sick the last few days. He and Lauren still managed to go to the hostel to watch the Super Bowl early this morning...they made it to bed around 5 AM, only to wake up an hour later for work and school today.

*Naomi participated in the elementary school's science fair. As always, she had much fun.

*Mattie continues to play her flute EVERY day. (We've had to limit practice so chores and homework could be done.) Pray for Mattie as she is fighting a fungus on her skin. The medicine makes her a bit sleepy.

*Lauren is finishing up her last year of high school. She has applied to different colleges and we are praying for a clear direction (and a bunch of scholarships) for where she will attend in the fall.

*I still love teaching English to 81 middle school kids! We are reading some great books this year: The Giver, Number the Stars, Diary of Anne Frank, Flowers for Algernon, The Freedom Writers Diary, The Whipping Boy, and more. And beginning tomorrow, I am attending a series of Indian and Lebanese cooking classes.

*Jon and I both lead 8th grade discipleship. Please pray for our kids as they learn about prayer and God's sovereignty. Many of the kids are opening up and sharing their struggles. I am seeing so much growth in the kids and am thankful for how the Lord works in so many situations.

*Basketball season has begun. FUN! FUN!

Before Christmas our compound pitched in and had a borehole dug. Having water available all the time is a blessing we don't take for granted.

We are glad it is finally warming up here. The harmattan dust from the desert kept us quite cool (COLD at night) for a few weeks. At school we huddled together and tried to dress as warmly as possible (-a funny sight with flip flops on our feet). However, the last few days have been a bit warmer.

With mixed emotions, we are already having to think about our return to the States in May. Time is flying by this year and I am afraid it will be here in the blink of an eye. Please pray as we job, house, and car hunt from a different continent. Saying "hello" will be such a joy, but saying "goodbye" will be.....well, let's not even think about it until we have to! No goodbyes..only "see you laters!"

Blessings abound!

Just Makes Me Smile

Each Sunday afternoon, about 90 Nigerian children rush onto our compound for Bible Study and play. I pulled out my camera this week and got a few shots...before I was literally swarmed with kids yelling "Auntie, snap me!" Many faces are engraved in my mind...and I just wanted to share a few with you. Some of the more shy ones check me out for a few minutes before the smile arrives on their faces. Beautiful beyond words!

A Great Day!

We buy our eggs from our neighbor's chicken farm. Very fresh! On Saturday, he called and informed us that he was killing chickens. Naomi decided to head over. She was excited about seeing how they kill them and then drop them in boiling water to help take off the feathers. A while later, she ran home and told me of the different kinds of chickens there: little chicks, chickens who lay eggs, chickens who are still growing, and chickens ready for dinner now! She considered it a great day: a new friend made, a bit of knowledge about chickens and a pretty cool tour of the chicken farm!