Smiles are universal

They say that smiles are universal.  But you know what else is universal?  Ipads!  I have made quite the little group of friends because of a game on my ipad!  (thank you, Kirstin, for introducing me to the racing "sorry" game!)  The boys are always waiting outside of my hut yelling "I am blue!"  "I am red" and so on!  I love that I am getting to know them, and recognize faces and smiles.  And oh, what cute smiles!  So, Thank you, ipad, for giving me my "In" with this crowd!

You know what else they love?  Cameras!

Yesterday there was a futball game between P5&P6 vs. P7  It was an incredible game to watch, and so much excitement as people cheered on their teams!  I can't figure out how to post the video here, so if I can't post it in a separate blog, check out my facebook and I will post it there.

I sat in the grass with the boys, then we started playing with my camera, and before you know it, my camera was being passed around taking pictures of groups of friends.  It was then that I got to talk with some of the girls as well.  I noticed today that I am starting to know names with faces, which is great!  I still have so many to learn, and a few that I call the wrong names, but I will get there.

Yesterday was one of those days that I would think "This can't get any better" and then it would!  Church was exciting, the game was fun and I enjoyed hanging out with the kids, and then after the game we hung out in the dining area and I tought them about zumba!  I showed them a few awesome dance moves with a song I made up, that will forever be stuck in my head!  I just love these kids!

Just like anywhere else in the world I go, I am surrounded by boys.  It always made me laugh when people at church would comment on how we don't have any boys and I need to bring more boys in.  I just think, that's not my problem in the rest of the world!  But no worries, as the junior high is now mostly boys, no one is telling me that anymore!  But it just always made me laugh, because every mission trip you will find me surrounded by a group of boys.  I don't know why, they just flock to me!  Good thing I have nephews!

Today was my first day of work.  I worked in the clinic with Dr. Mac.  I helped him with inventory, and even taught him the secret about how vitamin B helps keep mosquitos away.  I felt very smart!  He told me that I should go to medical school (I told him that I had wanted to be a doctor when I was younger) I will keep that in mind.  For now, I just enjoy the pharmacy work!

I also spent time in the office with Janelle and Donna.  I just love them!  They are two of the most incredible, positive, encouraging people in the world!  I am so blessed to be able to work with them.  The other bonus is that they both remind me of people from my church, which always makes me smile!

Tonight was more time playing on the ipad with the boys, face timing with my dad, and then meeting the two new missionaries that just arrived.

Tomorrow I get to assist in the nursery (preschool) class, and then I will be teaching it on Wednesday.  I am so excited!

Also, many of you are asking about what the food is like.  It is good!  We eat Posho, beans, cabbage for lunch and dinner.  Over the weekend we had pineapple as well.  Last night we had a treat, and they gave us goat. Oh, while I'm thinking of it, posho is like a cornmeal mix.  It looks like mashed potatoes, but is a thicker texture.  It's good, but I can imagine that in November I will be ready for something different!  God must have heard my unprayed prayer, because tonight we had macaroni, which is like spaghetti noodles with oil and flavoring.  It was DELICIOUS!!!!!  It reminded me of some of the food we ate in Venezuela!  Absolutely delicious!!!  Donna loved the goat last night, and I told her that the macaroni was my goat!  Breakfast is usually banana and cassava, and tea.

So, I think that is my update for now!

My dad asked me tonight if it was everything I was hoping it would be, and I have to say...it is so much better!  I'm LOVING it!!!  But no worries, friends!  I have a plane ticket to come home.  Until then, I will enjoy every minute!  Every lizard in my hut, every lightning bug, every roll of thunder, I am loving it!

Me and some of my boys!  Elijah, Bryan Joel, John Kerry, and  I can't remember the last one's name, I will work on that!

My morning guest!

heating up water for my shower

Nancy and Janet at the futball game

Another reminder of HPC, and how they have commissioned me for this mission

Everyone was out watching the game!