I’ve never been a type A personality… never had any trouble leaving my work at work… until now.

I live at my office... at any time of the day there are emails to answer and work that is waiting for me.  

Where do you draw lines?  Where are the boundaries?  

At a loss for words...

Just thought I would post a few pictures...

Walter and me "debrussing" (weed eating with a machete).  We took 4 boys from the Hope House  out to PK 27 which is the land that they will building a permanent house for the Hope House.  They loved it and Wilson asked Saturday when we would be going again!  

OSPAC truck... they recently put a lot of money into revamping their truck!  It really needed it... there were steel bars sticking out of the front seat - so it was dangerous for the passengers in the back!!  

Papy Joe posing next to his "new" vehicle!

This is Rich's third time in Gabon.  He is a Physician's Assistant from NY.  Here he is at a mobile medical clinic in Mitzic (northern part of the country).  We were in the Mitzic area for about 5 days!  Most of the time we spent on dirt road.  Rich was my 4x4 driving instructor!  

Candles

From my favorite artist Gerhard Richter
http://www.gerhard-richter.com/art/

Things you discover when the power goes off...
You are so thankful that you have a gas stove and can still cook!
You are thankful for the stash of candles that is around!
Everyone usually congregates in one room... where most of the candles are.
People actually talk to each other... there is no tv, no computer, and even books are a little hard to read.
You actually go to bed a little earlier, and sometimes even sleep better.

That's why we've decided to do a power outage on a more regular basis.

6th sense?

2009 birthday... no I did not wear that shirt with the skirt

 My fashion sense is not my strongest sense… probably more like taste or touch.  I would describe myself as more of a lands end, ll bean fashion type.  When I lived in Whiteville I had people that would help me with my wardrobe choices.  One night before I was heading to a wedding in California Meg, Alice, and Kate did a “what not to wear” for me in my living room!

2011 birthday... new shoes and new haircut too!

They will be happy to know that I now have people that help me with my wardrobe here in Gabon.  Hannah has the most influence since she lives with me and can always say… “is that what you are wearing?”.  But Mama Jeanine will also make her opinion known… usually by saying how nice I look – whenever I wear a nice outfit or skirt!

The other ladies that help me with my wardrobe choices are Alace and her daughter Megan.  Hannah, Alace, and Megan all have that design/creative/artistic sense that I greatly appreciate! 

So this year Alace and Megan gave me a skirt and a matching clutch… (which was actually perfect because the zipper had just busted a few days before on the clutch I used to use!)

But looking through some pictures I realized that in 2009 when I was here they also gave me a skirt and purse for my birthday! 

Thank you guys for my gifts and thanks to Joanna for my new haircut!

Eat your vegetables

Did your parents ever tell you... "You better eat those vegetables!  There are starving kids in Africa who would gladly eat them?".  Well they were wrong.  See the story on Alace's blog... A life less comfortable

Mitzic

We went to Mitzic a few weeks ago for a mobile clinic with OSPAC.  We did a medical clinic for two days.  Found this heard of cows walking down the street with their shepherd.

 This is rubber coming out of the tree!!  Just like maple syrup!

 Here is Hannah amazed at the rubber plantation she is standing at the edge of... they cut the tree at an angle and the rubber flows out of it... cool huh?

We passed through this town... "more late"

Fruits

We've got 5 of these little guys

 Just thought I would share some pictures of the things growing in our yard!!!  And some recent thoughts...

For those of you, like me, who have never seen a pineapple plant!

Our mango tree is full of mangoes!  They'll be hitting the metal roof soon... and making it sound like someone just got shot!

Lately I've had a bad attitude... just a bit stressed out with all the things that need to be accomplished.  Will talk more about that later when we get the ball rolling (suspense is killing you isn't it?).
Anyway... I've been wishing for more fruits of the Spirit (kindness, gentleness, patience, etc.).  But they are not fruits of Leanne... things that I can work up and make happen... they are fruits of the Spirit living within me.
Please pray that I would let the Spirit grow inside me... water it with the Word, sit before the Son, etc.