a straw

I want to go on record... I love each of the Straw kids equally.  They are each unique, but all of them fun to be around, and easy to love!

The Straw family is the other missionary family here in Libreville, Gabon.  Steve Straw flies for Bongolo hospital... see his blog here.  While Alace Straw (her blog) runs the guesthouse for Bongolo.

They have three awesome kids... Joe, Meg, and Sam.  This is Joe playing the ukulele that he got for Christmas in the back of the truck on the way back from the beach.  Can I tell you that there is nothing better than sitting on the beaches of Gabon with friends listening to a live ukulele.  Nothing.  

I just appreciate Joe - in general, because he is a great guy.  But more specifically because he has learned to play the ukulele!  

Home

Christie in foreground, Andrew her oldest next, and then her hubby Chad 

I recently came to the states to help my momma, who by the way is doing great!!
But while I was there I stayed a little with Christie, my sister, and the rest with my dad.  I went to Christie's son Caleb's soccer game.

Caleb throwing the ball in

Caleb going up against the other team!  Go Caleb!  

Trying it left-handed

I also found out that my dad is playing in a softball league!  I think it is an over 60s league.  He is the fastest runner on the team, thanks to his jogging most days.  He also claimed that he couldn't hit the ball, but proved himself wrong by hitting it twice.  First left-handed and second right-handed!!  He got on base both times and ran home once!

Hitting right-handed which is how he writes

He would be the blur in the middle of the picture!

Shiny object

My mom has lost the ability to concentrate. Wait...have I lost that ability too? TV - no problem, ask anyone who has seen me around one and they will tell you that I can definitely concentrate on tv. Maybe because they change the screen at least every 6 seconds. Have we lost the ability to concentrate on one thing longer than 6 seconds? I know for me, if I want to really think and concentrate on something I usually have to isolate myself. Have you ever seen the movie "Up"? You know the dog that would always get distracted by a squirrel? That's me! Is multitasking really that great if we lost the ability to concentrate? I have just lost concentration on this blog...so it will end, for now.

Sam's purse

Olivia in the middle of her mamas

Mama Christine, neat and strong woman

Love the smile in the middle

Are you going to eat that?

Getting down!

Mama Josephine's smile

Bunch of kids there

The regional Sam's purse director, papa Jean Marc

Jeremy, Mama Jeannine's grandson

Mama Jeannine and Mama Edith

Grace on the far right, she is leading the dance troop!

two for one

I know this is strange... two posts in one day.  But I was doing a little house cleaning of my website.  Yes Jeanne I took off your blog, because you hadn't posted in a loooong time!  I can't believe your mother puts up with that!
Anyway, I added a few new links... a blog I follow, OUR NEW WEBSITE!!, and a website from Envision Dominican Republic (they actually post everyday! ... and don't even think about it, I'm doing good to post once a week!).  The Kieviet family is a Dutch couple that we met down in Bongolo, but is leaving this week to head to Senegal.  We spent a week with them down in Bongolo mid-March, and it is amazing to me how different our two cultures are!
And I actually tweeted for the first time today!  Put that on the website too... not that I will tweet much, but you never know!

New roommates

Yes two...

The first one you might recognize as an intern from last year.  Olivia!!  She was our first intern last year and is our first intern this year!  She received a loud and warm welcome at the airport!  Also a very large mango!

Peanut butter surrounded by a sticky substance.

And yes, we have another unwelcomed roommate!  He ran past my foot this morning!  Here is the bed and meal we have set out for him!  And I will also be buying the kind of traps that kill instantly!

Joseph helping Sabrina make sure the glasses work for her.

When the team was here Mama Nathalie (the wife of the pastor who runs the Hope House) told me that Sabrina was suffering from headaches.  She does not see well so this past week we took her to RBC to get her eyes checked and get her some new glasses!


On a personal note:
I will be coming home this Monday for a few weeks, for a family emergency.  Please pray that I will be able to get done all that I need to in the short amount of time.

let the teams begin

our first team was a repeat offender... Fellowship Alliance Chapel from NJ
I learned a lot about NJ... it seems a little like Gabon in that you have to know people to get things done

Suzzanne, Ashlee, and Susan helping the widows make peanut butter to sell.

Steve, Ryan, and Doug playing wiffle ball with Janice and the other kids at Hope House.

Ashlee, a black belt in some form of martial arts, taught the kids a few self-defense moves.  Here Ellie is hitting a target.

I just loved Joshua's smile in this one!

This is a toilet that Ryan and Doug installed at the Hope House along with two showers!  Now the 48 kids have more than just one toilet and one shower to use!














Ashlee and Joy both shared at a women's meeting.  I translated for Ashlee into French and then Mama Jeanette (my former English student) translated into the tribal language.

The road to the village where we did our mobile clinic was long and rough.  This is a better stretch of road.  We got stuck several times with a 4x4!

Steve shared his testimony before we started the medical clinic and 22 people decided to follow Christ!  Please pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in their hearts and will provide discipleship for them!

Doug was the group's fearless leader.  He was definitely a servant leader and I learned a lot from him!

Suzzanne was really great at showing God's love despite the language barrier!  Here the ladies of the village were giving her a pineapple and peanuts!

Did I mention that this was a fun group!  We were hanging out and having fun in the kitchen.  Suzzanne was having a little too much fun!