back to school

It’s been another overcast week here in Malongo, yuck!   I mean…how am I supposed to get tan for my sweet cousin, Laurel’s, wedding with all of these clouds??  Luckily, when I get home I will still have a little over 3 weeks to work on that before her big day :)

I went with a few nationals on my team out to the Futila School again on Tuesday.  Unfortunately, it was a pretty big bust this time.  The principal had to leave the school and forgot to leave the keys to the computer lab with the teachers, so we couldn't get into the lab to give our lessons.  The kids were still super excited to see us…probably because we were handing out juice boxes.  I probably won’t be able to go out and see them until my next trip back to work.  Their school schedule isn't set in stone (to say the least), and they will be on break until the first (or second, or third…) week of September. 

I remember first landing in Cabinda and the feeling of shock when we were driving through town seeing the living conditions for some of the residents here, but I've become pretty numb to it since then.  That feeling came right back when we were traveling back to camp from the school on Tuesday.  I could see there were cars slowing down in front of us, and I figured it was a car accident which is VERY common along the road to camp.  As we got closer, some men were carrying a body off the road and by the time we were driving through the scene, they were putting a blanket over the body of a young boy.  Needless to say, it was completely devastating and something that I had never experienced before.  The folks that I was with were speaking in Portuguese, but I could tell by their demeanor that they were very angry with what we had just seen.  They explained to me that this type of accident happens more often than it should and how angry they are that the drivers in this area aren't more careful.  They were equally upset that children are constantly running across the highway putting themselves in danger.

 

On a lighter note, my Pa turned 83 on Friday.  I was able to chat with him for a little while on his birthday, and he went on and on about how they are having the greatest time on their road trip to South Carolina.  They have been in route to Charleston since Monday to drop my ‘baby’ cousin, Austin, off at The Citadel.  I’m still in denial that Austin is actually old enough to be a freshman in college.  It feels like yesterday when my cousin Jessica and I would get into little tiffs on who could hold that precious baby.  She probably doesn't even remember, but I was always SO jealous that she lived in San Antonio and got to see my 3 little cousins all the time.  Anyways, I couldn't be happier for that not-so-little boy getting to start his college career this fall - SUCH an exciting time!    

Love this sweet man, Happy 83rd Pa! 

Chad bought another house in Bakersfield this past week, so naturally I've just been drawing floor plans and dreaming of remodels in my spare time.  He has kindly reminded me that I can help decorate IF my plans are in line with his plans.  We will see about all that ;)

19 days down, 23 to go! Xoxo…