As much as is possible in Africa, we have a daily routine established and for those who would like to know… here is a picture of what our day usually holds
- 6:30: Time to Rise and Shine and take a few minutes to prepare for the day and also review yesterday’s language session
- 7:00 Kids usually wake up and it is time to get something prepared for breakfast (no cereal or instant oatmeal here).
- 8- 11:30 I have my language session while Joel holds down the fort. Three days a week we have a language helper who also comes and helps the boys with French.
Ethan is learning French and Tyler at the moment is just learning how to jabber - 11:30- 1:00 Time to prepare our afternoon meal (the big meal of the day). Ethan is my helper in the kitchen. He is getting amazingly good with things in the kitchen.
- 1:00 Lunch and then a moment of quiet which is much needed on hot days
- 2- 4:00 Time to be productive. This usually involves cooking, cleaning, maintenance, baking, emails and language lesson prep and review.
- 4-6:30- Joel has language session, while the boys and I do art and some other basic preschool activities.
- 6:30 Dinner, we try to keep this as simple as possible, although the meaning of the word simple has drastically changed for me this year.
- 7- 8:00 Time to play outside in the cool of the day
- 8:00 Time to wash the boys down with a bucket bath, read books and send the boys into the safety of their mosquito nets.
- Then a moment of peace that every parent learns to enjoy!
So that is the basic structure of our day, but now to get a real picture of our day add in the unplanned but guaranteed visitors who stop by to chat, kids coming over to play, conversations with any one you plan to buy something from, church meetings or events and many requests for money, food, or water. Once you have crammed all that in you have a small picture of our life. We are starting to feel very comfortable with our routine here and continue to progress in our French. We are now working on making an effort to connect with the people at our church and our neighbors in any way that we can.
How encouraging to see the boys enjoying life and that a routine is falling into place. The interruptions in the routine can be frustrating I’m sure but as you said your ministry is to minister. The love in your heart is seen in your eyes and smile Andi and I’m sure reaches many.
Thanks so much for sharing! You are in our prayers! I was wondering the same thing as Carolyn ^^ . Would you be able to share sometime what you cook for breakfast, lunch and dinner?
If you don’t have oatmeal, I would be interested in what things you are able to prepare for breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Is this kind of life style similar to Haiti? What with visitors coming at all hours of the day, the heat and the primitive way of life.
I always enjoy the things you share with us.
May God give you time to get everything done!
Carolyn