Things are going good, this country is a wonderful place and we are ever so slowly coming to understand the culture and the pace of things here. At time we feel like we are having to learn new definitions for words that we already know, like tomorrow for instance. A simple term with a seemingly simple definition, but in here that could mean anything from the literal tomorrow as you and I know it, to two weeks from now.
The best example of this is our newly rented and still under renovation home, although lovely and by far the best you can find, back home it would fall somewhere between an apartment in a 30 year old government housing project and a tent cabin in the Yosemite valley. Simple pleasures like washing dishes in the sink or using the bathroom indoors, are still not part of our daily routine, but as the construction guy told us, this should all be done tomorrow…..I’ll be sure to let you know how that turns out.
The children in the children’s home are doing good. We’ve started to tackled the basic problems like the outdoor toilet, a big hole in the ground with more mosquitoes and flies as permanent residents than people in New York City. It’s the same toilet which we are certain is keeping everyone sick as well as the staffs over-use of antibiotics for every ailment including stomach aches.
All of these things which at home would be so very easy to tackle, here, seem to take the long slow scenic route to completion. But we are good. It’s just about changing pace, which at times seems like learning to walk all over again… we could all use that now and again in our life time.
For more later,
Levi
Rae
June 16th, 2009
Hey you beautiful family… I’m so excited for everything that is going on. It’s so hard at the start, I’m thinking of you everyday. We love you and miss you!
Germaine
June 16th, 2009
Levi, Jessie and all. Thanks for the update. It’s wonderful that your there doing what you’re doing. You’re amazing servants. We were talking about having some friends over to play Legos and Stephen wanted to include Nikolai. We haven’t forgotten you guys.
Dawn Hall
June 16th, 2009
I have never met you guys, but I touched by your compassion on these precious little ones. You make me realize how many things we take for granted here. You guys are so beautiful and you are effecting my life, where I want to go in it and what is important to me. I pray for you and the ministry.
Lauren Akin (Riley and Reese Mom)
June 20th, 2009
Hello beautiful family. Just want you to know we are thinking of you guys. You are amazing. Riley still asks about your kids and is still in love Nicoli – it’s a close race of love between him and Peter Pan. Seriously. Lots of love from our family to yours and those you are caring for. YOu are in our thoughts and prayers.
Love, the Akin Family