Week 3

Finished up week 3 in Guinea yesterday. Most of the past week has been busy with continued learning on the new NTMAA software. For me, the computer part of it is pretty easy to pick up, but it takes a little longer to wrap my mind around the accounting/bookkeeping part. Overall, I think it's been a good experience for everyone in that it's given the current bookkeepers a chance to iron out some of the issues they've had with things in the past and to get a feel for why accounts were created, what they're used for, etc.

Outside of training, I've been spending my time trying to remember all the things that my roommate usually takes care of when she's around. She and Micha went up to visit some missionaries who work with a tribe about 12 hours drive north-ish of here. From the sounds of things, their taxi ride actually took closer to 24 hours, but they made it safely. Anyway, now I have to remember things like re-filling the water tank outside, re-filling the container inside that filters water to drink, cleaning the filter, getting the water tank outside cleaned, checking the battery level of the batteries that are charged by our solar system, etc. The good news is that it's starting to become more of a routine, so I don't have to think as much about things, I just do them. The bad news is that I still managed to forget to turn off the water pump this morning and Regina had to come tell me that the water tank was overflowing.

This past weekend, I had a chance to ride along with some of the missionaries to a nearby village of Landuma people. They were hosting a soccer tournament in honor of the MK school here because they helped provide cement floors for the school. It was my first official village experience, and I really enjoyed the chance to get outside the fenceline here and see some of the Guinean people. Jim translated for us while we were there, but I'm working on at least picking up the Landuma phrases that are used as greetings. It seems like they say at least 3 different things when they greet someone, usually echoed back by the person they're greeting, and usually heard differently by me every time I try to learn them.

I also got to experience my first real Guinean meal because they fed us after the soccer game. We were inside the school building in the dark (they don't have electricity there), so I'm not entirely sure what my food looked like, but it was good. Rather than serving everyone individually, they put a big plate/bowl in the middle of the table, and everyone reaches in and eats the food in front of them. Jim brought along spoons for us to use, but typically the Guineans would eat with their right hands. Silverware's ok and all, but I'm kinda with the Guineans on this one -- when you have a chance to use your hands, take it! :)

Again, thank you for all yours prayers for me so far. A couple prayer requests I have now are that I can be ready to teach a computer class or two on Monday, that I'm able to pick up a little of the language around here so I don't feel so helpless in communication, and that the tribal missionaries can be encouraged by the work of the support missionaries here at the mission center.

Thanks, and hope you're doing well!