6.9.16…This is the Stuff…

Today was a pretty busy day.  The clouds were very heavy and low all day, but we never got more than a light shower.  Some people we hired were busy working on projects around the orphanage that we weren't physically able to do ourselves.  Two men spent most of the day pressure washing the walls so that we can paint tomorrow.  Pressure washing here is much different than in the U.S.  There wasn’t a water source to hook into.  Instead, they were going outside of the center and filling buckets with water from a nearby stream, carrying them in, and filtering the water through a towel into a large trashcan with a hose stuck in it.  I’m not sure how many times this process had to be repeated, but they worked all day long.  While they were working on that, two other men were removing broken glass from all the windows and replacing those with the new pieces purchased yesterday.

Pressure washing the rest of the walls…

All the kids enjoyed watching while on a break from school…

Aside from that, we started out the day by piling into the poda to go to the market.  Going to the market is always an experience.  There were at least twelve shops set up selling basically the same things, with their owners calling you their friend and wanting you to buy from them.  I really didn't plan to buy anything, but did walk out with a pair of salad tongs.  We needed them and I figured maybe I’ll eat more salad if I can look forward to using my African salad tongs.

Piled into the poda…

After the market we took the Prep 6 kids out for ice cream at Gina’s in Freetown.  The Prep 6 kids passed a big test recently and are headed to class 7.  That was certainly cause for celebration!  The kiddos enjoyed cold milkshakes and time outside the center with their friends.

Milkshakes!

What can beat ice cream in Africa on a hot day?  Ice cream in Africa on a hot day, twice!  We also took our sponsored kids out for ice cream at the same place later this afternoon.  Memunatu went with the Prep 6 kids, but Kandeh, Zainab and Isha joined us for ice cream with twenty eight others.  Thinking back, that may be partly the reason our waitress left in a taxi before she finished getting all of our order out… We may have nearly ran Gina’s out of ice cream today.  I know for a fact we ate them out of Snickers.  Both trips were fun.  The kids always dress in their nicest clothes when they leave the center.  I think that is something that is very culturally important here.  People always seem to be dressed so nice.

All ready to go for our ice cream date…

 

This evening we had a basketball tournament against the older boys.  Somehow I became the ref.  I wasn't very good at it, but I did manage to call a few jump balls.  The little boys played at half time, although it looked more like tackle basketball.  I guess everyone has to start somewhere, right?  The older boys did a great job and even had matching uniforms.

Coach Laune ready to go…

Kandeh and his auntie…she is an amazing woman!

Aside from blowing exhaust out of my nose when we returned from the market, it was a great day.  I love how every trip has its own unique features.

Oh, and…

Kandeh wore this shirt tonight.  Not sure how a little boy nearly halfway across the world got an Ashland-Greenwood basketball t-shirt, but he did….and my heart melted a little.

{The Launes}