Follow up

I've been told that I'm not doing a very good job of follow up, so I'd better start with that!



Let's see...dinner with Violet's family went well. They all showed up very promptly at 5pm dressed in their Sunday best, and here we were in jeans and T-shirts. Oops. Other than that I don't think we messed up, culturally, too badly. Guess there was a miscommunication between Jeff and Violet regarding the time. They liked the pizza and the stew I'd made..even coming back for seconds. That makes the cook in me happy! As a group, they were extremely quiet. One of Violet's granddaughters is about Ashley's age..about six months older, but she wasn't interested in playing, nor was the younger 8-year old. Violet has said they wanted to watch a movie, so we pulled out Meet the Robinsons. They watched most of it before having to leave to catch the matatu to make their other bus connection to get across town. Both Violet's daughters have young girls (under 2yrs) and they are both extremely adorable! Ashley's turning into a bit of a mama herself and was very taken with the toddlers!



Jeff's knee has been improving a little bit. He was supposed to have another P.T. appointment this coming Wednesday, but got called to a meeting instead, so we're not sure when he can make it back. In the meantime, he tugs on his kneecap daily to inhibit the scar tissue from building up and has made it to the gym once this week. It's a start.



Kiswahili training has started back up. Evans, our tutor, returned from his travels up country to bury his mom and sister. Jeff is in lessons every week day from 8:30 to 11:30, and Ashley and I had our first lesson this morning. Jina langu ni Julie. Jina lako ni nani? (My name is Julie. What is your name?) Have you ever known a language class to start any other way??? :-)

Ashley's still struggling with school. We've removed all the "fun" stuff she gets to do until her grades rise above D's and F's. So, no playing with the kids next door, no reading for fun, no movies, etc. The problem isn't her academic knowledge, she's holding her own there. The problem is that she's not paying attention to what is required. She's not turning in papers that are part of her grade, or writing down when tests are so we can be studying at home. That, combined with her struggle to pay attention in class, does not an A-student make. It doesn't even really make a C-student. We met with her teacher last week, who wrote out in detail what is "supposed" to happen in class. But when it happens is all relative to when they start the chapter. If Ashley doesn't write down the chapter they are studying, or doesn't bring the book home, there's not a whole lot I can help her with. What naturally happens, then, is that she'll bring her Science, History, Math and spelling books home the night before the test and expect us to go through four or five (or 10) chapters to prepare for the next day's test. Poor kid had dark circles under her eyes most of the week because she's had so much homework.

I'm coming up to speed in my role as Grand Pesa Poobah (Finance Director). What a hoot...as with Ashley, for me, a title does not a Finance Director make. The more I learn, however, the more I am given. It's to be expected. I am beginning to have to handle some of the more difficult treasury issues. As I'm working through these, I have come to the very clear realization that our expectations are tied directly with our judgement of people and their actions. For example, if you expect me to keep my barking dog quiet at night, and the dog barks every night, then to you, I am a bad neighbor. If you expect me to let my dog bark all night to chase away potential thieves, and I do, then to you, I am a good neighbor. This gets complicated in a culture where expectations are not concretely expressed. Please pray that the Lord dispense much grace as we work through our communication issues.

Tunakuombea (We are praying for you.)

Jeff, Julie & Ashley