Bits of happiness and sadness

With the dance studio shutting down and whispers of a lockdown coming, the girls' dance teacher, Mrs. Natalia, decided to go back to Greece early. She had already planned to go at the end of May because she wanted to be reunited with her family. Corona just fast-tracked her plans.

Kylie and her friend Khadijah made a quick plan for a going away gift.  

Khadijah ordered some sweatshirts, and Kylie came up with a logo for their adult dance class, and together, they wanted to present their teacher with her own sweatshirt before she left the country.

Khadijah, Kylie, and Karis

Everyone got their name initial on the front

And the name of their dance class on the back

They said their goodbyes for the last time because we had already attended a big going away party for her the night before.

March 3, 2020

It had included LOTS of food...like every good party does.

From several different countries

Mrs. Natalia had many friends from many walks of life.  She choreographed the pageant each year where a regional princess was chosen, she did pilates, yoga, aerial yoga, and ballet classes nearly every day of the week either in the studio or in her home.

There was dancing, eating, speeches given,

 hugs goodbye,

and pictures with crying red-eyes taken.

Most of the people at the party were adults, but these four special girls were also invited to come!

March 2, 2020

On March 8th, the girls got their braces off on the same day. After a sad month of seeing their teacher leave, this was cause for much celebration!

March 8, 2020

And on March 10th, Keira spent the day at the apartment of her friend that was in the picture with her above. We had dropped off Keira with her bike, and the girl's mother took them out to the grassy courtyard and helped Keira until she learned how to ride her bike!  Big day!!

It's also kind of interesting that Karis and Caleb also learned how to ride their bikes on our grass in Africa.  Kylie is the only one who learned on cement :)

March 10, 2020

Impromptu Tea Time

I'm always looking for green spaces for Keira to play in.  The park is nice, but it is usually very crowded, and parking is never easy.

One day, I loaded Keira's bike and drove to my friend Dalia's neighborhood.  She told me she wouldn't be home, but I could park at her house.  As we were riding, we came upon this large, green empty space. 

Keira parked her bike and took off running.

There was one older lady sitting way on the other side in a folding chair all by herself, so I wandered over.

She spoke a different dialect of the language I am learning, but we were able to communicate some.  She was very kind, and what I gathered is that she had gone to the market, and when she returned, she had been locked out.  She was patiently waiting for her sister to return.

We sat together for awhile, and then a neighbor she knew pulled up on the other side of the green space.  They greeted across the grass, but soon the lady and her daughter came over for a more appropriate "hello."

The daughter spoke English and help translate for me between her mother and the older lady.  After about 3 minutes, this sweet mother said she was going to make tea and bring it for us.

What I didn't know is that she meant a real tea party!

Her son came out carrying a table!  

He walked it all the way across the field, and while he went back for snacks and a table cloth, his sister went to the older lady's house and brought four chairs from her porch.

Then, while the mother was still making tea, the older lady sat at the table, and the daughter played soccer with Keira.

Tea arrived in fashion!

This kind of hospitality is rare! 

I had never met these ladies before, yet they welcomed me so warmly.

The large box on the table is some special Turkish coffee packets she liked.  We were talking about what she liked, and when she found out I had never heard of her favorite kind, she had her daughter go back to her house and get me not just one packet, but the entire box to take home!

They were all so kind and invited me to come back anytime I wanted.  We exchanged phone numbers, pictures, and I have since run into her and her daughter at the grocery store.

This was such a lovely God-surprise on a beautiful day when I thought we were just going for a bike ride.  I hope we all remember to take notice of how God sometimes chooses to love on us through the people around us.

Friends and Retreat

I've shown you pictures of some of my national friends here in Arua, but I haven't shown you pictures of my ex-pat friends, so I thought I would.

These are some of my friends who live in other countries, but I get to see them in a couple of weeks in Kenya, and it will be so fun to connect again.

Here in Arua, some of the ex-pat ladies had a retreat to celebrate our study of the Book of Esther.

We had a "banquet" and got all dressed up.

Some of us who didn't have dresses went to the clothing market in town and bought prom dresses for $5 each.

These are all the ladies (minus Vikki, with the camera) that attended. They are from Canada, Germany, Austria, England, Ireland, Kenya, and America.

This is my teammate Pam. She has lived in Arua for 10 years.

Below is Sandra (L) and Meg (R). They are both leaving this summer.

Sandra home schools Pam's children, and Meg is the one God sent to teach Kylie ballet (she also washes dishes every time she visits). Do you think her mother will let me keep her?

Sherry is my dear friend who Meg actually works for and with. All the pictures that I took at Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve were at her house. I have a lot of fun with her.

She has lived here for 20 years.

Now you can see Vikki. She's on the far left. She has been here about 15 years (I think).

These are all the ladies from America.

Maggie is my friend and neighbor (two houses down) from Kenya. She moved to Arua the same week I did. After I learn Lugbara, maybe she'll teach me Swahili.

This sweet lady led the retreat and did an amazing job! Her name is Joanna, and she has been here almost five years.

The banquet.