Hadlee's Birthday Party

6-26-12

Not too much to report from the 23rd, 24th, and 25th except that I have started teaching preschool to Hadlee and Pierce and I finally updated my vita.  Pierce attends circle time and journal time only. Hadlee is learning shapes (octagon and semi-circle - she knows all the rest!), she can identify all numbers to 10 except for two, and we are working on letter i.d., letter sounds, etc.  Her fine motor skills are great.  She is a very advanced pre-k student.  Isaac is teaching the kids how to count to 10 in Lugandan.  He is my paraeducator - ha.

The other big news was this BIG avocado.  We ate it for lunch today in my favorite meal that Kari makes - pasta with avocado sauce.  It is so yummy!  We should have weighed the avocado before we cut into it.

Before the party began, I helped take care of the animals.  Well, one of their animals, Cami the chameleon.  I took her out to the scrap pile where all the flies hang out.  While holding her she stuck out her long tongue and ate 6 flies.  A successful meal indeed. 

Now for the birthday news:

This morning Hadlee greeted everyone with a big reminder that today was her birthday.  She was just a bit excited.  Ms. Megan teaches art and music here at the Healing Faith Elementary School.  Hadlee made this birthday crown during art.



Hadlee and Pierce had an early nap because the party started at 3:00.  While she napped Uncle Isaac hung the curtain rods for the curtains MeMe made.  Megan did all of the detail painting.  So cute!  They had this kitchen made because her little kitchen back in Texas was the only thing Hadlee was really sad to leave behind.

MeMe finished the tablecloth.

Jason's parents sent over a special outfit for Hadlee to wear at her party with beautiful hair bows to match.

The party had a carnival theme.  I ran the cookie walk booth.  One ticket only to walk around and sit in a chair when the music stopped.  The person sitting in the chair that corresponded to the number I drew from a bowl won a cookie.

There was a bowling booth.

One of their friends, Katy, has adopted 13 girls.  She literally brought the party! 

Cookie walk in action.

Ladder ball

Face painting

You can't see them all in this pic but 20 kids fit comfortably in this room for cake, pigs in a blanket (Isaac and the kids thought that was a funny name), and fruit salad.

After our yummy food, Hadlee got her big birthday surprise.  All of the kids enjoyed playing with the kitchen.



Hadlee thanking Auntie Apio for her new favorite pair of shoes.

Apio's beautiful girls with the birthday girl. 

It was a very successful party.  So much fun!

Isaac's First Birthday Party

6-22-12

Today was Isaac's birthday.  It was his very first birthday party.  We tried to make it very special for him.  The reason it was his first party is because birthdays are not celebrated here like they are in the US and Isaac was living in Canaan's Childrens Home until February.  He lived there for 11 years.  When he left Canaan he hadn't seen his mom since he was 8 years old.  He has never met his father.  Anyone reading this blog knows we all care about Isaac very much and now you know why we are all EXTRA EXTRA proud of him for being accepted to his top choice university.  He is destined for great things :)

Happy 19th Birthday!  Surprise!!

The party was a surprise.  He was a little bit happy!

Pierce was excited.  He loves his Uncle Isaac.

Isaac is now blessed with a new family.  His dad, Welch (from North Carolina), skyped in.  He was able to join in on the birthday festivities even though he was half a world away.  The Segners gave him tools.

The Segner kiddos gave him school supplies.

MiMi gave him clothes.

I bought him a pair of shoes.  I tried on his flip flops one day to try to figure out his shoe size.  Buying him shoes was easy because we wear the same size :)  Megan made him a wonderful photo scrapbook of his memories with all of us over the last few weeks.  We each wrote a letter to him that is included in the book.

Eating his first birthday cake.  He said he never thought he would have a birthday party.  He thought that was something that only happened in the movies.  Isaac is a BIG fan of birthday parties.

Birthday Preparations, The Perfect Milkshake, and I'm Gonna Hit You in the FACCCEE at church

While I was assisting Megan in painting Hadlee's birthday present, I remembered that I brought some sunglasses with me with the intention of giving them away.  Apio happily accepted them.  

Karson is painting a cutting board for Hadlee's new kitchen.

Kari and I walked to the neighbor's house to see if they had a room to rent for Isaac.  Guns are truly no big deal here.  We found out that a white man lives at this house.  He has so much security because he is working on a project for the US goverment.  Side note - the night watchman we have does not have a gun.  He has a bow and arrow. 

The kids are wanting a goat.  They are saving their money.  A goat costs the equivalent of $8.  This is in front of the neighbor's house.

Wednesday is family night at the Seger casa  so Megan, Isaac, and I continued our search for the perfect milkshake.  We were finally successful.  The Keep had thick milkshakes you could eat with a spoon.  They also had a great philly cheesesteak sandwich, meatball sub, and fish fillet.  I will take Ras here to get a milkshake in July.  Isaac is enjoying his first "real" shake - peanut butter flavor.

Bats kepts circling overhead.  Isaac and the restaurant employees thought it was unusual that Megan and I were intrigued, somewhat alarmed by the bats and taking pics.  These bats were hanging upside down above us after flying by.

On the way home we heard the most unusual, crazed amplified screaming.  I asked Isaac what the noise was.  He said that was what African churches sound like.  I said - We HAVE to go.  Isaac, Megan, and I successfully followed the screaming to this church.  We stood from the spot this photo was taken until a woman spotted us, welcomed us, and asked us to find a seat.  We sat in the back.  A man from the front walked to us and invited us to sit in the very front.  Isaac kindly declined.  When I found out what the man offered - I led the way to the front.  I wanted a front row view.  One preacher yelled Lugandan while another screamed the translation.    

The main preacher was visiting from Nigeria. 

People came up to the front and were it HIT/shoved in the face while he hissed, spit, said things like "in the name of Jesus, Oh my sister, you are healed, don't worry, rest, etc.  Woman wailed.  At other times the preacher ran around the congregation and randomly assaulted congregation members.  Many fell to the ground by the sheer force of the blow.  Some fell with theatrical moans and stayed laying on the ground shaking just a bit.  I realize church services like this are not unique to Africa, but it was quite the experience.  Isaac kept asking us if we wanted to go.  No way!  We stayed until the end.  Isaac wanted us to know that this is not what his church is like.  He promised to take us to his. 

Megan took video.  Unfortunately, I have not been successful in uploading video to my blog.

The Nigerian preacher promised a happy afterlife for those willing to give large sums of money they seemingly did not have.  After the offering was collected, he was no where to be seen and the regular pastor ended the service.  The preacher recognized us before dismissing the congregation.  We were the only muzungus there so it was quite obvious we were visitors.  The congregation could not have been nicer.  They asked us to return many times.

Triangle Hotel and neighboring golf course

6-19-12

After helping to home school Karson  & Everett, I took a very nice short nap.  I joined Megan at Triangle Hotel to write a letter to my host mom from Mexico in Spanish.  Here is the pool that Ryan plans to work out in while he is here.

This is the view from where we sat to work.  This is Lake Victoria.  The exciting thing is there is wireless internet and this is a short walk from the house.



These huge hairy birds like to hang out around dumpsters and on the golf course.  These pics were taken on our walk home.

This is the Triangle Hotel.