Ahhh, I love it when a plan comes together. When something actually works the way it's supposed to. I now have wireless internet at my laptop in the patio!! OK, well the truth is that sometimes I have wireless . Not very full strength. Not always. Sometimes I have to carry my laptop to the edge of the patio, point it toward the tower that's closest to us and hit "Check Mail." Sometimes I have to walk out on the street, aim toward another tower, lift my laptop above my head and hit "Check Mail." But wireless is a wonderful thing!!!
One benefit is that I think I'll be able to make a quick entry more often -- right here from our patio with my morning cup of tea while my fountain is gurgling behind me and with the sun sneaking through the clouds and tapping me on the shoulder ... you get the point. It's nice.
Speaking of nice. Yesterday it only rained once -- late in the afternoon and only for awhile. There is hope that the drier season is on it's way. But it's dryer, not dry! I just got 50 new company-logo umbrellas. I'm going to give one to every new arrival. I suppose that if I really wanted to be a help I would get their shoe size and order boots to have ready for them!
Our phone still isn't working. (Mom, you could call Jim's office number today.) It's working. But of course, neither of us might be there. It's my temporary office that might become permanent. But I'm never in there for any one long time due to meetings, checking on housing renovations, meeting new arrivals, etc. Jim's back is so bad that he's only there long enough to do some urgent work. Then he comes home and reads and writes while on his back.
The special mattress we ordered in July is now here. It's going to be good for Jim.
Picture this and you'll have a good laugh. Our personnel manager for Nigeria, my boss, is leaving. We had a big farewell party for him last night -- about 200 guests. So during this longggggggg program at one point I was asked to come up and ... not "say something" -- that would have been very comfortable for me. No, "dance with Danilo." So there were 4 Nigerian women and myself "dancing" -- I don't have to tell most of you that I don't know how to dance. So I watched the women and bopped around like they did. Embarrassing. "Just keep smiling, Sharon!" is what I kept saying in my head. This party was totally Nigerian in it's style. So, it started at 7 p.m. and we ate around 10 p.m. -- after speech after speech after speech. Everyone Nigerian likes a microphone -- it's a strange phenomenon. Usually the only one listening is the one who's doing the talking. I tried to listen for substance -- it's pretty much a lot of elegant nothingness. But very soon in the evening the expats started making snide remarks about it all. And the two groups became more distinct. So I got busy mingling and spent a lot of time meeting some great Nigerians. This really is a fascinating place that deserves to be embraced as it is. That's tough to learn but I'm trying!
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
My How Time Flies ...
even when we're not having fun!!
I'm sorry that I haven't been able to find time to get to this blog. The pace has not slowed down and the intensity has increased, so this is difficult.
Here's a quick update. We're still on lockdown and it won't be changing for a longgggggggggggg time. So tempers are getting higher. One gal just returned and has only experienced the lockdown for 2 days and is already saying she's leaving within the month. I had arranged for a police-escorted shopping trip to two markets. (A team of us visited both places a few weeks ago and the security team checked out the routes and both shops, determining that they had enough guards and the walls were secure so we could shop there, under clear directives.) I didn't have time to go. But picture 3 mini-bus loads of adults not being able to get this woman out of the shop. Tempers flaring. Foreheads dripping as they waited, locked in the buses, for this gal to finish. Evidently, they shouted at her and she shouted at them and they all came back sweaty and steamed! And of course, the complaints come back to me!!!! :-) I'm very tempted to say -- no shopping trips until you can learn to get along!!! But that would be a deathwish!
Progress, in a twisted sort of way:
My kitchen got a bit of a remodel job. New cabinets, at least. Unfortunately, the plumbing is just for decoration, I guess. I had company for dinner after the work was done -- a great Nigerian Christian guy who Jim had worked with who is leaving for a year of training and two of his friends. It was in the middle of dinner that I discovered that the plumbing job had never been finished and I had water pouring out from under both sinks.
The mold in the bathroom has now been bleached and painted over. Let's see, that'll keep us happy for 3 months. I've given up on getting them to find the source of the water leak.
Jim' back is giving him more trouble. He's wearing the corset constantly. The orthopaedic bed that we ordered in July is always arriving "tomorrow, Madame." In the meantime, each day is a bit worse.
But all is not bleak:
When the rains stopped one day, Jim and I enjoyed sitting out on the park bench that we had a local guy make for our little mini rainforest/garden that we have off of our back patio.
Yesterday I sat out there with my Bible and journal and pen for a good ... long ... time. It was refreshing!
We watched "The Pianist" -- a movie about Warsaw Jews in WWII. That put our lives in perspective. I joked with the security guys yesterday that maybe we need to watch Hotel Rwanda, The Pianist, Tears of the Sun, etc. at least once a week to realize how great we have it here.
Really -- we are secure here in the camp. Our generators work. We have water. We have satellite TV. Our phones work -- very often at least! We're surrounded by beautiful plants and amazing blossoms. The rains are lightening up. We can have food delivered. We can bring in extra fun -- like on Saturday we had local artists come into the Clubhouse for an Art Market. (Nothing like shopping to make some women smile!!)
So, Jim and I are glad that we have each other. We are each very busy at work but we try to keep a little window of time open for relaxation.
And, above all, we are clinging -- clinging to God's goodness and His strength!
Well, it's almost 8 a.m. Lucy will be arriving and I'm sitting in my PJs in the patio at the computer. I've been sitting here for two hours because I got up to work on writing. Oh yes, my friend, Laura, and I have a writing contract for an exciting women's Bible Study on the book of Philippians. Laura and I taught together at the church we were a part of in Colorado. Our first deadline is November!! So, the pressure is on but it's actually a welcome change from the dailiness of our lives.
Feel free to add comments or email me. I love hearing from you!!
I'm sorry that I haven't been able to find time to get to this blog. The pace has not slowed down and the intensity has increased, so this is difficult.
Here's a quick update. We're still on lockdown and it won't be changing for a longgggggggggggg time. So tempers are getting higher. One gal just returned and has only experienced the lockdown for 2 days and is already saying she's leaving within the month. I had arranged for a police-escorted shopping trip to two markets. (A team of us visited both places a few weeks ago and the security team checked out the routes and both shops, determining that they had enough guards and the walls were secure so we could shop there, under clear directives.) I didn't have time to go. But picture 3 mini-bus loads of adults not being able to get this woman out of the shop. Tempers flaring. Foreheads dripping as they waited, locked in the buses, for this gal to finish. Evidently, they shouted at her and she shouted at them and they all came back sweaty and steamed! And of course, the complaints come back to me!!!! :-) I'm very tempted to say -- no shopping trips until you can learn to get along!!! But that would be a deathwish!
Progress, in a twisted sort of way:
My kitchen got a bit of a remodel job. New cabinets, at least. Unfortunately, the plumbing is just for decoration, I guess. I had company for dinner after the work was done -- a great Nigerian Christian guy who Jim had worked with who is leaving for a year of training and two of his friends. It was in the middle of dinner that I discovered that the plumbing job had never been finished and I had water pouring out from under both sinks.
The mold in the bathroom has now been bleached and painted over. Let's see, that'll keep us happy for 3 months. I've given up on getting them to find the source of the water leak.
Jim' back is giving him more trouble. He's wearing the corset constantly. The orthopaedic bed that we ordered in July is always arriving "tomorrow, Madame." In the meantime, each day is a bit worse.
But all is not bleak:
When the rains stopped one day, Jim and I enjoyed sitting out on the park bench that we had a local guy make for our little mini rainforest/garden that we have off of our back patio.
Yesterday I sat out there with my Bible and journal and pen for a good ... long ... time. It was refreshing!
We watched "The Pianist" -- a movie about Warsaw Jews in WWII. That put our lives in perspective. I joked with the security guys yesterday that maybe we need to watch Hotel Rwanda, The Pianist, Tears of the Sun, etc. at least once a week to realize how great we have it here.
Really -- we are secure here in the camp. Our generators work. We have water. We have satellite TV. Our phones work -- very often at least! We're surrounded by beautiful plants and amazing blossoms. The rains are lightening up. We can have food delivered. We can bring in extra fun -- like on Saturday we had local artists come into the Clubhouse for an Art Market. (Nothing like shopping to make some women smile!!)
So, Jim and I are glad that we have each other. We are each very busy at work but we try to keep a little window of time open for relaxation.
And, above all, we are clinging -- clinging to God's goodness and His strength!
Well, it's almost 8 a.m. Lucy will be arriving and I'm sitting in my PJs in the patio at the computer. I've been sitting here for two hours because I got up to work on writing. Oh yes, my friend, Laura, and I have a writing contract for an exciting women's Bible Study on the book of Philippians. Laura and I taught together at the church we were a part of in Colorado. Our first deadline is November!! So, the pressure is on but it's actually a welcome change from the dailiness of our lives.
Feel free to add comments or email me. I love hearing from you!!
Sunday, September 10, 2006
We're back and it's been crazy!
We returned to Nigeria almost two weeks ago but ... whew! ... what absolutely over-the-top-nutsy days it has been. The pace has only slackened slightly so this will have to be fast. Excuse the abbreviated sentences that might follow!
Colorado: Packed up all belongings in the house. Prepped the house (thanks to daughter, Jeri's help with painting, etc.). It's now rented!! Had very little time for friends. Didn't even have time to find phone numbers and call anyone to ask for help with all that we were trying to do!!! Also, Jim saw lots and lots of Docs -- back, ear, head (from the surgery he'd had last Dec.), ... Some good news, some not.
Alaska: Spent great time with family and friends. Mom went into the hospital almost right after we arrived. (Not triggered by our arrival, I'm confident!) She's doing much better now but it was a bit scary! She got out the day before the wedding and could attend the wedding -- danced with Brad at the reception, even! Brad and Karissa -- now a happily married couple. After honeymoon, are now settling into their duplex. The best part of the time in Alaska? --going back to our old fishing hole with all three kids and Karissa. We got our limit of silvers!! Somehow, when I'm fishing I don't notice how wet and cold I am. Awesome times all around!!
Nigeria:
Arrived exhausted from the 2+ days of travel. The political climate worsened while we were gone so there is a lockdown on the camp for all expats. Essential travel is all that we can do at the moment. Some of the gals were afraid to go out anyway but for someone like me -- a bummer. I like to experience the markets, etc. Could last until after the elections in April. Makes things crazier on the camp -- tempers flare, need more activities to keep people happy. Times like these are like squeezing a tube of toothpaste -- what was inside all along is what comes out. So a few are rallying wonderfully and a few are nastier than I ever thought possible!
Can't go to church at the moment. We had so looked forward to getting involved in the church we had found shortly before we left. My soul is a bit starved at the moment. Jim and I are making more concerted efforts to feed our souls. I think I'm gonna go back to my Day of Solitude routine that I used to do -- at least 6 hours alone with God -- Bible, water, tea, and journal. Can't wait!!
Jim's health: Orthoped. bed we'd ordered before leaving is, of course, not here yet. His back is bothering him quite a bit. His ear was damaged by a loud speaker here in June so he's got pain, ringing, and hearing loss he's dealing with, too. Please pray for his back, especially. He's looking at surgery sometime.
My job: I jumped in at the absolutely worst time possible -- but of course, that's why I was needed! Please pray for me to have grace with the nasty folks, patience with the slow-to-do-their-job folks, solutions for the absolutely-incompetent folks, and encouragement for the great folks who struggle with the same frustrations. We have new arrivers all of the time and I'm having to juggle housing to make room. We have 10 students who want into a good school. 7 of them have no school at all. Pray for wisdom as I deal with the parents and the school administrators. Security is an issue for school travel, shopping needs for the women, etc. I'm working with all of those situations, too, trying to find solutions.
Life: In an effort to find one, I am resigning from the elected position I had as Coordinator of all of the female spouses. I should be handing it over to another gal tomorrow. She's great. Now there will be two of us for the nasty women to shout at and gossip about. It does help to have someone else sharing the load. I'm hoping to get a grip soon. The mere fact that I can write on my blog is a sign of hope. Last night Jim and I closed the curtains on our house, turned off the lights, lit candles, and planned on watching a chick flick. Jim had chosen one as a surprise for me. I don't know what one he'd chosen because I was asleep on the couch before he got it started!!!
Jim's job: Things are not progressing as fast as he had hoped but he's enjoying the work, still. He's got some great people that he works with.
Rain: New experience yesterday -- a driver had to take us from the office to our house door (only a five minute walk) because the streets were so flooded. Definitely still the rainy season. Dry days are coming, though. In the meantime, some folks are getting water in their patios, bedrooms, under the front doors, etc.
Mold: it's getting reallllllllly bad in our master bath and bedroom. Lucy had to wash every stitch of clothing in our closets due to the problem. That's a pile of ironing, too!!! Can't sleep in there. Run into the bathroom without breathing and close the door just to take a quick shower. It's in the bathroom, too, but not so stinky! They're working on it ... :-)
Prince: got married!! He and Glory are doing well. She's still working in her sewing shops a couple of hours away from here so they see each other part of each week. He's so anxious to drive but with our limitations on travel he's become our shopper -- I tell him it's good training for a husband. He hates it. But he does it 'cuz he likes to be busy. Even if it's shopping for diapers for a new family!!!
gotta get some work done!!
hopefully can blog each week at least once.
pictures of wedding will appear whenever I get some. other pics, too.
Colorado: Packed up all belongings in the house. Prepped the house (thanks to daughter, Jeri's help with painting, etc.). It's now rented!! Had very little time for friends. Didn't even have time to find phone numbers and call anyone to ask for help with all that we were trying to do!!! Also, Jim saw lots and lots of Docs -- back, ear, head (from the surgery he'd had last Dec.), ... Some good news, some not.
Alaska: Spent great time with family and friends. Mom went into the hospital almost right after we arrived. (Not triggered by our arrival, I'm confident!) She's doing much better now but it was a bit scary! She got out the day before the wedding and could attend the wedding -- danced with Brad at the reception, even! Brad and Karissa -- now a happily married couple. After honeymoon, are now settling into their duplex. The best part of the time in Alaska? --going back to our old fishing hole with all three kids and Karissa. We got our limit of silvers!! Somehow, when I'm fishing I don't notice how wet and cold I am. Awesome times all around!!
Nigeria:
Arrived exhausted from the 2+ days of travel. The political climate worsened while we were gone so there is a lockdown on the camp for all expats. Essential travel is all that we can do at the moment. Some of the gals were afraid to go out anyway but for someone like me -- a bummer. I like to experience the markets, etc. Could last until after the elections in April. Makes things crazier on the camp -- tempers flare, need more activities to keep people happy. Times like these are like squeezing a tube of toothpaste -- what was inside all along is what comes out. So a few are rallying wonderfully and a few are nastier than I ever thought possible!
Can't go to church at the moment. We had so looked forward to getting involved in the church we had found shortly before we left. My soul is a bit starved at the moment. Jim and I are making more concerted efforts to feed our souls. I think I'm gonna go back to my Day of Solitude routine that I used to do -- at least 6 hours alone with God -- Bible, water, tea, and journal. Can't wait!!
Jim's health: Orthoped. bed we'd ordered before leaving is, of course, not here yet. His back is bothering him quite a bit. His ear was damaged by a loud speaker here in June so he's got pain, ringing, and hearing loss he's dealing with, too. Please pray for his back, especially. He's looking at surgery sometime.
My job: I jumped in at the absolutely worst time possible -- but of course, that's why I was needed! Please pray for me to have grace with the nasty folks, patience with the slow-to-do-their-job folks, solutions for the absolutely-incompetent folks, and encouragement for the great folks who struggle with the same frustrations. We have new arrivers all of the time and I'm having to juggle housing to make room. We have 10 students who want into a good school. 7 of them have no school at all. Pray for wisdom as I deal with the parents and the school administrators. Security is an issue for school travel, shopping needs for the women, etc. I'm working with all of those situations, too, trying to find solutions.
Life: In an effort to find one, I am resigning from the elected position I had as Coordinator of all of the female spouses. I should be handing it over to another gal tomorrow. She's great. Now there will be two of us for the nasty women to shout at and gossip about. It does help to have someone else sharing the load. I'm hoping to get a grip soon. The mere fact that I can write on my blog is a sign of hope. Last night Jim and I closed the curtains on our house, turned off the lights, lit candles, and planned on watching a chick flick. Jim had chosen one as a surprise for me. I don't know what one he'd chosen because I was asleep on the couch before he got it started!!!
Jim's job: Things are not progressing as fast as he had hoped but he's enjoying the work, still. He's got some great people that he works with.
Rain: New experience yesterday -- a driver had to take us from the office to our house door (only a five minute walk) because the streets were so flooded. Definitely still the rainy season. Dry days are coming, though. In the meantime, some folks are getting water in their patios, bedrooms, under the front doors, etc.
Mold: it's getting reallllllllly bad in our master bath and bedroom. Lucy had to wash every stitch of clothing in our closets due to the problem. That's a pile of ironing, too!!! Can't sleep in there. Run into the bathroom without breathing and close the door just to take a quick shower. It's in the bathroom, too, but not so stinky! They're working on it ... :-)
Prince: got married!! He and Glory are doing well. She's still working in her sewing shops a couple of hours away from here so they see each other part of each week. He's so anxious to drive but with our limitations on travel he's become our shopper -- I tell him it's good training for a husband. He hates it. But he does it 'cuz he likes to be busy. Even if it's shopping for diapers for a new family!!!
gotta get some work done!!
hopefully can blog each week at least once.
pictures of wedding will appear whenever I get some. other pics, too.
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