Installment 29

Installment 29
Not much tonight. The day was pretty uneventful, and I even had time to wash my underwear again….if I keep this up, I will wear them out washing them… It rained for 12 hours last night. Not heavy, just steady. I was a bit worried about the work today, but the rain stopped about 9 am and the excavators were back at it. Because we have had a minor delay getting materials, the crew has been able to almost finish the hole for the clinic and just about finish the one for the dorm. Along with that, they are building a temporary building to keep the lumber in so the sun does not destroy it…..I told you that we are closer to the sun…
So, while I am sweating getting behind, God seems to have actually got us ahead of schedule….how does He do it??? I got some minor maintenance completed around here and a couple of woodworking projects done. With over 20 construction workers, on 3 projects, another 15 or so employees, 91 kids, 3 dogs and a partridge in a pear tree, and Jeff and Carla gone, I’m lucky to get even a three hour nap in. But, things are getting done. Jeff has been in town most of the last two days, spending time with Carla and Dorcas at the hospital, and covering all the logistical needs of this small army. Carla is on her third night at the hospital, lovin’ on B D. Dorie, as Carla has taken to calling B D, is doing better and may get to come home tomorrow. By the way, I really exaggerated B D’s condition….I said she had typhoid…not so…bronchitis was the other one she had….I guess it doesn’t matter much, as she was as close to death as anyone I have seen as late….except for the ones at the morgue….they were closer….I hope. Anyway, thanks to you who have been praying…looks as if God has save this little one.
The highlight of my day other than waking up alive, was talking to 3 of the staff here. Every time I get a chance, I like to pick peoples brains here about ethics, morals, honesty…you know the basics of civilization. Like yesterday with the semi-blind welder and his helper…questions to help make them think. The culture is so screwed up here that it seems as if most of the people that I meet have a hard time with right and wrong. So, I like to tweak them a bit. With that in mind, I began a conversation with the 3 women, who along with most of the women I know, love me. My goal was to see where they stood on life’s real issues. It was fun for me and I’m sure it was one of the best things that ever happened to them…I should have given them my autograph. All three profess to be Christian and read the bible, so I approached it from that prospective. I found that they did know their bible, and much to my surprise, they kinda ignore the parts that give them trouble….JUST LIKE ME!! Anyway, I left them with a question: “Why do you think I came to Africa?” They started with all the pat answers and I shushed them. “Shush” I said. “Take some time and think about it…I’ll talk to you later. About 2 hrs later, Adelaide found me near the clinic site pretending to watch the crew. Interrupting my concentration (read nap) she said that she had been thinking about what I had asked. “It seemed easy to answer at first” she said, “but it is deeper than I thought…I will think some more and get back to you.” Is this cool or what??? I hope she comes up with a good answer….I can use one when I get home and people ask why I went….I hope it better than “for the ugali.”
Oh, I notice that I have 34 followers of the blog….I’m beginning to feel like the Pied Piper!