Back to school

Now that we finally have all of our books, we can dive into a full day of school.

We love the routine, and I'm really proud of our kids for having great attitudes and working hard (especially since they've been out of the Choate Schoolhouse for seven months!)

Even Katherine is having fun learning with funnels, measuring cups, and bottles to fill.

Katherine was diagnosed with malaria yesterday, and she is responding to her meds beautifully. I'm so thankful that God has given wisdom and knowledge to people so they can create ways to feel better quickly, but I'm especially grateful for those of you who continually lift up our family in prayer.

National Museum and Custom Houses

Today's assignment for "Where in Honiara...?" was to visit the Solomon Islands' National Museum and Custom Houses. The Museum shelters many artifacts like red feather money used for bride price and a huge canoe (you can still see the marks from the hand that carved it). In addition, we viewed many pictures showing what life in the Solomons was like one hundred years ago.

Outside, we viewed nine different houses representing each of the provinces in the Solomons. Some of the houses were big...

... and some were small.

Aaron fits right in here in the Solomon Islands!

It finally came!

Did you hear the squeals?!?

Visiting the Solomon Islands Christian Association

This morning, our mission for "Where in Honiara...?" was to meet the people who work with the Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA). We met Paul who works with the Community Development side of SICA. I'm sure we will make many trips to these offices and become good friends who those who serve with SICA.

We also visited with Jones who is from Malaita but works here in Honiara providing audio recordings of the Bible. He began speaking in Pijin, but when he found out we had recently been in PNG, he switched to Tok Pisin (which was nice for our comprehension), then when he heard me talk, he switched to English. These guys are amazing! Of course, next time we visit we'll ask him to stick to Pijin or we'll never learn it!

On a side note, Aaron called about our shipment and was told he could pick it up. So, he went down and discovered that the wharf closes at 3:45 (it was 3:30). As a result, he was denied entry and told to come back in the morning. He's planning to be there at 7:30 in the morning.

Simple Woman's Daybook

Monday, January 5, 2008

Outside my window...the stars are disappearing but the boats in the harbour still have their lights on.

I am thinking...about this quote from Martin Luther found on my calendar today. "There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage."

I am thankful for...a husband who can fix almost anything. Last night, the kids knocked my favorite earrings off the sink into the floor where they got crushed by the bathroom door. My sweet knight in shining armor repaired them so they look good as new!

From the learning rooms...a short unit on Canada. I'm so excited that we have a Canadian family living here! They've loaned us some fun books and promised to teach us recipes and songs.

From the kitchen...cinnamon-topped oatmeal muffins (from More-With-Less) and yogurt

I am wearing...cotton pajamas, sunfaded turquoise tank top and floral shorts

I am creating...a Pijin language learning plan: Listening to radio skeds this week, transcribing custom stories heard on the radio, following along in the Pijin Bible as I listen to the audio (with dictionary in hand and finger hovering over the pause button!), practicing speaking with the staff here, reading Pijin Bible stories out loud to the children...

I am going...to tickle Olivia when I finish writing this post (she's in the kitchen fixing her coffee)

I am reading..."Sweet Horizons: A History of the Solomon Islands" by Ian MacNeill (still)

I am hoping...that my hubby has favor with the officials at the wharf today and can retrieve our crate!

I am hearing...the roosters greeting the day, the coffee perculating in our cute little pot on the stove, Olivia's little feet padding down the hall (way too early!), Benjamin coughing

Around the house...curtains being opened to let in the morning freshness, the promise of a new day ahead to spend wisely, sleepy faces slowly emerging

One of my favorite things...a good night's sleep

A few plans for the rest of the week: Three "Where in Honiara...?" field trips this week, a "Three Kings" celebrations planned with neighbors for tomorrow (complete with baby Jesus hiding in the cake if we get our crate)

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Is there anything sweeter?

Enjoy connecting with other women around the globe at Peggy's.

Tuna-filled bread braid

Tonight, after the "amen", three blond heads raised and looked at me. In unison, they said, "Mama, aren't you going to take a picture? It's sooooo pretty!" It was pretty - Aaron had created a culinary masterpiece. So, I took a picture to share our delicious new favorite dish. Do I have the kids trained, ya think?

(By the way, the seasoning on top is a package of Ranch dressing mix - courtesy of yet another care package, thanks!)

National Drinking Straw Day

Did you know that the drinking straw was patented in 1888?

Our local artist-in-residence prepared a sign to greet us when we woke up this morning.

Yummy banana smoothies for snacks this afternoon.

Are science experiments supposed to be this fun!?! You can find lots of drinking straw crafts here, if you would like to participate, too.

Still waiting...

I had hoped to be posting pictures of us opening our crate, but instead here is a lovely picture of Sarah wearing her new lava lava. Aaron went into town yesterday morning and was told that the container hadn't been unloaded yet. Then, in the afternoon, he called and was told to try back on Monday. So, hopefully Monday you'll hear squealing and laughter as we unpack all of our old friends (books) and finish settling in to Honiara.

As we've talked to other teams here, we've discovered that our situation is not unique. Many teams have told us that it is quite a hassle to deal with all of the paperwork involved in receiving a crate. When Aaron called the shipping company to ask for help with the paperwork, they directed him to a lady named Mariah. When Mariah met Aaron in the parking lot near the wharf, her first comment was, "I saw you at church yesterday!" She has been a godsend - she took our information and has filled in everything. She has done the legwork and the paperwork and made it soooo much easier for our family. She took Aaron to each office and got everything stamped - can you tell this is HUGE!?! Thanks for those of you who have been praying for us as we navigate through this process. Mariah now has a big Tupperware container full of brownies waiting to be delivered.

Dying lava lavas with Sarah

Sarah and I were invited to dye lava lavas (cloths to wrap around and wear as skirts) with several other ladies this morning.

We began by folding the material...

Then, we dipped it in the colors that Sarah chose...

Next, we unfolded it...

While it was drying in the sun, the ladies chose leaves to lay on top, and I sprinkled it with salt (notice how close we are to the ocean). Some of the ladies brought stencils of flowers, leaves, or "Solomon Islands" to lay on top of their lava lavas. This process lasted all morning, and all of the conversation was in Pijin! My brain was tired from listening (not much talking yet), but we enjoyed a sweet time getting to know our new neighbors.

These are a few of my favorite things

the view from our front porch




my healed leg




Benjamin in front of a WWII airplane engine and propellers, just up the road

A cord of three strands...

You may be wondering if we are just sitting around twiddling our thumbs. Our orientation program contains three parts - Pijin language learning, becoming familiar with the history and culture of the Solomon Islands, and finding our way around Honiara.

Language Learning - We have a manual to help us learn Pijin, the entire Bible in Pijin, the Pijin New Testament on audio, radio broadcasts to practice listening comprehension, and plenty of people around to help us practice.

History and Culture - If you could see our home right now, there are stacks of books about the Solomons, and we are diligently wading through them and writing reading responses.

Honiara - Here's where the fun starts! In an effort to spice up orientation, some former teams concocted "Where in Honiara is Carmen San Diego?" So, we began today! Our assignment for the morning was to walk down the hill to the highway and catch a bus into town. Then, we shopped at a few stores, checked out airline schedules (there are no planes to the Russells), investigated the wharf and talked to some crews, ate some fish and chips, taste tested some ice cream at a locally owned shop, and returned by bus. Friday, we plan to inspect the National Museum.

Simple Woman's Daybook

Monday, December 29th



Outside my window...laundry hanging on the clothesline blocking my view of the Pacific Ocean



I am thinking... about 2 Timothy 2:4 "A soldier on active service will not let himself be involved with civilian affairs; he must be wholly at his commanding officer's disposal," and Elisabeth Elliot's comments - "Any 'soldier', any candidate for Christian discipline, ought daily to report to his commanding officer for duty. At your service, Lord. What the soldier does for the officer is not in the category of a favor. The officer may ask anything. He disposes of the soldier as he chooses."



I am thankful for...a washing machine!



From the learning rooms...continuing Westward Expansion. Some friends suggested a fabulous computer game, "The Oregon Trail", and thanks to some generous grandparents we are really enjoying learning as we play



From the kitchen...slippery cabbage quiche (still trying to incorporate local produce)



I am wearing...the ubiquitous bare feet and a ponytail, a bright pink skirt made by a friend in Memphis, a white tee-shirt, and gold filigree ball earrings given to me by Aaron's mom for Easter while we were in college.



I am creating...our schedule for the month of January, alternating academic school days and field trips into Honiara. Fruit of the mind, not of the hands, hopefully that will come later.



I am going... to enjoy snuggling with my family on the couch tonight as we reread "Little House on the Prairie".



I am reading..."Discipline: The Glad Surrender" by Elisabeth Elliot.



I am hoping...that our shipment comes in this week!



I am hearing...the sound of rain pounding down and filling our rain tanks and kids running around and laughing in the rain filling their souls



Around the house...stacks of books about the history of the Solomon Islands.



One of my favorite things...internet, blogging, Skype - mind boggling technology that allows us to stay in touch across many miles.



A few plans for the rest of the week: We are beginning "Where in Honiara is Carmen San Diego?" this week (more about that in a later post). Tomorrow, all six of us will walk down the hill to the highway and catch a bus into town to go shopping. Look for updates and pics as we venture out!



Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Thanks for stopping by! I wanted to record my daybook even though Peggy is on vacation for the holidays. You can still check out daybooks from her archives.

Sweet Sabbath

orchids picked up at the market by a friend - wish you could smell them!

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;

make known among the nations what he has done.

Sing to him, sing praise to him;

tell of all his wonderful acts.

Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

Look to the Lord and his strength;

seek his face always."

Psalm 105:1-4