Sunday School in English

We were thankful for the cool evening an night time temperatures last night that the rain brought. Following the rain and overcast sky most of the day, our solar batteries were not well charged and electricty went off before midnight, taking fans and refrigerator cooling with it.  Nonetheless, for the 1st night since we are here, we were glad to have a sheet to cover our shoulders, and the thermometer read below 80 this morning!!  Thanks for the refreshment, Father!

Here on the base, breakfast on Sundays is a special treat: bread and jam.  Someone goes to the boutique and buys enough "baguettes" ( a loaf of french bread) for each one to have 1/2 a loaf.  (the little ones get a 1/2 portion) There is hot drink for dunking and 2 jampacks for each.  Usually there is cocoa, but this morning it was a solution of hot water with some sweetened condensed milk added, a "cambridge tea" like the little ones got in our homes while adults are drinking coffee. In fact, Ray and I did bring our coffee down from our apartment with us,, and Julie too.  :))

Christian Spindler, the young Austrian team member here,  joined Ray & Julie & I to go into town to the English speaking Sunday School and Youth Meeting that is held at the SIL Headquarters.  THat was a refreshing thing for all 4 of us.  We three Americans really enjoyed the discussion and the freedom that being able to speak in our native tongue brought, and Christian enjoyed being with some western young people as well.. (Another thanks-- we have so much to be thankful for, and so much that we have taken for granted at home.)
We met several people that we have communicated with by email in these last 2 or 3 months.  John & Julie Clark, both teachers at Bamako Christian Acadamy where Julie will attend in the fall, greeted us warmly. We spoke again with TIm Herrick, introduced to us by Dr Dave Byer of Macha Hospital connections.  Other members of the English speaking community were wonderful resources as well, sharing favorite eating spots for these newbies to try out.  We chose to go to one of the newest of those-- a Restaurant called  l'Nid that Rob Baker spoke of.  This new eatery was reccommended for good salads, among other things, and we found it clean, airconditioned,  and with good food.
Following our lunch, we stopped in at the smal supermarket that is in that same neighborhood.  It has many of the things that we, as Westerners, were looking for.  We can get plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables here at the local Yirimadio open air market, what ever is in season is there in plenty,  But we were glad to be able to get some canned goods (fruits and vegetables that willkeep a while) tomato paste and peanut butter, flour and butter. (I don't think that I ever paid over $2 for a small can of green beans tho :())