Arriving home has been a rollercoaster of emotions; from the intense happiness of arrival on Monday night to the next morning’s crashing in of reality as we awoke to no power, no water and the need to start cooking, greeting, and unpacking. Every drawers’ clothing is musty and moldering from the high humidity and being left unattended for five months. My mold allergies, not easily disturbed, are in full cry this week.
While David has been down at Christ School everyday getting in thinking and preparing time for the school year and chapels, staff discipleship and seminars, before the majority of the staff arrives next week, I have been at home. I was visited today by a “detective” investigating our break in while we were gone. Our safe was stolen and destroyed, mattresses and clothing and food were taken. It’s hard to feel angry when it’s clear that those who steal here are desperate for the things we have, yet it does leave me feeling a bit violated as I discover things that the thief walked around my home and picked up and left with. I wish they had just taken a lot of money and not touched our things. Of course there is also the sadness that the thief is likely an acquaintance if not a friend; potentially even one of the very people I have trusted to work for me. Leaves me feeling on edge and on guard. Since we will soon move to the school campus and our workers will change, we are just waiting and being vigilant.
Naomi and Quinn have had a joyful week of rediscovering their toys, climbing trees and puppy-dog. Little Jessy, our Ugandan mutt, has matured beautifully during our absence, from an under-one hyper puppy to a much calmer one year old dog. She was so happy to see us and is grateful for each scrap we feed her as she had gotten quite skinny during our time away. It’s wonderful to see her reacquaint with the kids. Quinn’s first routine of the morning is to call her to the bedroom window where he opens the screen to pet her then heads outside to give her some “snuggles” to start her day. She is well loved and we are so thankful that she has not turned into “psycho dog” from her many months without us here. It is a testament to our workers and team mates who visited her, fed her and played with her and we are so grateful.
Though this week has been full of good moments with my children; reading aloud, making home made cookies, lemonade and popcorn for our lunches and unpacking our things: it has also been a week of bugs, lizard poop, and mold as we opened things long unused and work towards rewashing every dish and piece of clothing by hand. Last night we returned from team meeting and pizza (where we were joined by the last of the CDC crowd, cool people!) to get ready for bed. After lounging on the couch we got up to discover a large pair of legs crawling off the couch. The tarantula which we had disturbed decided to hide under our end table. I sprayed mercilessly with the can of Doom ( our African bug killing spray - doesn’t the name rock?!) which only made him laugh before running away. Thankfully we gished him with a shoe. That’s why I don’t like having things messy here. You never know what’s hiding under it all. Kind of gave us that creepy skin-crawly feeling as we went to bed though I caught myself saying to Naomi ” you can’t get scared about every tarantula! I know they’re yucky but get in the bathroom and pee!!” Only a missionary kid.