Settling in

We are finally feeling settled in Benin back as a family of 5 (after Cora and my little journey to London).  Here's what our month has looked like:

Lunch and swimming at a local couple's house, Laurent and Ines.  He is French and she is Croatian.  He is the director of the bank that John has been working with. They have lived here in Benin for 3 years. John met them when they came on board for our partner's reception (a fancy party/tour Mercy Ships gives to the companies that help us while we are here).  They are lovely and have invited us over to their oasis whenever we want!! They have an amazing ministry to Catholic missionaries that pass through. They open up their home to many people and are able to bless many with their hospitality.

In addition to the pool, they had fun food and games for the kids and they can't wait to go back. They also sent us away with ice cream :). 

Adalynn got to be a casting guinea pig. The rehab team needed to do some teaching for the day crew on how to cast so the grade 1 class got to spend the afternoon getting casts and trying to walk like the patients.  She had so much fun!! I worry that she is going to set out trying to break her leg now so she can have a cast for real :)

Adalynn's classmates Benjamin and Emma

Trying to trick Grammie that she really broke her leg.

We took a trip to the local market to find fabric.  We are back in West Africa, the land of wild fabric!! It's so fun to look through the thousands (literally) different patterns. The kids did a great job in the heat and overwhelming market and we found some really great prints.  One of our day crew is a tailor and he took our measurements and is going to make us dresses/shirts!  I'm a bit curious how it will turn out.  Pictures to come of the outfits!

My friend Heather and I walking through the market. I didn't bring a camera so no pics of the kids but this gives you a small taste of what the streets are like.

When we got back to our car we had been boxed in.  John is trying to move the tire on the roof as it was keeping us from making the 20 point turn we needed to get out. Thankfully the owner of the vehicle finally showed up.

We were invited to attend a local church this last Sunday.  Our experiences in local West African churches in Guinea and Congo were not very kid-friendly so we had just assumed that we would not be attending local churches here. However, we were pleasantly surprised by the experience and the kids did great! The pastor has worked closely with Mercy ships and the church is wonderful. The pastor has 2 daughters and a son similar to our kids ages so it was good for our kids to play with them. We are looking forward to going back. I just wish I had a video of the conga-line worship session. Worship is definitely not boring.

Tonight was the first night we were able to get down to the hospital as a family in Benin. It was so fun to see the kids jump right back into it all.  Jack played connect 4 with a gentleman, Cora painted nails and Adalynn played Jenga.  We are excited to get back into the routine of visiting the patients. Adalynn is excited to come up with crafts to do with them in the afternoons after school.

We are really trying our best to make the very most out of these last few months. I am excited to experience more of Benin and connect more with the culture and the patients!