Back to Normal, we hope!

It has been a little while since we have updated you on life here. Here are some recent happenings!

July and August were rainy season. Overall we felt it was a light rainy season. There were some big rains and some local flooding. We did have neighbors experience some flooding. They lost everything. Roy helped carry beds and belongings out while the men took doors off their door frames and hit their mud homes with hammers to destroy them before the flood waters did. Maybe they did this so noone would go back to the home and it collapse during the night when someone was sleeping, that is our best guess. It was surreal to see men taking everything including the door frames, and seeing them chunk pieces of their breaking house into the water.

    

This picture is drawn to show where the flooding occurred 2 weeks ago. Our house is shown with a star between the 2 ponded areas of water. You see the green, which are hills nearby. The darker blue is a depression area that fills with rainwater and run off from the hills. In our last big rainstorm the water ran off the hills and flooded the area in light blue. They said it last happened in 2018. 

You also see the schoolyard (also edited in the color blue) which has been under water since June. Our house is on a high point between the 2 areas and is not in danger of flood waters. We didn't even have a puddle in our yard, while neighbors 200 feet away were in flood waters 20-30 inches deep. But we are on an island when big rain storms come. To get out we have to wade through or drive through water in any direction. 

We are finally feeling healthy again as a family. For weeks we have all been passing along runny noses, coughs, fatigue, and low grade fevers. Denise had Malaria and Roy is sure he did, too. 

Roy's Bible study group has taken the rainy season off. He has plans to start it again within the next few weeks.

   

Abby has taken a few more naps than normal.

Abby and Roy after getting tested for Malaria.

 She had a great time with her summer pre-k program. It was an adjustment for her. For 3 hours, 3 days each week she was with her teachers who only spoke French. Some days were especially hard. After 2 months she was getting used to it, even wanting to stay until the end. She heard stories and colored, she played with new toys and played on the swing set. We are so proud of her for being brave for the summer program. Real school starts in just a few weeks! We are all excited for her as she grows up so fast.

Roy prepared and preached 3 sermons for the English-speaking church we attend over the last month! He felt blessed and challenged to be able to do that. 

Here's to living la vie sauvage! (the wild life)