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| Kid's room/ living room |
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| Dining room/ office |
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| Bedroom |
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| Washing machine |
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| Clothes line- thank you Lynne! |
We rested a bit and then walked to the Hares home. On the way we met couple from the school who greeted us with 'you are Americans?' because the English on our shirts made sense! They walked us through the grocery store and then we went to the Hares' place, got one more suitcase, and went to look for pizza for dinner. The Hares offered dinner, but we were SO tired we decided we just wanted pizza on the way home. And then the comedy of errors began...
The pizza place had other food besides pizza, but was out of pizza. We chose not to eat there or use the street vendor's pizza but to go home and make spaghetti. The stove would not light on it's own, so Chris walked to find a lighter. Two burners lit and I began to heat water and sauce. The sauce was bubbling and I started to open the noodles when I noticed that the water wasn't boiling any more. The stove was out! I mean really out- no gas left! So what for dinner for exhausted travelers? Stores and restaurants closed? Bread with hot spaghetti sauce! It was good. But the children cried- except Ben, who ravenously ate everything. Then we all went to sleep.
Friday we got up a little earlier but took it easy. Kristin and I found the nearest grocery and bought things for diner the next few meals, paper towels and a good mop. We didn't do much except clean and organize until we met the Hares for a picnic at a park by the river before the city's music festival that night. The evangelical church had a group playing and we watched them and many other groups stationed at intervals around the city, so they did not interfere with each other. We met many other students from school and a few French people. And as much as I wanted to stay up for more, we went to bed early. Still SO tired! And I started with the sniffles...
Short clip of the festival- the traditional dancers were so much like square and circle dancing!
Saturday was bank day. We went to the local bank and they had prepared all the paperwork for free checking accounts, had a translator, and offered a free account for the kids with an automatic 15 euros in them! So kind and friendly! Then we walked to the school and looked at the bike again. Chris found another one for him for sale too and we met a few more students. We stopped at a park on the way home. That night I made curry apple chicken and couscous. Yum!
Sunday we made it to church and it was packed. It was a special kid's Sunday and the kids' programs presented, did a play, sang, etc. Noah cried when we sang a song in French that he knows in English. He didn't explain, but I think he just didn't like not knowing the words. (Something like not singing in your heart language? Maybe just for that reason we joined Wycliffe...) After church a bunch of us went outside and picked cherries from the tree. They were really good! Then, as we were leaving, we were invited to stay and have lunch with the youth and their parents. The kids sat with other kids and went through the line. They are not sure about French food. Not much meat, strange mixtures of flavors (definitely delicious, but not to our sweet children). When we got home, I fell asleep. I was sick. So thankful for hot tea and a bed! Dinner was pork chops and carrots simmered with tomatoes and salad and rice. I am thankful the pots fit on top of each other so you can use just 2 burners, use a pot as a lid for rice and cook green beans in it too!
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| Local Cherries |
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| Happy Kids |
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| Our temporary apartment is just left of center and up 2 flights |
Monday was cold and rainy. I ate breakfast and went back to bed, slept ate lunch, went back to bed. We had spaghetti for dinner (finished the sauce from the first night) and added some sausages to the mix, bread and salad. More tea and I walked with the family to the park, but was tired and ready for bed again.Tuesday. That's today. I feel much better. Only needed one nap. The stove is not working today. Wish I knew how to clean it out because that's probably all it needs. We walked to the school and met a LOT of people and hung out at the lunch break hour between classes. Someone offered to sell their car incredibly cheep. We are praying about it. A car was not in our plans, but it would be nice for weekends and breaks and if we can re-sell it for what we paid in a year.... Pray that if it is not a good thing it will be obvious.
Good news. Megan Garber is coming to stay with us for 90 days! She wants to help our family while we are in language school. She'll get some language and travel and we will get Megan! Fun! And what a gift! We will go get her 2 days after we move into our new place: a three bedroom place over a kabob restaurant. We met the nice family who is there now and said we can go over on Sunday and take a look. |
| Plan d'Albertville |
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Whew. Well, we've done a lot more than I wrote about: played at parks, window shopped, walked and walked, took a found purse to the police, ordered phone sim cards.... So glad to be here finally. We are studying our notes from our tutor from Lynchburg, looking up strange vocabulary we see around town and words we want to know, praying for relationships with locals to practice what we learn. Praying for the 'gift of tongues.'
Thank you for being part of our journey- part of sending us- making it possible for us to stay and learn- keeping the goal of service to God always in mind.
I will add pictures to this soon! I guess I'll go sit at McDon's and use the free wifi...
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