The past month has been full and overflowing. It would be impossible to put it all into words so I am just going to share a few highlights.
Steve and Rhoda Zook, friends from Ohio, came and spent 2 weeks with us. We thoroughly enjoyed taking them around both Dhaka and Mymensingh, to all our favorite places.
Last night was the Christmas production at school. Riley took part in the Donkey Dance - he pretty much stood on the stage with a big grin on his face, bumping into a fellow donkey from time to time.
Jensen was an astrologer for King Herod.
Pruitt was an innkeeper. They each thoroughly enjoyed their roles.
Other highlights - Korbani Eid which gave an opportunity t dress up and go visit friends, not to mention feasting!
Thanksgiving was extra special, thanks to friends from the home office who went a turkey and fresh cranberries over.
Lots of shopping trips with our friends.
We visited a number of projects with them. Here a batiked sari has just been dipped in indigo dye.
We went through a paper-making project called Banoful.
Jensen took a trip with his class to Mymensingh, to visit Sacred Mark and other projects.
There have been a couple suitcases full of goodies to unpack.
Pruitt had his hair dyed red.
And I finally got to see this little princess, the same one I went to see in the hospital about 6 months back (and posted a photo of). She is one precious little girl!
There is much more I could write about - exhilarating moments and deep sadness. Suffice it to say that the changes of the past months have been draining. It was a deep blessing to have friends here and now that they are gone, I'm sensing the need to create a quiet space in my life, a space to listen, to heal, to rest. So I am doing things that are uncomfortable for me - asking for help, admitting I can't do it all, taking some time off... waiting to see where the journey will take me.
2 comments:
Way to go, Marita!
One hears that the mosquitoes are steadily becoming unbearable in Dhaka, way above "normal". How are the children coping with this, or have they not noticed anything unusual? Of course, certain localities are being sprayed "somewhat more" regularly, others not.
Lemon Eucalyptus oil has been appoved by the US military forces to be as effective as 50% DEET, but only for HALF THE TIME, i.e. 4 HOURS. Rather than the Piperonyl butoxide mosquito coils, pump sprayers et al. used in Dhaka, the Eucalyptus citriodora oil appears a bit less harfmul applied on the skin. I am sure some Australian friends can send you some pure product. The boys can have YOU rub some on their faces, necks etc. [to ensure thorough coverage!] before they go out or go to sleep. Mosquitoes bite through clothes as you have noticed! The ones in Bangladesh, as in India, are now carrying a whole host of deadly fevers besides the usual.
My cousin & his wife thought they had malaria, which they did, and sort of went about their business, popping some pills. Suddenly they developed the cerebral form and the lady passed away. Indians were so blase and misinformed about mosquitoes, thinking them to vector only malaria, yellow fever, kala zar etc., all allegedly curable!! But now they are finding out about encephalitis,dengue,chikungunya and other exotics the hard way!
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