Kids' Update

Sorry it's been so long since I've written!We have had a busy last couple of weeks.The first week of September Nichole and I went to Djibo, a town that ison the edge of the Sahara desert. We went with some missionary friends, and some who are now friends (we didn't know them before). We just went to visit. We haven't been to many other towns in Burkina, especially not any so far away, so we decided to go. There is an Australian couple in their seventies who have built a hospital up there. They have lived inAfrica for forty years and in Djibo for thirty-five. They raised all their children there. They are wonderful, gentle, kind people and it was so fun to get to spend time with them. Josselin, the wife, is an amazing cook and that was also a blessing. Djibo is home to a different people group. Different language, different looks, different culture. It really felt like we were no longer in Burkina. We were out of our comfort zone. We couldn't even speak French because very few are educated up there and thus have not learned French. It was a good trip. We were glad we went.

Jeanette is doing well. Her leg is healing nicely...she's even begun to pull herself/half crawl across the floor. This is so exciting because before she wasn't strong enough to move and would just sit there. Yesterday her mom (Her mom comes everyday to help care for her because of her leg) showed me that she could stand up while holding on to the crib. I almost cried. It was so amazing to see her standing up...even ifshe isn't doing it by herself. She's getting better. Alfonsine is happy most of the time now. We keep praying for her, and I really believe it's because we've been praying for her that she has stopped freaking out. She smiles more, she laughs more, and she's not clingy or cranky. It's a blessing. It was getting hard to want to be around her for fear that she was going to freak out.

Adeline is leaving tomorrow. That's hard for me. But it's good for her. Her father has been coming a few times a week for the past few weeks to get to know her; she loved being able to do this. On Monday he will take her to the village to meet the rest of her family. At some pointshe will come back here (we think) and then a few days later, and a few days before school starts on October 1, she will go to her aunt's house who lives in Yako. Her younger sister has been living there, whom Adi doesn't know (or doesn't remember) so this will be good for her. And her father lives next door with his new wife. His new wife is probably the reason why Adi is not going to live with him. People often refuse to take care of children that are not their own. She will probably attend the school here, so we should be able to see her everyday...and she will be more than welcome to stop by and visit whenever she wants. We had some hard conversations about her leaving. We thought she knew, but she didn't really understand. We spent most of the day Friday with her crying. It wasn't a fun day, but I think she understands now and is ok with it. She brought it up yesterday on a walk without crying or sounding sad. I was able to answer her question and then we were able to change to subject and talk about something else. That was good. I was a little worried that she would start crying again.

The crops are all growing. We have some millet that is probably twelve feet tall. The corn is being harvested little by little. They schuck the corn and roast it in some hot coals until it is charred on the outside. It looks gross and smells like burnt corn, but it actually tastes reallygood because its still juicy on the inside. I like it, anyway and I always make the kids give me some when they are eating it. And because they are eating so much of it, we have corn cobs strewn all over the courtyard! It's a mess!!

We got a new baby last night. He was a premie, born at eight months. He is now a couple weeks old and only weighs a little over a kilo. His mother died three or so days ago. He is tiny tiny tiny. But he is\u003cbr /\>adorable. He doesn\'t yet have a name, but there is a calendar that gives\u003cbr /\>a name for every day of the year and the family instructed us to name\u003cbr /\>him whatever the name is for September 4, the day he was born.\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>\u003c/div\>",0]
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Adeline is leaving tomorrow. That's hard for me. But it's good for her.Her father has been coming a few times a week for the past few weeks toget to know her; she was loved being able to do this. On Monday he willtake her to the village to meet the rest of her family. At some pointshe will come back here (we think) and then a few days later, and a fewdays before school starts on October 1, she will go to her aunt's housewho lives in Yako. Her younger sister has been living there, whom Adidoesn't know (or doesn't remember) so this will be good for her. And herfather lives next door with his new wife. His new wife is probably thereason why Adi is not going to live with him. People often refuse totake care of children that are not their own. She will probably attendthe school here, so we should be able to see her everyday...and she willbe more than welcome to stop by and visit whenever she wants.We had some hard conversations about her leaving. We thought she knew,but she didn't really understand. We spent most of the day Friday withher crying. It wasn't a fun day, but I think she understands now and isok with it. She brought it up yesterday on a walk without crying orsounding sad. I was able to answer her question and then we were able tochange to subject and talk about something else. That was good. I was alittle worried that she would start crying again.The crops are all growing. We have some millet that is probably twelvefeet tall.

The corn is being harvested little by little. They schuck thecorn and roast it in some hot coals until it is charred on the outside.It looks gross and smells like burnt corn, but it actually tastes reallygood because its still juicy on the inside. I like it, anyway and Ialways make the kids give me some when they are eating it. And becausethey are eating so much it, we have corn cobs strewn all over thecourtyard! It's a mess!!

We got a new baby last night. He was a premie, born at eight months. Heis now a couple weeks old and only weighs a little over a kilo. Hismother died three or so days ago. He is tiny tiny tiny. But he is adorable. He doesn't yet have a name, but there is a calendar that gives a name for every day of the year and the family instructed us to name him whatever the name is for September 4, the day he was born.