(Sorry for the delay; the kids are back and Nan’s been sick, and even with one night of my famous cooking, which in times past has always managed to revive her strength, she is coming out a sinus infection slowly, so I have been way behind)

All the kids are back, and like all kids, began to compare Christmas gifts. You know what the Christmas gift of choice is for missionary kids in Africa? Heinz catsup.

I am not making this up. Perhaps it is because the local brand, Peptang (I’m not making that up either) tastes like red paste. Maybe it is a reminder of home. But kids were talking about catsup like they had just gotten a video game in the states. I saw two kids high five each other after one said `I CAN’T BELIEVE IT: 64 OUNCES!!’

Second term is hard because you aren’t suppose to be homesick anymore, but even if you are a tough fifth grader, the tears come at night. I pat them on the back and let them know that it’s OK to cry and that their parents miss them too, but it never seems like you can do enough.

In addition to the same tasks from last term, I have two additional responsibilities this term:

1. I am teaching kindergarten computer. The difference between teaching first graders and kindergartens is volume. Kindergartens are loud: WHAT DO I DO NEXT? WHAT IS THIS FOR? And the most popular of all: WHY?
2. Many people thought it was funny that I would go to Africa. More people thought it was funnier when we were asked to sing in a Kenyan home. But I can’t think of further proof that God has a sense of humor than the following:

I am going to coach basketball.

There is something amazing about a white guy going to Africa to coach basketball. There is something funnier when the only thing I was good at in basketball was fouling. I use to be sent in to hit guys in the gut when they went up for a shot. I can’t dribble, shot or do anything else, and something tells me my fouling expertise is inappropriate for missionary kids. Anyway, I start coaching 4th-6th grade boys and girls next week.

The toys have arrived! Let me take a moment to tell about this. In October, we got four emails in the same day asking us what we wanted for Christmas. We responded in our weekly email that we didn’t want anything, but that we would love to get some Magna Doodles for the orphans here. We didn’t mention it again in a weekly update, and thought if we got 5 or 6 how neat that would be.

We started to get notices from Pearl River, where we asked stuff to be shipped to keep it safe from thieves, that we were starting to get lots of packages. Lots and lots and lots of packages. And did I know that it was my responsibility to pay for the freight and customs?

I had budgeted some money for that, but money based on 6 coming. They had boxes and boxes of them. And I wasn’t sure what to do. Then our church had someone who had a discount from Federal Express. So they shipped boxes to Texas, and he shipped them here. My own church in Texas took up a collection to pay for it. My old company, Oracle, sent money. An old friend sent a huge check.

And they arrived. Over 75 Magna Doodles, dozens of coloring books and crayons, and almost 100 matchbox cars along with games, balls, and dolls. We opened the boxes and wanted to weep for the generosity of people in the US. And there are more coming!

Which is a good thing. Because the estimate is that there will be a need for 10,000 additional orphanages in the next 2 years in Kenya alone. AIDS has absolutely devastated this country, and in some villages 90% of all adults test positive for HIV. Your toys, and the funds to get them here, will cheer up lots of kids who haven’t seen much good news lately. We have some good pictures that we have scanned, and as soon as RVA email is fixed, we will send them. Thanks for what you have done; it is encouragement in a discouraging place.

Time is moving by fast. We have already made our plans to return to the US in July. It seems like we just got here.

YP