Ha! Typical day?It does not exist.
Instead of typical, I thought I could come up with some sort of "average" day example for you all. But, so far, the data I have is too difficult to compile into an "average day" snapshot. Statistics were never my strong suit. I only passed it in college, because my uncle is a math teacher and he helped me. So, with my lack of ability to compile the stats and come up with any sort of average, I will just have to do my best to explain.
There have been quiet, quiet days where you wonder if God thinks you are a lazy load of a person because you are not really helping anyone or doing anything of great significance. (Of course we all know that God give us those days to rest and BE STILL and listen for His voice. But for the do-ers of the world, it is hard to "be still.")
Then, there are days, like the last three, where you cannot believe what a hurried blur of activity it is and you wonder how you kept up with it all. You fall into bed exhausted and overwhelmed.
I get to play a role in some of the "ministry" type stuff that goes on here. Not a huge role, but a role. I am more of the support team, helping Troy when I can and cheering for him.
When teams are here, my job gets big but up until then, I am a background worker, with a voice that counts, but I am not necessarily in the thick of all the issues or all the work.
Relationships are important to us, so we are building them wherever we can. That is the only thing I can regularly do while still meeting the needs of my kids.
I am a mom first. The kids need my attention as much or more here, than they did in the States. My job is much the same as it was in the U.S: Love my kids, make sure the ones who need to learn reading, writing and arithmetic are doing that. Make sure the little ones are getting attention. Make sure they all learn some of life's important lessons whenever possible.
I spend a good deal of time trying not to let anyone (read: Noah) destroy mission property or break their leg or eat dirt that has recently been urinated on. I make sure everyone is washing their hands and wiping their butts well. Mom stuff.
The main difference is; that instead of having the flow of a day interupped by driving to piano, swimming, basketball, softball or teenager social outings ... I now have interupptions that mean finding Britt to clean up a cut, finding Paige to teach some English, finding Troy to understand some Creole request and then I add my help whenever/wherever I am needed.
For Today's snapshot of average/typical:
It is 2pm. Noah is napping. Ike went with Troy for a bit to go to a nearby town and do a little mission business. Britt is sleeping off her exhaustion from her night of no sleep. Paige and Hope are playing outside and have helped with a few first aid needs.
I am trying to stay out of the freezer. I actually have not opened any of the chocolate candy ... I am afraid to get started for fear that I won't be able to stop myself. There is some risk of that. :)
We are doing laundry and cleaning. The cleaning lady we have to help us for an hour or two on Saturday, is very new to working for us. I think today was her third Saturday. She used Palmolive dish soap in the mop bucket. I think after a few slips on the soapy floor that I convinced her that dish soap is not the preferred cleaning product for tile floors.
If you have a dirt or cement floor in your home, you don't necessarily know these things! She is the wife of our sweet, friend Pastor Rony. She needed a job and we wanted some help with the floors. After we work out the kinks it will be a huge help. With the dust, dirt and bugs (oh and the messy/sticky two year old), you basically need to mop every day. Did I mention this house has 10 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms? All ten rooms have been given the Palmolive treatment today!
Have a wonderful, restful weekend. We love you all!
