"Young Life"

When I was in the States I was involved in a ministry called Young Life. I loved it because I pretty much hung out with high school kids all the time. Well, they don't have Young Life in my village, but I decided I could still hang out with high school kids. This is "Fatu." She goes to the same church that I do and I enlisted her to teach me to cook. (I don't have a great desire to eat African food because it sets my mouth on fire, but I want to be able to cook for guests I have over and I don't think they will appreciate my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as much as I do). I've learned that people here don't seem to know how to cook for less than 10 people so this was the huge pot of rice that we cooked.

GIANT pot of rice. It started overflowing!
I have a bunch of boys that live nearby so I called them to come help us eat it. After dinner I taught them to play "slap jack" which was hilarious to watch. However, I discovered that these kiddos are the biggest cheaters I have ever seen!!! Every time we slapped the cards they would all try to sneak some into their hand. Stinkers!

Although they liked "Slap jack," Jenga is really their game. We have a piece of paper on my wall that is keeping track of who loses each time. (Note: I'm the only one who hasn't lost so they were all trying to "set a trap" so that I would lose). Not going to happen......steady as a rock.

Since we have no lights, we play by candlelight. I have a cinnamon candle that my sister and brother-in-law gave me before I left. I love it because it reminds me of home. One of the boys wanted to drink it. Ouch.

Fatu and I representing the girls in the Jenga game

The next morning my neighbor commented on the loud noise coming from my house. When I told her about the kids that were over she said, "well, it wasn't really them that I heard the most...it was you." Oops! Quietness has never been my forte. And during a high stakes game of Jenga and Slap Jack how are you supposed to keep from screaming??? Impossible.

Let the good times roll......