The team is already planning a reunion and we are not even homeward bound yet. Team members finished up their work and projects with only a few loose ends remaining.

Marci's Kitchen 

Here is Tom when he is not asking questions that we all want to know.

Marci has created a beautiful space for cooking. In less than two weeks time she has located a space, cleaned and painted, and purchased a freezer, refrigerator, and stove. Sally and Mary Beth designed a paper sign to name the kitchen after Marci. Band-aids held up the sign. Team members were treated to a delicious lunch prepared in Marci's new kitchen.
Speaking of kitchens reminds me of chicken which we often have for lunch or dinner.
Tom observed he had never seen a chicken breast so he asked one of the musicians that entertained us one night. I don't think the singer had ever heard that question but said only the legs and thighs were available in the market. Chicken and eggs are imported. Tom asked, "What do they do with the chicken breast then?" Hmmm...an unanswered question.

It Happened!

One of my highlights of the trip was to see Stacey wear a baby! I was very jealous. The mother graciously showed Stacey how to tie the baby on her back. Stacey showed off "her" baby to all of us. The little one was darling - such a big smile during interactions with team members.

 Not only has Mary Beth and Sally have been delivering babies but they have been part of the Well Baby clinics.













The Line Gets Longer
 

Each day there are more patients waiting in line to see Dr. Chet and his wife assistant, Darlene. Darlene is lovingly called Mom by the dentist in the clinic. And the BIG news is that sinks are working so there is no more spitting outside! Perhaps that the reason the patient line is longer. Many ladies who have been preparing our evening meals have had dental work completed. Dr. Chet was happy to see them smile when he came in for dinner.


Good-byes are Hard!
 Moses had time to visit family in Bo, Sierra Leone so we said our good-byes. Some of us have been trying to learn how to say hello (Kushɛ) in the native language. It seemed every time we tried we were corrected. I finally asked Moses about vowel sounds. Eureka! There are so many different languages and the vowel sounds are slightly different. No wonder we were having a difficult time - well, at least some of us.

We will be saying good-bye to Anup later today as he will be staying longer. He has booked a hotel near the airport so we might all crash there as we wait for our flight.  We have learned so much about a country I knew so little about, Bhutan. Anup shared a sweet picture of his 95 year-old grandmother who just passed away. She was instrumental in guiding Anup to getting an education.



EdImpact Workshop 

Jane creating name tags for educational workshop.

The education team spent the last 4 1/2 days with a group of inspiring teachers coming from different areas of Sierra Leone. We told teachers to bring a bag so they could take school goodies home. There were a few worries because there is extra cost in transporting a bag if you can't hold it. Buses and other transport can be very crowded. So much learning took place from both sides. So much collaboration!

Four days of learning together!

Even though we will begin our journey home I will write a few more posts as I collect pictures from everyone. Our hearts are full but I would say most of us are feeling a little homesick. We will be glad to be safely home - have heard there is a possibility of a snow storm greeting some of us.