Thursday 23rd

Last evening I never finished my story. A woman came to the door and she had trouble with her car. She had tried to park outside the gate and backed halfway over the embankment. She came to the Commons for help so Mickey and I went. I had flipflops on so was really not prepared. Mickey’s first thought was to pull it out with the van but it was so far over we decided to back it the rest of off. I suggested turning the wheel so that the bumper would not catch. It was a good idea until the truck was on two wheels in danger of landing on the driver’s side. I was leaning as hard as I could on the passenger side of the hood wondering if I should try and get to the running board but afraid to move. The guard had come out and he ran over and jumped on the passenger side running board and shouted go. A couple of minutes later Mickey and I were heroes!!
The morning started with breakfast. I had prepared for the lessons last night after the power went out. My computer was well charged so I could work with it and write notes by its light. My roommate, Chris arrived shortly after I had gone to bed. His headlight was really dim so I gave him my flashlight. Then I noticed one under the bed that Eric had left the night before. With one on the sink and the other on the back of the toilet he was able to take a shower. I was asleep before he finished and got a good night’s rest, one of the better ones since coming here.
I started with the teacher’s devotional. Then I met with the k-2 and talked about peacemakers. Believe it or not the next task was to give the IOWA tests to the 1st graders. Recess duty followed then Bible for 5-6 and then hand scoring the IOWA’s. WOW! That took me back a few years, like 1970. Lunch, a nap and a little help with Carolyn’s pre-school and it was about over. They were supposed to see a video but the power was out here. I offered my computer but it was a VHS. While they were looking for a DVD I played some songs from the computer. They loved the crazy display of shimmering colors produced by the music on the screen. Looking for a video it was discovered that the school (next door) had power so the VHS was back on because that was where it was to be shown.
At 4:00 PM I took the rest of the pictures of the school kids for the end of session anthology and down loaded them to a woman’s computer. I also had been collecting everyone’s pictures in this computer so I put them on a flash drive and gave them to Paul who is going to make CD’s for everyone. Mary the principal came by and invited me to a soccer game that some my girls were playing in a few blocks away in a missionary compound. I started to go but it started to drizzle and threaten rain. I waited a few minutes and it looked a little better so I walked down the steep clay road imagining how slippery it would be coming back in a downpour. I decided I knew enough missionaries there that would shelter me and if not the guard would let me stand in the guard house until it was over. Our girls the Rainforest International School was playing the American School of Yaoundé. They were all 9th and 10th graders but to get enough for a team RFIS was using some of my little fifth and sixth graders. It was no contest but we cheered our girls in spite of the lopsided score.
The commons seems deserted even though most everyone has gone to bed by this time. At supper we had Eric as a guest but he has left for home. Tomorrow there will only be four of us for breakfast and unless Barb and Mickey join us the same for lunch.
Two more nights after tonight and we will be heading home.