Goodbye to Billie Anne & Grace! :(

Today is the last day at New Day for 2 of our summer interns, Billie Anne & Grace. These two girls are from Georgia, both 20 years old. Billie Anne is a biomedical engineering major at the University of Georgia, and Grace is studying Journalism at Asbury University in Kentucky. These girls lived in the same town for years, but didn't actually meet each other until the airport on their way to Zambia! They spent 6 weeks here at New Day, always serving with a smile. They were willing to do whatever was asked of them and spent the majority of their time with the New Day kids. If you have been reading their blogs, then you know that when I say these girls are amazing, I am speaking the truth. Their spiritual maturity has blown me away and challenged me, and they will be missed by all of us at New Day!!

Happy Birthday Ben!!

Here is a glimpse of Ben's past birthdays at New Day! First, our "Sankwa" turned 6!

And seven...

Eight!

And today our sweet Ben turned 9 years old!

Allison & Ashley did the decorations and Ashley made an adorable cake for Ben!

So sweet!

Samuel gets a hug from the birthday boy!

He loved his new Spiderman blanket!

Blu is all ready..

POUR!

Mulenga pretended he was going to pour water on Mama Martha - her face was priceless!

Meanwhile Billie Anne had to fix an owie..

My sweet Christina "Stina-Girl" :)

A Confession....

I have a confession. Are you ready? Here goes…I like mice. I’m sorry, but when you say, “I saw a rat!” then I am picturing this…

I love you Fievel!

I know it’s weird; trust me, I know. And I guess if one crawled across me at night I would probably feel differently. But I think mice/rats/rodents are the cutest little things. I grew up having pet hamsters (RIP Rudolph and Prancer..), so maybe that’s where this comes from. Yes, I know they carry diseases…but when you tell me they carry diseases, I am picturing this…

I love you too Jerry!

We have had a “mouse trap” set up in our closet for 3 months now. I use the term “mouse trap” very loosely. It is a 5 gallon bucket, with a wooden plank going up the side as a ramp. At the top of the ramp is a glob of peanut butter, and the bucket is half full of water. Well, it WAS half full of water, but I guess water evaporates after 3 months. The other night, at midnight, we heard that fateful splash. Blu had finally gotten a mouse. I have to admit, I was picturing this….

Poor Ratatouille!

Last night, we got another one. I guess we finally found a mouse family that can’t resist our peanut butter ramped 5 gallon bucket. There is one mouse left that travels from under our couch every night to the laundry room. I am convinced it wants to watch our TV show with us, and I will not let Blu kill it. Because when I see it run across the floor, I am picturing this…

Maybe he's just waiting for us to go to bed so he can have some fun...

The weirdest part about all of this, is that I can’t stand dogs. Like get completely freaked out if a dog even touches me. Because when ANY dog comes near me, I am picturing this…

Blog & Pics!

I know some of you love following the blogs of our summer interns. Ashley from Tennessee is here for 5 weeks, and she is a great blogger! You can read about her adventures in Zambia here!

Ashley at a village Bible study

Sweet Cynthia

At my youth girls' Bible study on Friday, the girls got "beauty treatments" like Esther did! Allison, Ashley, & Billie Anne did a great job!

Malilwe swinging - love that "New Day smile!"

Friday Fun!

Here are some fun pics from our Friday!

Allison & Christina

Allison & our newest, Malilwe

Ashley helping poor Kefbert try to get his bike going again :)

Axer enjoying a book

Billie Anne getting a pedicure in the bush ;)

My sweet Caedmon

This girl... :)

My dirty Cason :)

Sweet Misheck

Samuel getting ready for a race with Joseph!

Thursday - Lots Happening!!

It is a little bit crazy around here!! (Do I say that a lot?? It is!!) We have a volunteer team from FBC Cleveland here, plus our 5 summer interns! We are doing teacher's workshops, kids' activities, Bible studies in the new village, and of course, lots of painting!! Just a reminder to check out Billie Anne's & Grace's blogs at: www.billieannehardigree.blogspot.com and www.scriptinggrace.wordpress.com!

Wow - that's a lot of oatmeal!! Thank you team!!

Samuel is a summer intern from Texas - this is his second trip to New Day, and he will be shadowing Blu & Wes for the next month!

Teacher Allison is back for her 3rd summer at New Day!! The kids were so excited to see her, and we are excited for her to reassess their reading levels that she & Christin did last year!

Ashley from Tennessee is another summer intern - she has been doing a little of everything but I don't think she enjoyed the painting much ;) Cambree loves Ashley and said "Mama isn't Ashley just SOOO pretty???" :)

Funny Axer!

Cambree & Billie Anne

Cambree in her favorite skirt that she wears almost daily..

Me & Hildah - it was COLD at church this day!! Hildah is known for her VERY high heels, and right before she stood up to interpret she made me switch shoes with her because hers were too uncomfortable to walk around interpreting in! I hobbled around in her very high red heels before she finally gave me my shoes back!!

Ginger from Cleveland got to teach Bible to the Pre-K class today!

I might have posted this, but this is Grace & Billie Anne - love these two!!

Grace's Saturday morning writing class

Joyce & Keri taught the Kindergarten Bible class and got an introduction to the fun that is Cason :)

Lane & LaRue painting the final room in The Ark!

A cute pic of Laurie & Hildah

Sweet Machila