Picture of the Week!

~ Picture of the Week ~
Leaping Lizards!

No......he wasn't really leaping! This handsome fellow (approximately around 1 foot long) was not to far off from our camera lens when we were taking some picture of flowers around the house. I love the multiple color effect from nose to tail!

(Remember to left double click your mouse on the picture to see the picture enlarged)

veggie tales?

Step 1 (above)

Step 2 (above)

Step 3 (above)

We thought that this blog should be appropriately called: veggie tales! For the reason that this is a story of what our veggies (fruits and eggs too) need to go through as a preparation before we eat them. After buying our fruits, veggies and eggs from street vendors, we bring them home for this preparation we commonly call as "javeling" ("javel" in English is "bleach").

Step 1 - these are just purchased fruits and veggies, they are then place to the left side of the sink, then I will wash them with soap and water, prior to putting them into the "javel" water (next picture).

Step 2 - as you can see from this step our produce is placed into a plastic basin (this basin is marked "javel" on it and is specifically used ONLY for "javeling" produce) along with tap water and "javel" added to the tap water to completely cover over the produce and then left to sit for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, I then take another plastic basin and fill it with filtered water ONLY, for the rinsing of the produce. (I did not add this picture in, as it looks the same as the second picture).

Step 3 - this shows our produce drying in our dish rack after the "javeling" process. Once they are dry, all the produce can than be placed into the refrigerator for cooking/eating when you wish to.

If you are wondering as to why we "javel", it is to kill any amobeas that may be lingering on them.

The different fruits that are pictured from the top picture are from left to right:

Pineapple
Papaya (larger green fruit to the top of the picture)
Avocados (smaller green fruit)
Cuccumbers
Mangos (smaller redish/yellowish looking fruit)
Lemons (the small yellow fruit to the top right of the picture)
Carrots

Picture of the Week

~ Picture of the Week ~

This is something we see here on a daily basis as we walk along the roadside or traveling to and from work. A truck completely overloaded with some sort of supplies and a whole lot of people riding along with it....it's incredible. Do you think there's room for me?!

God's Word

God's Word

I absolutely love this picture.....this group of Central Africans are listening to God's Word being preached during a Sango service. This is a church that we had gone to for several weeks, while temporarily living in a colleagues home. We attended the earlier service on Sunday morning which was spoken in French and this picture was taken during a Sango service (which is about an hour after the French service). What is difficult to tell from this picture is this church seats about 1,200 people.....so, as you can see there is well more than that, that are seeking to hear God's Word in Sango. The French language is the govermental language of Central Africa, while Sango is the national language. It is amazing to me and it fills my heart with such joy to see these people willing to stand during a 3 hour long Sango service. Makes me wonder....how long would we be willing to stand while listening to God's Word.

Cooking by Candlelight!

Cooking by Candlelight!

How does one manage to cook without electricity in Africa?! Fortunately our stove is supplied by propane gas....so, you can cook your meal. However, when the electricity does go out (which is a daily occurrence....and you never know when it will go out) while you are preparing dinner....you simply cook by candle light! Oh yes, and it really helps to use a headlamp too! A fellow missionary had suggested for us to purchase headlamps prior to arriving in Africa, for just this very reason . Brilliant!

A little side note: Have you noticed that our candle holder is fashioned from an old wine bottle? When you wish to buy peanuts as a snack here, the street vendors who sell them package them into old washed out wine bottles. Once they put peanuts in the bottle, they cork the bottle back up, so that ants and bugs can't get into them! By the way, this is the only way to buy your peanuts in Bangui.