New Years Eve

IT'S NEW YEARS!!!! After being sick this week I wasn't excited about pealing off my couch to go to the clinic and out on the street. But, after sitting on the rug and hearing the noise I figured this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. This may be my last big New Years street party in this country with these friends. So, I went out in the neighborhood and made the most of it. It was soooooo wild and noisy. You'd be amazed what happens when people can get huge fireworks so cheaply. The ghetto is the best place for the party. 

New Year's Eve was just one big street party. Everyone is so crowded in and everyone had a party, so they all kind of meshed into one.

If you can't beat 'em join 'em. If you've seen the earlier post on these noisemakers, check them out below. Here the father/daugher combo joins in (she was definately the only girl). Mr. SK says these models are actually safter than last year...yeah lighting fluid in a tube does not bring the word "safe" to mind. 

Not forgetting my Detroit roots, Sarah and I pose with the local gang members (just kidding, mom) It was funny to watch how people stayed in distinct groups. 

There's nothing like watching the drunk guys light the street on fire and then dance in it. We hear someone yell, "look that guys flip flops are on fire" 

Me 'n' Grandpa Now Agree...

There really are reindeer!!! 

Get Sleep When You Can

At about 10 am I started to crash after being up most of the night (though I got 3 hours last night - not bad) I managed to get about 5 minutes before the festivities at the clinic began. 

Yes!!!!

Opening my "stocking" - ok we were too cheap to buy stockings so we just used plastic bags and chose to spend the money on what was IN the stocking. Here I have a karaoke cd with ALL BY MYSELF - an amazing gift from Miss British Columbia.

Christmas Baby

The first Christmas baby of '05 

Merry Christmas!..can you believe we don't have dates for Christmas Eve? 

Later Chirstmas Eve....

Watching A Christmas movie at the clinic around midnight. 

Christmas Eve

Reading the Best Christmas Pagent Ever around the table after our Christmas Eve Dinner 

Singing Christmas carols after Christmas Eve dinner 

Christmas with a "BANG"

The boys have been setting of these homemade things that make a loud "boom" - enough to rattle our windows. I can only imagine what New Years will be like. When the kids go to bed the drunk guys on the street start setting them off. 

These are all homemade with tin cans (here you see the closed end) Yes, the lovely children are flipping me off in the picture. 

Let's Talk

The Most Popular Christmas Eve Activity

I know this thing is saying 12/23...but it's really Christmas Eve here....Miss British Columbia checks e-mail hoping for a letter...she's single and not busy on New Years or Valentines if any one want's to email me for her number. ;0) 

This Sums Up My Life Right Now

Got this song from a friend and man, it sums up my life right now

Even though the journey’s long And I know the road is hard
Well, the One who’s gone before me He will help me carry on
After all that I’ve been through Now I realize the truth
That I must go through the valley To stand upon the mountain of God

As I travel on the road That You have lead me down You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me I have need for nothing more
Oh, now that I have found That You are here with me Yes, You are here with me I confess from time to time I lose my way But You are always there To bring me back again

Sometimes I think of where it is I’ve come from
And the things I’ve left behind
But of all I’ve had, what I possessed
Nothing can quite compare
With what’s in front of me With what’s in front of me

(thank you, Third Day - Title: Mountain of God Album:Wherever You Are, 2005)

So Cute

One of the midwives with her family...they are so cute! 

Spirit of Christmas

Nothing like children to remind you of the joys of Christmas...IT's MINE!!!! Two or our staff kids fighting over a Christmas present. It really was hers and she told him so. 

Who's Covering the Clinic?!?

After spending a few days with us, Miss Ontario seems to be a little leery of who she is leaving to cover the maternity center as supervisors and staff.

Miss North Carolina having been used to the 6pm curfew up in the rural clinic gets quite giggly when we keep her up past 9pm. We thought she was just giddy when she tried to convince us they sing a song called the Redneck Reindeer in North Carolina.

Thanks to Google, we no longer suspect she brought a little something extra back from the tribes...there really is a LeeRoy the Red Neck Reindeer.

Yes, the clinic is in VERY good hands...

Santa, Baby

[referring to the song Santa Baby] "If the list of fellas not kissed is directly proportionate to the fulfillment of desired gifts, I am so totally cleaning up this year." - Joy Slabaugh

I'll be looking for that convertable and those checks...

We Won't Be Home For Christmas

Crystal 'n' I just letting you know we miss being there for Christmas (her prolific quote is in the post below).

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! My friend Crystal (down from the tribes to help cover the clinic over Christmas) says "The person who wrote 'I'll Be Home For Christmas' should be shot"...I got teary myself when I walked into a store to hear 'you will get a sentamental feeling when you hear...voices saying lets be jolly deck the halls with boughs of holly.'

Captivating

These ladies are tough!

Tribal Tat

This is a good example of the tribal tatoo the older women have up in the tribes. Girls used to get them for beauty. On men tats (esp on the face) were obtained when they killed someone (former headhunters) They are done with calamansi thorns (ouch) and the ladies said each arm took most of a day. 

The next generation

Youth group up in one of the tribes. They lost their meeting spot so they all came over to worship and pray with us. 

Glimpse of the tribes

Waking up in the tribes I was continually amazed at the beauty. 

Pine Trees?

At the end of our tribes trip three of us went further north to a little town with guest houses, pine trees, and COLD weather (what, 60?). Eating in this log cabin with a real tree and wool mittens made it feel like Christmas. This was definately the best Christmas present. (Almost feels like Christmas is over now that I'm back in the hot city)