Wow! Two blogs in 8 days! It's almost a record.
You know the saying, "When it rains, it pours"? Well, that's pretty much what's happening around our house. (Not that it's really raining, which would be wonderful right now when the heat is making the humidity nearly unbearable.) I'm talking metaphorically here. All our appliances are breaking down. The microwave died about a week ago. It was really old and rusty and we bought it from other missionaries who were leaving--and it's lasted a good 2 years already. It started being weird and only running when the door was open. I didn't think having those little microwaves floating around the kitchen was terribly healthy so have decided not to use it.
The crock pot decided to stop working day before yesterday. I had put 2 chickens in it and gone out shopping. We had visitors coming that evening and I was going to have dinner ready. However, when I walked in the door, there were no wonderful smells of cooking chicken so I was sure something wrong. Sure enough it was only cooked a little bit. What a pain!
Yesterday, the bread machine decided to stop working. I got everything in the pan to make a loaf and the motor just whirred but didn't move the beater in the pan. After taking it apart, we saw the belt was broken. We can potentially fix this but only if we can get the spare part from South Africa--where the machine comes from. We'll see if that's even possible. We got a new pan last Sept. when someone was coming from SA. I must say this machine has been great. I've used it on average around 3 times per week for the last, nearly 3 years that we've had it.
And lastly, our freezer is dying. We got it 2nd hand from people who were leaving and I don't think they got it new. When we come back from Germany at Christmas, it would only freeze up about 3 inches from the bottom. A guy came and put freon in it and it worked for a while. Then the freeze level started going down again. We had it filled again but now it's going down again. Since we're going to Europe in about 3 weeks, I'll just leave it for now. However, it's leaking freon and we can smell it. Ugh!
I guess we'll need to make some decisions about some of this stuff. A microwave is nice to have but we don't HAVE to have it. The crock pot is great and I use it often, but... The bread machine is almost a must and the freezer is extremely useful. With it, I only have to go shopping about once a month! I hate shopping here, it's so difficult with road works and terrifying traffic!
As we used to say in Swahili, "Mungu anajua." "God knows" what is best to do.
The Stolls
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Thursday, 21 April 2011
It's official
SCHOOL'S OUT!!!
After a sprint to the finish--we only had 2 days off after Christmas--we have finished school. The girls all did pretty well this year.
The only shadow on our joy is that in just over a week, we have to say good-bye to Mae. We've had a great year together and are so glad she came out to teach this year.
After a sprint to the finish--we only had 2 days off after Christmas--we have finished school. The girls all did pretty well this year.
The only shadow on our joy is that in just over a week, we have to say good-bye to Mae. We've had a great year together and are so glad she came out to teach this year.
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
The Toothless Wonder (according to Fiona)
Yes, its official. Sydney has lost her first tooth! She is so proud of herself.
By the way, the Teddy-bear she received from the dentist in Germany was a big help.
Now, I'm sure she'll be waiting for the Tooth fairy to come.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
I’m having a cold
Well, this is nothing unusual. But when you consider that we are back in Africa, it might put a twist on my runny nose. We’ve just spent three weeks in snowy Germany, without the slightest cough by anyone in our family. However, on arrival in Togo, my nose started to run. By the way, did you know that when your nose runs and your feed smell, you are upside-down? Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
Here in Lomé, the Harmattan wind from the dessert has arrived and brought with it dust and dry weather. We’ve been keeping the windows open the whole day and it is only 30-40% humidity by 26C. The climate is almost perfect, if it wasn’t for the dust.
By the way, it was great being in Germany over Christmas (see the previous post). We were able to spend some quality time with my parents and sister Helga. Well, we can say, ‘mission accomplished’.
On our way back to Togo we had a layover in Egypt. We spent a full day in Cairo, doing what tourists do best: visiting the Gisa Pyramids, riding a camel, eating at KFC, visiting Garbage City and the Church in the Rock, shopping at an Arabian market, sailing on the river Nile and eating dinner with Egyptian friends. Needles to say that everybody loved the experience.
By now, the Kathy and the children are back in school, and I am getting ready for the next school year at the media school. When I’m not blowing my nose.
Here in Lomé, the Harmattan wind from the dessert has arrived and brought with it dust and dry weather. We’ve been keeping the windows open the whole day and it is only 30-40% humidity by 26C. The climate is almost perfect, if it wasn’t for the dust.
By the way, it was great being in Germany over Christmas (see the previous post). We were able to spend some quality time with my parents and sister Helga. Well, we can say, ‘mission accomplished’.
On our way back to Togo we had a layover in Egypt. We spent a full day in Cairo, doing what tourists do best: visiting the Gisa Pyramids, riding a camel, eating at KFC, visiting Garbage City and the Church in the Rock, shopping at an Arabian market, sailing on the river Nile and eating dinner with Egyptian friends. Needles to say that everybody loved the experience.
By now, the Kathy and the children are back in school, and I am getting ready for the next school year at the media school. When I’m not blowing my nose.
Christmas
This year for Christmas, we went to Germany to visit Roger's family. It was the first time in over 3 years that we had seen Oma and Opa. (Three year is waaaay too long--just ask any grandparents)
Anyway, it was loads of fun. We had snow from the very beginning until about a day and a half before leaving. Although the Germans were already tired of snow--it began snowing in mid-Nov--we loved it. It made Christmas seem so
...well, like Christmas should be. It was also wonderful to be with family and to have to wear jeans and shoes, as well as coats, etc.
Anyway, it was loads of fun. We had snow from the very beginning until about a day and a half before leaving. Although the Germans were already tired of snow--it began snowing in mid-Nov--we loved it. It made Christmas seem so
...well, like Christmas should be. It was also wonderful to be with family and to have to wear jeans and shoes, as well as coats, etc.
Friday, 19 November 2010
Family Portrait
We took family portraits this morning. After a while Sydney didn't cooperate anymore. We were all getting hot and sweaty. I lost my patience and got on to her for not smiling. As I hug her at the end I tell her that we sometimes need to do things, even if we don't feel like it. And she gives me this heart-wrenching responds: "Its hard to smile when you are crying inside". :-(
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
two full weeks in September
As I'm leaning back into my favorite thinking chair in my office, I am reflecting on the last two weeks and the impact they have had.
The time started with the Africa by Radio meeting here in Lomé. Representatives of local and international radio ministries came together to strategize and plan how to use radio most effectively to reach the remaining unreached people in Africa. These two days were followed by the annual meeting of the African Media Trainers. Together we identified major media training needs on the continent and ways of meeting them.
Kathy did a lot of work hosting as many guest as we have beds in our house. The rest of the visitors, from South Africa, UK, Canada, Sweden and Ghana stayed at a local hotel. However, they all had a chance to taste her culinary delights one evening, as Kathy, with the the help of many others, organised a BBQ for 30 people! For me it was definitely the highlight of all our meetings and get-togethers.
Just as the majority of delegates left Lomé, we welcomed the participants to a one-week Training of Trainers course. One of our strategies to tackle the immense training needs on the continent is to equipping African media practitioners to be able to pass on their skill and knowledge. So, finally, after many month of planning we held the first "Formation de Formateurs" in West Africa. We had 12 participants, from almost as many countries. It was a big challenge for me, since I was determined to teach in French. It went okay, but now my head is very tired. I really hope that these men and woman will pick up the task and improve the quantity and quality of Christian witness in the media in francophone Africa.
Finally, Sydney saved the day as our ministry leaders, Danny and AnnMarie Isenring, left from the airport in Lomé. We saw that they had problems at check-in. So, I tried to text Danny's mobile phone, but it wouldn't go through. As I was wondering how to contact them otherwise, Sydney had the idea to write something on my notebook and show it to them through the glass window that they had to pass on their way to the passport control. It worked! They saw us and we were able to find out that everything was okay. On our way out, Sydney said to me, 'Ain't I a saver-the-dayer'? Yes Sydney, you saved the day! :-)
The time started with the Africa by Radio meeting here in Lomé. Representatives of local and international radio ministries came together to strategize and plan how to use radio most effectively to reach the remaining unreached people in Africa. These two days were followed by the annual meeting of the African Media Trainers. Together we identified major media training needs on the continent and ways of meeting them.
Kathy did a lot of work hosting as many guest as we have beds in our house. The rest of the visitors, from South Africa, UK, Canada, Sweden and Ghana stayed at a local hotel. However, they all had a chance to taste her culinary delights one evening, as Kathy, with the the help of many others, organised a BBQ for 30 people! For me it was definitely the highlight of all our meetings and get-togethers.
Just as the majority of delegates left Lomé, we welcomed the participants to a one-week Training of Trainers course. One of our strategies to tackle the immense training needs on the continent is to equipping African media practitioners to be able to pass on their skill and knowledge. So, finally, after many month of planning we held the first "Formation de Formateurs" in West Africa. We had 12 participants, from almost as many countries. It was a big challenge for me, since I was determined to teach in French. It went okay, but now my head is very tired. I really hope that these men and woman will pick up the task and improve the quantity and quality of Christian witness in the media in francophone Africa.
Finally, Sydney saved the day as our ministry leaders, Danny and AnnMarie Isenring, left from the airport in Lomé. We saw that they had problems at check-in. So, I tried to text Danny's mobile phone, but it wouldn't go through. As I was wondering how to contact them otherwise, Sydney had the idea to write something on my notebook and show it to them through the glass window that they had to pass on their way to the passport control. It worked! They saw us and we were able to find out that everything was okay. On our way out, Sydney said to me, 'Ain't I a saver-the-dayer'? Yes Sydney, you saved the day! :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)