Since school didn't work for Elizabeth it was discussed for us to spend part of our 7 weeks in Arusha with a second host family in order to experience life with a different family. We moved to our second families home last Monday. It is very different. Judy and Ondo are the parents (he is a member of the New Life Band also and she works in the office there.) There are 6 kids who live here in there late teens to early 20's. One is a biological kid and the others are all kids that were taken in my Judy and Ondo. They feel that God has given them a lot and this is how they are giving back. They are all in some form of school or working toward it (as I said, the system here is a bit different). Not only are there their 6 kids, there are always different kids coming and going. I think we have had at least one extra guest almost every night I have been here.
They also host a lot of people. Before we got here they had a family of 4 from Wisconsin for 2 weeks. They know people from all over the world and are always open to guests. Right now there is one other here with us and there will be one other coming at the end of the week and one who is climbing the mountain that will be back Monday. This place is so hopping right now that some of the kids are in tents outside (including mine by choice).
Tent over the other tents outside. This is where Elizabeth has been sleeping with one of the girls.
Their house is much bigger. The start of the house was a gift from someone that had stayed with them years ago (when they only had one child). The gift covered the foundation and about 3 feet of construction. It took 9 years until it was ready to move into. When they got a little money, they added to it. When they did finally move in there weren't any flooring or ceilings. Actually, it still isn't really even finished yet. There is a room upstairs that is suppose to become a bathroom someday and there are some other projects that are needing to be done, but it is beautiful all the same. One thing about here, people don't tend to get loans. They do things as they can. There are some loans to be had but they are a very high interest rate.
Outside of the House
Kitchen is much bigger. Yes, that is a clothes washing machine (another gift from guests) however the girls are still to do laundry by hand since they need to know how because they may not marry someone that can afford one.
The kids are all amazing! They are the most loving group of young people. Elizabeth is loving her time with them. I am not sure how she will function at home without her sisters! The girls are in charge of household chores including making dinner, cleaning dishes and doing laundry. When they are making dinner at night there is so much giggling going on. They all truly love each other. Just goes to show that family isn't always about the blood!
Every night the family does a Devotion. Each night a different "pastor" is selected. Elizabeth got to do one on one of the first nights we were here. The pastor can decide what is going to happen. It can include dancing and music, a reading, a discussion, and of course some praying. I love this time of night. It is a great way to end the day.
Ondo singing one of his songs.
It is not unusual to move furniture around and dance.
Elizabeth loves the dancing.
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