Sat. May 17

 Lonnie took Tulshi (our guard) with him to go find dim & ruti (scrambled eggs and torts) for breakfast. While them and Annslie were gone, Dipti showed up to clean.

She washed dishes, swept all the floors (both levels) and mopped the main floors.

I put in a load of laundry.

We went in to Khulna to Safe n Save in search of some groceries and fresh produce. A successful run and then spent a good half hour or so washing all the fruits n veggies.

The girls got the wash load hung out to dry on the roof.

Lonnie went up to the roof and picked mangoes. 

And I worked on getting potatoes and sausage in the oven and cutting up a fruit salad.

After supper we took a short walk in the village in the waning light of day. The village was bustling tho… cows being herded home, circle of men sitting cross legged on a dirt dokan floor playing cards, boys riding bike, etc.

Friday, May 16 Day of Worship

 Getting around this morning was slow going!..

Trying to find things, figure out what I had to make breakfast with and then locate the needed utensils, baking dishes, etc. We sat down to breakfast by noon, I believe🤔… biscuits and gravy.

4:00 was the church service. Lewis parked his CNG in side our gate and walked with us. Bros Samir and Kobid showed up on their motorcycles. Unlocked the metal building on a bamboo framework, propped the windows open with sticks, swept the concrete floor, set the plastic chairs up, put the songbooks out. There are 3 ceiling fans that have been installed since we were here last, a lovely improvement!!🤗 one of them was having issues so it was left it off.

Bro Liton showed up and also a regular attendee. Partway thru the service 3 children joined us..

The 10 yr old girl that sat down beside me, it sounded like she said her name was Oompa, and her brother and another boy found chairs on the men’s side. After church their mothers showed up in the entry.

The 2 Brothers conduct the service here, opening songs, message where he interpreted for us, but still difficult to follow. Lonnie did share a few thoughts. But it was so different from the Dhaka service where Jared led all the songs and him and Lonnie took turns with opening and message and was easy to follow…. 

Another great improvement since our last visit here: Annslie sat in church with me thru the entire service!!

On the way home we decided to check out the gathering behind the school or more specifically, to the right and behind of the mosque. It was a ”free medical camp” put on by a European Christian group. They were doing diabetes checks, there was a scale out there, blood pressure cuff,etc and they had just given a wheelchair to a man who was missing both legs just below the knee. There were speeches and clapping and the man in the wheelchair gave an emotional Thankyou speech. They wanted to give the white American a chance to talk in front of the 🎤 also but about that time it wouldn’t work, so Lonnie didn’t have to share any words after all!😎 we soon continued on our way home.

The toddler was overdue a nap but the church goers were all still hanging out at our gate. I don’t know what they were waiting for, but we headed inside to put Annslie down for a nap and recuperate…

Getting food on the table today has been a real challenge! Finally sat up to rice n beans, vinaigrette, and cabbage salad by 9:00! 

Here is the Google maps link to our house here in Khulna

https://maps.app.goo.gl/s1E7BiMHHVWYoHz7A?g_st=iw

Thurs. May 15 Moving Day

 Also our 3 months, in BD, mark.

We ran several loads thru the washer, had breakfast, and loaded everything up. The crew from Jared’s walked over to say “Bye” and see us off. The things that didn’t fit in our van were loaded into Jared’s and he drove halfway. We left shortly after 9:00. Doyle drove up from Gopalgonj to bring it the rest of the way. Jaira jumped in with him and Amaryllis (7 yrs old, but the oldest in her fam., not shy, chatty 😉). Stopped in Gopalgonj for lunch at a street side cafe. Arrived at feda palace, our new home in Khulna, at 2:30.

After unloading, Doyle and Amaryllis headed home. We rested just a bit, made some sweet tea, and then worked on unpacking our totes and finding a place for everything. It will be so wonderful to not live out of totes anymore!

“Are we excited to start this next chapter?”, the questioned is asked of us. The girls have been really excited!🤩  But for myself, it feels like starting all over again with making a house our home, getting familiar with the shopping available here, making new friends, learning/figuring out a new routine, etc. This kind of upheaval so soon again is… not easy! You can say a prayer for us, if you think of it, as we try to settle into a new groove here.

We’ve found ourselves perking up to the familiar sound of the “beep, beep” of a (small transport) horn, we even went to the window the 1st couple times to check! But no Sayd Ali waiting in his rickshaw to take Lonnie and sometimes Annslie too out for cha!.. Just strangers passing by… hopefully it won’t have to be this way too long!

Wed. May 14

Last day as Dhaka residents.

 We went to another Aarongs this morning to shop for a teacher Thankyou/farewell gift. This is such a fun store to shop! We will take you there when you come to visit😊

On to the clinic for lunch. Miss Shana had requested beef curry for her last lunch there😋 rice, French fries, hot vegetables, and dhal. Shana gave the ladies each a fun bag of lotion, chapstick, face mask, .. and an orna for a farewell gift. 

We made good progress with our packing this afternoon while Annslie napped. 

Miss Shana and Khira spent awhile cleaning out the classroom. 

Maddie, Jaira, n I  heated up leftovers for supper while Annslie and Lonnie went for cha with Sayd Ali.

As a last minute thing Shana and Khira’s fellow Scenic Ridge friend Sarah Shelter, who’s teaching in Nepal, got a plane ticket and flew in late tonight to spend these last days with the girls before Shana and Khira fly back to America.

 Let’s just say Scenic Ridge is really doing their part with sending girls out to the foreign field! It’s so phenomenal that they all get to spend a few days together here on the other side of the world! I do believe they are living it up😉

 side note: they are 21 and 22 yr olds.. I think that’s about the perfect age to enjoy what they are doing,  before they settle in to married life.. can’t wait to find out who the lucky guys are😂

Tuesday May 13

 Miss Shana’s friend, Khira Shultz (Weldon & Julie’s, Scenic Ridge,OH) who’s on her way home from teaching a term in Awassa, Ethiopia for Ezra & Monica Slabaugh arrived today!

We met her in the evening, when we gathered at the clinic for singing. And Herfy’s for supper.

Monday, May 12

 Lunch in Dumni-

parked the van out by the road 

Sayd ali guided us to Hiron & Elena’s place…down a foot path with “homes” on each side of the path, Right next to the path! A rope tacked to the outside of a concrete wall of a home with clothes over it, drying. Winding our way back in, with Sayd ali proudly carrying Annslie, we came to the ground level entrance of a 2-story concrete abode, shed our flip flops before going up a shiny ✨ tile staircase and entering the 2nd level of a spotless home! We were taken to a bedroom where the sliding glass doors were quickly closed and the A.C. was turned on! 

We were instructed to sit on the bed.

 Fresh squeezed orange juice was brought to us in goblets and then miSti(sweet) balls, cakes of light crispy noodle snacks, and then the Best Bangla noodles I’ve had yet😋.. the perfect flavor and amount of spice 👌🏼 served on porcelain dishes… goblets and porcelain dishes in the hands of a 2 yr old are a bit nerve racking but we managed the occasion without shattering anything!!…marvelous things do still transpire 🤦🏼‍♀️

This couple has a beautiful 15 yr old daughter named Tisha  

We did a lot of sitting and waiting and trying to make a few stabs at conversation. This place has quite a nice view- looking straight down is dense vegetation and their previous small home/shack with a rusty metal roof and then beyond a body of water was the highway. We watched birds for awhile.. there were a couple of kites- they look like bald eagles with their white heads and big bodies..

 Eventually the Pink City pharmacist “doctor” that could speak some English showed up and another man. Now it was time for lunch!

After inquiring we were told they have only been in this house a month! It’s Brand new✨

In the evening went down the road 15 min./6.5 km to the massive mall here. I just had to marvel again what we arrived at after our short drive!

We shopped Aarongs and came away with some treasures☺️

Mother’s Day 💐

 Happy Mother’s Day to my Moms and Mom friends💕

Maddie went to some effort for the day for me💝

Came downstairs in the morning to her at the kitchen sink making good progress on the dishes from the night before, the table was set for breakfast, and a burlap UniMart bag with a note “for momma”.

Her gift was a pretty craft stick creation complete with faux flowers and a sweet note💞

Just as we were finishing breakfast, the familiar sound of our rickshawala friend Sayd ali’s horn beeping and Lonnie and Annslie left for cha in Dumni. When they got back Annslie let Sayd ali bring her into the house (much to his delight) and he sat in the living room a bit in the wonderful cool of air conditioning😌

Lonnie and the girls started on packing their suitcases for our Dhaka departure. Then Lonnie got side tracked with sharpening the kitchen knives.

I made good progress with the alterations on my tailor made dress. Was on the final seam when the machine needle broke😏

After lunch Sayd ali was back by for Lonnie.

In the evening was Layton’s 8th birthday party at Jared’s. Brianna had decorated a cake with a farming theme.. a big dirt 8 made out of crushed Oreos? Toy John Deere tractor and implement, fence with cows and a Lego hay bale, .. she’d made some yummy pinwheels, crackers/meat/cheese plate, mixed nuts, popcorn, I’d brought a fruit platter, and Shana had made mint tea and mint garden tea.