Home Stay in the village

Part of our training included moving in for 3 days and 3 nights with a family in the village. We would sleep in their houses, eat what they ate and do what they did.  If they worked in the field, we would too.  If they walked to draw water from the well, we would too.  If they killed a chicken...
It was probably the most rewarding part of our 40/40 experience... living in a village, in a hut, with no electricity and running water. (Heather would tell you that this would be my dream location!) Our family was incredibly hospitable to us... we only wish we could speak more of their language as their English was a little limited.  But they were wonderful hosts and teachers.

I love the following two pictures.  When we first arrived a bunch of kids gathered on the other side of the bushes to look at the white people.  Elijah was outgoing and tried to engage them in conversation.  These boys did not speak any English.  (Click on any of the pictures below if you want to enlarge them)

Elijah found that a smile and laughter can break down many barriers!

This is the hut that we stayed in for three nights.

Our family fed us constantly!  This picture was taken just after we arrived.

Of course, we were supposed to do what they did.  So while Heather did this:

and this:

 and this:

 and this:

 David sat on this:

 and did a lot of this:

 and this:

and a little of this:

The kids did great:

Picking cotton:

 preparing to make peanut butter:

 and making friends:

The sunset our last night there:

We had a great time and hope to see this family again.  Here is a pic of us leaving early Monday Morning:

If you are keeping up, we are almost done with blogging about our 40/40 experience.  One more blog post to go on finishing up at the retreat center!