The lovely ladies...and Jack!

This is one of my favorite pictures from my trip home to Massachusetts! I miss you all!

Our new friend, Amani

I meant to write about this sooner but Mark and I have volunteered with the Hagerstown Refugee Resettlement Center and are helping out a refugee named Amani. He is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) but lived in a refugee camp for SEVEN years in Tanzania. He has only been in the US since May and is still getting acquainted with our way of life here. He came here without any family and lives in an apartment by himself. Some of the things we have helped him do/learn are:

-How to do his laundry at the laundromat (using the change machine, measuring the soap, feeding the machine, setting the cycles and temperature, how to transfer it to the dryer, etc.)
-How to use the toaster oven to make toast
-How to use a can opener
-Going to Walmart and grocery shopping
-How to check his messages on his cell phone and place calls
-What to bring to the dry cleaners and the difference between the laundromat and cleaners.

Anyway, there have been funny moments during our visits. We told Amani he was funny and tried to explain what "funny" meant but he said "Me!?" He has a little mini disco ball that lights up and rotates above his stereo so we know he is listening to his music sometimes when we pull up because we can see the rainbow of colors outside. He really likes Shania Twain, Celine Dion, and Shakira. His interpretation of "Hips Don't Lie" was especially entertaining. His birthday is this Thursday so we are going to bring him to our house on Sunday and throw a little birthday dinner for him. Should be fun times!

I'll try to keep you updated on our future visits!

GETTING CLOSE!

I can't belive it but my trip is right around the corner! 11 days and I will be headed to NYC to catch my plane to AFRICA!!! Ahhh! I am ready. I am kind of holding my breath, afraid that something will stop me from going. Just too good to be true I guess. Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive!! It means a lot and I really appreciate it.