Day 2036. Everyone was up early and loud so that sleep was not really possible. I finally got up myself before my alarm went off and started packing. We were done earlier than what we had planned to leave, but then Randy still had to load the car up, then we got in as well and drove off.
After 5 minutes we got to church, were lucky to find parking before the people from the 9 am service had come out, and walked into the building. It was about 10:15 am, so there were 15 more minutes before the service was over. I went inside to our table that had been moved to the other side of the room and sat down with Tammy.
The service ended at 10:30 am, but nobody really came to the table, except for one person I hadn't seen in years. We talked briefly. The kids were handing out brochures. At 11 am Randy took them to the kids' room for the second service, while I stayed in the sanctuary. I was very tired and kept my eyes closed most of the time. At the end of the service, the pastor mentioned Healing 2 The Nations and asked people to come visit us at our table. He said he wanted to see five people sign up to support us. I was very touched that he would say those things. Unfortunately it made no difference as no one stopped by our table. Everyone was eager to leave.
Randy and the kids returned, and the kids handed out some more of our brochures. Then they got on their tablets, while Randy and I started packing up. We carried everything to the exit, then Randy left to get the car and bring it to the entrance to load up. The kids were playing by the exit. Once Randy had returned, we loaded our stuff and the kids up and left. It was already 1:10 pm, and everyone was hungry.
We drove 17 minutes to our friends' house. We hadn't seen them in a year. It was great to see them again. We sat down at the table to have lunch, together with their three children. We had a great time eating and talking. After lunch, the kids went outside to play. There was a trampoline, and there was a swing. Sammy had lots of fun on the swing, as usual, while the others enjoyed the trampoline. And their daughter loves climbing and climbed to the top of one tree, with Tammy and another boy following.
Another friend of mine had arrived with her two sons by then. That friend had come to Mali five times - more often than anyone else. It was really great to see her again. We tried to call Paul but he didn't pick up. When I saw later that he had responded, I tried it again, and that time we were able to have a video-call with him, which we all enjoyed.
At one point it started raining so we all went inside. We then had some cake and coffee/tea. Later they went outside again, when the sun had come back out. Tammy was enjoying the family's little girl, 8 years old, while Emmy was playing with the older boy who was a year older than him. Sammy had really taken to the father of the family for some reason. He was clinging to him and having fun with him. Tammy and Emmy showed their piano skills, and Sammy was excited to get to play the piano as well.
Once it was 4:15 pm, we talked about leaving as we had a two-hour drive home. Nobody really wanted to leave as we were having so much fun, but it was time to say good-bye. It was 5 pm before we drove off.
The kids were on their tablets during our two-hour drive home. It rained a little during our drive. We got gas just before reaching our house, and go to our house just before 7:30 pm. Randy unloaded the car, then drove the car to the main train station to return it and took the train back home.
And so I was alone with the kids. They were hungry so I made bread with whatever they wanted for them, then started cutting fruit. I think they had missed their fruit during our 4 days away. I was also unpacking our suitcases, while they were eating. Then they went into the bathtub. It was Sammy's first time since his injury, so he was especially excited. They were having fun, then I got them out and ready for bed. I put Sammy to bed with a prayer, then the other kids still wanted a story. It was 9 pm, and then Randy walked through the door. Even though it was this late, I still read them a story, then they went to bed and were soon asleep. Randy and I went to the kitchen to get something to eat.
After having eaten, I downloaded the pictures and started working on them. Now it's 1:15 am, and I still have to unload and load the dishwasher.
