Yesterday (Wednesday) was market day, a weekly event here in Galmi. Traders come from out-of-town to sell their various goods. We enjoyed perusing the stalls finding things familiar (oranges, onions) as well as unfamiliar (aromatic spices, peanut paste rolled into balls). Non-food stuff was also available (soap, rope, plastic bins/basins, hardware, kindling, charcoal); basically a one stop shop for all one’s basic needs. Thankfully we were accompanied by a couple who has been here for a while, which enabled us to ask questions and purchase items we needed. Stephanie and Dianna found fabric and plan to have traditional style outfits (skirt, top and head wrap) made to wear to church and other cultural events.
The market was about a 20 minute walk from the hospital. This photo was taken as we approached the back entrance to the market.
Along the way we stopped in a few local “shops” where one can find staple items (soap, dry beans, rice, tomato paste, pasta noodles, matches, flavored drink mixes etc.).
We often end up using hand gestures to communicate our needs.
We were pleasantly surprised by the variety, and we were particularly excited to find couscous (one of our all time favorites grains). We will certainly be making return trips to these local shops.
This tasty treat is made from black eye peas which are ground into a powder then made into a dough and fried -- like a hush puppy with a spicy kick. These ladies made a fresh batch just for us to try.
The kids stayed home -- we figured that given the distance walked in the mid-day heat and heavy crowd would be a little too much with them in tow, at least for our first time. Maybe we will venture out another time when she can come along. If we had to pick what would be Gracie’s favorite part, it would definitely be the animals.
Camels are frequently seen, as are donkeys and goats. Gracie is quick to point them out every chance she gets.
Gracie has become friends with two dogs on the compound. She loves to pet them and talk to them: “Hi, doggy. Hi, doggy...”
\Thankfully they are older dogs and their passive natures are a good fit for our gregarious toddler. The other kids enjoy them, too.
The airstrip (which is in our backyard) is another marvel for Gracie. Today she was thrilled that the “airpane” returned to pick up a couple of ladies and take them back to the capital.
The majority of folks gather to greet the plane -- either to welcome or bid farewell to its passengers. Today two ladies were leaving, so goodbyes were in order. This is the same 4-seater Cessna that transported our families; you can now appreciate why it took two separate trips to get the 7 of us here.
Local folks also enjoy watching the plane land and take off.
Today was also a cooking day for us. We have been blessed by invitations to dinner the last three nights, so tonight was our first meal on our own: eggplant, chickpeas, onions, tomatoes and garlic sauteed with spices and served over couscous. Yum!
Other random accomplishments:
- Survived first week of cloth diapering...still committed but scrounging around for every disposable we can find : )
- Successful flour tortillas
Gracie is definitely a fan of these.
We anticipate these will be incorporated into meals regularly. Plus they make a yummy snack.
- Batch of yogurt from powdered milk. Turned out tasty, just a little runny.
From the hospital end, Dean is mainly working in the obstetrics right now. He sees a lot of patients and unfortunately not all of their stories have happy endings. Both Dean and Marc are working hard to acclimate to this new environment: language barriers (French and Hausa), less familiar diseases (malaria, tetanus), different formulary and treatment options, etc. Please continue to pray for their stamina, encouragement, emotional stability, and health.
Dean hopes to share in more detail about his experiences and what he is learning. But for now our days seem long and nights seem short, which leaves little time for writing (although this posted ended up being rather long). We anticipate this will change as a more familiar routine develops.
Savoring His Blessings,
DD&G
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