It's OK

Yep it didn't take long and things looked brighter. We have just come home from the book study and I can report I understood the questions, was able to answer and read a scripture (without too many mistakes) and then also converse quite well afterwards with the bro's.I was able to tell them my story about the censo and they understood what I was talking about.

Thank you everyone for your very encouraging words - we really appreciate you taking the time to spur us on! We'll keep on keeping on a bit longer!

Anyway who could be sad for long when we have dogs like this to look at??

We are told we have to "just smile"

Anything official is a pain in the proverbial here and we have certainly found that out.
I might have mentioned that I lost my censo which is a ID card you must carry with you (no one has ever asked for it mind you) and I have been trying to get it replaced.
I rolled up to the Registration place where we first got it and they told me I had to have a police report saying I had lost it. Ok so a couple of days later I finally found a Police Station up the hill from us and by an interpretor was told I had to have a document from the registration place saying I needed a police report!!! I thought that really can't be true so today went to find the main police station. We were sent by the information office to the other side of the city and finally found the place - interesting that the police station has cows in the front yard! The very unhelpful chap in there gruffly told us - no we were in the wrong place and needed to go back into the city. It took us another hour to find the very small office. Well that is not the end of the story cause I explained my problem to the guy in there and he told me (hah I should really say - yelled at me, cause I had interrupted his game of patients on the computer) - I needed a document from a lawyer! Unbelievable! I could not stand it anymore and instead of just smiling as we have been advised - I burst into tears! Mark had to take me to a coffee shop to calm me down. And so the saga continues....

3 Month Crash

10am
We have both had a little bit of a crash and feel a little low - not homesick low (well perhaps a little - could do with an Amanda hug) but just so frustrated with ourselves still with the language thing.
Yesterday when I was walking up the hill to a study at 8a.m it hit me. Here I was in a 3rd world country walking by myself in a neighborhood that if in NZ would probably be condemned to conduct a study in a language I still haven't got come to grips with yet - who did I think I was kidding? I desperately wanted to be in safe old Tauranga doing what I had done all my life - speaking and preaching in English. By the time I got to the house I was really doubting myself. I coped ok and I know it is not my words that would be what reached the womans heart anyway but still I feel extremely disappointed in myself - Mark says we are probably being too hard on ourselves and I guess he is right. We would like to wake up one morning and know we can go out and communicate with whoever we meet. Maybe we are just missing our lifelines - the other Gringos from Gringo Hill.
It's 3 pm and we have just come back from return visits - we walked for miles and no one was home so still not feeling back on top of things. I am a bit concerned that I won't be able to handle 70 per month and am considering staying a continuous auxiliary pioneer come September. We had to go out this afternoon as I had one hour left in my time for this month and I have to tell you it was hard work. Maybe I am better off not killing myself! Mark will be ok - he is stronger and able to walk up the hills easier - we shall see though - things may change in the next couple of months.

It's a monologue & E's news! Lucky you!

It was our privilege to host the farewell party for the other Gringos in the congregation - who have all deserted us!!! Thank goodness Barbara is still here!
Let me tell you about the Party System here. 1st the find some poor fool to say yes to being the hosts (well should I say the supplier of the house - it's really a Clayton's Party - the party you have without having a party). They converge on the house and no place is sacred or out of bounds. We were asked to each give $1 towards the dinner and we could have left it all in their hands but I have learnt from previous experiences that dinner won't turn up till at least 7.30 (the party starts at 4pm) so I decided to provide snacks too - a good idea but I should have had a lot more - they ran out by 6pm. We were happy to do it for C & M and the others though - they have done so much for us.
When the dancing got started the PO happily said that Mark and I would demonstrate NZ dancing. After a long day of preparation and also a couple of hours witnessing (starting at 8a.m) - I was so not in the mood but of course there was no getting out of it so once again we trotted out a chacha. We are definitely practicing something else before the next do!
There were so many people here - it was just amazing. In fact it seemed like there were 4 separate parties were going on at one stage. Some out in the front courtyard - singing to the guitar, dancing in the lounge - a group chatting in the back courtyard and of course the kids playing havoc in the upstairs rooms.
Dinner consisted of a huge pot of rice, another of a meat dish - supposedly chili - but they don't like really spice food here so it was very very mild. Also a slightly strange salad made of beans, corn and what looked like beetroot.
They have the system of feeding the multitudes down pat with the kids fed first - then sisters and finally brothers. In the line you are handed a spoon, a plate of food and a fizz drink of whatever variety (no choosing - I always end up with a fruity variety that tends to make me feel a little sick).
After the tucker it's back to dancing and having a great time.
The house was trashed and it took days to get the mud out of the "carpet" and the floor needed 5 washes but really it was quite cool and at least we didn't have a long walk home!
With reference to my new look - yeah I know I said I wouldn't do it again - but really who could resist the $25 dye jobs they offer here? I am hoping it will mean I don't get so stared at - although that may be a little too much to ask for.

Exciting News (for us anyway)

After days of waiting and many frustrating phone calls - we are finally on the internet and I can blog from the comfort of mi casa! Wahooo!!!!!
E's news update coming soon!

E´s News

Some of you have expressed the thought that you prefered my E news video to the written monologue and so I have another episode ready for you.Sorry but I have not had time to do a voice over (a fortunate thing for you) but I hope you enjoy it anyway. Please feel free to ask any questions that the following broadcast may raise - I will be happy to try and find the answer. I have to make an amendment to the comment about it being 70 ks drive - it was 70 miles! You will notice the beautiful blue sky and me with a scarf on - it was a little chilly until later in the morning when it got very warm - especially when we were on the walk. Fasinating place to look at.

OK - so maybe I have a little too much time on my hands