How to make a missionary smile; Kitchen Aid mixers and washing machines; the one was a straight out gift, the other a gift by a more circuitous route. Now, to explain. When serving as a missionary, everything we own, receive, purchase or make is either straight out or indirectly, a gift. We are able to do what we do purely because others believe in what we do and are generous enough to give to keep us out here. Payday is a thing of the past and every time I request for and receive cash from our mission cashier I am aware of the sacrifice made so that I am able to do so. Recently I was being given a tour on the African Mercy, the new Mercy Ship docked here in Monrovia. As I was shown through the lovely 6-unit mini-galley in which the crew can do their own cooking or baking should they wish to, I admired the beautiful Kitchen Aid mixers at each station. Someone had donated these for the crew to use and I was floored by the generosity this gift which was beyond merely practical but, oh so wonderful. I remarked that I had never had one but that most of my sisters and nieces had one in their kitchens. (of course, they all cook/bake more than I do) As I was leaving the ship my tour guide asked me to wait a bit. She returned bearing a Kitchen Aid! It was a spare one for which she had earlier received permission to give it as a gift to someone who may need one. Now I’m making my own bread. I love to listen to the dough hook do my kneading for me. It makes me smile. The washing machine…Laundry in this climate is a challenge. Nothing should be worn twice due to the sweat factor in this humidity but that makes for lots of laundry. If you don’t have a washing machine you hire a “wash lady” who comes weekly to pummel and wring your clothes out of shape, all the while getting them very clean. Bare hands rarely are able to wring them out as dry as the spin cycle so drying time is longer. In rainy season my rooms often looked like a Chinese laundry as I tried to get my clothes as dry as possible before putting them away. SIM was having a container set our way so I asked the purchasing person there to please buy me a basic washing machine and debit it from my support account. You can not imagine the glee of unpacking, hooking up and then washing your first load of laundry in your own washing machine! And then to have God so graciously arrange for a dry 2 days in the midst of rainy season. I gathered up all the things I’d been saving for this moment, things too difficult to wash well by hand. In went the throw rugs and out they came, cleaner than I could ever remember. In went a blanket and out it came, fresh and dry after 2 hours in the sun. In went an unusable foam pillow that smelled like mouldy cheese and out it came, smelling better than new. My T-shirts are actually regaining some of their original shape. No longer am I restricted to doing laundry only Saturday. I can do a load after work if the sun happens to be shining. That too makes me smile. While my life is so much more than laundry and the occasional bread baking spree I want to give God glory for the special ways He blesses His children, just because He loves us and wants to do this for us. I am in week 2 of a 2-week holiday from the clinic. I chose not to go anywhere but to use this time to do catch–up work. A change is supposed to be as good as a rest. The painting in my bedroom is almost finished, the security bars between garage and house are almost finished, my wardrobe and bookcase are to be delivered today but then need painting before they come inside, my bathroom still needs its paint put on and towel hooks screwed on to the concrete walls (hard work) and my letter writing still needs finishing. I have 6 days to finish all that is still incomplete…sigh! It may be good to get back to the clinic to get a break from these somewhat mundane but needful tasks. I have been asked to “preach” at the church I attend on the last Sunday in July. There are about 300-400 people there each Sunday. I want to speak God’s word. I want to be an encourager and to talk of God’s great faithfulness, something on the “tell it to your children and your children’s children” theme. I feel it is so important that we keep the history of God’s working in our lives alive for future generations. We all love stories and what better way to speak of God’s faithfulness than through stories. I would appreciate your prayers. I’m baking bread today and then making soup of some kind because Wayne and Donna are coming for supper. But first I have to get to the internet, pick up money to pay all the pipers (carpenters, welders and masoners), fetch the car to go to town to get more propane so I can actually bake the bread…and I wanted to finish painting the bedroom too. See you! A week and a half later; I made pie for dessert, inspite of not having any pie pans or a rolling pin. and it was good! The bedroom is painted and lovely, the bathroom too is painted and has potential....(not so lovely a colour, oh well), the metal security grates are up outside and painted and it is SO VERY GOOD to be back to work in the clinic again. Today is Liberia's Independance day, a big holiday here. A perfect chance to get on line seeing so few are on so it is faster. Now I must go get my laundry on the line while the sun is still shining. Love to you all, frieda | 
