so much going on

we have had a busy time on our hands here lately. does that mean it's spring? we can't tell any difference in the weather other than it's not raining EVERY day :D. we have had a lot of workers at our house again.
+hazel had a bed made that has stairs up to it and she can play underneath...ohhh soo big!
+the kids had a long table and benches made to hold them while they draw and eat with friends and what not...then we are painting them all fun...so it's good! then we had little step stools made i am going to go check out a local furniture factory here and see if he would be interested in started some painted furniture and then we could teach and employ those who need better work? if anyone knows or needs this kind of thing stateside...let me know :D. this guy already has a lot of connections...it's just a matter of him wanting to take us on :D
+we are making our driveway cuz we reached the 6 month mark and we can get a car! but friends in our org are going to be stateside for 6 months...maybe a year...so we can borrow their car until they return. we just have to wait till may 20 to get it...no problem! even our fence is being painted and we are adding a lot of plants around...feels very good to be getting these things done! and the fence in our front yard is pretty cool...i have to take a picture when it's done.
+school had a fun day last week where we painted faces on the kids and next week is an elementary track and field day...i'm excited to see Gavin race for that!
+we end unit 4 this week in lang...so that mean we get out of school on thursday and friday! and then we start unit 5 on monday again. i am still not a very good lang. learner but somehow i am able to communicate :D this week i will be teaching about 20+ ladies how to make earrings in our neighborhood...they are all so excited...so i hope my lang. holds up for that :D they are calling me "Guru Marta" which means "teacher Martha"
+then i also hope to meet with a group of prostitutes that i met with back 7-8 years ago. i used to help teach them art to make for money instead of being on the streets. i don't know if it will work this week, but hopefully by next week! that is exciting for me cuz they want someone to help them learn English...I KNOW English...:D hopefully i can help again :D
+the kids have been pretty sick all week. fever, bad coughs, throw up, the big D...now they just have bad coughs...hazel might still be sick and still sound the worst...but she rests the least...so naturally she will take longer...poor girl is trying to learn potty training as well...she is doing great though! no diapers back on her anymore!
+Greg has been really improving in his lang. and has long conversations with almost anyone. i am glad i married him...he can get us through anything! He is also growing so much with His relationship with God right now...it's a bursting time for him where he is seeking and finding in a way he has never known God before. we are blessed to know a God who cares so much for our details in life...and HE never gives up on us!
+i too have been having a lot of exciting things going on in my relationship with God. He is showing me so much in picture form that i will treasure it always...and i have been asked to give my testimony to the school here before it ends in 5 weeks. i did that 7-8 years ago as well and i think about what i talked about then...in comparison to what i have to ADD to it now....and it's amazing how far God has brought me in that time. i too am blessed here.

and while i can list all the amazing things going on...somehow even after 6 months...it remains hard to be here. somehow we will always be foreigners in this land and we will always long for the road where people can at least understand what is coming out of our mouths. where people understand why i doctor my children the way i do. where i can sit with an old friend face to face. where i don't get stared at for walking down the street. where i can do things like shopping, getting from point A to point B, seeing a Dr. and getting all projects done quickly and efficiently. i guess culture stresses will always be here and sometimes i will have a great attitude about it and sometimes i will have a rotten attitude about it. lately...it's been getting rotten again...but I know we are here for bigger reasons than Culture Barriers...there are TREASURES to be found in our own hearts as well...so please keep praying for our attitudes to see the treasures.

i know i haven't been keeping up with the blog as good but i will keep trying...thanks for reading!