Dear friends,
It's always darkest before the dawn they say. I think the dimmest hours with my two new boys are about over. We are getting through the adjustment phase of culture shock, bedwetting, language barriers, bathroom etiquette, etc. to the daybreak of routine daily living.
Mohamed and Tomba, two gentlemen from Sierra Leone who live here is KC area, have been very supportive. They have visited the boys here in our home and spoken with them about their new life. Tomba's wife, Rosa, also paid these little guys a visit. She arrived in a beautiful native dress. What an elegant figure she was in her wide collared tan dress with it's tiered skirt. White embroidery embellished the entire garment . Her numerous dark braids were wrapped in a matching headpiece. She was lovely. Her gentle voice and soft features greeted these little visitors with a motherly smile. I loved her immediately. She laughed and chatted easily with the boys. Tomba is a lucky man.
Francis has benefited substantially from the input of these men. Mohamed fluently speaks "mendey" and can communicate well with this boy. So much to try and absorb, no wonder Francis has been struggling. The last two days I have seen a marked imnprovement in his attitude and demeanor. I am certain Mohamed's encouraging phone calls and "mom's" firm discipline have triggered the turn around. He has been silent, sullen and unmanageable thus far. Now he is cooperative, talkative, cheerful and obedient. In fact, he is just plain happy.
We were dressing for a luncheon on Saturday and Michael had on a pair of high-water khaki's that he has recently outgrown. He slipped them off and I held them in front of Francis. Perfect fit. I folded them carefully and handed them to him. You have never seen a face so bright and joyful. "Thank you Mike!" he said in perfect english with a sparkling smile. What a beautiful face he has. He proudly put his new pants in his drawer.
Salifu is in perpetual motion. He NEVER stops chattering, singing or moving. He and Francis both know an african version of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and "London Bridge is Falling Down". Today they were contentedly kicking goals in the driveway with their new soccer balls. Salifu also enjoys chasing his new slinky down the stairs. You should see them both perform for the security cameras at the Target entrance.
Sal was fascinated by an historical Men-at-Arms book I have for school about the Roman legions. He opens it and starts talking. Most of what he chatters about is completely unintellligle to me. However, one illustration seemed to enthrall him. It was of a warrior holding an enemy's head back by the hair with a sword ready to strike at his neck. Of all the english words this little boy knows there are a few I can understand clearly. He can plainly say "soldiers, bullet, die, burn them, camo, cut their hands, chop, chop."
Thanks to a dear lady, Lou Keyes, of a local amputee club called Leaps, the children attended a circus on Saturday night as VIP guests. The language barrier keeps me from asking them all about it. I know they were beaming as they rode the elephant and watched the man put his head in the lions mouth. They were fascinated by this adventure. Someday I hope they can tell me all about it. It was a big success.
In accordance with Kansas law, all children must have their immunizations in order to attend school. Today was my two boys lucky day. Two shots in one leg, and two in the other plus a TB test on the arm. Thank goodness for lollipops. It took 4 of us to accomplish this mundane task. They were quite proud of their bandaids and bravery later however as they tried to tell Nellie and Mike about the ordeal. Hopefully they will be regulars at Harmony Elementary by the first part of April.
Francis has his first surgery Thursday. They will release his right wrist and elbow with skin grafts. Within a month he should have a nearly normal range of motion with that arm. Amazing.
Sorry if you are bored. I do this more for my own records than anything else. Let me know if you don't want to receive these updates.
Time for bed,
Ann