Daily life here

Many have asked what it is like here. I am staying in the home where M. has lived the last two years. There are 14 children at this children's home run by a Dutch woman (Mercy calls her "mama") and her husband. M. and I have our own little room and bathroom. It has been great as she gets to know me to be in a familiar environment.

Here is a little idea of what goes on at HSH:

• 6:30 am: M. wakes me up or the alarm goes off. She goes out the door and walks to the main house to take her medication, shower and get dressed.
• 7:00 am: I get up, shower and dress. The school aged children leave for school.
• 8:00 am: The kids take porridge. I eat a granola bar or some bread with peanut butter.
• 8:30 am to 12 pm: The children play. They have scooters, a swing, a trampoline, and several toys. Some like to play quiet games. Some like to be read to. M.'s favorite activities are riding the scooter, pushing someone on the scooter, or jumping on the tramp. If the weather is poor, they may watch a video inside.
• 12 pm: Lunch, beans and rice or posho usually.
• 1:00 pm: The older children arrive home, eat and do homework. Then they do some sort of activity. Sometimes it is exciting like walking to the market, going to mama's house, or walking to the nearby resort. Sometimes it is drawing or making art. Sometimes it is playing with the neighbor children or playing in water outside. Children also have chores to do as well. I sometimes take a break and go to my room for some quiet time, like now I am online. I have been working on a bible study as well.
• 5:00 pm: Shower time, the kids shower and get ready for dinner.
• 6:00 pm: Dinner. The kids sit down at a big long dining table and benches. They pray and eat their meal. Then they have a bible study, sing a few songs, thank the Lord, and brush teeth.
• 6:30 pm: The children usually watch a short video.
• 7:00 pm: Medication time. The children taking medication go to the auntie for water and meds. M. is usually ready to go to our room by then. We walk to our room, use the toilet, pray and quiet down for sleeping. She usually falls asleep by 7:45 pm.
• The rest of the evening I will spend reading, watching a movie, playing solataire, talking to family at home, or online. I try to go to sleep no later than 11 pm.