January 23rd

Karen, Ryan and Gretchen (the two medical students we’ve had
for the last for weeks) set out for Freetown at a little after 9 this
morning. The medical students are spending a few days in and
around Freetown before they return to the United States on
Thursday. Then Karen will return Thursday evening with two
new medical students who I don’t know. After they left Tom
and I got ready and went to the Katherie church this morning.
It’s definitely my favorite church, small and no loud speakers to
make my poor ears hurt during worship. A little kid named
Jessie sat with me through the service, I’ve met him before but
I don’t know when but apparently he likes me because he came
right over to me and sat next to me (which required me to
move over as there was no space). The biggest drawback to the
service is that the message is in Krio and Limba, and I just don’t
know Krio well enough. I’m still working on that but it’s hard.
After church Tom and I wandered around the market. He
hadn’t gone down there in a while and he was looking at the
fabric available because he wants to maybe make some ties for
gifts. The medical students had some made and it gave him the
idea. I was also looking for some fabric for a dress for Karen
that matched some fabric she already had picked for it. What
made her trust me with that I have no idea, I didn’t even know
that pink and red shouldn’t go together (long story short a prom
date in HS was going to wear pink and I suggested a red dress
shirt and almost got attacked by the lady at the tux place she
responded no so forcefully). Tom and I spent the afternoon
inside resting out of the heat. It’s starting to get hot again in
the afternoons (not that it wasn’t before, I guess I should say
hotter). The “cool” time of the year has lasted less than a
month, I imagine it’ll be gone before the end of the first week
in February. The nights are starting to warm back up as well.
Anyway, around 4 or so Tom and I walked over to the tailor to
deliver the fabric I had found for Karen’s dress. I took a little
creative liberty so I hope she likes it. I think it will be nice but
like I said… After that we spent until 6 walking around exploring.
After dinner when the power came on we watched a movie
called Letter to Juliet. It was a pretty good movie, a good deal
of humor but not a comedy, my favorite type of humor I don’t
like most pure comedies. Anyway, that’s about all for today,
have a great night.

Blessings from Kamakwie,
Ryan Brooks