July 4th, Ghana heartbreak and Research

hey everyone, its another week and another day. I am now working on my eighth week were. So, on Sunday I will have been here two months meaning I have one month left! So here is the summary of my last week.

Living and Such:
Things have been interesting! I have had a lot of down time for multiple reasons. I get sick of staying in the apartment by myself because sometimes Alvin has multiple meetings that I really don't need to go to so I have him drop me off at a book store. I have already read two novels and am now halfway done with "Northern Lights" by Phillip Pullman (the Golden Compass guy). I see why Christians blew a gasket with the Golden Compass when it came out because I am pretty sure the dude wrote the book to piss of Christians, so it worked and he was smiling the whole time probably. However, it is still a good book none the less. Because Alvin is getting married in the next three weeks, I am trying to solidify living plans once they leave. I went with him this morning to look at a house that they want to live in, that was interesting. It is looking like I will be myself for one week during the 2nd to last week I am here and living with the Rhodes the last week that I am here. I never thought my internship would have me moving because my host was getting married, funny how life works that way. Outside of that it has been same old same old, eating,sleeping. Oh, my bed...has bed bugs...I have been eaten beyond all reason. I wonder why God made bugs that wait till you go to sleep...climb out of the cracks and come suck your blood. They are so itchy and leave big red bumps on your arms. I mean the bugs hate the light...automatic sign they are evil. I will never say "goodnight, don't let the beg bugs bite" lightly again, it is a serious matter.

Community Development and Such:
I have two more interviews to do! that is it! Moses and I were able to do six last Wednesday,much to my surprise. So, this is a good thing and a bad thing. It is good because I am done with my research, bad because I have a month left to go. However, it is getting to the point now where I start my analysis which i am excited about. Alvin told me he would like me to have the evaluation and do the presentation before he left for his wedding which is on the 24th. So, I am kinda running out of time, i think I have more time then I actually do I guess. What I am doing for an analysis is pretty in depth. I have to analyze and compare every question and answer given on every interview from the Kawangware group. So once I have come to conclusions I will have a page of raw data and percentages and then however many pages of findings and patterns and then the summary. Then I do the same thing with the Kibera group interviews, then I have to compare Kibera and Kawangware's data and analysis's and then write my findings on what I find between the two. So pray for me as I try to figure out how to do all that and get it all done before the 24th.

God and Such:
I am so thankful for you for the prayers you have been giving me. God has been really helping me stay strong since I have been here. There are some weeks that are harder than others, but in all he has been the only way of survival since I have been here. It has been really hard the last few weeks being away from everyone. I have come to love community and relationships so much more here that it makes me really miss the one I have back home. Ironic kinda. So keep praying for me as I enter the last month of my internship, I know what is close but I just need to focus on the here and now.

Other Such Things:
-If any one watched the Ghana game the other night, they know that the possibility for heartbreak in a person was high. My heart was broken, they were the last team I really supported. Is it sad that I couldn't sleep because they lost? I literally could not watch the penalty shoot out at the end of the game, I had to turn around. I guess I can support Spain though...I don't know they aren't the same as Ghana.
-For July 4th I was at a loss of what to do, I didn't bring any red or blue clothing...so I just decided to go over to the US Embassy. They were closed because it was a Sunday...boring, so I looked at it threw dirt in the air and pretended it was fireworks and saluted the flag and then left.
-I love Pizza....Hawaiian pizza. I am beginning to wonder if the pizza here is better than anything I have had in the US, then I talk myself out of it.
-One of my new favorite TV shows is Americas Best Dance Crew (on every Saturday night at 7:30) I also enjoy the show Top Chef, but I can't watch it too much because I get hungry.
-Pants in Kenya means underwear, which is a taboo subject in Kenya. Do they tell Americans that? no they don't so remember that the word for pants is trousers.
Me: Alvin, see those polka dot pants on the wall over there? I am going to get them for you as a wedding present
A: You and your pants, be glad I understand you because the word for pants here is trousers. If you walk into somewhere and start talking to people about pants, people are going to ask "what is wrong this guy talking about pants".
Me: Oh, I'm sorry...What I meant to say is Alvin, see those TROUSERS on the wall over there? y I am going to get them, wrap them in paper and write pants in red marker and put it on your gift table.
A: you are too smart for my own good
M: I know...I pray for you every morning
A: thanks, I forget to pray for you so do that in the morning too...just don't make me late

Thanks for reading guys,
Dave