A house full

Once again, I started this blog 2 weeks ago and here I am to finish it up. Our internet is slow, so you have to leave it while it uploads pics and then sometimes I never make it back. Well, a couple of weeks ago, we received a call at 6 in the morning from our friends, the Allens. A family on their mission team had called for emergency help. They live on the outskirts of Lusaka in Makeni where flooding has been much worse than other places this rainy season. We had ridden down their road the week before for a homeschool support group and Steph showed me how they couldn't get out their gate. The city had sent backhoes (the first I've seen here--it's usually a line of about 20 men digging the ditches) through and dug trenches down each side of the road trying to get the water off the road (which is dirt--I mean mud). The problem is, as they dug the trench, they had to take out the driveways as well because there are no drainage pipes under them. So at that point, people were unable to drive in or out of their house.

So anyway, the emergency was that they had been having flooding problems in their yard which they were keeping an eye on, but when they woke that morning, water and sewage was at the edge of their doorstep. It had risen drastically overnight and there was an immediate need to move them out of their house. So the Allens dropped their girls off at our house for the day and their team worked (in knee high rubber boots) all day and moved that family entirely out of their house. That was an amazing feat.

In the meantime, we had a fun filled (and very busy) day with 7 girls in the house. JoJo and Olivia took the most work due to their ages. They are at the perfect antagonistic ages 1 1/2 and 2. They like to shove each other and take each other's toys and there's a lot of screeching. But if one has to leave, they immediately love each other and are calling out for the other.

Early afternoon, the girls' imaginations were waning so Brad came up with a treasure hunt. He made clues and placed them all around the house and yard. Here Brad is explaining the clues (sunshine in corner means the next clue will be found outside and a house in the corner means the next clue will be found inside...and you all have to stay together and help Olivia keep up).
The first clue had something to do with famous girls who look alike and might be seen on a Friday night (movie night). It took them a minute of searching, but they finally figured out the clue was in the movie case for 'Parent Trap'.That clue then led them to the clothes line which then led them to the braii (grill). It was fun seeing them figure out the clues. Kaitlyn and Brayden alternated reading the clues and at some point, I think everyone figured out a clue.From the braii, they headed to the tractor. Figuring out that 'red and powerful' meant the tractor was the easy part. Finding the clue on the tractor took a good 5 min. (and some hints from mom and dad)The final clue was hidden in the van. Not only did they have to figure out the location, but once they got to the van, Brad had hidden the clue somewhere in the front of the van then locked all the doors except the rear hatch. As 5 little girls are simutaneously trying to flip over the back seat, mom had to step in and demand that only one go in to look and without muddy shoes. Not exactly in the true spirit of a treasure hunt, but necessary for my sanity. :)

After the van they had to ask Elijah for the next clue. In order to get the clue they had to ask him what an Nkoko was and then dance like one. After dancing like chickens, Elijah gave them the next clue which led them to the treasure. It had something to do with diving to the bottom of the ocean which led them to the pool.

Brad's hopes were that they'd have to jump in and get it, but try as he might he couldn't get the treasure to sink. Who knew a bag of oreos had so much air in it? He packaged them with 4 bottles of fanta in a zip lock bag and they still wouldn't sink. So... it wasn't quite the dramatic ending he was hoping for, but the girls had a ball anyway. Especially indulging in the treasure once they found it! :)

Nothing like savoring the spoils :)

Signing out for now,

Zookeeper