How to bathe a chicken 4 year old style

Date: 11-25-07

First of all a disclaimer for my lack of communication and very bad up keep of blog posting..Generator went capoot, phone not sending e-mail's for the last 2 weeks, and crazy days at the hospital. I will however try to get my priorities straight and keep you all informed. Quick update before the following story...I've been fondly renamed Giardiaella by my fellow SM's, my family has stopped feeding me boulle, my carrots have sprouted, the goat found it's way into my garden this morning, French is coming along nicely, and I love working at the hospital...praise God for the Joy and Strength He is so willing to give to us all. Thank you for your prayers, the strength of them is greatly felt.

Howaa "my mom" left this morning for Ndjamena, leaving a bawling 4 year old Dorcus behind. She stood at the gate and bawled alligator tears, the rest of the family just kept on eating breakfast. I decided this would just not do. Soon she was sitting on my knee and still bawling for the whole neighborhood to hear. A different approach had to be taken. This is when I remembered the little hand puppets Kevin had sent. Now would be the time to break them out. I carried her into my hut and there we found a very white chicken with red feather's. The crying began to cease as I talked chicken to her. Bauck, bauck. Soon a little smile came to her face and she reached out to take hold of the chicken. Her hand found it's way up inside and Mr. Chicken became her best friend.

When I arrived home from work I found her warming up water on the coals to give Mr. Chicken (fondly renamed "baby") a bath. You see white chickens, or should I say babies, get dirty very fast in Africa. Berthe the older sister told me that she'd held it up today before giving "baby" it's first bath today and kissed it 4 times. I'm glad to know that Mr. chicken has found a good mom. But how long he's going to last with a couple washing's a day I'm not sure ;)