September 4 - September 10, 2023

  An eventful week… The first part of the week the mistri was finally able to come and hang the wallpaper in the bedroom. He did a very neat job. The next day Jared went and bought a new split unit. The guy came and installed it that afternoon yet! It felt so good to get our bedroom all put back together and now Jared has AC again for his long afternoons of paperwork! And this new AC doesn’t emit the awful odors that the old one did. Last Saturday the Dhaka expressway opened. We didn’t even dare try to go on it the first day! The paper said in the first 48 hours it had 22,000 vehicles on it. CNGs, motorbikes, and rickshaws are not allowed on it. On Friday we canceled church because Josna and Sumita’s friend passed away from cancer. This lady had been coming to our singing evenings up until a month ago. She was a fun lady to be around so saddened that she died. Sumita came on Thursday and told me about it. Her and Josna took the night bus Thursday night and went. Here in Dhaka when someone dies they take them back to their village for the funeral and burial. We weren’t sure if we should go or not. We ended up deciding not to go. Since we didn’t have church we didn’t want to just sit around and stare at our feet so we listened to a church service from home. It felt good to listen to church. It’s the first time we’ve both sat down and listened to it since we came. It gives me a real sense of security to hear church going on as usual at home. After that we hopped in the van and took off. Went to the airport on the new expressway! Wanted to see what it was like going there since we have several people to pick up there in the next few months. Between construction on the road and the airport navigating that area is like trying to go through a corn maze! Like any major road in Dhaka the on ramp to the expressway was jammed up  but once we payed toll and got going the traffic cleared out immensely. Not having to swerve around CNGs and lurch to a stop behind rickshaws was a dream! I told Jared it felt like we were driving on Kellogg in Wichita. Once we got on we didn’t stop one time! It took us maybe 15 minutes to get to the end of the expressway by the airport. And what do you know back in the jams we were! The expressway will have an exit that you will be able to get on that will go straight to the new airport terminals. They have made quite a-bit of progress on the airport! Layton was impressed that we were “four roads up” on the expressway! It was neat seeing all the sights as we drove along. Dhaka looks so different from that high up versus when your winding through traffic on the streets far below. Saw a huge golf course. We oohed and ahhed over the lush green grass!!!! Layton thinks it’s weird that Shania won’t know what grass is until we get back to Kansas! Saw some big stadiums etc. and of course thousands and thousands of apartment buildings that made ours look quite small and charming. After our joyride we went to Farmhouse. To celebrate Jareds birthday we all got ice cream. Layton was pretty sure he only needed fries and ice cream. That boy could be a vegetarian.😞 He needs some of Uncle Phillip’s meat influence to learn to eat meat. Went to Avenue and got some bath towels. You know you’ve officially arrived at being an adult when you’re excited about new bath towels. It’s pathetic. Bought groceries and came home. After supper we went to the guesthouse to sing with Doyle’s and just sit and visit. It’s good for us to go out and about here in Dhaka even if the driving is a hassle. When we get back to Siza court after we go out driving we realize how Monipuripara is actually quiet! I don’t think many apartments have a nice big courtyard like we have either. Plus we have a big roof to go up to where we can actually see the sky and the metro and the tall motels at Farmgate. Some of the parts of Dhaka we saw  are just miles and miles of 10-15 + story apartment buildings just crammed one beside the other. The sunlight can’t even get down to the road. There’s been some thought that we should move to a different apartment but we think we are at the best place in Dhaka!  I love our day and night guards that are ever watchful at our gate. They keep a close eye on Layton too. One day Layton was going around stomping on all the lids on the sewer drains and the guard told him that was not safe that he might fall in.😂 We have come to really love our little community here. Anyways… the rest of the week was uneventful. Lucky came to cook. Since it was Jared’s birthday I had her do okra and pumpkin in addition to the chicken curry since he really enjoys that. Doyle’s came for lunch then as well. One night this past week Jared and I were having our bedtime prayers. I must have fallen asleep mid prayer because the next thing I knew Jared was shaking me saying “are you ok?!” I said “of course I am what’s going on?” He was worried I had had a stroke since I quit talking mid sentence and fell sound asleep. 😂 I assured him my brain function was still intact. (As far as I know.) Sunday morning Miriam called Jared and said someone had tried to break into the clinic. Josna and Sumita got home from their friend’s funeral at 5 am and noticed something was awry and that the back gate was opened. We were right away worried about all the milk and meds. Jared went there right away. He said he’s suspicious it was some young kids. They messed up the doorknobs on the hallway doors and broke the lock on the back gate. Looked like they used crowbar. Jared got out one of his cards and jiggled the locks abit and the doors came right open. We had a good laugh because no kid here would have a debit card to use to pick locks. Thankfully the doors are very sturdy. Jared is going to install some deadbolts on the doors for added safety for the sisters. We should have thought to go over there and check on things since the sisters were gone but we didn’t even once think about it. So now we know… Spent the evening at the clinic while Jared did the doorknob fixing. The children and I went to the dokan and bought ice cream bars for snack at the clinic. Miriam showed up then too and joined the party. Shania always smiles so big at Josna and Sumita. She loves all the attention they give her.