January 1: we didn’t stay up late and watch the new years end. Shania and I have been sick with colds so decided to hit the hay early. This is our first year in Pink City over New Years so we weren’t sure what sort of racket would occur. We were quite surprised! There were some fireworks but it was quiet enough that most of the family slept right through them! The ones that did happen were off and on for maybe 30 minutes. At Farmgate it was a deafening roar for 2 hours! We had such fun the past two New Years Eves watching the New Year in on our Siza Court roof but this year we didn’t feel the vibe.😂 Jared got up at 5:15 am and dropped Ron and Darla off at the train station and they headed for Rajshahi. Layton and Shana had school like usual.
January 2: Jared and Layton headed off for the airport at 9 am to pick up Darrell and Brenda. They are here for revivals with Ron’s. It was so foggy that their plane had to circle the airport 7-8 times. Brenda said they were sitting in window seats by the wing and they couldn’t even see the wing! The airport was packed. Jared had quite some trouble with finding a parking spot. The lots were full and so was the parking garage. After he finally got them picked up he hustled them to Hotel Shuktara for some much needed sleep. Shana and I got enthused about making Mexican food for lunch, so we stayed busy with that this morning. Made enough for the freezer too. Around 4:30, Jared Shana and Layton once again headed for the airport to pick up Neil and Ang and their family (Shana’s family)!🥰 This time of the day the airport was emptier and parking wasn’t such a problem. They got back to pink city around 5:30 or so. Darrell’s got an Uber and showed up at 6 and we all headed off for supper at one of our favorite restaurants here in Bashundara. It’s the one on the 13th story with amazing roof top views of Dhaka. We got there and noticed they were sitting up for a celebration of sorts. Sure enough they were having a 3 day wedding celebration. That was really disappointing! Shana and her family went to a coffee shop for supper and Darrells and us went to Herfeys. After supper we took Darrells back to Farmgate where their beds were calling them. I always feel sorry for people their first few days here. I remeber that feeling all too well. A half drugged zombie like state of extreme fatigue. Neil’s came over after we got home for awhile and that was fun! I noticed Layton was being really quiet even though Lisa had sent him all sorts of fun surprises with Neil’s and wondered if he was getting sick. Sure enough at bedtime he got quite a fever.
January 3: It was quite a night. When Layton runs a fever, he has bad night terrors. So I pretty much have to sleep right beside him so he can relax. Does anyone else’s children have that? It’s almost like he is delirious. Last time he didn’t even know how to find the bathroom. Worries me, but as soon as his fever goes down he is Normal again. I kept him on a religious Tylenol and Ibuprofen schedule and that helped immensely. Jared and Nathon hired a driver for Neil’s. He showed up and Jared made sure Neil’s got on their way. Later afternoon Jared and Darrell went to Danmondi to have a visit with Shurov. He finally has a job now! Teaching English classes at a nursing school. The visit seemed to go ok. He doesn’t plan to come to revivals. He acts like he wants to come to church and he doesn’t even have to work on Fridays but he never shows up. The children and I didn’t go to the visit. Layton couldn’t bear the thought of leaving the house. Darrell’s came for supper in the evening and we had an enjoyable visit and time. It’s fascinating hearing about their past travels to China and wherever they have all been.
January 4: Jared got up early and took Darrell’s to meet Doyle at the Padma bridge. Traffic was amazing and he was there and back by 10. The driver came and shuttled Neil’s around again. They got back to our house around noon. I hired Lucky to come cook a full Bangla spread for them. Chicken curry, egg curry, vegetables, dal and rice! She was quite enthused to cook again. 😀 Took it easy in the afternoon and then in the evening, the driver came back and us, Neil’s and Nathon headed to Farmhouse Burger. After a big lunch like that no one was super hungry but we ate anyway cuz that’s what we do for fun here. It took 1.5 hours to get to the restaurant but we had great laughs and conversation! Shanas family and siblings reminds me a lot of mine. A lot of loud and chaos😂
January 5: Jared opened clinic back up. He said Miriam was walking around real slow and Jon could hardly talk because of a bad cold! The rest of us took it real easy all day too. We were wore out. Who knows why? Neil’s flew out in the afternoon. Shana came home exhausted. I told her to go straight to bed! The poor dear didn’t even want food. When she doesn’t want food I know she’s tired! The evening was very quiet. The kids and I took a walk along the river, and Jared huddled under two quilts with his jacket on and shook with the chills for awhile. Ever since he got dengue he randomly gets these weird chills now and then but the pass and then he’s totally fine again. These tropical illnesses are very bizarre.
January 6: worked on things around the house and packed for revivals. Anytime we leave to go anywhere here, we pack at least half the house. Pillows, blankets, and sheets for everyone in the family, towels, washcloths, toilet paper, the medicine cabinet, snacks, water bottles and PB and J and bread, books and toys to entertain the kids. It’s quite an ordeal. Since October we have packed up and went somewhere 8 times.😂
January 7: Left the house around 9:30 and stopped and picked Josna and Sumita up from the clinic. Got to Golpagang around 2 I think. Doyle’s rented the entire Anonda Guesthouse in Golpaganj for revivals. It is very nice. All the members, all the missionaries and the ministers are staying here. Some rooms had 3-4 beds in them so the singles stayed in those. Josna and Sumita thought the rooms were “onek sundor!” So that says a lot. The guesthouse had a huge chapel too, and the kitchen was up on the roof! This guesthouse is quite new. Some of it was finished in 2023 and some in 2024. It was so so nice to have everything in one building. Last revivals we were in the Nazarene church right behind this guesthouse. There’s ponds in front of and beside the church with no fences up, so either you are on the sidewalk or you are in the pond. With small children you can imagine how a mother’s nerves handled that situation. The rest of the afternoon people slowly arrived. They were all very enthused about the rooms and staying together. Ripon hired some amazing cooks. Anyways, it would not be a revival in Bangladesh without abit of drama. A gentleman had asked Doyle if he could invite some friends to the revival. Doyle said “5 but no more.” Welllllll my friends…… 40 showed up. Most were small children. Expecting food and nights lodging. There was no room! Doyle did find places for some to stay, and then he had the cooks use the supper food to make them all lunch and Ripon went and bought new groceries for supper. However, by the next morning they had all left. So not sure if they thought we were giving out free things or what???
January 8: Had breakfast at 8:30. The cooks made kichuri and boiled eggs. Church started at 9:30. Doyle kept things on schedule which is quite a feat to accomplish in this country. Bobby from Kulna came to interpret. He is so amusing to watch. Very animated! Sometimes we all sit and giggle at him, you just can’t help it! After the service, everyone went up to the roof for cha. Jared bought 300 cha cups and by the looks of things we should have bought at least 300 more. A lot of Shotti’s family came, Hridoy and Pinky came, our expelled brother Lewis from Kulna came, and other random community people. The men were worried that people were going to catch wind of our revival and just show up at meal time. So Jared had bought stickers for everyone that was at the church service to put on, that way if you stayed for a service you could eat. But they ended up not needing to implement it. The guards at the door were careful. We did have to turn a few away the one evening that we had a council meeting.
January 10: Had communion this morning! That was really special. Josna hugged me hard afterwards and said “Didi I am so happy!!” It made me almost cry. Shotti hugged me for a long time and told me something about missing Lisa. Layton had so many questions about revivals. Last time we had them he was 5 years old so he couldn’t remember all the details tha happened at such an event. He called communion “that bread and bucket meeting.” I tried to explain to him before the service about how the bread was a symbol of Jesus’ body and the grape juice was a symbol of His blood. He wondered “why can’t they drink red Gatorade instead of grape juice?” I was grappling with how to explain that and he said “well I suppose they drink grape juice because that’s how it’s always been done.” I said “yes exactly.”😂 He seemed to understand that it was a service to remeber how Jesus died for our sins. I told him that once a person gives their heart to God and is baptized then they can participate but until then they just sit and listen to the service. Half way through the service he poked me and said “bread and grape juice would sure make a good snack right about now.”😂 he was fascinated at how Jared and Doyle filled up the basins with water for feet washing hence the “bucket” name he gave the service. The communion service had quite a crowd. All the memebers sat up front and the rest sat more towards the back. During the prayer for the grape juice quite a few walked out but looked they just left for some cha. The cooks made some amazing goat curry, pilau, sobji, and pyash for lunch. We stuffed ourselves full. And friends, that completed our 10th meal of rice in a row. We packed up our van up after lunch and headed back for Dhaka. We dropped Josna and Sumita off and got back to Pink City around 6:30. It felt so good to be home. 😍 Overall, The revival was encouraging. Not all the members came, but a majority. Michael was reaccepted, Hridoy and pinky are wanting to become members, and our expelled brother Lewis shows interest in returning. Michael’s daughter Marcie came as well! She hasn’t been to any revivals or fellowships since we came. One humorous thing was Doyle asked Bobby (the interpreter) if he wanted to have a visit with Ron and Darrell. He said “no brother! If I need to visit I will talk with you. Darrell and Ron they have machine guns straight from Heaven.”😂
January 11, Darrell’s had a driver bring them back into Dhaka mid afternoon. They got so sick at the start of revivals. I felt bad for them! Plus they have three other countries to visit when they leave here. They looked a little better and not so washed out! Ron’s came back by bus later afternoon. In the evening Nathon and Ron’s came for snacks and coffee. Nathon wanted to hear about revivals. He was grieved he couldn’t come but he had used up his holidays over Christmas to work on his new house. It was hilarious listening to Nathon and Ron’s talk about their early years together.😂 Darrells went and did their own thing, they like to be out on the city when they are here. Brenda was in search of her favorite dessert she likes here.
January 12: Shana and Layton started school back up again. They are having school here at our house this week since the guesthouse is full. They just do it up in our bedroom. We take our foldable table up there and it works great! Spent the morning doing mom things and playing catchup. Jared had clinic. He came home and said Miriam broke her arm two weeks ago! She was walking down the street and fell somehow. We’ve been so busy we haven’t talked to her much since clinic has been closed. She had a drs appointment so Jared and Dr Elizabeth ran the show themselves. 45 patients. Jared came home quite tickled with how well it went. He said a year ago he never would have been able to do it without Miriam but his Bangla has improved enough that they managed fine!! Layton’s friends came over mid afternoon. If we are home, They usually show up around 4. They make a fearsome racket. But I have decided this is normal boy behavior? Some one clue me in. Anyways, they got a long piece of rope and tied it between two trees, and tried to make a huge slingshot. They tied a basket in the middle and that was supposed to be the holder for things to go in. I think at least 3-4 boys were all trying to figure it out at once. Kinda look like there was maybe one brain between them all.😂 Nathon came over in the midst of the hub bub and found the situation quite hilarious! He came and cooked supper for us and Ron’s. He made his amazing beef, kichuri and tomato Tok. He put Jared Shaka and I all to work, chopping up vegetables, washing rice and dal. It was so much fun all cooking and talking together! One of those things I will always remember. Of course we had to discuss Amish😂 Shana tells Nathon that if he wants to marry an Amish girl he has to grow an Amish beard and have at least 10 children and he is now reconsidering🤣 Ron’s came for supper, and more fun and laughs was had! It was SO enjoyable. The food turned out excellent.
January 13: Jared had clinic, and Shana and Layton had school. It feels good to have some semblance of order in our
Life again though it may be short lasting. The girls at the clinic wanted to cook a meal for Ron’s and us. Shania has been having bad diarrhea ever since revivals so Shana and I and the children stayed home and Jared ate with them when he was done with the patients. I was kinda relieved we couldn’t go because I was peopled Out. When Shania took her morning nap I sat on the couch and did not do one blessed thing for 1.5 hours. I eventually scraped myself off the couch and my soul felt renewed and ready to host and be with people again. Started up laundry and life continued on. Jared took Ron’s to the airport at 3. Came home and rested and had supper. At 9:30 Doyle’s and Bruce’s arrived at the guesthouse. At 10:15, we trotted back to the guesthouse and told Darrells bye and Jared headed back to the airport to drop Darrells off.
January 16: Doyle’s and Bruce’s came over late afternoon so that we could tell Bruce’s good bye! It’s sad to see them leave, we so enjoyed being with them for the three months they were here! They took such good care of the Kulna house and got some things fixed even. 😊 Spent the day getting ready for Jared’s parents coming tomorrow! Later afternoon I looked outside and here the guard had a guy with his hands tied behind his back and a rope around his neck. 10 other men were escorting him down the street. No idea what he did or what happened. Jared came hope a short while later and said they had tied the guy to the pole by gate up front. Not sure if it was a case of public shaming or what.
January 17: Bruce’s made it through immigration. An angel definitely went before and prepared the way with their visa problems. Jared’s parents flew in around 9. We found a spot in the parking garage and eagerly waited by the gate. Layton was certain they would never come. While we waited we noticed a flight that had come in from Madina. Hundreds of Muslim people came through the crowd with their white boxes that had holy water bottles in them! Wonder if it really is special water or if it is just tap water and someone is making a killing off of it.😂
Folks in law eventually came. Jared had hired the same guy we always hire to help them through the snarl in the airport! We packed them up and headed for Pink City!
Well here is where I quit writing.😬 Anyways… we’ve been doing lots of fun things with Jared’s parents. 😍Went to Golpagang and Khulna, Farmgate to get Wayne a suit and some Sunday shirts, showed them Badhundara, ate at our favorite restaurants, rode the metro, went to clinic several days, Jamuna Future park, etc. One night they offered to watch the kids so Jared and I could go on a date night. That was very nice! Jared’s mom has been keeping a detailed trip report so if you have more questions about they did message her and ask for her chat link.😊 I meant to do a better job detailing what we have all done but time got away from me and I figured being with them was more important then always writing every day!!! The children are very much loving all the attention they are getting, it will be a sad day when when papa and Grammy leave. Layton has already told me that he is NOT going to the airport. I said “well dear hopefully in 6-9 months we will be home for good then and we won’t have to say all these good byes.”
Some funny things from Layton: “I wish you were like Brock’s mom. When Lisa says “we will see” Brock says that always means “yes” but when you say it it’s always a “no.”
“Life was sure a lot more peaceful when there was just three of us instead of 5.”
“You know my ears can hear things a lot better than yours! Yours are old but mine are newer so they work better.”
“There is no way Santa is real because if he really was real, he would burn his bootie when he went down the chimney.”
Shania has really started talking. She says a lot of words. It amazes me that she is talking so young because Layton didn’t talk until he was 3. She isn’t even 2 yet. She is showing some interest in potty training so got her a potty seat and hope to tackle that next month. She wants to always wear shoes all the time, even to bed. As soon as I give her a bath and put on her Jammie’s she goes and gets her sandals and wants them right back on. Shana bought her a pair of purple butterfly wings that strap onto your back like a back pack and she wears those things a lot. Any thing dress up she LOVES. It brings me such joy to see her little girl antics. If she finds any hair clips or hair bows laying around she wants me to put them in her hair even if she already has several in. Everything is either “pretty” or “so soft.” She may be girlie and like girlie things but man alive can she stand her ground.😬 She can go from being happy and cute to absolute tears of madness and grief in no time at all. But then, what woman isn’t like that?
