Buying Flip Flops

The boys go through shoes so fast...so off to the downtown market we went Sunday morning, with the promise of ice cream looming in the air, the boys made it most of the mile walk without complaint.  This was my second trip to the market for flip flops.  Caleb had outgrown his and one of Matthews went over the side of the ship and down, down, down into the ocean below.  There were many tears shed over that spider man flip flop.  Who knew a child could be so attached to a shoe?

After negotiations had ceased for the first flip flop purchase, the cost was 30,000 Guinean Francs a pair.  Not my best negotiating.  This time I managed to get three pairs of flip flops for 45,000.  This makes me feel better about my negotiating skills...at least until I find out how much someone else paid.  I want you to know that I LOVE price tags.  I am looking forward to walking through stores in the US this summer and knowing exactly how much something costs.  I LOVE to pick things up and really look at them when I shop.  I am learning the don't touch it, don't look at it, and don't act like you are even interested method of shopping.  It is a difficult transition.

So, flip flops were purchased and it was time for ice cream.  Alas, the ice cream shop was closed.  Luckily I know my way around (a little) so off we head to the nearest grocery store for yummy ice cream covered in chocolate.  A half a mile later we arrive to an almost completely bare ice cream cooler.  Oh, the sad faces.  There was a box of 30 ice pops left.   The boys decided that ice pops were close to ice cream.  Happy faces!  But what to do with 30 ice pops on a mile walk back to the ship.

While we were outside the store opening our treats an elderly lady approached asking for money.  We gave her an ice pop and the smile she gave us was beautiful.  Thus we knew what to do with the other 24 ice pops.

While we were walking and handing out ice pops we met Muhammad.  He spent the next half hour walking and talking with us.  He also made sure that the children who received ice pops said, "Merci."  We learned that Muhammad was from Sierra Leon and that he was in Guinea because Mercy Ships had performed cataract surgery on his mother, who was recovering at the Hope Center.  It was lovely to get to know Muhammad and to see lots of smiling faces eating ice pops.  None of this would have happened if the ice cream shop hadn't been closed and the cooler hadn't been almost empty.  It was such a great life lesson for us and the boys.  Often in life things do not work out how we plan or want them to, sometimes a little disappointment leads to great blessings.

Closeing Out 2012--A Great Year

Weekend of December 1st:  Mark and Jacob went to a retreat on the island.  They had a great time diving into God's word & the waves.  I am told that the bonfire and steaks were also GREAT!

December 7th: The ballet classes that I teach performed a shortened version of the Nutcracker with the story being read and  few of the dances performed.  It was very well attended and a lot of fun to put together.  Jacob played the part of the Nutcracker, Caleb was Fritz, and Matthew enjoyed being a very well behaved audience member. 

December 9th:  Caleb turned 6!  We had a Polar Express Party with hot chocolate, mint oreos, chocolate cupcakes, and chocolate ice cream.

The Christmas Season:  They really do a great job of Christmas on the ship.  The activities, church services, and food were all fantastic.  I am so thankful for all the people who worked to make Christmas amazing!  Here are a few pictures of some of the things we participated in....

We made Christmas cookies in the dining hall.  The dough was prepared all we had to do was cut the cookies out.

It was fun and messy!

After they baked, we iced and decorated them.  The decorated ones disappeared before I could snap a picture.

This years Christmas tree.  Yes, it is made from toilet paper rolls.

Christmas morning.

An awesome tradition on the ship.  Everyone puts a shoe outside their cabin door on Christmas Eve.  People fill the shoes with all kinds of treats and presents.  the boys really enjoyed this part of Christmas morning.

Thanks to a wonderful supporter we were able to read out Christmas book.  We have read this to the boys on Christmas morning for seven years.  I didn't think to bring our copy with us.  So, it was an amazing blessing to receive a new copy and continue the tradition.

This year Jacob asked to read the story to us. 

The boys really enjoyed Christmas morning!

I really enjoyed Christmas brunch!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year (a little late) from The Bullock Family!

Visiting Prisoners

As directed in Matthew, my dental team visited the Guinea Central Prison in Conakry.  Because of God's providence I had 7 dentists on hand and we were able to see over 300 patients .  This was not planned, but we felt very blessed to have so many dentists for this out reach.  Our patients included men, women and boys as young as 15.  We were actually prepared to see even younger patients since sometimes it is customary for small children to accompany their mothers into prison (sounds barbaric but make sense when you think on it).

 We spent two days in the prison and set up our clinic in a little Catholic chapel.  It was actually the same chapel I have been to for the Prison Ministry (see earlier post).

 Things went so well, it was sometimes hard to remember we were inside a prison.

 We were able to help prisoners by taking out one or two teeth that may have been bothering them for a long time.

The patients were given bread before being seen because sometimes they do not eat well and we need them to have strength to have a tooth pulled.

 In the end we just offered a little of God's love in the form of a helping hand.