Twenty-four beds, twenty-four chairs at the dining tables, twenty-four … well, twenty-four is the number of human bodies that will soon dwell under this tin-roofed building we now call home!
Here is the breakdown: 18 teenagers from Korea, Africa, United States, Great Britain, New Zealand, and Canada, plus three children from Washington State, USA (our kids!), plus one dorm assistant originally from Malaysia (but really from all over the world!) plus Andy & I — two rookie dorm parents!
This is the dorm! Pretty, isn’t it?
In just a matter of days this building will be buzzing with all of these personalities, all of these precious people with needs, desires, hurts, victories, birthdays, homework, appetites… AM I READY FOR ALL OF THIS?
I feel sorely under-prepared. Deficiencies, insecurities, doubts..all bubbling up inside of me.
I grope for TRUTH…
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Was that “boast”?
Well, um….okay!
I really have no idea what we are getting into!
I am afraid that I won’t cook enough food! Or the right food!
I am afraid that I will be tired all the time and become a super grumpy mom!
I am afraid I’ll miss all of the cultural cues from this diverse group — Koreans? British? African’s? TEENAGERS???
I’m afraid my own kids will feel lost in the shuffle of humans in this busy dorm family!
Fear fear fear! Anxiety! Doubt!
(That was quite a burst, wasn’t it?)
This is the family room!
Voila — the dining room!
A fellow missionary said yesterday that we are all serving a bit outside our comfort zone here. How true!
Outside our comfort zone. But always WITH JESUS. Every day, every hour.
Part of the family room — ping pong and foosball!
This will be a year of growth for all of us, and I’m looking forward to seeing how God shines through my weakness — His power resting on me!
I guess if I was “in my comfort zone” I wouldn’t get the chance to experience this grace-power in me!
So, bring on the cultural confusion!
Welcome home you teen-aged food critics!
Strange adolescent hormones — come on in!
The boys’ door signs look like this…(one of my summer art projects).
Our dorm pool — to keep our sanity in the hot season.
So, HERE WE GO — the 2012-2013 Sahel Academy School year begins August 8th!
If you would like to follow our dorm family a bit more intimately, check out our dorm blog at www.saheldormlife.wordpress.com!
Grays' life in the desert 
Oooo! Thanks for the tour! I love the scrabble letters!
By the way, Kivi wants to say, “Hi Ruth!” and wishes there were more pictures of her to see.