Before and after pictures. They are so satisfying aren’t they? I took some of this house when we first came to visit in January-in case we took the position I would know what to pack, what to order from home, and all that. So, here are some sweet before and after pictures…and yes I am showing off all our hard work! (It does help that I took the before photos at night!!)

To say we’re tired would be an understatement. But it’s a good tired-a well earned work by the sweat of your brow exhausted.Brandon and I both have been cleaning, organizing, fixing, re-arranging for the past three days straight. The house we are moving into is old, but in good condition. It very much needed, and still needs, Brandon’s handy dandyness, and my womanly touch. Brandon has been working on changing the locks, fixing the doors, and trying to make sense of the water and electrical systems. I have been cleaning a house that was inhabited by a 20yr man-need I say more? I have scrubbed from ceiling to floor, washed windows and screens, and re-arranged everything from the silverware to the furniture. Thankfully, I have had some help. Manet usually works here when groups are here, she cooks food for the teams and helps with the cleaning. Our new boss graciously hired her for the first three days we were here. Not only was it amazing to pull into the place on Tuesday and find a woman cooking a delicious dinner for us, but she has been helping with everything else too. Not to mention, she’s just really sweet. It’s so nice to have help, and she’s stretching my Creole since she doesn’t speak a lick of English.

I am visual person. So, I have taken the following photos for those of you who are as well. We are settling into our new place slowly, having spent the last three days working non-stop.  I’ll show you some photos of that later… but for now, just enjoy these. We are so ready to be living in the country where there are trees, plants, even a few flowers and peace and quiet. This house, in this location, away from the city and amidst greenery is refreshing to my soul. We moved from dust, dirt,no plants, no flowers, a few large but mostly dead tress, neighbors who burned trash that wafted into our screen house every morning and evening, the unending noises of living in a city, and living literally inside a school with 600 kids. I can’t even explain to you how happy and thankful we are for the Lord’s provision in this new home. Here are the photos of the house, I was standing at the front gate when I took them…it’s a panoramic view starting from the right.