Technology

I downloaded this cool app so I can blog about our trip from my iphone and maybe Sam's ipad. I'm not taking my laptop to Africa so will rely on these fun gadgets to communicate. So today's blog is just to see how it works. Pro - iphone much lighter than my laptop. (Although I'm coveting the macbook air.) Con - I am a terrible thumb typer. Like 20 wpm. Ugh!

I also downloaded a currency converter with South African Rand and Lesotho Loti conversions to US dollars. Pro - I can figure out how much stuff costs without invoking higher math skills. Con - I can figure out how much stuff costs.

My third cool download is a Sesotho language app. There aren't that many, suprisingly. This one has word practice, which serves as sort of a verbal/picture dictionary, which I think will be helpful. It also has games, so I can play Sesotho games while Pacman plays English games. Pro - correct pronunciation and pictures. Con - basic words and phrases only.

Finally, we downloaded a couple of movies for the ipad. Toy Story, Prince of Egypt and Go Diego. In retrospect, the latter may not be the wisest - adding Spanish to the language learning. But he'll be ready for Mexico Family Camp next year! Plus it was inexpensive. There IS a way to transfer the existing DVDs we have to itunes, but my Mac operating system needs to be upgraded first. And doesn't it seem easier just to buy the new Macbook air?

Thanks to Danielle and Barb who loaned us their electricity converters so we can keep the istuff charged.

Packing is going well and we had a great lunch with a Lesotho family today and we are experiencing lots of "last times" but I'll have to save those until tomorrow because my thumbs are tired!

Blessings,

Kristi


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

No, I Have Not Packed

No, I have not packed yet. Yes, I know we are leaving a week from tomorrow (Thursday, May 3rd, 5:03 pm to be exact). Are there people out there who pack a week in advance? Like, really pack real clothes in a real suitcase? A week in advance? Who are you? What is your diagnosis? (I'm kidding.) (No, I'm not.)

I have THOUGHT about packing. And thinking about packing makes me feel really good about myself. Until someone asks, "Are you packed yet?" Implying real packing. Then I get super jittery. Or maybe it's just too much coffee.

But a real suitcase, with real clothes packed in it, for A WEEK? That would just freak me out. I'd have to pack and repack the suitcase 15 times, and then I'd start to forget what I really packed versus what I just thought about packing versus what I packed but then took out again. NOT A GOOD IDEA in my current mental state!

I will pack next week. Sometime. I promise. And then I will weigh our suitcases and realize they are all TOO HEAVY so I will take everything out and curse my first-world inefficiency and "Why am I taking a flat iron to Africa for goodness sakes?" and "How many clothes can I wear on the plane without alerting negative TSA attention?" and pack again.

But I did create a packing list. Because I like lists. Lists make me feel like I'm accomplishing something. Even if all I'm doing is checking facebook and writing inane blog posts about packing FOR AFRICA. WE ARE GOING TO AFRICA! TO BRING HOME A SIX-YEAR OLD BOY!

Even better than my packing list, my friend, Cathy, who is currently in Africa, will soon be packing to come home! WITH HER FIVE-YEAR-OLD BOY! The judge approved their adoption TODAY! We may very well cross in the air somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. I can't wait to meet her Jonathan and for her to meet our Paul and for the two boys to become lifelong buds. Check out her blog for an amazing God-story that all started with her oldest son's obedience to God's tug to go on a mission trip.

So when YOUR child asks to go on a mission trip - say yes! And pack wisely!