Southern style

Parker has pretty much been a part of our family for awhile, but it has become more official since we've been in Niger. We eat most of our meals together, and the kids love having him around so often. He may be wearing out his welcome though when he brings all his Texas magazines and leaves them on our coffee table.... Go Huskers.

Black-eyed peas are one of the main grains around here, so I have been asking him how to cook them and looking up some Paula Dean recipes. He found okra the other day, so we decided to do a Southern style meal. The meal was almost spoiled... I went to soak the beans (which I realized you don't have to do with black-eyed peas) and at least half of them had little holes which tunnelled inwards and housed a little black bug.  Mmmm...  I asked around about whether this was normal. No, there usually aren't that many bugs, I must have gotten a bad batch :(  What was Nick's proposal? Just cook them up - what's a little extra protein?  So I did. They didn't taste any different, but I had a hard time eating a lot of them knowing what lay inside.  We have lots of leftovers, not sure whether they will get eaten or not :/

Greens and scrambled eggs, fried okra, spicy black eyes peas and cucumber salad

Parker has to miss family dinner tonight because he is hanging out with his translator, Oscar. They have developed a good friendship, and Parker invited him over for movie night at our house last week. When I asked Oscar where he was from, he replied "Jammal." Moriah said "Hey, We're the same! I live in Jammal too!" She sat on his lap for most of the night :) Oscar invited Parker to hang out at his house this afternoon with his girlfriend who is visiting. Oscar has been around the hospital for several years translating and has had good friendships with many people who are here or have been here. Others have mentioned that Oscar's demeanor has softened over the years, and we are believing that God is at work in his life. He has told a long-termer that something drew him to stay in Jammal, but he isn't sure what exactly it is. We think it is the Holy Spirit and are praying God uses his and Parker's friendship to show him more about Jesus.