Have you heard the latest?

So I have no pictures - Karl has the camera and he's off in the SE camp trying to find humongous forest elephants for his client/s. The hunt is supposed to take 2 weeks, although they'll probably leave as soon as their three elephants are shot. I expect to hear from Karl when he's on his way driving back and gets to a town with phone reception.

So we've been living at these hunting camps. Some things are easier - some things harder than expected. Basically I have no responsibilities apart from Ruth - although keeping her entertained and within boundaries is challenging, especially with unpredictable meals, water-availability, light, etc. But there is someone hired at the camps to do each job already -cooking, serving (on china plates - which means I have to be VERY careful when Ruth eats), washing clothes/diapers, filling water barrels, cleaning, you name it. The only problem is that they don't always do their jobs regularly, and I'm still trying to figure out which things I'm supposed to expect and when to ask for things to be done.

Ruth is growing, although the scale puts her at 24-25 lbs now, while she was 27 in the states a month ago. Hopefully it's just the scale. But she is saying a new word or two every day - mommy, daddy, water, pink, more, up, down, doll, ball, and many more, mostly unintelligible to other people but obvious to me. She's starting to play a little better on her own, although she seems to still need an audience to be content at that. She started trying on hats now, after seeing Karl wear his hat every day, and today for our walk she insisted on wearing her white hat with the pink ribbon. Yesterday I noticed she's walking up and down steps without bothering to find a handrail. She likes her dolls and her monkeys. I encourage books, which she seems to enjoy, because I can relax while reading them to her.

Her two most dangerous stunts were recent - on our 12hr trip back to Yaounde, we had stopped at a police checkpoint for about an hour, (figuring out paperwork and trying not to pay twice), and she crawled under the middle of the parked truck. Secondly when I fell asleep on the couch she went into the kitchen to play with the gas stove - pulled off all the knobs, climbed up on the door and was fiddling with things. I am so thankful that God watches over her ALL the time, even when I'm a neglectful parent.

How am I feeling? I'm 30 wks, going with the later due date, still trying to figure out where to plan to have the baby here in Yaounde. I'm visiting one possibility tomorrow. I'm very tired, have a cold, haven't slept well at nights since coming back, but am in good spirits. The water has been off 5 out of 7 days recently, usually coming back on in the early hours of the morning. The electricity has also been on and off. But now I have internet possibilities - thanks to the neighbors. I've so enjoyed this time to be back in Yaounde and meet up with some of the other ladies here, just chatting. It's also wonderful to be in a compound with some other little girls who enjoy Ruth and can distract her. I don't like Karl being away, but it's easier right now than other times. I remember one particularly meaningful prayer from another time Karl was away, that God would truly be my closest companion and dearest friend - how comforting!