Painting session #2 R.S. (so what is Ahmed doing here?)

Our second painting session in Relief Society was another success. The women love getting together no matter what we do. The funny thing is, when I got to the church building early to set up, in walked Ahmed. I asked if he was planning on cleaning the building (he cleans our building to make a little extra money since he has not had a job for a long long time). He told me no he was just here for the activity. I mentioned that it was an activity for the "sisters" but he just ignored me. When the others got there he just followed us up the stairs and sat down with the rest and waited to be served. Good thing I brought extra supplies.

All the sisters did a better job than the first time they attempted this kind of an activity. I really should have taken a picture of their completed projects. They were all so proud to be taking home a masterpiece. It's fun to see them all so excited. The woman with the short blond hair is Greetje, she is not a member but has been supporting her best friend Klaska our R.S. President for years and loves the company of all the sisters.

When ever I see Greetje I feel very blessed. She walks with a limp, lives with pain everyday and her left hand and forearm is basically useless. She had the same kind of accident I had years ago of falling down the stairs. When I started to have pain and numbness in my arm the surgeon back home removed two discs in my neck inserted a donor bone and attached a plate with screws and I have had no problems since then. When I asked her what the Doctors here were doing for her herniated discs she just told me that there was nothing they could do and that she would just have to live with the problem and take aspirin. She is now also starting to loose the use of her left leg. Pretty soon she will not be able to walk. (wheelchairs are cheaper than surgery after all) I am so grateful for the medical help our family has been able to receive over the years. Our branch president who is a doctor tells us that yes everyone here has coverage but it is all substandard as compared to the states

The black sister at the end of the table is Thobeca who I just love. She is from South Africa and became a member there. She is here as a nanny for the branch president's children. Her English is great and she is now taking Dutch classes at night. Our branch president married an American so their 6 year old twins Sam and Josh, their 12 year old son Christian and 17 year old daughter Alexis speak both Dutch and English. They have gone through many nannies because the twins are a real handful but Thobeca has the patience of Job and they are thrilled to have her. She will be coming to the states for Christmas and I hope my family will get a chance to meet her.