Surgery, Boat Ride and Dinner in the Village

Today was a very full day!  We started off our morning by sending all 8 children and the Carlsons in to observe an operation.  They all did well but 5 children came out pre-maturely, if you know what I mean.  Tomorrow, Ethan & Morgan plan to see a C-section.  This was something that we were able to do on a regular basis growing up here and so I’m thankful that Dr. Steve Kelley has the same burden to expose the  children to as many opportunities as possible, understanding that God may be working on hearts for the future.

After lunch we took a ride out into the Khal on a fishing vessel. You know my husband was enjoying every minute of that adventure!  We took some beautiful pictures during that ride.  Scenery of the khal, pictures of Malumghat, water buffalo, Bengalis fishing or walking along the shore….we had any number of photo opportunities during our time out on the water.

(For those of you who went to Mazatlan way back in the day with us (’01) – don’t worry! I insisted that we only go 45 minutes out and then turn around.  LOL)

Grandpa and two of his girls.

Water Buffalo

This was our welcoming committee when we returned from the boat ride.  They saw us coming back in, knew where we were going to dock and ran to greet us at the shore.

Tunu’s kitchen and her daughter-in-law is cooking.

YUM!  Bryn ate three helpings!

We ended our day by walking to the village of Chabagan and enjoying a  curry dinner in the home of Tunu…one of my mom’s dear friends.  Opu, Tunu’s son was there to help serve the dinner and play host. He and his wife and daughter live there with Tunu.  Tunu’s husband passed away shortly before I left Bangladesh some 20+ years ago.  Tuhin, her other son, is building his new home right next door to hers.  Anyhow, she was thrilled that the electricity came on just as we arrived and remained on all through the meal and clean up before going out again.  She gave credit to God for providing electricity for us since they typically don’t have it in the evenings.  We all enjoyed our dinner of fried cabbage bites, fried bread, rice, dahl, chicken curry and baji (curried vegetables).  We ate with our fingers in true Bengali fashion.  The men sat at the dining room table and the women sat in the bedroom/sitting room.  The children sat on the floor.  She was delighted when Bryn (yes, picky-eater Bryn) ate 3 helpings of dinner!  My dad especially loves Tunu’s rice pudding so we topped our dinner off with that.  I was surprised that a few of my kiddos liked that, too! I am so proud of all of them for their adventurous spirit and for trying new things.

Tunu, my mom, and Tunu’s son, Opu.

The children sat on either a moira (bamboo stool) or the floor. 

The men sat at the table and the women sat together in the next room.