25 February 2008

Post #31:  Mdina with the Kids

Okay, for whatever reason, today, I'm going to write in the first-person. I've been trying to keep the blogs somewhat neutral in voice, so you don't feel like you're just hearing DeDe babble on and on. Okay, some of you know better, sure...but maybe some were able to pretend they were reading a story. I can at least hope!

Today started off like any other. Dave was off to work, then I got up, and dragged my tired self out of bed. Today was unique in that my calves were quite stiff from the pounding they took yesterday. (If you're not reading blogs chronologically—yesterday Dave and I ran the Malta Half-Marathon.) The big kids had already been to the table, had their cereal, and were watching a cartoon video. I got them going on some school work right away, and did some of my own studying (I'm doing a study simultaneously with some of the ladies at my church at home...with the idea that I'll complete the study with them when I get there. It's a great study, on the life of Paul the Apostle. How fun that I get to do it in Malta, one of his last, famous, though unplanned, stops in his day!), and I told them if they did their work quickly enough, we could go on an outing after lunch.

I went to put a load of wash in the washer, and get in the shower, when the water quit altogether. So I had a half-shower, and decided our outing might include a little lunch as well! We cleaned up our books, and then packed some fruit, water, chips and a little soda, and headed out the door.

We drove back to the place where the marathon and half-marathon began yesterday, as I thought the kids would really enjoy the park there, and I was very interested in exploring the historic city of Mdina!

The kids played while I went to the kiosk nearby and when I saw they didn't have any pastizzi (a local pastry which they fill with various yummy fillings), I left Ian in charge of the boys while Rachel and I stepped across the parking lot to see if we could get some at a “take-away” there. Nope, none there. We looked around a little, took some pictures, and then went to a “snack bar”and had the lady in there fix a tuna sandwich for a euro-fifty cents.

Here's something you might want to try: (I have decided it's going to be a new favorite when I get home.) Grab a good loaf of bread, even a hogie-type bun would do. Slap on some tomato sauce or use ketchup! Spread some tuna on and add a few thinly-sliced green olives, and some lettuce. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on it, then a drizzle of olive oil. It's really delicious! I know, it sounds bad, but trust me! Even the boys loved it!!

We bought a ham and cheese sandwich, too, and headed back to slice up the sandwiches to share. In the center of the park, there was a gondola, (round-wooden, covered bench area) where I had dumped our back-packs earlier. I had packed the cutting board, and a sharp knife; sliced the sammy's, handed out baby-wipes for a quick hand-washing, then kids enjoyed the sandwiches, chips, and soda. Followed by oranges and apples, followed by water and some chocolate cookies I threw in the bag.

We were just finishing up our lunch, when a young lady walked up and said, “My! You are one busy woman!” I looked up, smiled, and said, “Yep! They keep me going.” Then I said, “Okay, where are you from.” I could tell her English was not British, nor was it a second-language! She said, “Kansas City.” I asked what brought them to Malta, and I learned that she and her husband have been here three years doing mission work. I asked what kind, and she said, “Media missions.”

Okay, well, I foolishly didn't ask exactly what she meant by that, but assuming I understood, I went on about how I have friends from our home church who have recently started a media-oriented mission program in the form of an internet magazine, entitled “Called and Sent.” She shared that theirs was a non-denominational program, and I didn't catch the organization name.

She introduced me to her friend who arrived Friday. Her friend is also from KC, but just came from Israel, having been there a month. I didn't get why she was there, other than that she was with some folks who were involved in missions work there. Her parents are missionaries in Malaysia! I also have close friends who have relatives serving as missionaries in Malaysia! Small world, or what?

While we were chatting, the children were playing with the first woman, Eve's, two little ones. Eve said that her daughter looked at Rachel and said, “Can she come to our house and be my friend?” Tory is four, and simply adorable. Eve's boy, Elijah, is probably a little over one, and as cute as the day is long.

We had a wonderful chat and I especially enjoyed hearing that someone else finds living here a little on the challenging side. Eve's comment, “Well, yeah, you want to go get something for dinner, but you have to go to six stores to find all the things you need and half of them are closed!” That is SO right on! I said, “How many times have you found yourself circling around lost in these little towns because every street is a one-way, and so even though you know where you are and where you want to go, you can't seem to find the right turn to get out of the maze! It's insane!” She laughed.

She invited us for lunch tomorrow at her home in some town I can't spell, nor pronounce, but I know generally where it is on the map. She's sending directions via email. She's got other ladies coming for some kind of social gathering. So we'll get to meet more people. I'm so excited.

After our visit, the kids and I took a walk through the streets of Old Mdina, and the bastion on the citadel. It's quite an amazing place, and we'll have to go back when Nichole is here, and when Dave can join us, as the Museum of Natural History is there as well as the Mdina Experience and the Knights of Malta exhibition. I think the boys will enjoy the Seige Malta museum and the history of the medieval times here.

As you can see on the web album, they have an amazing display in a glass case of the last “pure Maltese cow!” Yep. There's a news article and everything! I'm sure they still have some cows here on the island, though now that I think of it, we sure haven't seen many. This was the last of the Maltese pure-breds.

The kids and I got home after Dave today, and my legs were feeling a little better, having done some walking. But they're still very stiff, and I'm feeling the weariness of yesterday's run. Nemanea stopped in pretty much right after we got back. We had passed him and his parents on our way home. They were around the block, talking to Johnny by his produce truck. It was a tubby night, though, so the boys couldn't go outside to play, so he headed home, and we enjoyed a quiet evening.

One last thing of note on the day: We've invited Tara to come live with us, and help with the children. She'd be closer to her Bible College, living here, (she walks about two plus miles now) and Nichole would have another person to help her while we travel to Italy. This is not a definite go yet, but she sounds very excited about it, and we think it would be great. We'll firm up the plans tomorrow. She's 22 and interested in getting out of her childhood home, so we'd be giving her that opportunity at least for the time we're here.

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