Sibanor

I spend yesterday and this morning with my sister in Sibanor. They have a really nice set up over there, and it's so peaceful compared to the chaos that erupts here in the center... no knocking at the door constantly, no little children fighting, no incessant arguing haha. I missed them though. When we were driving out, Alas, Musa, and Celeste wanted to come with us, but of course we couldn't take them. I was supposed to take the gele gele back to Brikama today but Dr. Han and his wife were so nice as to drive me back. With the new roads, it takes only like 30 minutes now! It's amazing. On the other hand it made me a little sad because the new roads split open what was a beautiful countryside. You can still see the construction and the guts all around in the blood red sand that's piled on either side. Its like the trucks and cranes and tractors have come and sliced open the belly of where I remember I used to sit with my mouth slack open in the back of the car driving back from Somita and gape at the beauty of the green. I went to the Sibanor Church and saw the Erskines there - the pastor was this feisty old man who was shaking from what I assumed was age (or the spirit, who knows haha) and shared a really meaningful sermon in Mandinka. From time to time he had both hands gripped tightly on either side of the pulpit to steady himself. Seeing him limping slowly toward the altar, you wouldn't have seen so much spirit in him, but if there's anyone who's so proud and so fired up about preaching, it's this man. On the other hand, sadly, we missed the soccer game last night, and as a Man U fan, I am disappointed in myself.