Henna Party

Mikaylah wanted her hand done in Henna.

Eli was happy to comply

Eli is an artist, she made beautiful designs



Eli painted all the girls' hands.

We are so proud of our Artistic Elisheva

Sharing secrets with santa

The annual Christmas Bazaar at the rec center is put on by the Women's Club of Niamey. Each year they talk one of their husbands into dressing up as Santa.


When Santa asked Jayson what he wanted for Christmas, Jayson confided that he would like " a wrapped present!"  he was so excited and conspiratorial!
I wonder if I will have to put something inside that wrapped present :)
Remembering last year, Mikaylah asked Santa for a candy cane!
Santa was happy to immediately comply~

Goodbye Nat & Mikaela

Tim and Mikaela.  Mikaela was born in Africa.  This will be a difficult transition for her.
Janice and Nathanael.  Pray for Nat and Mikaela as they move from Africa to Australia.
Mikaela between her roomies, Hannah and Blessing.  The three muskateers really love each other like sisters.
Mikaela and Nat by the new stop sign.

Nat and Mikaela had to leave early as their family was moving back to Australia.  It was difficult to say goodbye both for us and for them.

American Thanksgiving & Asyncite's 17th birthday

Happy Birthday
Since Asyncrite's birthday fell on American Thanksgiving this year we had turkey and all the trimmings to celebrate.

Even the Australians declared that the Americans had a good idea when they decided to celebrate Thanksgiving! :)
Seventeen candles to celebrate Asyncrite's birthday!  Happy Birthday BIG BOY~

Field Day

Our Annual Field Day is held every November in the big soccer stadium affectionately known as "the Stad".
Trey, Jayson and Zoe enjoying popsicles.
Mikaylah running her race with sunglasses and waterbottle!!
The teams line up to cheer.
Yun In made the Red Ketchup banner.

Joshua G passes the baton to Zeb on the red team.
Mikaylah's standing long jump.

Jayson is Four!

Four Years OLD!Four years ago on a cold November morning one week before Thanksgiving, our son, Jayson Scott Phillips was born in Kokomo, Indiana.
Jayson wanted a strawberry cake, so we compromised with some precious strawberries from the freezer saved from almost a year ago!  They were delicious!
Happy Birthday Big Boy!

Space Penny Fair

Rocket Time!The Student Council put on an Outer Space themed penny fair this year.  They had rides, food and games.  Mikaylah had a rocket painted on her face and Jayson had an alien.
Mikaela O had stars around her eyes and Hannah had an alien moustache and eyebrows!
Everybody got prizes in the games, Jayson is fishing for more!

Sweet Sixteen

Mi Yoen turned sixteen today.  She found a hedgehog just outside the dorm.
Mi Yoen wanted her ears peirced for her birthday so we pierced one and then the power went out.  I joked that I could use a flashlight to pierce the other ear and MiYoen says, "that would make a big hole!"  What a girl!
 She wanted banana cream pies instead of cake! Sweet Sixteen!  Happy Birthday Mi Yoen! 

Tim's Birthday

Uncle Tim celebrated with a German Chocolate Cake that everyone enjoyed!
Mikaylah and her Daddy.


Tim got spoiled by all the dorm kids! Mountain Dew and Chocolate!!

Is it November already??? More photos to post...

No hands donut eating contest!
Two toothless Tilly's:  Mikaylah and Ereina Totman.
The tortoise, Rover tries to make a nest in our backyard!!
Sunday morning on the top of  "mountain" top!
Yun In feeding Asyncrite!
Kids playing in the pool.
Mikaylah reading Jayson his bedtime story.
Jayson in cool sunglasses: "Dude, you knock my socks off!"
Jayson eating his lunch.
Eli and Aunt Janice.
Aunt Cindy and Mikaylah
Tim and Mikaylah in the office.
Deborah, MiYoen and Bethany in Deborah and Bethany's room.
Eli learning how to be a hair dresser with her first customer:  Aunt Cindy!!

Mi Yoen and the hedgehog.
Mikaylah and her classmates in their playground village.