Issue #72
October 16, 2000

Dear Friends and Family,

This past week has certainly been an interesting one for me. Starting on Wednesday I moved to Bethany Dorm to fill in for the dorm assistant who is gone to America for her sister's wedding. There are 19 kids in the dorm, 10 boys and 9 girls. There is one 3rd grader, two 4th graders, 2 fifth graders, 3 sixth graders, and 11 6th and 7th graders.

I have had a good time in the dorm so far. The kids are really well behaved. I am enjoying working with them and getting to know them better. Of course, they get confused on what to call me now. Am I Miss Epps or Aunt Traci? I just answer to whatever.

I have had a few late nights the last few days. We have had a virus hit the dorm. On Friday we had three girls sick. Two of them have remained sick throughout out the weekend and are at the dorm today. The dorm parents also aren't feeling very well. I think they just want to break me in from the beginning. I have seen lots of 102 to 104 degree temperatures and been giving a lot of Tylenol. I think we are on the downward slide now. Although one of the boys got sick yesterday, but his parents are dorm parents in a high school dorm so he went home. Please pray that everyone will be well soon.

On Saturday, we had our dorm outing. We went to a pool in town. It was a lot of fun. We spent the day there playing and had a nice lunch. That night I wanted the kids to go to bed a little earlier than normal since they had had a big day and so many were not feeling well. I was amazed when I told them what time they were going to bed. They just said, "OK," and did it. I expected some complaints. They are good kids.

On Sunday afternoon we had a special service. We had a Praise March. Everyone met in the Chapel and divided up into four groups and went to four different parts of campus. Each group marched around singing songs and praying over different parts of campus. Then we all met back together in the Plaza and had a picnic supper. After that we got together and sang some more. Then we roasted marshmallows, which was an extra special treat.

My class is doing well with the student teacher. They keep wondering when I am coming back. I will start teaching again next week. Although my student teacher is doing a great job, I am ready to have my class back.

Continue to pray for the political situation. All still remains calm. The elections are supposed to happen this Sunday. A couple of the political parties are calling for a boycott of the elections since their candidates weren't allowed to run.

In Christ,
Traci Epps