The barang sale

This morning was the annual "Senior Barang Sale" up at the MK school. "Barang" is the Indonesian word for "stuff" ...or "junk." :) Once a year missionaries in the community donate their barang to the senior class or they can rent tables at the sale and everyone shows up... because even here, on the other side of the world, we Americans always feel the need to get more barang. :) The senior class is raising money for their trip to Bali in the spring. (Being an MK does have its advantages.)

This year's senior class is headed up by a very creative, crafty type lady who coaxed the seniors into making baked goods and homemade candles (that were beautiful - I dropped hints to Brant for Christmas!) and plant starts... blackberry bushes and aloe vera and herbs. They also sold pancakes and "Frappacinos" (in real Starbucks glasses, with real Starbucks straws that you had to give back and they rewashed them) :) Anyways, it was great fun and a great place to get new pirated movies and the little boys quickly discovered "barang sale" meant "new toys."

Caleb found a brand new play dough set... real play dough. He is at the stage where he LOVES play dough and the several cans we brought from the States have literally disappeared... crumbled, dried out... not sure where it all went, but he's been without play dough for several weeks now and we've been fighting the urge to break out the new set we have for his birthday that's in our stash of "presents from the States." Anyways, I was quite proud of him that out of piles and piles of junk he managed to find a brand new set of play dough. It was one of those small "mini" sets with just 3 little cans of dough, but at 20 cents, it was a steal - how could I refuse?

So Elijah decided he needed a new toy... that proved a bit more challenging. He wanted a cheap plastic dump truck... an action figure missing its legs and a small bag of plastic "toys" that included a Donald Duck figure and some mushed army men. He finally settled on a small jar of wooden counting blocks, which has proved (in the hour we've been home) to be great fun as he's making shapes and towers and roads... Brant was happy with it as it's "educational" :)

Brant's treasures included a ammo box (we don't have any ammo!) a small tabletop grill (I'm excited about that one) and a "camelback" water drinking backpack thing.

All in all it was a really fun morning and all of the boys have spent the past hour with their "treasures" and Caleb has already mixed all his play dough together to make brown. It's been a nice break from the mental stress of the week... my only concern at the moment is where to plant my new berry bushes.