God's Creation (by Amanda)

As many of you know we have a cat. When we got here I was missing my cats and we met this missionary couple who had kittens. In a moment of weakness Thom said "yes" and "voila"”, we have Tisike (the name is from II Timothy 4, by the way). Then of course when we moved the house owners offered to give us two rabbits and "voila"”, we now have Eomear and Eowyn (named after Lord of the Rings characters). When we went on our vacation to Dakar we met a family with a hedgehog and I thought it was cute and played with it a little. Recently Thom found out that you can find hedgehogs in the wild here and thought that I would like a pair of hedgehogs and "“voila"”, the other day he came home with four Hedgehogs. No, we are not planning to keep them all; in fact, two are supposed to be going to Koutiala for another family. We've named our two Jaalah and Darkon (from Ezra chapter 2). Yesterday I came home and "“voila"”, a chick had entered our courtyard and no one knows the owner. At this point I think it is becoming ridiculous. I am ready to put a sign on the door saying, "McMurray Petting Zoo - donate animals here".

Fortunately or unfortunately (I haven't decided yet), that is not the end of my story. This morning I got up, went to the office, and came home with a few grasshoppers for my hedgehogs to eat. I went up the stairs to the roof where we have put their cage and dumped the food in and"voila"”, we have baby hedgehogs. Yes, you read correctly. We have little rat-like creatures that were born between 9am and 10am this morning. I am reminded of a hymn - can anyone guess which one? In honor of our zoo I am going to put the first verse and chorus for all to read.

All Creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Alleluia, Alleluia
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
Oh Praise him Oh praise him
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia