Come on in! Sit down and have a cup of tea while I ramble about our month of May! It was a month of clear blue skies, bucket showers and brownness.
Yup, you guessed it, dry season is here! We really can't complain though, because we have been having sporadic showers up until a few weeks ago, and only within the last few weeks they have been turning off the water for a good portion of the day. Our water supply comes from reservoirs which, over this time of year, are quite low. The water we do get is from the bottom. As you can well imagine, water that comes from the bottom of a pond isn't the cleanest water around. Some people are boiling their water for drinking but so far we didn't have any stomach issues, so we are skipping that step. I just can hardly stand the taste of water after it has been boiled.
They say you really don't appreciate something till it's gone, and I find that true when it comes to a steady stream of water! It's usually on for a few hours in the morning and then, bloop!...just like that it's gone and you're left with a cold trickle, not real conducive to washing dishes, clothes or a good shower, especially if you're trying to wash your hair! Buckets to the rescue! A filled bucket setting on the wall beside the shower works perfect...or at least better than a trickle! I've learned the world will not come to an end if it takes 2 hours or more to do a load of laundry and it really doesn't matter if all the clothes don't get washed in one day. And then when the water is turned back on, it is a cause for rejoicing!
As I was thinking about this whole 'taking things for granted till they're gone' philosophy, I had to think that goes for a whole lot more than just water. I was recently having some longings for home, family and friends. I had to think how I really just took it for granted that I could just stop in and see them whenever I jolly well pleased! In retrospect I think, why didn't I appreciate that opportunity more? I hope that I remember how it is to miss them and long for them and remember to appreciate them even when the time comes that I can see them whenever I want.
On the other hand, I also want to appreciate the "water" we do have right now! I want to be thankful for all we do enjoy in Grenada, which is alot, if my perspective is right. I was having a touch of "greener grass" syndrome the other week, when I happened to come across an article about the abuse of children in Nepal and then one on the horrific abuse of little girls that are under ISIS control. Wow! How is that for putting my focus right back where it belongs! It was a good reminder for me to be thankful for the 'water' I do have instead of wishing for more.
This dilapidated house provided work for the LaBorie
men and some visitors. It was in bad need of repairs.
A love note from Christi:)
Mary Kate Rotelle & Alissa Sensenig getting ready to dive into the painting
There was not enough work for them all to paint, so some stamped tracts.
We stamp all the tracts with our church's name and contact number.
very receptive of them. This is the town where the cruise ships dock
so these tracts end up in hands of people from many different countries.
with them! Life seemed to be quite boring after they left!
L-R-Damien Good, Kerry Martin, Josiah Martin, Alissa Sensenig, Jansen Burkholder
Front row-Sheila & Dan Rutt, Jessica, Mary Kate Rotelle, Alexia Martin,
Danika Martin, Simone Weaver, Nevin & Donna Martin
If you want to know how to make cooking for a crowd look effortless, talk to this lady!
She did an amazing job serving the group with delicious meals and making it look like
no big deal. We loved her (and her food) so much we even made up a song in honor of her:))
It was a privilege to host these fine folks for a week. We had known
them before as fellow patrons at Shalom Mennonite School, but after
living with someone for a week, you get to know them much better!
minute to the next...maybe pulling a van out of a ditch..
We sang this song with Jared's class shortly after he drowned
and every time we sing it now, I have to think of him.
The one morning they got done with their work projects
in short order so we took them to the natural bridge.
group played games with the children and some of them did work projects. It took
the students alittle out of their comfort zone to interact with the residents but in the
end they were glad they did and had a really good time. The residents loved them as well!
(Christi was too, I just don't have a picture of her:))
The boys were getting so irritated because they kept bumping their head on the bottom of
the top bunk. They thought their dad just had to take the top part off! I would think after awhile
they would just learn to exercise some caution...and maybe stop clowning around in bed!
droppings, so a search ensued. After completely tearing up the bedroom, a few high-pitched
screeches, and acrobatic lunges worthy of an Olympic reward, the culprit was caught!
say there is more than one use for stickers.
female canine friends for weeks after this humiliating ride!
didn't warn me! I snapped this picture a millisecond before getting
thunked. By their expressions, I believe they were feeling my pain:)
the pedal to the metal in a sincere effort to help the straggling car....driver fails to look in
rear-view mirror....almost runs into ambulance that is desperately trying to wheedle its way in somewhere, in an effort to help the injured man lying on the drive....ambulance emits a squeal
and then lets the truck go first...truck successfully pulls car out of ditch....a geyser of water ensues from broken water pipes that are laying exposed...oops, someone's going to be out of water tonight!
of the Baptist youth joined them in singing their last song
they were thrilled to be working with such big tools!:)
Prayer Requests...
1. Still the need for teachers. As far as I know they didn't have any yet and we need five. (guys & girls needed!) Yes, it does test our faith to trust that God will provide for that need.
2. VBS...we had quite a few gifts left over from VBS this spring and since Laura is not holding one this year, we started looking for an opportunity to hold one at a new location. We are planning to hold one in the little town of Willis. Pray for good attendance, good weather and that the seeds sown could take root in their young lives.
3. Crusades in Limes...June 7-14
4. Pray that we could keep our focus on why we're here
Thank you so much for faithfully standing behind us in prayer. It means more than you will ever know. I recently read this on Asher Witmer's blog and thought how true it is!
- Missionaries are normal people
- Being on the “foreign field” does not make you holier
- Just because you’re “at home” doesn’t mean you’re disobeying God. Senders are incredibly needed. People who take seriously the work others are doing and support them are valuable in spreading the Gospel!
- Maybe on another blog post I'll elaborate on how true the 1-3 quotes are! For right now, I'm getting annoyed because every time I go to start another paragraph it puts a number in front of it and I can't get it to stop:(
- So, for number five, good night (or morning:)) and have a wonderful night! (or day:))
