I really can't believe it is past the middle of August! I think my internal seasonal clock has been knocked off the mantel. Kids here are in school, and have been the whole time I've been here. Their break isn't until November, December and part of January. It is the rainy season and not as hot as it is in most parts of the States, and the temperatures won't change much for a while. You would think that it is kind of nice not having to deal with extreme temps, changing wardrobes, "summer"izing, winterizing, melting in the summer, raking leaves in the fall, shoveling snow in the winter, and then finally the miracle that is spring! Sounds very high maintenance, and I suppose it is. But you don't realize how much it keeps you aware of the time, the months, the dates. I can't even gauge time by holidays because those aren't the same here either. Having been a school teacher, that seasonal clock was very much in tune...at all times. Any teacher knows how long it is until the next break, the next holiday, etc. In some ways, this is a welcome change. In other ways, it makes me feel very lost! Not that I want to shovel snow here in a couple months, but I wouldn't mind changing my wardrobe. Lol ;-) I'm sure there is a technical phrase out there that is used to capture this concept. Unfortunately, I don't know what that is so you just got the long version!
During the past month, I feel like I have done quite a bit of traveling. I have made many trips to San Salvador for hospital visits. First, one of the local preachers had a ruptured appendix, and subsequent complications. I think I was able to visit him three times. Then a friend had a baby 4 weeks early so her baby stayed in the hospital while she had to go home. I accompanied her one time. I have made several trips to the local dentist with one of our kids. Other than that, most of my work still revolves around our children's programs. This is a great program and we have so many appreciative families. I regularly (it happened today even) see kids coming up to me with pictures or a note they have received from their sponsor, even if that photo or note is 8 years old and the only one they have ever received. They feel so proud to be a part of others' families. I start teaching English in the new Bible Institute this week. I am looking forward to this. It's only one morning per week. I can handle that!
We continue to do home bible studies...which the people here really love! The love opening their homes and sharing. I love seeing their homes, their neighborhoods and their families. It is always a pleasant experience. I have also been researching the types of vegetable to grow when the dry season comes and scoping out places to plant them. I only brought 3 drip kits with me so I am ordering a few more and a friend of mine who is a missionary in Honduras is going to bring them to me after his visit to the States in September.
Speaking of September...!!! I get to join the team from Health Talents International in Guatemala for a week of surgeries! I will be translating between doctors and patient families. I hear that I won't actually be in the operating room most likely. Most of my work would be pre and post surgery. But, since I have a weak stomach when it comes to bodily fluids, I made sure I watched a tooth pulling today (poor little guy) to see if I could handle that much. I will be honest. It made me queasy, but I did it! I am pretty excited to be part of this work. The dentist visit today was unexpected. One of our little ones had an extremely bad toothache that kept him up all night. His mother told me about it this morning and our wonderful dentist Liliana told us to come on over! Lots of screams and tears but $15 well spent.
I want to thank each and every one of you who reached out to me after my last post. I still have rough days but am settling in quite well. I had a little hiccup last week, which some of you heard about. I was held up on the bus coming home from the hospital with my friend. I will write a separate post about that probably tonight. I am thankful that we are ok and that no one else on the bus was affected.
Please continue to pray for me as I pray for you as well. I have been asked to post information and an update on the bus incident so I am going to start it right after I finish this one and it will be done either tonight or first thing tomorrow. Thank you for stopping by my blog. Many have told me the link they received that last time was not set up for anyone to subscribe. I will try something different this time and see if it works. I will obviously need your feedback.
Much love,
Kristi
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