It was time for Fiel again in early June.  This is a theological conference put on by an organization from Brazil, which emphasizes education and theological training in the reformed tradition.  The teaching is always solid and well-presented, and we were glad that most of the  monitors were able to make the time to attend this year, thanks to a generous sponsor who paid their way.  Each of them also received a little money to buy books, which are sold at a discount in Fiel’s bookstore.  It is very difficult (and expensive) to get Portuguese Christian books here so the Fiel bookstore is like a gold mine!

 

Kevin and I always attend most of the sessions too, and enjoy the meaty teaching (which we rarely get here) and the time with the monitors and their wives, and other friends and acquaintances.  This year I (Cami) was able to attend more of the women’s sessions, and found that all of those sessions were conducted in Portuguese with a Macua translation.  It surprised me how many of the pastor’s wives were much more comfortable conversing in Macua.  It was a real encouragement to continue with my language studies.    

Further south, about 15 hours drive from here, there continue to be armed attacks against vehicles traveling on the main (only) north/south highway.  We are effectively cut off by road from the capital city.  Vehicles are traveling only in armed convoy, and there have been many military deaths and some civilian deaths.  Closer to us, but still 8 hours drive south, there is bush fighting going on between the government and the main opposition group.  Deaths are occurring regularly.  We were able to drive by that area in June without any difficulties.  Elections are approaching in October, and we don’t know if things will get worse or better, or just continue on as they are.  There are concerns that things will escalate after elections if the desired result is not obtained (by any of the three parties in the running), but meanwhile things are quiet in our city and we don’t anticipate problems soon.  There have been some difficulties in obtaining supplies because transport from the south is more difficult, but overall supplies remain accessible here.  Many of our supplies come in through a port on the coast directly east, so that helps.  – C

In March and April, both kids celebrated their birthdays.  Ben is now 8, and Toby 12.  We can’t believe they are getting so big!  Unfortunately, Toby broke his arm in February, and then had Malaria.  Then he broke his foot in April.  Pray for him, for a year of good health and no injuries.  Both kids were checked over thoroughly by a pediatrician in the USA in April, and are in great health. Pray for safety for them in the long bus ride each day to school, over bumpy roads, and protection from disease.  Pray for Portuguese learning, character development, and joy!   

I really need to get some new student photos to share.  It is always awkward taking photos of people, though, and we generally avoid carrying cameras around and snapping away.  Instead, here’s a photo of the TEE book cabinet.  Good news – a new shipment of books has arrived, along with a donation from UK that allows us to buy another cabinet to keep them in!  Rats and bugs will destroy the books if they are not stored in a cabinet.  Classes are re-starting for a new term all over the city, and Kevin has been busy visiting, handing out books, and overseeing the progress of the new monitors.  We are encouraged! – C

Kevin recently took some time to meet with this man, a friend of one of the monitors, who is a follower of another religion.  He told Kevin that the ancestors had appeared to him after the death of his sister and pressed him to follow that faith, and that later the ancestors taught him the language of that faith, and its scriptures, through dreams.  Kevin’s heart was so heavy when he returned from this talk. You are probably not aware that at least 30% of the people in our area follow this faith, and that the local church is completely unequipped to reach them.  It is our hope that as the church matures, they will be able to reach out in love. – C

We have the privilege of seeing all kinds of interesting creatures over here, and this is one of them.  There are caterpillars that give you a terrible, itchy rash, but this isn’t one of them.  – C

Here’s a photo of our truck going through a puddle in front of our wall.  This isn’t even the deepest puddle on the street; that one washes up over the hood after a heavy rain.  The dirt roads are really horrible this time of year, and I prefer to either go around on the bike (where I can avoid the deepest holes or stand up going through them), or go the “long way ’round” to get to town.  It is a bone-rattling ride on many of the streets these days!  Rainy season is winding down now and although we won’t miss the terrible potholes, we will miss the beautiful deep green that is all around us.  Dry season brings dust, dust everywhere.  – C

Recently, we received several packages from USA, and I just had to post this photo of Ben with the new Action Bible he got in one of them.

We are always so excited when a package arrives!  The idea that people have bought us things to put in the package and then paid all that money to send it (at least $75), really touches our hearts.  Of course, we enjoy the things that are sent out.  On our regular list to received from parents is pepperoni (we can’t live without it, practically!), parmesan cheese, ranch dressing mix, and some American candy.  People send us movies and music sometimes, books, and toys for the kids.  What is amazing is that these things usually arrive intact.  We know others who either don’t receive what was sent, or the package is pillaged.  But somehow, God has protected us from that and we are so grateful.

“Home” seems so far away sometimes.  The idea of walking down the aisle in a big store seems so foreign.  The foods that we miss are so far in the future, the good American pencils that are sent out are so highly treasured here.  Sometimes I feel like we live on another planet, and when we open that box of love, I am reminded that we just live somewhere else on the same planet.  -C

Lately, when we tell people are kids are injured, they say “Again?”

There have been a rash of problems this year, starting with Ben’s broken arm last June, progressing through a ligament/bone plate problem for Toby that had him on crutches off and on and forbidden from running for 6 months, to stitches in the heel for Toby, to Toby fracturing his arm a few weeks ago.  He fell while playing soccer at school and came home on the bus in pain, but not enough pain to say “take me to the hospital!”  He is pretty tough.  The next day, I did take him in for xrays at the public hospital.  We were called into the examining room, holding his xray, and the doctor said “Can you do this with your arm?”  Toby copied the action, and the doctor said “Cast, one week!” and ordered us to the casting room.  “Don’t you want to see the xray?”  I asked.  He glanced at it and handed it back.  “Cast, one week!”.  I asked where the break was, he stabbed at the xray with his finger, and again sent us off.  Thankfully the casting technician was able to explain it to me better, and it was a simple fracture.  That night, an expat missionary doctor was kind enough to stop by and look at it, recommend 3 weeks casting, and put our minds at rest.

Unfortunately, when we took Toby back to the hospital 12 days later because the cast was literally falling off (we duct-taped it together), they ordered it off.  We didn’t feel comfortable with that, but there wasn’t much we could do.  A few days later when he fell and it hurt terribly, we took him to the private clinic where another doctor did more xrays, said he needed 2 more weeks to heal, and put a good strong cast on him.  He coped with the whole thing admirably, and proceeded to come down with malaria the same day as the new cast went on.

Once the cast comes off next week, we sincerely hope that the year of “again?” will be over, especially since the medical situation here is so poor.  Here’s a photo of Toby waiting for xrays in the waiting room.  It was a saturday afternoon, when few of the doctors are there, so the place was empty.  Good timing!  The white sign next to the door on the right says “No spitting on the floor”.  You see these all over the hospital.  -C