Hungry? Itchy?

Ok, so someone’s slipping stuff into Lori’s food or something! Or else she’s got fantastic eyesight…eh, no, can’t be that since she said she mistakenly used body lotion in her hair instead of conditioner at the hotel in Chicago (both containers are the same just labeled differently). But she keeps getting bugs and bones and strange looking things in her food. I guess the bug shields hanging in the window of the little restaurant we had lunch on Monday didn’t work so well. I asked why there were plastic bags of water hanging from the security bars (see pic) and was told it was to keep the bugs out…huh? I guess the idea is that as the mosquitoes or flies approach the window they see their distorted and large reflection in the water bags and are scared away. No fooling. We had been talking about security at the school prior to this and Lori wondered if hanging really big bags in the window would scare off thieves…

Everyone except Lori ordered the fish (Lori was the wise one, except hers had bugs). Pastor Aieda went on and on about how good the Mojara fish was and said her favorite part was the head and she especially liked the eyes…ok, too much information. I thought I wouldn’t translate all of that! Sometimes it’s just better not to know. Fish was pretty good although I generally don’t like eating something that’s looking back.

I was here about a year ago and it’s been amazing for me to see the progress in many areas at the I.N. Network Colombia ministry. For example, the pre-school has expanded and now gives care to about 70 kids so single moms and working families trying to scrape a living in this difficult area have a fantastic place for their kids. The staff seem so dedicated and really love the kids. Today they asked us to come over and help with “the campaign.” I wasn’t sure what that meant and then they proceeded to get out a couple of kiddy pools. Ok, it was really hot, makes sense, and they got the hoses out and started squirting all the kids. What fun. Oh, and then they showed us these little packets of medicated shampoo. Ooooohhhhh, now I get it. This is a lice prevention campaign. Jackie and Lori started scrubbing and I took pictures (ok, somebody had to) and translated. Not a tear was shed and the kids loved it. Would be interesting to do this in a pre-school in the States…the whole staff would be probably be in jail! The kids were all in their underwear and I bet there wasn’t a hint of a legal form signed by parents anywhere. Amazing how much the kids loved it all. Very smart these folks.

It’s been kinda an itchy day. What between a few mosquitoes at breakfast, the lice campaign, and several dogs that live at the school that continually scratch, we’re having to keep our hands in our pockets a bit today. I wish we could post a little video I took while we were waiting for the taxi at the end of the day but our internet connection would explode. The three school dogs were in a line and performing a synchronized scratch – was quite entertaining.

It’s been wonderful to see the passion of the staff here to do more and more with such limited resources. God is indeed blessing this ministry.

Dave