March 2003 Adventures

March can definitely be described as Tent Month!  We lived for 2 weeks in our tent in Colonia Guaraní.  We were a day late in leaving for Colonia Guaraní due to the need for a yellow fever shot.  We found out the area where we are working has a mosquito that carries 5 different diseases!  So, off to the local clinic where we received a shot for yellow fever, plus a couple of other various immunizations, good for 10 years.  Living in a tent for 2+ weeks definitely has its challenges.  The pastor’s house where our tent was, as yet, doesn’t have running water.  This means no bathroom, as well as no kitchen - inside.  This family has a wash tub in the front yard in which they bath kids, clothes, and dishes.  We even noticed the pigs using the tub for recreational purposes!  We suggested to the pastor’s wife that pigs and kids playing together aren’t good; especially when the dishes in the tub were being used by us!  She began to shoo off the pigs after that. 

One of the ways that we can serve as God’s servants when we are out in these areas is to provide transportation to the locals for various trips.  It is indeed a blessing to see how a simple thing like a pick-up truck can serve as a witnessing tool.  This particular area is a 2 hour walk to the nearest bus stop, at which there is a very small grocery store – all on dirt roads.  From the bus stop, locals can get a bus to take them to the nearest medical facility, but this all costs money.  So – we often give folks a lift – we once had 13 in the little truck!

Two medical trips are worth describing.  Andresa is a 6 month old little girl whose head is larger than an adult’s head – she appeared to be suffering from hydrocephalus, or “water on the brain”.  We took Andresa, her mother, and grandfather for a 7 hour ride to the nearest hospital.  We left the family at the hospital, but have since found out there is nothing the doctors can do.  It is sad – but we have prayed with the family numerous times and showed them the love of Christ.

 The second person is Miter, a father who was bit on the foot by a snake – inside his house!  Miter went to cover up his son at night, the snake had crawled in under the walls (the house only has a dirt floor).  We saw him 3 weeks after the snake bite, and his foot was in desperate need for medical attention.  Needless to say, he couldn’t walk the 2 hours to get a bus to the “local” clinic.  It took 2 trips to the clinic and pharmacy, but we think he has improved.  Again, we were able to share in prayer with Miter and his family.  We asked the local pastor if Miter is a member of the church – and he said “not yet, but he will be”.  What confidence!

 We also took some of the ladies shopping, to the dentist, and to get things fixed.  Included in one trip was the body (minus head) of a slaughtered pig which was traded for beef.  It was a blessing for us to have a vehicle and to be able to use it in God’s service.

 We have almost finished our work in Colonia Guaraní.  We have about 1 more week of work to finish.  We just need to pipe the water from the tower to the house and the new bathroom for the church.  The old out house has been torn down, and we are looking forward to having working sanitary facilities as we finish up our work in Colonia Guaraní. 

During this month our poor truck suffered greatly!  We have had to repair the leaf springs again, and our motor is currently just about burned out, and is being rebuilt.  Ed has preached more, we’ve endured torrential rains, and our tent has nearly been blown away twice.  But all in all, we’ve had a good month with many blessings from the family of Pastor Blas, Irma, their 3 beautiful children, and the folks at the Methodist Church in Colonia Guaraní.