You know you're getting old when...

Last night I was so tired from a weekend of travel, church, and birthday celebrations. I went to bed exhausted but I have to read something before I can go to sleep, even if only for a few minutes.

So I made myself comfortable, fluffed up my pillows, grabbed my book, put on my reading glasses and began to read.

Everything was blurry. I thought to myself, "Wow! You really are tired" and tried to shake the cobwebs from my mind but still could not see clearly.

Then I cleaned my glasses, not once, but three times and never did get rid of the blurr unless I closed one eye.

That's when I realized I was wearing my husband's glasses....

My Jayde is 16 today.

Jayde singing this morning at the table.

Just had to share !!!

I am in a hotel in Asuncion. There is a note on the back of the toilet that warns me not to flush paper, cigarettes or even 'yerba'!

The Things I See...

Many people make a living just by transporting goods back and forth  across the borders of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay every day.

Some use hand carts, others go by motorcycle and many carry the bags on their backs. There is little, or no, customs or border check.

Really random

 ~We discovered the world's largest Twinkie is made daily here in a Chinese bakery! Aren't you jealous?

~ Went to my favorite store in Ciudad del Este yesterday, the paint store. They know us by name, know what colors we bought previously, and serve us coffee and cookies!

~ Jayde chose TURKISH TILE and PICKED PLUM for her bedroom. She and her dad are painting it, part of her vo-tech training, right???? I am going with Robin's Egg Blue and Tangerine in the kitchen.

~ We had 16 for our home Bible study on Sunday evening. It was fun to have everyone here at my house but if we keep growing we will outgrow my living room soon.

~Heard Elena speaking Spanish to her new little friend at church. The little girl answered back in Portuguese or as Elena says, 'PORKY CHEESE'.

~ Had lunch with the 'Queen of England' and her husband, 'Prince Charming'. They have been such a blessing and help to us since we arrived here.


 ~ Had to turn the AC on, hard to believe we were freezing a few weeks ago!

~ Figured out what to get my son in law for his upcoming birthday so that I can borrow it from him...

~ Have decided  I must study Portuguese as it is not an option in this city.

~Finished reading "The Tomb of the Inflatable Pig". I would not have believed half of the things in the book if I did not live here myself.  Also finished reading "The Empress of South America; The Life Story of Eliza Lynch" and I am still plodding through "Yo, El Supremo".

~I keep walking into the office to use the treadmill...but it is unplugged...seems like WAY too much effort to have to bend down to plug it in...

Welcome / Bienvenido

It has taken a lot of time and hard work but the living room is starting to feel like home!

The Things I See..

The red dirt of Ciudad del Este

as we work on the yard.

and yes! 
that is duct tape she used as a band aid. 
You can take the girl out of the jungle but...

The beginnings of Jewel's flower bed

The People I Meet

Everyone in this city has a story. I hear  of the most amazing things and the people seemingly take it for granted as if it is normal. When I meet someone, I just never know what their story will be!

For instance, the other night at a home Bible study I over hear my son in law in conversation with a young man who was speaking Spanish and sipping his mate. One would assume he was a typical Paraguayan, whatever that is, until he throws out an English word. Perfect English.

My son in law asks, "Where did you learn your English?"

Young man answers, "Zimbabwe."

I am sure I heard that incorrectly! Then my son in law asks, "What were you doing in Zimbabwe?"

"I was born there."

OK then...

So the young man continues, "My father is Australian so we grew up speaking English at home, and various African languages. Swahili, Zulu... then we moved to Paraguay and lived in the Chaco and I learned Spanish and some Guarani. I decided to go to school in Brazil so I had to learn Portuguese. I met my wife in Brazil! Here let me introduce you."

And he calls over a lovely young lady with a small daughter and new born son.

"This is my wife," he says, "She's Brazilian." 

I used to think I had an interesting pedigree . Cherokee great grandma married to a German whose son married a Scotch - Irish, but now it sounds a little lame.

But then again, I made it to Ciudad del Este myself! That must count for something, kinda like an international MISFITS Merit Badge!

Here we go!

Keep us in prayer tonight as we have the first group Bible study of the Iglesia Bautista Sin Fronteras!

Una congregación que se promueve la enseñanza biblica para el desarollo espiritual de nuestros pueblos.

A congregation that promotes biblical teaching for the spiritual development of our community. 

 

POST SCRIPT ~ Sunday 10:30 PM~

 

Thank you for your prayers. We had 12 adults and two children. We had at
least 7 or 8 nationalities represented. Including Africa and Japan. Well, a German from a Japanese colony nearby and an African with an Australian father. And two Brazilians and some Polish/Russians...Don't forget the gringos and Venezuelans! OH! ...And a full blooded Paraguayan!

Sleep over with Grandma

SHHHHHH!!!!

Dont tell their mom but the grand daughters and I just watched a video, ate popcorn and chocolate pudding. Now the pizzas are in the oven and we are having ice cream later while we play with the Wii!

Then MAYBE we will go to bed...


                                                            Shhhhhh!

Missionary Moment

Remember that old quote, 

"Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, except backwards and in high heels.”

I just realized that is a descritption of most missionary wives as well~ but usually we have a baby on our hip too!

The Things I See..

The cabinets in the kitchen when we arrived...again, I cried! This is forty years of grime which had accumulated on every kitchen surface.

 My husband and son in law attacked the cabinets with everything possible including chisels!

This is the finished result

I owe them!

Happy Birthday to my Jewel!

Today my Jewel is twenty!

Jewel was born with an attitude!

She could never sit still for picture taking!

She has always enjoyed any type of hand work.
Here she is watching an indian lady make a hammock.

No matter where she is, she will find a way to be helpful.

She is always up for an adventure.

She loved canoeing on the river in the jungle.

A rough and tumble kid!

She has always loved babies and will make a great mom one day.

Loves drama.

She learned from other cultures that there are different ways to do things.

She makes friends easily!

She has always been interested in medicine.

She wants to be a nurse.

Always was a bit of a tomboy.

Very competitive.

She has become a real beauty...

And I keep wondering ,
"Where has my little, tough, tomboy gone?"

I HELD A JEWEL

I held a jewel in my fingers
And went to sleep
The day was warm, and winds were prosy
I said, "Twill keep"

I woke - and chide my honest fingers,
The Gem was gone
And now, an Amethyst remembrance
Is all I own

BY EMILY DICKINSON.

If Countries were people...

Every country and culture has its own style and personality. I find that I mentally classify the different countries I have lived in by attaching a human face to that personality.

The United States of America

It's all about success and prosperity. Some folks love us while others detest us. We can be a bit ruthless as we strive for achievement, and yet, people keep coming, hoping to partake of our wealth. Even those who do not like us, often admire our tenacity. Some people find us to be arrogant because we know we are #1 and don't really care what people think of us, bad hair and all!

If the USA were a person, it would be Donald Trump.
Rich, driven, controlling and somehow entertaining at the same time.

Mexico

I only lived in Mexico for a year but the thing that stood out the most to me was their love of family and food. Very comforting.

If Mexico were a person, it would be Paula Dean.

Warm, friendly and good cooks!

Venezuela

In Venezuela personal beauty is very important, especially among the women. It is said that Venezuelan women are born wearing high heels. There is a great love for children but sometimes, the Venezuelans can be a tad bit overbearing, like we Americans. They can also be violent, but it is mostly just for show. We forgive them this because they really are beautiful people for the most part.

If Venezuela were a person, it would be Angelina Jolie!
Beautiful, but can be over the top sometimes!

Paraguay

What can I say? Paraguayans are so friendly and yet, you just never quite know what to expect in this country. Something new and strange seems to be lurking around each corner. Whatever it turns out to be will be interesting and never boring!You know you are having fun but it seems like something dangerous is happening behind your back, but HEY!  Its all good!

If Paraguay were a person, it would be the character Willy Wonka!

Eccentric

Canada

I never lived in Canada but its seems to be nearly invisible to us although it is our next door neighbor. We often forget about Canada but do enjoy knowing it is so nearby when needed. You know it is there and in a pinch will help you out, but for some reason Canada never is in the spotlight.

If Canada were a person, it would be the character
Wilson of the TV show "Home Improvement'.
Our hidden neighbor next door!

Where do you live?
What person would describe your region?

The Things I See...

Colorful laundry on a sunny day!

(photo by my daughter Jackie)

Rainy Season in the Amazon

I was recently reading a very old history of the conquest of Mexico and Peru and came across the following lines attributed to an old Spanish Conquistador who had the misfortune of getting lost and wandering for over a year through the Amazon rain forest. Anyone who has traveled through the jungle during the rains will certainly be able to identify with his sufferings! It made me quite nostalgic about the rainy season! It is, of course, written in Spanish and I have left it with his inventive spelling but I have tried to give it a very rough translation into English as well.

 Las Amazonas

" Sin que el sol en este tiempo

Su cara ver nos permita,

Ni las nubes taberneras

Cesse de echamos encima

Dilubios inagotables,

Que hasta el alma nos bautizan.

Cayeron los mas enfermos,

Porque las ropas podridas

Con el eterno agua va,

Nos dexo en las carnes vivas."

The Amazon

The sun, during all this time 

Would not permit its face to be seen,

Nor would the  dark, billowing clouds

Cease to pour down upon us

Their  never ending floods

Until even our very souls were baptized.

The sick and weak began to die, 

Our clothes began to rot

 And because of the eternal rains

we were left with only our  raw, but living, flesh.

The Things I See..

This was the condition of the yard when we moved in...

Isn't it lovely?

I always wanted a garden sink but...

I cried!

Last week

 Via Facebook status updates.


MONDAY~

Please keep us in your prayers as we travel to Asuncion for a doctors appointment and to check our mail. Its raining cats and dogs so it will be a slow trip. Hopefully, my washing machine part will be in the mail!

 

TUESDAY~

We made it back home and managed to get the tests Jewel needed and she now has her diagnosis confirmed. She has a thyroid condition which is treatable but will be a
long haul to get her levels back in balance.This condition had a domino effect on other systems and we are now trying to get things back on track before she leaves for school in Florida on August. 3,Pray for her (and US)!

 

WEDNESDAY~

So about Blue Grass in Ciudad del Este last night... we sat behind a Taiwanese business man and in front of a Texan who came across the river from Brazil for the music.The band tried to teach them to yell out 'YEE HAW'~ we had some 'HO HO's' and some 'HEE HAWS' and a strange variety of other' hees' and 'hoos'! Quite  entertaining!

THURSDAY~

I tried to explain to Elelna that tomorrow she will be meeting people from England who speak English but that it would be the Queen's English. She was very excited to hear of a real live queen but somehow, she seems to think she will be meeting the Queen herself rather than two lowly subjects of the Queen! I need to tell my British friend to wear her tiara tomorrow!

 

FRIDAY~

Woke up to find no lights in most of the house. The one and only outlet in the kitchen works but not the fridge or lights. In the living room three lights were out and one bulb is working at half capacity...but I have internet! 

It's Abbie's Birthday!

 

SATURDAY~

CHURCH PLANTING MODEL #1. The Parachute - A planter and their family move into a new location to start a church from scratch. The planter has very little
connection with or existing support within the new area. The planter and their family are "pioneering" new territory. Where there is great risk, there is great reward. 

GERONIMO! I'm a paratrooper now!

SUNDAY~

 

Clint preaches in Spanish in the AM, plays the trumpet in the
afternoon, and translates in the PM. Brian is preaching in Asuncion and
we have the grand daughters for the week end.

 

Monday~

Monday Morning Headlines in Ciudad del Este ~ 7 violent murders in under 8 hours. Remind me to stop reading the paper, OK???? (it compares to Caracas if you adjust for population)

 

TUESDAY~

Pray for Clint as he travels across country by bus all night. He has meetings tomorrow and then comes back tomorrow night.

 

Today~ 

I just made two batches of granola. Peanut Butter /Chocolate Chip and Raisin/Cinnamon. Last week I made Cranberry/Pecan/Maple and it was like Thanksgiving in a bowl! I can't make it too often though, because all of those ingredients are imported and expensive here.

So...how was your week?

 

Up Your Nose with a Rubber Hose!

I don't know if any others will remember that common play yard threat which we threw around in my youth. I never expected for it to actually happen to me by someone I love, or that I would perform the same upon another.

But happen it did! My husband and I were receiving our Missionary Medical Intensive training and as it would be, we were often one another's lab partners. We had lab work most of the afternoons and would practice the procedures we had been taught.

It started out lame enough, taking histories, blood pressure and such. Then we began injections and stitches and other procedures.

One morning we were taught how to make our own NG feeding tubes out of IV tubing. OK cool! This procedures is needed to be able to feed patients who are unable to self feed. Or to give meds without an IV. It involves plastic IV tube about a meter long which is placed in the nostril, fed down the throat, carefully avoiding the lungs, and on into the stomach. Then one can begin feeding with a syringe through the tube, directly into the stomach.

It is not that complicated and many parents learn to put them in for their children, but one does need practice and to learn how to avoid the lungs. So...

Yeah, there I was, head tilted back as my loving husband held a long plastic tube which he intended to place 'up my nose'. And I was going to allow him to do so. I began to practice my Lamaze breathing which I remembered from labor! You girls know, pick a focal point, breath slowly ...basically, zone out!

It was not so bad. He did it quickly and correctly as he does most things. He is a quick study and very confident and unafraid to try new things. My husband can do just about anything he sets his mind to. Later, in the jungle, this would be invaluable in our small dispensary. He has delivered over 50 babies, placed many stitches, removed arrows from people, placed feeding tubes, catheters, pulled teeth, done biopsies, and even helped with an amputation.

After he inserted and removed the tube a few times, it was now my turn. I needed to do this as well because I might be alone one day and be required to place a feeding tube in a patient. Or perhaps I would need to place one in my husband, so...

Now he was the one with his head tilted back, great fear in his eyes, as I held the tube and fully intended to place it 'up his nose'. I just wanted to get it over with! Later, in the jungle I did have to do many things, like deliver babies, put in stitches and other medical procedures, I never enjoyed it.

I carefully measured the tubing I would need, cut it off, put in the holes, melt down the sharp edges of the tubing, sterilize, and began to feed the tube up my husbands nostril. He began to gag which is common as one reaches a certain spot. This is helped by having the patient swallow water if able. I offered the water, my husband, pushed my hands aside and continued gagging. Loudly!

Everyone was soon watching us because he was gagging and squirming. So I continued to feed the tube, until...he opened his mouth! The tube was going up the nostril, down the back of his throat and now out of his mouth! Not knowing what else to do, I quickly hauled back on the tube and pulled mightily! It came ripping out. Along with a fair amount of blood and a murderous glare from my husband.

That maneuver became known as the 'Briggs and Stratton' maneuver! You know, how you haul back and pull the rip cord to start a motor? Or lawn mower? It really should not be used to remove an NG tube. The patient would much prefer a calmer removal as there will be less blood involved.

Of course, I still needed to successfully place the NG tube. So we did it again, and again, until it was done properly and I could do it easily. That was not my husband's favorite day of our marriage. Although he had been taught many things in the Marine Corps, Lamaze was not one of them, making it difficult for him to do the 'zoning out' part. All the males seemed to find the procedure much easier to give than to receive.

I am very glad we did learn the procedure as we were able to use it in the jungle for patients who could not eat. I never did need to put another tube up my husbands nose, though, for which I am sure he is most grateful!

The Things I See...

The color of the water coming out of my tap!

I could pretend it is pineapple juice!

Thankfully, it looks a little better after going through the filter.

 And just to gross you all out, here is the way it looks in the toilet! 

At least it matches my liquid hand soap!