Things Have Gotten Much Busier

I just wanted to give a quick update. I've been much busier than before lately because there are many projects and things I, and some others, are working on...I've mentioned several of them before. Today I actually started building a sandbox for the children at a daycare that is run by the team. It was much harder than at home, due to the dull hand saw, having to put screws in by hand, and using hard jungle timber. It's worth the effort though because the kids don't have a whole lot to enjoy outside, so I'm sure they will appreciate it.

This evening I went to a barbeque with a lot of local people. It was pretty great because we had some amazing food, and I am really beginning to feel more at home with the people...despite the obvious communication difficulties. I have never quite felt so comfortable in a culture so different from my own, probably because I've never been immersed like this for so long, but it really excites me to know how it feels to just begin to fit in, even in small ways. It gives me encouragement for work that I will do in the future, when I can really spend the necessary amount of time to adjust and live among a new people.

I am leaving early in the morning to go to a village for the weekend. It should take about 3 or 4 hours by "bus," if you can call it that, and I am excited to see more of the countryside. It will be really interesting to see what life is like in a more rural village that is far from the city. I will only be gone for two days, but I am still excited. I will let you know how it went soon after I get back. God is still great.