Chasing a Herd of Cows Away from Dinner, and Other Adventures

English class with the Bible students a few days ago started with us talking about our families. All of them come from farming families, and some have large families with eleven being the biggest. Well, class really started with me walking into the classroom where four of the students were sitting at the table chattering. I sat down in my seat at the head of the table ready to wait for the last student. I made eye contact with one of the girls and casually said "Good morning." At this, all four of them popped out of their chairs, crossed their arms and said in unison "Good morning teacher!"

My five wonderful students from the discipleship course.

The first time I noticed a student standing up and crossing his arms across his chest, I thought maybe he was nervous, or trying to be macho. After the next few did the exact same pose, I realized that's how they're trained to address their teachers.

My afternoon children's class is very fast to learn new things. I have almost run out of things we can point to and name in the "classroom" (a walled in concrete patio). So I drew some stuff on the board, and before I could even finish the drawing they would yell out "flower, tree, ship." I asked them some simple questions. The littlest ones (eight to nine) have trouble answering even their name and age. The older ones I asked what color their clothing was, if they were tired, what they like to drink. Sometimes they need help to answer, sometimes not, and they pick it up quickly.

My afternoon class waiting for some refills of school supplies

This boy is so sassy and always joking. I have asked the class
to tell me what he was doing twice, once when he was drawing
a flower on his hand, and the other time when he was preening
in a mirror. He has been a little embarrassed to be called out by
the teacher for doing these during class, but a good sport over
all and now the kids know the sentences "He is looking in a mirror."
and "He is drawing."

Class with the Bible students yesterday started with reading though the beatitudes. They seemed so much more applicable to these students, all from farming families, and planning to go out to share the gospel with other tribes, than they seem back home among the comfortable. I know the verses apply to every believer, but they seemed to have a special emphasis and be a blessing straight from Jesus for these students as bit by bit we read through them together. Some day I hope I get to see where these five go. With their earnest work ethic and sweet spirits, I expect it will be far.

Ever have to chase a herd of cows away from your dinner? That's what happened last night when I went with a group of sixteen kids and their caretakers to a swimming pool at a Hindu temple. When the cows started charging our area the girls ran screaming, with one grabbing a dinner basket on the way, while the boys aged nine to thirteen used their karate kicks to drive the cows away from our area! They might be kids, but the boys are already taking care of the girls/damsels in distress!

It's amazing how much bodies can acclimate to different conditions. The kids here are used to the heat and it doesn't really bother them. The swimming pool we were at is fed constantly by a mountain stream. I thought it was a very pleasant temperature, it was WAY warmer than the ocean ever gets! But to the kids it was very cold and in less than an hour they were all laying and squatting on the concrete shivering and trying to get warm. They changed into some pretty heavy duty coats and sweatsuits, while I stayed in my wet swimming clothes and felt fine.

On the far left is Peter's sister and brother who run the home my afternoon kids live at. The little girl in the grey polka doted sweatsuit is their little girl. The woman on the right is Peter's mother who runs the orphanage my night class goes to who I have yet to photograph. 

She's so cold after swimming!

Prayer Requests:

• Good rest. I have trouble sleeping at night, but thankfully am usually able to to get a nap. 
• Good lessons. 
• That I would do everything I am supposed to while here.