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Greetings from the wild country:
As I face the screen, the problem once again is not what to write, but what to leave out. Long letters are out
of style, but there is so much to tell. It’s kind of like trying to give your life story in 10 words or less.
We’re still recovering from our move and furlough storage even though its been a year. Some communication problems
still haven’t been worked out and some things still show up missing - like the top half of our Christmas tree*.
We bent the branches around and stuck a star on the stub and it didn’t turn out half bad.
The first 2 months of this year have been busier than usual with 4 camps, a missionary conference, a work trip
and a work group* from the US. There’s one more camp to go during Easter and I still need to go to the island and
make more block* and then go back again to try to finish the bathroom for the boys before the camp. There was also
a wedding* for an American short termer who came back to marry a Brazilian (they met at our camp!).
Two of the retreats (year end and Carnaval) were open to all area churches and 2 were for more limited groups -
1 for a church new to our camp. The Deaf retreat was interesting and included classes on signing for the hearing.
My boys especially enjoyed that.
A work group* from the States came during the US spring break. There was a long list of potential projects, one
of the highest being a bathroom for the boys who now have to walk a ¼ mile. They got a strong taste of 3rd
world "Murphy’s Law" and heat. In the Murphy department, a protest blocked a major road and stopped needed
materials from arriving, the right number of block were made in the wrong (smaller) size, the person contracted
to make extra block to finish the project didn’t know how, the ice factory was out of ice, and the chicken guy
was out of chickens, the water pump shook itself to pieces the first day, rattlesnakes paraded around like it was
the Rose Bowl and the pre-mature death of a new video projector killed 2 planned ministry opportunities. We forgot
our suitcase and another person’s only pair of shoes blew overboard. When we tried to retrieve the shoes the waves
tossed the passengers around like popcorn. On the other hand, though travel, heat, and upset stomachs were challenges,
the team marched ever onward to get the bathroom* to the point I had hoped for as well as move forward other projects.
Brush removal has the Island cleaner than it has been in many years and the men were able to see and minister in
several churches*. There were also some fun times* as we ate pizza and watched motorcycle stunts and a race. This
was our first time to host a group and we are still kind of new to the area so all told I think it came off fairly
well. Not to mention we are now well stocked on parts, tools, necessities and goodies. A special thanks to Keith,
Don, Shawn, and the Pete Wing family for coming and all of those who made it possible. I believe the Lord worked
in hearts and lives and hope to see them again - maybe even for keeps!
While coming back from the missionary conference we decided to detour to an area known worldwide for its fossils*.
That put us a little later on the road than usual. While trying to pass a slow moving truck I suddenly saw a burro
(donkey) in my lane. I hit the brakes but so did the truck and I barely missed the animal. Unfortunately, like
Balaam, I didn’t listen to what the donkey was trying to say to me: "My cousins are having a street party
down the road." Squinting into the lights of 2 oncoming trucks, I couldn’t see a string of burros until it
was too late. I tried to swerve between two, but caught one burro with the right front corner* then dragged him
under the tire (turning him into a burr-ito) as I tried to retain control. He finally rolled off to one side and
I was able to pull off the road and stop. A quick look at the van told me it was down for the count and I checked
to make sure the burro wasn't suffering or in the road. While I had contemplated ways to add a little horsepower
to the van, I certainly didn’t anticipate adding a "little horse" into the radiator of the van. The two
witness trucks kept on trucking as did the first 3 I tried to wave down. Finally I called the boys and lined them
up in the lane in front of me and the first truck stopped. He was traveling with his wife and daughter and knew
a fellow missionary. He took us to the next "town" and gave the boys some food. A colleague came and
towed us in. The first estimate was so high the shop wouldn’t even give it to me over the phone. Though a common
and popular vehicle, parts are extremely expensive and most are available only at the dealer. Used parts are rare.
A second shop knew someone far away who had just the parts I needed and the job was completed the very day the
work crew arrived and for 1/3 the first estimate. And everything worked - itself a miracle. "But wait … there’s
more!" Two surprise gifts showed up shortly after the accident (one actually made months before) and were
almost the exact amount needed for the repairs.
Remember to visit our website for pictures. It is getting very few visits and I’m considering not investing anymore
time into it. If you tried in the past but couldn’t get in, I’ve changed companies and the problem seems to be
resolved. The camp portion has been getting lots of visits and is updated after each retreat. Also note that ONLY
the yahoo email address is active. Last, the phone company has changed our number to an 8 digit number. It is now
55 74 3538-1777
The Athas in Brazil
bwaii@yahoo.com
* Photo on website: www.theathas.org (at printing: changed with each letter)
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