One Room School Tent

September 9, 2008

Today Ginny and Joshua were playing so well while I helped Ryan with his school work that I hated to break up the fun to call them to school. The two had made a “hotel” (tent) out of chairs and blankets on our front porch. Instead of bringing them inside for school I decided it was easier for me to crawl into the “hotel”. So there we three sat for an hour while we talked science, did an art project, and read Charlotte’s Web.




Planting the Garden

Today I worked in the garden. I planted carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, green peppers, and tomatoes. I had great helpers. While I hoed the ground Ryan dug the holes and Joshua put in the seeds and covered them again. I will probably have to spend just one more morning planting the rest – squash, onions, green beans and watermelons.

Dental Hygiene Class

Tuesday September 9, 2008

A father brought his three year old to our house. His complaint was that her teeth had rotted. Sure enough, Jeff said, the poor kid had not one tooth that wasn’t rotting away. Jeff asked if the little girl ever used a toothbrush and toothpaste. The answer was no. Jeff explained about sugar and cavities and that she needed to have her teeth brushed a couple times (at least) a day. The father then asked, “So it isn’t good that she goes to sleep each night with a bottle of sugared tea?”
People’s teeth here are so bad. I cannot imagine what pain goes on in their mouth on a daily basis! We have a dentist here in town but I have no idea what he does (some say he just knows how to pull teeth - $4 a tooth) or how he is qualified. Inspired by all the toothless smiles, I decided to do a dental hygiene lecture at the kid’s school. A few months ago I taught in Ryan’s class. Today I presented in Ginny and Joshua’s class. The kids were great listeners and had fun answering questions. They also laid the toothpaste and toothbrush I gave out at the end.
You know you have lived in the culture too long when…..Ginny said, “When I grow up I want a gold tooth like some of my friends at school.”


Teaching in Joshua's class


Ryan's class holding up the tooth brushes and tooth pastes I gave out


Ginny's class liked the tooth brush and tooth paste I handed out

Some of the smiles around town

Happy Birthday, Nathan!

August 27, 2008

Yesterday we drove 1 ½ from our place to town called Yuty where we spent the night with the Reiches: Dan and Christie and their two sons, Nathan and Samuel. They have been church planting and discipling in rural Paraguay for 7 years. It was Nathan’s 9th birthday and we wanted to help him celebrate. We had a wonderful reunion. Dan and Christie had just come back from a year furlough so we had much to catch up on.

Folklore Festival

August 29, 2008

Friday was a folklore festival here in our town. It began at 8:00pm (well, that is when it was suppose to begin but being South America it didn’t begin till just before 9:00). Apparently it went until 5am! We left at 10:30 because our children were so tired and begging to go to sleep (that doesn’t happen too often). It was fun to see typical dances and here Paraguayan music and songs. Years ago they use to also have storytellers but it is a lost art now and no one does it.

Lapacho Trees

These beautiful lapacho trees can be seen in pink, white and yellow during July in Paraguay.

One Little, Two Little, Three Little Indians....

The kids have great imaginations and it is fun watching them play together. A couple nights ago they were Indians complete with face paint and a made up language (a lot of "ugg" and "how").

Meet:
Tiger Lilly
Chief Salad (Yes, that is lettuce in Joshua's head-dress)
Brown Indian (Tyler)
Little Shorty (Micah)

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Announcing the Arrival of....

On September 1st baby chicken, Snowflake, was born to...well, actually we aren't too sure who she was born to because both Birdie and Snow Chicken were manning the nest. Ginny says that Birdie THINKS she is the mother but really she is the baby-sitter. It is always exciting to have little baby animals around.