First Impressions

It’s hot and sticky!

It smells like another country.

The food is good.

The people are friendly.

But if anything is a little overwhelming, it’s not being able to understand or communicate. There’s something about it that makes your feel so small when you feel like you know zilch about the culture and language and basics of life.

Our first full day here, we went shopping at Big C. Everything looks super expensive, since the exchange is about 30 to 1. So you pick up a head of cabbage and see 45 b on it and if feels like you should put it back down instead of in you cart. I blundered and felt foolish as we tried to figure out what to do when we tried to buy lunch and were handed a tray with extra little bowls. The front of the buffet counter had some condiments and sauces. I thought the bowl must be for that, and put some in it. By the funny looks exchanged and the controlled smirks, I knew I had been mistaken. Oops! But it was for what? Still not sure. We watched others before going for our silverware and noted that the hot water beside it was for rinsing your utensils before use.

I wanted some anti itch cream for John because of his nasty bug bites. He has so many that he declares they are driving him crazy, and I’m afraid they would me too! He looks like he has chickenpox some places! We think they are from fire ants. Here’s a picture of some of the mean little buggers!

And here’s another “friend” who shares our quarters.

But, back to what I was saying before, I couldn’t find the cream because I couldn’t read anything. Yesterday, Darren was able to talk to a pharmacist that knew English and get something.  One his way home he was watching out for his feet instead of his head...This is what happened!
He hit his head on some overhanging tin and made a BIG gash!

Here’s a view from the of the inside of our gate.

And our garbage can. They are ingenious contraptions made from old tires. Almost every house in this area has one.

I’ll try to get some of our house one of these times so you can get acquainted with are quarters.

The flowers here are gorgeous. Darren likes to take pictures of them.

Please continue to pray for us, as we look forward to busy weeks of study ahead, and learning what God has in store for us.