The Okies Live Another Two Months

Blue Morph Butterfly, supposedly one of the rarest in the world, on the path to La Moralla

So much happens in this valley...

When we first got back a man had moved into the house adjacent to the soccer field and claimed it as his own. He lay in a hammock all day long in his boxers and a holster for his pistol and refused to let anyone play on the field or use it for anything. He talked of building a great hotel, of taking a scientific expedition (to find a cure for AIDS) up into Pico Bonito, and much else. He was a talker. He talked in English and French as well as Spanish. Once as we were on our way to school, he said to us in English that it is good to be a god, because only gods can kill people. Then he accosted Ernesto, the elementary school teacher, to berate him about how the teachers were always on strike, and threaten him with "Death! Death right here on my doorstep!"

Shortly after this, the police took him away, though we are not sure for what. A couple days later he returned, for a few hours at least, for when we came home from school that day, we saw him lying in his own blood, policemen standing guard over his body. He was killed, as some had predicted, but no one talks (at least not to us) about it. People seem to have forgotten it now.
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At school last week, I noticed some of my first year students acting a little strange as they shared a beverage. The next day, they offered me some! Chicha, they said, is made from pineapple husks soaked in water for a month and then mixed with other drinks. "It's pineapple juice!" Angel exclaimed. "Very good!" And they said that it was very strong in your throat, which is why you have to dilute it in orange juice. I tried a little, but not enough to get a very good taste.

After talking to Ester about it, the next day I asked them to bring more, and they did. Angel caught me in the morning ceremony and said excitedly, "Tom I brought more of that drink today!" During break, I called Ester into the class, and she confiscated all the chicha, found out who was involved in a long interrogation session, and suspended nine students from school for two days, and a week for the leaders. In one of my classes today I only had six students, and only one male.
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That is some sad news. But there is also good news!

Our friend Tim from Wheaton, who has graced us with his presence for two months, offered to go up and help Ramirez build his oven. Most people here only have an earthen stovetop, but Ramirez is very skilled with the earthen oven, and had previously made bread to sell in Las Mangas. Since he is not as able to work as he once was, with the health trouble he has had, baking bread is a very appealing alternative. Soon hopefully we will be buying his products on a regular basis.
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The best news we save for last!

Francis Julissa, the student with whom Kelly has been reading the Bible and talking a lot, has decided to follow Jesus! Friday after discussing Mathew 12 together, I, Kelly, asked Francis once again if she wanted to follow Jesus or if she had any new thoughts about the Gospel in her life. She said she still wasn't quite ready to be a Christian, though she believed in Jesus and the teachings of the Bible. It was something she would pursue later on in life. But, she said, I think I am getting closer...

Little did I know that two days later at our Campus discipleship group she would commit her life to Christ. When I heard the news, I ran downstairs to deliver the plate full of pataste bread and sat quietly. Ester said, we have two new sisters among us - Sara and Francis. I smiled really big, jumped up, and gave them squishy hugs. I am truly overjoyed.

Sara is another 14-year-old in my second year class who Francis lives with during the week. I am excited that they will be able to pray together and encourage each other in their new life in Christ.

Here are some pictures of our life:

The desk in the study where we do a lot of planning for classes

Rogelio's cows roaming the riverbed

Our hats

The front porch of our apartment

The campus from the river: gardens to the far left, our apartment and library in the middle

The river by night