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Buenos dias, muchachas! Como estas? ¿que tal?

Well, that{s it for my Spanish. I have now bought roofing supplies, carpentry supplies, diesel fuel, asked about an oil change (cambiar el lubricar), and ordered 2 meals in Spanish. Thankfully, I eat the same thing every day with no problem. I think I{ll be eating Arroya con pollo every evening for 61 days, since I can pronounce it - or at least I can point to it on the menu. - and I learned how to say Coca light in Spanish -- it is Coca light, just like Chichewa.

I have been bitten by the fiercest, most aggressive, most frankly demonic fly on the planet, repeatedly. You do not feel the bite, but you begin to itch and swell within 10 minutes. I was sitting on the veranda at the hotel, and this yellow little devil started attacking. I had no idea that these flies are regionally famous - the name is ¨tabaño¨, which I think is Spanish for ¨little yellow demon scum vile piece of crap¨, or something like that. My left hand, both elbows and one ankle are all swollen tight. I had some predisone in hand to take last night, but decided against it - and today they are all about the same. I didnt put it all together, but Pablo asked me what was wrong with my hand, and then told me about the flies...

For those following the story line, Pablo is home from the hospital, the surgery went well, but he is staying at his mother{s house for the weekend, as he would be alone at the mission house otherwise. I m preparing to enter the week, going to feeding programs and accompanying those who are buying food for the programs and the ongoing construction. We are greatly looking forward to the Springfield team in 2 weeks - they should be able to accomplish a lot with several projects - plus Wanda will be coming in with them, which will be a real relief. AND the phone lines will get a rest.

Mission on the Move is sitting in a unique spot in this community. Several opportunities have presented themselves, largely because of the patient learning and progress of MOM here, even with several setbacks - a large support base has built up, and there are a number of medical teams from the US that are set to come regularly. The La Guama hospital building is actually a well-organized clinic facility, in need of some real structural work, but with lots of opportunities for the future. There is a church building nearby on a large piece of property that has been made available to MOM, although there is still a distance between what the sellers want and what is reasonable to offer - that is, if MOM even wants to move on this. The mission station in Santa Elena is in good position, with lots of property and a high fence in progress, plans for a new water tower to be built this summer, and possibly a boarding home for 24 children at the far end of the property. There are fruit trees around the entire property of all kinds. The feeding program has become a more comprehensive plan to develop responsible young adults that can return to the neighborhood and perpetuate the improvements that have been started here. The staff seems to be committed to the project, after some weeding among the local personnel, and they have a real good spirit. There is not a MOM church here, as efforts to accomplish this have not borne fruit. Instead, there is a daily teaching of the Gospel in the lives of the young people who attend here before and after school. There is a Sunday School program, led by Pablo, that also teaches the Gospel message.

This week should be very interesting, with several trips to buy food, a Thursday trip to Seguatapeque to try to get a cyst removed from a 5-year-olds neck (sorry, there is no apostrophe on this computer - but there is a ñ) - Kevin, for those praying for us. I am driving a struggling diesel truck, but we have a fortunate offer of help from Pablos father to drive to Seguatapeque on Thursday.

I am trying to learn the language, but it is amazing how stiff the 53-year old brain can be. Thanks for your prayers. Sorry about no pictures, my computer appears to be totally caput.

Rick