Hey Everyone!

It's been so long since I've written anything for my blog, that I can't remember what all I wrote last time :p. So if I repeat anything, ignore it, and if I skip anything... you'll never know, will you?? :) I don't know where to start though, a LOT has been going on. This last week I ended up going to Mibu four times instead of the usual two. There were a bunch of people traveling, who wouldn't be getting back until Saturday afternoon, so we switched the Church services from Saturday to Sunday for them. Then on Monday Angie and I went down for our language studies. Angie's teacher wasn't there so she listened to my lesson. She gave us some good pointers so I made some good progress. We went down again on Thursday (keep reading to find out why), and then we had services yesterday. Wednesday is the usual day for Nansi to come up for another language session. She sent a messenger up with the message that she and the baby were sick, and weren't going to make it up here that day. Geoff had been gone the last couple days to Tariknan, and was coming back that morning. Shannon had decided to surprise him and meet him in Mibu, so she stopped in to see Nansi. When Shannon stopped by here, she told us that the situation looked really bad. So we got out the medical books, and did some research, the only thing we could figure was that there was an infection connected with the birth of her baby. We were really scared that both of them were going to die. So Brooke hiked down again that afternoon, and brought her some food, and water. She said there was no food in the house, and even Nansi's cooking pot was gone! Nansi said that her mother-in-law had borrowed it. Brooke was really annoyed that she wasn't there staying with Nansi. Then Angie and I hiked down to check on her Thursday morning. She was doing a lot better, but still not the greatest. We brought her some more food and water too. Friday we heard a rumor that she had actually been out at the water washing out her baby stuff. Saw her yesterday, and she seems to be almost back to normal. I think the baby is going to live too. I can't remember if that was on here, but the baby had been having trouble breathing, which is quite common in premature kids. On Thursday I heard the baby crying, and he sounds SOOO much better now! But he seems to be doing great. So maybe his father will give in and name the poor kid! Angie said that quite often they wait a little while (especially if the baby isn't healthy), so that it won't be as painful for them if the baby dies. I don't know if it works for them or not. I know it wouldn't for me! I also just found out that this is Nansi's second baby. The first was stillborn. When I found that out it made me even more desperate for this baby to live...if that was possible. Joey really likes to come up with visible examples about whatever they're teaching at the time. So this last Sunday he was teaching about what happens if you sin after you're saved. He took a handful of dirt and rubbed it into his shirt, explaining that we are dirty, and then he put a white sweatshirt on over it, and said that God sees us as being clean even though we are still sinners. It was really cool to see, and I guess everyone spent all week talking about it. It's really great to see, that not only are they hearing stuff, but they're remembering and applying it too. So yesterday he brought his "white" sweatshirt (this sweatshirt happens to have a white inside... the outside isn't white :P), and everyone started pointing to their shirts, and jabbering (that is to say I couldn't understand it) away about it. On the way down yesterday as we were passing one of the water pipes, there were a couple women and their kids "showering". On little girl was trying to put her dress back on and her arm was stuck inside it. So I thought I'd help her out. At first she thought I was trying to shake her hand, so she was kinda surprised when I helped her get her arm through, and then shook her hand :). Apparently helping her made us friends, so she followed me the rest of the way down the trail. Either directly behind me, or as the trail permitted, next to me. Anytime I looked at her she'd just smile like I'd handed her the moon! After we got down there she sat next to me for most of the service, and played with my hair and watch. I had my camera with me so Angie got a picture of me with her. I showed her the picture and she was very impressed with it :). I don't know if you guys know anything about the hair here, but it's very short, and just doesn't grow any longer. It's so thick that when they hang their bags from their heads you couldn't pull it off no matter how hard you tried! You have to pick it UP off your head, not pull it down. One woman suggested to Angie that she carry her bag that way, so Angie demonstrated how it slides off. She was quite amazed by that. That's why my friend (I have a bad habit of not getting names...in case you haven't noticed :p) was so fascinated by my hair. Angie and I did a whole bunch of Christmas baking this morning. I mixed up some pumpkin pies, and some dough for cinnamon rolls, and washed a ton of dishes :P. Angie made the pie crust, and the pecan pies and something else but I can't remember what. We're having the team gathering here tomorrow, and it's going to be kind of an all day thing. Gifts, movies, games, visiting, just that type of stuff. It's gonna be a lot of fun. Do you know how weird it feels to be in on someone else's family party?? I don't mind the team get together, but I feel a little like an outsider with the family thing. Now I can sympathize with all of Jim's Navy buddies that were at our house over the holidays :p. I know everyone has gifts for me, and I don't have much for them. Oh well, I did the best I could, and Angie said no one was expecting ANYTHING from me, so it should be fine. Well I have to go. It's way past lunch time here, and I'm starved! I'll try to post more often...Thanks Dale for the reminder :). So have a marvelously MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!