tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23150612001682304602024-02-20T12:17:23.968-06:00Keeping up with Jim and Karen EssonServing the construction needs of missions organizations worldwideJim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-54437369520781172042023-12-18T17:36:00.002-06:002023-12-21T11:05:18.541-06:00"Please Duck," or "The Thriftshop Throne"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGfkfVpbyF2ENgfBnZcwgvjoFRz1mpo_9rxmKX71Z7fgk7TJ8BhvnWMoXE87SZlXLMSviG7ARUjeMjk-j8GLgrl4oreRnncyDDlJEDl7UhGCbWN4p_dYHvTFhz9gCEGvs7GNhe27z/s1600/Karen6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGfkfVpbyF2ENgfBnZcwgvjoFRz1mpo_9rxmKX71Z7fgk7TJ8BhvnWMoXE87SZlXLMSviG7ARUjeMjk-j8GLgrl4oreRnncyDDlJEDl7UhGCbWN4p_dYHvTFhz9gCEGvs7GNhe27z/s1600/Karen6.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK58XZ2_ioQpCEDV87Dku-kyLHrZ2CWUEDlt8eflymN90K5JXCFtRRDyzo1jCgzXaYwt5vZSVDNh85BaHciYr1zKxGJuCLOZCJfijz8-dUdakAAdQh-EoIlnsIGHJHI7cVvGI68wY_/s1600/Karen4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK58XZ2_ioQpCEDV87Dku-kyLHrZ2CWUEDlt8eflymN90K5JXCFtRRDyzo1jCgzXaYwt5vZSVDNh85BaHciYr1zKxGJuCLOZCJfijz8-dUdakAAdQh-EoIlnsIGHJHI7cVvGI68wY_/s1600/Karen4.jpg" width="175" /></a><span style="color: red; font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: black;"><b><span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 34.5pt;">D</span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">addy played the slide trombone. If
you were sitting in the front row<span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif""> </span>of the small church he pastored in 1992, my
husband Jim jokes that you had to duck when he started sliding wildly at the
fast parts of a song. The soaring vibrato from his trembly wrist as he
pumped that slide with blatant enthusiasm to a glorious crescendo,
sparked fervor into the hearts of his straggly
congregation. The pianist bobbed her considerable girth in a
dramatic and savage attack on the keyboard.
I always wonder why pianists think body movements enhance piano performance. A few of the faithful leap
to their feet and clap. An Amen carries
from the back row.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">By then, all Daddy had left was a fringe of
white hair around the edges of his shining earthly crown. The dominant feature
of that face below the sagging nose was his wide smile with those big square
teeth, a little crooked which I inherited. Adams apple moving up and down in
preparation, he had a habit of pausing during the sermon for an interpreter to translate
his Swahili into Nandi or Kikuyu, as if it was 1960 and he were still in East
Africa. Of course, the church was in Florida and he was
speaking English. He was paid no salary, and offerings were so small that
he had to build his own small podium that I have today. I use it
for a bookcase in the bedroom. “It could be Holy,” I have tried to
explain to Jim.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b> <o:p></o:p></b><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghO6VE4SDgeLmDI018Y7yzYxAIdVMde48zWns9B2oHPDLHyqjh3pxev3q7rrY0jxLGn5HuXVl6fkHhEHt8Og1sTh5ws8xjg4zrnagnYHHYmu_3XNiMHQcOKg8TtAC0bZdavwW8MQzA/s1600/Daddy+with+frame.png" style="clear: right; font-family: helvetica; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghO6VE4SDgeLmDI018Y7yzYxAIdVMde48zWns9B2oHPDLHyqjh3pxev3q7rrY0jxLGn5HuXVl6fkHhEHt8Og1sTh5ws8xjg4zrnagnYHHYmu_3XNiMHQcOKg8TtAC0bZdavwW8MQzA/s1600/Daddy+with+frame.png" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">My Dad</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pgD9KeKwqtQZDc2GBRCczDq0uhobRqn17NOK1Ku5aXuNjtewUJAbx3Jfi7p-L2lVWpQZlEfu1o-cNtuUnOSlakViEFsT4ZMlyEM9eBXdH8ozihsmU9h_IgzFRNRkyZxYtcHEy3Ng/s1600/Karen3.jpg" style="clear: left; font-family: helvetica; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pgD9KeKwqtQZDc2GBRCczDq0uhobRqn17NOK1Ku5aXuNjtewUJAbx3Jfi7p-L2lVWpQZlEfu1o-cNtuUnOSlakViEFsT4ZMlyEM9eBXdH8ozihsmU9h_IgzFRNRkyZxYtcHEy3Ng/s1600/Karen3.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><u>Rhett Butler</u></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><u><br /></u></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">My parents bought the 10,000 sq. ft. former
Alger-Sullivan sawmill office near the railroad track in Century, Florida for a
song. It had rich wood wainscoting throughout, weathered wood floors and
ceilings reaching to 18 feet. “It has possibilities,” enthuses Dad
as he and Mom lean over the black iron fire escape in back. They planned
to turn this albatross into a southern mansion complete with four big columns
out front and a winding staircase to the second floor. They did actually
hang a crystal chandelier and did endless repairs but the staircase never materialized. Mom always
imagined that she was Scarlett from “Gone with the Wind” and Daddy, Rhett Butler.
The only similarity was the mustache. The sawmill came with a
sagging hotel next door, the “Century Hotel.” My sister and I still joke
about who finally gets the fountain which was in front, a small boy, with water
streaming forth.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">After Daddy died and Mom sold the house, I
chose the podium (see first paragraph), family pictures, the “Africa trunk”
which is in the foyer of our home and the grand piano that has a cracked
soundboard, but sounds good except for the three low keys. The
antiques, which Mom loved and “silver service” went to my siblings, the famous
trombone to my oldest brother, incidentally, the only one of us that “turned
out right.” The rest, mostly remnants of Dad’s hardware store like
books of paint samples and carpet squares, we </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">surreptitiously</span></span><i style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> </i><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">tossed from
the second story window into the waiting arms of a blazing fire in the side
yard between the former sawmill house and the hotel, (not the fire escape
side). </span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">We saved some of their old letters from Kenya, back when people
used carbon paper in the typewriter for every piece of correspondence.
They had been painstakingly hole-punched and put in big blue folders which had
faded into an unattractive shade of splotchy purple. Much, sadly, we
threw away but I saved two boxes of their letters, in case I wanted to write a
book. </span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">We saved the leather football helmets and
soiled uniforms from some team sponsored by the lumber mill years before, for
the “antique road show.” They have since strangely disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_Kztv4fk0rphRPfWEu-umfVIejT0rPjZvz_UGSQM2ihDLaRkQMrubNgsDphy08eHEu-TzvqkqmgYBLtAomntTKnKmdtR8oy3IciauTyoByf9t1uStODtnptyFE3ExzsVtipcAznA/s1600/Karen2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: helvetica; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_Kztv4fk0rphRPfWEu-umfVIejT0rPjZvz_UGSQM2ihDLaRkQMrubNgsDphy08eHEu-TzvqkqmgYBLtAomntTKnKmdtR8oy3IciauTyoByf9t1uStODtnptyFE3ExzsVtipcAznA/s1600/Karen2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">To get back to the point of this story; I’m
drawn like a magnet to thrift shops. I ducked into one along 9th
Ave. in Pensacola last Thursday and there was a sawn-off pew the size of a wide
chair with bright red upholstery between the rich wood arms, perhaps a small
exaggeration. The hymn holder and round holes for communion glasses were still
perched jauntily on the back. I showed amazing restraint pausing just long
enough to sit in it quickly and surmise it was surprisingly comfortable. </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">It was large enough to accommodate a preacher the size of Hagee or someone
important like Billy Graham. Now in my eyes, my Dad far surpassed either
of those men and skinny as he was in the end, I could imagine him in this
throne-sized pew. Who knows, it could be as holy as the aforementioned
podium, now bookcase. I showed amazing restraint plus the fear that Jim
would kill me. I did not purchase the pew-throne.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Yesterday back on 9th Ave., I found myself
veering wildly into the parking lot of the “Teen Challenge Thrift Store” to see
if it was still there. It sat affixed with the orange sticker for $10.99
among the soiled couches and scratched coffee tables arranged in the glaring
light of “today only” bargains near the front windows. I sped-walked so
as not to be obvious and let the cashier know I wanted it. I was amazed
no one else had snatched this treasure. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Feeling impulse-shoppery, I
spied the gaudiest oriental chest with brass hardware (well, it could have
been) beside the checkout that I thought would be a great sewing cabinet
instead of the cracked plastic green thread holder I use now. It used to be
Mom’s, now that I think about it. I asked for the manager and pulled out
all my overseas missionary haggling skill and the price was dramatically reduced.
I am really not an impulse buyer, but I felt uncharacteristically and
unflinchingly audacious. I got those two words from the hardback
Thesaurus they threw in for 25 cents.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Two previously “challenged teens” loaded
the treasures into the Honda. I could not close the trunk, but the
pew-throne was so heavy, there was not a chance it would fall out. I
thought the young man with the blue tattoos and strings of greasy blonde glued
to his skull was snickering, but I chose to ignore him.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Inching around the curves down Scenic Hwy.
with the big red throne-pew hanging precariously from the trunk, a sizable
parade formed behind me. A white sports car screamed past on the left and
I might have seen a hand gesture of encouragement thrust from his window over
the roof of his car. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">My only regret is that I didn’t have time to sand and poly the
throne and put in a place of honor so that I could imagine Daddy was here with
his Bible and trombone celebrating Christmas with us. I know he is in heaven
playing with the heavenly choir, shaking that wrist for a special vibrato,
weaving his trombone in wide sweeps as the white clad choir members duck.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-52996016417506851212023-03-11T08:20:00.001-06:002023-03-11T08:26:15.360-06:00What a surprise!! I won $100 for this story about my childhood in Kenya "Boarding School at Mara Hills"<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />
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Kenya and Tanganyika, East Africa, 1956</span></h3><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I never could eat that
first week at school.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents had no choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mission board under which they went to
Kenya gave them no choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had to
send us to boarding school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was nine,
and my sister Lydia was seven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="color: red;"> </span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: lime;"><u>My sister, Lydia</u></span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhpC-0ZR0NKy2tXau3mQkNSF0vx-ll-vu2tBfp574M-RBzNYNylF0UXy1zuzrH7LFf6MOPFp-3PzeTDfZfzpU-pp2bVwjzbxbvvkRUyssWBwIXyvLUeSPlMNRmfh1VD2kGcU64ncS/s1600/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhpC-0ZR0NKy2tXau3mQkNSF0vx-ll-vu2tBfp574M-RBzNYNylF0UXy1zuzrH7LFf6MOPFp-3PzeTDfZfzpU-pp2bVwjzbxbvvkRUyssWBwIXyvLUeSPlMNRmfh1VD2kGcU64ncS/s1600/Picture1.png" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">My parents drove us in the old green pickup with the
canvas-covered back that first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
rode behind the cab leaning against our luggage, the red dust thickening our
hair as it seeped through the cracks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two
others missionary kids rode with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
hours fighting rutted dirt roads, we were stymied by an impassable river
rushing toward eager banks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New to
Africa, my Mom had on high heels but gamely took them off, wading through mud
and streams those last few miles to Mara Hills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My sister and I could hardly contain our admiration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom was seven months pregnant.</span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: lime;"><b>My Mother</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMuYgv0hrBA6t9Zk4tZF9QlhrZMfuWCvBVwLcJUO30ae71DM7877NhpH1DDsdN-N5JanD3FwPND_0oLyI5vkeoYnMHxi4i8G9grvVBbh8KRXyzYVnl-_lxrBHKl0XraULfB53sPFZ/s1600/1520281-R1-E015-0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMuYgv0hrBA6t9Zk4tZF9QlhrZMfuWCvBVwLcJUO30ae71DM7877NhpH1DDsdN-N5JanD3FwPND_0oLyI5vkeoYnMHxi4i8G9grvVBbh8KRXyzYVnl-_lxrBHKl0XraULfB53sPFZ/s320/1520281-R1-E015-0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">We walked five miles with our luggage watching the
sun burn itself out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The black
impenetrable night was punctured by a vast array of stars as we arrived. We sat
patiently waiting on a bench next to the flickering candlelight in the entrance
of the u-shaped building while our beds were hastily prepared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia rested her weary head on my shoulder,
her silent tears burning into my neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
dad was feverish and shaking with chills from his first case of malaria, one of
many to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He still managed to get up
at the first light of day and trudge back with two Masai men to push the truck
out of the rising river.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">How could I imagine what lay ahead?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were bars on the windows, beds from
twisted Zebra hides, flashlights boring a bouncy minuscule shaft in the night
on our way to the outhouse, an eye out for snakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I routinely shone my flashlight down the hole
in the rough wooden seat, prompting nightmares of slipping into the maggots
swarming below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I suspect a slight infraction,”
the housemother announced one morning, a smile playing around her thin lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were supposed to use the potty under our
bunks at night.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The hunt brought gazelle and impala for our meat,
salted down to preserve it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No fridge at
Mara Hills. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had little garden plots
where we all competed, urging on our corn and tomatoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We fought to take out slop to the pigs, which
were also butchered for meat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
<br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">We went barefoot to class, a one-room schoolhouse,
grades 1-8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw my first dead body, a
man lying stiffly in the back of the school pickup right before class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We popped green coffee beans right off the
plant into our mouths, saving them in our cheeks, enjoying the sweet juice as
our heads bent innocently over our books.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The Mennonite house parents were stern but
kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I missed the daily hugs and kisses
from Mama and Daddy that I had so taken for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote letter after letter begging them to
come get us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The letters were not sent,
I learned later.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
<br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Meals were formal, our cloth napkins stuffed
carefully in rings made from sliced Impala horns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dessert was often one cookie with a raisin in
the center, as lonely as I felt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
freckled girl with long strawberry braids tried to dislodge a <span>guava seed</span>
caught in her teeth with her fork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
got cleanup duty that meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manners were
important at Mara Hills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her Dad owned a
diamond mine in South Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did
not get one letter from home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
<br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">My sister and I clung to each other for
security.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day to my horror, she ran
towards me, dark braids flying, one eye pinched shut with a shiny eyeball
gracing her palm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Panic gripped me as I
realized I had failed to watch out for her and she had lost an eye
somehow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Convulsing with laughter, she
opened her eye shouting, “pig eye.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was slaughtering day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
<br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Semesters lasted three long months and then home for
a month and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Headed for home at
last, Lydia and I leaned against the rail of the steamer as it inched from the
shore of Lake Victoria in Musoma, Tanganyika headed for Kisumu, Kenya.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just too far and dangerous for Mom and
Dad to fetch us by truck each time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
turned towards our stateroom where two small beds would see us through the
lonely night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
<br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Noon the next day, the sun like a scream in the sky beat
down on the black skin of Africans swaying and humming softly to the throbbing
of the engine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their night had been
spent on the deck under the stars.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
<br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">At sundown, we nosed into the harbor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two thin figures became clearer as we neared
the shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad in khaki shorts and Mom, long
legged and slim, smiling, holding the baby brother we had not seen yet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
<br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Three months’ emotion let go and I sobbed with total
relief at what seemed happiness beyond my wildest dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would be home in Kaimosi in two hours.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: lime;"><u>Probably Mombasa in front of Ft. Jesus. </u></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: lime;"><u>This picture got wet during the Hurricane Ivan in Pensacola.</u></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
</span><div class="separator" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibedrEmaeHfnYURVT0SpoVghs1DuWk2IR0vzMjq34T04v1KhfIRIBydZNyeo1Agtmz8xPzJ9zOhIQ2hNrs1ncY_l8py5mCNX2ryf-LA0XXlN7hh6VFtnuy8Mug_gJXGDluumrV82Jo/s1600/Probably+Mombasa+or+maybe+Kisumu+getting+back+from+school.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibedrEmaeHfnYURVT0SpoVghs1DuWk2IR0vzMjq34T04v1KhfIRIBydZNyeo1Agtmz8xPzJ9zOhIQ2hNrs1ncY_l8py5mCNX2ryf-LA0XXlN7hh6VFtnuy8Mug_gJXGDluumrV82Jo/s320/Probably+Mombasa+or+maybe+Kisumu+getting+back+from+school.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;">
</div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
<br />
</span><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h2><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
</span>Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-52098240491399028512022-09-05T21:20:00.005-05:002022-09-05T21:47:11.978-05:00<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> 1998</b></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3m4IzrJc1kqjRk4ANp02xmRlluYFHr_Fi77UuM2bwS7BUgRiSxbYcI5La5YuuTg47l92bK_iUOvGayhv9trCodaqKr-fUvJwjRdqa3N5UEt-yrp99B5YCMkH4WpJGJAozuzzzvESO-WrFkl4brxOUqfBM2nkfXnmQE0kVznyhE5qBEO6NIF3Vw/s535/Pensacola%20Lock%20and%20Safe%20017.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="535" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3m4IzrJc1kqjRk4ANp02xmRlluYFHr_Fi77UuM2bwS7BUgRiSxbYcI5La5YuuTg47l92bK_iUOvGayhv9trCodaqKr-fUvJwjRdqa3N5UEt-yrp99B5YCMkH4WpJGJAozuzzzvESO-WrFkl4brxOUqfBM2nkfXnmQE0kVznyhE5qBEO6NIF3Vw/w400-h334/Pensacola%20Lock%20and%20Safe%20017.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whitney 7, Natalie 8</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I stared at the ZipLoc bag, clouded with moisture. Inside
were muddy shoes. I had placed them there for the dogs to sniff so that they
would have the girls scent. By the time they called in the dogs the temperature
was dropping rapidly and Natalie was only wearing a sweatshirt. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Why hadn’t they found them? It had been four hours and the
helicopter had circled the area with their loud speakers shouting, “Natalie and
Whitney Esson, age 7 and 8. If you see them, please call the sheriff’s office.
Natalie and Whitney, we are looking for you. Stay in the open.” .....The air is
frigid.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Right after lunch, we
were deep in conversation with an animated missionary friend up in the
mountains. Natalie and Whitney kept tugging at me asking if they could go to
the top of the mountain. Finally, not wanting to miss out on our friend’s
adventures in South America, I quickly say, “Yes, yes, go ahead, but be
careful.” I thought they meant the top of the hill behind the cabin. They
meant..."the top of the mountain.” Alicia who was ten stayed to hear the
stories. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Half an hour later, I send Alicia trudging up the hill to
check on them. They are nowhere in sight. Jim and I feel vaguely concerned so
huff and puff up the hill calling loudly. There is a pretty steep drop off at
the top and our eyes scan the brush below. We decide to follow the path. Muddy
ravines stretch out continually to our left and numerous paths go off to the
right as we hurry faster scouring the cliffs. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">We search for an hour shouting their names repeatedly and
more desperately. Worry runs through me like a current. I realize how easily
you could lose your way as we hurry back with nothing clearly marking the many
winding paths in these torn hills. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I remember the waitress at the donut shop who said this
mountain has the highest percentage of child molesters of any place in
California. The girls are level headed so it’s not the getting lost that scares
me. I am praying now with more urgency. Jim calls the sheriff and our friends. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m caught somewhere between incredulousness, embarrassment
and terror. I look totally calm and collected, however...well, maybe a little
mist in my eyes. Two fixed wing aircraft are now searching and one helicopter.
Ground crews have been unsuccessful. This can’t be happening. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Jim makes me stay at the cabin with a deputy and our
missionary friends who alternately pray with me and reassure me with many
stories of God’s faithfulness in their lives. There’s a knock at the door and
an eager ranger type wants clothes or shoes for the dogs to sniff. Another
knock and two female trackers, awfully young I notice, want me to identify the
girls' footprints in the mud around the cabin to help in their search. I get
the feeling this is their first 'for real’ search. It is almost dark now and
the crackle of the deputy’s radio tells us the girls have not been found. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m shivering inside the cabin and wondering why they can’t
find two small girls in such a small area. Strangers are kindly out combing the
hills. The radio startles us. A man on a tractor, clearing land had seen two
girls walking earlier. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Where can they be?” I ask lamely. The deputies are
obviously perplexed. We hear the helicopter but it will soon be too dark to
see. I am still not panicky but I wish Jim would return. He is still out
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walk outside. The needle sharp
wind stings my eyes. A police car arrives. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">A friend confides she thinks they may have found them but
they aren’t allowed to say. A little girl has called 911 from a pay phone in
front of a liquor store and said she is lost. We wait. Yes, there are two
girls. They have been walking for hours looking for civilization and a pay
phone. I’m more than misty now. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Jim is not back. A crowd is gathering. Another police car
arrives and in the back seat sit two of the most precious little girls I have ever
seen. I snatch them from the car and strangle them with hugs. The officer says
they too have been praying. “The guys were pretty worried,” he says, giving me
a knowing look. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m amazed at all the Christians in this ‘heathen place’ the
waitress had described. Whitney’s words rush out with a worried look, “Mom, we
didn’t talk to strangers but we did wave to a lady with a dog.” I see Jim
coming now, disheveled and breathless. His face is drawn and white from four
hours running, walking, shouting, and agonizing for his daughters. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">We stood in a ragged circle. We thank God for the men on the
police force and the dedication of the search and rescue team. The crowd thins.
Natalie confides, “We sat down on the path, held hands and prayed six times,
Mommy." "We walked and walked in the mountains until we came out on a
road with a yellow line.” She took a deep breath and continued, “I took off my
sweatshirt and let Whitney use it for a pillow and we rested by a giant stump.”
</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Natalie adds that a policeman drove by and she put up her
hand for him to stop but he just waved. I smile thinly. Whitney interrupts with
a frown and whispers, “We saw a man on a tractor. He left his magazine and we
picked it up, but we threw it back down cause it had bad, bad pictures.” </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Natalie chips in, “We looked for a pay phone forever. I
carried Whitney piggyback to keep her warm.” Whitney then divulges, “When we
finally found the pay phone Natalie told me to be quiet and let her do all the
talking.” </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our missionary friends sent us the front page headline from
the Big Bear Grizzly after we returned home. It said among other things: </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">8-YEAR-OLD KNOWS WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCY - CALL 911 </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Some 20 searchers from the Sheriff’s station, Search and
Rescue, Posse, on foot, horseback, motorbike and in a helicopter and
all-terrain vehicles, combed the East Valley for some five hours. Meanwhile,
the girls recognized that they were lost, found their way to Big Bear Blvd. and
walked to the Liquor Junction store where they called 911 from a pay phone. The
girls were unharmed.”</span></p>
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<![endif]-->Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-3200861297732800202022-08-21T11:18:00.003-05:002022-08-29T16:55:34.717-05:00I Hate Snakes<div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-linesup: 0; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-pagination: none; text-align: left;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUbcNaK3x_aBaGt_UGsEvIWoMBeRNO_m266COlD31w7mSEw_sCkdhr2iuvpiBKXcFqMPWJ2BiQVWNZiaZiRQWGJr-AiqETMFFgYA9RtC2RtVtMGMPOTiDoWRo-4mlp8UgFKJMwwI8nHMt2ZqJMtTHfiCD5-_qwMMyvj53Z7yp1FWHe_-4XedPKg/s700/6BTaRe5i8(1).png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="690" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUbcNaK3x_aBaGt_UGsEvIWoMBeRNO_m266COlD31w7mSEw_sCkdhr2iuvpiBKXcFqMPWJ2BiQVWNZiaZiRQWGJr-AiqETMFFgYA9RtC2RtVtMGMPOTiDoWRo-4mlp8UgFKJMwwI8nHMt2ZqJMtTHfiCD5-_qwMMyvj53Z7yp1FWHe_-4XedPKg/w116-h119/6BTaRe5i8(1).png" width="116" /></a></b></span></span></span></div><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>M</b></span></span>y Mom sips her coffee and watches the sun burn the last of the dew off the grassy</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"> slope outside the dining room window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A month has elapsed since she and our family debarked from the ocean liner in Mombasa, rode the train to Nairobi and drove overland in an open jeep to this lonely station in Kaimosi, Kenya.</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-linesup: 0; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">Mom conducts sick call on the lawn each morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is before Daddy built the brick clinic for her. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A man with blood spilling from a long gash in his calf limps slowly up the dirt path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman with him flops down on the grass while the man pounds at the kitchen door shouting for the houseboy, Chege.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chege politely speaks with the memsahib about the panga wound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: right;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPoXk5gklgqiRWkglLD8Y3HyDOB5dBInVjus08ckotdLPTuxEQg8fHNmVk4Lfti1L3dXoAwVKDGYnvyMHa4H1hSbCkOollNtOY-gMCvQ74Xwch6CcltJfi4qH90i_wyQ3w4OLlaH_bkbm688E83kZrDyYpjoDORgqzuw16fHzoRcnKdXvrIN4_Q/s1394/Mom%20fixing%20panga%20cut.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1394" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPoXk5gklgqiRWkglLD8Y3HyDOB5dBInVjus08ckotdLPTuxEQg8fHNmVk4Lfti1L3dXoAwVKDGYnvyMHa4H1hSbCkOollNtOY-gMCvQ74Xwch6CcltJfi4qH90i_wyQ3w4OLlaH_bkbm688E83kZrDyYpjoDORgqzuw16fHzoRcnKdXvrIN4_Q/w320-h238/Mom%20fixing%20panga%20cut.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Memsahib Eby. (my mom) rushes out to apply a tourniquet, then back in for antiseptic and sutures to do a layered closure on the wound, something she was not trained to do in nursing school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a wide gaping wound, very common among Africans who work with pangas, long heavy-bladed knives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman continues to lie lazily on the grass.</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When they leave, Mom sees something at the spot where the woman had stretched out on the grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking closer, she draws in a breath when she sees a thick snake 4-5 ft long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To this day, Mom believes the woman had it under her cloak and left it there as a warning or “gift” of some sort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Africans can be very superstitious.</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpSUDdzFYGC5mtUkBuCDLUeZPt9_NBP-vwc-mqVKZHMzOofrORciYP7_N6q-q6bY-SiXVu4-AJ9tV72XddzDt4hcRQQb7cruJOT3RUYM8TreCQWxnFo36eIe8fVAnOSetZg8MFuCipkB-D1flZ737ftb-MI6Y-tK41cZBADtN3oO6PYpGTT6QlQ/s919/17.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="919" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpSUDdzFYGC5mtUkBuCDLUeZPt9_NBP-vwc-mqVKZHMzOofrORciYP7_N6q-q6bY-SiXVu4-AJ9tV72XddzDt4hcRQQb7cruJOT3RUYM8TreCQWxnFo36eIe8fVAnOSetZg8MFuCipkB-D1flZ737ftb-MI6Y-tK41cZBADtN3oO6PYpGTT6QlQ/w320-h245/17.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">My Dad took this picture right after the woman lef</span></b>t</span></span></h4></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">I’ve always hated snakes and with good reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">In East Africa, unless you have anti serum with you and few did; a session with a black mamba could mean certain death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Mom who is 95 now, says a mamba could easily reach up from the dirt road and strike into an open car window.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Far from home at boarding school in wild and hostile country, 400 kilometers from home, I had a continuous ache in my chest from homesickness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No phone, no e-mail, only isolation and loneliness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only time I didn’t ache was when running in the grass barefoot, skinny legs scrambling, stealing the soccer ball from underneath the legs of the big boys, then running like a gazelle and pushing it into the goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There were no inside toilets at the small boarding school in Tanganyika, East Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like early America, there were outhouses, with rough hewn walls surrounding a wooden seat over a deep hole filled with maggots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew this because I peered down the hole with my flashlight on inky nights when I crept out of the dorm to use the facility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rarely used the potty under my bed, but that soon changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The sun is warm on my back as I hoe my garden patch and as usual, I wait until the last minute to answer nature’s call. I pound down the path, bolt through the door, drop the latch, reaching the seat just in time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As my eyes adjust to the slivers of light streaking though the cracks, I scream, paralyzed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A snake is coiled in the corner between the door and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks like a puff adder, which will strike over and over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Puff adders often lay along a path, dozing until disturbed, then strike with amazing speed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">My heartbeat thunders in my ears and I see the puff adder raise his head, flicking his tongue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like a jack-in-the-box, I jump, pulling up my pants midair, knock up the latch and I’m out the door as fast as an ostrich with a lion on its tail. I once coiled a long snake, dead of course, in the corner of the girls shower, hoping to scare the living daylights out of my classmates.</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="ltr"></span>2004)</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">“There are no snakes in Lake Kivu,” </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">Dr Lusi states unequivocally, “because of the methane gas.” Lake Kivu is a huge lake next to Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had just arrived with a crew of volunteers to replace the crew already there with Jim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim and crews were building a new hospital to replace the hospital destroyed by the volcano</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">…”right on top of the lava.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">The lake is cold and deep so I didn’t have the usual fear of something biting my feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I swim out maybe a quarter mile and the waves are getting a little rough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see something long and green swimming in the waves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know at once…..”</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">A METHANE-RESISTANT SNAKE.” </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9htM0GQwQwslfWBV7dFUogLTiPGST87idycMsUOLJo541z0ybOw6ry-5hrE-MSqIrkPM1mvg2-Sir7m0dD1D-i1LoSvVOSuwoam7Gmc09MXYpoWVHdk-nCCL_KtlhuNdBR0jRQ-ees3la9STcoHYfNHvGb7DG0DTwAEFjIzo3eVesKqJkLgRFQw/s3008/green-snake-19-3180490120.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3008" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9htM0GQwQwslfWBV7dFUogLTiPGST87idycMsUOLJo541z0ybOw6ry-5hrE-MSqIrkPM1mvg2-Sir7m0dD1D-i1LoSvVOSuwoam7Gmc09MXYpoWVHdk-nCCL_KtlhuNdBR0jRQ-ees3la9STcoHYfNHvGb7DG0DTwAEFjIzo3eVesKqJkLgRFQw/w221-h148/green-snake-19-3180490120.jpg" width="221" /></a></span></div><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">The adrenaline surges so powerfully that my arms and legs ache with it. My arms become skinny windmills and I believe I set a world swimming record with the long green snake snipping at my feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">My daughters pull me up on the pier, hands clasped over their mouths, in dismay I surmise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are merely stifling giggles as they fish the long crooked green stick out of the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You laugh, but that was one scary stick.</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="color: #cc0000;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">So why am I sharing all this snake stuff?</span></span></span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Walking down the stairs Sunday morning to make coffee, I see something black and shiny writhing from underneath a pile of my underwear thrown on the second step to bring upstairs on one of my many daily trips up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have the customary adrenaline rush and stand perfectly still lest I scare whatever is there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My eyes might be fooling me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure enough, a coil is moving veddy, veddy slowly from under the unmentionables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My stomach squirms and does some very professional somersaults.</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Driven by uncontrollable panic, I leap past the step up to our bedroom to tell Jim about the <b>horror right here in our very own home.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b> </b> </span>He just snorts and turns over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s obvious he isn’t going to come save me. I tiptoe down silently and jump past the last few steps, with my heart hammering like pistons in race car, flip-flopping all over my chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can imagine the snake throwing his long scaly body around my leg in a wild embrace, sinking in his teeth for a venom extravaganza. </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: 10pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I race to the garage and grab a heavy, long-handled shovel, flick the underwear off the snake, with the handle, throw the snake what I hope is a scalding look and start slicing and stabbing with the shovel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The head is still on, but I do enough damage to kill him, plus several wide gashes in the bottom step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stab at him<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>several more times just to be sure he is dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg287CnXUnOpKqxZcNoSLotyLDO2y9stZVZaq3ZxxE5m3EThRCt2FYKW-Bk13NyZLOl-ILwFo1BA8zs2OnWeDdd2vT92V5wHkTicQFCTsqyWjf1mN9WwUc-b_HR3arEQroCmZ9z22vtarB8hippqMAx7HGjK78VfNBRClpw03tUJgoV1SVoIjgbxg/s2592/IMG_20160503_175121-999202265.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg287CnXUnOpKqxZcNoSLotyLDO2y9stZVZaq3ZxxE5m3EThRCt2FYKW-Bk13NyZLOl-ILwFo1BA8zs2OnWeDdd2vT92V5wHkTicQFCTsqyWjf1mN9WwUc-b_HR3arEQroCmZ9z22vtarB8hippqMAx7HGjK78VfNBRClpw03tUJgoV1SVoIjgbxg/w246-h184/IMG_20160503_175121-999202265.jpg" width="246" /></a></span></span></div><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: 10pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">Disheveled and breathless, I lean on the handle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finally rouse Jim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">Can you believe he laughs and says it is just a worm?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">Later emptying some coffee grounds, I find that big snake in the kitchen trash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gives me the shivers just thinking about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">not </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">what I meant by getting</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"> rid </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">of the snake.</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;"> </span></p><p>
</p></div>Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-24436079735729079472022-06-09T07:51:00.003-05:002022-06-09T08:53:55.895-05:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgslau6nG33raRmXYi8vE6nCf6XRIEecob2CFvI48BK08CgxfqP2ahf8moZtGwBLWvldI9eGBPB8ZIJPaMBDzLYFFlnh5PJ2El_ArsOQePtNiWEX6s7LpJO4DNa6ACSCZDVnXPdP8T15hLpZpo8DCVvecRGtKRLWecK54CCYOAkXpBM4tjL-qCA/s1800/Bogot%C3%A1_banner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="1800" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgslau6nG33raRmXYi8vE6nCf6XRIEecob2CFvI48BK08CgxfqP2ahf8moZtGwBLWvldI9eGBPB8ZIJPaMBDzLYFFlnh5PJ2El_ArsOQePtNiWEX6s7LpJO4DNa6ACSCZDVnXPdP8T15hLpZpo8DCVvecRGtKRLWecK54CCYOAkXpBM4tjL-qCA/w400-h100/Bogot%C3%A1_banner.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><b> </b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><b> Bogota: a city of 8 million people</b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><!--[if !mso]>
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</span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Garamond; font-weight: bold; line-height: 110%;"><span> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #339933; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 110%;">The Drain </span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><b></b></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"></span></span></span></p></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXct8iFXKrlZNhRZTlz1WF65reoT5Ix9a9LfdE2LUtYFKAFfAizxbmFn4mdKgoLeS7JRsKJQoeWQGRTmEwP7fyqXCVIIP8AiLUfiBqK3R1JPNEAqij17WxBWTOHrdxMH56qgl1JHy3f1EJ7eHwbl0kVsmuWeiW7z6GF8I29U7guUYRnoTa1WaLQ/s174/New%20Picture.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="144" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXct8iFXKrlZNhRZTlz1WF65reoT5Ix9a9LfdE2LUtYFKAFfAizxbmFn4mdKgoLeS7JRsKJQoeWQGRTmEwP7fyqXCVIIP8AiLUfiBqK3R1JPNEAqij17WxBWTOHrdxMH56qgl1JHy3f1EJ7eHwbl0kVsmuWeiW7z6GF8I29U7guUYRnoTa1WaLQ/s1600/New%20Picture.png" width="144" /></a><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">I’m actually quite well known within missionary circles for my drain unclogging expertise and resolving other gruesome bathroom dilemmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, rubber gloves are the first things I pack along with needle nose pliers.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">I thought Haiti had the only guest house that forbids flushing toilet paper. Not true. Put Bogota, Colombia on that list.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">Maybe it’s the 8 million residents bustling about in the smog filled city at 8,600 ft. Bogota lies trapped between a ragged circle of mountain ridges. “Scummy drains, overflowing toilets, and trickles of water plague the rich and the poor whether living in a mansion or a second story walk-up,” states my Spanish teacher matter of factly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I inquire where I can buy some Drano. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold;">I have athletes foot paranoia and toe fungus hysteria. Amazingly, I’ve not had either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever since a missionary friend told me that she had the above mentioned malady for 14 years from an encounter with a shower in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; my feet recoil instinctively in tubs and showers. </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">I once put a large glass Pyrex bowl upside down in a tub in Ethiopia to take a shower which was a tantalizing feat of balancing bravado. My feet never touched the puddling, germ infested refuse collecting in the tub, I’m proud to report. Addis Ababa is also high at 7,500 ft. I wonder if altitude is pertinent?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">After a week In Bogota, I finally scour, poke, and plunge the agonizingly slow-draining shower only to drag up suspicious black particles of a mystery substance. My battle with the drain tumbles further downhill as the water quits draining completely and is precariously close to overflowing the 6 inch tile rim. I envision a flood gushing down the concrete stairway to the hallway and kitchen below eliminating any mission construction work invitations in the future. If there is Drano in Bogota, I couldn’t find it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">Later when desperation forces me to confess, our host feeds me some important info, like a scrap of meat to a hungry lioness. He ladles standing water into a bucket with a green melmac coffee cup. “A little vinegar, soda and a coat hanger will open it right up,” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">he admonishes. </span>Amazingly, he is right.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">After a week of balancing on the rim and bending backward to wet my hair in the trickle of water, I can now stand on clean tile with water swishing merrily down the drain. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">Interesting side note, if the electricity goes out, the little device hooked to the shower spout to heat the water, goes out too. The electricity goes out at random hours. I won’t go into the ugly details.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">Patricia, the beautiful Spanish teacher with her jeans, boots and swingy black hair asked why we would come to Bogota with all its problems when we could stay in the United States where things are wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her that we love God and the people in Bogota and we want to please God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m thankful that a question about Drano led to an opportunity to share about the hope that is within me. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #0066ff; font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #009900; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">Love, Karen<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #0066ff; font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: ar-SA; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p>
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <span style="color: #01ffff;"></span></b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></p>Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-25228317316453152182022-05-30T09:06:00.005-05:002022-09-08T11:41:23.286-05:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"> <span style="color: #ffd966;"> Keys are huge in the Republic of Georgia & it's a good thing!</span></span></b></span></span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-US"></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-US"></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-US"></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-US"><!--[if !mso]>
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<![endif]--></span></span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">Soviet-style apartment buildings can vary from 4 to16 or more floors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of a garbage can for every family, there is a large steel dumpster on every block, sometimes every other block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my daily morning trash run across the hair-raising Georgian-style traffic (no rules) on the street in front of our building……. I switch the trash from my left to my right hand at the last minute to heave it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key in my hand snags in the plastic bag and sinks into the muck and trash in the bottom of the dumpster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-left: 36pt; mso-pagination: none;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLMeV-GKNKUfEAyUDkkSOswTlG8cvuqe-7DquX2EO2h6BFU6LRY6uGVV-cEMgZgAHJQFhm15WtuNSGVeGlxY4TZIf1uDg8pTKasMjQidzo5pLDXhF8S7SVx6mLUe3I8jQm3kZ2uQS_sAoIw3uYkst7zauwHi0rEC_D0EwxgYaRhqx5kcxgTTWSQ/s1433/5cd34f812400005600a8f49f-2006754594.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="1433" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLMeV-GKNKUfEAyUDkkSOswTlG8cvuqe-7DquX2EO2h6BFU6LRY6uGVV-cEMgZgAHJQFhm15WtuNSGVeGlxY4TZIf1uDg8pTKasMjQidzo5pLDXhF8S7SVx6mLUe3I8jQm3kZ2uQS_sAoIw3uYkst7zauwHi0rEC_D0EwxgYaRhqx5kcxgTTWSQ/w400-h278/5cd34f812400005600a8f49f-2006754594.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 125%;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 125%;"><i> This illustration is not me. Thankfully that image was not captured for posterity</i></span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 125%;"></span></span></span></h3></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">Construction workers across the street stand smoking, watching the obviously<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>American lady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> </span>I’m suddenly aware that I have on a short skirt I had meant to throw away since it shrank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></p><p><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">The dumpster is deep with high sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My eyes are adjusting to gloom inside, but I don’t see the key.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will have to lean over the rusty edge and try to move trash around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key is large and heavy with a blue identifying tag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I scan the depths with panic. Jim is 17 km away at the job site and I will be stuck outside until he returns after 5 PM, not to mention that I won’t have the owner’s key.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I don’t find it?</span></p><p></p><p><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">I hoist myself up, lean over the edge, holding my skirt and my breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My fingers barely skim the top layer so I heedlessly let go of my skirt to hold onto the nasty edge with my left hand to lean further into the dumpster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flies buzz around my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m aware of traffic flying by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">I nudge the bag I had just dumped and see a flash of blue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lose all modesty and lean in as far as I can, fingers just brushing the key which moves deeper and away from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pushing a little farther in, I grasp the blue tag with my fingertips in a scissor hold and slowly lift, heart thudding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My left arm hangs on to the side in a death grip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arm cramping, I take a last glance at the squirming maggots, lift my torso, and land with a thud, knees buckling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key is still between my white fingertips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">As I turn the men hastily retreat into the building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so glad that I could provide some entertainment in their otherwise mundane day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pull my hat down around my ears to hide my face; rush back across the street and up the stairs to our apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shake some unknown particles from my blouse, shower, change clothes, resolving to dress more modestly in the future</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: small; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">. </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Love, Karen</span></b></span></span>
</div>Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-45720183697286025972022-05-26T13:32:00.000-05:002022-06-28T08:34:54.713-05:00 Priceless Artifacts. Yours Absolutely Free !<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"We love your
house,” they gush. “When we saw your
listing on Craigslist, we heard God say; "THIS IS THE HOUSE FOR YOU.” He is a little tousled with sloping shoulders
and a paunch hanging respectfully over his belt. A thatch of graying hair spills over his
earnest face. She is blond, matronly,
with hair sprayed like cement. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Can we move in
tonight?” he ventures brimming with eagerness, bouncing his caterpillar
eyebrows. He pulls out first and last
month’s rent plus deposit in crisp greenbacks.
Their credentials check out. She
is a nurse looking for a similar job in this area, he is retired from what, I
wasn’t exactly sure but it sounds good.
Their credit record is clean.
With the sensitivity of a fence post I mutter to Jim, “probably too good
to be true.” “Keep an open mind,” Jim
shoots back, his usual optimistic self.
I’m thinking, if my mind were any more open, my brains would fall out. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Not long back from
a building project in Brazil, which had substantially diminished our dwindling
resources, we have a building trip to Haiti looming so the news of the dream
tenants was like finding a Stradivarius at a yard sale.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was the first
house Jim built when Esson Construction Company was birthed in 1987. We were sitting on the brick steps of our
home in the heart of Gulf Breeze, Florida when the call came that our building
loan at 14% interest had been approved.
The house was a speculative venture, which I do not recommend. Jim put
heart and soul into that first endeavor.</span>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The property
rested among patchy ranch styles on a ribbon of black asphalt. Holley by the Sea was a golfing community in
the infant stages, promising every amenity for your future success, fulfillment
and pleasure. This lot, of course was nowhere near the golf course. Jim erected
a 1400 square foot bungalow style house on that half-acre strip of sand pickled
with red mud and cactus scrub, about all that would grow on that $5000
lot. Blue with white trim and white
shutters, all that was missing was the white picket fence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That was almost 30
years ago. After that first house and with blood, sweat and tears, Jim built
his construction company towards its eventual success.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We never did sell
that house. When one of the contracts
fell through at the last minute in 1994 our first year in missions, we decided
maybe God wanted us to keep it. Our
first renter was a single guy. He stayed for 12 years, never complained that the carpet was wearing out and was
never late on the rent. He helped pay
for that house until he bought his own.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">After that, it was renters with dogs that
had apparently lost all bladder control, doors pulled off the hinges, fist
holes in the wall, backed up toilets, blinds that looked like accordions run
over by a semi truck and mustard colored paint in the kitchen that would make a
blind man sob.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37gelz_f3Z36Z6x0ZezgOe-YulTJ_6FTzniHINcPye_PWda-wje_czHu1Z4kms0O1Uj0h0-25q_ZRChs0HDW9mJ_5ThurtTBUSAr2pUUlTrjJOnGreDtY37waal7hFPi9u6yOhUPp/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37gelz_f3Z36Z6x0ZezgOe-YulTJ_6FTzniHINcPye_PWda-wje_czHu1Z4kms0O1Uj0h0-25q_ZRChs0HDW9mJ_5ThurtTBUSAr2pUUlTrjJOnGreDtY37waal7hFPi9u6yOhUPp/s200/DSC_0035.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The pest control company we paid $200.00
each year to treat for termites never informed us that termites were making a
smorgasbord of that blue house probably because he never stepped foot near it
or because he figured we were far away in the Congo or Sudan held captive by
restless savages.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It took over a year to repair, done
sporadically whenever we were in the USA or late at night to repair the damage
from the monster termites.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That’s why we were elated at the too good
to be true renters. The eager couple
furnished the house from garage sales and flea markets, or so they said. Everything matched perfectly. It looked fabulous. They insisted we look.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Several weeks later with the Haiti trip
under our belts, we return from a trip to Cuba.
A church needs rebuilding. The
church leaders want us to take the project and life seems pretty good. The charter plane taxis into Miami airport
and the stairs roll into place. The wind
hits us hot and heavy, like a blast from an oven, pleasantly scented with jet
fuel. My skirt flaps around my knees and
I grab my hair as we maneuver down the gangplank. Brimming with hope, inspiration and dogged
determination, we don’t even mind the long lines in customs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I’m relieved to talk freely in the good
ole USA after a successful week keeping my mouth clamped shut about
communism. Our church actually gave Jim
a roll of duct tape right before we left for Cuba to tape my mouth shut. I naively thought it was for construction
until Jim clued me in. They gave me Tylenol PM.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">After weathering customs, we sit to wait
for our next flight. There was no phone
or Internet service in Cuba so Jim powers up expectantly. Phone messages stream into his cell phone
like a ticker tape parade and e-mails by the truckload. Jim listens to messages and sits studying his
shoes with a grim face. He turns to me,
obviously perplexed. My words come in a
rush. “They did what?” He supplies the salient parts of the
story. I don’t even feel like saying, I
told you so.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjSotJMy44otr5sHQW5OfHmK3HPSPWi0ObCDAHd7szC6Gp_0Q9DSPSJfwYIUnfT8elvDr8xooC8ZbeRmkYUvoxorGwWQ-gQeR1gYUkRafz-cR-1_ZXxBkBqFTSf6XlMLdQ8vF5d2o/s1600/DSC_0095.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjSotJMy44otr5sHQW5OfHmK3HPSPWi0ObCDAHd7szC6Gp_0Q9DSPSJfwYIUnfT8elvDr8xooC8ZbeRmkYUvoxorGwWQ-gQeR1gYUkRafz-cR-1_ZXxBkBqFTSf6XlMLdQ8vF5d2o/s200/DSC_0095.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">O<i>ur dream tenants,
claiming to be the owners, were renting our home to multitudinous individuals,
collecting deposits in cash. The Bonnie
and Clyde of rental fraud used our same ad from Craigslist, pictures and all,
substituting their phone number, which of course was now conveniently
disconnected. Infinitely resourceful,
they told one renter that there was an electrical fire that would delay the
availability of the house by two weeks, giving them time for additional victims
and more deposits.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJcIH9XXngz4FcmUvznYxjEH03WIw5E-D2n_aUAU3OQpGS0lJykfrsXzsAYk_A57t5ADZqSzLbNghYOCHokgHtbS44RA1TA_Yho-uss9N9PQSuNSscxBlAHqBbolxwaLoln0zJtc5/s1600/P1010638.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1600" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJcIH9XXngz4FcmUvznYxjEH03WIw5E-D2n_aUAU3OQpGS0lJykfrsXzsAYk_A57t5ADZqSzLbNghYOCHokgHtbS44RA1TA_Yho-uss9N9PQSuNSscxBlAHqBbolxwaLoln0zJtc5/s320/P1010638.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><i>At their large
estate sale, I just know they sold that brand new industrial sized front
loading washer and dryer they rented from a local rental company. I could remember thinking, “how could one
couple have that much laundry.”</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>One bilked tenant
thought to check county record for the real owners, saw our name and found us
on facebook. There were panicked
messages there as well.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>The last we heard,
the couple was somewhere in South Florida, no doubt pulling the same
scheme. Unless…..there were other schemes. We wondered if it wouldn’t have just been
easier to get real jobs.</i></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I guess you could
say our fraudsters successfully avoided the awkwardness of sad goodbyes to
their two gullible landlords. Ever
thoughtful, our crooks kindly left us two storks, fastened securely on each
side of the front door and, a porcelain fish sitting jauntily on the steps with
a long curling plant growing from its
gaping mouth!</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRGkZrHUVBKJYiCxDrjHJSyED_fFTSo6JCBZuHWiFB81XuTt4gC5U5nzKXI1lQOx2lfuiK-ZwzFOOPuBQY48N1c4tVNjziAkS3KJt9i4AektgjpTVlGhnQ8v7xUZrfpBaFOD7MFwW8RaVmZcBgNPJUE3os3jvegawRKBskC3DiwKJNnq9ga6wlA/s763/Manatee%20Crooks%20pic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="763" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRGkZrHUVBKJYiCxDrjHJSyED_fFTSo6JCBZuHWiFB81XuTt4gC5U5nzKXI1lQOx2lfuiK-ZwzFOOPuBQY48N1c4tVNjziAkS3KJt9i4AektgjpTVlGhnQ8v7xUZrfpBaFOD7MFwW8RaVmZcBgNPJUE3os3jvegawRKBskC3DiwKJNnq9ga6wlA/s320/Manatee%20Crooks%20pic.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
<span lang="en-US" style="clear: left; float: left; font-style: normal; line-height: 125%;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US" style="clear: left; float: left; font-style: normal; line-height: 125%;"></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJ3te6CMHGb6BCNZsrWQ2nyLDVtVKPI4mi7cA3U-nMyLnlPmpFAadC210jFBqSfjPVWEvDSuJ2QAX5JeQ3_bqEWVfwomJtj0m6O8cJ3fGO_DHYAOzfoonxA2bhk3xkIyEmCVoydUy/s1600/P1040239.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJ3te6CMHGb6BCNZsrWQ2nyLDVtVKPI4mi7cA3U-nMyLnlPmpFAadC210jFBqSfjPVWEvDSuJ2QAX5JeQ3_bqEWVfwomJtj0m6O8cJ3fGO_DHYAOzfoonxA2bhk3xkIyEmCVoydUy/s1600/P1040239.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></span></span><br />
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<br /><br />Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-34499062349882495202022-05-25T23:57:00.004-05:002022-05-30T22:40:02.301-05:00<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A DUKA is a small market located in both rural and urban areas around Kenya, commonly owned by an Indian merchant. </b></span><br /></span></span></p><p><!--[if !mso]>
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</p><h2 style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 16.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US;">Excerpt from a letter written to my parents by Bob Turton, Owner of Rondo Timber Co in rural Kenya soon<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>after their return to the USA 1961</span></span></h2><h2 style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 16.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US;"> </span></span></h2>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 3.-657in 5.0858in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bengali-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bopomofo-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-devanagari-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-gurmukhi-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-han-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hangul-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-kana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-kannada-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-lao-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-malayalam-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-oriya-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-tamil-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-telugu-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-thai-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS";">You will recall Babu and his Duka opposite the post office near the Kaimosi Tea Turn-Off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></h4><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 3.-657in 5.0858in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bengali-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bopomofo-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-devanagari-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-gurmukhi-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-han-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hangul-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-kana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-kannada-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-lao-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-malayalam-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-oriya-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-tamil-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-telugu-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-thai-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></h4><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><h3 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 3.-657in 5.0858in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bengali-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bopomofo-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-devanagari-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-gurmukhi-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-han-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hangul-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-kana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-kannada-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-lao-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-malayalam-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-oriya-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-tamil-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-telugu-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-thai-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS";">Perhaps you were still here and knew about his being tied up whilst a gang of watu robbed him fairly effectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it was the same gang or not, flushed possibly with previous success or over confident that what had been accomplished before could as easily be repeated, we don’t know.</span></span></span></span></h3><h3 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 3.-657in 5.0858in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bengali-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bopomofo-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-devanagari-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-gurmukhi-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-han-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hangul-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-kana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-kannada-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-lao-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-malayalam-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-oriya-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-tamil-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-telugu-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-thai-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS";"> </span></span></span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></h3><h3 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 3.-657in 5.0858in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bengali-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bopomofo-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-devanagari-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-gurmukhi-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-han-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hangul-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-kana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-kannada-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-lao-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-malayalam-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-oriya-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-tamil-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-telugu-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-thai-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS";">All we know is that about four months ago Anthony Tucker was awakened by gun fire so in his capacity of special policeman, got into his car to investigate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sounds came from the Duka area so he hurried there to find that this time Babu had been attacked but was fully prepared!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 3.-657in 5.0858in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bengali-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bopomofo-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-devanagari-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-gurmukhi-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-han-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hangul-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-kana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-kannada-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-lao-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-malayalam-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-oriya-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-tamil-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-telugu-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-thai-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></h3><h3 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 3.-657in 5.0858in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bengali-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bopomofo-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-devanagari-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-gurmukhi-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-han-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hangul-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-kana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-kannada-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-lao-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-malayalam-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-oriya-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-tamil-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-telugu-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-thai-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS";">Apparently, a gang started to batter down his front door with an axe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Babu held his fire, warned the gang that if they entered his shop he would shoot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evidently the gang - for all the attention they paid this warning; figured he was bluffing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The door crashed inwards, the gang stormed in and then Babu the Baniya cut loose!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 3.-657in 5.0858in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bengali-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bopomofo-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-devanagari-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-gurmukhi-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-han-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hangul-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-kana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-kannada-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-lao-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-malayalam-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-oriya-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-tamil-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-telugu-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-thai-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bengali-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bopomofo-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-devanagari-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-gurmukhi-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-han-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hangul-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-kana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-kannada-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-lao-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-malayalam-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-oriya-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-tamil-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-telugu-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-thai-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS";">It is not on record whether he simply shut his eyes and fired all rounds from his revolver or whether he took deliberate aim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whichever way it was, it proved mighty effective and great carnage was executed.</span></span></span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bengali-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bopomofo-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-devanagari-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-gurmukhi-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-han-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hangul-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-kana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-kannada-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-lao-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-malayalam-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-oriya-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-tamil-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-telugu-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-thai-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS";"> </span></span></span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></h3><h3 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: 10pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; tab-stops: 3.-657in 5.0858in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bengali-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bopomofo-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-devanagari-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-gurmukhi-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-han-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hangul-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-kana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-kannada-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-lao-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-malayalam-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-oriya-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-tamil-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-telugu-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-thai-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS";">It is not known to this day for certain how many died but it is thought that at least one body is missing discreetly buried and not reported.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gang made its escape, dragging its wounded along with it and maybe no arrests would have been made but one of the wounded unable to endure the pain, went to Kapsabet Hospital and gave himself up and spilt on (ratted on) some of the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></h3><h3 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: 10pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; tab-stops: 3.-657in 5.0858in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bengali-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bopomofo-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-devanagari-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-gurmukhi-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-halfwidthkana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-han-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hangul-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-kana-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-kannada-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-lao-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-malayalam-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-oriya-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-tamil-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-telugu-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS"; mso-thai-font-family: "\@Arial Unicode MS";">So the gang was rounded up, (those of them that would seem to still be alive) for a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Babu was a hero, strutted like Wyatt Earp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And since then, no further gangs have dared attack Babu.</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: blue; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #cc00ff; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="color: red; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-georgian-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>
</span></span></span></h3><h3 class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;"> </span></span></span></span></h3>
Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-88711267651050358622015-03-22T19:24:00.003-05:002022-05-29T09:28:27.220-05:00THE BLOOD-RED FEZ<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s not there!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> My head is buried in the
bottom of the worn chest with the map of Africa burned into its battered
lid. Sweat drips from my nose splotching on the cedar. I replace
the heavy tray filled with slides, black and white photos and super eight
movies grown brittle over time. The lid thuds into place, and I pull
metals hooks over the latches. Dust swirls as I rummage through boxes not
yet unpacked from our move, run my fingers along high shelves, sweep under
beds. I cannot find the blood-red fez. I manage to lose it
after it survives for 60 years. Why does it matter? Husband Jim
read that a fez represents the blood of martyred Christians. He
doesn’t understand what this particular one means to me. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>Kenya, East Africa 1956</b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Dark and silent as a shadow, a thin figure moves out of the fog which envelopes
him. The morning is still. The smell of wood fires hangs heavy in
the air. The red brick house with its high-peaked corrugated
metal roof looms over him like an apparition. The shadow of a young girl
disappears from the attic window just below the rain gutters. He steps
onto the concrete porch as a sliver of light falls through the blanket of
clouds. His stomach is a bag of nails. He takes a breath and knocks.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
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He smells of sweat and soot, standing in his ragged shorts cinched tight over
the knobs of his bony hips. Bloodshot eyes gaze through yellow sclera,
swallowed by dark sockets. He lives like most Africans; in a smoke filled
hut with goats, chickens and cattle. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A young missionary, green as grass,
draws open the door expectantly. A vivid widow’s peak introduces that
striking coal black hair which frames a small delicate face. Her eyes
penetrate like needles but compassion bathes her diminutive features.
Daniel Chege, hardly more than a boy is not tall, but fine boned and
austere. He scrubs his shirt each evening on a rock until it is white as
an elephant’s tusk. Flashing a wide smile he blurts, <b>“I cookie
roastie.”</b> He has practiced this phrase repeatedly as he walks barefoot along
the dirt path towards the mission compound. Memsahib Eby suppresses a
grin and invites him in.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span></span>There
is an uneasy silence as they regard each other. ‘Kuja hapa rafiki kidogo,
come small friend,” Memsahib Eby says to put him at ease. She leads him
over the red-waxed concrete floor to a rough counter beside a wood stove that
is radiating heat. The warmth is welcome in the cool morning air at 5000
ft in the Kenyan highlands. Washing her hands carefully, she instructs
Chege to watch as she sifts ingredients, mixing, then kneading the dough with a
fury. She has barely learned to make bread herself. Isolated with her
family far from Lake Victoria and any type of grocery store, she knows that if
she wants bread she will have to make it. Chege follows her tutorial,
committing it to memory in the quick way that he had. He absorbs everything
like a clay pot soaking up water. No further instructions are
needed. Mom throws in another log and places the bread into the
wood stove. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Chege makes bread two days later and it is every bit as perfect as the
Memsahib’s. She never has to show Chege anything twice. Chege’s
grandmother brings milk each day in a dirty bottle with leaves stuck in the
top. Mom notices dirt in it so she shows Chege how to strain it through
cloth and boil it until the foam subsides, hoping it doesn’t scorch, It
almost always does and is a far cry from American pasteurized milk. I
never grow accustomed to the taste.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> My
sister Lydia and I hang around Chege like shadows coaxing him not to roll his
Rs and he teaches us to roll ours amid roars of laughter. Preceding his
serving debut, Daniel Chege lifts the long white Kanzu over his bony shoulders,
which rise like spikes against the rough material. He carefully ties the
red silk sash around his waist. Gingerly, he places the red fez onto his
shaved head and adjusts the tassel at a jaunty angle to the right of his round
Kikuyu face just as Memsahib Eby shows him earlier that day. His small chest
swells inside the flowing white. His smile is blinding like sunlight on a
tin roof.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> He
pours the oxtail soup into Mom’s best china bowl, which survived the voyage in
the hold of a freighter from Rotterdam called the Kenya Castle.
White robe swishing around his ankles, heart pounding, conscious of all eyes on
him Chege stiffly carries the soup through the swinging door. Bwana
Eby, the memsahib with our baby brother on her lap, my sister and I watch as
Chege sucks in his breath and ladles it into each bowl. The bowl rattles
against the saucer from his shaking hands. A little slops out when he
serves me leaving a dark stain on the tablecloth. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
“Z</span><span lang="SW" style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: SW; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">uri sana,” I enthuse to encourage him rolling my r perfectly. He
manages a weak smile. His breath comes in little whistles through his
lips, a nervous habit that never changes in the many years he works for our
family. He loves us and we love him back unconditionally. He
whistles through every meal, that’s our Chege.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Mom is a nurse so with Chege to help in the kitchen she can dress wounds from
panga cuts, bandage the heads of babies who have rolled into the cooking fire
during the night, and treat snake bite wounds. She does this on the front
lawn until Daddy builds her a small brick dispensary. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Chege's Grandmother</span> </span></b></span> <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmfLB4AL79zJFDqpH6w-p1MRqzOdezrgeAOBDfxZSJpj3OLVP6gWoS4stLbXbmwvq6lDpUZNGC2E26Ud57TNtNy-0_Nnn5fCWjoJzt0arhdS6moKoBNt2siEFzX3BDoiuF8sHSoDJDTk1rN4XoAZJN5YM3vC5-UEHfMajaa49DkzJkzzCa8NzNg/s963/chege's%20grandmother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="437" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmfLB4AL79zJFDqpH6w-p1MRqzOdezrgeAOBDfxZSJpj3OLVP6gWoS4stLbXbmwvq6lDpUZNGC2E26Ud57TNtNy-0_Nnn5fCWjoJzt0arhdS6moKoBNt2siEFzX3BDoiuF8sHSoDJDTk1rN4XoAZJN5YM3vC5-UEHfMajaa49DkzJkzzCa8NzNg/s320/chege's%20grandmother.jpg" width="145" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="margin-left: 12.0pt; mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"> </td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span> </span>There
is an uneasy silence as they regard each other. ‘Kuja hapa rafiki kidogo,
come small friend,” Memsahib Eby says to put him at ease. She leads him
over the red-waxed concrete floor to a rough counter beside a wood stove that
is radiating heat. The warmth is welcome in the cool morning air at 5000
ft in the Kenyan highlands. Washing her hands carefully, she instructs
Chege to watch as she sifts ingredients, mixing, then kneading the dough with a
fury. She has barely learned to make bread herself. Isolated with her
family far from Lake Victoria and any type of grocery store, she knows that if
she wants bread she will have to make it. Chege follows her tutorial,
committing it to memory in the quick way that he had. He absorbs everything
like a clay pot soaking up water. No further instructions are
needed. Mom throws in another log and places the bread into the
wood stove. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Chege makes bread two days later and it is every bit as perfect as the
Memsahib’s. She never has to show Chege anything twice. Chege’s
grandmother brings milk each day in a dirty bottle with leaves stuck in the
top. Mom notices dirt in it so she shows Chege how to strain it through
cloth and boil it until the foam subsides, hoping it doesn’t scorch, It
almost always does and is a far cry from American pasteurized milk. I
never grow accustomed to the taste.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> My
sister Lydia and I hang around Chege like shadows coaxing him not to roll his
Rs and he teaches us to roll ours amid roars of laughter. Preceding his
serving debut, Daniel Chege lifts the long white Kanzu over his bony shoulders,
which rise like spikes against the rough material. He carefully ties the
red silk sash around his waist. Gingerly, he places the red fez onto his
shaved head and adjusts the tassel at a jaunty angle to the right of his round
Kikuyu face just as Memsahib Eby shows him earlier that day. His small chest
swells inside the flowing white. His smile is blinding like sunlight on a
tin roof.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> He
pours the oxtail soup into Mom’s best china bowl, which survived the voyage in
the hold of a freighter from Rotterdam called the Kenya Castle.
White robe swishing around his ankles, heart pounding, conscious of all eyes on
him Chege stiffly carries the soup through the swinging door. Bwana
Eby, the memsahib with our baby brother on her lap, my sister and I watch as
Chege sucks in his breath and ladles it into each bowl. The bowl rattles
against the saucer from his shaking hands. A little slops out when he
serves me leaving a dark stain on the tablecloth. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
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manages a weak smile. His breath comes in little whistles through his
lips, a nervous habit that never changes in the many years he works for our
family. He loves us and we love him back unconditionally. He
whistles through every meal, that’s our Chege.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
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Mom is a nurse so with Chege to help in the kitchen she can dress wounds from
panga cuts, bandage the heads of babies who have rolled into the cooking fire
during the night, and treat snake bite wounds. She does this on the front
lawn until Daddy builds her a small brick dispensary. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
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Years later Chege will be the one to administer penicillin shots, malaria meds
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Mom has a snakeskin belt, which she often cinches around her 22-inch waist. I
find it in her attic years later. Tall at 5’9” she has a way of walking
that captures attention as she sweeps into a room. Part of the reason for
her thinness is the financial sacrifice that she and Dad make to pay for our
tuition at Rift Valley Academy, a boarding school 200 miles away over grassy
plains in a sleeper car on the East African Railway. This leaves little
money for food. She raises chickens and learns to chop off a head with
amazing determination and precision. She dips the hen in hot water, plucks the
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tomboi,
the gardener and his two little boys.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> She
has a garden in the back tended by Tomboi and his two little boys. It
once produced a tomato six inches across. The soil is dark and rich in
the Kenya highlands. The entry to the mission station cuts through a
large British Tea Estate that thrives in the fertile soil and moderate
temperatures.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> In
the evenings, we crane our heads towards the small black radio listening to the
crackling news from BBC if it comes in. A British newscaster reports news
including that of Kenya, a British protectorate at that time.
Numerous stories end with a favorite phrase in crisp English, “No foul play
suspected.” Foul play is the norm after the MauMau rebellion.
Many in Chege’s village were strung up by their thumbs when refusing to take
the bloody MauMau oath. This is mild compared to the 100s who were savagely
murdered by crazed Kikuyu MauMaus. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Mom
becomes concerned, as Chege seems pale, difficult for a coal-black African and
thinner than ever. She checks his blood and finds that he has extreme
anemia and TB. It becomes her furious campaign to restore him to good
health.
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
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My father built a U-shaped Bible School, which Chege attended. Chege
later becomes a pastor and marries a young Kikuyu girl named Kedsia. They
will have 10 children. He eventually directs the mission work in Kenya for the
entire mission organization… “our cook!” He was as fervent a pastor and
administrator as he had been a cook. He is now with the Lord who I can
imagine saying, “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” as Chege flashes
that wide smile.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">March 2014</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Searching for a wrench in the
back of his truck, Jim notices something like a brown rat crushed under the
tools. It’s the formerly red, now brown fez! I am
disconsolate. I seek out my Mom, (Memsahib Eby) who is 88 and resides at
Bayside Nursing Home. “Take it to the cleaners and have it blocked and
cleaned,” she utters matter-of-factly through her gums. She lost her
teeth again. Vick’s Cleaners makes me sign a release since the fez is now
as stiff as a beaver’s tail and bent completely closed. A week passes
without a word. Worried, I call to check on it. The attendant regrets
that they are unable to clean it. Probably no one can, she
maintains. I sob like a baby in the car wondering what in the world is
wrong with me. They package the fez in a little square box, like a
coffin. True to my tradition of unconditional support of lost causes, I decide
someone, somewhere, can fix Chege’s fez. I’m going to find that person.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></div>Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-72603040906637973772014-06-30T12:25:00.000-05:002016-11-17T19:39:57.629-06:00Riviting Nocturnal Story-unedited, illustrating the depths to which I have sinked, sunk,...sunken...arrived<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0CXQuJj_cL_Ukf5myvWvDZqW04Ss-vij6AVUunj6vreOI53lcRpK0wgSMm_va-tzplOXQCkXlCgc7o-No_qkoHGr7xFr3qcFESbrn9kSrHtVCwqIxhSZrzxykLKdqgZgFL3Xg6TI/s1600/Picture6.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691991084960435602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0CXQuJj_cL_Ukf5myvWvDZqW04Ss-vij6AVUunj6vreOI53lcRpK0wgSMm_va-tzplOXQCkXlCgc7o-No_qkoHGr7xFr3qcFESbrn9kSrHtVCwqIxhSZrzxykLKdqgZgFL3Xg6TI/s400/Picture6.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 319px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 305px;" /></a><br />
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<br />
<br />
4 AM I stumble to the bathroom for one of my frequent nightly visits. Pausing at the scale, I step on. I’m awake, why not? 107 stares up at me in glaring red which I can read even without my 300 strength reading glasses. A horrifying thought permeates my weakened mind. I address a remark to the scale. “Maybe I’m dying.”<br />
<br />
Jim is out of town, doing God’s work, no doubt, without my unwavering support to bolster him. I begin to weep. As I reflect on my impending demise, my weeping escalates into heaving sobs. Anxious to share the heartbreaking news (I know how I’ll be missed), I make my way down (19 steps) backwards on all fours as is now my custom. My daughter Whitney, asleep downstairs will be devastated, I’m certain. Daughter, Natalie is in Peru.<br />
<br />
I sink heavily “sort of” onto the side of her bed. The sobs emanating from my emaciated form are reaching decibels that would wake the dead, whose numbers will soon increase by one. Her chest continues to rise and fall as she enjoys a peaceful sleep.<br />
<br />
Disappointed, I begin my painful trek to the kitchen, spoon instant coffee into a giant cup and add hot water. I pour a large glass of milk, gulp down a bunch of vitamins & meds and start the long process of getting up the stairs with the coffee.<br />
<br />
I stop in my office halfway there and bring up facebook to which I rarely make a contribution, but this news really needs to be shared with my 50 or so friends, well maybe 100, some whose names don’t sound overly familiar, but I’m sure they are friends.<br />
<br />
My fingers fly over the keyboard with my stunning announcement, this important “breaking” news.<br />
<br />
Slowly I make my way up the remaining 8 stairs, down the coffee, and grab a legal<br />
pad to share this story for those I will leave behind.<br />
<br />
Later in the day:<br />
At my computer to check e-mails. I see facebook open. Now fully awake and pretty sure I’m not going to eternal bliss today, I’m somewhat horrified by my nocturnal facebook post, even though I’m enjoying the verses and words of comfort from the very few who seemed to care one way or another. I am touched deeply by my faithful friends; somewhat small in number who seem genuinely concerned most likely for my mental state more than anything else..<br />
<br />
I have gleaned wisdom from this small incident…….we all need to keep learning, I always say, even me. Never post in the middle of the night….or in my case at any time day or night. Apparently, I’m about the only one devastated that my razor sharp mind will not be contributing to the betterment of mankind much longer…(run-on sentence). I guess I’ll just stick around another 20 years or so. Also, don’t write on a legal pad at 4 AM and believe that it’s brilliant.<br />
<br />
Postscript…..<br />
Please don’t be offended by my irreverence. I really am married to a man who is faithfully doing what God has called us to and trying to take care of me too.<br />
<br />
I want to thank my friends who have provided me with endless prayer support, encouragement and real words of wisdom. I love you. My knees are much better after cortisone injections and I’m in much less pain.</div>
Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-15589744807771684952012-07-13T12:57:00.001-05:002022-05-30T09:08:24.702-05:00July 2012 First Three Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the short side of the property which is on the beach. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">They stole the string,” Jim
pauses to let his words take effect. “I
don’t get it, I say, fingering a string of mango caught in my teeth. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"> The day before, day two, he and Jasmine,
the founder of the orphanage were able to identify the four corners of the 13
acre new property and stake out the wall and where the gate would go.
Samaritan’s purse was working on the road as agreed and said they will help dig
the footer for the security wall which was a mood lifter for Jim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"> Jim had hammered in the stakes and strung
3000 feet of string for the bulldozer to follow. I look at Jim
incredulous. He couldn’t mean what I
thought he meant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"> He
looks at me with a mixture of amusement and exasperation adding. “Sadly some people thought they needed the
string more than we did and took it right off the stakes in the night. The
night watchman was there.”Does anything ever change in Haiti?</span><b><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a few of the kids eating at Jasmine’s.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Jasmine (story at the bottom of our website),
is founder of an orphanage which is little more than a jumble of wood frame
buildings arranged haphazardly in the dirt surrounded by a block wall topped
with a foot of curled barbed wire. The
buildings, bleached and weathered two years after the earthquake are connected
by 4 ft. strips of plywood that rattle when you walk, but keep your feet out of
the mud in rainy season. The orphanage
has been the victim of theft, stones hurled over the wall, and other indecencies
too numerous to mention here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> There are 52 children, from babies to
teenagers. Jasmine’s husband Greg is
currently in the US taking care of business so Jasmine and a staff of 11
Haitian women, care for the children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> There is always a horde of volunteers at
Jasmine’s. There are about 25 now,
mostly college girls cuddling and cooing at the babies, teasing and laughing
with the older ones. Most have hair stretched
back severely and look drained from the unrelenting heat and humidity. Youth triumphs, however: and there is still a
lot of good humor all round. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> I sit in a square covered area with four
benches that face each other. I notice
one small boy, face deformed from a birth defect wandering among the others,
longing for attention. A sunburned
volunteer scratching her bites utters with a sigh that most of the children
have small boils on their heads in spite of frequent baths. I see what looks like a fungus that has
cleared a patch of hair from a shiny black scalp on the baby she is cuddling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Most of these children are not orphans
as Webster defines it, which was upsetting to me when I learned of it our first
year working in Haiti. Mothers give away
their children because they simply don’t want them, perhaps can’t feed them, or
prefer not to keep one that has a defect of some kind. Orphanages have become an institution in
Haiti, relieving parents of their responsibilities. Adoption is a long drawn out legal process,
but 30 are in the process at Jasmine’s orphanage. She has the required license. The Haitian government prefers this way over
private adoption which is far more difficult.
It is a way for them to collect more money.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Back to arrival day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> I sit on that plane with dread weighing on my
chest like a cannonball waiting to be launched.
How many times have we done this?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> From my window, the terminal shimmers in
the heat. I give my packaged plane food
to the graying Haitian lady seated next to me.
Earlier, she spills milk on her paperwork. She and I blot it up with our napkins trying
to salvage her customs form. She cannot
read or write so she must be helped with her forms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> I pull my hair up into a ragged knot
preparing for the heat, dreading the hustling, the shuffle of bodies, and the
mad dash for luggage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> We file off the plane, walking a long
corridor to customs. I make a beeline to
the bathroom through crowds of first timer volunteers, beaming with their high
hopes, chattering to each other excitedly, decked in their matching t-shirts. I
envy their enthusiasm and breathe a prayer asking God to give me the joy of a
first timer. I sit leaning on the wall
on the first suitcase Jim pulls from the gyrating black conveyor belt. My arm is asleep from the backpack slung over
my arm and my knees hurt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> One by one, Jim locates each piece of
luggage, which I guard expertly, sweeping my eyes from side to side, trying to
look like someone a thief would be afraid to tangle with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> With luggage stacked around my feet,
Jim negotiates with a policeman for one porter to pull two suitcases. We will get the rest. Negotiations complete, we have procured a
porter with a wide white smile, merry eyes and a stiffly pressed shirt. He grabs the two largest, pulling them behind
us. Jim and I lug two 50-pound cases
heavy with food and tools, our carryon’s stacked on top and backpacks slung
over our shoulders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Indian UN workers roam among the crowds
with their weapons, some affecting a swagger as they keep the peace. I wonder how they would walk without a
weapon. Many Haitians blame the Indians
for the cholera attacks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Through the gate, Jim presses some bills
into our porter’s eager hands and for once there is no arguing, just smiles all
round. It has been a relatively easy
arrival. They have made some
improvements at the airport. My mood is
improving.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> We look hopefully for our driver, who is
nowhere in sight. Jim seats me on a low
piece of filthy concrete on a flyer I find buried in the dirt. Haitians press around him, offering
assistance, encouraged by the prior exchange of bills. I swat at flies and strike up a conversation
with a narrow jawed man with a shiny pate, sallow skin, eyes rimmed in
red. His nose dips sympathetically
toward his chin. He is dressed in a
dirty blue shirt and wrinkled khaki pants.
He gestures wildly using smatterings of Spanish, Creole, French and
English, making a valiant effort to converse with me. I manage to decipher that his car has broken
down and he is waiting for a mechanic. I
nod with genuine sympathy. “ Lo Siento,” I utter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Two hours later, our driver
appears. He left the Haitian Queen at
12:30, ample time to make the airport run.
I suspect he took care of a little personal business on the way. Jim grabs my hand and I pull myself to my
feet, an exploit not as easy as it used to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> We drive through the bowels of Port Au
Prince through a haze of dust, the same old sewage, tin shacks and men
relieving themselves by the road in plain view.
The driver makes his usual financial appeal, to finish his house, he
says. He is one of the lucky ones, with
a good job, volunteers that lend him a hand, a continual recipient of lumber
and supplies. I guess it never hurts to
seed the clouds, a Haitian pastime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Smoke spews from trucks, cars and
motorbikes, the traffic a gnarled, honking morass. Jim remarks that things have
improved. I crane my neck eagerly
inquiring, “Where?” I do agree with him
though. On the radio, a sportscaster
shouts play by play a soccer game in French.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> After reunions at the Haitian Queen, we
eat, push our luggage under wood bunk beds, tie up the mosquito nets and make
the beds. The cold shower feels welcome
especially with the new shower head that I brought with me than takes weak
pressure and makes it feel like more. We
fall into bed, only to toss and turn most the night.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "calibri";">First day…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> We eat a can of tuna with instant
coffee, don hats and walk the mud road to the clinic to check on the large
orange truck, our allotted vehicle and we need it ASAP at Jasmine’s
orphanage. Parked in high grass, it is
covered in cobwebs which we beat off the doors and windows with a stick and
pull open the doors. The engine roars to
life, but the brake pedal is flat on the floor.
The morning air hangs still and heavy as we trudge back to the house in
quest of another vehicle. It feels as if
the earth is boiling underfoot.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHgRWnhj6ObW9sZmxcmzg6uCWoXVTLnrsL_3YTYZ3iSM2rMGIwSQ59dl81tJYzybG4sxV4LGLbYnjXKb73ga7iEcASUHlugDx1F5t4QZNi7L1UwupDWqydmXlRxLHDpupc63fTr19/s1600/image018.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHgRWnhj6ObW9sZmxcmzg6uCWoXVTLnrsL_3YTYZ3iSM2rMGIwSQ59dl81tJYzybG4sxV4LGLbYnjXKb73ga7iEcASUHlugDx1F5t4QZNi7L1UwupDWqydmXlRxLHDpupc63fTr19/s1600/image018.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assembly line to bring metal through the wall and onto the property to stack.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVcmqCaly696HWSouBO882RCn_5OlJWBdKMtzRhyphenhyphenMzeIPOdWCnn7rnicGv6nIjPDVgpl3aA6JD75y4c4ldw0sN7FqTckTL_cgtzyFwa67mWJNMEH7jrulA4uOhq8eOoTTj4GVlj-k/s1600/image019.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVcmqCaly696HWSouBO882RCn_5OlJWBdKMtzRhyphenhyphenMzeIPOdWCnn7rnicGv6nIjPDVgpl3aA6JD75y4c4ldw0sN7FqTckTL_cgtzyFwa67mWJNMEH7jrulA4uOhq8eOoTTj4GVlj-k/s320/image019.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim last on the line and the stacker.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> At the current orphanage, there is an
urgent need to transport the metal framework for 27 bldgs. from the property
next door to Jasmine’s property. It will
save a $700 charge for storage. She
plans to have us load the truck multiple times and unload inside the wall onto
the orphanage property. Since we have no
truck, Jim suggests making a 2-foot square hole in the wall, pass the materials
through to her property, form an assembly line of volunteers to pass each piece
along and then Jim will stack in piles.
Everyone loves this idea since it will save time and energy and the wall
will be easy to repair. It takes about
four hours.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtOYran7uo60sqkrj99Tyav88xbwc_YOj_sSToiGFXkcBWoXVfBpBE2iiw33ockHh5ZhsBFal6h_qZlf2eRbKnLvJS1G1SAUF5ajIUPCQf4VCqZEqBALt51Gft3Tp1vTV2_QJnqHY/s1600/image003.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtOYran7uo60sqkrj99Tyav88xbwc_YOj_sSToiGFXkcBWoXVfBpBE2iiw33ockHh5ZhsBFal6h_qZlf2eRbKnLvJS1G1SAUF5ajIUPCQf4VCqZEqBALt51Gft3Tp1vTV2_QJnqHY/s320/image003.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFKavioe3atKHs8yn4Wk2CLefY_9DT8ewvfy73hD0hSjU-cMRLwEufsu_RgxYhbUzkqit7eWfptdxBLKU2pysw95zcGo1d9D7rlWo9LxBjAs7D9IWJ9H9HRbvvU2J1mysCrgmjEms/s1600/image030.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFKavioe3atKHs8yn4Wk2CLefY_9DT8ewvfy73hD0hSjU-cMRLwEufsu_RgxYhbUzkqit7eWfptdxBLKU2pysw95zcGo1d9D7rlWo9LxBjAs7D9IWJ9H9HRbvvU2J1mysCrgmjEms/s320/image030.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roadwork that keeps us detouring.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Jasmine joins us as we drive over to the
new property, on roads that seem like a maze.
Deep trenches are being dug on each side of the narrow roads leaving a
sliver down the center for dump trucks of gravel to be unloaded. We drive in and then back out of road after
road, trial and error, negotiating
numerous dead ends filled with potholes, water and mud,. We finally arrive at the site. I ask Jim if he will remember the way
tomorrow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> The property is almost devoid of trees
but has a fine view of the beach. (see top picture) The coastline is a mixture of the sublime and
the wretched but the view is breathtaking from a distance. The property is a long rectangle with the short
side on the beach. We walk the property,
about 13 acres and chat with the bulldozer operator who has started the access
road. The property, formerly gardened is
covered in trenches that will have to be leveled with a bulldozer.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh551uqkuKA2IQgM1HB5s5_1_XP_ofuJBwl0kQ0sjRVLJgJghsOhLsN__VzouAE2hbJjagM0kTmUY7hoQnWWAodWVUvolUPrCk7N0kNk3dLWg_QmnA9Sv7rJo_J62ZzhAtNcr8K8714/s1600/image024.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh551uqkuKA2IQgM1HB5s5_1_XP_ofuJBwl0kQ0sjRVLJgJghsOhLsN__VzouAE2hbJjagM0kTmUY7hoQnWWAodWVUvolUPrCk7N0kNk3dLWg_QmnA9Sv7rJo_J62ZzhAtNcr8K8714/s320/image024.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tractor and heavy equipment operator from Samaritan’s Purse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Jasmine explains to Jim what she wants
and where the security wall should be placed.
The pitiless sun rises to its zenith.
We are running short of water and head back for lunch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Next morning, I awake to the crowing of
roosters and Haitian’s shouting over the fence, laughing uproariously over some
inside joke. There is a violent shift
from shadow to light as the day begins.
I roll off my damp sheets, pad to the kitchen, fill the kettle and heat
water for coffee.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwPW57aFlx5bUyPuq0WrbQse9p_KDuguDvk6BZjxhyphenhyphenYyodL-7CKWNI0DY9fE69VSFuyaMKjZwX0fIZxuil25t6ZBhhPywCPxatkWBFdnLDmK_U7vQMhiMbUyTiBlUknIhVxGyCYn9/s1600/image026.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwPW57aFlx5bUyPuq0WrbQse9p_KDuguDvk6BZjxhyphenhyphenYyodL-7CKWNI0DY9fE69VSFuyaMKjZwX0fIZxuil25t6ZBhhPywCPxatkWBFdnLDmK_U7vQMhiMbUyTiBlUknIhVxGyCYn9/s320/image026.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim stretching the string between stakes for the footers to be dug<br />
for the third time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> The day pans out much as the one
before with much accomplished and string stretched again from the stakes for
the wall. Heading back to headquarters,
Jim accidentally hits a dog that runs in front of him. Haitian’s drive with total disregard for the
reality of death. You have to drive the
same in self-defense if you dare to drive at all. Generally, dogs are not domestic in Haiti,
but are small feral looking mongrels, with pointed snouts, all ribs and yellow
eyes. They are not wild, but don’t
elicit much regard among Haitians.
Still, you don’t stop on the road in Leogane when something like this
happens, lest a stoning or some unsolicited third world development occurs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Jim is rolling out more string from his
stakes that were also pulled out during the night for the rest of the footer
trench.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrsnNll4sgiN0623Yce0TKltqDjoicTi9lTAQqHoQWOhPxUq17Cj8MOvHp0_qzgsJVSXYsRnBNlKmwHgeeE3bSjz-cKmWWkH533ZxxSzlHUlQwCENiEtfmSL1_mNGup9Y67Gjuk83/s1600/image028.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrsnNll4sgiN0623Yce0TKltqDjoicTi9lTAQqHoQWOhPxUq17Cj8MOvHp0_qzgsJVSXYsRnBNlKmwHgeeE3bSjz-cKmWWkH533ZxxSzlHUlQwCENiEtfmSL1_mNGup9Y67Gjuk83/s400/image028.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing on the new road into the orphanage on the property.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> We have settled into a rhythm and each
day seems filled with hope and sometimes despair, but overall things are going
well. Below you can see that by Day 12,
the road is in, the footer is 2/3 dug.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Next week 20 trucks of cement, 20 of
Gravel, and 3 trucks of sand will be ordered for the wall, also 3 of each for
the columns.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPJfziHAUc-lV153n-0eJ_QtNpmfyrHbr1VdrycEAK1PoeSHLbwDcVJYmo99f-205j5ETkBOziyTpPC3lL74LkiRBzFakJnuEYqFP0__WoO_HUI6YmdvPhA5BYdPUchsz9VzYRH0l/s1600/image016.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPJfziHAUc-lV153n-0eJ_QtNpmfyrHbr1VdrycEAK1PoeSHLbwDcVJYmo99f-205j5ETkBOziyTpPC3lL74LkiRBzFakJnuEYqFP0__WoO_HUI6YmdvPhA5BYdPUchsz9VzYRH0l/s320/image016.jpg" width="202" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario who broke his foot when his <br />
motorcycle overturned. He is from <br />
Cartagena, Columbia and is staff.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Every day is a series of events such as Mario,
house staff from Cartagena, Columbia breaking his foot on Sunday when the
motorcycle falls on it, vehicles stranded, a lady failing to give us change and
me losing it completely…the frustrations piling up…the daily hurdles magnified
by the heat,<b> but some victories too, including attitude adjustments
orchestrated by GOD. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><o:p><br /></o:p></b></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MctpSDvOtW8m5EBSqCv7Jf5Cs6qlEXXJMazrLMfaaw8rnXwNVd8txrH4giMu0UBP-g2s_mXlhkcH6C-PecI0G2PsXfYCqTQKIGbUwXo-etEaOAGnpFtqZNi5gD8qYdTdUACE0Uln/s1600/image032.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MctpSDvOtW8m5EBSqCv7Jf5Cs6qlEXXJMazrLMfaaw8rnXwNVd8txrH4giMu0UBP-g2s_mXlhkcH6C-PecI0G2PsXfYCqTQKIGbUwXo-etEaOAGnpFtqZNi5gD8qYdTdUACE0Uln/s400/image032.jpg" width="366" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim loading everything to take back for the night so it won’t be stolen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfvSafmwBAwINqZDz1wOPPjhMy74Yeeul-G3guZCHTE_PA3aUk8OCkDjmRsRbgiWeiitpLtcgCq7bCXM-oZHj9KNnEXp_nbRL9Kir7slgwj4XREPvKZyBE0b3FQ0CMVBDqoCsUYAD/s1600/image022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-90137497804680141142011-04-24T12:00:00.000-05:002015-10-02T10:19:00.571-05:00Off the Bed and Out of the House<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVyL0m9nhhLjwXLO-tLVSpuG7M1Z0eCAOLN_nequSR1uRevcDqPXBiGXNYTypjrU-CWCfkzxqTUSnf406TaK6LDi-OflsG_kFbaBnJCGBz6xVLoZFM-R86ipCLsv_ybg7pIIf0N8x/s1600/Picture5.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691984622830164082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVyL0m9nhhLjwXLO-tLVSpuG7M1Z0eCAOLN_nequSR1uRevcDqPXBiGXNYTypjrU-CWCfkzxqTUSnf406TaK6LDi-OflsG_kFbaBnJCGBz6xVLoZFM-R86ipCLsv_ybg7pIIf0N8x/s400/Picture5.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 322px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>I sit low in the car and stare through the Florida haze. face taut with strain. I open the door a crack, lift my legs with my hands and pivot. My hands grip the top of the door; knuckles white and hoist myself up. My breath is ragged as if I’ve been running. The sliding doors reflect the afternoon sun. One foot in front of the other, I make my way over 100 yards of tarmac and through the yawn of doors. My eyes focus. They are on the left. “The riding carts.” I hobble over to the closest one with a hangdog air, grimacing from the tortuous pain.<br />
<br />
Grasping the handles, I slump into the seat. “How do these things work?” Press the on/off button….nothing happens. The machine is plugged in so leaning way back to the side, legs in the air, I yank the plug. Sitting on the cord, pushing the button with my right hand while clutching the lever, I jerk forward, slamming into some shopping carts. Heads turn. I smile awkwardly and stammer, “My first time.”<br />
<br />
I have sunk to new depths. I rode a cart around Lowe’s today. Yes, the ones I see at Wal-Mart, and often smugly and unkindly remark to Jim that “the rider” would be healthier walking.<br />
<br />
Unrelenting, mind-numbing pain humbles you. Pulling myself, literally from bed each morning groaning and moaning, my knees feel like thumbscrews are being tightened by some invisible force. They pop, swell, and throb. A wimp through and through, I huff and puff like a woman in labor.<br />
<br />
Gone are those perceptions of myself as the strong woman striding through the jungle while others fall by the path. Medicare is just seven months away and all those MRIs, PET scans and other acronyms will be possible….. Old is something to embrace… “JUST GET RID OF THIS PAIN.”<br />
<br />
I have arthritis. “That’s all?” you say. “There are people far worse off than you.” Sadly, my tolerance for pain is not as tolerant as previously assumed.<br />
<br />
A nurse practitioner with a smoker’s voice prescribed Celebrex and something only temporarily for pain, not that addiction tops my list of concerns at this moment.<br />
<br />
In the midst of my depression, I started to call a friend that is older by a few years, knowing she would be sympathetic and offer good advice. Turns out she had fallen and broken her femur and is in the hospital. That put things into perspective.</div>
Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-15718689465788025442011-01-19T14:10:00.014-06:002022-06-04T00:05:45.704-05:00The Bashful Renter<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWUFZ00WlU3q5_T2kYQ3PmMjefacn1JcBXcRkMBVEwvYcE1ksh8MxfiZaElckA5b6QHs1CJs6LUYjc2bjvL-KUms1o_9QnIfhGN2JHbDzIrYFFNDvLrVRKhKQIfseKFpe45_xXF8-/s1600/It%2527s+like+this.jpg"><span style="color: red;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563994988798582978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWUFZ00WlU3q5_T2kYQ3PmMjefacn1JcBXcRkMBVEwvYcE1ksh8MxfiZaElckA5b6QHs1CJs6LUYjc2bjvL-KUms1o_9QnIfhGN2JHbDzIrYFFNDvLrVRKhKQIfseKFpe45_xXF8-/s400/It%2527s+like+this.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 400px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 224px;" /></span></a><span style="color: red;">The picture on the right was taken in Haiti. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Jim is probably telling me the error of my ways.... or could it be words of endearment? I am smiling after all.</span><br /></div><div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have this old house built in 1960, blue and white frame with patchy grass, a repo we bought for about $40,000 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meager rent supplements our support when and if a renter feels obliged to pay it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the hurricane of 2004 a tree fell on the roof demolishing it and rain soaked most of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim let some people he found living under the bay bridge, a family of six from Oklahoma live in it and fix the roof in exchange for free rent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say they stayed quite awhile.<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The history of renters in the house has been colorful, most of which I cannot relate to you and remain a godly person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family currently renting it is three months behind so Jim thinks…</span></span><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b> “I’ll give him a little work.”</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim is swamped with paperwork on some Haiti projects so it makes sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Win Win” right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man’s a “tree cutter downer” so Jim hires him to cut down some brush on the hill behind our house.</span></span><span lang="EN"><span style="color: white;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="EN"><span style="color: white;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meanwhile Stan, a genteel man at our church gives us some winter clothes…nice stuff; said we could use our own judgment about how to disburse it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thinking of the heat in Haiti, I call the renter’s cell and ask if they need winter clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh Yes,” he says….”Me and my tree crew sure could use those shirts.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hear buzz saws in the background and think…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>“He’s working!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe some rent!”</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope springs eternal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jubilantly I ask, “Could you call your wife and let her know I will drop off the clothes?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I wait a reasonable length of time, in case the wife wants to spruce the place up a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The clothes are on hangers and in boxes and my car is sagging from the load.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My kids even throw in some clothes of theirs in case there are girls in the house who are needy.<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I pull into the drive…count three cars and a pickup truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m wondering…how many people live here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is an old washer and dryer stacked out in the carport, trash everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new blinds I bought at Wal-Mart are gone and a faded United State flag blanket is pulled over one window and varied and sundry things drape the others.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I knock at the door which used to be white and is now blotched with mildew and filth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A </span></span><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">squirrelly dog and a pit bully type dog growl and go into a frenzy of barking and clawing at the window sill Jim had so carefully painted months before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t the lease say” <b>No PETS?”</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m seething inside at this point.<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hear the woman inside shout “Shad UP” to the now hysterical dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wait expectantly at the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 10 minutes, I decide she is not going to open the door, so I stalk back to my car and pull open both car doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A pile of long sleeved shirts spill onto the driveway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope she’s watching as I pick them up carefully and struggle pitifully under my load up the driveway to the porch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s 30 degrees and the wind is whipping my hair backwards into my glowering face.<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I remind myself…what good is it to help the poor in Haiti if I can’t even help here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will invite this lady and all the other people who are apparently living with her here in this little 912 sq ft house to our church.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’m at the bottom of the driveway due to all the junk cars parked haphazardly ahead, so I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>trudge back and forth, stacking the clothes in neat piles on the chairs on the porch and on top of a log, no doubt a leftover from one of the tree cutter’s cuts.<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The love of Christ is not really flooding my heart and the freezing wind does not help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to tell the woman that no matter how poor you are…you could clean up your yard….that I would starve before I would “not pay the rent,” how I had lived in tiny little trailers and a small apartment with the girls in an 8 x 8 room with Whitney on the floor, how I’d slept in hovels in Africa but managed to sweep and have some pride in my abode.<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I didn’t say any of those things, however. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I meekly leave everything, go home, complain big time to Jim, ask God to forgive me for my bad attitude which is still creeping up even now. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Truth is…I would like to evict them and all those folks living with them…but I have<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;">“A KIND MAN FOR A HUSBAND<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WHO GIVES EVERYONE THE<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps God will honor that and they will pay the rent once in awhile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face="'Kristen ITC'font-family:'Kristen ITC'" style="color: #422ed2; font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: yellow;">Love, <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face="'Kristen ITC'font-family:'Kristen ITC'" style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;">Karen</span></span><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 10; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: red;">PS<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our tickets are booked back to Haiti to work on two projects at opposite ends of the island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are welcome to join us!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></p></div></div>Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-74769900111127316072011-01-19T13:30:00.013-06:002011-01-19T14:09:31.644-06:00"Two Projects, Two Places, One Month"<span style="color:#ffff33;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKm4yNULTi8gwsoYypRDTjuvFLOGp_Ps_22bVZGnPATTDNWLeFnXDmTJR8WmH2nqHwxnOx9A0dkubVeZPXlaBYU2BjLOD1kC3B7qC0JWveYc5hmxAsIlCsdNVfr7cbZ1HiEL1BrP09/s1600/Haiti+trip+%25239+002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563986180471428434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKm4yNULTi8gwsoYypRDTjuvFLOGp_Ps_22bVZGnPATTDNWLeFnXDmTJR8WmH2nqHwxnOx9A0dkubVeZPXlaBYU2BjLOD1kC3B7qC0JWveYc5hmxAsIlCsdNVfr7cbZ1HiEL1BrP09/s400/Haiti+trip+%25239+002.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBzwTqKMppT0vllBL5qxhu_4Qry2uJ-L65It0MLFubBeU1WNej9qmeUmLQRLbqXbnD71aZLuczPD9xvEtd3ZQyA9F23lutd2UIycEGqnyP1j-5Q4Ue-PDi1sfnaJSOEr8iMwnimzW/s1600/DSCF2548.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563985273805745474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBzwTqKMppT0vllBL5qxhu_4Qry2uJ-L65It0MLFubBeU1WNej9qmeUmLQRLbqXbnD71aZLuczPD9xvEtd3ZQyA9F23lutd2UIycEGqnyP1j-5Q4Ue-PDi1sfnaJSOEr8iMwnimzW/s320/DSCF2548.JPG" /></a><br /><span lang="EN"><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:arial;">I have a bad attitude the whole week. It’s Sunday October 24, 2010. Church at 6 AM. Showers and transportation have been sporadic. I smooth my rumpled skirt, a sad gesture and fear the odor which permeates the air may emanate from me. My longing for cleanliness is reaching desperation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">I puncture the plastic bag of water with a pen, spill it into my lap, pour quickly into the plastic glass, sprinkle Taster’s Choice into the cold water and gulp. No way to heat water where we are sleeping. A few granules stick to my teeth. My personal hygiene leaves much to be desired at this point. I turn, hoping Jim isn’t watching.</span></p></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_uC3GCWCtwo_JjpwwaOJvGmmGYxbMlUkuMGefufxKaiIy2Lk2YUriEulIttG9Adk1k6aJT2nqjipGMBwAtVhDvW9baNX2EdQDeHPPiYZgaVRLz3GoqlBy3CWVfCLxLquE5hyphenhyphenJB2b/s1600/Haiti+7+011+%25282%2529.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 178px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563984945719951378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_uC3GCWCtwo_JjpwwaOJvGmmGYxbMlUkuMGefufxKaiIy2Lk2YUriEulIttG9Adk1k6aJT2nqjipGMBwAtVhDvW9baNX2EdQDeHPPiYZgaVRLz3GoqlBy3CWVfCLxLquE5hyphenhyphenJB2b/s400/Haiti+7+011+%25282%2529.JPG" /></span></a><br /><span lang="EN"><p dir="ltr" align="center"></p><p dir="ltr" align="center"><strong>Our Second Arrival in Port Au Prince en route to Cap Haitien.</strong></p><p dir="ltr" align="center"></p><p dir="ltr">A haze of brown dust hovers over Port Au Prince, a cloud that clogs our eyes and nostrils, and coats our teeth as we drive to Tortug Air to take a flight north to Cap Haitian. Pastor Henoc transports us and our luggage to another hangar. Four of us squeeze into the back seat, jammed tightly together. </p><p dir="ltr">Desperation and filth stretch before us, the odor nearly overpowering, the sidewalk lined with garbage. Pigs and goats squabble over raw garbage and sewage. A woman steps into the alleyway with 4 crates of eggs balanced expertly on her head. Colorfully dressed matrons glare from rickety makeshift dwellings made with packing cases, tin and cardboard. Children fight in a puddle over a seemingly priceless treasure. </p><p dir="ltr">Stepping expertly over excrement, a dirty faced street urchin rubs his stomach and stretches his hand to us in one practiced motion. An old woman huddles in a doorway and scowls when I take her picture though the glass. I don’t blame her.</p><p dir="ltr">Our clothes stick to us as we tumble from the dirty beige Toyota Land Cruiser. Inside the hangar our luggage is checked as we hand in our passports. I glance nervously towards the door. Jim has my passport and is coming in another load. I have a fear of being separated from my luggage. The luggage handler assaults me with a disoriented verbal bombardment in Creole. I see Jim’s rugged face smiling as he appears in a sea of faces in the third car load. I relax.</p></span></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IPLHTS3qr5xGd25l2dsx87w8j7O-_dNycLup5igNGbzYcOtKcgrnK7vbqzc3t2MRFxScNiCMzUdlJHEoA3ID0FVBJIvL1FWmTYBMPynsgO8kjC2ZN3Ox_VotkJM4ZcQ2k8g-iacw/s1600/577_2435+cropped.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563984505058167762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IPLHTS3qr5xGd25l2dsx87w8j7O-_dNycLup5igNGbzYcOtKcgrnK7vbqzc3t2MRFxScNiCMzUdlJHEoA3ID0FVBJIvL1FWmTYBMPynsgO8kjC2ZN3Ox_VotkJM4ZcQ2k8g-iacw/s400/577_2435+cropped.jpg" /></a> <span lang="EN"><p dir="ltr" align="center"><strong>Week 4 in the north of Haiti, second group.</strong></p></span><span lang="EN"><p dir="ltr">We board a small prop plane. Porters heave part of our luggage into the tail of the plane. The pilot looks like a kid. Dirt in the aisle crunches under my feet. I lower myself heavily into a battered beige seat; the only <b>air</b> is warm air. Paint peels around the grimy oval windows that have no shades. We bump down the runway and wobble in the air making it look like we are waving with the wings. Circling the airport at Cap Haitien 30 minutes later, I spy a plane just like ours resting on its stomach with each blade of the propellers bent at right angles….both sides. Wheels didn’t come down. Hmmmmm. Glad I wasn’t on that flight.</p></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXp9_pJ1LWjAjLJMFjUNhXVVXzRKhhGTpayofr9Wixccm6jKYAHj8Df_4wrZtOM7hwopdZkfNOq-NctmRyd_f4SzISVu0LFh7l8jw7dVfbym_tbqg3Sv9d-jZfKE-jOdKkrZkrv-a/s1600/577_2562.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563983995313426882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXp9_pJ1LWjAjLJMFjUNhXVVXzRKhhGTpayofr9Wixccm6jKYAHj8Df_4wrZtOM7hwopdZkfNOq-NctmRyd_f4SzISVu0LFh7l8jw7dVfbym_tbqg3Sv9d-jZfKE-jOdKkrZkrv-a/s400/577_2562.JPG" /></a> <span lang="EN"><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:130%;">Back to Sunday Morning </span></p><p dir="ltr" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">I pull on a slip under my wrap around skirt (last minute thought); grab my camera bag and sunhat. Jim and I walk down the dirt road to the church which is just ½ mile away past the 25 acres we will build on. </span></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I pray out loud as we walk, thanking God for our supporters, His goodness and mercy and the many blessings we have. A peace settles on me. We greet smutty faced snotty-</span><span style="font-family:arial;">nosed children lining the streets with “Bonjour.” My bad attitude evaporates. I’m happy.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">We sit in wood pews and I feel vibrations from the rumbling generator that powers the big speakers and mike. The sound of old hymns in Creole echoes through the rafters and out the bars of massive windows that frame palm fronds swaying in the breeze. Children are decked out in their best with bows and crisp shirts.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Pastor Henoc, a mountain of a man with sad eyes dominates the platform as he delivers the message in his granite voice. Thin bodies lean forward with eager faces to hear words of exhortation from God’s Word.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563983359739143282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtzq2oJIi0MqasVhhxxyKuD_47Lv5Lrm6dLHsHJhTpxusUpvih3TE0Zeq1xq21ezCyGsrsWJQT68s-OkT7AJkjKme0vnq_3W9S3mO1AjYo3hOSaEuSQAfqdPe8e5nbBPKpp6mXIsU/s400/IMG_3867.JPG" /></span></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Tears cloud my vision as I feel like I’m 9 years old sitting in Kenya, listening to the Kikuyu sing, watching my Dad smile before he preaches in his quiet style In Swahili. </span></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">My blood sugar drops suddenly (no breakfast) and I have an overwhelming desire to lay down on the pew and sleep. I fight it, as I know there is a can of tuna in my camera bag. I take solace knowing it will only take 15 minutes to open it with the rusty can opener at the place we take our meals. After the service as we stroll along the road, I’m suddenly aware that my wraparound skirt is not wrapped around, a semi</span><span style="font-family:arial;">-National Geographic moment averted by the somewhat inappropriately aforementioned slip.</span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span lang="EN"><span style="font-size:130%;">We are traveling with a design team including 13 surveyors, architects, civil engineers, electrical engineers, and structural engineers from Engineering Ministries International, EMI. Also, present during planning of the university in Cap Haitien are Greg Schuenke, president of VOHM, Michael Cooper, a professor from Trinity University and Pastor Henoc, the visionary who is preaching as I write this.</span></p><div><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:130%;">This Christian University is hoping to offer an alternative in a smaller city to replace the many universities in Port Au Prince destroyed by the earthquake. </span></p><b><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:130%;">To be continued next month………...</span></p></b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTr-BB5QcLPWHCHMtkeUOwtsjshLEhIy1TVXjg5RS_kmBx0cy8XC8hoJzzzxsino873srO-Z79An6uRr1HrfbpslT8CRAEi4_6O0iwI1ajPy8XXY1vbKnYx2OjFFvfFo8u7M2gY_2/s1600/splint+cropped.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 260px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563982598816565042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTr-BB5QcLPWHCHMtkeUOwtsjshLEhIy1TVXjg5RS_kmBx0cy8XC8hoJzzzxsino873srO-Z79An6uRr1HrfbpslT8CRAEi4_6O0iwI1ajPy8XXY1vbKnYx2OjFFvfFo8u7M2gY_2/s400/splint+cropped.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvai6wI5DQ2VHIFAyL6AR46uTcA-r0QJgylfN4zW78RpT_53gpi0MCz3j08dnlc6gWJ_obu1yoQ1ds7haFKoXcShoO6Opc-YeOCFHx5EUsdpbS660RIhUUI4Bt41Ev4EARE2KUGsyH/s1600/splinted+boy+cropped.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 134px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563982064640649570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvai6wI5DQ2VHIFAyL6AR46uTcA-r0QJgylfN4zW78RpT_53gpi0MCz3j08dnlc6gWJ_obu1yoQ1ds7haFKoXcShoO6Opc-YeOCFHx5EUsdpbS660RIhUUI4Bt41Ev4EARE2KUGsyH/s320/splinted+boy+cropped.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Another use for duct tape. Jim splints a little boy's arm who is injured playing soccer. There was no way to x-ray his arm.<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-28263837635514972682010-10-14T15:04:00.061-05:002010-11-12T17:52:40.335-06:00Why are they sad? Church at Rancho Bernardo in San Diego is trying to change that.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmdbllf4jjlhiL3CKjfyeWD-U1FR2D6rRRL4H0-oqfLArNqoA_R57vnYcY1iJXMrVZ77kqLVos3TndEn56rBXzbcuYJD3Np8YHnx5Y_yEJ52aK-AUxm6JH3Jvrh5eaUqZJ1WDG3uE/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+010.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvtfCYqwmzphDI2bIRyundFhbrABbJO8KRjzeBjuHAxigBqlxjMCOgkac7KO-2fCH2_UEAe-WmKiqGmxC03GogJL7HodAkb37XoJ-DQsg6rB2Pl9_nZg5l5DoQpaBMQEc7jYL6Dfj/s1600/Earthquake+depression+I+suppose.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 123px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528023828099091698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvtfCYqwmzphDI2bIRyundFhbrABbJO8KRjzeBjuHAxigBqlxjMCOgkac7KO-2fCH2_UEAe-WmKiqGmxC03GogJL7HodAkb37XoJ-DQsg6rB2Pl9_nZg5l5DoQpaBMQEc7jYL6Dfj/s400/Earthquake+depression+I+suppose.jpg" /></a> We saw so many faces like this and wonder what their stories are. </div><div align="center">These are fortunate enough to be in a school that teaches them up to 5 languages and good basic education thanks to one lady, named Sherrie Fausey who 10 years ago left everything to go to the slums of Port Au Prince, Haiti.<br />She was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">thrown</span> into the hall on the second story and watched in horror as her bedroom collapsed during the earthquake. </div><div align="center">Her two story 8 bedroom orphanage was completely destroyed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0vmyq3CpWEZ7jW9GCf6rNqv3MY3eOSDgChCXPQ-rwZLK4JbjXuE9cC100Ev8Fmru95h41JToYnD_ASLFDjMGX8Db4Kzx1zKpIqRPiUoHgpBx4H_0VCqtxa_42vx3XyrxeCem_32b/s1600/petition.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 318px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528023432368666850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0vmyq3CpWEZ7jW9GCf6rNqv3MY3eOSDgChCXPQ-rwZLK4JbjXuE9cC100Ev8Fmru95h41JToYnD_ASLFDjMGX8Db4Kzx1zKpIqRPiUoHgpBx4H_0VCqtxa_42vx3XyrxeCem_32b/s400/petition.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0vmyq3CpWEZ7jW9GCf6rNqv3MY3eOSDgChCXPQ-rwZLK4JbjXuE9cC100Ev8Fmru95h41JToYnD_ASLFDjMGX8Db4Kzx1zKpIqRPiUoHgpBx4H_0VCqtxa_42vx3XyrxeCem_32b/s1600/petition.jpg"></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBgdMMcf5QCEsM9KCWk782Rp-KAxALsFHcR1BcU3ajAUcZIGozWWcqr9vytXjQd8LMJStWoP1auLb_ilIGclOmdmNs3dLI_35Jr1fx7IhGcmheue84cau-QxXbI0GsOpCLtD1zLAv/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+403.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 288px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528023022594567666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBgdMMcf5QCEsM9KCWk782Rp-KAxALsFHcR1BcU3ajAUcZIGozWWcqr9vytXjQd8LMJStWoP1auLb_ilIGclOmdmNs3dLI_35Jr1fx7IhGcmheue84cau-QxXbI0GsOpCLtD1zLAv/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+403.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Jim, as often is the case is overwhelmed with the immensity of the task. We can only help those that God puts in our path and hope it makes a difference. You play a large part in that and we thank you.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528022114803982626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5em2GBgeEC_BrsQZZx9avs1f2mb7LNKRhEd4dLk6iWdM0Ng2sM-AWi6HkRtaCknS8eSXslyaEiJbaWKo_U1yZdPf7iRakxq7bzQnCLPoxeQ5q429_Zaizrf8I7ivN1goTESt7QoCN/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+419+L" /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5em2GBgeEC_BrsQZZx9avs1f2mb7LNKRhEd4dLk6iWdM0Ng2sM-AWi6HkRtaCknS8eSXslyaEiJbaWKo_U1yZdPf7iRakxq7bzQnCLPoxeQ5q429_Zaizrf8I7ivN1goTESt7QoCN/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+419+L">Singing by flashlight is half the fun!</a><br />Volunteers from the Church at Rancho Bernardo lift their voices in praise!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2B2QpE8Y_JuHLMJPsR6HboSBeX5w4-e2fUBQyIbvyoEFs9GeJlIVBAQ2M0TGosxOGFuKjRcd_adMo77mURcP96P4F-N9Il2_ffB_DADyW1m7jO_GEXqaOboPTs4i83N86vr1uLy3b/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+140.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528021954273319826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2B2QpE8Y_JuHLMJPsR6HboSBeX5w4-e2fUBQyIbvyoEFs9GeJlIVBAQ2M0TGosxOGFuKjRcd_adMo77mURcP96P4F-N9Il2_ffB_DADyW1m7jO_GEXqaOboPTs4i83N86vr1uLy3b/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+140.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirf3npUHiyhGgfbLPjdPlhP4x1yqP7dKqMyJCc73kPEB190dhfaj2JI1JiHuKwbTt2HDVHj8ybeOuh0Q_HqGF-BfGJYrBEyGhf2CCOdpCNiAbIppJx_TAvDeVZ4m1QmuBvI_rckL9q/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+131.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 242px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528021078011887746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirf3npUHiyhGgfbLPjdPlhP4x1yqP7dKqMyJCc73kPEB190dhfaj2JI1JiHuKwbTt2HDVHj8ybeOuh0Q_HqGF-BfGJYrBEyGhf2CCOdpCNiAbIppJx_TAvDeVZ4m1QmuBvI_rckL9q/s320/Haiti+trip+%238+131.jpg" /></a><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528020261255888050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTr54r-gYgXmMeUhbqiwUZce49pI2EAD26ARcrlCGEcIcjV-ku2JwCOEL2gQrAQ-5QiNh4sjP_FdzcZJSeTHTbewRt54ML6KNvCD6c8VTjystr6myOfdX2e4BAUhm_HjDzlhZlfvR/s320/Haiti+trip+%238+117.jpg" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYwydP9O2Hs7adzSgXQ6PD1rXeZnZt3condZUSFkY-lQ1LMo5y79dU8pLIsmKZhmRfvkULDX7h8PDaMjUj3mrMkF-ZJsWwwumZFqn3qlxetgNGQpePhIoHCeMZh8fEbTarzvgDLuy/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+096.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 292px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528018448941697138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYwydP9O2Hs7adzSgXQ6PD1rXeZnZt3condZUSFkY-lQ1LMo5y79dU8pLIsmKZhmRfvkULDX7h8PDaMjUj3mrMkF-ZJsWwwumZFqn3qlxetgNGQpePhIoHCeMZh8fEbTarzvgDLuy/s320/Haiti+trip+%238+096.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLOW9ZZFpgzdgy7yFuV1ORHHMIInMNig6Wkak2W4l9q0nJ8c-Z7C3Mbw2kwRLYhxrZSgnQ6jIkDWxWAcHbgbutvxuOtUk4Vm6LAh4CTjVh7hN0KOkHGGq-yR2lQz3Lx8A261VVKLt/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+099.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 316px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528017991811365330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLOW9ZZFpgzdgy7yFuV1ORHHMIInMNig6Wkak2W4l9q0nJ8c-Z7C3Mbw2kwRLYhxrZSgnQ6jIkDWxWAcHbgbutvxuOtUk4Vm6LAh4CTjVh7hN0KOkHGGq-yR2lQz3Lx8A261VVKLt/s320/Haiti+trip+%238+099.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvWtPEDC7mixVvF1usVnoW8Z5HxEyuiX0xoogsB2_DdSTTqwTINM8x5gHyWMimV_uYtQxDKax1bZ7sy-FFwVNjGTYmMy74z7ACVoKRb6jxBbTCNUqgbxH7ome1D86fn0KS3OPON-V/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+006.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528016057101723394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvWtPEDC7mixVvF1usVnoW8Z5HxEyuiX0xoogsB2_DdSTTqwTINM8x5gHyWMimV_uYtQxDKax1bZ7sy-FFwVNjGTYmMy74z7ACVoKRb6jxBbTCNUqgbxH7ome1D86fn0KS3OPON-V/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+006.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Rainy season is great. </div><div>Nothing like a mudbath for the toes. </div><div>It's like a free spa and the heat and mud are absolutely free!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrhEsT99dCVtNd57rJF2yW2Lm2cQ60gXIttwLjWosAPIyoihIgqX6dN2CqFLf-_MU7mh4gwsyJ447xq1IQ0Iz60fHjIvEW98g6TciIhNwpuQ30OKvRg7L7osdcMr1d0aRgUsqC66q/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+089.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528014677792796130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrhEsT99dCVtNd57rJF2yW2Lm2cQ60gXIttwLjWosAPIyoihIgqX6dN2CqFLf-_MU7mh4gwsyJ447xq1IQ0Iz60fHjIvEW98g6TciIhNwpuQ30OKvRg7L7osdcMr1d0aRgUsqC66q/s320/Haiti+trip+%238+089.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528013978260804290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IWQtcyYh0zgNK-15yF7Ox_u4zKXzUMt5VLfekW3Y91BpzfA73LBXRflYgHWE020aa-NR4b0d_ipViOOJGRs3iadCsZT-GKo6LLFKuNEp8intRWQLDGsJSy0cSjP6K9Z06uA-KI90/s320/Haiti+trip+%238+149.jpg" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRst-dGdcydvnY6IlXjV6IKrnTxDSOjuI4ghhdhtffapo0piD7Bogq-TWQV0QHudhNfJJowzK-FMbg5BZDpcyciELnYfy1h9-VgqEcQ4NsywZCNolr0fe-AYTJ6I2YwLSvMDarP2kU/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+205.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528011916267255906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRst-dGdcydvnY6IlXjV6IKrnTxDSOjuI4ghhdhtffapo0piD7Bogq-TWQV0QHudhNfJJowzK-FMbg5BZDpcyciELnYfy1h9-VgqEcQ4NsywZCNolr0fe-AYTJ6I2YwLSvMDarP2kU/s320/Haiti+trip+%238+205.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRst-dGdcydvnY6IlXjV6IKrnTxDSOjuI4ghhdhtffapo0piD7Bogq-TWQV0QHudhNfJJowzK-FMbg5BZDpcyciELnYfy1h9-VgqEcQ4NsywZCNolr0fe-AYTJ6I2YwLSvMDarP2kU/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+205.jpg"></a></div><br /><br />Those pesky drills.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRst-dGdcydvnY6IlXjV6IKrnTxDSOjuI4ghhdhtffapo0piD7Bogq-TWQV0QHudhNfJJowzK-FMbg5BZDpcyciELnYfy1h9-VgqEcQ4NsywZCNolr0fe-AYTJ6I2YwLSvMDarP2kU/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+205.jpg"></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRst-dGdcydvnY6IlXjV6IKrnTxDSOjuI4ghhdhtffapo0piD7Bogq-TWQV0QHudhNfJJowzK-FMbg5BZDpcyciELnYfy1h9-VgqEcQ4NsywZCNolr0fe-AYTJ6I2YwLSvMDarP2kU/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+205.jpg"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkxeMFcVxT0MaO0D20thQirKZS4SZfR0g82TNsusaqnlX4UQl56Rtl0TdrTonvmT_bGpKXwDptHmwjWuB4srl_gS1vSNteboT7QJXujRdYIP6uUmia3A7H1rTZ7_sQoFF5PKTCKgn/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+276.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528009445933638882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkxeMFcVxT0MaO0D20thQirKZS4SZfR0g82TNsusaqnlX4UQl56Rtl0TdrTonvmT_bGpKXwDptHmwjWuB4srl_gS1vSNteboT7QJXujRdYIP6uUmia3A7H1rTZ7_sQoFF5PKTCKgn/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+276.jpg" /></a>At first we thought they might be afraid of the puppets. </div><div>Maybe it was us they were afraid of??? <div>No couldn't be.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gVAeQkkaztPMOyeVbbdxR38wZJz8CSAR2EKRMv02nsZhm9tzPviBXs3X89LytwGLLx4NVk7mys0c9dQh9A8JQgmR726meZxPXOPH_At2SM7sgQlm3VKjklrV_EqKq-5NkuhkobBG/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+280.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 252px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528008815444012850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gVAeQkkaztPMOyeVbbdxR38wZJz8CSAR2EKRMv02nsZhm9tzPviBXs3X89LytwGLLx4NVk7mys0c9dQh9A8JQgmR726meZxPXOPH_At2SM7sgQlm3VKjklrV_EqKq-5NkuhkobBG/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+280.jpg" /></a> The twins were always smiling. They loved the puppets.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Bo7hpbIaKfc_qBd46YHpz6NS2QPucH6bg8J3B5CNpKT24fSiSyU-ihuY2Rl65gcw_x64DHWI5466ha-n2Uio9JQpMyD-z28NLdnb20GlWHY5Tk_auK2asddsJ7PsR9cwtCObsCoH/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+290.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 236px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528008410538978322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Bo7hpbIaKfc_qBd46YHpz6NS2QPucH6bg8J3B5CNpKT24fSiSyU-ihuY2Rl65gcw_x64DHWI5466ha-n2Uio9JQpMyD-z28NLdnb20GlWHY5Tk_auK2asddsJ7PsR9cwtCObsCoH/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+290.jpg" /></a><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528007726853847314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqZSMB_l-vNDtoWn9M0vlpZKJuW3DkSZDivlNYDYliayNIQJ0nb9emGeMQbyAEC5IaACmORTT_v2l9pH6QM15RlWzqdnQ9Ew74Cl2VEtlS4FFUnJsy4uN-m4tPRvBtwQnJbYIMaoq/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+301.jpg" /><br /><div><div>Sherrie Fausey who runs the orphanage and school, me and Denise....puppet master!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMPHccpqdvrcTXIoRkEZCWjCXY7JLLMefyEFMTP11Hkhyphenhyphenu1OnsEgfUt94dH9uFJb_8nXK-zoD865H00j_-bNs3AUVr7aF_20TUS2yUICPnuWPPbi7KUuG6lzomUio_PKxIxG_g5Hz/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+292.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 328px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528007415809217202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMPHccpqdvrcTXIoRkEZCWjCXY7JLLMefyEFMTP11Hkhyphenhyphenu1OnsEgfUt94dH9uFJb_8nXK-zoD865H00j_-bNs3AUVr7aF_20TUS2yUICPnuWPPbi7KUuG6lzomUio_PKxIxG_g5Hz/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+292.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgll8WyxSSJitbRjaNJIxMOdn7Sc5Na3rOUO9L2J2PevYv2FGrOte31fNnrXpLuDgEyT757ZwVZr_1EHh5HZy2nGShiQD0oB2-436LWZmP8m-QrF5uHaRCm3ffkNDzRyLKDsUsYk4PP/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+326.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 390px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528006631037628066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgll8WyxSSJitbRjaNJIxMOdn7Sc5Na3rOUO9L2J2PevYv2FGrOte31fNnrXpLuDgEyT757ZwVZr_1EHh5HZy2nGShiQD0oB2-436LWZmP8m-QrF5uHaRCm3ffkNDzRyLKDsUsYk4PP/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+326.jpg" /></a><br />I found her!!!!<br />This is the little girl who stole my heart from a previous trip. I know she had no clue who I was and it probably scared her silly to have this white person pick her up when ordinarily she would not get much personal attention.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pn6Ks5e4ghtywahvPAt7Ix6Zd2JgctbWpnJtnl_Ftl0JoQR19YmfpMSAvBRjY8FcZL5ilvXoQjosJwRsLs7VE0D5jWlJRIMejImbpUHd1TFvV8KDqXMahUd3sen7PVRC8YYBUQLb/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+334.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 279px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528005658373055266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pn6Ks5e4ghtywahvPAt7Ix6Zd2JgctbWpnJtnl_Ftl0JoQR19YmfpMSAvBRjY8FcZL5ilvXoQjosJwRsLs7VE0D5jWlJRIMejImbpUHd1TFvV8KDqXMahUd3sen7PVRC8YYBUQLb/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+334.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Sweet little boy, same orphanage.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One orphan bathing another.<br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 369px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528003982119882674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijebH9wSVVMrVYojFwXRkW_UsDOgvcqcOdQffWH5tXvuZm3ZWklwK-dj0DWLjaCGCE5hPOt36FqbbBGsd6cDx8NCqK0pi0O-M__43W4n9dIprma_p_UBFiUpJfZnaJcFScfTqnC_p/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+335.jpg" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 395px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528003421572805218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPFlIjYnJeHeV8FrvG3q8ppTVnLbQPu7iif-67kj7BRNXEVcCVbC7jNd13X58eDQhIjHJHiW2e-ze811nUdA6V-m_B1ml0biqNpXs1_YUeryviKcr2E_T67Hy7somI68l40vppVT0/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+376.jpg" />Denise arranging tools in the new shed built by the</div><div>Church at Rancho Bernardo.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLe49iXK8uzTyhNoAUDB4rxM7-HmvTb_yZdO842rTMgPgBT5cvwr7yY0TfaEUzUo2_UXpl9VR3KGvVRIo44wcBWSpxLigRfOZRXtCOe9qDQLI5zVZGvQcNgYce3m_ecYelbvi0ULPt/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+380.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 267px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528000767656631010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLe49iXK8uzTyhNoAUDB4rxM7-HmvTb_yZdO842rTMgPgBT5cvwr7yY0TfaEUzUo2_UXpl9VR3KGvVRIo44wcBWSpxLigRfOZRXtCOe9qDQLI5zVZGvQcNgYce3m_ecYelbvi0ULPt/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+380.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><br />David helped build it!<br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 202px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528000200409819250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwK7wVRM5gRavuLvdfKOWQSFBOgZraI9E7FacPlRc_jB_V_EUHxy6tiO-hMeGi3eeUj23xFq3Nx-lTHBr_lG-m2Rf75kojEq1T7EIoweYK6NUAEAmeDG4QzA_JWIxQc1wofLQqSKwp/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+389.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527999764225864418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggt3kDnshdF1V3zSyVf6_ybe377m-_UsNFvJUW4BKorEP1aRAyGwxtkadPXdpc-mZ68u7sjF-nV-cXgcfNA1Kk53ATq-EO4Fchj35xgv3slKuOkaVsTTQ0oEeZTgvRJHKbFovZk8Uo/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+397.jpg" /><br /><br />They were singing "I will make you fishers of men."<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZ8Ksx3CbVXAgu5yaJ1Yy-UCDNUF7qnkMfK6CLXWO1zxPPShSkA-EI8yOLtoYkjbXwbgRccbDjO_JmOvdv4mo9ERQ1Q0txpcWTz3k1yxMXIn95kN2ZNWVE3Wm1V9XR5SGZPxGY9g3/s1600/Haiti+trip+%238+411.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 314px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527999198978458402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZ8Ksx3CbVXAgu5yaJ1Yy-UCDNUF7qnkMfK6CLXWO1zxPPShSkA-EI8yOLtoYkjbXwbgRccbDjO_JmOvdv4mo9ERQ1Q0txpcWTz3k1yxMXIn95kN2ZNWVE3Wm1V9XR5SGZPxGY9g3/s400/Haiti+trip+%238+411.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527998115135920114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQKd3t_hvB4M-GVAON5xYU8MAz9_RFBYpkjij4dzCKMfRRHvFmRc5FgL3XF3MvufWVPT-VIcbCYIcM3eJuwTxirSs1kRNwXqyeDy-BX2aFIfwRuv-24Gv8uUhLxFDoZ6V8sV8KFYL/s400/IMG_4127.JPG" />Last day some R&R for a hardworking crew.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 190px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527997660011152242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wlJaVnzKqtFTXjXNi_wdFRVgRJsSa_DkXy_nbIr8xRDcyEXA55gCaBxvldFu2lnRTehnvpUQzyOOiP2sdvWwpZccSv77bTgil7V3eXA9ZxINczmqYxRcEG_qgGnFN9jlZ_DLKbAC/s400/We+like+your+puppet+show,+Denise.jpg" />These are some of Sherrie Fausey's school children. Just loved their faces.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-38252708455541980322010-08-25T12:59:00.044-05:002010-08-29T14:46:07.973-05:00Friends & Family Community Connection sweep into Haiti like a cyclone!<div align="center">They came from San Diego, CA, hanging drop ceiling and painting at the Haitian Queen. They laid block and dug the new septic tank at the <strong>orphanage</strong>. They put tin roofs on houses for the homeless. FFCC rented a back hoe to speed up the grading of the orphanage property so that we now have a road. In between, they befriended neighbors, giving the kids some real competition, not that easy with Haitians who live to play soccer.</div><br /><div align="center">This team of doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, contractors, CEOs and students also did a mountain load of dishes at the Haitian Queen.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7gUvvuj_NoSvttANJB9Ccpi_6LBQsbcaPQZIH9Mhnz_Trdgw0AnwD2xOVZP1zwO0JyrRz8HfqTsQy_Lp7K6EHeR-4Gpl7isdkxb27n-Nn86FDANIEpy4mQWtrD6VMNHdYwErjFPB/s1600/Haiti+7+086+cropped.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509417719726812818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7gUvvuj_NoSvttANJB9Ccpi_6LBQsbcaPQZIH9Mhnz_Trdgw0AnwD2xOVZP1zwO0JyrRz8HfqTsQy_Lp7K6EHeR-4Gpl7isdkxb27n-Nn86FDANIEpy4mQWtrD6VMNHdYwErjFPB/s400/Haiti+7+086+cropped.jpg" /></a> Jim reflecting on all that has been accomplished or is he just day dreaming about me!!</div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CBMysnDBXpDuTlxXp_nOPKBL951jQgxyO1spvVO2hT4FhPrxMt-pq64kvU92KyqwRojgqPfrGZbbBwq53uMKyy7zsJ1ujdQvQve_NuATOZQg9ql_95CQfnxzqVDdZ45hgmWdFSng/s1600/Haiti+7+162.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 307px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509416876232816482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CBMysnDBXpDuTlxXp_nOPKBL951jQgxyO1spvVO2hT4FhPrxMt-pq64kvU92KyqwRojgqPfrGZbbBwq53uMKyy7zsJ1ujdQvQve_NuATOZQg9ql_95CQfnxzqVDdZ45hgmWdFSng/s400/Haiti+7+162.jpg" /></a>They just won't give up on this generator.<br /><br />Darkness feel like a curtain and lightening streaked the sky the last night in Haiti.<br />A pastor asked to borrow the scaffolding and wood cement forms<br />from up the hill at the orphanage we are building in Gressier. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpJMmDKxs4HcGN9esaplEEKgOwCQtJimSYMJHw4aBB8FmmuKxpvhhbQk0EmYo-DLT73gzZwTzqbZfeRe0SXZflxBCXyvu20kNDGStFcn5jyNadWcxvBSGv9zjC_f2-Leq2DXCIpn0/s1600/Haiti+7+156.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 319px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509415978800760290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpJMmDKxs4HcGN9esaplEEKgOwCQtJimSYMJHw4aBB8FmmuKxpvhhbQk0EmYo-DLT73gzZwTzqbZfeRe0SXZflxBCXyvu20kNDGStFcn5jyNadWcxvBSGv9zjC_f2-Leq2DXCIpn0/s400/Haiti+7+156.jpg" /></a>The pastor and his two little boys ready for the service.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDmh-xaiMNa78-nD00_lee0VyT2xpJb8ekJepYNhlJf0HJW8U41WBNDgRDSl7IPLVmjd5xoG9eO7pYrKpbx1I-a6aS-ALwH9RbX6D9HCgI43faMzqr_iOW3w4QLYlMeQf3ELEKbxT/s1600/Haiti+7+153.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509415680916365506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDmh-xaiMNa78-nD00_lee0VyT2xpJb8ekJepYNhlJf0HJW8U41WBNDgRDSl7IPLVmjd5xoG9eO7pYrKpbx1I-a6aS-ALwH9RbX6D9HCgI43faMzqr_iOW3w4QLYlMeQf3ELEKbxT/s400/Haiti+7+153.jpg" /></a>I am up on the second story of the Haitian Queen watching as they get ready for the revival meeting in the empty lot next door. The blaring music from the large speakers drew an immediate crowd. The preaching and singing could be heard for miles and the final song blew the 4 speakers, just before a torrential downpour. At least the speakers didn't get wet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh168THyT53RHbIKKRyJmNl58E9eJ_rJl8yDYzi7gdYrvbeRcPeo-PbLESdtn9aorc0OBKI-Fsqn2TQ8YE7n1OfoqDJu7ttCbuaAO3qhjiSBCoVTJRywNpHirt71Pw38i-03UcRIVb8/s1600/Haiti+7+145.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509415241887383426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh168THyT53RHbIKKRyJmNl58E9eJ_rJl8yDYzi7gdYrvbeRcPeo-PbLESdtn9aorc0OBKI-Fsqn2TQ8YE7n1OfoqDJu7ttCbuaAO3qhjiSBCoVTJRywNpHirt71Pw38i-03UcRIVb8/s400/Haiti+7+145.jpg" /></a> Earlier in the afternoon they threw together this stage.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3jJEGra4G7YlWEN78HmkNP0F3BSD2rKN_CJsCmK0qC9RRJ4MVrikxBM-_ZNz4EkYeU5JJUEKWl8MRqJ7kTK-6LQe3S0TIlogj57ZBGp_tevm8Rfi5tVCZSUOdAl5m92FJBEgD7c1/s1600/Haiti+7+128+compressed+Haitian+office+bldg..jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 221px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509414857722036546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3jJEGra4G7YlWEN78HmkNP0F3BSD2rKN_CJsCmK0qC9RRJ4MVrikxBM-_ZNz4EkYeU5JJUEKWl8MRqJ7kTK-6LQe3S0TIlogj57ZBGp_tevm8Rfi5tVCZSUOdAl5m92FJBEgD7c1/s400/Haiti+7+128+compressed+Haitian+office+bldg..jpg" /></a>FFCC worked on this wall at the orphanage.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEEF_1lBX8mJbS9ROE1dLQRTR8cjw2eMYrXMKhpI-A0MXvYvdVzgHRW7qvc9zQ46n_09fNHEPIDtZglYTrvwuHH1us0J5KWY1efFzeE-zxskhpPwQvWt2j5ticZjrFVaPhLqeLSEz/s1600/Haiti+7+095.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509414655187113170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEEF_1lBX8mJbS9ROE1dLQRTR8cjw2eMYrXMKhpI-A0MXvYvdVzgHRW7qvc9zQ46n_09fNHEPIDtZglYTrvwuHH1us0J5KWY1efFzeE-zxskhpPwQvWt2j5ticZjrFVaPhLqeLSEz/s400/Haiti+7+095.jpg" /></a> David & Jeff enjoying the picnic the final day.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8lhUSFt8uUGwLD3BZXS8CbcrqBJbfF9ZdSwKffLoneF_AbTroLXUjwLx0anqkQzwFUnXpdniw6qxIg0K1KoHK1bVsUSVQRZnr0zcFuauBefHde-3EdlereBtlk1GPivJJG0oOscy/s1600/Haiti+7+094.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 295px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509414329412716162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8lhUSFt8uUGwLD3BZXS8CbcrqBJbfF9ZdSwKffLoneF_AbTroLXUjwLx0anqkQzwFUnXpdniw6qxIg0K1KoHK1bVsUSVQRZnr0zcFuauBefHde-3EdlereBtlk1GPivJJG0oOscy/s400/Haiti+7+094.jpg" /></a>That was good chicken.!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9_r6odFqotZw8bHQ0Ikk4yJ7bWb3bOTrDT-q6SYISs3M5N115w-hPbk5tc5nb37J2w4KlP-5dZzoBXDMZqXboqJInTS5WeQI543G2hp_5wpMJvMt4dy1oUyX8LKtdW9THMAjQUcj/s1600/Haiti+7+082.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509414033512057634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9_r6odFqotZw8bHQ0Ikk4yJ7bWb3bOTrDT-q6SYISs3M5N115w-hPbk5tc5nb37J2w4KlP-5dZzoBXDMZqXboqJInTS5WeQI543G2hp_5wpMJvMt4dy1oUyX8LKtdW9THMAjQUcj/s400/Haiti+7+082.jpg" /></a> Jim surveying progress at the orphanage.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf9BBDReuWYN5FQOwO6KFFuRRcOBt3IyJEX2Rjjp0LM2ZndiDSX6ITeia4IkNNSLwZviseCSaaAdr_1L7WjiXUzob6-Rrmt9MIMXS3ZlCK-TI2FTTJzAy7d-7WTZYYi9OPawYvRZr/s1600/Haiti+7+080.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509413569227820466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf9BBDReuWYN5FQOwO6KFFuRRcOBt3IyJEX2Rjjp0LM2ZndiDSX6ITeia4IkNNSLwZviseCSaaAdr_1L7WjiXUzob6-Rrmt9MIMXS3ZlCK-TI2FTTJzAy7d-7WTZYYi9OPawYvRZr/s400/Haiti+7+080.jpg" /></a>Jim and Aaron, founder of Shepherd's House Orphanage</p><p align="center">rejoicing at the progress!<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gS1ospkJLcUCoXSqZb49H7uEg9JvXes9t2ANDOavRjy6BoRglkHmc_JvZI2Cz_A1GEET2s9WNJYjhMwLUO6CT99gAB-CcZytL8wZepsBUfS5XaRFqoqvaprnFXUJh7Ekoi5ZOigf/s1600/Haiti+7+067.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 260px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509413037493861106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gS1ospkJLcUCoXSqZb49H7uEg9JvXes9t2ANDOavRjy6BoRglkHmc_JvZI2Cz_A1GEET2s9WNJYjhMwLUO6CT99gAB-CcZytL8wZepsBUfS5XaRFqoqvaprnFXUJh7Ekoi5ZOigf/s400/Haiti+7+067.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a>A few good men!! Jeff Price, Dave Barkin, and Nate Irby.<br /><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybuuiKs30AcqXN2Ti7NwkRBuB2LS5J5YVVYICkEQvcKSWRpAwpMOhoTaAq5hEg8wr4z0AjWpQXIZl0lVRwOAL-nlaKRcsKHPjqaAhZLsRXSpx_EkQdQMdsWHV2nS6xYnOC5v8VOHf/s1600/Haiti+7+062.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 249px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509412672551278002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybuuiKs30AcqXN2Ti7NwkRBuB2LS5J5YVVYICkEQvcKSWRpAwpMOhoTaAq5hEg8wr4z0AjWpQXIZl0lVRwOAL-nlaKRcsKHPjqaAhZLsRXSpx_EkQdQMdsWHV2nS6xYnOC5v8VOHf/s400/Haiti+7+062.jpg" /></a>More good men...and woman! </div><div align="center">Allyn Pon, Dave Barkin, Aaron Nelson, Jan Nielsen, and the CEO of FFCC, Phil Harris.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vwXZ7V7GrbyJ92l55LhYME2bGqnTRuYNRIDALia8NHhlaGqjxLplT3bE1GWHHag2X10ZVfEdiSyg1HMxlaNINLyaknj6sw1NEEhLBWoz3V96dlWZ9mBzcyFEsOeglM6mwvKqoeD9/s1600/Haiti+7+042.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 269px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509412344989539266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vwXZ7V7GrbyJ92l55LhYME2bGqnTRuYNRIDALia8NHhlaGqjxLplT3bE1GWHHag2X10ZVfEdiSyg1HMxlaNINLyaknj6sw1NEEhLBWoz3V96dlWZ9mBzcyFEsOeglM6mwvKqoeD9/s400/Haiti+7+042.jpg" /></a> Little girl in the neighborhood.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYvUUQ6YbTGD8M3YCKVmTdcdCEraQEzTNvfWmxM1Vzlaa9srYd-_1sRX5en21kafRq-YOs1_KsuWCv4V6biyqjNAG70vlEGQknCNCQhAITjk6c1683thetiRTgfjf1NevPVy0_5Ud/s1600/Haiti+7+041.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 376px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509412047720202466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYvUUQ6YbTGD8M3YCKVmTdcdCEraQEzTNvfWmxM1Vzlaa9srYd-_1sRX5en21kafRq-YOs1_KsuWCv4V6biyqjNAG70vlEGQknCNCQhAITjk6c1683thetiRTgfjf1NevPVy0_5Ud/s400/Haiti+7+041.jpg" /></a><br />Phil Harris, CEO of FFCC and Roger Elmore, PH.D, agronomist from Iowa State .<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOP6MSZjHdhusZO-c8pxAvxLDg69Iu0B9tVDFW-bM3uPyV0gSCJ1hcMgZVzoxNxCqDjT26g-zPQ4RBFY3l0-uGj0w4I58l931MN8TqzXdIvDLsr4lQ9Zv3Q1mngSPYyhI_aKuWbZEl/s1600/Haiti+7+036.jpg"><span style="font-size:0;"></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509411478381951122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOP6MSZjHdhusZO-c8pxAvxLDg69Iu0B9tVDFW-bM3uPyV0gSCJ1hcMgZVzoxNxCqDjT26g-zPQ4RBFY3l0-uGj0w4I58l931MN8TqzXdIvDLsr4lQ9Zv3Q1mngSPYyhI_aKuWbZEl/s400/Haiti+7+036.jpg" /></a>Dr. Eunice Mata, expert painter, dishwasher, and "Oh Yes!"</div><div align="center"><span style="color:#33ffff;">a Great Physician.</span><br /><br /></div><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509410520144700418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhpCAkW8N3Gw1wNaXDptYpJKFDT3F3_ryIDpu_nV_loW2Hh30h4eBawTFnnJ9cU7MsXfrDOwM70wL-BMDFrvq4hivCjhX_pUjEeCJXuWN9STRmRVj1jOp61HBqtyKVo-sQLH00n-N/s320/Haiti+7+037.jpg" />Doug Ferrin, contractor, son Jeff, Dr. Joel Mata, physician and Allyn Pon, financial genius.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Thank you "Friends and Family" for </strong></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">making Haiti a better place for the Haitian people</span><span style="color:#ff0000;">!</span></strong><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8g59suhssIWlTm8WQMC_Y2CZ1j_ddUePIIc859Fh_fgLOZEA9cLBz_bhwuveJS5SsRHggJgS1Eh8cW8dIbnDiGxDNdEi_xUa4j_Zy83ju9fDvGnWMJ7_sZ1FRlPd8GSXdh2AxSFL3/s1600/Haiti+7+011+(2).JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 178px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509409416992239138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8g59suhssIWlTm8WQMC_Y2CZ1j_ddUePIIc859Fh_fgLOZEA9cLBz_bhwuveJS5SsRHggJgS1Eh8cW8dIbnDiGxDNdEi_xUa4j_Zy83ju9fDvGnWMJ7_sZ1FRlPd8GSXdh2AxSFL3/s400/Haiti+7+011+(2).JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">A typical roadside scene in the city. </div>Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-48621937494696390482010-07-31T09:47:00.027-05:002022-06-04T00:33:08.066-05:00Enjoying the Luxury Suite<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXZDQef0lTmIM6XbQMQ2g-OXCutPfC3kju3UHX8MVJTHud0UEz98vgNp5N7zAOEfM0sbYLBoNr46VgGAepVGj2yUGpZhvS42z8xNv3NVAUFFI7QtmQHnGvT4swyBsK3GZ5tEbgXbG/s1600/Haiti+bed+004.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500085186276975234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXZDQef0lTmIM6XbQMQ2g-OXCutPfC3kju3UHX8MVJTHud0UEz98vgNp5N7zAOEfM0sbYLBoNr46VgGAepVGj2yUGpZhvS42z8xNv3NVAUFFI7QtmQHnGvT4swyBsK3GZ5tEbgXbG/s320/Haiti+bed+004.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Our bed "custom built by Jim" for the Luxury Suite </div><div align="center">made my trip alone to Haiti worth it all. </div><div align="center">It gave me an idea how to make millions so that we won't have to raise support, </div><div align="center">just travel the world doing missions. :) </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">
American Airlines led me to believe that they held </div><div align="center">the airplane for me in Miami for 30 minutes. </div><div align="center">I don't actually think that's possible. I bet they were having mechanical difficulties. </div><div align="center">When an attendant ran me down the corridor to the door, </div><div align="center">the agent was controlling some real fury.</div><div align="center"> What he said didn't even resemble
<span style="color: #33ff33;"><b><span style="color: #ffcc66;">"Welcome to the flight."
</span></b>
</span> </div><div align="center">The flight attendant kindly told me to sit in the first empty seat </div><div align="center">and get my seat belt on.</div><div align="center"> Empty seats stared back at me in first class, </div><div align="center">but being the spiritual giant that I am I walked to the back to 24 D.
<span style="color: #33ffff;"><b> </b></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #33ffff;"><b>Also, I didn't want to push my luck.
</b>
</span><span style="color: red;"><b> </b></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: red;"><b>I did not get a heroes welcome, no clapping or whooping,</b></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: red;"><b> just stony looks from the other passengers</b>. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: red;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color: red;"></span> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="color: red;"></span></div><div align="center">Settled and bolted in I noticed the top of my foot was swollen...... </div><div align="center">I mean swooooollen and an unusual color. I don't know what I did to it. </div><div align="center">It doesn't hurt one bit, just looks despicable. </div><div align="center">When I got to Haiti the pilot & crew kindly but laughingly said, </div><div align="center">"Glad you could make the flight" as I passed through the door into the wet Haitian heat.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The airport in Port Au Prince was a zoo. </div><div align="center">Chivalry is dead....at least in Haiti. A sweet Haitian girl helped me </div><div align="center">pull the 50 lb suitcase off the carousel
after the 7th or 8th pass. </div><div align="center"> It got caught in the carousel and it pulled the metal binding
off the bottom. </div><div align="center">We yanked and yanked as it carried us with the moving belt and </div><div align="center">I thought the entire contents were going to end up on the floor. </div><div align="center">While I waited for my other luggage, two worried Haitians approached me timidly </div><div align="center">and it turned out it was their suitcase. </div><div align="center">Mine which eventually came around were unharmed. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I stood up on the back of the cart so that
I could see the carousel through the crowd of men. </div><div align="center">A thin wiry, wrinkled Mennonite lady with faded lips about 4 ft tall </div><div align="center">guarded my other suitcase or I probably wouldn't have it. </div><div align="center">I was sweating like a pig, if I may be so indelicate.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">When I finally got out of the bldg. porters swarm me. </div><div align="center">One grabs my cart and wants to push it for me. </div><div align="center">It's dangerous to go outside the locked fence area </div><div align="center">which they have changed since last time.</div><div align="center"> I told him I was waiting for Miguel in a green shirt and I could push my own cart. </div><div align="center">He pushed it anyway hastily through the concrete area inside the gate. </div><div align="center">He insisted he knew Miguel and that he was
waiting outside the gate in a truck.
I didn't believe him.
I was worried and continued to protest loudly. </div><div align="center">100 yards later I could see the beautiful outline of Jim standing just outside the gate </div><div align="center">as I strained my eyes through the glare.
I didn't expect him. </div><div align="center"> That man is just the best looking thing I've ever seen. </div><div align="center"> I've traveled alone a lot to third world countries, </div><div align="center">but I'm never coming to Haiti alone again. </div><div align="center">If God didn't take care of me, I'd be lost.
</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><p></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgROZ6U8WtwcpL9mGlEjE4dVEv7Qnl73kLCkN0OvTYwYRBoSMUiPrtUvXApwGvt7wwYeO-kmEdeqMWOsgQHk5GRMht7ppeZJSuuRJe41dBAoc-Ozlo76YbRH5ff9jG-yCJ-vERzGSn/s1600/Haiti+bed+011.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500084353154425170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgROZ6U8WtwcpL9mGlEjE4dVEv7Qnl73kLCkN0OvTYwYRBoSMUiPrtUvXApwGvt7wwYeO-kmEdeqMWOsgQHk5GRMht7ppeZJSuuRJe41dBAoc-Ozlo76YbRH5ff9jG-yCJ-vERzGSn/s320/Haiti+bed+011.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a> This is the table we use for a dresser. We have two windows in our room. </p><p align="center">The glass is busted out of one pane which helps with additional breeze. </p><div align="center">See the mirror in the window!
</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp-a8xAK8jG0LKZFLk_Q5PNKIkrFcnXKZCHNxCEXk3Xbpuz3zDBU_WbC0iyGfvHr0fnZ66V4afmmeSg5TxG4abyRDEWTYA9_WoN_FL3SOSqvVA52C3LofM8iMGonPLOWZjQwny8D8/s1600/Haiti+bed+012.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="428" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500083145838211426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp-a8xAK8jG0LKZFLk_Q5PNKIkrFcnXKZCHNxCEXk3Xbpuz3zDBU_WbC0iyGfvHr0fnZ66V4afmmeSg5TxG4abyRDEWTYA9_WoN_FL3SOSqvVA52C3LofM8iMGonPLOWZjQwny8D8/w640-h428/Haiti+bed+012.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" width="640" /></a>This is the bed after I add my touch.
Note the hanging fan, and the radio on the floor. Only the best!!!</p><p align="center">I should keep a journal but I'm just too lazy. Maybe it's the heat. No, I have a lazy mind...I admit it. The donkeys and roosters wake us at 4 AM.
We are excited that a group of 15 volunteers from San Diego arrives this afternoon!!!!!!!
</p>Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-28971261629038346772010-07-25T14:32:00.005-05:002022-06-04T00:13:14.077-05:00Air Conditioner Rejection Blues<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvpm71jhf3NSSEnbaMD8iOTJeXUFn2XwKXmp-WdzvwuPZgg_omylkDiZamUsq0tN9vJWJVnJCUGB5srA2QtOxm1RLrFK9tKGGqNEgQGctSCnTdzSEjPD9_-Qyb6RMSnoWI1BeJc8e/s1600/Haiti+7+015+air+conditioner+rejection+blues.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497929320330068962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvpm71jhf3NSSEnbaMD8iOTJeXUFn2XwKXmp-WdzvwuPZgg_omylkDiZamUsq0tN9vJWJVnJCUGB5srA2QtOxm1RLrFK9tKGGqNEgQGctSCnTdzSEjPD9_-Qyb6RMSnoWI1BeJc8e/s320/Haiti+7+015+air+conditioner+rejection+blues.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 230px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>We packed a brand new air conditioner exactly as American Airlines told us to on the phone. I'm back home sitting on it a little dejected. I was dreaming of some cool air if the electricity came on in Haiti.</div><div align="center">I'm afraid I did not display a Christian attitude at the airport earlier in the week when Jim left for Haiti. My conscience is bothering me so now I have to go apologize to the policeman.</div><div align="center">I join Jim on Thursday. No I didn't get arrested.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div>Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-17628490788949302052010-07-11T16:06:00.008-05:002022-06-04T00:11:06.211-05:00A Job Well Done!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT05SkIK-aag7tcb3Dg3mGGi8VPUHbSkZIMrKtxZ8M09BZyh6yINfIoyi2LIiZnDlDjCn7UPimgtlbAQ_PHk_-1yjU0cqiAqn47YEAUIyLpWT0vSNPvZl-8rmM4eE-eHunv-mJSSB2/s1600/J&K+best+shot.jpg"></a>
<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8BEqGf3G-qQ-c61OTvoHR6nPpENBRVWcq5-DUgaoIA9-3nuOyM3CNnf22xT4mKE80nfztJfhCLpuErMm_-YgqXP59uZPFbQ2uoCkVkh5In5TlgA-dyRJq5JhTM6EpaDa9tkDqO0l/s1600/P7080017.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492762774104773186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8BEqGf3G-qQ-c61OTvoHR6nPpENBRVWcq5-DUgaoIA9-3nuOyM3CNnf22xT4mKE80nfztJfhCLpuErMm_-YgqXP59uZPFbQ2uoCkVkh5In5TlgA-dyRJq5JhTM6EpaDa9tkDqO0l/s400/P7080017.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a> <span style="font-family: arial;">In two days our superintendents, Brian and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lorey</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wetmiller</span> will leave Haiti. Even though they are young and energetic, it's hard to believe they have put the roofs on 44 temporary shelters and prayed with 42 families. They have completed the footer for the first building on the orphanage property, and worked hard on the upstairs of the guest house,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: arial;"> "The Haitian Queen." </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: arial;">They also cared for volunteers and the guest house when needed. They are true servants. I don't know what we would have done without them. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div align="center">
</div></span><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XG3H9tdD7K0WB4omGV7MeorUofVEvRQwjj6CwqxmWDSYKrPwhhlwg8OZsG3Iowh6gzN-D2_KcKF-lUfh7Rs1FpqU_m1cp5lMe76BCM32wgqYBSWzyeiGaN-xN4lYCe03L6aj9jCl/s1600/P7050022.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492759989076666258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XG3H9tdD7K0WB4omGV7MeorUofVEvRQwjj6CwqxmWDSYKrPwhhlwg8OZsG3Iowh6gzN-D2_KcKF-lUfh7Rs1FpqU_m1cp5lMe76BCM32wgqYBSWzyeiGaN-xN4lYCe03L6aj9jCl/s400/P7050022.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> Many days the heat index was 115 degrees, but they plugged along in spite of it. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div>
</div></span><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSu1YrMEZiI14M2WWmJ-r017RvT0OMARXpgXUcrEZL715ZS_zc5qQy5CGZtwocRdL_Kt4ndLRai4bA2i4e-V0XhdgxxlKqb_DSdR_QKKoVBZYDr0NUnZwWLB-5GOAOmzxeplCj9PUz/s1600/P6230173.JPG"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492759673143550770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSu1YrMEZiI14M2WWmJ-r017RvT0OMARXpgXUcrEZL715ZS_zc5qQy5CGZtwocRdL_Kt4ndLRai4bA2i4e-V0XhdgxxlKqb_DSdR_QKKoVBZYDr0NUnZwWLB-5GOAOmzxeplCj9PUz/s400/P6230173.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Brian and Lorey have made a huge difference to us as well as to all those whose lives they have impacted both spiritually and physically.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: arial;">We look forward to having them at our home-office <b>July 18th and 19th</b> for meetings, debriefing, planning, and hopefully some fun in between.</span></div><div align="center">
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: red;">This was their first assignment with "Side by Side" and we would like to thank them for a job well done.</span> We know God sent them our way and it was a huge answer to prayer for us. We hope it will be the first of many assignments to come.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ffff99; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #33ccff; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #33ccff; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #33ccff; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #33ccff; font-family: arial;">OUR RETURN TO HAITI</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ffff33; font-family: arial;">Jim returns to Haiti <b>July 23rd</b> and I will join him <b>July 29th</b>. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ffff33; font-family: arial;">We booked one way tickets since we don't yet know when we will come home. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ffff33; font-family: arial;">We expect three crews of volunteers back to back. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ffff33; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ffff33; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ffff33; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ffff33; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ffff33; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ffff33; font-family: arial;">Jim will initially go to Cap Haitien in the north to transport the remaining contents of the last container 8 hours over the mountains on those winding potholed roads to Gressier. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ffff33; font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="color: #ffff33;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We need the materials and </span>tools<span style="font-family: arial;"> to continue work on the upstairs of</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ffff33;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> the "Haitien Queen" and Shepherd's House Orphanage. </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ffff33; font-family: arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #ffff33; font-family: arial;">Please continue to pray for us and the people of Haiti.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffff33; font-family: Arial;"></span></div>Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315061200168230460.post-53578093587380253882010-07-05T20:46:00.001-05:002010-07-11T18:51:35.022-05:00This Little Girl Stole My Heart<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNknEaUD4C51KrxX897qqOzofSI0A0NtvbXtBEHeEMCl7mcj_bjMyULHu3zxTxp1l0eWEmSsdQZQZaFQO4RDydJqqNKTd-NlCJlg1PVYxWRWT8qzqziHYRCwLAmOj4gvF2UVcEGkz1/s1600/Haiti+Trip+%236+219.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 187px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 401px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490608637918995666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNknEaUD4C51KrxX897qqOzofSI0A0NtvbXtBEHeEMCl7mcj_bjMyULHu3zxTxp1l0eWEmSsdQZQZaFQO4RDydJqqNKTd-NlCJlg1PVYxWRWT8qzqziHYRCwLAmOj4gvF2UVcEGkz1/s400/Haiti+Trip+%236+219.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><em></em><span style="color:#ffffff;">AND NOW A WORD </span></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;"><strong>FROM OUR SPONSOR:</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#ffff66;"><strong>"</strong>Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble.<br />Then your light will </span></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffff66;">shine out from the darkness,<br />and the darkness around you </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffff66;">will be as bright as noon.<br />The Lord will guide you continually,<br />giving you water when you are dry </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffff66;">and restoring your strength.<br />You will be like a well-watered garden, </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffff66;">like an ever-flowing spring.<br />Some of you will rebuild </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffff66;">the deserted ruins of your cities.<br />Then you will be known as a </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffff66;"><strong>rebuilder of walls </strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffff66;"><strong>and a restorer of homes." </strong></span></em></div><div align="right"><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong></strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">Isaiah 56:10-12</span></span></em></div>Jim and Karen Essonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065747273051807503noreply@blogger.com