Not the right time of year but...

Thanks to a generous gift from an individual supporter, we were able to purchase a small motorbike this week. With gas prices over $5.00/gallon we are glad to have something economical for errands around the city and visitation. We are joining the majority of drivers here in Colonia since there are many more motorbikes and scooters on the streets than cars. Josiah loves the motorbike but I've only been able to take him out once since the purchase because of the steady rains we've had this week. The people here that ride their motorbikes to school or work can't afford to mind the rain.

Flag Day

This Tuesday was the birthday of José Artigas (Uruguay's George Washington) and the kids had off from school. (They also dub the holiday Flag Day.) Even though the kids didn't go to school there was a special commemorative ceremony near noon that all students were encouraged to attend. Josiah's class had a small part in the program. Those students in 1st grade promise allegiance to the flag and those students in their 1st year of high school swear an oath of allegiance to the flag. The certificate from their oath-swearing will often be required when they apply for work someday.

This Tuesday was also Grandparents' Day in Uruguay. It's a pretty big celebration too.

One-Day Men's Retreat

We were blessed to host a one-day retreat for men in our fellowship of churches this Saturday. We invited missionary Colby Holmes from Argentina to speak to us and his two messages from Acts 20 were a great challenge and blessing! The fellowship was excellent and the barbecue (obligatory for a Uruguayan men's retreat) was abundant!

Blood donor

Alicia, a lady from our congregation, had surgery on Monday morning. Health care is free here in Uruguay to those who need it but the local public hospital does ask you to bring in two blood donors to help replenish their blood bank. One of her two donors fell through, and, since I HAD volunteered to help in any way, I was asked to give blood. You probably don't know that I hate needles and that though I gave blood while I was at Bible college to try to conquer this phobia--it didn't work at all!

I guess I fasted too long because after I gave blood on Tuesday morning (with my eyes shut tight most of the time) I had a terrible time. Of course, it may just have been the terrible colors that the hospital is painted in (see photo). I guess I can derive some comfort from the fact that I can't give blood for another three months now.

Maria Emilia

We've been blessed for the last two months with the help of a young lady from our fellowship's northernmost church, Salto. Maria Emilia is pursuing full-time Christian service focused on children's ministries. She is helping to train (and re-train) some of our people to minister more effectively to children and she is running a Saturday morning Bible club. She stays with our family and that has been a blessing. Kolette's Spanish has been improving as a result. Kolette is teaching her, in turn, a Bible study methods course.

You can see her in the picture (far right) with two of her Bible club kids.

Another 15th Birthday Party!

Last Saturday we had our 2nd chance of the year to be part of a young lady's 15th birthday party. As I've mentioned before, these parties are elaborate affairs in Uruguay and sometimes called "a wedding without the groom". Since this celebration was for the daughter of a Christian family of modest means, it was relatively subdued. Kolette and I (along with another couple) had the privilege of sharing special music. Here is a picture of Nadia, the birthday girl, and our little girl: