Rats, Cats, Snakes, & Lizards

There is a wonderful time of day at about noon where all 3 of my children are asleep at the same time for 2.5 hours or so. This is usually when I sew or update this blog. Well yesterday during that time someone came to the front door (they really are on the other side of the fence, but it is close enough to the front door not to have to open the gate to be able to carry on a conversation.) I was standing there talking and all of a sudden something very large crawled out of the plant on the wall next to me and ran down behind the couch. I yelled and moved to the window in the office to explain why I left so abruptly. They thought it was funny... I didn't.

There is a very important point to make here. We have been rat free since right before Thanksgiving. I'm not sure if we have ever been rat free before that. It was a beautiful thing to wake up to the smell of victory... dead rat in my storage room. I knew he was the last one and it took us almost 6 months to get him. RAT FREE for almost 5 months now is unbelievable. Jimmy even installed steel screens in the storage room and kitchen windows, so those jokers would have to show up with a hacksaw if they wanted in this house.

I called Jimmy right away because I was sickened that we might have another rat. Of course he was far away. He called Pedro, the gardener who cuts our grass. Jimmy mows our grass at our forever house, but we pay Pedro to chop our grass here with a machete. Anyway, he came over right away. He asked me if it might have been a snake... what?! I had not even thought of that. You are making it worse!!

I closed all the doors in our house, so that if it was a rat it only had access to our hallway and outside doors, then I gave Pedro a broom and stood on top of the boys' toy box. He looked all over for the dumb thing and couldn't find it. He even flipped the love seat over thinking it crawled in there.

Finally I saw something hanging off the fan. It was a huge ugly lizard. One of those that stands up on its back feet and walks. So much better than a rat!!! He grabbed it by the tail, but it wouldn't let go of the fan. Then he rips its tail off and it takes off towards me and I run yelling down the hall. Finally he barricades the thing off and shoos it, tailless, out the front door. My kids slept through the whole thing!

This guy has to think I'm an idiot. A couple months ago Pedro had to come over one morning and let me and the boys out of their bedroom because we had locked ourselves in there. Silas plays with the lock sometimes and it is on the outside so that he cannot lock himself in his room by himself. I forgot to check it before I went in there with them. Oh well, I'm glad he has a key to our gate or we would have been locked in there until Jimmy came home that evening.

A couple months before that I had to ask one of our neighbors to come get a cat out of our yard that our dogs had killed. They kept tossing it around like a chew toy. I tried to do it myself with a shovel, but I couldn't bring myself to look at it close up. Thankfully it wasn't his cat!

But... the time it mattered the most I took care of something myself. Before we left for Guate I was outside with the boys. They were playing on our rock patio. I was filling up the dogs' water dishes when I saw about a foot-long snake by the spigot. I yelled at the boys and dogs to get back and then I called Jimmy. I HATE snakes... more than rats. I described the snake to Jimmy. He was with Lico and Lico said it was poisonous. I then hung up the phone because the snake started to move towards the patio... where my boys were. If I lost this snake there is no way I would ever allow my boys on that patio again. I grabbed a shovel and started yelling. Then I went running towards the nasty thing. I chopped it in half... screaming while I did it. It must have been pretty cool looking because the boys kept reenacting it afterwards. There was a blood smear on the wall of our patio until the next rain. Jimmy called me back and I told him it was dead. He had been really worried and was very surprised to hear that it was dead. That's what happens when the mama bear comes out. The snake got too close to my boys!

So we are still rat free with only a couple small lizards living with us. I am very thankful!

When It Rains It Pours... Literally

You have to wade through our house still. I do not think there is a window in our house that does not leak. All of them are mini bay windows that stick out far enough to catch all the rain and it rained all day yesterday.

Our house (where we live now in Xela) is the yellow one in the center. Jimmy’s mom took this picture when she was here.

Please pray for us right now. I wish Satan would just figure out that we are staying. There are so many opportunities coming up in the next couple of months, so Satan is busy trying to discourage us. Please pray for our encouragement. Today Jimmy and I went through all the ways we could see God’s presence since we have been here. I am so thankful for Jimmy. We just want to see that God is working. As long as He is with us everything is worth it.

New Gloves and Old Friends

Jimmy found and eye doctor. You cannot make appointments so we went Wednesday morning and waited in line. We had to wait for 4 hours. During that time we decided to go across the hall to the dentist. We both still have cavities that we never took care of in the states. The last experience we had at a dentist in the States really scared me for all future visits.

This doctor was wonderful. She even numbed my mouth for the shot. She kept saying, “You’re so white, you’re so white!” (She was worried I was going to pass out.) It was so cold in her office because nobody has heat so I was trembling the entire time. They all were wearing new gloves, so that was reassuring. (That's what separates the good doctors from the rest in my book!) Jimmy did not get his 2 teeth taken care of because he's a chicken!

This is going to be painful for you guys in the States, but I got 3 fillings for $15. Right before we came here I got a cleaning, X-rays, and 3 fillings for over $500. Here is like anywhere else, there are good doctors/dentists and there are not so good ones. If you find the right ones you will have a pleasant experience and for a lot cheaper price. If you want you can come on a missions trip and get some dental work done while you are here!

My eye doctor was very nice too, but I am glad I brought my previous prescription because his was way off. He initially prescribed -4 something, but He ended up renewing my old one for -6 something. Please pray that the contact companies in the States will except it. My eyes are inflamed from sweeping outside so I have to wear glasses for 2 weeks. I hate glasses. I don’t have any depth perception or peripheral vision. I cannot drive... I tried to yesterday with Linda and she asked if Jimmy could drive to drop her off. I think it is because I kept asking her how close I was to certain things.

Our area still does not have water, but we found out that our cistern holds 4,000 liters. We tried to look in it to see how much was left, but it was too dark. Our property manager said that if we run out we could call the volunteer fire department and they would come and fill it up for 100 quetzales, which is about $13.

Last night we were invited to go over to someone's house for coffee. We really did not want to go because lately we have felt like we have been taken advantage of from people we thought were our friends. Money causes so many problems. When you see that someone needs something you want to help, but then it is no longer a friendship. They start being even nicer to you, not to say thank you, but to get more. Often they stop working so hard for things since you can give it to them for free. When you stop giving them more things they are no longer nice to you. This is just what we have experienced so far, not everyone is like this.

Last night though, our “old friends” ended up being just that... our “old friends.” They did not ask for anything from us. We have not seen them lately and they just wanted some time of fellowship. We were so encouraged because this couple has really been working hard. They have been thinking for themselves and seeking God for His will for their lives. They didn’t take the easy road and then hide behind the statement, “Well, I prayed about it.” They didn’t just tell their plans to God and then flippantly put His name behind it, they actually listened to Him and obeyed.

Still Having Fun!

So far we have done a lot of eating!

Today we took Melissa to the market... she is always a good sport and knows no strangers in Guatemala either!

We took them to our grocery store and found Campbell’s tomato soup and string cheese... they must be good luck! On the way to Xela we took them to see the Boggs’ ministry in Solola. They got to see Eagles’ Nest. We are excited about their next trip when we are in the Petén. That is even more different than here and we will be able to show them the ministry that God has been preparing us for. I hope they know that they have to come back in May! They said that the inside of our house looks like our apartment in Kansas, that means a lot to me. Our doggies love them and will probably be sad like us when they leave.

This is not a vacation for Jimmy and I. After they leave it will still be our home. Things are very different here, but I am thankful for the purpose that the Lord has given us and we would not want to be anywhere else... I just might have someone send down a water heater!

We're Lovin' It!

We saw this sign at McDonald’s and started laughing. It says, “Your world changes; Big Mac doesn’t change.” We are in a different world. The only stores that I have found that are the same as the States are McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Blockbuster, Dominos, Payless Shoes, and a Sherwin Williams Paint store. Not all of them are like the ones in the States though. I did find a fabric store down the street from our apartment. Jimmy was a sweetheart and walked me down there today. They have beautiful fabric that is not very expensive.

We had our orientation for language school today. We will start our classes on the 21st. Since we are waiting on our container still, Larry and Claire have been planning a trip to the Peten, next week. We did not expect to be able to take our first survey trip so soon. We are really excited about this opportunity. Larry and Claire have really been supportive of us finding the place God has for us. The Peten is around 14 hours away by truck, so we will fly to Flores from Guatemala City. Please pray that God will begin showing us where He would have us. Please also pray for all of our safety. This trip is why we are here.