Family Visits

Eating our sack lunches at Salta Baiguate

   We had the privilege of having my folks with us last week for about 6 days and really enjoyed that. It went by way to fast but we did a lot in that time. We went to three different water falls here in town, took a tour of the coffee plant, visited some of the other SI sites in El Cajon and even made it to the Ice Cream stand (a couple of times if I remember right). Dad and I would go walk in the mornings with our dog Buddy, that was fairly uneventful. Mom helped Karen at Genesis and Dad worked with the construction crew a few days. I think our best time though while they were here was just sitting around the house and visiting with them. 

Mom helping out at Genesis

Dad working on a house in El Cajon.

I had to think back to when Fred and Lauren were here and that was true then also. We miss that the most about being gone. It was nice for them to see where we work, go to church, shop, and play so that now when we talk about those things they can picture it. Marcy, Janae and Nina even sent home some rocks to give Grandma Marner so she can have a little bit of Jarabacao in Shipshewana now. They both commented on the road condition and the driving habits of people. I guess it took a few weeks but there is so much that we don't even notice anymore when people do it. Running red lights, probably more people run them than what wait on them. Turning any direction from any lane, Stopping on a street that is only wide enough for one lane to visit with some one, maybe for 20 seconds, maybe for 4-5 minutes. Turing a regular, what we would call, a two lane road into 4 lanes just because, for no other reason, there is enough room.  I remember one time when mom jumped and said "hey, that guy is passing you on the right". I had to think how that happens many times on our way to and from the school and it is no big deal anymore.

    

 I see a real correlation in that our lives are a lot like that. We run red lights until it doesn't even register to stop at them anymore. We turn from any lane we want to, not considering the hurt it may cause us or others. We pass people by so fast that we don't even notice them until they are a blur in the rear-view mirror. When we have guests here, it always amazes us at how much they see that we miss. Here are some photos of some of the things that Karen and I have noticed and took the time to capture.

Transferring cattle, right on a main street in town with traffic going by.

Sidewalk fleemarket in Santa Domingo

This is how they hooked up the welder below to my breaker box when they installed my back door. Oh and by the way, our house is all on (1) 20 amp breaker, the well is on another one and the washer is on the other one. :)

"The Welder" enough said about that.

Lauren comparing her hand to Buddys

Truck load of bananas

Brother and sister at the the Lower Falls

Typical construction crew. All done by hand with a bucket  brigade

A cove about 1/2 mile from the Santa Domingo Airport that Jerry Yoder, Fritz Bontreger and I found a couple of years ago. We literally stumbled upon it.

Moto making a trip up the mountain.

New form of airide seat

Typical utility crew working on wires as the traffic passes by

One of the reasons I love it here so much (Sorry Carl, I couldn't resist :)

On the way to school

On the way to market

Home made table saw at the local lumber yard. I am not sure but it sure looked like blood to the left of the blade :(

View from the top of  Mount Mogote looking down on Jarabacoa.

We have enjoyed our first year away and look forward to the future. There have been good times, bad times, laughter, tears. But in it all we see God using us here and are excited to see what lies ahead for all of us. Thanks to all of you for making this happen.  Mike.