Winter Warmth

Last winter was, to say the least, extremely frigid! It was cold everywhere we went - church, stores, and even at home. And though this summer was hot we were enjoying the non-frigid temperatures. A few days ago autumn finally arrived with some extremely cold nights. Since two quilts and winter PJ's haven't kept us warm enough at night, I put our caliente de cama's (heating blankets of a sort) back on our bed today. But I'm really looking forward to using our new AC/Heaters, a gift from our home church.

Concerned that we not freeze again this winter our home church sent funds for us to buy two AC/Heaters. Our new split model air conditioner/heaters are awaiting installation. They look just like the one above - which is in our LR right now. The plan is to move the one from the LR into a bedroom and put the other two in bedrooms so all of us can sleep at night instead of freezing...or baking, whatever the season may be.

This is a tremendous answer to prayer for us. Living with the extreme heat and cold, without relief, has probably been one of the hardest adjustments to life here in Uruguay. Thanks so much Pastor Wagner and church family at Macomb Baptist for taking such wonderful care of us!

EX`PLORE

EX`PLORE To search for making discovery: To view with care: To examine closely by the eye. Simeon July 2007

I had so much fun taking these pictures and making this scrapbook page of Simeon. In the first photo he had the binoculars upside down and backwards. When I asked him what he was looking at he leaned over and said, "Don't know." (middle photo) Then he looked at his binoculars turned them right side up, looked through them, smiled and said, "That." (last)

This was actually a warm day, notice he is not wearing a jacket. I know you all can't imagine wearing jackets let alone sweaters right now but it really is winter down here.

Got Gas???

A missionary friend of ours in Bolivia recently sent us an e-mail with that title. And, no, the subject matter within the email was not about fuel for cars. Rather it was about propane gas, you see we are having a bit of a shortage here in South America. Scott has had to drive all over town looking for garafas - filled propane gas bottles. Right now we have no estufa since we're all out of gas, BRRRRR! What makes it especially bad is that even when we find propane the bottles aren't filled all the way.

Thankfully we're not like our friends who are in a pioneer missions life where their garrafas run all their appliances, fridge included. The only appliances that we need propane for are our estufa, stove and clothes dryer. The latter is run by two very large tanks, about 5 feet high, and I'm wishing our other appliances were as well. I'll admit that it's a little annoying to be in the middle of cooking a meal only to have the gas run out. Though I can cook eggs in the microwave, for some reason it doesn't do such a nice job on pancakes.

Later today we're headed over to the immigration office with all the kids to get our temporary ID's. That should be an adventure all in itself. Though hopefully nothing like our Ministry of Health visit when we first arrived. Mr. and Mrs. B, I'm sure I don't have to remind of that adventure.

Scott is hoping to find a van to purchase this week as well. Keep praying we sure would like a larger vehicle especially since I'm taking up a lot more real estate these days.

In like a lion, out like a lamb.

Or is it the other way around? At any rate, those of you reading from north of the equator have officially started summer while we have started winter. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day, today is gloomy, rainy and foggy. It's especially cold when the sun doesn't shine as here in Uruguay the closest thing to central heat is a propane heater called an estufa de gas (see picture) that is wheeled from room to room.

I know many find it hard to believe it is actually cold down here, but remember we're far enough south of the equator that we do have all the seasons. Add to that the concrete construction, high humidity, plus no central heat and it makes for a very cold winter. We are all constantly bundled up and wear multiple layers, even inside!

It was so cold in church on Sunday that you could see everyone's breath. Sunday night service was a lot better since that is our bigger service, plus we had the estufa de gas on. I actually unbuttoned my coat and took off my scarf.

The church bus has no heater and with each person I greet I can tell they are much colder than I as their cheeks are frigid. Not one of them complains, at least not that I understand. They all say they are fine, even if they do mention the cold they know it is part of life here. I'm told I will adjust. One thing is for sure the longer we are here the more clearly I see that we are so spoiled in the US.