Here's an update from Min:
For the past 6 weeks, Scott and I have been living near Santa Cruz, out in the country with missionary friends. This time was a blessing because we got to load up on fruits and vegies for cheap! This was really good for me, coz most of you know we're expecting our first baby the first week or so of September. Most of what I was able to keep down was only fruits which was basically 90% of my diet. I don't really have any cravings or foods that aggravate me, as most pregnant women experience. Although I did notice that I didn't desire milk products, like cheese, chocholate (yeah I know right...Min must be going crazy coz she loves chocholate), and I love spicy hot stuff, but I couldn't eat too much of this. Now I can basically eat everything, not a lot, but my appetite is getting better. For some reason, every lady here that is a Mom is giving me advice on the do's and don'ts and recounting their fabulous unbelievable tales of how their pregnancy was like. One told me that she had severe nausea till up to 7 months...I guess this is when I started thanking God that mine left last month! I think the best part about being pregnant so far is no periods!
This past Sunday, Scott and I were planning to bus it all the way to Guayaramerin, where the school is. But since it is the rainy season, people were telling us that it could take 2 or more days. Some said that they were bussing it for 3-4 days one time. But we knew that if we didn't leave soon, the heavier rains would fall and then it would take longer to get to our school. An hour before boarding the bus, a friend called and was really concerned that I was going to bus it all the way. She heard from someone who just travelled those roads that the roads were super bumpy and she was afraid that I would miscarry, would get a bladdder infection--the buses stop every 5-7 hours to let people use the bathrooms...etc.. Well we really didn't have another option to get back to the school and she wanted us, at least me, to fly. We told her that we didn't have that option, so very last minute, she came up with the money to fly from Trinidad to Riveralta, a city an hour away from Guayaramerin. So Scott and I got on a bus Sunday night with 6 other missionaries all headed up to the same place. It took 9 hours overnight to Trinidad. Then two other missionary women and I got on the last plane to Riveralta (all the flights were full), and arrived at the school Monday afternoon, THANK GOD!
Scott and the the 2 husbunds of the other missionary ladies took the bus from Trinidad to Guayaramerin, which took like 36 hours...All the luggages were like 20 something pieces. Most of us were coming from the States, so it only made sense that the bus was the best option to carry a lot of stuff. Thank God Scott and the other men arrived last night close to midnight. Scott was telling me that the bus sometimes would be on a ferry to cross rivers and then once they were on their way, it was sometimes scary coz the roads would be really slippery and sometimes the bus would lean over to the right, and that would scare people and send them hopping over to the left side to balance the bus. He said this kept happening. I've heard from a friend who has bussed it many times, that one time she saw a bus that totally flipped over on its side. I'm just glad and thankful. that I didn't have to bus it.
I really wanted to pick up Raisin, our sausage dog, on Monday, but I was too tired and decided that it would be better to wait for Scott to pick her up, as she is extremely attached to Scott and super loyal. Last time we left for the States and came back in 2 months, she followed Scott around for 2 weeks, just to make sure he never left her again! We heard from a friend we gave one of Raisin's to, that she was depressed with the family we left her with in town. It only makes sense since she is a total country dog and runs around everywhere. It was hard to wait for Scott to make it here because I wanted to get her back so bad. Well! today is the day!!! We just arrived in town, and here I am updating you before we pick up our little dog. I'm so excited. Who'd ever think that your pets would be in your dreams?? Mine was!
Oh and another thing! I couldn't move in to where we used to live coz...there are 8 bats living there :( I remember last year when we came to help the school, they had no where to put us and decided to put us in the half of that duplex. Well surprise surprise, it seemed like whoever last lived there left it in a wreck, as in the floors had huge holes in it, the screens were falling apart and not to mention that there was a thick layer of bat poop everywhere. I don't think anyone lived there for more than 3 months or so. I remember it took us 4 days to just clean, and another 2 days or so for Scott to buy some screening and fix all the windows and the doors. I'm really happy that Scott can fix anything!!! He has a natural talent for this. He even cut out a little dog door for Raisin :) At first I didn't want to live there, because I've heard that bat poop can release an airborn fungus that may cause acute pulmonary histoplasmosis (you can look this up), but after it was all clean, it seemed better. I really don't want to go through all the cleaning again, plus we have to wash all our clothes that may have been peed on by rats or that just stink coz the humidity is so bad. We will attempt to clean the place this afternoon some, after we get back from town.
On a downside, our cat, Olive is missing. We left her with a family that said they would take care of her, but then they decided to to on a trip or something, anyways, the missionaries at the school said they haven't seen her, and another lady said that a while back they were poisoning rats and that they found a dead cat in one of the houses. I know our cat is a great hunter, and it scares me to think that she caught a rat that had been poisoned and died. It makes me even more sad, if she's gone for good, coz she was more Scott's cat. He asked for her when he arrived and I told him that she's missing. He seemed kinda sad coz this cat would sit on his shoulder and go on walks with us. She really was an awesome cat. She even took care of 2 puppies when Raisin wasn't around. I'm still praying that we find her. If not, Scott and I may try to find another cat, but its hard, coz every cat is different...different personality..etc., smart/dumb...etc. you name it.
Oh and another thing. I can't believe that I'm back at the school. In the jungle once again! One thing's for sure, the "no-seeums" (little gnats that bite you a lot and get away with it coz you cant see em), sure did a good job in welcoming me back. It only took but a moment to look at my feet that were covered in little pink bumps ALL OVER, my legs too...to finally believe that I was back. Bummer. For instance, I was picking guavas off a tree for a minute or so and red ants started biting me. I found one on my arm, biting me for all he was worth. When I pulled him off, his head stayed stuck on my arm. I guess that bite cost him his life.The biting bugs are still something I haven't gotten used to. Last night I couldn't stop scratching, next thing I know, I'm waking up :) I'm just thankful that Scott is back and is safe from that long trip. He bussed it a total of 45 hours or so.
There's a lot of cleaning to do, as rats and other small animals have invaded other homes and taken over. Its not a pleasant thing or an easy job, but it must be done! So once we get our place all cleaned up and all our clothes washed, Scott and I plan to start a little garden. This sounds pretty ambitious! Well, we'll see, coz we only have 3 weeks or so before school starts and the students get here. Scott has been working on his lesson plans already!
Well, this is where we are right now. As far as we know, our baby is doing great! I am extremely anemic... My Hemoglobin and Hematocrit were very low. More so with the Hgb. It was at a 9. So I'm trying my best to eat iron rich foods. I just feel exhausted all the time and I guess the heat doesn't help much. I'm taking in extra Ca+ and Mg, along with supplements. and alot of citrus fruits. I'm also going to try to sproud mong beans to have something fresh to eat. I brought a kilo of sesame seeds and a quarter kilo of chia seeds with me. I know sesame has lots of Ca+ but I was reading that Chia seeds have 3X the amount of Ca+ regular milk has and has all the essential amino acids and other vitamins. I don't remember all that I read but basically it sounded like a super food :)
Please continue to keep us in your prayers and when you're not too busy, we would also like to hear from you and how you are doing. We think of you all and pray for you. Thank you each for you love and care, support and prayers. We appreciate you.
