Rat Evac

Some of you might remember that last year the ceiling in my bedroom crashed in, and a huge pile of bat droppings and nesting materials turned the room into a code five health hazard.   Wheelbarrow loads of yuck were carted out.   We were able to replace that ceiling, as well as the ceiling of one other bedroom and the two bathrooms.   The rest of the house had to wait.  

We went to the States for five months.   While we were gone, lots of creatures moved back into the house:   mosquitoes, spiders, mega ants, and RATS.   I don't even like cute little mice, so the rats were hugely unsettling, especially at night when they would run around over our heads on the fragile ceiling.   They sounded like fifteen Garfields having a party.   Needless to say, sleep was interrupted.

We fumigated the house twice, and treated the rats to a deadly banquet inside the ceiling.   The overhead night life stopped, and we could sleep without insect repellent.   However, the "victory" came at a cost:   Between the fumigations, the poison, and the very contaminated roof situation (dead rats, rat poop, rat nests), the girls and I have been sick almost non-stop.   Tonight Sallie has a temperature of 103.   We have evacuated to Casa Lamb, our missionary guesthouse, and the ceilings will be torn out next week.   I really do not want to be there for that!    The ceilings, by the way, are asbestos.   How do you say multiple contamination in Spanish??     Grosero!!

And after putting four children into school, carrying everyone continuously to the pediatrician, and now replacing a roof, I also need to apply for a Gates Foundation grant!  

Needless to say, while all of this has been going on, we have been trying to get to school, take care of teams, etc.   Today we had a wonderful Open House at the school in Flor.  194 children are enrolled this year, and there was a spirit of excitement in the air.   Beautiful.   I had been invited to give "a short spiritual talk" (I love our school director, Jacqui; she is very specific!), so I talked about how a quality Christian education is more than a useful tool; it is an instrument of healing and liberation.   Leamarie True, who is here for three months training teachers and encouraging our two school staffs, said afterwards, "Being a part of this makes my heart sing."  (smile)    Me, too.

Rats or no rats, evac or no evac, my heart sings when I am on our soccer court with about 200 children, their parents, visiting teams, and our wonderful teaching staff joining them in worship:  "Lift up your eyes and behold:  the harvest is ready!/The time has come!   The field is ripe!/Rise up and proclaim:  Jesus is Life!"   

YES!!   JESUS IS LIFE.

Thank you for your prayers for our home, our continued displacement, the girls' health (especially Sallie), and funding for our school (see the 20/200 Campaign on our website:   http://www.lambinstitute.org/).  

And rejoice with us that our hearts are singing, come what may, because of Jesus, whose Presence brings healing, liberation, and life itself.