Crash & Burn

I have two short stories to relate. The first is about a crash, and the second is about something burning.

The Crash
Many of you who keep up with us will know about Ariel. Something that you may or may not know is that he REALLY likes bicycles. In fact, he spends more of his free time and money on his bike than anything else. The bike that he has now is one that he bought from me, but over the last several weeks it has had various issues that needed repair. Most recently, while jumping his bike off a one foot high incline, the rear gear shift got completely demolished - somehow the chain got stuck between the gears and the wheel and bent the gear shift; almost tearing it off. So Ariel spent the next few days working and earning some money. During this time, he and our boys "found" some spare wood and built a ramp...this was no small ramp either! After finally getting his bike in smooth working order he wanted to try out the ramp...note here, that Nate thought the ramp made a nice slide. So before going to the young people's meeting Saturday night, Ariel set the ramp up and several neighborhood kids poked their heads out their windows to watch the amazing jump. Ariel hit the ramp and went flying several feet up in the air, but his front tire hit the ground first with Ariel's head hitting next! Thanks to Levi for running to get the helmet prior to the jump! After the bike and Ariel rolled on the ground, he gets up checking himself and repeating, "I'm fine. I'm fine" (yes, in English). He walks over a few meters to me and we look down at his left wrist and arm and I ask him if he can move his fingers. He shakes his head no, so we rush off to the hospital. After two and a half hours, the doctors have a temporary cast on (the full casting to be done on Monday morning), and we return home.

Yes, Ariel arrived at the hospital with this helmet and he left the hospital with this helmet. 

The Burn
Lord's Day morning we sat together as a family enjoying the morning services, and then an older Waorani lady comes to sit down next to me. I quickly smell the all familiar scent of "smoke" on her and her clothing, then a subtle smile creeps on my face. I lean over and whisper my findings to Alesha who also reveals a smile. The smoke smell is likely not what many would expect; it is the smell of campfire smoke. Having been to Makuma and learning some of the ways of the indigenous, we can appreciate her unique scent:

This lady likely rose up early and kindled or rekindled the fire from the night before and started to heat up breakfast for herself and her family. The breakfast consisted of some hot herbal tea to drink and yucca and potatoes and maybe some rice to eat. We should also make note, that this fire is not large enough to heat up multiple things at once, so she spent a significant amount of time juggling the various pots to keep them warm as the family came in to eat at varying times. Once all the food was gone and the dishes clean, she quickly made her way to the meeting, and since it was a cool morning she kept her jacket on which held the most potent smell of smoke. 

Therefore, we had to smile and enjoy a brief moment the campfire smoke smell and all the work and joy that came with it. I did end up talking with the lady after the meetings, but since she only spoke Wao, the conversation was enjoyable, emotional, and short-lived.

Enjoy!
TaylorH

We're back on line!

God is good! We are moved over to the new house and even on line, which means that as of this morning, Taylor is working from here. Also, the part for the refrigerator that went out two days before we started moving (a week ago) arrived and was put in today!!! Yeah!

I didn't unpack...or paint...ANYTHING today. Not that we are finished with either, but it was fun to do some "normal" life stuff, like laundry, cooking, toddler training...you know, actually living here. While I was at it, I took a bunch of pictures. Some of you are happy for us, but could care less what the house looks like. If this is you, just skim on down to the bottom of this post. :P For anybody else, here is the guided tour. :D

 One of the things we really like about this lot is that there is a wall around it, 

meaning that the smaller kids have a safe place to play outside. 

 The house is surrounded by this black gravel for now...
someday we want to put down something 

softer to play on, but for now, we are glad it isn't concrete.

 There is, however, several garden spaces, including this big covered front garden. (Yes, it seems wrong that you can put a greenhouse roof on a garden and it still get enough water...but apparently you can. )

 The front porch, and our little dog who is very happy to not be living on a chain.

 Taylor and Noah, trying not to trip on the dog getting out of the house. :)

 The living room, err, moving box stack...and a cute door opener who didn't want to smile. 

 Turning around in the living room, you see the dining room, (and the loft above you)

 ...a bathroom and the kitchen

 more kitchen space, and the stairs

 If you would have walked through the dining room, you would come to this point of decision...a big hall closet on the right, the Boys' room (still it too much disorder to be very photo worthy), Glory's room straight ahead, and the back door out to the laundry area on the left (also better left undocumented. ;).

 There is another bath room attached to the boys room.

 Glory in her room. With a Closet!!! (not necessarily a given in Ecuadorian houses)

 OK...back to the main part of the house. Up the stairs...to the loft (school room, library, what-have-you)

 "Floor-to-ceiling bookcase"??? :P

Looking the other way in the loft, out to the balcony...

 ....otherwise known as the Noah-free Lego zone. :)

Walking through the loft into our room. Taylor has to duck through the very little doorway, and watch for rafters, but he loves me and let me keep the cool room anyway. :)

 For now, Noah has a corner in our room. 

Also attached to our room is a small (think large travel trailer sized) bathroom, and Taylor's office.

 That desk is staying with the house. 

It is by God's mercy we didn't drop it on my husband's head trying to get it upstairs.

 One thing Taylor learned from my Daddy; if you're gonna build something, go ahead and build it sturdy. ;) 

We are looking forward to getting back into regular life a bit. Between moving, and many of our friends being gone to help put on a camp in the jungle, we've felt pretty disconnected with normal goings on. Now that we're back in the game, at least for the most part, pray with us that what we do, be for God's glory!