Hi Everyone,

Sorry I haven't blog in a few weeks. I have been taking care of my mission partner and best friend, Chris, while she has been recovering from her hysterectomy. God has brought her through with flying colors!

As I mentioned briefly in my last blog, we were without clothes, supplies, meds ect...for over 3 days. there is nothing like having to wear the same outfit, bra and underwear for three days, however, it also taught us a lesson. God didnt need our material things, He wanted us and our hearts to be willing servants for what we went to do. I was very humbled because even though I didn;t pack my "designer" clothes; what I did pack was still more than what the population of Nicaragua had to claim as thier own.

Since we didnt have my teaching materials and we didnt even get into our camp until almost 3am and we had to be at the burn unit at 8 am, we called and explained to Dr. Icaza all that had transpired and agreed to start teaching on Tuesday. We were able to settle in and become familiar with our surroundings and later that day, we accompanied Ronnie and Angie hopkins (American missionaries in Tipitapa, Nicaragua) and a Nicaraguan family to the Hospital Metropolitano de Vivian Pellas for a doctors appointment for thier son. The burn unit is also housed at the Vivian Pellas Hospital.

While there Chris, Susan and I met with Socorro Valldares, who is the director of the physical therapy department of the burn unit. We were without our translator, Rodolpho, that day so that made the tour much more interesting! However I was able to figure out the gist of what Socorro was telling us. We met the mother's of three little burn survivors who were in different stages of recovery. During the tour, I began to silently panic because there were only three kids in the hospital (Praise God) but I didnt know who I was suppose to work on for three days! (More about that in the next blog). The hospital was surprisingly modern and the staff was incredible. We never felt out of place or like misplaced tourists.

We then went back to Campamento MEFEL and had dinner with Ronnie and Angi and got to meet, Peanut, for the first time. Ada Nelle or Peanut as she was affectionately called is a 15 month old orphan that we were able to take clothes, baby formula, toys and other things to. She was found in a mountain villiage, weighing only 1.5 pounds at 4 weeks old. She was born to a 13 year old mother and a 15 year old father. She was bought back to Tipitapa where she was loved and nursed back to health while her young parents underwent parent training classes. When we were there, Peanut weighed in a 20 pounds at 5 months old. She is a beautiful healthy baby. Chris ans I are now working to raise money for the hospital bill from Peanuts two week intensive care stay.

After and wonderful meal, speasding time with Peanut and with Loco, our pet spider monkey, singing and playing music for the camp-we settled in to work on our video diaries and to take a cold shower (no hot water) and get a good nights sleep. Hate to leave you hanging (no I dont this is fun!-but there will be more to come). To see more pictures go to www.myspace.com/burnsurvivor and click on the pictures link and open the Nicaragua photo album.

Here is a pic of Chris with Lil Peanut-Ada Nelle