What a joy it was to be greeted at the airport by our old friend last night, and then to drive through the Dominican night into his neighborhood. John is so at home here, opening the windows of the van and shaking hands and talking easy Spanish with anyone and everyone. He’s obviously well-loved…an example of someone who is so obviously gifted by God to a particular calling…
Woke up to the sound of roosters, Dominican roosters, apparently, because they sound different than ours, but they were definitely roosters.
Upon awaking, my right ring finger itched. On further inspection – sure enough, I had been bitten. Oh, well, it is what it is – a mosquito bite – a very minor annoyance in Wisconsin – a potentially significant problem here in the Dominican Republic. Mosquitoes are carriers of malaria here, but John doesn’t seem concerned about this disease. However, since coming here in 2002, John has had Dengue (pronounced den-gay) fever twice, and almost always sleeps with a mosquito net. Oh, yeah, I guess those were on the list. Last night was the first time I put Deep Woods Off on before going to sleep – no screens on the windows here in the city.
My foot and leg itch too.
We got our “water education” last night. You’ve heard it before: “Don’t drink the water!” Well, it’s serious. The water here has microscopic worms in it – you don’t even want to rinse your toothbrush in the stuff. There’s a hand-washing station in our eating area – one bowl you dip your hands into has bleach. G.O. Ministries had a spurt of time where visiting groups were constantly getting sick. That’s all changed now, John tells us, because they have become “hand-washing Nazis” with those who come to minister.
Time to shower (no singing into the water) and then breakfast. We have a full day. Have already met some pastors I will be teaching. More later….
Entrusted with the Gospel 
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