Reflections

Thinking back over the last 2+ weeks several things come to mind: 
     How hopeless things look with no infrstructure (roads, water, etc...)
     How much we take for granted.
     They seem happier than Americans - yet they have so little (students singing all the time, workers always smiling - happy to have a job, even if for one day)
     God's provision when 'R' left
     The frustration of the language barrier (no pics., cattle chute, no chance to get to know 2 boys who get the cow's food)
     We like the culture (no immodest billboards, no taverns- although we saw a beauty saloon :-), family is #1, religion is important, very social people - they take time for others
     90+% of men smoke   women who smoke only do at home
     Turbo is natural leader - so is Sihite - yet very different personalities.
     Time with 'H' was very educational.  Got different perspectives of the vision from he &'R'
     We feel dairy is not the direction to go, possibly not beef either.  Vegetables & citrus co-op and sharecropping seems like best idea at this time. 
     Rain every afternoon - usually around 3 or 4
     No fertility in land - similar to slash & burn jungle method
     Every young person's dream is to leave; the desire to learn English is intense - it's the only 'hope' for getting out
    The sacrifice the parents are willing to make to help their kids to get an education
    The ability to accomplish anything is all in 'who you know' - back to relationships

I know this seems like a lot, but we had to write it down while we were thinking about it for future use :-)  For those of you that will not be able to attend our presentation at church, I hope to/plan on expounding a little on these reflections and adding pics. to the previous posts.  I apologize ahead of time that you may have to go back a page or two to see them all.