The Sick Day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcG8plzR4Rk

I woke up very early this morning (while it was still dark) freezing cold and on top of my bed where I had fallen asleep in my clothes and shoes! It was so unusual because I can and do go so often exhausted and just keep going! I took off my shoes and jumped under the covers but never got comfortable or warm really. When I woke this morning with the roof of my mouth swollen and really just feeling bad. I thought I was feeling bad because I hadn't slept well. I wasn't hungry and kept falling asleep while I would be sitting straight up! During chapel it hit me that I was running fever and had a ear infection! That whole side of my face hurts to the touch, my throat and that side of my mouth are swollen and I am running a pretty good fever. Unfortunately, there is no rest for the weary here. I poured some alcohol in my ear, gargled salt water, and took some Echennacia and Tylenol. I still don't feel really great but, what can you do? The biggest thing is that I am just pooped!

We left at 7 to go to another baptism at the beach at 8am. So stinking beautiful! Even feeling bad, it's hard to have a bad day when you start it out that way! Today was Kevins day to speak in chapel and he was GREAT! I don't mean for a Filipino student, I mean just GREAT! What a amazing thing how these boys are growing as preachers! I had to get up after I did the alcohol thing in my ear, after chapel to go outside and do the Bible class. You just can't NOT do it, those kids show up literally at daybreak asking for me and waiting to sing Bible songs and learn Bible facts. Seeing Magiboo and the other kids makes me feel better anyways! I had missed Magiboo because I hadn't seen him at all yesterday! I just love that kid!

Since chapel was late because of the baptisms (the beach is about a 25 minute drive from the campus. During the rainy season there is a river in the compound that we use to baptize, it is stagnant during the dry season) I had Bible class for about an hour and half and then it was time for lunch. After lunch we went to San Fabien, which is where I taught the other day in the goat alley. That was my same class room today and let's just say, although the kids are more than precious, I was kind of miserable in that awful heat with no shade. Arnel was an amazing amount of help and we were out there for about 2 1/2 hours while PaPa and Roger were in a Bible study. It was well worth it though because 2 girls decided to become Christians out of that Bible study! We loaded up the van and ran to another beautiful beach and baptized them! It was kind of funny because Arnel lost one of them under the water!

One of the little girls, probably about 4 or 5, had the worst looking fingers ever! I started to take a picture but it was too gross to show anyone. I had the boys ask her what was wrong and she said that it was an allergy. That's no allergy, I can almost see bone on most of the tips of her fingers! I then had them ask if her mother put medicine on it and she told them that she boils some kind of leaves and puts that salve on it it. I am certainly all for herbal medicine but that's not working! Even to my untrained eye, I can diagnose that, that little girl is in danger of being deformed at best, losing her fingers or even life due to infection, at worst. I got Daddy and Roger to come see and I am sending her family some peroxide and triple antibiotic ointment. Her family are members of our small congregation there so Roger and his wife Lisa will be monitoring the situation. It brings tears to my eyes and makes me sick to my stomach even now, just thinking about it.

Anyway, after that, we had to run to CSI, the Wal Mart like store in the mall to get more candy for the kids. While we were checking out I told the boys to pick out candy bars. They all picked out KitKat's and it was the first time Arnel had ever had one! We also checked on Josie Dos (we have two Josie's), who is in labor. Please keep her in your prayers as she is having trouble birthing this child. Our other staff members asked if they could have their salaries early (they normally get paid on the 5th) because they are all giving 1,000 pesos a piece (appx $20, between 8%-15% of each of their respective salaries). These people have nothing but they are dividing their schedules because the hospital will not admit anyone here without full payment first. I have never felt like I am more selfish with my money. These people are truly the salt of the earth and I am a much luckier person for having them in my life.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers and, especially our sister Josie.