A Warm (cold) Welcome

This post is brought to you in honor of the SMUCS (Student Missionary Universal Charter Service) month-and-a-half-aversary.

Every Friday we offer to take students to church through our SMUCS (a very made up and unofficial name). This week, though seemingly no different than the last, was special. It was our month-and-a-half-aversary (also very made up and unofficial). In honor of the month-and-a-half-aversary, i was given a special welcome at one of the houses.

i stepped out of the van (a diesel powered, armored tank) and made my way up the makeshift earth steps to the front door.  After taking note of the sleeping dog and hollering "tuwo" (good morning) a few times, i announced "knocking" and opened the door. A sleepy head popped out of the bedroom and shook slowly; "not today" it muttered, and i slipped out quietly. As i closed the door, the kid in the van (kids have a hard describing where they live. i have a hard time describing where they live: "that house after that pothole that's behind that tree and around the corner from that bridge" so i take a guide) raised his eyebrows (asking "yes?") and i quickly shook my head "no". Mid head shake and earthy stair navigation, i heard steps run up behind me and then a tug on my pants. It was in that moment that i realized that these were not people steps, no, they were doggy steps: angry, self conscience, cowardice, and stealthy doggy steps. As his teeth clamped shut on my calf, i spun around on my barefoot heal and let out a deep, guttural growl. The dog immediately wilted, tucked in his tail, and slunk off to his spot in the shade. i turned back around and walked/half-limped confidently (can you limp confidently?) towards the van. i left there a stronger man while the dog wallowed in his shame and shattered ego.


Updates: My little brother has drawn more blood biting me than this dog did. Rabies doesn't exist here. We had 9 non-SDA students in church this week. Thanksgiving was celebrated twice this year, and eaten 5 times (celebrated here and at the resort). Thank you (heh) to everyone who sent us Thanksgiving food in the mail, we threw a great big feast for the Pastor and his family Sunday night, and thank you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner the next day as well. Please ignore all grammar mistakes made in the "Updates" section, this portion is exempt from censorship and language filtering. The two students in my class who have the least amount of check marks (check = brought water) are the two that missed the most school due to sickness this quarter. The dumb, heart shape handled mug broke tonight, we celebrated (who makes a mug that you can't hold without getting burnt?). We caved and bought Tasty Bread this week, we have now spent $45.00 on white flour, sugar, yeast, and shortening (<-- Tasty Bread). i've developed a weird habit of waking up for about an hour in the middle of the night, i hate it. i need to write more, i'm falling behind. The rats (maybe cats) are playing in our ceiling right now, the pitter-patter of their paws is oddly relaxing.

Don't mope,
Tyler