Last Sunday we went to the Evangelical Bible Church, where we attended while we lived in Swaziland.  Most had not heard that we were back, so there were a lot of very surprised people.  One commented during the service how much I had ‘matured’.  I think it was a way to say that I looked older!  The singing was heavenly as you could hear the harmony of all the parts.

A few of about 150 tick bites on Larry’s leg

Monday started my daily treks to the transmitter site.  In mid afternoon I was getting sleepy from jet lag and decided to take a walk across the suspension bridge to the water tower making a point to stay in the grass that had been mowed, avoiding the tall grass.  By Thursday, I was itching badly and mentioned this to Steve Stavropoulos where we were for dinner.  He took a look at my feet and began removing pepper ticks.  They are almost invisible.  I was surprised because we had never encountered these tiny ticks during the 16 years that we were in Swaziland in the 70s and 80s — only the bigger ticks, which I was on the lookout for.  When we got home, Virginia removed a lot more in other places.  In all she counted 100 bites, without counting those on my feet and ankles!  We were told that it might take up to 3 weeks to get over the itching.  Hydrocortisone cream helps a lot.  Would appreciate prayer that I do not get tick bite fever from this.

Warthog Steaks

We were invited out to dinner three times this week.  To the Schillers on Wednesday where we ate warthog  first time.  It was very good and we found out the cost is about the same as beef.  We went to the Stavropouloses on Thursday for an evening of playing Mexican Train.  On Friday we were at the Gomes Co family for a stir fry dinner.  He is from Guinea Bissau and she is from Kenya.  They met in Denver, CO! They have one daughter of their own (the youngest) and three daughters that are adopted or fostered — the oldest is a niece who is in Bible school.  On Saturday the Stavropouloses took us to Mlilwane Game Preserve to celebrate Lorraine’s birthday.   We had a braai (BBQ) there with boerewors (spiced sausage) and some more warthog.
I have kept busy at the transmitter site working through various transmitter issues.  None that have keep the transmitters off the air, but could if they would continue to deteriorate.  The transmissions should sound better too.  Next week I am scheduled to begin a course of training on the 100,000 watt transmitters.  Pray that this will go well, since this training is a first for me.  It will probably last a couple of weeks.

Virginia has been keeping busy as well, trying to get our house stocked with food and other essentials, plus preparing meals.  She has attended a couple of ladies meetings and tried to be an encouragement there.

Today we are looking forward to church again.  This week their senior pastor Dion should be back, so we are looking forward to hearing him preach.  He is a different pastor than the one that was here last time we were in Swaziland.