February 24,1998
Hi Y'all!
Things have been interesting here this week. My cats killed a cobra outside of my bedroom window. Who needs a mongoose when I have my cats? Gibert and Sullivan are really tough.
Facouro killed a snake too. He was in the latrine showering, completely naked of course, when a cobra crawled in. His clothes were in the other corner and every time he tried to get them the snake moved around and blocked him. Every time he moved toward the door, the snake moved around and blocked him. He ended up going over the wall. It was broad daylight and there was Facouro---not a stitch of clothing. He said he wanted to yell and get help but he didn't have any clothes on, so he got some rocks and threw them until the snake left and then he ran around and killed it with a big rock. He didn't wash anymore---he just got dressed and left.
The compound burned this week. Nothing to panic about. A brush fire started and burned around the mission (all the stalks left in the fields, high dry grass, etc). My house was filled with smoke and the guys had to water down the solar panels and fight some minor fires but it wasn't bad.
That night the winds really blew and apparently a live spark floated over and caught the rice straw near the guard hut and around some of the houses on fire. Shirley, Susan B. and the guards were up around 3 or 4 AM fighting fires, moving vehicles, beating fires etc. They saved everything---I slept through it all. You aren't surprised are you?
Well the Hills, Ron and Sharon, are arriving Monday. They are our Strategy Associates. They will be looking at our action plans, personnel requests, and housing and vehicle requests. Speaking of requests, Amy Hogge has answered our request for a literacy worker, we are really excited. Keep us in your prayers regarding our meetings this next week.
Lots of Love,
Susan