Adoption, Boat, Frog

We got some interesting news about the adoption (not positive), but we are in the middle of figuring it out. I'll write when I know more.

Boats

The kids made a boat out of a small tray, DC fan and an RC car battery. It worked well and it allowed them (mostly Carter) to experiment with various setups. He had the fans setup inline at one point and that went the fastest, but Kayla wanted one too and we only had two fans.



Frog high res.

We saw this frog this morning (Mr. Kyrk pointed him out) and he was really sticky. There were a few Haitian workers that didn't really like him when I showed them.

Amazing Snail

On the way to say goodbye to one of the teachers of a class that we have going on this week, we walked by this snail (Kayla saw it first). It looked like a cartoon snail...something that a child would color in and a parent would say "Wow, interesting color combination Billy-Bob!" Our great Lord has a great imagination in his beautiful creations. I have no idea where this guy found his green house - we haven't seen any like it around here.

Cool, Carter, Moth, Transmission

Things are going well here. It pretty cool in our house most of the time (I know it's nothing compared to our former MN winter, but in the house we rarely feel warm). Our indoor temp rarely reaches 70.

Max Temp - 77.5
Min Temp - 58.4
Max Humidity - 92
Min Humidity - 54

Carter loves to drive the four-wheeler around and does it just about every day. Today I was changing oil in the generator room and he came by. He was happy to have me ask him to get the four-wheeler and trailer and then come back to me. I loaded the trailer up with a barrel of used oil and he drove it down to where we dumped it. He had Jonathan (4), Kyrk's son, on the back and those two have been driving around very frequently lately - having fun and doing boy stuff. Carter asks Neal, who is here for four months doing landscaping, if he needs any help so he can use the four-wheeler and he loves it when he needs help!

Here is a picture of a moth that was near our window (in high resolution). It was about 5-6 inches in wingspan:


Boring car stuff...

After trying to figure out why the newly assembled transmission and new parts didn't work correctly, I started to take it apart. In the process of taking it apart, I found the area that was preventing the transmission from turning and closely examined the parts. Kyrk has been a big help providing second opinions and a second set of hands to help put things together and take them apart. We found the part (or set of parts) that was causing the problem. A snychronizer ring was cracked and no longer round and turning like it should. We bought and replaced the set and now it works beautifully! I assembled the rest of the transmission and now I am awaiting a new clutch disc and throwout bearing - then it'll be time to put it in the truck. I am always so excited to start a vehicle after working on it like this and to see it work. By the grace of God, I have gotten this far!

Temp, Trip, Bugs, BCS

Our new low temperature was recorded a few nights ago: 58.4. I know to family back home that sounds warm considering the sub-20 degree temps that you had this morning, but you guys have carpet, windows that close, and warm clothes. Our indoor temperature seems locked 67 degrees. I find myself taking my time checking out the generator (it's much warmer in that room).

On Sunday I went with Cullie (the former mechanic of the Mission who is still a mechanic and lives about 1 mile up the road) to check out a house that he was working on. After we checked it out, we went for a tour. He was on his Honda 200R and I was on the Kodiak 400 four-wheeler. It was a blast and we saw some great views. I got to see more of our neighboring areas. Cullie and I are going to try to get out and do that again (my family and I don't get out much - it would be nice to bring Tina some time, too). I am starting to want a four-wheeler of my own to get out and about (Mr. Storm - any recommendations?). The Kodiak that I use has some ownership issues and related questions surrounding it. It needs a lot of work (one thing is the frame which had broke and been welded back together crooked), but we don't want to put much work into it if it isn't ours and the work will not be reimbursed.

It is really nice to get out and see how some other Haitians live. There is a different feeling when being outside of the Mission grounds here. We are somewhat isolated from the normal daily life of the Haitians just outside of our walls/gates which can be a good thing and a bad thing. I really enjoy getting out.

Here are a couple new bugs in high resolution. Check out the feet on that cricket - his body was about 4 inches long. The centipede was about 5-6 inches long.



Boring car stuff...

I got all the parts that I needed to put the transmission back together in the Landcruiser. I got both gear stacks assembled and then started working on the shift forks. There was a spring loaded ball bearing in one of the forks and it got stuck in the shift rail. There was no way to get it out without breaking something, so I had to cut the shift fork apart to get it out. Now I have to wait until the parts come in. I am so glad that I took pictures with my camera of the disassembly. It has helped greatly and I don't know that I would have put it back right without the pictures.

I am almost done with the cage for the new Landcruiser. I built the doors (that was NOT easy to get it all lined up) and now have to find a way to secure them with a locking mechanism. Then we'll be painting it and putting it on. It'll be nice to have that project done (and the transmission).

The Canter was brought elsewhere to have the tranmission and transfer case dropped. It showed that the fingers on the clutch pressure plate were VERY worn to the point that they were pushed backwards almost 180 degrees (four of the fingers were broken off) and the throw-out bearing was trashed. The gears in the transfer case were also toast. 3 of the four gears had significant damage. We'll be taking it somewhere to either replace the whole thing or just the transfer case side of it. I don't know where they take things to get them repaired, but as the Mission's mechanic I sometimes feel like I should be the one doing the work. We don't have the proper tools to handle a transmission as large as the Canter's and, with just me in the shop, it's hard (if not impossible) to do some things by myself - like this. I am still getting used to the way things are done around here.

BHM: Ken's Field Journal, Millipede

Word got out here at the mission that I was keeping a blog and that sparked conversations. I offered to keep one for the BHM website and it is now a done deal. I have yet to write my first one (within a week, Lord willing), but the BHM website is all set up for it. It will focus on the things that are going on at the Mission at the very least and may have things from my perspective (as the newbie) as well. I'll put an update on this blog when I have made my first post to the BHM site.

Carter found a millipede today. Look at all the legs on this thing - it seems to have a pretty hard shell on it too. (How do you like this bug, Sharon?)




Boring car stuff...

I have been doing various things lately like working on a motorcycle, a generator, a and a generator powered welder. I fixed (after MUCH troubleshooting) someone's Hyundai Tuscon - it had a fuel issue that turned out to be a busted hose INSIDE the fuel tank, inside the fuel pump assembly - a really odd thing in a really odd spot. The dealer tried to sell them an EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculator) valve (it's a turbo) and a new fuel pump to the tune of over $1000 US dollars and we ended up fixing it for free with what we had (just some spare hose sitting around). I am also continuing to work on the cage for the new pickup - I hope it is done soon because I feel like it's hanging over my head. I should have parts tomorrow to start putting the transmission back in the old Landcruiser.

Praise: My Mom's OK, Amazing Blessing, Frog

I talked to my dad last night and my mom is doing good - thank you for your prayers. Now the recovery...

Amazing Blessing

The World Servant people from the Netherlands took off this morning at 6AM. There is one lady who has been sick for a little while was occasionally passing out and the home base in the Netherlands told her not to travel so she will be staying at the mission with her husband until they can resolve the issue. It seems a little ironic that she would be told to stay because most people leave Haiti when they get sick, not stay.

The "Amazing Blessing" came in last night when Gerbin, the leader of the World Servant group that just left, walked into the house and gave me two great pair of pants (which I really need) and his boots (which I really, REALLY need). Gerbin is about 6-8 inches taller than me but his boots fit perfectly - I have been wearing them all morning. I had been wondering what I was going to do for boots because mine are wearing faster than I expected. I have holes in them and was anticipating what I would have to do - wait until we visited the US again or try to find a pair here. When Kris came early this week, I was tempted to ask her to get boots, but they would have to fit very good for them to be any benefit. God certainly looked out for me in this need and the pants.

Last night we also had a get together for their final evening with us. They gave us a small bag of goodies (a couple shirts, paper, markers, and a bunch of other nice stuff). I will miss them all, especially Gerbin. He was a great member of the BHM team while he was here for two months. I hope he comes back long term!

Frog

We had a frog on our porch last night (high resolution):


Boring Car Stuff...

We took the cage off the caged Landcruiser yesterday - that thing must have weighed close to a half-ton which is not good for the truck, transmission, or engine. The transmission keeps popping out of 1st gear so I will be taking a look at that and possibly rebuilding the transmission soon. Yesterday, and continuing today, I have been building the cage on the new Landcrusier. I should be done, Lord willing, in a few days. This takes priority over fixing the other one since we will not be putting that cage back on any time soon. The new cage should be, at most, half of the weight of the other one.

More Insects, Not Enough Boxes, Tiring Day

We found a Christian bug on our ledge this evening (that's Mr. Chris's joke from upstairs). It's a praying mantis (I know it's preying mantis, but I am going to carry the joke too far just like a true Schlorf would).


This other picture is of a moth that was about 8 inches in width/wingspan. These next two are high resolution.



Not Enough Boxes

Our driver went to customs today and only picked up one box for us. Three weeks ago, we were told that we had 2-3 boxes out of customs, but customs lost them and were trying to find them. I am pretty upset that we only got one box and I am trying to get over it. A couple boxes have been in customs for over two months.

Tiring Day

We got up at 4AM because of the dog and Lou being sick. His temperature was up, but not as bad. He is still sick but seems to be getting better slowly. He was tossing cookies a little this afternoon, yet kept his supper down. Everyone else seems to be doing well.

I worked hard all day and almost finished welding the cage on the new truck. We put it on to drive about 5-10 miles away to drop off a big ladder and pick people up (the Dutch). Kyrk had me drive (I love to drive!). I am the first person to take it out - not including the initial trip to the mission. It will be going out again tomorrow and I hope I get to drive again, but I don't think that it will be me driving.

I have more things to say, but I need sleepy and need sleepy now.

Snow Leopard Moth

I don't know that the name of this moth is really the snow leopard moth, but I thought it sounded good - better than Schlorf moth anyway. God is good as I may have stepped on this guy if I didn't drop (and lose) a little metal piece (that I really didn't need anyway). These are high resolution pictures:

Cows, Pigs, Moths

Yesterday after lunch, the kids came with me towards the shop area to drop off the "pig bowl." It's used for storing food scraps and then we bring it to the pigs and cows. The big cow is going to become meat soon. The little cow will take a little bit yet to grow. The big cow is really nice.



This pig was crazy! He was climbing the wall and making all sorts of noises! Are you aching... for some bacon... yup, yup, yup...


This moth was on the outside of our door this morning (High Resolution):



Today we are going to be going grocery shopping at 9:30 AM. When I get back I'll be working on the cage for the new blue baluga truck (Isuzu N-series) and then if there is time, I'll be continuing to build the cage for the Toyota Landcruiser.

Stolen Items

I found out this morning that my parents sent three stuffed animals in the box that we received from them but there were only two when it got to us. We are concerned that anything else that is sent to us in the future is also going to get here incomplete. We are learning that "this is Haiti." There are good times and bad times as far as customs is concerned and apparently things had been pretty good. I hope that it just happened that one of our first two boxes had something stolen out of it. We'll have to start praying that our boxes get to us with everything in them - we're learning of new things to pray for just about every day. The list is long of things to pray for. God is big and is bigger than customs in Haiti. The things that we are shipping here are not necessities, but would make life here more comfortable. Grandma and Grandpa wanted to give a little blessing to their grandchildren and one will have to be left out (Lou, because he doesn't seem to like stuffed animals anyway).

Here is a picture of Tina enjoying the chair seat cushions THAT DIDN'T GET STOLEN (and a bit of the house)!!


Today has been a day of missing the things of the States for Tina and me. I made the mistake of looking at some of our old pictures last night and Tina continued today. It was tough to see family and friends, the old places, the old animals, etc... Then to have the customs mess on top of that...it's a downer day and we'll hopefully wake up tomorrow differently, Lord willing.

Things to be thankful for:

Mechanix Gloves (saved my knuckles and saved a lot of washing my hands)
This flower outside our front door this morning (high resolution):


Boring car stuff...

I got the clutch replaced and the transmission put back in the Hyundai Accent. I worked on it all morning and got done at 12:30. Yesterday we sent someone to get a clutch alignment tool, but they couldn't find one. So I eyeballed it with the help of Anes (I am not sure of the spelling - it sounds like Ah-nez). He and I wrestled the transmission back up against the engine. It was nice to have his help! Things are much more difficult here than it would be in the US. We don't have the right equipment (our transmission jack is broke), parts break more often because of the roads, the parts are damaged when taking them off which makes it more difficult...yes I am whining.

The car works fine after the work, but we ended up leaving the flywheel alone because to have that type of work done here is risky - they would most likely ruin the part. After driving it a little, it would have been best to have the flywheel resurfaced, but this should last about 20k miles or so.

I drained the big air compressor and it seemed like it was more like a water tank than an air tank. There was a lot of water that came out. The air is so humid here. The water sometimes comes through the air hose and through the air tool - which isn't good for them.