It's the small things...

Like the homes.  We've been in several now, and they're not much different than our space.  (Which probably was built to be someone's home.)  By my estimate a 10'x10' room that serves as living room, kitchen, bedroom, basically almost everything.  They all have a curtain to another space which must serve as closet and store room, and maybe in some cases another bedroom, but it can't be much, as we've seen the mattress on the floor of the main room in nearly every home before it gets put away for the day.  Today, while on a follow up visit, Beth commented about the furniture being rearranged, and how she likes to do that.  The response was something to the effect that it's necessary to keep the rats from getting too comfortable.  It's the small things...

Like all the automotive repair going on here.  The road is lined with 'shops', small lots with cars and trucks in various states of repair and parts scattered all around.  Some how they get it done.  I watched an interesting rebuild of one of our generator engines yesterday.  Today I spoke again with the shop owner/mechanic next to where we are staying as he was polishing ('smoothing') a crankshaft journal on a large six cylinder crankshaft.  Their engine hoist is several guys lifting, and his lathe was a rag around a piece of emery cloth.  I'm sure by the end of the week the Land Cruiser will be back on the road, and shortly thereafter the rod bearing will have spun again.  It's the small things...

Like showing a film as part of our ministry.  Go to a 20'x30' space among some of those homes set up the video projector with power from a two cycle generator set out chairs on the dirt under the clothes lines, and around the open gutter, kerosene stoves, buckets, and lounging dogs and show Facing the Giants to an appreciative crowd.  It's the small things...

Like killing whatever that was crawling on my leg just now.  It's the small things...

Like going to the bakery in the morning to get our breakfast bread.  And seeing the large mud dome that is the oven in the room with a dirt floor, no lights, and a few boards for prep where the two men from Senegal have spent the last several hours making the delicious loaves that quickly sell out.  It's the small things...

Like beautiful children.  Lots of them.

Our blessings aren't small though.  We are amazed at God's provision in an environment that sounds difficult, but really isn't, just takes some getting used to...