God Laughs

This week one of the professors asked me to teach her class how to use a digital audio recorder. "Sure," I said. "No problem." So then she brought me a simple recorder like I have used before and two very sophisticated recorders that I had no idea how to use. I was confronted with unfamiliar terms like "Sample Rate" and "Low Cut." And I had one day to learn how to use these devices and then decide how to teach them to a class of Spanish-speaking graduate students. It was a challenge.

Archie with a student (Rena) to translate. 

Kristine tried to encourage me. "God put you here for such a time as this," she said. "Yes he did," was my reply. "After all the serious business he has in the universe, he decided he needed a good laugh. So here I am!"

There were 24 students in the class.

As it turned out, it went pretty well. The students were very nice to me. Rena did a good job of translating what I said. Students learned how to use these devices to record languages and help those without a written language to develop one.

One of the students came to get my "expert" advice on how to use her own recorder.

Something occurs to me now as I sit before my computer looking at these photos. God isn't laughing at me...he is smiling at me. That thought makes me smile, too.

Krsitine meets with her fellow teachers around our kitchen table to discuss strategy for the semester. From the left is Sandra, Aleida, Jackie and Kristine.

Before leaving Dallas we took Krista and Todd and the grandkids to Red Lobster. Here is Patrick, Collin and Aidan hamming it up with a crab claw that they saved from the meal.

Santa and Mrs. Claus in Lima

On Saturday, the church we attend in Lima had a fair. They invited vendors to come in and sell their products. Also, several folks baked cookies and pies and what-not. Then they charged a fee to get in. The proceeds will go to help several charities supported by the church. We were asked to portray Santa Claus and his wife. We had to rush into the room ringing a bell and shouting "Merry Christmas, Ho, Ho, Ho!" Then we had to sit on the stage and try to coax frightened children to come and sit on Santa's lap so mom or dad could take their picture. Most amusing.

Two of the supplicants in Santa's lap. Notice how this little boy is checking to be sure that Santa's beard is real. (It is!)

This little girl was just too cute!

Mrs. Claus was a big help but didn't often get into the picture. She did help forgetful Santa to remember to give a candy cane to each child. (Actually, she had to take over those duties.)

Here are Santa and the Mrs. enjoying a moment of relaxation before the next group of youngsters come up. (Please notice the lovely, authentic, Alpaca fur lining on Mrs. Claus's beautiful dress.)

Here we see Santa, in civilian clothes, helping to decorate this magnificent Christmas tree. (We won't mention that he had to be bribed with M&M's to participate.)

Literacy Class in Huallaga Quechua Village

A literacy class with a view

Teaching Class

Lesson 6

 

 

La Profesora Kristine Observes

A Student Works on Her Lesson

Trip to Quechua Village

Here is a somewhat modified announcement Kristine sent out about her trip:

"This past August the Huallaga Quechua Bible was dedicated at a gathering of more than 3,000 people. Having the Bible in their language has sparked an interest among the people to learn to read. There are some adult literacy teachers in the community, but they are only minimally trained and have asked for help. In response to their request, next week our literacy class is going on a week-long mission’s trip to the Huallaga community where the students will put into practice what they have learned this semester by training the Quechua teachers. We will go by bus from the coast over the Andes mountain peaks to the city of Huanuco where the course will be held."


Here are some pictures of Kristine's journey:

A young Quechua girl herding sheep along the road.

Kristine poses with some Quechua women who are weaving a poncho.

Kristine is sitting with some students in the smokey kitchen house easting a treat served to all honored guests - fermented potatoes.

Cuys (Guinea pigs) plus a cat live in the kitchen. One or more of these cuys were served for lunch the next day.

Kristine poses with her colleague Diana Weber.

Kristine poses with one of the Quechua literacy teachers that they came to help.

The CILTA students and Quechua literacy teachers show off their certificates.

Kristine had a rough time with altitude sickness as they went over the Andes mountains on the way to Huanuco. She had problems with bug bites in Huanuco. But she had a great time with no trouble in the village. She didn't even get sick when she ate the fermented potatoes. Thank you to all who prayed for her.

My Computer Village

Here is a kinda sad picture:

Out of these six sick computers I have gotten one to work well enough to use and one almost ready to use. The other four have various kinds of hardware problems. I guess I could get philosophical about it and talk about how life is like that. Some things work and some things don't but we all have to muddle through anyway......I would rather just get the stupid things fixed and out of my bedroom!