go(D) with the flow: It's a long way to Chile

The training team (Leigh, Liz, Jane and Melvin our interpreter) started a class of 14 students this morning. As a funny ice breaker we shook their hands with glitter - they all laughed, what we wanted them to see was how quickly we pass germs around. We explained our approach to training (visual, audio, mechanical) and proceeded with a lesson that involved cutting pieces to add to the creation story, then we arranged these pieces on a large poster in order of cleanliness, singing a hand cleaning song to the tune of Jesus Loves Me!

The class loved the activities and we had both men and women enjoying the fun, one was tasting two water samples, one of salty water and, the other, made of water containing crushed cookies. This was to stress that what looks like drinkable water (the salty water) is not necessarily the case.
In the afternoon class , our trainee teachers squirmed to see the new student class drink the salty water.
We teach our trainees (14) every morning with a new program and they then repeat the days lesson to new students daily. We taught around 60 members of the community in just 3 days.

Liz handed out lots of small plastic toys to everyone and this act of generosity was very well received. She had bags of rubber frogs, iguanas,farm animals,such joy from the littlest gift.

The water team (David, Dave, Harlon, Franklin and Orlando, the interpreter) made great progress, finishing the installation of the system and training of the operators. The next step was to clean out and test the system. That is where we hit a "speed bump". This process requires water and because it is still the "dry season" water is rationed and is only available each Wednesday from 5 a.m to 12 p.m. So they were unable to complete this work today. The water team were also concerned that they would not have enough time between 5 a.m and noon to complete the cleaning and testing and requested that water be available to them for a longer period. This required a decision by the township water committee. The committee was meeting as we left for the day. We hope and pray that this matter will be resolved by the time we return on Wednesday morning.

Earlier Melvin and I went shopping in Nacaome and bought two chickens,salsa, rice and beans lunch, cooked for us by the pastor's wife.

On the journey up to Puerto Grande we picked up four hitch hikers - all militiamen. They were very grateful for the ride. We also met two motorcyclists from New Jersey who were traveling to Chile.