Steve Collins and Barb cooling their feet after a long hike
Senior Ladies group.

We are finally back to better internet service , so I will attempt to update our blog and perhaps send a picture or two.
We are really enjoying all the new people we are meeting. There a couple of regular events every week where this can happen. First is an informal pizza night on Fridays, usually at one of the larger homes on the compound. It is a good place to introduce new people for the first time. Pizza here usually means homemade, and experimenting with new toppings and different kinds of cheese.
On Sunday evenings we usually attend what is referred to as the “English Bible Study Group”. Most everyone that attends speaks some English. Last night as there were new people attending we went around and introduced ourselves and our place of birth. There was quite a variety. Several Canadians, from Ontario to the republic of Saskatchewan. A few Americans. Others were born in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Zaire, Zambia, and Angola. The group included, students, Drs., pilots, mechanics, administrators, professors, teachers, housewives, full time mothers, computer techs., and agricultural missionaries. People take turns hosting the gathering and we usually listen to a DVD sermon and have a discussion and prayer time and of course coffee and dessert.
Saturday we drove back out to Humpata to our friend Steve’s so Tim could repair his fridge. Another lady from Mitcha (our compound) came with us and brought her two little girls. We went shopping at the prassa market while Tim did the repairs. Humpata is known for its gardens and we got lots of nice vegetables and even strawberries. We looked through the used clothes and picked up some nice things for the little girls plus some new panos of fabric for me and a nice large woven basket to use for laundry etc.
Sunday we went to a different church, we parked and walked about ¼ mile into the barrio, past the river where many people were doing laundry and bathing. There were many choirs and a long sermon in Portuguese and Imbundo. We were there almost three hours, so we won’t complain when the service goes over 1 hour back home.
This week Tim is working on installing the support structure for the new style ELT (emergency locator beacon) that is supposed to arrive sometime in November. The plane will be grounded until he finishes, hopefully by Thursday or Friday. If all goes well we hope to go to the farm for the weekend, about a 3 hour drive south from here at Tchincombe. (Driving times may vary depending on weather and road conditions, please check with the locals before setting out.) It is an agricultural mission with SIM, and we are anxious to see it as we have heard much about it and met the people who operate it. We will report back on our trip there.