greetings from the hot pueblo of consuelo. things here continue well--except for the water situation. please, be seriously praying for this. omerkys and i were really concerned this morning...we couldn't find water anywhere. the problem, i think, is with the pipes so you have to buy water and bring it to our particular barrio (neighborhood). this is troublesome, but today was concerning. i thought i would die of thirst! haha. sometime, when you are a little thirsty and imagine that you literally can't get water--your thirst tends to multiply by twenty or so. hehe. don't worry--i'm really in NO danger of dehydration. things just aren't as instant or simple as we Americans are used to. its good for me. i've never appreciated a cup of hot water as much as i did this afternoon. makes you take another look at the things you consider really important.
everyone here is doing really well. i have been really enjoying my time with the gang of kids here in our neighborhood. they range from ages 10-17 i just love them all. i can't remember if i already told you this. sorry if its repetetive!
well. as always, the internet here is limited so i better hurry. my one great story for the week--the other night i was hanging with some of Jr.'s friends (10 yr old son of the Pastor here) and we were playing gameboy outside under the mango tree. well, the power was out--gasp--and it was pitch black except for the light of the gameboy. suddenly i felt a little something on my lower back. reaching my hand back, expecting to encounter an ant or two (regular occurence these days, yuck!), instead i feel something HUGE. i let out a delicate, lady-like yelp--okay, it might have been more like Papa when he sneezes!!!!---and lept about three feet in the air. after about .2 seconds of deliberating the boys and i decided that we would head to the porch where there was less likelihood of encountering giant....things. well, it was still dark, though we had a battery light in the porch and i couldn't quite shake the feeling that something was on me. so start kind of hopping around gracefully and with much elegance i shake the legs of pants to just make sure. as the muchachos (boys) giggle and point i suddenly let out another delicate yelp as i see something HUGE leap off of my pants leg. one of the older and braver boys leaps forwards and begins stomping as everyone leaps onto the nearest chair, tree, or roof. on closer inspection we realize that it was what the locals call a cienpie, or centipede. no big deal. except it was as long as my hand and as thick as two of my fingers (considering i have my grandfather's thick fingers that's saying something!! haha) the boys all stare at each other in horror and i was a little surprised at their lack of "macho-ness". come to find out, if that thing had stung me--i'd have been dead in 10-15 minutes if they didnt' get me to the hospital in time. holy smokes!! well, the Lord is always looking out for me--and considering my talent for getting in trouble, its a good thing! :o)

well. that was longer than i expected. hope everyone back home is well. know that i think of you all often.
thanks for all you prayers.
love from the DR!!!

kate