Welcome to Hyde Park, Everyone!

I am becoming acquainted with our interesting community and I truly feel privileged to be in Guyana and in this town on the east bank of the Essequibo river. People are generous and hospitable; we’re always greeting others left and right as we walk down the road and pastors and neighbours stop by all the time to chat or have a meal or bring us fruit from their farms.

Historically and politically, Guyana is very much a part of the Caribbean so I don’t feel too far from Jamaica. I still hear reggae and occasionally off-key gospel on buses and street corners, plus covers of James Blunt, Chicago and their contemporaries. What’s new to my ears is the Hindi-reggae mix and Hindi back-up vocals for almost every genre of music. In Georgetown, I heard a vendor blaring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

There have been two deaths in Hyde Park since I arrived and this image will forever be seared in my memory:

A 7-year-old girl in her Sunday dress, sitting next to a coffin weeping and whispering, "I love you, Mommy," while holding on to her dead mother's hand. Her mother died of AIDS, her father died of the same syndrome 3 years ago. I wonder how many more children there are here in similar circumstances. The incidence of HIV/AIDS is high in Guyana and thankfully, there are initiatives to educate poeple about it.

I had my first tarantula encounter a few days ago in the bathroom - which is the same place where a little frog jumped on top of my head. I saw him on the wall, then looked in the mirror and there he was, peering back at me. Not quite the accessory I was going for, although I hear the "outdoor" look is in. The tarantula was perched on the shelf, dangerously close to my loofah scrubber. Tim caught it in a bag, which he then dangled in my face. I nearly decked him but restrained myself because I was afriad he'd drop the bag and the hairy monster would get away and I'd never be able to sleep again. Now I enter the bathroom as if it were a potential crime scene, scoping out corners for intruders.

The homesickness/what-am-i-doing-here feelings were really trying to kick my butt last week. One night I finally realized, God must’ve brought me here to show me that He has actually called me to Vancouver or some trendy European city with a big park. Yeah, right. I am more settled now, looking forward to each day andI find it easy to love Guyana. Nights are more challenging when I am alone with my thoughts -please pray about that.

We were thrilled to receive Steve from Washington on Saturday (I worked with him at YWAM Jamaica) and since he arrived the hilarity factor and the making-fun-of-Em factor have significantly increased. Granted, I did hang my wet clothes on the "clothes-line" which turned out to be an electrical cord running power from the house to the dorms.

This week I am looking forward to participating in a 3-day conference on Islam and how it’s affecting the nation and after that, we’ll be working with a youth camp in the bush for 5 days. Please pray for the success of these events and their leaders (Mr. M and Beno, respectively).

It's good to be here, friends. Thanks so much for your support!

“So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” Romans 14:19

PS. If someone would like to design a stylish mosquito-net outfit for me, that'd be wonderful. I look good in blues.