Possum Pinata/Pains

On the light side, I was awakened one night this week by our parrot making squawkings from his hanging cage on the patio outside the open bedroom window. Unusual, as he's silent after dark.  Fearing that someone was trying to steal him (although why anyone wants a non-talking parrot, I don't know!), I quickly went out the backdoor, grabbing the broom as I went, and switched on the light.  Not thinking how I was going to thwart the thief's plan with only a broom, nor  how he would respond to a viejita rapida (fast little old lady) in PJ's , I charged out without my glasses. I saw a big possum, harrassing John's little Cheekie.  I lifted my broom over my head, carefully using both hands to take better aim, and let him have it. I succeeded in putting the hanging cage into motion, swirling around, with the now totally catatonic possum frozen onto the side of the cage.  I made several more swings, not sure I hit him even once as the cage continued to elude me in its spiraling. On one of my attempts, I struck my pinkie knuckle against the cage and have a growing bruise as a battle scar.  About then, John had awakened because I have trouble battling in silence, and must shout like a he-man with every strike. He was able to rescue his parrot, and the, by now, braindamaged possum limped off after dropping from the cage into the small ravine below.

On the heavy side, seems it was that same day we received news from Eryn and Benton's mom, Kate, that their birth father, Delaney, had taken his life. Though he has not been in their lives for about 2 1/2 years, and then only for a short time,  it was a sad couple days for them as they visited back and forth online with family and processed death of a family member for the first time. Eryn was encouraged greatly by a friend here, Sarah, who interrupted her own busy school schedule to help Eryn prepare a brief music/foto memory to be shared at the memorial service.  The kids did not go back to the US, but have gotten a lot of support from the missionary community here.


Victoria was born with a cleftlip and palate. We met she and her mom at church and John quickly got them in to see him, and he began trying to locate help for Victoria. We were blessed to have Eryn being the Pusher to make it happen, and within a month, we put Victoria and her mom on the bus to go to San Pedro Sula to meet with a specialty brigade there for her first surgery.

On the way to the hospital

Eryn and Benton being artistic with their pumpkin-like squash.

Here is Victoria just a day after her repair, not yet quite healed.  She will return for the surgery on her palate in April.  Thanks for your support that allows us to help babies like this!  Eryn delights in being involved with such things.