One Week Down, Seven to Go

Wow,
I cannot believe it has already been a week! But at the same time, it feels longer than a week. So many new things have been jammed packed into the last 7 days, that it feels like months. I haven't mentioned that much about my surroundings here, and I would like to. I think it will better paint a mental picture for those curious in my day to day life.
I am living in the Casita (a side house) of the Rumbaughs. They are missionaries here and Dr. Don (Rumbaugh) is the man I am working closely with this summer. His ministry is teaching English to young students in the community. He has spent many years with these people and has narrowed the list of many villages down to a few that he chooses to visit and teach. He teachings English to only the students who want to learn and are respectful in the process. Brogan and I came here this summer to help with his ministry. The view from my housing consists of the Caribbean Sea to the left, and the Jungle Mountains to the right. Walking to the beach to swim in the Sea (which we have done :)) takes only 30 minutes. Hiking up the Jungle Mountains takes a bit longer...but still just as close. Every morning we wake up to Howler Monkeys (the loudest animals in the Western Hemisphere) and Tuscans. The monkeys and birds come right next to the house and jump from tree to tree checking everything out. Just yesterday morning and White-faced Monkey jumped to a tree right in front of where I was doing my quiet time, stared at me and starting jumping up and down on the long palms (almost like a trampoline). It was absolutely amazing. The animals are wild, so we're instructed not to go near them, but they are soo much fun to observe! My living conditions consist of no air conditioning (I am adjusting very well though ;)), cold showers, scorpions in the sink and bath, and not flushing toilet paper but instead burning it :). And I am enjoying every minute of it.
The five points of Mission Work are flexible, flexible, flexible, flexible, and fun. Dr Don shared these with Brogan and I our first day here and on Wednesday we exercised those 4 points because just minutes before we were to leave for the bilingual school in Rio Esteban, we heard from Penny Alden that there was a gang in town who had threatened to take a young mans life if he did not pay them money. Dr Don quickly decided that it would not be safe for us to go out there, and since everything was so new we didn't really have another school to go to. So needless to say Brogan and I had a chill day, reading, writing, playing guitar and piano. Flexibility is key out here. I would consider myself a pretty flexible person haha to it hasn't been to difficult, but I go to bed each night not really knowing what the next day holds. It's adventurous :)
Some of the Rumbaughs friends came to visit this wednesday from Pioneers (mission organization). They are currently missionaries in Morocco and are making a rounds around the world "checking in" with other Pioneers missionaries (the Rumbaughs are associated with Pioneers). It has been a blessing to have them here, they are a sweet couple, Mr. & Mrs. Jones (they prefer me to call them Karen and Bill, but the respectful Mr. & Mrs. from my childhood is still there :) Thank you Mom and Dad). Both are very knowledgeable of the Islam faith and the Muslim culture. It has been a blessing to learn from them these past few days.
All is doing well here. We spent a few hours in the morning giving piano and guitar lessons. One might ask why I am giving guitar lessons when I don't know how to play the guitar? Well, starting last sunday I do, haha. Dr Don informed Brogan and I within 30 minutes of arriving here that we would need to learn...and we have learned, enough so to teach. So Mom and Dad, when I get home, maybe we can go guitar shopping?? I keep appreciating your prayers. I am so thankful for your support in that way. :) More from this Gringa later