Cultural Day...

Well, I see that not many of you cared to try to take your Saturday night bath with only 3 cool whip tubs of water! (Guess you would have had to read last week's posts to really understand that statement.) I'm a bit disappointed in you that you didn't post your count but hope you enjoyed your full blast of a warm shower :).

Thanks for praying for our studies last week as we received the tests over direct and indirect objects and conversation exams and did quite well. We know that it is only as God opens our minds and tongues that we can learn and speak His Gospel in this beautiful language.

Friday was a retreat from classes as we enjoyed Cultural Day. The teachers had really worked to set up the campus like carnivals or country fairs which are held throughout the country to celebrate the area's annexation to the country, etc. In reality it can be for most anything as the people like to celebrate. Divided into small groups we played different games and won prizes. I even won a prize in dart throwing for popping the ballons of two teachers and David won two prizes - throwing the ping pong ball in the mouth of a clown and for almost getting a bullseye in dart throwing. We even had a time of crafts - making our own invidual monkey masks. After traditional taste testing, empanadas and frescos, a mask maker demonstrated the art of making the huge masks that are worn during the parades and for parties. The mask itself is about three feet tall or more and then is put on a wire base and "dressed" so that a person can wear it over his head or on his shoulders depending on the mask itself. Some of the taller masks are put on very tall base frames making the attachment to be worn about 7 or 8 feet tall. Later after the introduction by firecrackers, the parade began, complete with a small brass band and the masked dancers. They played and danced giving us a sampling of a local festival, similiar to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Friday evening David and I continued our culutral day as we enjoyed traditional Mexican fare with missionaries who spent many years in Mexico and are now the mentors for IMB missionaries at ILE to celebrate the 40th anniversary of another couple of IMB missionaries in San Jose. "The oldies" got together and celebrated and played "chicken foot" dominoes. What a good fun day!