Baers,

Rain, rain, rain ….

It just never stops. We’re not minding it that much, except that Junior is—as we speak—reading aloud the ‘house manual’ about all the outdoors things we’d be doing and experiencing if the sun was shining.

We were conducted into the world of adorable five-year-old Dayana this morning. After her mother Lillian’s breakfast this morning, Dayana took over and adorned both Junior and me in festal crowns and other flower-laden ‘do’s’. I was instructed to sit and read a book while she prepared the ‘surprise’ of Junior’s do; then the whole thing was reversed. It was hilarious. I think you’ll enjoy the pictures.

After we had both been suitably done up, she made us dance to some ‘Princess’ music she has on her mom’s phone. She even showed us a few flourishes that we should include in our performance.

We’re thinking of driving to the hot springs (they’re everywhere because the same underground activity that produces the volcano also produces many hot springs) today. Junior has selected an establishment that includes dinner with the entrance fee.

Yesterday on a short drive we saw a little animal along the road that looks like a cross between a raccoon and an anteater. It was eating something and wasn’t afraid of us at all. Junior took some videos.

Then, as I went out onto the balcony this morning, a completely black version of the same species pranced across our garden and fled into the bushes. At first I thought it was a cat, but then I had one of those ‘that ain’t no cat’ experiences as I got a better look. Pretty cool.

If this rain keeps up, we’re both likely to get a little moldy.

One of the trails our hosts write about in their manual promises monkey sightings 65% of the time. It’s tougher than the ‘waterfall trail’ we did two days ago, but I think we’ll make the effort if the sun comes out.

I’m getting a lot of reading done:

√ Craig Keener, … And Married Another. Divorce and Remarriage in the Teaching of the New Testament (finished last night; excellent)

√ Emmanuel Bellon, a Ghanian friend and colleague of mine, Leading Financial Sustainability in African Theological Institutions (wrote and endorsement upon request)

√ Yohanna Katanacho, a Palestinian friend who teaches at Bethlehem Bible College, The Land of Christ. A Palestinian Cry

√ Robert E. Jones, History of the 101st Airborne Division: Screaming Eagles (reading for obvious reasons; I’ve been in the Vietnam era and have got as far as 1970; makes me both proud and very, very sad).

√ Aviya Kushner, The Grammar of God: A Journey into the Worlds and Worlds of the Bible

√ Leland Ryken, Words of Delight: A Literary Introduction to the Bible

√ Jonathan Wilson, Marc Chagall

√ Alice Schroeder, The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life

√ Marcos Palacios: Between Legitimacy and Violence: A History of Colombia, 1875-2002

√ Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

√ Donald Kraybill et al., The Amish

√ David McCullough, Truman (I think Uncle Jon may have recommended this one; I started reading it after watching a documentary on the difficult decision to drop the atomic bomb; it’s superb)

Dayana casually pointed out two toucans flying past in the distance as she prepared to ‘do my hair’.

You’ve probably heard about the tragic crash near Medellín of a chartered plane carrying a Brazilian soccer team. We’re getting poignant updates from friends in Medellín. ‘Sounds like it may have been egregious human error and a run-out-of-fuel scenario.

Love,

Dad/Dave