March 9th.

The long noisy carnival weekend ended yesterday. Compassion program activities during the last two days sounded like lots of fun making it hard for my two students to focus on school work.

While the noise level fell far below what normally occurs in the larger cities we still heard the distant noise of a ra-ra band on and off yesterday afternoon. Monday night, after dark a voice at the back, kitchen window drew our attention. An older man stood there asking for cigarettes and alcohol. His slurred speech and the smell of his breath indicated his drunken state. He left after I assured him both as a doctor and a missionary that we had neither item and that they were not good for him!

Late afternoon drama came to the house in the form of Anna wiping her eye with fingers that had held a tree frog. The burning eye caused tears even after minutes of standing in the shower, rinsing her eye out. Thankfully with some soothing drops and antibiotic ointment the pain left allowing her to sleep normally. Thank you to those who prayed for us Monday night.

Reports indicate the carnival violence rose this year. We pray that during the next 11 days, ending the presidential campaign season with elections on March 20th that no further violence occurs.

I wish you could smell the air around our house these days. While we really don't have a spring season that those who experience winter enjoy we do enjoy the sweet smell of orange blossoms and tropical flowers. Not the same as cheery daffodils or tulips but nice in their own way.