High water

We've had a lot of rain the last few days, even for here.  I think over 5 inches in 2 days.  Makes the Months total 18 inches.  River got very high, Austral Highway is cut in several places, some flooding of houses.
Here at the house we lost a large tree as the river undercut part of the bank behind the house.  Our dock also suffered as one of the billets was swept out from under the dock and part of the dock looks broken.  I don't dare go out on it to see closer until the water drops quite a bit more.

Video!

Below is my first attempt to post a video anywhere.  Looks like it might work so... any requests?

Austral Highway footage June 19 2010

Cisnes

Marrying and burying

Saturday I married Jorge and Viviana, Sunday I buried them.

We left Saturday morning for the 100 mile trip to Cisnes, only took 3 hours or so.  It’s much better now due to more pavement.  Some snow and slick spots but we didn’t have any trouble.

Saturday evening we had our first wedding in our new work in Cisnes!  Jorge and Viviana got married, most of the church turned out and we had a great time.

Sunday Noon we took everyone from the church (including Jorge and Viviana) and put 8 of them in a watery grave.  That’s right; we had our first water baptism in Cisnes!  Yes it was cold!  It was 38 outside and the water was at least that cold.  After a few moments arms and legs went numb and the pain went away.  After we were done and wading out it actually seemed warm!  I guess it was the circulation starting back.

Sunday afternoon and evening we had a combination asado (Chilean BBQ) and service.  The house was packed with over 20 present.

We came home Monday and although it snowed the road wasn’t bad.  The studded snow tires do help!

Very busy and very productive weekend.

Letters

All is well here, getting quite cold now but no snow yet here in town.  Road to the airport is quite icy it looks like.

Once in a while we get some letters from the States.  Here's the latest:  (I'll answer in another color)

Hi my name is Annie I am almost 10 years old.  What kind of house do you live in, and what kind of food do you eat.  I am from India and I eat spicy food do you like spicy foods?  We saw your pictures that you gave to Mr. Rich & Miss Paula and it looks really cold.  How cold does it get where you are at?   What do you do with the mice that you catch?  You don’t eat them do you? Do you keep the penguins as pets?  

Hi Annie!  We live in a wood house that Rhonda and I built ourselves.  We couldn't find anything to rent so we had to make one.  We like Cajun food which is spicy but a different spicy from Indian.  It gets pretty cold here!  We get lots of snow inland and way below freezing quite a bit.  As I write this it is below freezing outside.  I toss the dead mice in the trash, I'm not hungry enough to eat them.  We don't keep penguins as pets, they would make a lousy pet.  They're kind mean.

Hi my name is Abigail I am 8 years old and in the 4^th grade.   I already have so many pets do you have any pets?  Do you have any flowers?  I have colorful flowers there are more tiny flowers growing now.  What other kinds of animals do you have do you have birds?

We don't have any pets because we travel so much, it wouldn't be fair to them since we're gone so much.  We have lots of flowers in the summer, we like them, too.  There are lots of animals here but no snakes of any kind!  We have lots of birds as well including the Condor.

Hi my name is Annika  I am turning 7 years old this year.  Do you really have penguins? And are you really going to make a mink coat for Miss Rhonda?   What do you do with the mink do you  eat it?  What is your favorite shape?  I like squares. 

When is the next time that you are coming here?  We would love to see you.  Thank you for telling people about Jesus. 

We really do have penguins here, they are slow on land but very fast in the water.  No, I was just kidding about the mink coat.  I'd have to catch a LOT of mink to have enough.  I just tanned the 2 I got and we'll just feel the soft fur.  I'm not hungry enough to eat a mink.  It smells pretty strong so I bet it wouldn't taste good.  I don't really have a favorite shape but squares are nice.  We hope to come to Tampa in a few years, we'd like to see you all too!  We are very happy that we get to tell people about Jesus here!  

Thanks for writing girls!  Keep up the good work!

Steve & Rhonda Wilson

Propane and mink

Tried to BBQ yesterday, propane froze up after about an hour.  Maybe I should put it on the fire?  ;-]   Also, just saw another mink in the shop.  Just re-set the trap.  This keeps up I'll be able to make Rhonda a full-sized coat.

Gumbo

It's been raining for many days now.  It's cold, temps in the 40's.  It's dark, dawn about 8:30, dusk around 5:00.
Only one thing to do...Make Gumbo!

Note:  All Cajuns please don't read below.

Rhonda made us a chicken & sausage gumbo but we can't get sausage here.  So we used, um, salami.  You know, if you cook it enough you don't notice the taste so much.

Home

Felipe wrote me today to let me know that he made it back home to Puerto Williams ok.  He was kinda worried when the National Convention ended and a strong blizzard hit down in Williams.  I guess he was stuck for a few days but looks like it all worked out.