Hot Water and New (English) Words

We've been without hot water since Saturday. We've been "real" missionaries for a few days - boiling water to wash dishes, using a "widow maker" to take showers. (this is a tiny electric hot water heater attached to the showerhead, I guess I don't need to explain why they are called widow makers!) Blessedly, our landlady's brother came by and fixed the problem. It was a matter of simply reconnecting a switch with a little peice of wire. We were without hot water for 3 days and all we had to do was reconnect the switch?!?! Sean could have fixed it himself, except that he's never seen this kind of switch before in his life! We're pretty sure that the landlady was trying to tell him how to fix it on the phone but, well, that was in Spanish and even in English it would have been confusing! Oh well, at least now we can take normal, "safe" showers and wash our dishes! And next time it happens, we'll know what to do. Funny how much you take for granted even knowing how to flip a switch!

We have been helping a family from the UK settle in. They are here for language school and will be going to Ecuador to work with HCJB. Martin is a water engineer and will be working all over Ecuador but will be based in Quito. Sean will probably be flying Martin around in Ecuador! They are a great family. We've been learning yet another new language - British English! Here are a few new terms we've learned:

• Plaster (bandaid)
• Crisps (chips)
• Chips (fries)
• Bin lorrie (garbage truck)
• Cooker (oven)
• Tea (evening meal)
• Trolley (shopping cart)
• Buggy (stroller)
• Mince (ground meat)
• Nappy (diaper)
• Cheeky. . . . we have no idea!

We've been having a splendid time learning all these new words! We feel so much more civilized now! Of course, we've completely forgotten our Spanish and we speak with British accents but it has been a fun diversion. It is great to meet people who will be partnering with us to reach the people of Ecuador. Please pray for the Harrisons as they adjust to life in Costa Rica, start language study, and settle in to their new house.