DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

Even the people who live here are saying it is hot. Funny, we just think it feels hot all the time---no different for us. We also have quite a bit of smoke in the air still. We did have a shower last week but it didn't help much.

Wednesday evening we went up to the branch to go on visits with the elders and as we approached the kampong there was smoke billowing out of the area. I thought there must have been a house fire which would tear through the whole kampong since they are all built from wood and there is no fire-fighting service for them. It turns out they were 'smoking' out the mosquitoes. (They have a lot of standing water in the kampongs.) It seems there is quite a bit of chikungunya which is a mosquito-borne virus. It is similar to dengue fever with fever, rash, headache, etc. but with the added benefit of aching joints that can persist for years and even become disabling. Oh, Great! Just what we need is another ache. We actually haven't seen more than a few mosquitoes the whole time we've been here because there is usually a light breeze off the South China Sea that takes care of such. We do see insects here and they are huge! There is a fly-type insect that is as large as a small bird, huge grasshoppers, and other crawling things. I saw my first jumping spider the other day---killed him fast.

So with the smoke and the heat we are staying in more than normal. That is OK because we are organizing this upcoming transfer to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. We have learned that President Clark is moving another senior couple in here to replace us. That makes us feel better about leaving our branch to know they will have another couple here. They still need quite a bit of help with leadership. Sister Alexandra doesn't like to have a RS presidency meeting unless I can be there. She does just fine but wants me there.

Bill here:
We just looked over LL and Christine's blog. It sure was fun to see the Billy Video's. Also was neat to see pics of all the kids. Also saw our place in the background. That's fun too..makes me miss home and the tractor and .....oh OK enough about that. Stay focused Bill.
Yep we are moving to KK...Kota Kinabalu in the north end of Borneo in the state of Sabah. It is very much a tourist destination. The waters are beautiful...just like the Caribbean. Lots of tourist and many Sea Kampongs..that is where they build their plywood shacks on stilts over the water. We will undoubtedly be visiting many members in those places very soon.

RESIDENTS OF AN ORPHANAGE
HELPED BY LDSC

STAFF AND RESIDENTS OF THE ORPHANGE

It is hard for us to think about leaving the members here. We are so connected with them in such a short time. We want them to succeed so bad. It is hard to leave but then we will do the same thing where we are going.

PLAYGROUND SET DONATED BY LDSC

We have a closing this week for the Salvation army orphanage, We donated a playground set and a first aid station.These kids have been abandoned by their parents. One little boy was rescued from the garbage dumps. We also finished up the Wheelchairs for Bintulua and Kuching and Miri.

We have been working all week on putting together a vision project and also a water project. These are major initiatives and take allot of paper work and communication with Hong Kong and Slat Lake and the specialist in other states in America. So it is allot of coordinating and emailing. We spend enormous amounts of time at the desk.

Tuesday we leave for KK to check out some apartments to rent. Hopefully we will decide on one and a moving date this next week. So all of you that are anxiously awaiting our new address so you can send all those packages we are almost ready!! :)

THE BARB AND JANET OF HUMANA SCHOOLS....
ANY RESEMBLANCE IS PURELY ACCIDENTAL

Short post this time. Sorry but we are just busy with stuff that probably would not be too interesting right now. Soon we will have more interesting stuff to write about.