SUBJECT: Letter to oldest daughter Katie in the US

AUTHOR: Becky Gates, her husband David, and four of their five children - Lina, Trina, Carlos, and Kristopher, work together with her sister and family, the Burgdorffs, in a medical aviation program in the jungles of Guyana, South America.

DATE: January 15, 1996

Computers! Just spent 2 hours writing, and somehow lost the whole thing. OH, it's probably somewhere there, but I have no idea where. Now I don't

Bringing up the Washed Clothes

think I have time to write a whole new letter before the plane comes. I feel like shooting this computer, or at least the program--bang, BANG!!!!!! Let me just say that we had a very nice Christmas. It was such a surprise to have Daddy come. We had a great time sneaking around making little presents for each other. Daddy will probably show you some of the pictures we made. We helped with two Christmas programs, one for AY and the other for SS. Both turned out very nice. I'll tell you more about them later. We have started health classes, sewing, science, and music classes, so that keeps us very busy, besides seeing patients (about 150 so far--first one was

Canoe Trip to the Falls

snake bite, but mostly we get malaria, boils, diarrhea, empatigo, that sort of thing. New Year's Eve a man blew off the tip of his finger with a firecracker. We let Uncle Ted and Daddy take care of emergencies like that, and Aunt Betsy and I take care of the easier stuff!). I'm also giving a small seminar on Prayer for Prayer Meeting and Friday nights. Today we are supposed to give a little seminar on Sabbath School. As you can see, never a dull moment.

Cooking with a wood stove and oven (made from barrels) was taking us so long (at least 2 hours a meal, only to have it disappear in 15 min!). Daddy bought us a gas stove from Venezuela. He also hired someone to help us wash clothes. He is such a sweetheart. There is so much need here, and it seems we have so little time. We just pray that the Lord will help us do the best we can with the time we have. Another big need is for a school teacher. Lina and Heidi are helping in the meantime. The teacher they are trying to get is only 15. All the teachers here only have a secondary education. Monday was a strange day. First Porky Babe, the puppy, died--we suspect distemper, but many of the people here think it was a "Kanaima"--a person possessed by an evil spirit. It seems the people are quite superstitious, even though they are Christians they fear so many things. I pray we can

Kaikan Water Falls

help them overcome some of these fears. They also have some strange ideas about healing the sick, such as "blow water", though I don't know what all is involved in that.

Then in the afternoon we were making peanut butter with some peanuts Daddy sent. Katrina was trying to skin the peanuts, and a piece got into her eye. We had quite a time getting it out, especially since Katrina kept getting scared and wouldn't cooperate to well. That evening it was Heidi's turn. She got a bad case of hives. Fortunately, Grandpoppie had sent us some Epinephrine, so Uncle Ted gave her a shot. She was so scared, she was hyperventilating and kept running away. After the shot she immediately got better.

Making Cassava Bread

Last night someone brought us what looks like a coral snake. Uncle Ted started swishing in on the ground. The cats were fascinated. Then he threw it at them. They jumped staight up in the air. It was so funny. Uncle Ted has skinned about 5 snakes. The biggest was over 6 ft. long, very poisnous. I sure hope you can come for a visit. I think you would really enjoy it. By the way, the Chief's son is 13 and the his dad doesn't own any cows--ha,ha!!

Well, must close. We are so grateful to God for the way He is helping you in your studies (we are very proud of your grades, especially in Chemistry) and your finance (a big thank you to Uncle Doug and Titi Brenda for their help).

Love you bunches, Mommy

You may write to Becky at: gates@andrews.edu

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Last Updated: March 10, 1997