Christian voyeurism

I always feel weird taking shots of us or anyone doing evangelism. But I suppose that's what some people want to see here on this blog - at least that's part of the point of having it, right?

Mostly, right now, it just feels like Christian voyeurism.

"Excuse me, could you hold that just so while I get a shot of Tony handing you that Bible?" smile!

That's just weird.

Besides, I'm usually too occupied making sure the toddler doesn't fall into a ditch or the older kids don't run off chasing rabid dogs to deal with getting a lot of really great pictures - of which there are many, many opportunities here.

So, while I navigate those waters, here's a shot I voyeured yesterday through the bathroom window (incidentally quite grayed over with dusty volcanic ash).

Tony sharing the gospel with the construction guys next door - they live in that mobile home

The story behind the pics... after we had been so sick, we began asking the locals and doctors here about drinking the water. We had been drinking bottled water since we arrived, but that gets expensive. The doctor from the church, Adrian, said he wouldn't recommend drinking the water here. I asked why, and where does the water come from anyway? He said it comes right from the river and is only treated with chlorine. There is no decantation process either to settle sediments, and there is sewage drainage from the town upriver right near the intake for the city's drinking water. He said sometimes that can lead to intestinal tract infections, and you don't want that. Um, no, we don't. So we broke down and bought a water filter system that attaches right to the kitchen sink and has a little valve to filter water when you need it. The couple that came to the house to install it turned out to be Christians. She sells the filters and he, a retired chemistry teacher, comes along, he says, to help with the chemical explanation part and also offer people the "living water". Turns out he is President of the Gideons Association here in Argentina. We had a nice little talk with them, Tony invited them to lunch (he always invites people to stay - I was SO tired that day and not really thrilled, but of course later I felt bad when they prayed for us and gave us some evangelism advice.)

Mr. President of the Gideons Association came back the next day to give us three Bilingual New Testaments. Tony promptly gave them to the guys next door. Pedro, the only one really open at this point, was really happy and so thankful - he loves to read. The other ones wanted them anyway, maybe because they were free? Or they're bored? Tony said not to worry that they laugh at all talk of "religion" - he used to do the same thing. Tranquilo. Pedro is from Mendoza (a province north of here), and when he came here to work he left his Bible at home. He is the one who wants to stop drinking and smoking but doesn't know how. Tony has been talking to him everyday. When he disappears and the kids can't find him and they inevitably ask me where Papi is, I usually reply, "I don't know. Probably talking to someone."

And, of course, he usually is.

:)