There is nothing like swimming in the giant aquarium called the Pacific Ocean to give you a better perspective on your own significance in the grand scheme of things. The Pacific covers 63.8 million square miles, is 12,000 miles across and 35,800' deep. The power in a single wave crashing to shore can knock you off your feet. Yet God commanded, "Thus far you shall come, but no farther. And here shall your proud waves stop." (Job 38:11). The variety of sealife boggles the imagination. Psalm 104:25 says, "There is the sea, great and broad, in which are swarms without number, animals both small and great."(NASB). The little slideshow to the left represents a tiny portion of them from about a few square yards of ocean. You can get a better look on the separate posting.    
          One of my main pathways into the presence of God is nature. When I am able to be still and observe the environment around me, I can be overwhelmed by the magnitude of His being and His creativity. When I consider myself and my individual importance on just the planetary scale, it is easy to see how inadequate I am by comparison. Being here, in an unfamiliar culture and away from the support structures and security blankets of "home", the impact is even greater. I thank God that our adequacy is in Him and that His power works through our weakness(es). We are blessed to see this principle played here out almost on a daily basis.     

     This week, we spent a day with our neighbors and friends Antonio (Tony) and Maria at one of the more distant beaches swimming/snorkeling, eating and fellowshipping. At the end of the day, Tony negotiated a very low price for us to ride home on one of the large tour boats. The one-hour ride was less expensive than the bus/cab and immensely more enjoyable. Donna got to drive the boat for a while. We saw dolphins alongside the boat for a bit.     

     Also this week we started Engish classes at the Red Cross. The doctor, the nurse, three paramedics and a volunteer were in the class. They asked us if we could come more than once a week. We will be doing Tuesdays and Thursdays. They are anxious to learn because many of the "gringos" returning in October don't bother to learn Spanish.     

     A new friend, Juan T. invited us to the Mother's Day (Tuesday) celebration at the school. Afterwards, he and I cooked dinner for Donna and his wife Norma. They seem to be a very sweet couple. We will enjoy their frienship. We have offered to help their son with his English.     

     We are still dealing with some oppressive heat. The soon coming rain will cool it down. Today was mostly overcast but very humid. It only got down to 88 degrees last night. We are looking forward to being in the States for most of June for family visits and Angela's graduation from Focus One (Thank you Rockford First!!!) We'll be in Rockford, Elgin, Lake Zurich, Tennessee and Montana.