I try not to live in fear of the dangerous things and situations found here in the Gumuz mountains, so I let the children run and play freely with some restricted areas. For example: The mango tree is off limits after two dangerous snake appearances. One can falsely assume that ones' house is a secure place but I have been reminded many times that this is not so. It is better to put my trust in the Lord that saves rather than a house that appears safe.
Last week, a snake was found in our back porch, but a few weeks ago, our colleague, Cherie called down to our house hoping that Joel might help her with a snake in her house. Hmmm, well my 9 year old son is very adept at shooting with his bow but I wasn't quite ready to have him attempt killing a snake on his own. So we called our guard and asked him to join us in the house. The snake slithered from behind the bookshelf towards the couch and it was quite clear who the hunters were - the male members in the house. The rest of us shrunk back in fear.
Shockingly it found a hole in the wall and slithered into a metal tubing that holds the plywood walls in place. There was no way we could reach this snake and no way that Cherie would want to share her house with it. So our guard came up with a solution (for the snakes usually appear when my husband is away). Our guard and Joel mixed some cement and began stuffing the pipe with cement. Within 1/2 hour it was hardened and we hope the pipe does not lead anywhere into the house. Hopefully the snake met its death inside. Nightmares are fairly common after a snake event but thankfully none of them are ongoing.
