Broken Laptop

I really couldn’t believe it. I tried pushing the power button several times extra just because of that very same disbelief. My constant and gradually growing belief in my wife’s expertly honed skills in pushing buttons had been shattered in one fell swoop.

I had just used my laptop about three hours earlier. There was nothing wrong with it at the time, (aside for the cracks in the case and scratches on the screen, of course.) My wife came home and went directly to my desk, where the computer sat connected and ready to turn on and use at the moment’s notice. She pushed the power button, probably hoping to read the more recent emails I go to download most days, and walked to the bathroom while she waited for it to boot. She quickly completed her evening routine of washing her face and brushing her teeth and then returned to the computer.

Seeing that it hadn’t started up she pushed the button again. After several tries she went to hide sit on the porch and listen to the water splash on the pilings under the house.

When I found her I still knew nothing of this series of events. She hesitated and tried to make small talk, but finally, quietly, she said, “I need to tell you something, but I’m afraid you’re going to be angry.”

Now, for those of you who aren’t married or are still too fresh at it to recognize, that was a warning that I would not only not like the news, but that the rest of the evening depended on how I treated her after she reported it to me. I’m getting pretty good at receiving the actual intention of that warning and I handled the information pretty well.

I worked on the problem most of the night and well into the next day, unable to sleep very well for worrying about it. Finally I realized that the power button cover for the laptop is not actually the power button itself. It merely links to and, when functioning properly, pushes down the actual power switch button, which is a much less attractive little component soldered to a green circuit wafer inside the computer’s encasement chassis.

Anyway, last night I pried the button cover out of it’s hole and reached in to the hole with a thin screwdriver to manually push the unattractive little power button on the inside of the machine. Once I saw that my little laptop friend was not permanently out of commission I began the long and arduous task of replacing all those little warranty canceling screws that only a technician is supposed to remove. (Why is it that you always seem to have a different number of holes than screws? Is that the same principal that causes you to have more dirt to put back in the hole than what you took out of it?)

So now that you know the rest of the story, aren’t you sorry for being miffed that I haven’t answered your emails or posted a blog posting in the past few days? Well, I feel better for having told you anyway.

P.S. Completely aside from my laptop conundrum, (Isn’t that a super word?), I’m reading a fictional novel based on the life of the Apostle Paul. It’s entitled PAUL: A Novel and it’s written by Walter Wangerin, who was recently interviewed by Christianity Today Magazine. He's got quite a few books out there and some of them look really good. I really recommend Paul: A Novel, though. It’ll help you understand a lot of the statements he made in the Epistles.

God Bless You!!!

Roger Engle

from Katrina

I am still working with the deaf, and becoming a little more fluent in signs. I have one boy right now thirteen years old. He is very smart, and his vocabulary is increasing everyday. I have a girl, and a friend of hers who wants to come for the summer to teach us both, as I do not have the time right now to completely immerse my self, and that is holding him back. Any material I can get on it will be greatly appreciated. Right now we have thirty four children (including mine). Yesterday I was awarded custody of four children who were orphaned by a friend of mine who died of aids some months ago. She wanted me to have them, but the aunt took them hoping to get the two houses they own. One is severely retarded, then a five year old girl, and six year old boy, a fourteen year old girl, and possibly a twelve year old who we have to go back to court for as she is with another family member. They were being abused and neglected very sad, sad situation for their sakes I am glad it is over. I only hope that we will be here for the next thirteen years to raise them. The judge of the state, with the captain of the Special Forces, and the captain of the police department, and the chief of human rights came to drop them off. The retarded girl scooted in (she cannot walk,) and looked at me and said mommy give me a kiss in Miskito everyone laughed. God has truly given us favor with the govt. officials here. We have had five malnourished babies this past month, and we have one more coming this week nine months old seven pounds. It is incredible that they can survive so long. We started home schooling this year we have twenty students. God has touched the founder's heart to build us a separate building for a class room. We are happy with this new project. We have a group in, and I got new shelves in my office, and storage room, and bunk beds, a new clothes line etc. etc. blessings all of them blessings to make it easier having a house full of kids. We are very happy working, and feel we are making a difference. One little retarded boy twenty pounds and five years of age came, and his body was so atrophied he could not even lift his own head, he has been with us since we got home, and he is holding his own head up, and trying to crawl, and holds a cup now, the child hardly ever cries a very happy little boy. He is also gaining weight slowly, but surely. He gets therapy twice a day. I don’t have the time to write about all of them its past midnight, but I have been wanting to get a letter out to you. When the orphans came yesterday I went to my office, and looked for something special to welcome them home. I found twin baby dolls for the two little girls. They were very happy. So I thought of you of course. Most of what I brought was given away as Christmas presents which all the children enjoyed, but I brought enough for some extra as well. We are waiting for the container with the rest of what you sent eagerly, esp. now that I have shelves to put them all on. Anyway I think that is all hope you are all fine. Thanks for everything we miss you. Blessings Katrina

God Bless You!!!

Roger Engle

Lindsey on hosting children.

Hey Everybody,

 

Recently, I’ve posted some shorts from, Lindsey, a teen friend of ours whose family hosts some of the children who have to go to the US for orthopedic surgery or what not.

 

About a week ago I asked her if she would write an article to give others an idea of what it’s like having these kids in their home.

 

This is her response.

 

Well, Roger, you asked: ‘What is it like hosting kids from the House of Hope when they come to the USA?’ 

 

Keeping kids from Honduras is the greatest experience that I think our family has ever had!  We have had the opportunity to keep three wonderful children!  Our first was a little girl, by the name of Chelma.  She was a 3 year old with club-feet and she was in the U.S. for about 6 or 7 months.  She learned a lot of English while she was here.  We fell in love with her! 

 

Our second little guest was Glaci.  She was five.  Her leg was broken when she was a baby and it had never been set.  We fell in love with her, too.  She also picked up English fairly well. 

 

There is not a day that goes by that we don't think about them, and wonder what and how they’re doing.  They are now a part of our family. 

 

In fact, we got to see them when went down to Honduras last summer, and it was so good to see them.  We were able to communicate with them easily because they had picked up English so well when they was with us. 

 

Right know we’re keeping 14 year old Artenisia.  She just had both legs amputated because of very serious club feet. We have already fallen in love with her, too.  It is a lot different though, because she doesn’t speak any English, and my sister, Meagan, and I only speak a little Spanish.  It’s really cool because we met her when we were down there in Honduras last summer, so it’s nice getting to see her again. 

 

If you ever get the chance to keep a kid that needs a home, don't let it slip away.  It is the best thing you could ever do! You will have so many good memories.  Trust me.  Even better would be if you get the chance to go down to Honduras and visit the House of Hope.  If you do get that chance, then go!  It was the best trip I’ve ever taken, and I can't wait to go back.  They are the coolest people and the sweetest kids you’ll ever meet. 

 

Lindsey

14 years old

 

Thanks again, Lindsey!

 

 

God Bless You!!!

 

Roger Engle