Olga, Dengue, and other Tropical Plagues

December 8-10 Tropical Storm Olga hit the Dominican Republic. It rained and rained and rained some more. School was closed for a day or two, rivers and therefore bridges flooded, and some homes were lost. It was "cold." When it rains constantly and the sun doesn't shine, it actually does start to feel cold here. Homes are without insulation and heat. And people aren't prepared for "cold" weather.

December 10-12 Dengue Fever hit the Mackey household. Charming Elena escaped the evil mosquitos that bit Rick, Becky and Ben. We three shivered, shook and moaned through fever, joint and bone pain, eye and head aches. Sleep was a blissful escape from the torture and we slept a LOT. All the while we were waiting for the dreaded rash which comes at the end. It itches and if you scratch it, it burns! After 7 days of suffering and thinking about the plagues of Egypt and Job, the overt symptoms lifted and we were left totally wiped out. Recovery from dengue takes a few weeks to a month. Ben bounced back the fastest, then Rick, and Becky brought up the rear. She is finally feeling normal again in mid-January.

Being sick can really make a person homesick. Fortunately our missionary friends supplied us with plenty of soup, juice, and crackers. A couple times our neighbors ran to buy something from the colmado (neighborhood grocery store) for us. Our housekeeper, Geralda, gave us TLC every day even coming on Saturday and Sunday. Fortunately there isn't a bridge between Geralda's house and ours as Storm Olga put some bridges were under water in Jarabacoa!

The sun and our health have returned and we are enjoying both! We are very thankful for all the prayers and emails we received from the States and around the world.