Students and Snakes

Ed Hyslip explaining air/fuel mixtures as Lynn Lagore translates.

It's been a busy week for the Mercy Tech crew, and for their students as well. After a couple of classroom sessions on the operation of diesel engines - and especially the importance of a proper fuel to air ratio - we stepped outside to take a look at the farm backhoe.

A warning light for the air filter had been coming on, and when we opened up the air cleaner assembly, we found enough dirt and soot inside to create a small mountain. A great object lesson for the students, but not such a great thing for the backhoe!

Ed Hyslip explaining how to inspect an air filter, with translating courtesy of Leila Frank.

Judging from Ed's expression, this was perhaps the dirtiest air filter he'd ever seen.

A number of other vehicle problems, like dead batteries and blown tail light fuses, have provided excellent opportunities for hands-on teaching. It makes the classroom sessions come alive for the students.

Prosper applying the skills he has learned as he inspects an air filter from the Isuzu pickup.

Another item of interest was a small (but poisonous) snake that was lurking in a mango tree one cold morning where we were having staff devotions.

Some pretty amazing camouflage!

After a great 51st birthday dinner for ASAM Field Director Dwight Lagore at the Motel Garuso, we are now ready to begin Week 2 of our training program.  We have lots to teach (with many broken vehicles to teach from!) and the time is short. But God is doing amazing things and the work is going well.

Ed Hyslip and Tendai Neufeld