Renzo returns to work, may need more rest

Renzo returned to work Monday, receiving a warm welcome back by Viña Studios’ staff. He appeared to be recuperating remarkably well, but he will probably require much more rest before he can resume normal duties.

When he attempted to return for work this morning, he looked a bit pale, tired and unsteady on his feet, even saying as much. He left before noon, when his father came to Viña’s offices to take him home. I’m afraid he overexerted himself yesterday.

Renzo was injured on April 19 on a bus, when a heavy construction loader crashed into the rear of the bus. The loader’s scoop apparently made impact with his head, cracking his skull and causing a depression. Two surgeries and more than 30 stitches repaired the damage.

Guatemala’s workers’ compensation system set a short timetable for his return to work. Viña’s staff is working now to try to have it extended.

Renzo’s hair is growing over the long scar on the left side of his head from his accident three weeks ago. Renzo works in administration and studio recording. He has a background in radio, and has an excellent radio voice.

Please continue to pray for Renzo's recovery. I suspect he may need a couple more weeks of rest before he really feels like working a regular schedule.

(In the photos, Renzo, seated, shares a laugh with Edgar, Viña's operations manager, and Matt, a volunteer with SIL International at Viña. In the second, he and Edgar go over some receipts.)

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Plenty of other comings and goings are keeping Viña a hopping place.

Matt and Marcia, who help with administration and Scripture-use projects, returned from a brief visit to the states.

Aaron Appleton, a young college graduate from Greenville College, finished his year of volunteer service and flies home tomorrow. His farewell party, of course, called for a bit of wrestling, which you can see here. Aaron is a musician, audio technician and a very easy going young guy. His work helping set up a recording studio as well as record a number of songs in Belize was apparently very much appreciated, nearly winning him several offers of marriage by appreciative ladies.

Kay, a new volunteer to Viña, arrived last week for several months to help compile a catalog of Viña’s ministry products. I also moved to a new place somewhat more remote than before. More about that later.

My blog has looked neglected lately, for which some may have breathed a sigh of relief. I spent the past week in Guatemala City at Rick and Carol McArthur’s, working and planning future projects for Viña. We had a good week together, and I really enjoyed eating their delicious breads and familiar foods. This evening, in fact, I got to enjoy some more as Matt and Marcia invited me to join them for dinner on the spur of the moment.

I’m realizing that no matter how much I think I’ve adjusted to Guatemala, it’s not my home ... and neither is Oregon (Hebrews 11:13-16). May God grant his people hearts that yearn for their heavenly home with him.