Well, We Still have the Machete...

The power of love...
as evidenced by a Haitian brown taratula named Zarry

Zarry (long "A", like star) had a long and wonderful like in the mountains of Haiti near Pignon.  He crawled around and ate crickets and such.  He particularly liked to hang out in, on, and around human showers.  He made his way into a container bound for Iowa where he lived happily with his human & canine family until he drew his last breath on January 25th, 2011 at 4:43pm CST.

His legacy of love as I see it:

-  He drew a group of missionaries together (and in hard moments pointed out their failings).

-  He was a daily reminder of my Christian family at United Christians international.  It makes laugh to picture Kerri trying to teach me the Creole word for spider: "Zar-en-yen... oh nevermind, just call him Zarry" :)

-  He made airport security laugh (something I've never seen anything accomplish in my whole life).

-  He was a really neat gift for a loving husband who waited two weeks for me to get home last August.

-  I've been able to witness my husband's care and reverence for another living creature and that's been  pretty darn cool.  From a shotgun trip to Des Moines to get Zarry all the bells and whistles a fancy terrarium can provide, to weekly trips to Oskaloosa to get live crickets.  My husband is the most wonderful man on earth.  Even before we disposed of the body he said "well, a plastic bag isn't what he deserves, but it's all we have" I fell in love with him all over again.  Now he just keeps saying "poor Zarry".  I love him!

Bondye Beni Ou (God bless you)!