Simple Science

I didn’t realize being a missionary would require so much knowledge of science.  Since we’ve come to the mountains, we’ve found ourselves many times trying to explain complex concepts of Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Botany, Astronomy, and Physical Science in simple words.

As we broaden people’s worldviews and teach them about the world around them, we’re beginning to introduce the Creator through His creation.  The beauty, order, and majesty of the Creation show the goodness, faithfulness, sovereignty and awesomeness of our God.

Over the past year, we’ve struggled through explanations of these topics:

• Solar energy with solar panels and batteries
• Shooting Stars
• Tsunami
• Atmospheric pressure change when a storm is coming
• Pollination, crosspollination
• Lightning
• How menstrual cycles are related to babies
• Function of an umbilical cord
• How pupils dilate to let light into the eye so you can see

I’m sure we haven’t always communicated very clearly.  I think sometimes the people think we are CRAZY for our weird ideas!

Lately we’ve been explaining a lot of Biology – Chicken Biology.

Katie and I bought 2 chickens a few weeks ago.  We bought females because we only wanted eggs, and we bought 2 because we figured if they both lay frequently, that would give us a decent amount of eggs for cooking and baking.

When we first bought the chickens, the ladies we bought the chickens from told us we needed a rooster or we wouldn’t get eggs.  We explained that chickens will lay eggs whether there is a rooster or not, but there will only be chicks, however, if there is a rooster involved.

When we got the chickens home, our neighbors’ kids came over to see the commotion of the “gringos” getting chickens.  They kindly informed us that we wouldn’t get eggs unless there was a rooster to sit on the chickens.  So, we explained to them that you only need a rooster if you want chicks, but that the chickens would lay eggs nevertheless.

After a few days, we had collected a few eggs.  Everyone that came over wanted to see our chickens and their fancy chicken coop.  When they found out that the chickens were laying without a rooster, they said, “Oh, well, they came with eggs in them still from when they were with the rooster.  You better get a rooster if you want to keep getting eggs.”  Again, we explained how it works with chickens and eggs and roosters and chicks.

Now, after a few weeks of having chickens without any roosters, we are still getting eggs, 1 or 2 a day.  When our friends find out that our chickens are still laying eggs even without a rooster, they raise their eyebrows and nod as if saying, “Hmmm…. Well, what do you know?  Maybe those crazy white Americans really do know something!”