Mud Hen In a Peacock Parade E-Book

Dan R. Crawford

• Herausgeber: Worldwide Publishing Group
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Go ahead and laugh. Jesus did.
 
That's what you will do while reading Dan Crawford's Mud Hen in a Peacock Parade. He tells about church events, church people, and church leaders in a way that helps you see the humor instead of all the seriousness.
 
Dr. Crawford believes Jesus enjoyed life. He imagines Jesus laughing with His disciples-or even at them. The author wants you to laugh, too. And you will laugh as you turn every page of this sparkling, hilarious book.
 
"The Swan" joins "The Mud Hen" in the Comedy of Life's Parade!! And you need to jump into the line-up with us! So here's what you do: Grab a cup of dark-roast coffee- doctor it up a tad-and find your favorite chair and consume some GREAT comedic commentaries on life, provided by Dr. Mud Hen himself-Dr. Reverend "not so holy" Professor Dan Crawford. Dan gives us "laughter" with plenty of "life" on it! Matter of fact, it might be just the Medicine you need for what ails ya! So put the channel changer up...you wont need it-MUD HEN IN A PEACOCK PARADE
 
Dr. Dennis "the Swan" Swanberg, America's Minister of Encouragement
 

Leseprobe

Mud Hen

in a

Peacock Parade:

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to Heaven

Dan R. Crawford

"TheSwan"joins"TheMudHen"intheComedyofLife's Parade!!Andyouneedtojumpintotheline-upwithus!So here'swhatyoudo: Grabacupofdarkroastcoffeedoctorit upatad and findyourfavoritechairandconsumesome GREATcomediccommentariesonlifeprovidedbyDr.MudHenhimself Dr.Reverend "notsoholy"ProfessorDan Crawford.Dangivesus"laughter"withplentyof"life"onit!

Matter of fact, it might be just the Medicine you need for what ails ya! So put the channel changer up . . . you won't need itMUD HEN IN A PEACOCK PARADE will replace the "one eyed monster"!

Dr. Dennis "The Swan" Swanberg

America's Minister of Encouragement

www.dennisswanberg.com

Laughter is good medicine (Prov. 17:22). Dan Crawford provides us with some of the best of that kind of medicine with true humorous stories from his position with a wonderful seminary in which academic excellence and, yes, a rollicking sense of humor are required.

Al Fasol

retired professor of preaching

Southwestern Baptist Seminary

Author, Humor with a Halo

MyfirstideaasIthinkofthesefunnyeventsis:"Truthis strangerthanfiction."ThosewhoknowDanCrawfordknow thathe'snotactivelylookingforfunnystories.Theyjust happen,andhe'stheretoreportthem.It'sbeenmyprivilegeto bewithhimwhensomeofthefunnystories"happened." Readerswillenjoythisbookbecausemostwillrecallhaving beenthere,donethat.

Gerre Joiner

retired minister of music

Decatur, TX

Endorsements to the Second Edition

“Having read Dr. Crawford’s first edition, I have looked forward to a second edition.  I anticipate several more evenings of laughter as I escape into the memories of days we have all experienced - with the refreshing perspective of humor from our trusted friend and professor.  I encourage you to join me.”

Ray Woodard

Church Planting Catalyst

British Columbia, Canada

“I was excited to read Dr. Crawford’s first “Mud Hen” book because I’d heard there might be some familiar stories. I read each story laughing at some and raising my eyebrows at others. Dr. Dan’s wit and humor comes through in each story along with some good advice. What amazes me is his remarkable memory. I am just as excited to read the second edition.”

Carolyn Ramsey

Information Systems Analyst

Texoma Medical Center

Women’s Ministry Leader

Denison, Texas.

“I have been looking forward to this second edition since I heard it was coming out. Serving on a church staff for over 30 years one experiences so many fun, laughable things in their journey. Dr. Crawford was able to pen what he experienced, and I laughed so hard. I was entertained at the stories in his first book. His incredible wit shines out in his writings, and I can't wait to read the second edition.”

Joel Salazar

Minister of Music, First Baptist Church

Grand Prairie, Texas

“I am looking forward to the second edition of “Mud Hen”. Dr. Crawford’s easy wit and keen storytelling are a delightful reminder to keep watch for the humor in our life’s moments, and to enjoy laughing! As he said in the first edition, “fun is where you find it”. Yes, it is, Dr. Crawford, yes, it is, and your stories are priceless.” 

Eileen Steffen Crowell

Executive Vice President, Churchworx, Inc

Pianist, Baptist Temple Church

The Heights, Houston, TX 

“Dr. Crawford reflects on the countless experiences the Lord gives us along our journey, some hilarious, some sad, some moving.  He causes us to laugh and cry almost at the same time, but most of all he helps us celebrate the journey the Lord has given us as we walk through life, reminded of the faithfulness of God through it all.”

Dr. Hal Cunnyngham

Associate Vice President

Southern Baptist International Mission Board

“Mud Hen in a Peacock Parade is a book that takes a winsome and lighthearted look at life. Dan Crawford will make you laugh and keep you looking for the humor in your own circumstances. Don’t let life get you down, Read this book.”

Dr. Donna Wright

Education & Communication Ministry

West Mobile Baptist Church

Mobile, Alabama.

"Dr. Crawford's droll and whimsical humor has brightened my life for decades! I have eagerly looked forward to this next edition of his hilarious stories!"

Fred Lawrence

Marketing Director

International Management Consulting Firm.

© Copyright 2009, 2022 Dan R. Crawford

All rights reserved. No part of this collection may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except in the case of brief quotations for use in articles and reviews, without written permission from the author.

Except where otherwise indicated, all Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright 1979 and 1980 by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

7710-T Cherry Park Dr, Ste 224

Houston, TX 77095

713-766-4271

Cover design: Teresa Granberry, HarvestCreek.net 

Dedicated to

Those who have helped me laugh when crying would have been easier.

TableofContents

An Explanation of the Book Title

Mud Hen in a Peacock Parade

ChapterOne

EarlyLaughter

ChapterTwo

CollegeStudentDaze

ChapterThree

StudentPastorates

Chapter Four

TheologyandPractice

ChapterFive

YoungOnce, ImmatureForever

ChapterSix

On the Road Again

ChapterSeven

BackontheHill

ChapterEight

InterimInterludes

ChapterNine

MyLifewithMusicians

ChapterTen

WorldTravels

ChapterEleven

Retirement – TheBeat(andtheLaughter)GoesOn

ChapterTwelve

Shared Laughter

Second Edition Mud Hen Stories and Quotes

A Few Additional Quotes Without Footnotes

Appendix:QuoteswithoutFootnotes

An Explanation of the Book Title

Mud Hen in a Peacock Parade

While enduring a boring graduation speech, the inspiration for this book popped into my head.

A few days earlier I had received a call from the university president's office. The call informed me that this particular year was a Baptist year to pray at graduation. Since I was the Baptist campus minister, I accepted the invitation. Graduation at the University of Texas at Austin is held outside on the mall in front of the Main Building, better known as the University Tower. Program personalities sit on the steps of the tower with the audience facing the main entrance to the building. Inscribed in stone over the door-and clearly visible to the graduation audience are the words of Jesus recorded in John 8:32, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." I had decided to include that in my invocation. As the procession began I was introduced to the speaker, the president of another very highly regarded academic institution. My place in the processional was between the speaker and the president of the University of Texas. They each had several academic degrees, so their robes were adorned with many colors. We were followed by the university's faculty members adorned in their robes of many colors. I had not yet completed my doctor's degree, so I marched in a black robe, with black hat. Someone commented that I looked like a mud hen in a peacock parade.

As the graduation ceremony continued, I tried desperately to stay awake, since I was seated on the platform in front of hundreds of graduates and their families. Graduation speeches are notoriously boring. Garry Trudeau, author of the Doonesbury comic strip, once said, "Graduation speeches were invented largely in the belief that college students should never be released into the world until they have been properly sedated.”

In the midst of one of the most boring graduation addresses I had ever heard (and I have heard dozens of them), I began to think of other interesting experiences in my life. Somehow every experience that sprang to my mind reminded me of that mud hen surrounded by peacocks. I have often been in over my head but thankfully never over my heart. And God has granted me a wonderful sense of humor that allows me to see the fun side of almost everything. So while some have found their life paths full of negatives, I have envisioned mine as a series of funny things happening on my way to heaven.

But let's get back to the commencement service. In my invocation I had quoted the verse inscribed over the door and thanked God for the pursuit of truth in which the University was engaged and also the Truth that sets us free. In the midst of the graduation speech the speaker made an eye-opening statement, "Now I must correct the Rev. Mr. Crawford from his prayer earlier. Truth is relative. It is not embodied in any person." Most were asleep when he made this bold statement, but he sure got my attention. I stopped worrying when I remembered that I was also responsible for the benediction.

An old Southern expression says "Church ain't over until the fat lady sings." As the Texas A&M University basketball team tied the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the buzzer in the final game of the 1976 Southwest Conference Tournament, announcer Ralph Carpenter said, "The opera ain't over’ till the fat lady sings." Various sports announcers picked up the phrase saying, "The game ain't over’ till the fat lady sings."1 Well, graduation wasn't over’ till the Mud Hen prayed the second time! Go Mud Hens!

Preface

A preface is a pre-face. That image in itself could produce laughter. What is pre-face? What comes prior to a face; is preliminary to a face; precedes a face? Perhaps pre-face is a blank look, a solemn expression, a neutral emotion. Whatever it is, it is a pre-laughing face. So, before we laugh, let's be serious for a brief time.

In the Bible you arrive at the 17th chapter of Genesis to read, "Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed" (Gen. 17:17). In the first reference to laughter in human history, Abraham was laughing at what he thought was a joke, that a 100-year-old-man and a 90-year-old-woman could produce a child. When Sarah heard the announcement, she joined her husband and, "laughed within herself’ (Gen. 18:12). Then, displaying a wonderful sense of humor, she named the child Isaac, meaning "laughter'', and proclaimed, "God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me" (Gen. 21:3, 6). Shared laughter is always better than solo laughter. Although no Scripture reference to it exists, I suspect God had the last laugh on this subject.

The word of the Lord concerning Sennacherib included this statement: The daughter of Zion has despised you, laughed you to scorn (2 Kings 19:21).

In the midst of Job's suffering his friend, Bildad, offered words of encouragement. He said of God, "He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing" (Job 8:21). Interestingly enough, in this book of the Bible with so much suffering, trial, and grief, laughter is mentioned six times.

Balancing the wrath, judgment, vengeance, and anger of God, the psalmist proclaims, He who sits in the heavens shalllaugh (Ps. 2:4). This is the first of seven references to laughter in this Hebrew hymnbook. It would not be the last time music would provide joy and laughter.

In the wisdom literature of the Old Testament laughter is mentioned three times in Proverbs. Among his four references to laughter the writer of Ecclesiastes offers a sample list of "every purpose under heaven" listing "a time to laugh" as one of the purposes (Eccl. 3: 1, 4).

Twice in the serious writing of the Hebrew prophets, laughter is mentioned once in Isaiah and once in Ezekiel.

Before Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead, Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record that the people laughed at the idea that she was only sleeping.

In Luke's version of the Sermon on the Mount he remembered Jesus saying, "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh." Then a few verses later he quotes Jesus as saying, "Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep" (Luke 6:21, 25). Indeed, we have a proper and correct time to laugh.

The final reference to laughter in the Bible is in the midst of the New Testament epistles in the letter of James.

I believe Jesus enjoyed life. I have no problem imagining Him laughing with His disciples-or even at them. He was constantly criticizing the religious leaders for their serious legalism and their self-righteous lifestyle. Yet His humor was not designed to hurt as is some of today's humor. I agree with an earlier British writer who concluded, "It is very important to understand that the evident purpose of Christ's humor is to clarify and increase understanding, rather than hurt."2

To fail to recognize, enjoy, and even emulate the humor of our Lord is to miss much of the joy of life. In his classic book, The Humor of Christ, Elton Trueblood, wrote:

"The widespread failure to recognize and to appreciate the humor of Christ is one of the most amazing aspects of the era named for Him. Anyone who reads the Synoptic Gospels with a relative freedom from presuppositions might be expected to see that Christ laughed, and that He expected others to laugh, but our capacity to miss this aspect of His life is phenomenal. We are so sure that he was always deadly serious that we often twist His words in order to try to make them conform to our preconceived mold. A misguided piety has made us fear that acceptance of His obvious wit and humor would somehow be mildly blasphemous or sacrilegious. Religion, we think, is serious business, and serious business is incompatible with banter."3

Likewise, Henri Cormier wrote, "Jesus has a sense of humor. Even today in us and in our midst He wants to show that sense of humor. "4

Granted, life is not just one big laugh. Most of life is serious; some is solemn. As the writer of Ecclesiastes expressed, we have a time for weeping as well as a time for laughter.

The purpose of this book is not to diminish the value of seriousness nor to de-emphasize the need for weeping. Rather my purpose is to exalt the blessedness of laughter and joy.

Leslie Weatherhead wrote, "The opposite of joy is not sorrow. It is unbelief."5We believe, therefore in the value of joy and the potential for proper laughter. Believers have more reason to laugh than anyone does. Indeed, more genuine joy exists at a Christian funeral than at a non-Christian party.

In preparation for this book I read various articles and books on the subject of laughter. Some were helpful. Others made me laugh. I tried to think seriously when I read, "researchers have tried to prove laughter results from detecting incongruities or responding to humorous stimuli." I seriously did not understand what that meant, so I laughed. Then I read, "Studies have found laughing comparable to progressive relaxation and minor analgesics in reducing stress and pain." Wanting to reduce stress and pain I liked what I understood about that statement.

In his book, Laughter: A Scientific Investigation, Robert R. Provine, professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, offers the following guidelines for inviting laughter into your life:

"Be social. When you build friendships, you're building laughter. The best way to start yourself laughing is to find someone to laugh with.

"Seek out groups. The old adage, the more the merrier, is true. A large crowd laughs more than a small one.

"Follow the sound of laughter. Laughter is contagious, so put yourself in situations where you'll catch it.

"Lower your laughter threshold. We tend to do this automatically in certain situations. If you are with someone who once made you laugh, you expect to repeat the experience. Once you're primed for laughter, even mild humor may seem hysterical.

"Keep funny things around photographs, joke books, movies you've enjoyed, etc. . . . or something that connects you to another person even in his/her absence, such as a funny card the person sent to you. Such items can be potent pick-me-ups, so make them readily available for when you need them most.

"Think beyond your own laughter. A sense of humor, a trait admired by everyone, refers not to your yuks and titers, but to your ability to give the gift of laughter. Laughter is a gift that is always returned with interest."6

Further demonstrating the value of laughter is a wonderful story originally reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1976 and more recently retold by my good friend Dan Pryor in his newsletter, Speed Bumps7Norman Cousins, former editor of the Saturday Review, was stricken in 1964 with ankylosing spondylitis, a serious, painful, connective tissue disease. He concluded his traditional treatment of hospitalization and medication was not adequate. Each day his friends brought old reels of Candid Camera and Marx Brothers movies, which they watched together in his hospital room. Cousins found that 10 minutes of belly laughs provided him two hours of restful, pain-free sleep. When his "degree of inflammation" was measured after a hearty laughing spell, it measured a significant decrease.

As Grady Nutt, "The Prime Minister of Humor" on the old television program Hee Haw, often said, "Laughter is the hand of God on the shoulder of a troubled world."

And Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, wrote in his Ministry ToolBox:

"Humor is an amazing thing. It's a tension dissolver. It's an antidote to anxiety. It's just like a tranquilizer, but without any troublesome side effects. And it's free! You don't even need a prescription. Laughter is life's shock absorber. If you want to have less stress in your life, learn to laugh at your circumstances. Somehow, you must find the fun in frustrating (circumstances). If you can laugh at it, you can live with it."8

Robert A. Emmons, professor of psychology at the University of California at Davis and a leading scholar of positive psychology, conducted an analysis of hundreds of psychological studies. He concluded, "Our lives do not just seem better when we are happythey actually become better. Happy people tend to live longer, have more loving marriages, are healthier, live an average of seven to nine years longer than chronically unhappy people, and have more successful careers."9

But enough seriousness! Democritus was known as the "Laughing Philosopher of Abde'ra." He was a Greek philosopher who developed one of the first atomist theories of the universe and espoused the doctrine that pleasure along with self-control is the goal of human life. But he began to take things too seriously. He reportedly put out his eyes so that he might think more deeply. Don't do that.

Preface to the Second Edition

Among other things, in the twelve years since the first edition of this book, I have visited a lot of doctors. One of the good things about visiting the office of a medical doctor is seeing what is on the wall. Often times it is pictures or shadow boxes of medical instruments or practices of long-ago. That’s what I saw during one visit – a picture of an old-time method of facial care. It was an instrument to be used on the face with the following instructions: “Pat across the corner of the mouth, across the laughter lines toward each ear.” Laughter lines? As soon as I got home I starting to research what was a heretofore unknown term to me. I discovered I knew the condition better as “Crow’s Feet” - the tiny wrinkles at the outer corners of the eyes resulting from age, sometimes called laughter lines. Further I learned that new research shows they don’t just make you look old, but the wrinkles make you look angry as well. Then I discovered a song entitled “Laughter Lines” with the following lyrics: “I’ll see you in the future when we’re older and we are full of stories to be told. Cross my heart and hope to die, I’ll see you with your laughter lines.” As I age, I want my laughter lines to represent happiness, not anger. When God’s people returned to Zion from captivity they sang: “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations . . . the Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad” (Psalm 126:2-3). The Lord has done “great things” for me also, and I am glad. It is my sincere hope that the second edition of this little book will create positive “laughter lines” for you and make you glad.

Read and enjoy. Laugh at me. Laugh with me. Laugh around me. Laugh behind my back. Laugh over my head. But, for goodness' sake, laugh! Among other benefits, it will make your journey to heaven more enjoyable and heaven more recognizable.

ChapterOne

EarlyLaughter

King's Daughters Hospital in Temple, TX, had a tradition of placing one newborn baby each day in a special show-window. While all newborns were visible to the adoring eyes of family and friends, the show-window baby was designated as special.

I am told I was left in that special window for one week. Based on my appearance through the years I am fairly certain I was not left in the window because of good looks. It must have been my pleasant disposition! Or then again it may have been the fact that my mother was a registered nurse at the same hospital. Nevertheless I began in the spotlight with people making funny faces at me and laughing. Not many of those people are still around, but none of them would be surprised that I would write a book allowing and encouraging people to laugh at me. So allow me to put myself in the show-window once again. Laugh at your leisure.

Amen-sit down!

Because my father was the pastor, I grew up in and around the church. While other kids my age were experiencing laughter in various places, most of my laughter took place at church. When you start going to church activities at an early age, misunderstanding some things is easy. We seemed to often hear Greek words from the Bible. So whenever we heard a word we did not understand, we assumed it must be a Greek word. I did not understand the word "Amen." All I knew was that every time anyone said "Amen," people sat down. So I grew up thinking "Amen" was a Greek word meaning "sit down."

It runs in the family

When the Crawford family gathered, the occasion always included generous helpings of food and fun. The fun usually began immediately on the arrival of the first family member. The food was usually spread around the kitchen and served all-you-can-eat buffet style. At one family Christmas dinner my grandfather did an exceptional job overloading his plate at the buffet table. He was reminded he didn't have to get all of his food on his first time through the buffet line but could go back to the kitchen for seconds. He replied, "No thanks! I've eaten with this family before. There likely won't be anything left in the kitchen when I get ready for seconds."

Christmas confusion

One December during my childhood the teachers at our church were having us draw pictures of Christmas. They asked us to emphasize in our artwork the importance of the spiritual parts of our celebration. I had no trouble drawing baby Jesus and the manger. However, one kid, who attended church only occasionally, drew his picture complete with a round, chubby character looking around the corner of the manger. When asked who the fat figure was, the kid replied, "Round John Virgin!"

Nicecatch!

Men-and-boy fishing trips were always worth a few laughs. Someone usually fell into the lake or river or got pushed in. Older boys always seemed to try to convince the younger boys how good the bait tasted. The men always seemed to do more fishing than the boys did. One wondered for whom these trips were really designed! I'll never forget the year one of the men landed a 55-pound catch. He only needed a few minutes to reel in his catch. Of course, over an hour was necessary to get the hook out of the kid’s arm.

Ididn'tknowthat!

Even my baptism provided a bit of humor. I obviously was excited about being baptized and could hardly wait to tell everyone I knew. On Monday morning I delighted in explaining to my third-grade teacher all about my Sunday-night baptism. She listened with detached interest. No smile. No congratulations. No emotion. I was puzzled since everyone else had shared in my excitement and been extremely affirming. That night when I asked my parents what was wrong with my teacher, they informed me she was Jewish. I didn't know that!

Footballfiasco

On Wednesday evenings at church we always had our mission activities followed by prayer meeting. If we attended the mission activity and had our memory work done, we were allowed to play football during prayer meeting, which seemed a far better use of a boy's time. The football field was next to the auditorium where the prayer meeting was held. Actually it was next to the beautiful and expensive stained-glass windows of the auditorium where the prayer meeting was held. On fourth down, Mark White, who about 30 years later would be elected governor of Texas, punted for our team. The football went off the side of his foot toward the stained-glass windows. For what seemed to be an eternity, a group of mission-minded, football-player wannabees watched in horror-anticipating the first known excommunication of youth from a Baptist church. Somehow, the football glanced off the windows without any harm being done. When asked why he kicked the ball into the windows, Mark explained, "Crawford made a bad snap from center." I remember thinking then, "Mark ought to go into politics when he grows up."

Hospitalhumor

When I was 15-years old, I was in an automobile accident with four other teen-agers from our church. We were on our way to a church-sponsored hayride and had become lost. We made a left turn and then stopped after we realized we had made a mistake. As we waited for the traffic to clear before we backed onto the highway, a speeding driver under the heavy influence of alcohol left the highway and hit our car with such force that we spun around in the air several times before the car rested. When the car landed, I no longer was in it. I was in a water-filled drainage ditch. Later I was diagnosed with a broken second vertebra of the neck. The recovery time was nine months.

While I experienced many days of disappointment and tears during the recovery, I also had days of joy and laughter. I remember looking at the hospital ceiling fan one day and wondering how many tissues I could throw and make land on the fan’s blades. I gave it a try, with my mother picking up all of my mistakes. I'm not sure how many tissues I finally got on the blades, but I do remember a very stern and serious nurse coming into the room to ask if I needed anything. "Sure do!" I said. "It's really warm in here. Could you please turn on the ceiling fan?" I'll never forget the look on her face when it began to snow tissues all over that room. When you have a choice between laughter and crying, laughter usually is the better selection!

Speakingofhayrides

In the preceding story, I mentioned a hayride. I realize that younger readers may not understand this term, especially if they have been reared in an urban setting. Let me begin by explaining a theory adults during my youth widely held about rearing teen-agers. That theory held that if our church leaders and parents could keep us busy at church, we would not have time to sin. One of the many act1v1t1es invented by adults in their attempt to keep us pure was the hayride. For the hayride a wagon or flatbed truck was secured. Hay was purchased or donated from someone's country relative. A cool night with a full moon was selected. And young people with far too few chaperones went riding on the hay in the moonlight. Well, it kept us involved in church activities. Unfortunately, most people my age who were active churchgoers in their teens learned to sin on hayrides

Summerchurchcamp

Another activity designed to keep us busy was the summer church camp. For me, it was an annual July week on the Texas Gulf coast at Palacios Baptist Encampment. This camp was selected by a group of angry, older people who set out on a mission to find the hottest, most mosquito infested, worst water tasting portion of earth on God's great globe. When they found Palacios, TX, their mission was finished. Now, before citizens of Palacios start to write me angry letters, I need to add that holy ground does not actually exist. Holy ground is ground made holy because one meets God on it. Every July I met God at Palacios. I first felt God's call to ministry at Palacios. I finally surrendered to that call at Palacios. Some of my greatest memories of my teen-age years were at Palacios. Palacios was to me holy ground, despite its being very hot with many mosquitoes and foul-tasting water.