It IS wonderful and I'm having a great time in the Land of rice and beans. Gracias a Dios, Laura and I met at the airport, picked up our postage-stamp-sized rental car "Trudy Luigi" and set sail for the great unknown. We spent our first eve in BC ( Boca Chica) shopping at the Ole, exploring, and settling down at Rita's Refugio. Good times.
Tuesday morning we set sail for San Juan after a quick walk on the beach and Rita's delish toast and homemade marmalade. The drive wasn't too bad. The construction in the capital WAS horrendous but we made it to San Juan in under 4 hours. There were two dead horses noted on the road, along with the numerous dogs, donkeys, cars that should never be allowed on the roads again, motos, and wandering pedestrians. In San Juan, we dropped off some things at the Guesthouse, checked into the Detallista, and then visited with friends Bartolo and his beautiful family, and then the orphanage for a church service. How lovely to see old (and new) friends again!
Wednesday morning I got to meet some of my new colleagues/bosses for the first time, Dr. Canario and administrator Bienvenida. I'm so excited to be working with them! I'm also thrilled with my new digs, Room 16 at the Guesthouse. Laura and I dropped off my camera at the orphanage for Ronny to take some pictures of the Christmas meal on the 23rd for us, and then we headed to El Cercado, with one stop at the car wash (WHICH TOOK 45 MINUTES!) . El Cercado is always a blast! My "host" family is fun to begin with, let alone with numerous family members arriving for the holidays. Laura and I were welcomed with open arms and habichuelas con dulce (I'd love to try to describe it- but you just have to try it- UNBELIEVABLE!). My favorite "chupacabras" were thrilled to see me- and thrilled to play with the animal masks I brought them. I'm going to try to post some pix of them pretending to "roar" at the zoo, etc. We spent Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday morning in El Cercado, hanging with my beautiful family there, visiting Pastor Morales and some other friends. Laura got to go for a moto ride into the campos with Victor- beautiful beautiful pix! I'll try to post some of those as well (if I can figure out how to do that!).
Friday late morning we headed back to San Juan where we moved into the Guesthouse and then headed to the orphanage for the afternoon. Lovely time with some of my favorite guys and gals in the world.
Below is Waldy- one of my friends in El Cercado. He can barely get out of his own way...and I adore him.
This is Cristian, my host brother, and I, with the "chupacabras" extraordinaire!
One of the pix from Laura's moto ride in the campos.
Our darling "Trudy Luigi". She runs like a dream!
Cristian, Zaidy, me, "MaMa", and Laura in the patio...
At the orphanage....at the salon apparently???
Laura and I estamos contentas.
All in all- I'm feeling blessed this Christmas. I got to cuddle with some cutie cute babies over the past 2-3 days, got to feel a pregnant belly, got to growl like a lion at some 7 year olds, got to thumb wrestle and play "slap hands", laugh at some jokes, giggle with my dear friend Laura, get teary eyed, pray over a friend or two, sing Silent Night in two languages, drive through sugar cane fields with the most beautiful sun shining through, see my own breath in the mornings in El Cercado, eat a freshly picked naranja dulce and guayaba, feast on moro y carne, and love on some folks that I adore. Christ was born, guys, and the world was and IS forever changed. And I am changed, too. Happy Birthday Jesus...may we remember how you arrived...and how you remain...in us!
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