El Domingo Part 2

Bueno, I’ll start back in midday. After lunch at the regadío we were all sitting around while the youth was watering the ground and getting ready to play volleyball. Some were standing up on the balcony on Maelsers second floor watching the activity. Others on his house  porch in the shade. Others under the mango trees in shade. I caught up with some people and how their families had grown like Yuli. Ennio got a metal basket picker with a long extension and started picking mangos. Sometimes a mango would fall and thud down on the tin roof under where some people sat. One barely missed Royce where he sat under a mango tree. With the extender Ennio started giving the mangos to people. Yuli and I laughed because it looked like a good thing to have during covid. Then it would've felt handy to some people to hand over things from thirty feet away. The mangos weighed pretty much and bent the stick way over when he had a few in the basket. It looked hard to bring it down and swing it around to give to someone.

   Flor and I went to the grocery store together just like old times, talking all the while. It feels like yesterday to be with her. She needed plates and cups for supper.

   When we got back, Berna made the announcement about buying pizza (in both languages) and asked if anyone wanted to help with money . He’s got great enthusiasm for everything he does. He stood up on the tailgate and hollered, “Money, money, money! Pizza, pizza, pizza! Money, money money! “ and the youth filed by and put their crumpled or rolled up money in his hands. Teresa arranged it all by denomination and Flor ordered the pizza from Pollo Campero. Some of the families that were staying to eat also helped.

   The pizza was amazing. One had fried chicken chunks and a ranch dressing drizzled over it and Parmesan cheese. Berna sat at our table and Wes and Dad visited with him about construction here.

After supper the youth played musical chairs. The announcer (person who'd been left without a chair) would say "If you want to get married in the next three years." and all those who got up had to quickly find another chair or else be the next announcer.

   Then folks and I went to Ronal’s house. Because it was dark and the path down to the river and the bridge is uneven Sheny had Ronal drive across the river to the parking area and pick us up. We’d wanted to buy coffee but they wouldn’t let us. They just gifted it. They have a second story porch that gets the breeze with hammocks and furniture in it. Ronal showed me a tiny pineapple that grew in the box garden along the edge and had broken off. It was cute, the top of it looked like a tillandsia plant. He has flowering trees he keeps cut short, impatience, lilies and more all bordering the edge where they sit. Folks told them goodbye and got in the van with Wesley’s to go to the hotel. I stayed and told Isaias goodbye because they live right beside them there. Then Sheny kindly took me to Flor’s house. She lives all the way through town and then just up the mountain a little bit. Her house Berna made for her is beautiful and cozy . We went out on the porch that looks over the whole town of Guastatoya. Sheny was just pulling away and Flor hollered at her that the lights were green, she should hurry. :-) (From the porch you can see the traffic lights in the middle of town) We sat at the table and caught up on each others lives. Iana was busy writing on the boogie board I brought her and kept thanking me for it and for the little chef hat and apron. She’s a busy darling girl little girl with big brown eyes and tight curls of black hair. I even got a hug from her when I left.

   Berna’s dad Rafael from DR came and rested in the hammock beside us and visited a bit or slept. Bernas were pretty tired , they’re the youth leaders and they’ve been going hard arranging all the youth activities and doing it with the youth. Flor has been figuring out the food and arranging it and Bernas sisters and folks abd brother and wife are out and they’ve all been staying at Flor’s. They have another guest room outside on a second floor above a little workshop or something.

   As we sat outside the breeze picked up and the rain swept in across the town. Iana kept asking to go in because she didn’t like rain. Flor laughed at her and asked, “Who is it that always goes and asks to walk in the rain with an umbrella? Berna did go in and rested on the couch. The sisters and brother in law and his wife came back in the pouring rain from the youth deal .

   Andy and Kari (I think that’s his name) are missionaries in Peten area. That’s up in the north. She’s Greg’s brother. They were visiting Greg and Yuli who are here living in Doug Benner’s house. It’s nearby beside Berna’s and  he built it. Anyways, that couple was just leaving and I grabbed a ride so Bernas didn’t have to leave to take me to hotel.

   And yes, when I got to the hotel I recalled that my purse was locked in the van and it had my phone and my room key in it. But it was close to midnight. I did knock on Wesley’s door but they must have all been sacked out after the busy day. So I went to front desk and asked if he had a spare key for my room and then I went to bed without talking to you all.

   I am so glad I got to see Flor’s house so I can imagine her working in her kitchen or them all eating lunch out on the porch.

They also have two dogs in their fenced off yard, one wild Australian Shepherd that was chewing madly on some plastic toy. It reminded me of our dogs. Flor showed me where they had planted vines on the fence but the youth put fireworks too close at Christmas and burned them.

   So that’s it for Sunday. I’ll type up yesterday’s adventures while I sit on the plane today. Only one day and we’ll see each other. Thanks for sending me the song you sang at devotions yesterday evening. Was Tony trying to sing tenor or was it just because he was sitting by Lynnea and kept  with her voice?

   See you, I’ll be on my way today. Les quiero muchísimo