RAIN DAY!!!!

I'm just going to paste my journal entry in here because why write it twice?? Right!?!?

Today is a day for the record book!!!! It was raining when we woke up. Hard. And it kept raining all morning long. I put lunch in the crock pot, first thing (we were going to be feeding four hungry elders at lunchtime).......browned the roasts and cut up the potatoes and carrots. It was chuck full! Our first plan (A) was to go finish up the contracts and take some kitchen supplies to Amaralina. Then Sister Triumpho called to say they were at the airport, the new elder's plane had been delayed more than an hour and the President needed to be at the office for interviews, could we come wait at the airport? Of course. 

Plan B: go to the office to unload the kitchen supplies so we would have room for luggage, then to the airport. It was raining like crazy. The roads were flooding. We had to drive very slowly and merge to other lanes to avoid driving through higher than axle deep water. The buses were pushing the water with their bumper in some places.

 We finally got to the office, unloaded the car and got everything upstairs, thanks to Anna (she is one of the “guards”, I think, but she is also the one who does all the cleaning). She is a gem! Sister Triumpho called to say the plane had to land somewhere else and the elder would be coming by bus and would be another 4-6 hours. Could we pick him up then? Sure. Plan C: haul half the stuff back to the car to take to Amaralina. We needed to get gas and planned to do that along the way. Still raining and flooding. The “canal” was completely full of water! It was even coming back through the storm drains onto the road—Garibaldi and Lucaia. 

Sorry it's fuzzy........best I can do.........

 
The “coast road” was much better. Of course, the canal was rushing into the ocean and it was churning! The ocean was brown today……… 

We pulled into a station to get some gas. The power was out so they could not pump any! Then the traffic nearly stopped! It took us more than an hour to go just a few blocks! We crawled along—literally—and prayed that we would not run out of gas. Just before the Amaralina church house there were two power poles leaning out into the street…….so far out that the busses could not get around them. And only one car at a time could get between the busses. It looked like an old wall had fallen onto the power poles and knocked them over. One was lying across a taxi! We wondered if there would be power to open the portas at the apartments. When we got to the first one, we could not see any lights anywhere, so we went to the second one……….they had power. We were able to park in the garage, out of the rain, and use the elevator. Thank goodness! They will have a nice apartment. I’m so grateful for that! We then wondered if we might be able to find our way around to the other apartment without going back into the traffic mess—the roads are one way in that area. I thought maybe I could do it, but all that happened was we got up in those narrow, twisting streets that are nearly straight up and down and got lost……….. still no gas. We finally found our way out and came home to check on lunch as we were feeding the elders today. The potatoes and carrots were still hard so I turned it to high and we started for the office. Stopped at the gas station at the end of our street to gas up. So thankful we had not run out!! The elders were mopping up the floor at the office. They were all dripping wet after walking through that rain and there was water everywhere. Even the chairs were wet! I sat on one long enough to learn that! We came home for lunch. The potatoes and carrots were still hard! I put all the veggies in the pressure cooker and the roasts in another pan and put it in the oven. The pressure cooker I put on the stove and prayed. While they cooked, Roger went to pick up the elders and I cut up the pineapple and set the table. They arrived before I got the gravy made, but thankfully, everything turned out okay and they ate every bit of it all! except the gravy. There was a little gravy left…….. We visited for a bit. Shared testimonies and had prayer, then Roger took them home and I washed the dishes. I was almost finished when he returned and we went back to the office. The rain had let up some.

Plan C: President Triumpho cancelled several interviews because of the rain—told the missionaries to stay in—we had a “rain day”!!! So they would go meet Elder Garcia. This time I was careful to sit on a dry chair. I did a little stitching while Roger tried to get some more stuff done with the contracts. I really don’t know all that he was trying to do, but I do know that he was somewhat frustrated and feeling a little overwhelmed. We are also trying to get an apartment open in Eunapolis which is a long way away, so he is trying to do it through email and telephone and nineteen year old sister missionary and Portuguese…….hard! We came home about 5:30. The rain had stopped and most of the roads had dried. We still found a puddle now and then, but nothing bad. Had some snacks……..I was not hungry after that big lunch. I finished a quilt block! Yay!! And marked the last two leaves on my temple apron. Then it was time to go to Primary program practice at the church. We got there……we learned the practice had been cancelled. Then! Roger wanted to go buy the pillow Sister Triumpho had called to ask us to get before tomorrow afternoon. So we did—ended up buying EIGHT!! As we will have 13 new missionaries in two weeks……… It’s been quite the day.........one for the record books............

...time......work......reflections.......

Time..........the proof that we are strangers here......... I'm amazed that it's been so long since I posted. I have lots of thoughts running around inside my head, some floating, some swimming.......and I think I will tell you about it. Then things happen, and time is gone, we are going here or there and suddenly it's days and weeks..........time...........I've never got along very well with it.......never have liked it......never have figured it out very well.........fought with it practically my whole life. I think I have finally made peace with it, though. I try to just let it do it's thing, reminding myself that it does not go fast or slow, it is steady. If it seems to be tearing along at break-neck speed, that's fine........I have my eye set on a timeless goal, and I will enjoy what comes or doesn't come.......... (I'm going to stop my philosophizing. Sorry)

One day while Roger was repairing something in another part of a missionary house, I worked on the ironing board cover. Funny thing here........the elders use......well, let me backup. Nearly all missionaries use their ironing board. The sisters I've noticed use it for a shelf--books, makeup, toiletries.........the elders have the iron on it and use it for ironing. Kind of surprised me, but it makes sense when I think about it......a wrinkled white shirt with a tie looks LOTS worse than a wrinkly, crinkly top with a wrinkly linen skirt. Soooooo.........I know these elders use this to iron their shirts, for I caught them at it one day. And the cover was a mess........so here is my "fix". I wanted something I could do no matter what the board was made of. It's not perfect, but it's lots better than it was, and I think they were grateful. Anyway, that afternoon Roger bought a stapler. We'll be back here one day and I'll make it better.

 I was waiting for Roger one day and watching these men......they are sitting on what looks like swings hanging from the top of the building, and they are washing the tiles!!! not the windows! With soap and a scrub brush!! This building is practically right on the beach, so I wondered if the salt spray has to be washed off regularly??

  Sometimes I cringe when I see how hard people work here. I have seen very little "heavy" equipment and lots of shovels..........with men on the end of them! There are wide expanses of grass here....well, along the "Avenidas", which are all divided, with grass and occasionally a canal down the middle, or a small play area, or a monument to someone. But no tractors with lawn mowers! Crews of men, dressed in green coveralls with hats and face shields. Gloves are optional. Two or three are holding a screen made of some fabric (looks rather flimsy to me, but it must work) along the curb while a couple of other men use over-sized weed-eaters like scythes, swinging them back and forth, cutting the grass right down to the dirt. Coming along behind are several others with rakes! Yeah......they hand rake it all up and put it in bags........I wonder if they are ever done. I just don't have my camera out in time to get the pictures I really want, but you can see the expanse of grass.........

 ...and all along the roads are white curbs......which they paint by hand. I watched them outside our apartment building one day........a man with a broom went ahead.....sweeping the gutter. The painters came next, followed by a man with a barrel of paint.

I've also noticed people--men and women--pushing a garbage can, sweeping the gutters and using a shovel as a dustpan. It gives me pause just to think about all the manual labor that goes on here......... They are taking out the sidewalk just down the street from us here. They started last Friday--five days ago. They had a small jack-hammer, or a large hammer-drill--depending on your experience. But they didn't use it much. Most of the work was done with regular old-time picks! They threw the bigger pieces of cement into a dumpster kind of thing and shoveled the smaller stuff into a bucket and dumped it with the pieces. I thought, at home they would have hired a "bobcat" or "skid-steer" and had it out in an afternoon. I don't know if they have it all out yet......... It all just makes me stop and think some. Grateful that these men have work to do, but feeling so badly that they have to work so hard. Life is hard here, for most people. I'm pretty sure I think nearly everyone is older than they really are.......... we are, well, Roger is working to get contracts set up for some new missionary apartments. We went to meet a man and talk about one of them yesterday morning. Later, Roger asked me to guess his age. I was off by nine years!!! And as I pay closer attention, I'll bet I do that with lots of people.

I don't want this to get too long......and I've already written more than you will want to read.

........finding joy.........

We were privileged to spend nearly an entire day with these lovely ladies. Such sweet girls! I think we fell in love..........

These sisters got a new frig and wished the door opened the other direction. With Roger, their wish is his command.......he had to watch a youtube video to learn how to do it. Still.....it was little tricky.....

The front door of one of the missionary houses......I think it is so cool. Both sides slide and lock in the middle...... When they are home they usually have it open to the little courtyard with the locked gate on the street. Really a charming little place........

.....my back to the door looking out through the gate to the street.....

 .....one of the Sisters lettered this and had it above her desk......I needed the reminder.....

Some street scenes......I don't know how there is not electricity flying all over the place and blackouts or people getting hurt........or anyone getting power. I do know some steal power from their neighbor sometimes.........

I love it when they hang flags across the street like this......the desire for beauty and/or fun regardless of circumstance.....

 Somehow they just don't look as steep in my pictures. Many times my heart is in my throat!

I'm going to have to walk up this one sometime.....just up around the corner there it turns to stairs. I assume the cars parked at the bottom belong to people living up around that corner......

One area of town here there are all these beautiful buildings......white with different colored trimmings....blue, pink, green. I want to wander there one day.

We are looking for a new apartment for the elders......this is the view from one.......my choice.......except the very narrow outdoor staircase would be a nightmare.

Our wait for the elevator is extremely pleasant and often not long enough. I finally got a picture in which you can see the ships and tankers.......always different and always the same.......

The bamboo tunnel near the airport.........at night, with the lights........lovely.........

We stopped at a bakery the other day. This table captured my interest. I would have bought some, but all cheese is expensive here, and especially the imported cheese........I thought of you, Meg.....and wished you were here to tell me about it all..........

I think front and center is a whole smoked ham leg...there were several more hanging above my head.

Here's a picture for you Nutella lovers.........it's kind of hard to find the peanut butter, and it is in little jars and not much of it.......I guess Nutella wins!

We had a horrible experience in this store......waiting for almost an hour. Roger's shirt was soaked all around the collar before we left. The only relief was watching these little monkeys running around the rafters. We wondered what happened at night?????

On the red pipe

Just below the light a little right of center

Roger and Elder S. buying bus tickets for transfers. I had a fascinating time people watching and just taking it all in...........

And one more of the mouth of the bay...........so many ships in and out all day long........sometimes I feel I'd like to be on one of them. Some are loaded and riding low.......others are not.

Views, encounters and reflections

I'm amazed how quickly the days add up! I thought I posted here just a week ago--it's been 10 days, as you can verify.....
This is going to be a hodge-podge of things from these past few days. We have spent a lot of time in the car. It's interesting--when we get in and I enter a destination in the GPS, it tells me how far away it is and the expected arrival time--normal......except the satellite has no clue about what the traffic is like! Neither do we, really, because it is so different from day to day, even hour to hour. Often I will see something that will give me an opportunity for deeper thoughts.......mostly that we have no idea how blessed we really are....... so here goes..........

Roger thought you needed to see our first Sunday meal. I turned out much better than I thought it might considering our little, tiny stove and oven.....and limited ingredients.......

A "retorno" (pronunciation--hetorno--the e is short, the os long) You can see one going each direction. This is the only way to make a u-turn or get across the street. There are no, well, almost no, left turns......and these retornos are very randomly spaced--kilometers apart--or not......

The little convenience store where we often eat. The white dishes contain different vegetables--usually. Sometimes quail eggs and other things I don't know. The chaffing trays have assorted meats--nearly always there is some kind of beans and rice in two of them--sometimes noodles of some kind, chicken, fish........and then you put your plate on a scale at the far end. Sometimes they give you a small cup of something sweet and you buy your drink and pay at the counter behind me--the convenience store....... I've liked everything I've chosen here. And the wife of the Salvador mission president says it is her favorite place to eat.

Look who I found on the wall at the mission office! We are following in the footsteps of wonderful people! It's an honor to be here. I pray we will be true to the legacy they created.

The full moon just three days ago as it rose over the city--from our balcony......It probably wasn't quite that light......but almost. The world can be lovely even in a city of three million people!

Wow! This is contrast I had not planned........this is reality for way too many people, and it tugs at my heart. This little "street" is one the GPS recognizes, but no way would I ever try to get a car on it! And yesterday I saw one even narrower that was all stairs!

We got onto one of those teeny, tiny very steep streets and came to a dead end. Thankfully, Roger is very good at maneuvering in tight places whether it's a school bus or a small car. This is a "back yard" where several people park their cars in whatever direction or place......the red car clear at the bottom obviously comes in and out. I don't know how they do it........

People actually live in these "houses", that are built practically on top of one another right up the hill, and get to their homes through these little streets and allies, up and down stairs.....behind gates and fences or walls.  It's a sad thing to me that every house or business or apartment building has a six to eight foot tall fence--more often a wall with spikes or broken glass on top--around it with a guarded or locked gate. I saw one the other day with electric wires above the wall.

One day last week we and one other elder had to go register our visas or something and get fingerprinted--I didn't understand all the ramifications.....but we had to do it to be legal.....Elder Green, one of the office Elders who everyone relies on, went with us to help us through the hoops. I don't think the mission could function without him. He's so patient and kind. So......we left for the airport mid-morning, and waited and waited, got finger-printed, paid a fee of some kind, had lunch (yes, we waited that long)....then stopped at a post office to pay a different fee. Finally, we stopped at the federal building to do the final registration (I think) and waited some more along with several other people. We each took a number. Roger's number came up first. Then the other elder. We waited and waited. Finally Elder Green took my slip of paper and went back to the desk where we got our numbers. They quite crossly asked him why he had that number! They gave him--me--a new number and then it wasn't long before it was my turn. The process took all. day. long. And obviously, we totally wore out our wonderful guide and helper.

Sister Triumpho took us to a market and walked around with us to tell us what we were looking at. It's an inside market, but full of small "booths" with usually one kind of product to sell........

These are caju (causeju)......we would say cashew! Yep. That's the nut right there on the bottom.......but they are selling these for the fruit. We've had some of the juice......not my favorite........I like the nut lots better.

These next two are for Cody..........hot peppers..........really hot peppers. No. I'm not going to try them.

There were several shops with cases of fresh meat.........cuts of beef hanging on hooks.......

 We were at another missionary apartment the other day......and startled into thinking how spoiled I have been my whole life! I think you will agree.............. Some other Elders had their free weights really free......on a stick--not even a broom handle--it wasn't straight--and nothing to hold them on--they were free to slide wherever--whenever..........

We had to buy some apartment stuff from a store that is a Home Depot and Bed, Bath, and Beyond merged. A huge store.....at least half again as big as a Home Depot. I thought this employee--who appeared to have the job of returning unwanted and/or misplaced items to the proper place--was creative and smart! He was pretty good on them too........I thought of you, Brielle.

 

 Out near the airport there is a "tunnel of bamboo"--big bamboo. It's beautiful. One of the missionaries told us it was planted there for the U.S. to hide planes during World War II. I wish I could verify that........ True or not though, it's a beautiful place.

While we were out there Roger replaced a plug--one of the elders asked "how did you know how to do that???" And when I picked up the broom he took it from me and swept up the mess.

One of the sisters had been taking cold showers for a few days, so he took care of that too. There are times when I feel like a scrub nurse as I hand him tools and parts as he needs them. The missionaries are so appreciative. It is so fun to serve them.

Sometimes the traffic is so slow and backed up the people walk right down the middle of the road between all the cars and buses trying to sell all kinds of things. This man happens to be selling bottles of cold water. Some sell all kinds of fruits--oranges or strawberries or mangoes--some have candy or sunshades and phone charging cords, or something like rolled up tacos........we aren't sure what they are. Some of them are quite persistent. Also, when we get stopped at a light sometimes--especially in the morning--people will come out in the crosswalk to juggle, sometimes on ladders or on a unicycle and then they come through the parked cars for money.........all new stuff..........

...and this one is playing a saxophone...