Sweet Coffee, Kickball, and a Quinceanos

On Sunday... After the San Pedro morning service, Julian entertained us with comments about their gatita (female kitten)...or feita (little ugly thing) as he called it. Fransisca brought out some "coffee" that put straight sugar to shame. I, a black coffee drinker, was wincing but drank it out of sheer politeness (or necessity to keep warm from the chilly wind). Before we left, Fransisca broadly hinted that I could give her a backrub for un ratito (a tiny little bit). And so I set out for home with sore fingers. I talked to my sister (viejita, LOL) for most of the afternoon. FELIZ CUMPLEANOS, mi hermanita!!! After the Choix service, I hunted down Brianne. I didn't realize how much I would miss daily contact with girls my age until Stacey left. Together, we watched Chuyito try to walk and almost pop his shirt buttons with his fat little belly. I ate supper with Caleb for a change (I'm a fast eater and he's very slow, so sometimes I'm done eating before he starts), but only because Donna and I were making plans for next month when my family comes.

On Monday... We had waffles for breakfast. Yummy... Afterwards, I bought groceries and spent the entire morning at Vanessa's house, talking and playing games. Back at home, I helped to finish up lunch and then we ate with Rena, David, and Emanuel as guests. I took my time off to read and use the Internet. We left around 3:00 for San Pedro. Not many children were there for the Kid's Club, but we still played kickball afterwards. It was great fun and very humorous. Lots of the children would holler, "Tirala bien!" (Throw it good!) when they saw that their kick would be caught, therefore warranting another try at bat. One little boy delighted in calling everyone taller than him, "Gordo" (fat) although he happens to be a gordito himself. We headed out later than usual but got home in time for Loren's macaroni and bacon soup.

On Tuesday... I woke up with a headache. I took caffeine, and was ravishingly hungry long before lunch. I worked on the invitations for the special activities (for the children from Saturday school who said all of their verses) and made red rice and beans for lunch. The meal reminded us all of Stacey *sniffs*. I sat in the hammock and then walked uptown to go souvenir shopping. I wrote out the new verses for Saturday school and helped with a supper that I didn't eat until after I was finished talking with my grandparents. I finished the day off with reading and a cup of tea.

On Wednesday... I crawled out of bed excited about the day that lay ahead of me. I love those days when I experience such a joy for living the life God has called me to live. I made my favorite peanut butter-chocolate chip cookies. I only burned one tray which everyone delightfully consumed. Good thing that Lenn and Ian were around... Ian came back with a video clip of two men playing guitar, ranchero style. In the clip, I saw a bodiless hand reaching for a cookie. That made me feel good. I helped Donna with our delicious fish lunch and then walked up to the plaza, hoping to meet up with Bri who was having her day off. No luck. Back at home, I mixed up cut-out cookies and set out a sandwich supper. Then came prayer meeting. Instead of letting my mind wander with all of the Spanish circling around me, I started praying that I would have an opportunity to talk with Salvador again. God answered my prayer right away; Miguel came in after prayer meeting and told me that his big brother was there. I didn't talk to him long, but I kept marvelling over my rapidly answered prayer. Afterwards, Donna and I looked through a Spanish hymnbook and tried to figure out what songs they were in English. I pounded out a few on Janessa's keyboard (juta, I'm out of practice!).

On Thursday... I woke up early on my day off, but didn't crawl out of bed until 8:00. I got ready for the day and did my laundry. By ten o'clock, I had hung out my laundry, cleaned my room, and made a few calls. So I ate a can of tuna (hee hee) and drank some hot chocolate and then meandered up to the plaza where my relaxing afternoon ended up as not so relaxing as I had hoped. On my way home, someone stopped me and talked to me in perfect English. It was almost unnerving to think of all the things he's probably overhead us gringos say in the past. He claimed he will come to church on Sunday...which is doubtful since Mexicans are forever making rash promises. I took an afternoon walk and came back to dictate Kedric's spelling words to him. I made up a sentence with each word that had to do with my darling family coming in March. After bean burritos, I showered and crawled into bed and *blushes* was asleep shortly after nine o'clock.

On Friday... We had pancakes for breakfast and then I rushed off to El Fuerte with Rod, Christa, and family. They went to see a doctor and I tagged along to read books to the children in the waiting room. First, we stopped at the largest grocery store that I've been to since I've been here. It was maybe bigger than the food section at Super Wal-Mart!!! The children were very good and my job was very easy. My throat was dry from reading, but that's the only problem I had all morning. I got home in time to grade Caleb's quizzes before lunch (I'm feeling more and more like a teacher). I called home and iced one-hundred cut-out heart cookies for Saturday school. I had fun. Donna and I went to Mochiqui and I helped Tita with her sounds and reading (I told you I'm becoming a teacher). I played catch with a bunch of the little girls. Afterwards, we walked to the orphanage where we celebrated Suzanne's 15th birthday. Note: In Hispanic countries, the 15th birthday for a girl--or a quinceanos-- is a celebration of a girl becoming a woman. Some people have spent as much on a 15th birthday party as a wedding! We ate tostadas and celebrated, but not to that extreme. Some of the guys played guitar and I got to hear "My Savior, My God" for the first time since I've been here. It makes me miss you, Bradley!

Leobardo with his dessert.
Diego, hiding from the camera as usual.

Domingo, after a round of tostadas. Notice the salsa on the tip of his nose.

Christa, Dylan, and Rod eating their tostadas.

And then the birthday girl herself...Happy Birthday, Suzanne!

On Saturday... El Dia de Amor y Amistad or Valentine's Day. We passed out the cut-out cookies for Saturday school and the kids loved them. I made lunch, cleaned up, and then headed to the plaza to read. The afternoon was beautiful, but as the sun moved, I lost my shade and tried hunting down a new bench. Unfortunately, all of the shadey spots were occupied, so I tromped on home. I wrote out a song on posterboard and went prayer walking. Right now, we're getting ready to go out to eat somewhere... Yum...