Good day to YOU!
It's a muggy and difficult to breathe day here. Who's complaining? Everyone's dealing with the same thing so let it be (one of my favorite Beatles songs).
Let me tell you about yesterday... (this would be Friday now, so much delay)
7 AM wake-up and shower! This means that there´s water now. Ivanka is a big fan of coffee now and that makes me happy. If she hadn´t bought a coffee maker and coffee we would not have had any while I was here. Thank you C.V. (chata Vanks ... aka "shorty")
De iland iz da best man, na? There´s certain truth the perceived island language. The thing you don´t catch in the perception is the heavy accents, different intonation, and faster speaking that makes it difficult to discern if one is speaking English or something completely different. I have asked on several occasions which language is being spoken and more often then not, it´s the good ole English.
The drivers on this island are similar to South Africans in the respect that there are no real boundaries while driving on the road. Here, however, the streets are not nearly as broad and this makes for a LOT of close calls. My nerves have been stilled. It doesn´t phase me anymore if a large truck is coming right at you and your taxi driver only swerves with 2 inches to spare. Makes some part of the heated days exhilirating. In contrast to the South Africans, taxis don´t make me as nervous. Probably because you tell them a destination and it´s only a car, instead of a "kombi".
I had sudado for lunch with the family and it was spectacular. For all the flavour it was incredibly healthy. A whole fish in a broth that has boiled tomatos, onions and spices to give it a big kick. Dante showed me how to eat the eyes. Who wouldn´t want to eat a fish eye?
SIESTA!!!
C.V. (Ivanka), Sasha and I went to HI-LO (where Franco works) to get some goods. Upon our arrival home we ordered KFC. That´s right, they deliver. It´s a HUGE treat though. Franco has been wanting KFC for a long time so we got a 12-piece bucket and feasted. So delightful. Dante can´t eat the grease because of his heart condition so he ate something else.
"Trinidad has the best KFC in the world." -Franco
Something about the humidity and weather here really makes my joints hurt. My ankles and wrists have been hurting quite a bit since being here which is surprising. I would have thought that the heat would relax the body a bit, but it hasn´t done anything for me. On the doctor room laminated-smiley-face scale it´s been about a 4 everyday. I think it will be fine upon my arrival back to the states. The cold weather is going to clench my swollen extremities back to normal. Since I´m writing this on Tuesday and recalling what was going on on Friday I have to mention that things are doing much better. My joints are growing more and more accustomed to the climate and I´m able to do mucho!
It´s been a long day and we sang happy birthday, feliz cumpleanos, and several other birthday tunes to Franco at midnight. Well, Sasha, Ivanka and I did before I got in the shower and headed to bed.
Franco truly is an extraordinary person. He´s old beyond his age and has shown great maturity for one who has just turned 18. Sleeping on mattresses in the living room together has brought the geat opportunity for me to talk one-on-one with this man of God. If I was asked who I think is a friend of Jesus I would say...,"Franco Chalco, have you met him? If not, go and do so. You´ll be greatly encouraged and moved." If my vocabulary was more expansive I would use every word to get across to you the encouragement I have received from Franco. He´s inspired me to be more vigilant in treating everyone equally, loving people richly, utilizing what God has given you and not complaining about all the little things that we want but don´t get. I can honestly say that I love Franco and his great, big heart.
Thank You, Father, for allowing me to be in this place at this time. It´s been much needed and I feel the warmth of your embrace, the teaching of your mind and the love of your people. Forgive me for not being as vigilant as I should be and help me in all matters of wisdom and strength. Open my heart to Yours and, Spirit, move me in righteous, eternal ways. Thank you for the endless list of blessings in my life. Especially family, and I´m speaking beyond biological.
Amen.
KCK-ILY
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