La Fiesta

 Hi everyone, hope everyone is enduring that nasty cold, icy, weather you guys have been having. Sorry about that. We've had a good week in the ministry, we've been working a rural road that runs beside the river and I've  been enjoying the scenery.  Yesterday, Sunday, Jeni's congregation organized a party for the happy couple. I was told about it a couple of weeks ago but didn't really no what to expect. When I asked if there was anything I could do to help, I was told by Jeni's mom, Carmen, that the local brothers and sisters were taking care of everything, And they Really Did!

Sorry, you have to look at this while laying on your side.

 They were able to get this community room at the local school and they did a cute job of decorating. Here in the entrance is a basket of wrapped candy that was given out during the party. The Luperon congregation has many children. Cory & Jeni are having a small reception so no children were invited to the reception so this party was a way for them to be included and celebrate the marriage.

Outside before the party gets started.

Cory with his new family (Jeni's parents, Carmen & Joel)

Can you guess why one of the punches is labeled for children only??  It's because the other two are for adults only, yes they had a little rum in them, very tasty.

I kept noticing all these sisters coming in white shirts and jeans, somethings going on here.........

Cory and Jeni had assigned seats in the front, however Cory's assigned seat was on the right side and Jeni's on the left side, they did not cooperate as Cory immediately scooted his chair over next to Jeni's. Our MC for the evening allowed it and moved Cory's name over for him. What followed next was a series of games, singing and choreographed dancing!

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We were told to look under the chairs we were sitting on and if there happened to be a paper taped to it, we would have to do what it said.   This couple's paper told them to perform a dance (merenque) they were actually very good dancers

This little girl's paper told her that she had to play a game and to choose her playmates.

They played a form of tag. (a lot of laughing)

Three sisters performed a choreographed dance that had something to do with fighting bulls.  (see the video at the end to see what all those sisters in the white shirts choreographed for us)

This game involved in two teams racing with spoons in their mouths carrying marbles and filling up the basket of Cory & Jeni. It was a competition and Cory's team won by one. (I believe some cheating was involved)

These teenagers sang a love song

 The congregation had been practicing for the past two weeks a special dance for Cory & Jeni. You can see it at   http://youtu.be/iDArGHpbcUc

After the organized games and dances were done we ate and the floor was opened up to dancing with Cory & Jeni leading us off. (sorry the picture is not that great.) 
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves! Two people tried to teach me the Merengue. I kinda have the basic step??? Anyway that's the big news for the week.

Saw this pig in service this week, he's wearing a scarf around his neck which looked like he was wearing a hat, he's cute.

Shopping for items for the wedding today, these stores sell candy and other items in bulk for cheaper prices.

When we pulled into the street, this homeless man pointed to us wear to park and assured us that he would look after the car.

He indeed did look after it and even put this cardboard shade up to keep it cooler. He was rewarded with some pesos and a WT.

Cory gets a phone call, Hola Hector!

Two sisters made these cute veils and  the group performed for us, Enjoy!

A Little Bit of Everything

Some of my finds

 These are some shells and coral that we've found on the beach at Luperon. The middle piece is brain coral with fan coral attached.

This is the inside of Cory's KH in El Ranchito. The brother in the doorway is the speaker for the morning. He left his house at 7:00 a.m. to take public transportation so that he made sure that he wouldn't be late. He actually arrived an hour ahead of time (but you never know how it's going to go w/ public transportation.

This is the literature department in El Ranchito.

Front of Hall

The KH is a simple wooden structure w/ a cement floor and tin roof.

Brother Antonio's transportation to the meeting.

The four of us went to the beach for a few hours yesterday but we had to share the area with some horses and a few cows.

But these were a few of our finds for the day.

Searching for shells

Enjoying the hammock in the breeze

Later that afternoon we went to the place where the wedding reception will be so some final arrangements could be made. This is Jeni's Aunt and cousin who will be helping at the reception.

We were assured that the dog would not be coming to the reception.

The woman looking at the camera is the owner of the restaurant. She's been very helpful.

The restaurant is on the side of a mountain overlooking the sea. While we were there is was quite breezy. I was worried about it being too warm at this open air reception but I think it will be fine and those of you who get cold easy might want to have a light wrap. (I'm talking to you Mary)

This is immediately after the meeting, I'm standing on the stage. The seats are wooden benches.

Now today was a special day. It was the annual pioneer meeting with the regular pioneers and we were invited to attend. They do things a little differently here. Since many of the congregations are small, There are five cong. that get together to have this special meeting. This year the host congregation was Navas (about 45 min from Cory's house). This is a very small KH.

Outside of the KH

Transporting some chairs to the picnic site

 It is the custom here that after the meeting, the host congregation provides a meal and some entertainment. So off we go to another location where a lovely picnic is set up for us

These should be some familiar faces

Now that's a lot of oranges

One of the local sisters prepared this kettle of rice (delicious)

Where the food is served

 The main course for the meal was roasted pig. this is the fire pit where it was roasted all night long. The pig was put on a spit and had to be turned regularly. Matt & Debra helped out with this. Matt's shift ended at 1:00a,m. The pork was very tender and delicious and was appreciated by all.

Ahh, now they are cute.

Ok, first official picture with our new family!

Several of the local Elders doing Karaoke

The location for the picnic was a house of a local brother. It's not finished or lived in yet but was a very pretty setting.

Smart girl, knows how to find shade.

Matt & Cory helping Doug navigate through some mud and holes.

We took a different route home and I really enjoyed the scenery through sugar cane fields and mountains.

Today was some sort of National Holiday. So there was a lot of traffic and groups of people all over the road.

It's hard to believe were only a little over three weeks from the wedding. Time is flying by!

Hope you all are well.  Thanks to those who have sent emails, it's nice to hear what's going on back home!