We're Here

Matt & Debra's Apartment

Well, we're here. We arrived w/o incident on Wednesday, a day late but everything worked out ok. Cory met us at the airport with our car. From there, we went about five minutes down the road to Matt & Debra's apartment where a nice lunch awaited us.   After leaving their place, we headed to the supermarket to stock up on some groceries, from there it was about a 45 minute ride to Cory's house. Doug & I stayed in Thursday morning to get unpacked and settled in. We were delighted to have electricity for the entire morning so were able to iron all of our wrinkled clothes. Cory's meeting is at 5:00
pm (it's early so that the friends don't have to travel in the dark) The meeting started with only about 20 in attendance but within a ½ hour the Hall had filled up to about 40. I know we've been giving comments in Spanish for awhile but this was still very intimidating. I didn't get my hand up for the book study but did manage to give my comment for the BH and comment for the review. Since there is only one Elder, Brother Abad and Cory, it was the Abad and Cory show, one would finish and then the next one would get up. They are using a young brother (19 years old) to handle some of the responsibilities, he gave his first part in the service meeting last night and did really well. So today was our first morning in the ministry. Doug worked with Cory and I worked with Roxanna Abad. The Abads are Special pioneers in the congregation, Roberto is Puerto Rican and Roxanna was born in El Salvador and they both speak some English. Roxanna spoke to me mostly in Spanish but when I needed help understanding she would tell me in English. We had many nice conversations, I placed a brochure at the first door and then had a nice conversation with a teenager using the Truth tract. He chose the question on What happens to the dead. After discussing the paragraph, I told him that I would return to answer the next question, what hope for the dead. He started to read that paragraph so I had to stop him and tell him, no we'd do that next time. He would probably of let me cover the whole tract! Cory and Doug had a lot of nice conversations also but encountered a lot of people who do not read well, so we'll have to carry with us the brochure “Listen to God” for those who do not read. Soon it was lunch time and we were off to Gilberto and Goya's house. They regularly feed the pioneers on Fridays and insisted that we come. When we arrived, we were introduced to a sister of Goya's. She shook Doug's hand and said “ a fat one, God has blessed you.” Of course, Doug did not understand what was said, so Cory had to translate. I'll be getting a good laugh over that one for awhile. Yes, Dominican customs are a bit different and to talk about one's weight is not bad manners. (now don't be trying that line at home) When Cory saw the food that was set out, he was excited, this was one of his favorite dishes. It is called sancocho,  basically a stew w/ chicken, pork, and vegetables which you pour over rice. It was very tasty. There was a large bowl of Stew and another of rice set out before us on the table which I assumed was for everyone, no, that was just for the three of us. I hope they were not insulted but there was no way we could finish it. Gilberto and Goya are older country people whose Spanish is extremely difficult for us to understand. Gilberto was talking to Cory about the food and the only word I understood was Miguelito (Mike McKinney). Cory then translated that Gilberto was saying if Mike was here there would be no problem finishing the food! They miss Miguelito!

Cory's house, our car, & his Motorcycle

Group in service, they're holding up their bookmarks!

Can you tell what his hanging over the back of the motorcycle? A Pig

Donkey carrying sugar cane

Yummy

Goya makes her own bread

The fire is on top of the kettle w/ the bread in

So tomorrow we're in the ministry in the morning and then to Puerta Plata for Cory to give a public talk in the evening.  Hope you all are well!