Saturday:
It was a long and hard trip. Maybe 10 minutes before we were going to take off the Captain came on and said they were having to reroute us because of the volcano. It would be 5 minutes to 2 hours before we left. It was an hour and a half. So, what was to be a 10 hour flight made us be on the plane for nearly 13 hours.
The flight wasn't bad although it is getting more and more difficult for me to "sleep" on the plane. We arrived 1 1/2 hours late and it took nearly an hour to get through customs. We had hoped to get a nice meal somewhere but there wasn't time. We went to McD's and I couldn't finish what I got. My stomach is still not back to normal.
We had a LOOOONG train ride. it was 17 hours. I slept - but fitfully. It was nice to be able to stretch out and not be cramped on a seat. BUT, these seats are like benches and you unroll a lumpy, old mattress to sleep on. (They do give you clean sheets.) This was the oldest and worst train I have ridden on. Probably from the 50's with the dirt accumulation to go along with it.
We were met at the train by our hosts. They have lived on this property for 3 years. They built the house with their own hands. It is five stories (including the cellar). They were city people but have learned to "farm" to be self-sustaining. They have milk cows which brought back memories of the farm. Milk with cream on it. They have pigs, geese, chickens - she makes cottage cheese, sour cream (which really is more like butter) and her own mayo. They have fruit trees and a "green" house and grow veggies. It is an interesting place and they have lots of interesting stories. We have known them for 6-7 years.
They have two children at home (late teens) who love and serve the Lord. As well - they help with ALL the household/farm chores. The daughter actually taught her mother how to milk a cow.
We slept most of the day. Unpacked and rearranged our suitcases. Slept until lunch. After lunch Dave showered and we both went to sleep and slept until dinner. Hopefully - we will sleep tonight. Have to leave for Church at 8:30 so have to be up and around.
Sunday:
We slept fitfully last night. I could not find a place to lay that I could get comfortable. Before five it was getting light so I got up, made myself some tea and oatmeal I had brought from home. The food, though not bad, just isn't appetizing and I don't think I am over whatever it is that I had in Peru. I dread meal time. :-) That isn't all bad except I need to eat what is prepared for me. We brought some nuts with us but unlike when we first came didn't bring a lot of things to snack on.
They had a big change in the government this past year similar to the change we had in ours. Four years ago they were encouraged by the change but people were disillusioned and decided their former form of government was better. The area we are in has always had a strong leaning to communism. Since the new president, the communists have connected with the "new party" and many of the old communistic practices have been reinstated. Obligatory participation by workers at parades of the old style and the such. They are re-erecting statues of Stalin. It is a time of great concern. Undoubtedly this will have some kind of effect on the Church.
The preaching was good this morning but something just isn't right in this Church. The Pastor is losing his hearing (very severe problem) and we have noticed his inability to connect in a conversation. I know he didn't hear ANY of the preaching this morning - very difficult situation. This past year they had a member of long standing leave the Church and demanded his tithe and offerings be returned to him. For whatever reason, they made the decision to return a large portion of it. They were involved with Franklin Graham's Samaritan Purse and had a strong outreach to homeless children. They no longer have that, in part because our economy hinders them receiving funds but there were other reasons as well. They are being investigated by the government for mismanagement of the funds (taking money for themselves) – all because the person in charge did not fill out some documents correctly. Nothing has been solved or resolved but it is hanging over their heads. The trial of their faith.
On a lighter note - they have incubators and presently have geese and chicken eggs in them. The chicken eggs take 20 days and the geese eggs take a month. The eggs have to be turned morning and evening. Their teenage children are very involved with helping them and it is the young man's responsibility to turn the eggs. The children do the chores at night the parents in the morning. But this week, the parents will be gone so the children will do it all. They have quite a little compound here, probably less then a 1/2 acre. They have 4 pigs and 12-14 piglets, chickens, geese, ducks, two milk cows (that pasture during the day outside their property) and two baby calves.
Marilyn
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