Blessed Day

David arranged a Lord's Day service time with Myra over the phone Friday afternoon and it was scheduled for 1:00pm in the afternoon.  Bus routes and taxis were figured out and we headed out Sunday morning to Atenas from the house we are staying.

Note:  We were all clean and smelled good before we left.  

I can't say the same of our return home....poor taxi driver.

 We went to Kay's (a Gringo eatery and hangout) for breakfast.  Yes, we feasted big.  Told the kids to eat lots because we didn't know what the rest of the day would hold and there is no where to get anything to eat out where Myra lives other than a little store with chips and a few other junk food items.  We have been going to Kay's a couple times each time we have visited the last couple years.  It is the closest American fix, both socially and cuisine wise.  You can order food in English and converse in English, a plus when your brain is tired from computing another language.  Although, only a few days here with my kids and I am automatically wanting to holler Spanish commands, such as, "Vamos...Vienne Aqui...Alto!"  I'll let you figure those out if you don't recognize those.  A must with my kiddos.  Olivia has already picked up those phrases.
We weren't at Kay's ten minutes and our kids had already acquired fast friends.  We ate, they played, they read books, and just simply had good old fashioned leisurely chats.

 Mrs. Eroca reading books to the kids.

Kay's has books that you can check out and take home.

Mr. Marc and Leia discussing the characters in

the novel she chose : )

From Kay's we headed into town on foot to the bus stop.  By the way, Leia always has to go to the bathroom at the most inopportune times in the worse possible places : )  We were not expecting to run into Myra, but she was at the bus stop waiting to head back home.  During our wait for the bus to arrive the kids enjoyed some grape soda.

 Isn't he a gentleman sharing his soda...

Olivia is aspiring to be a photographer...not too bad.

This was the kids first bus ride.  A nice lady on the bus gave them a bag of cheetos (not "Cheetos," but the Latino version...I can't describe the smell.  Let's just say David and I passed and happily let the kids have them).  As you can tell from the pictures below Leia is soaking wet to the bone, with SWEAT.  She was tired and passed out.  The bumpy and hot ride lulled her right to sleep.

Picture says it all, "HOT!"

When we got off the bus in Altos de Naranjo Daddy treated the kids to a cold sweet treat.  I know, don't judge me I am filling my kids with lots of sweets, but you got to do what you gotta do sometimes ; )  I normally do not allow this many sweets, I promise.

He was instructed to at least not drip it

on his shoes....at least he is trying.

We made it down the mountain to Myra's, it feels like a mountain when you are hauling a load.  This time I packed in my 2 1/2 year child with a daypack instead of my 25lb backpacking pack.  The pack is much lighter than child and daypack.  She has going to have to work on her stamina and work those little legs.  "Ahhhh...." is what we all said when we arrived in Altos de Naranjo, we are now united with close friends and much cooler temps with a breeze.  

Visiting before services.  

From left: Soveyda (not sure of spelling), Eric (her husband), 

David, Sochi, Myra, Deiybe

We visited for a bit and then started the service.  Logan and Carson were a little shy with the Spanish singing service, but Leia and Olivia chimed right in.  Myra's family expressed the desire to learn more church songs.  We look forward to that.  David found a great place online that has videos of Spanish church songs, and they are pretty awesome and will be a great tool for us as well to learn more songs.  

After the service the kids played for a couple hours.  They kept telling us how much fun they were having and asking when were they going to get to go back to Myra's house and play.  I am sure anytime David is headed that direction at least one of the kids will go with him for a playdate with the others.  It was such a joy for David and I to see our children enjoy playing with Myra's children.  They have been such troopers the past few days and this was just so good for them to be able to run and play with others.  

From Left:  Erica (Eric and Solveda's daughter, 

Carson, Leia, Logan, Olivia, & Sochi)

Leia is already working her magic.  Solveda did not want her to leave.  She sat with her all during the service.  She has made friends with everyone she smiles at (we knew she would).  

Logan was so happy to play ball!!

Don't they look like they could be sisters??

Erica is 3.  

She was getting all kinds of goodies.

The last bus on Sunday out of Altos is at 1:30, so we called a taxi to come take us back to Atenas.  While we were waiting in the street we met a very sweet couple, Carlos and Eida, who are expecting their first child.  They said they wanted to invite us to their home for a meal sometime soon, so we exchanged contact info and will wait for the invitation.  We have had Bible studies with her parents on previous trips.

Who needs carseats when you are packed in 

like sardines??

I normally sit in the back with the 4 kiddos,

but my husband graciously let me sit in the 

front since I had a light colored dress on and the kids 

legs and feet are caked with red mud.

I normally will not make posts this long or everyday, but I don't have as much to do right now since I can't do laundry, cook much but peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and aren't unpacking yet.