6 May 2013

Storm:

Normal:

The weather here is Hot.  Then the next day it is hot.  Then hot again, and then hot.  At night it is a bit cooler, or we wouldn't sleep for these 18 months.  Well, yesterday it was 90 degrees.  Of course it was humid and one of those days that was filled with perspiration.  Since it was Saturday, we were out doing Saturday things, purchasing food, getting caught up and preparing for the coming week.  As we left the institute, (doing month end things) it looked like rain.  

Thursday night it rained while we were out and there was water in the middle of our kitchen, and a few other places throughout the apartment.  We always leave the windows open to air out the place.  Since it never rains here, we thought we were safe, even coming home from the institute threatening rain.  Well, we were going to the local Blockbuster to see if there was a movie we could watch, for you see we are still between semesters.

As we neared the movie store it started to rain.  I mean really rain.  I mean torrential rain.  I mean downpour.  It was nice since we haven't seen much rain here.  Well, remember, it was 90 degrees hot and really started to get serious, as if it wasn't serious before.  It started to hail.  Big hail.  I thought we were going to have damage to the car.  We entered the underground parking at the movie place and there was about six inches of water in the parking basement.  We swam through the flood, parked the car and got out.  Found a movie, and swam back to the car.  Everyone was talking, pointing fingers, watching the  hail, the rain, and the heavy wind. 

On the way home, there were leaves broken off of the trees, streets littered with things.  As we neared our apartment, there was rivers where there used to be roads.  We approached our apartment and the power was out, thus we could not get into the parking lot where we parked our car.  We would have to wade through six inches of water to arrive at the front door of our apartment complex. 

Finally, it slowed down raining and blowing and tried to show us blue sky.  An important person came out and manually used the key and opened the gate, we entered.  Water, mud, debris everywhere.  We entered to find the couch by the open window soaked, our bed soaked, water everywhere (we live on the third floor) and mud also within our abode.  As it started to grow dark, we still didn't have power and had to eat a bite by candle light.  We slept in a different bed that was hard as a cement floor, or tried to sleep.  Every hour or so, an alarm, loud, sounded and continued to ring through the darkness for hour upon hour.  Chester the dog, barked all night long.

We called one sister we work with and asked her about the storm.  She laughed and said that is "NORMAL" for May, get used to it.  We went walking this morning and herein are shown many pictures of normal rain showers coming through this month of May.

Today, Sunday, it rained again and rain came into our apartment, water on the floor of our living area.  NORMAL.

5 May 2013 -

We picked up Katie and Russ at the airport and drove back to Santiago.  We stayed the night.  Katie had many things we had asked for, that we could not find down here.  Female stuff, yarn, meds, vacuum parts, and things that would be handy to have down here.  She brought a sweet photo album from Emily and some Garlic Makings from Rebecca.  It was truly like Christmas, so I christened her "Katie Claws".  She had a suit case that weighed 50 pounds, thus we had 50 pounds of goodies, in April, a Christmas in April. 

Well, those of you  who know me, know that I very respectfully, humbly, softly, just mentioned that it would be nice to have a few black jelly beans.  You can't find them down here, and for some reason my companion and I love black jelly beans.  I hate black licorice but love black jelly beans.  I know, it doesn't make sense, but  do I make sense?  

Anyway, she was getting to the bottom of  her suit case and I inwardly, started to worry that perhaps I did not ask strong enough about the black jelly beans.  I mean, maybe I was too humble, too transparent in asking, softly suggesting that if she happened to find a bean or two, be them black, she might bring them. 

Finally she was about to close her fifty pound suit case and I was just sort of sad, worried, concerned that perhaps it wouldn't be a black jelly bean Christmas in April.  She looked at me and said, "Oh one more thing."

You can see the picture.  Katie, dear Katie, dear Katie Claws brought 20 pounds of black jelly beans.   Now she insisted that I asked for twenty pounds, and maybe I THOUGHT about it, but I can't remember ASKING for that many pounds of beans.  I can become the Jelly Bean King of the Dominican Republic.   She said I could eat seven every day, but I figure it would be about a pound every day???  That is adding a pound to my heavy body, a day!   Thanks Katie Claws, I will always be nice and not naughty, especially for 20 pounds of anything.  Anyone want a bean or two?  I seem to have plenty!

24 April 2013

WANDA REVISITED

If you read yesterday's post, you will have been introduced to Wanda, our favorite ghost.  Well last night, after that blog, as we were praying, I prayed that we could find those two things we lost.  While I was praying, (I found out AFTER the prayer) it came into my companion's mind exactly where her hanky was.  She remembered, during the prayer, to have found the little hanky, thinking it was a paper towel, wadded it up and threw it in the garbage.  After prayer, she went and immediately retrieved her hanky.  So I immediately thought that perhaps  I had thought the avocado might have been a piece of garbage, and checked in the garbage.  But instead, I guess Wanda loves avocados also, and she is probably smiling  while she consumes our golden avocado.  Still no sign of it.

I am putting a picture of Wanda below this paragraph.  But since she is a ghost, you won't be able to see her.  But  here she is:


l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
Pretty little devil isn't she, but mischievous! 

23 April 2013

Wanda has taken residence with us.  (When we lived in Brigham City, there were many unexplained occurrences  that happened.  I kid you not.  One of our employees, in all seriousness, said her 12 year old daughter saw a ghost.  There were a few things that happened to me that cannot be explained.  Things moved from one place to another in a matter of five minutes.  Things disappeared, voices were heard, sounds from the alley, etc.  We affectionately named this ghost Wanda.  Wanda has followed us around here and there.  Now I believe she is in our mission.)  We did not invite her, but she is here I believe.

As most of you know, we love avocados.  However it is not the season right now for avocados.  We have missed them, for we used to have them almost every meal.  We had them on sandwiches, in salads, with guacamole, etc.  Well, it isn't the season for them right now, and we are depressed.  This morning, I found one of the neighborhood people selling avocados.  I purchase one for 50 pesos.  That is about $1.25.  To expensive, but I bought it as a surprise for Bonnie.

Today was our time to have the fumigator come and spray our apartment.  He comes, sprays it, we have to leave for a while, it does it's killing, and we return and blow out the fumes so it won't kill us.  The avocado was sitting on the counter when we left after the fumigator finished.  When we got back, it was gone.  We have searched the whole apartment for it, for we felt it was gold.  It cost gold, and is very scarce.  We feel awful.  It was taken by Wanda I am sure.  I don't have any other explanation.  It is no where to be found.

Tonight, Bonnie was crocheting or sewing, or whatever she was doing, and she had a phone call from one of our daughters.  She got up, took the phone, and promptly lost her hanky she was sewing.  We have searched the whole apartment again and cannot find it.  There are only so  many places it could be, and we are both shaking our heads.  Where oh where art though oh avocado and hanky?  Oh dear Wanda, please put them back where you got them. --- Wanda has taken up residence with us.


WANDA OH WANDA

The guy on the left of the pineapple is the avocado.

20 April 2013

It’s the end of the semester this week.  Thursday night was one to be remembered forever and forever.  We had our “Programa de Musica” to show off the choir and piano students.  After 3 months of choir class, we took these wonderful students on a musical journey from singing hymns in ear-splitting monotone…to singing in unison (almost everyone got there)…to singing in actual SATB parts (one verse of one hymn)…to the grand finale, the fabulous EFY Medley “As Sisters in Zion/We’ll Bring the World His Truth” which meant singing 2 different melodies together!  Considering where they began, it was nothing short of a miracle.  Oh me, Oh my!  They sang their little hearts out.  Yes, there were many notes way off key, but there were more notes right than wrong and the angels came as they always do to make up the difference, at least in the ears of those who listened with the spirit! 

We sang in Spanish, which was also a miracle for me.   

Elder P. and I sang the first part of Oracion de un Niño (A Child’s Prayer) in English and the choir ended the piece with 2 lines in English which was a miracle for them.  

Here's Elder Stratford, our missionary  who played the piano so well.  He loved it, thought it was a highlight of his mission.  It was so much better with his playing.

We did 4 choir numbers with the piano students performing their one-hand renditions in between. 

One of these students played her part of the duet totally on the wrong keys but no one noticed! :)

This was our "otro" or encore.

All things shall perish from under the sky,

Music alone shall live, music alone shall live,

Music alone shall live…never to die.

Elder Partridge stuck in the kitchen...again.

This "high class" concert ended in a typical Dominican way…hot dogs and soda pop and dancing.  They raised the roof with their meringue and bochata. 

All I can say is what this sign says so beautifully.  Music is food for the soul.  I’m so grateful for the privilege of helping the students love and appreciate good music and have a little taste of singing in harmony.  Oh, the things we can try!  We have many students excited now to join the choir next semester.  Good!  Maybe we can have more than one strong, stay-on-key voice on each part!  Here’s hoping!  

This shows that I was one of her basses.  It was a joy to sing for Sister Partridge, watching her tear up, feel the joy of these Dominican saints, sing their hearts out for her, striving to sing as she taught them, and enjoying every minute of it. She is in her "element" when she is directing people singing the songs of Zion.  Those in the audience saw the fun we had and will sign up the next semester for her class of coro.  All of these kids have never had someone as wonderful, loving, and visionary as Sister Partridge.  They thoroughly enjoyed singing for her.

10 April 2013

LESSONS MY  MISSION HAS TAUGHT ME:

1.  When you take down the garments from the clothes line, there is a right way and a wrong way to do so.

2.  Groans and small shrieks are welcome coming from someone on the exercise mat.

3.  Hearing rooster crowing during sacrament meeting and having a stray dog run through the "chapel" is acceptable and expected.

4. Chartering a plane to carry all the "things" we need when you come to see us, is acceptable and expected.

5.   The water and power go off on a regular basis, especially when it is most inconvenient.

6.  Being "fashionably late" is accepted, and called "being Dominican".

7.  At times, the water coming out of the kitchen sink, from the local plumbing is as hot as the water coming out of the  "electrically heated" water.

8.  Cockroaches, little flying bugs, lizards, shadows, sticks, and anything else that is not immediately identified can probably cause screams and terror in companions.

9.  Senior missionaries are often housed on the twenty first floor with no elevator.

10.  There is nothing like serving in a foreign country, being influential in the lives of others, and  growing to love, appreciate, and grow closer to your companion and Father in Heaven.

NOTE:  Before I started to write this list, I told my companion, that I was going to shower.  Then I said I had this list I wanted to write down before I showered so I wouldn't forget it.  As I began to shower, the water was turned off and then the power.  Bonnie had to bring cold water in to rinse out the soap out of my eyes, head and hair.  "Dominican"

This is a partial list.  

Once again I do not have pictures to accompany this blog.  But here is a picture of the temple where we are going this Saturday.

4 April 2013

Well, I have been put in my place.  Last night, that crazy dog Chester started barking at 3:30 a.m.  It was annoying of course, and so we both listened to it, not wanting to get out of bed to scream at him to shut him up.  Finally, I decided to be gracious and climbed out of the bed and went to the window.  I yelled, "Pare" which means to STOP.  He didn't.  I climbed back in bed, waiting for him to quit barking, since I had yelled at him.  And my voice came from on high, since we are on the third floor.  About half an hour later, he was still barking, and I decided I would not sleep any more.  So Bon decided to get out of bed, and she went to the window and yelled at Chester, "Pare."  And I kid you not, Chester immediately quit barking.

(I guess that doesn't look like Chester.)  (But it is a picture and many have said that I need to include pictures in my part of this blog.  Imagine Chester...)

 

I was dumbfounded, or dumb, or founded, or something.  That dog Chester, I guess, has a respect for my companion, obeys her command, and ignores mine.  Why is that?  Who knows. So now I am trying to figure out what the Eternal Principle is found in that experience at 3 in the morning.  There has to be a lesson contained therein, no?  I am open for help  in dis-ciphering this eternal principle, if anyone wants to teach me.

She DOES have a voice demanding obedience, respect, and honor. Guess I will continue to ponder that one.

And... yesterday she was teaching her class in directing.  We had four there, and there was one young boy who is very shy.  At the beginning of each class, we have a song, prayer, spiritual message, and another prayer.  He has always refused to do anything.  Well, yesterday, we all, through peer pressure, urged him to do something. He finally agreed to pray, under pressure he agreed.  So he arose from his chair, and said a very, short, special, heart felt prayer, "God, thanks, Amen."  He said it soft and it was hard to hear, but it was a prayer from his heart, none-the-less.  Sweet experience.

We are anxious for conference this weekend.  For us it is noon to 2, four to six, and eight to ten.  What other new announcements are coming our way?  We are excited to know.

Also, here is a picture of our Easter basket.  Fun huh?  They just don't believe in candy, eggs, and such, but we got three eggs as shown.

So we had a wonderful egg-less Easter, remembering our Savior.   Eggs don't make or break Easter.