Sunday, February 5, 2012

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

Moving is never fun. We’ve now moved five times in the past four months- three of those times we’ve moved in with other people. You’d think we’d be used to it by now or have a system going that makes it easier to pack and unpack, but moving gets harder each time, not easier. On a Tuesday night a few weeks ago we packed up our things yet again. A flatbed cargo-carrier type truck, driven by a local brother, picked us up at nighttime and we rode to our new home lying on the back of our mattress looking up at the stars.



Now that we’re in our new home about 25 minutes outside of the center of town, we’re having difficulty getting a clear internet signal. Without fast internet I can’t work. Without work we can’t continue to live in Ecuador. We may be moving again soon back to town. I don’t even want to think about it. Meanwhile a local telephone company is coming tomorrow to see if it’s possible to get phone/internet out here. Fingers crossed, folks.


My mother-in-law is here visiting from Indiana. Unfortunately, Carlie and I both got miserable colds when we got back to Tena and we’ve both been sick ever since. I’m not sure if Carlie had a cold or flu, but two nights ago she had a 104 degree fever, so it was pretty bad. I feel guilty that my mother-in-law has been spending her vacation so far cooking, cleaning, and taking care of us, but yesterday I was so sick I hardly got out of bed. I couldn't say two words without sneezing on her.


Today, while Joe and Sue were making me hot tea, I realized I hadn’t showered in 3 days. I was shooting for four when a brother came over to help with some electrical jobs he had promised to do last week. Sue laughed at me and told me to go freshen up. I brushed my teeth, but that’s all I had the energy for. I went to go rest some more on the hammock when all of a sudden a sister from our hall and another brother drove up in our driveway. They had come over to tour our new home and say hello. Our house was a wreck and I didn’t feel like saying hello, but I did. We even invited them in for cookies. About 15 minutes later, my friend Abbey from our congregation literally pops out of our bathroom. Somehow I had turned my head long enough for Joe to let her in and I had no clue. She happened to be passing by and had to use our restroom.

That was it. With four extra visitors in my home I decided it was time to shower and make myself more presentable. I was glad I did because when I came out of the bathroom we had yet two more guests: Abbey’s mum and dad. ( I have to say mum because their British.) So everyone stayed and had coffee and cookies and took turns sharing the only four chairs we own. Abbey and I also whipped up some guacamole with taco chips and we all had a wonderful afternoon speaking in two languages to each other.


When everyone left, Joe made taco salad for dinner. After dinner we called the owner of the house next to us. They haven’t officially moved in yet so it’s sitting empty unless her grown kids come over to swim in the afternoons. Joe asked if he could watch their satellite TV to catch the Super Bowl and if I could take a hot bath since we only have a cold-water shower and I was sick. So tonight we did two things we haven’t done since we were in the States and used to take for granted: watch football and take a real bath. I stayed in the bath for an hour and only got out to see Madonna at half-time.


Tomorrow Sue, Carlie, and I are taking a girls-only trip to Banos, a tourist town 3 hours away, for two nights. It’s famous for its active volcano and thermal baths. I know we’ll have a lot of fun, but I feel bad for Joe who’s chosen to stay behind and work. Sue says she’s having fun on her vacation so far, but I know our time in Banos will be a highlight for her. And I won’t have to entertain drop-in guests for two whole days.


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