The Feria

Saturday Feb 1, 2014

Today was P-Day. Rained most of the day but I was still able to wear shorts. Nice change from dresses all week.  We cleaned the apartment today.  I baked whole wheat bread successfully using my little Bosch wheat grinder and small mixer.  

Off to the feria

After that we went to the “feria”. Literally translated the word is “fair”.  It is an open market that country people set up all week long in various locations throughout the community.  From our place it is about a 10 minute walk.  There are lots of great fresh fruits and veggies. Real organic without the price tag.  We bought lots and only paid $20.  I told Mike we could afford to eat healthy at least through the summer months.  Doubt they do this during winter.  Our name tags always bring some sort of conversation.  This time an older man who processed our foods told us he was a Jehovah’s Witness but gave up trying to teach because nobody wanted to listen.  Mike talked to him for a bit and we left him with smiles and friendship.

After our open market shopping, we grabbed our first bus ride. It cost us $1 each  to head to the Portones. It is a huge shopping mall that looks just like the malls at home.  

Made me miss you Kira!

We spent a bit more there getting things like spices for cooking, hangers, cast iron small fry pan ($5!).  Was trying to find baking soda but finally found out they only sell it in the pharmacies.  We checked into changing over my phone to their 3G network.  Not too expensive so as soon as I feel comfortable that I have things backed up from my phone, we will do that.  I am so limited without the internet.  We couldn’t  carry all our shopping items on a bus so we also took our first taxi ride.  That cost us $5 and was a much faster route.

Our Street Corner

Got to our apartment and put away groceries. We started our fast around 2 pm so I didn’t have to fix dinner tonight.  But I did have to fix a main dish for the “break the fast” luncheon to be held tomorrow after church.  I did a chicken rice casserole but had to make the cream of mushroom soup from scratch.  They do sell it, but it is way expensive.  I also had to thoroughly wash with bleach all the fresh food we bought. 

After a whole day on my feet, I was ready for bed.

Sunday Feb 2, 2014

  Up and out the door by 8:45 am.  The Stake President wanted to meet us at 9 am.

The Stake building is in the same place where the mission office is located.  He is a younger Stake President but great just the same.  He wants us to work with the less actives.  There are 452 prospective elders of which 13 are active.  There are 1250 sisters of which 300 are active.  We will start with the Malvin Ward and that is where we went to church.  They were very gracious to welcome us.  I shared my testimony in Spanish.  It was short and brief but the Spirit of love was there and we all felt it.  There are 2 sisters that speak enough English and helped me out during Relief Society.  I played the piano for them. 

After church, we met at the “temple block complex” or hostel and gathered for a shared “break the fast” meal.  All the temple presidency, missionary temple workers, senior missionaries and office missionaries and a few others were there.  I brought my casserole along with 2 loaves of homemade bread along with the honey butter and it was gone!  Sister Harris said that that was the first piece of whole wheat bread she had since she left home. 

We came back to the apartment and now have to figure out what we are going to try and accomplish this next week.  We still have no particular direction.  The Bishop said that ward council would give us a list.  I know we can’t wait for that to happen.  We will have to initiate the contact.

We saw a little boy today that reminded me of Tate!  He was all boy and giving his parents a run for their money.

We love you all and do miss you.  Pray for us. Pray that we will be able to help those less active people find their way back to Christ.  A little bit (no alot!)of  help in my learning the language would be a nice thing to pray for too!

Monday, February 03, 2014

The Plastic Store  Sister Harris

Spent the day with the Pugmire’s again.  We worked on getting the Valentine Day Cookies packed and into big bags so that they can be delivered tomorrow on Concilio (Council) day.  All the leaders come into the mission office for training and then go back out to their areas.  We did this in the Giles (temple workers) home with the other temple couple, the Martins.  It is their P-Day.  The sisters needed some more plastic plates to put the cookies on so they took me to the “plastic store”. Good luck if you need anything on the bottom! 

Sister Giles and Sister Harris

Using every bit of space!

I think I fixed the comments too.  Try again!