It is a month and a half since the last entry. Time has passed quickly with taking some time for relaxation with friends after the Vacation With a Purpose group left. The weather after one week of sunshine in February has continued with a mix of rain and sun. We have been surprised at the amount of rain this year and cool weather evenings. It is still very pleasant, especially when we hear of the brutally cold winter back home. It is amazing people survive in that cold.
There has been progress in the construction of the house out in the country with walls going up and some backfill happening. The construction has been slowed down by rain. It is so peaceful in that area with farm animals from the adjoining pasture checking out the scene now and then. The methods and tools of construction used are reminiscent of the era when I was little, well, maybe further back than that because the water for the cement mixer was hauled by mule & water cans from a nearby creek.
You also hear the sounds of the school children up in their classrooms counting together loudly in spanish or later, swinging and shouting in the playground. It does not take long for them to spot us and come running to cling to our hands. The roosters crowing is constant. The vegetation looks lush and green, with a large mango tree and upcoming citrus tree in the backyard of the construction lot. There are still towering palms in the pasture and the hillsides all around are dotted with palms and various trees and bushes. It will be a major therapeutic change for the pastor and his wife and family to make the move from a crowded back lane house in town to the serenity of the country.
Something has changed in the way pictures are being uploaded to the blogsite as the last few times I have tried to add photos all that happens is gobbledy gook instead of an actual photo. So maybe I'll settle for words rather than work on trying to solve the issue.
We have two and a half weeks left before returning home. Time has passed swiftly although a few times it felt so slow, especially when I had broken my toe or when I was down with bronchitis. We are both well now and are trying to take care of many details and make use of the remaining time. We spent a few hours at the new beach at Sosua by the Sea and it was awesome. The waves were quite high again but local kids were riding them with their boogie boards having a blast getting tumbled too.
Beaches come and go here. Last March we watched as the beach at Sosua by the Sea resort disappeared within a matter of two days leaving only a rocky dropff of a few feet and last month it returned it seemed within 2 or 3 days. The same kinds of changes have happened in other resorts and it is fascinating to watch the power of the sea.
We have just come through a week of major roof renos here at our condo and it has been the challenge of the winter. The tar patches on our floor and inside the condo have been cleaned up and we think the project is over. We have not had a heavy rain since it was completed but we are hoping the holes have been sealed. We are still waiting for power to be restored to our ceiling lights in the front rooms of the condo but the noise overhead is gone and it is peaceful again. Whew, once again only the sound of roosters, dogs and motor bikes.
