First Sunday in La Palma

Today was a good day. We got to worship with the La Palma family. After for lunch we went and ate super gringa's at Eric's. Then we had some time to repack our suitcases and rest a while before Romeo (pronounced Ro-may-o) came with his big truck to pick up our luggage to take to what will be our residence while we are here. We loaded them up and then piled the five of us into the cab of the truck (3 seater). Nathan on Lori's lap and Erin on mine made for a long short trip - poor Erin kept slipping off my lap with all the downhill driving.

We dropped off the luggage, no problem. Then I left with Romeo and Nathan to go pick up the 2 wardrobes and 2 bunk beds built for the children's home, for us to use while we reside there. ¡No estaba listo para ése! Romeo and Mauricio (who built the furniture) speak no English, and though I can understand more and more, it was not enough and I felt very much like a fish out of water. Mauricio's neighbors had a good laugh at my expense... I think.

Romeo is an excellent driver. Anyone that drives a truck that size down the paths he did to pick up that furniture deserves some kind of commendation! I just sat back and watched as he navigated them with ease.

We loaded the furniture onto the truck. At first Mauricio and his wife carried the furniture, like I was unable to help. I asked to do it, but she would not let me. They had to set it down at one point and when it was time to move again, I picked it up before his wife could get there. I loaded the other one with Mauricio, also before his wife could get there. I know they just want to serve, but it sure makes me feel like I'm taking advantage of them.

We got the furniture back to unload (through the rain) with Mauricio in the back with it. The beds went in just fine, but the wardrobes were too wide and deep to make the turn into the bedrooms. Mauricio looked like he felt bad about it. We tried to make sure he knew we were not dissatisfied with his work. Then he got a sense of humor about it and pulled out his tape measure and said repeatedly while showing us the dimensions, "Raphael dice... Raphael dice..." which basically means, "Ralph told me to build it that way." We all had a good laugh, but we still had to leave the wardrobes in the entry room.

By this time we were to leave to have dinner at Sister Reina's house. Apparently, she has been having Jose y Norma and Teresa over each Sunday evening for pupusas. We were to join them tonight, but Jose and Norma were unable to make it so it was the four Lallis and Teresa.

At this point, I'd like to describe a pupusa. Picture a thick tortilla similar to a gordita only thicker and before it is flattened and fried, you push a "pocket" into it and scoop in some filling. Tonight we had queso y frijoles or queso y larocca (the pedals from a flower called lorroca). They were both good, but tonight the cheese and frijoles was the best I'd ever had. Nathan couldn't get enough of them. It was so funny watching him eat them. He hadn't had any pupusas here yet. He wasn't sure he'd like them, then he "split some" with his sister and me. I don't know how many he ate en todas, but he split quite a few with us. Erin had her fair share, too. Reina must put something addicting in them because it was quite difficult to stop eating them, and if you have ever eaten there, you know she just keeps making more and bringing them to the table. We finally did leave with a few still on the table.

After stopping by Jose y Norma's house, we walked back to the hotel for what we believe will be our last night here. We went to the restaurant for coffee (me), vanilla tea (Erin), and chocolate (Lori y Nathan) and played a few hands of hearts before coming back to the room.

Tomorrow promises to be another big day.