A Funeral

It has been a while since I blogged. Time surely flies when one is busy!

We got our friends off to the airport without any problems. After we dropped them off, we continued to the big town near the airport because we needed a few things, including new tires for the car. All was accomplished, and we were able to head home early, but we had enough time to stop by the German Bakery, now also a restaurant for a late lunch. This is where my friend, Rubia, likes to have chocolate ice cream for breakfast.

We spend our time visiting, leading the couples Bible study, which also involves cooking for me, and sharing in church. All of these things require a lot of study and preparation. We have held a few dinner parties at our condo as well, including one with the pastor, his wife and our Christian neighbors. We wanted them to get better acquainted with each other. Those who know me well are aware of the fact that I really do not like to cook, so it is a stretch for me to have so many people over all the time.

Sunday afternoon, Miguelina's mother passed away (see Miguelina's picture on last blog). She was about 80 years old. She had 13 children, so half of the town was at the funeral, about 200 people. The law here is that bodies must be buried within 24 hours; therefore, the funeral and internment were held Monday afternoon. They had a mass at the brand new Catholic church in our little town, and then people got into all kinds of different modes of transportation to go to the cemetery, which is in the next town. We just waited outside for mass to be over with some friends in the car. There were as many people outside the church as inside. A lot of the men were extremely drunk. They could barely stand up. They used the occasion as an excuse. They get drunk when they celebrate and when they mourn. I was saddened by this. They really need Christ in their lives.

They took the casket to a little enclosure in the cemetery just to say their final good-byes, brought it out to the grave, and lowered without any word of comfort or prayer. I thought that the priest would be there, but he wasn't. It was different. We watched as the cemetery employees put some wood down and then some wire mesh and then cement. They would probably put ceramic tile on the tomb, as other graves around. We stood around as they did all this, and then we left. That was it. They will pray a rosary for her soul for the next nine nights in a row.

From the cemetery we went to a birthday party for an American friend here in our condos! What a shift! Then I had to rush home to start cooking because we had invited a Sergio and Bianka over for dinner. They are doing such a good job leading Bible studies in town, including the couples' while we are not here! People are coming to the Lord! They are going to try to visit us in the US in October, so you might have the chance to meet them. Bianka is taking her oral test to get her nursing degree on Friday. Pray for her.

Which brings me to prayer requests:

• Continue to pray for Yirardi's health
• Pray for Paola, who had gallbladder surgery. She is a Christian.
• Pray for wisdom for the pastor and his wife as they shepherd the three small congregations
• Pray for Bianka to do well on her test and to find a local job
• Pray for John and I - health, stamina, wisdom
• Pray for all kinds of repairs needed in the condo and car - to find the right replacement parts and to be charged a fair price
• My mother is doing well - pray for continued good health 

I actually made it to the beach twice! The rainy season has arrived, but we are finding some time to walk and exercise.

Until next time...from the beach...