Here I am writing from Puerto Rico. On Saturday, July 5, I took a plane from NY to IL to St. Thomas Island and finally to Puerto Rico! Thank the Lord, there were no problems, and all my luggage arrived safely. Since this e-mail is about adventures, I will highlight some of the adventures or new experiences I have had since moving to PR.
1. Arriving in the airport. With all my luggage (3 suitcase and a computer), I could hardly get out of the baggage claim let alone cross the street to meet E, the lady who was picking me up. So...I asked a maletero (men or boys with luggage carts who offer assistance for a fee) to help me with my luggage. Ok, maybe this wasn't so adventurous, but it was new for me.
2. Getting "thrown" into a swimming pool. It was a lot of fun. (This was at a birthday party I was invited to just one hour after I arrived.)
3. Singing Spanish praise and worship music with the believers. They have the coolest instruments to accompany the songs: rain stick, accordion, guitar, keyboard, cajón, and maybe something else. It makes me want to buy myself a wooden recorder and join in with them!
4. Meeting old friends and the believers at my new church, CECu. I got to stand up and be presented and welcomed warmly by everyone and then go around and give everyone a kiss on the cheek. All the older ladies greeted me with Dios te bendiga (God bless you.). I also enjoyed seeing friends that I had met at camp many years ago. There are a lot of young adults my age, so I am looking forward to seeing them again.
5. Having a lizard fall on me while I was sleeping. The missionary, E, and I went up to CCVV (a Christian camp in the mountains) for two days. There I volunteered washing dishes and cleaning. I also slept in a cabin. It is not unusual to see lizards inside the cabin, climbing the walls, but it was definitely a surprise to wake up to one falling and crawling on top of me!
6. Spending time with E. I love her so much! She has so graciously opened her home to me and has been so helpful. I would appreciate prayers that I could be of help to her as well and that our fellowship would be sweet.
7. Getting sick. No, it wasn't some tropical disease. It was just a head cold. Actually, I probably caught it in the States. However, it wasn't pleasant. E called a doctor from church, he prescribed some medicine, and I am doing quite well now.
8. Going shopping on my own! Now this is an adventure! I learned to take the guagüita (mini-bus or 15 passenger van) from E's home to the plaza in Trujillo Alto (about 2 miles away). Once I arrived at the plaza, one lady asked me if I was lost (since I obviously don't look like the typical Puerto Rican). I said, "No, I just came to the plaza." After that, I went shopping at K-mart and requested information about opening an account at Banco Popular. Anyway, this was a big step in my learning to get around Puerto Rico and eventually take public transportation to work.
I love you all. Thank you to those who are praying for me and this big move. I would appreciate prayers for wisdom, for good relationships with people here, for the ability to be a blessing in the church and to E, and for a good job and transportation. May the Lord's will be done.
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