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Day Sixteen

Oh I was tempted to skip writing tonight but I know from experience when following a blog that you feel like your missing out if they don't write or you wonder what is wrong. So to avoid all those issues I will give you the low ddown even though it was not that exciting, I guess it can't be all the time our systems couldn't take it anyway.
It was a great sunny day, a great day to do laundry so that is what I did first, then we walked into town to pick some groceries. When we got home I started to make bread and a carrot cake for a birthday party for Denia's twins Daniella and Daniel that we are invited to tomorrow night, they are turning 7.
Leona was gone for a while in the morning to pick up some medical stuff to take to the girls at the brothel, she and some other ladies brought it to them in the afternoon.
Herman gave the bike a good washing after the dusty ride yesterday and added some oil.
I had to go back into town to get a present for the twins and some groceries I forgot in the morning. I am getting lots of walking in just getting stuff we need.
I bought some meat and am simmering it , I want to make croquettes for some friends that are coming over Monday night, will let you know how they turn out.
I will post some random pictures that haven't made it on the blog yet. Oh I forgot yesterday was Independence Day here and they had a nice little show of fireworks in the local park right in the center of town.We could see it from our house.
Time to put out the lights good night john boy, good night

Robin is putting a worm on his hook. Herman is trying to cast off, it was harder than it looked, he hooked his pants ,then the tree.
Angelo on his bike

Lla Peresa

Day Fifteen

How can I describe today? It was an incredible ride. We left arround 10:30 this morning again after a prayer for safety, we that is Angelo, Leona, Robin, Magdalena, Herman and myself jumped on our bikes and headed out of town to a lake called Peresa. The roads were very winding ,steep twistyand full of ruts . Our bike did not handle the steeps very well,poor Herman was having a difficult time there were more than a few times that we in the middle of going up and up and conk out, the bike that is not Herman. Angelo would come back and wonder where we were, I would up on with him and Leona while Herman got going again and up to the top. It is sucha beautiful country when you take these rides like this you get amazing views. The other thing that happened was we got a flat, now I thought what now? we are in the middle of no where right? not really, there are little communities spread out along the way. Every one has bikes so there is bound to be some one who can fix it but how to get 5 km up the road, no problem Robin our lightweight , probably 100lbs dripping wet, drove our bike standing up so as to keep pressure of the rear flat, while Magdalena got on with Angelo and Leona and Herman and I took Robins bike. We stopped where we had to turn and waited by the side of the road while Angelo and Robin took the bike a ways further where there was a guy who had the tools to fix tires, it took about an hour before they got back, meanwhile an inebriated local entertained us, it was pretty funny at times. Finally they returned and we were on our way to the lake. It is absolutely beautiful when you see it from on high with all the mts arround, we drove down to it and stayed awhile , the guys tried some fishing but no luck, we will have to buy some for our supper. We heade awy from the lake toward a huge dam which they open up every so often if the level gets to high, there was also electricity generated there as well. We headed out again by this time starving and going to a fish restaraunt, when we got there he said it will take an hour so we said lets head for home and fry our own that we picked up. In the distance we could see the dark clouds forming and knew rain was not far away, hopefully we will be home by then, we did manage to get a few sprinkles just as we got into town so not bad. I would not like to manoever those roads in the rain, it would be treacherous.
We got home safe and sound gracia mi Dios. Angelo and Leona cooked up the fish and it was superb, yum. Now we are exhausted and ready for good sleep. Buenas Noches

Two of these pictures are the inside of Leona's house, here you see the kitchen area and the other is the large room where you come in, to the left are the bedrooms and bathroom and straight through takes you to the dining area and kitchen.
The rooster belongs to the owner of the house, he raises them for fights. He lives on the right side of the house, it look like he divided the house in two, I'd say Leona has the bigger part.

This is the outside of Leona's house, the front verandah and the side carport and deck where Herman is sweeping, her front yard with lots of exotic plants and trees. It is a two bedroom so room for us when we come back next year. Abig kitchen dining and livingroom and it is nice and quiet here no motorbikes zooming by.

Day Fourteen

Its dark out and we just had quite a little down pour, the second since we have been here. It did not last long though, Leona and Angelo are gone to their mid week church service..
Today we went looking to see what appliances cost, Leona is going to need some when she moves in. We also spent the morning cleaning at her place, it wasn't to bad , we did the cupboards and the bathroom and all the doors and floors, the painter had been in and gave all the walls a fresh coat so that was good. Went home for lunch, Leona then met up with some other women from church and visited a brothel in town. They are trying to make contact with the girls by offering free medical services and checkups at the clinic.
They pleasantly surprised at the reception they got, one of the girls wants to picked up for church, another girl had a baby who was sick and they said they will come back with medicine so a lead in. Please pray for this new outreach and that these girls may be given hope that will last.
Herman and I took the bike up the Mt to visit this restaurant called Aroma Montana it is in a new development called Jamaca de Dios if you want to check it out the website is www.jamacadedios.com there are lots of lots still available , some of the house s in there are gorgeous.You can see the whole city of Jarabacoa from up there.
So it was another great day in the DR hope it was for you too.

The shoe organizer I made we delivered yesterday to Jasinia and her little boy. They live in one room which consists of a bed, a small table that holds her dishes and a tv, there are 3 other tenants in the building and I think they share a stove and fridge.

Day Thirteen

The roosters start crowing around 6 I think, I never check my watch I just know its to darn early. We usually try to ignore them, its hard to do even with earplugs in but we do fall back to sleep for a bit. We get up about 7:30 and I make porridge same as I do at home and Leona makes coffee. Angelo pops in every morning as well for his coffee .
Today Herman finished off the table for Leona, but before he could do that he had to get Angelo to pick up some 4x4 legs, this is a sturdy table let me tell you, it will out last them I am sure. They had Laminate left over at the school so they glued that on top, I will get a picture when it is done.
I spent most of the morning sweeping and cleaning the rooms where they were working. There was alot of scraps etc so that kept me busy. There is also a work team here that is working out at the orphanage and here at the school. Leona took one of them to visit his sponsered child, she helps translate for them.
Had lunch at school and then walked home, had to hang some laundry up and do some reading and just relax and of course update the blog.
Just a short one today hope the snow is letting up a bit for you all.

Day Twelve

Suppose your wondering what happened to us yesterday, nothing really the time just got away on us and we went to friends of Leona's for supper and by the time we got back it was too late and time for bed. So I'll bring you up to speed on our activities of yesterday.
Again a beautiful day, its cool first thing in the morning, you need a hoody on or something but as the sun comes over the mountains and gets higher it really warms up nicely. Samething in the evening once the sun disappears over the mts its nice to have a sweater on especially on the motorbike.
We were at the school again Herman is still finishing of his project he had to put laminate on the counters and today he is making a desk and a table. I was again busy in the sewing room this time I made one of those things you hang up to put shoes in, a shoe organizer I guess you would call it, this is for a friend of Leona who live in a tiny little space and has a few shoes, we are going to deliver it and visit with her this afternoon.
By 3;30 i was finished but Herman was not so I walked home, took me about 40 minutes I did manage to procure a blister, which was a pain, feels better today though.
The laundry I had hung up in the morning was dry so I took the sheets in and made the bed and did another load.
Leona said we were going to Laine and Caitlins for supper so didn't have to make anything. They live in the Ark here which is the other orphange operated by Kids Alive.
It is much nicer in surroundings than the one in Constanza, this one is situated on more rolling land with lots of trees, I'll post some picutres, the homes are very bright and colorful. There are 7 homes operating with about 7 kids in each home. They also have a big blue building for big meetings and activities. The thatched hut is on their property too, the thatch is being replaced soon by some work team.
Laine plays guitar and sings very well, so Herman played and sang first and then Laine did so we were we entertained. Headed for home just before 10, Angelo was going nice and slow so we would not get lost, no we didn't get lost but we did run out of gas on the road heading back into Jarabacoa. Angelo noticed we were not following him anymore thought a truck had wiped us of the road, he came back and once they shook the bike a few times realized no fuel was shaking loose he went and got some down the road in an old oil jug. Once that was in we were on our way and home in jig time and ready for bed.
I am home today because i have the scoots, it started yesterday allready, I think it was some greasy chicken that I hate on Sunday night. Leona said the oil is not changed to often arround here and that can be a cause so I think I will stay close to home.
Till next time hasta luega from the DR

Day Ten

This morning Herman and I headed out to church at Escuela Caribe where April and Jeff worked, they have an english service so that was nice. Met some familiar faces from last year, hi from all your friends April and Jeff.
Lunch was ready when we got back chili and rice and homemade bread,mmmgood.The afternoon was spent doing some reading and Herman had his Sunday nap. Leona and Angelo went to church at 4 , while we looked after Lola the dog. We also went for a long walk in the area where Leona use to live and Villa Nathalie, so nice to walk in that lovely warm sunshine. Hear you are getting another blast of snow tonight, good get it all over with while we are gone.
I'll post some pictures that didn't get posted yet from this past week, since I have no new ones today.
Till tomorrow keep each other warm

Day Nine

Today was a stay at home and clean day. Did some laundry to hang up out in the sunshine, which there was lots of today, and mopped the floors which you have to do on a regular basis arround here. then the biggest job of all taking all those little braids out of Leona's hair. She had it done about 2 months ago and they braid in pieces to make it longer. Her head was becoming pretty itchy so time for a good wash and cut. It took 5 of us this includes Leona about 4 hours to get them all out, what a tedious procedure. She said it took the girl 6 hours to put them all in. Vanity vanity saith the preacher.
After that her and Angelo went to their church, all the evangelical churches in the DR are going to canvess a million homes with the Good News, so that is what they are up to this evening and then a barbecue at the Pastors house.
Herman and I went into town to pick up a few groceries, I then made some more bread and am waiting for it to rise so I can punch it down and let it rise again, hopefully it will be done before we go to bed.
Heard the snow wasn't to bad on Thursday hope it starts to melt now, We would like to see most of it gone before we come back you know, see what you can do about that OK?
Till tomorrow have a blessed Sabbath
Herman Levina and Leona

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