Weekend in...

Puerto San Jose!!!

That is right, we got to go back to Puerto San Jose, the town where Mario's family lives, for a weekend. This time we went with other YWAMers to do some ministry with some of the local churches there. We had a great time.

On Friday we left the city around 2 and got to Puerto a little bit after that. We waited around for our host families to be ready and then we to eat dinner at a local home. I went with a girl I had met on my last trip down so it was good to be able to reconnect with her and it was even better to eat good, home cooked food for dinner. After dinner, we all met up again and went to a youth service at the church where we shared with the youth a little bit about YWAM. I had yet to meet the girl I would be staying with so after the service we were introduced. I stayed with a girl named Wendy, who is 22 years old and lives alone. Now to us in the states this is nothing weird, but here you don't usually move out of your parents house unless you get married (and even then sometimes you and your spouse live with your parents!). Wendy works in Puerto San Jose and goes to church there so to live with her family, who lives about an hour away, would be too much traveling so she decided to live alone which worked out perfectly for a fun girls weekend! We talked and talked on Friday night until my eyelids would not stay open anymore. Before I went to sleep, though, I really wanted to take a shower so I went into the bathroom and was greeted by a shower with no running water. I knew right then and there that it would be an interesting weekend since it was SO hot all day and night and being stinky and sweaty would be inevitable. So I got the bucket that was in the water basin and began taking a bucket shower. It was not bad at all and even though the water was not heated, it felt really good since it was so hot outside still. Then when I got out of the shower Wendy and I talked some more and then we finally said goodnight and hit the hay. She let me sleep in her big double bed while she slept on a mattress on the floor- just one of the very hospitable things that I got from the weekend.

On Saturday we went to breakfast at another house where the family who fed us had coconut trees. They got someone to chop some ripe ones down for us so that we could drink the milk out of them. Mario had to cut them open for us with a machete so that we could enjoy the delicious drink!

After breakfast we went to pass out some clothes that were donated for people who had lost everything in the flood about a month ago. We first went to the city dump. It was an adventure from the start because we had to use our 4 wheel drive just to get there! It was worth it, though, and there were many people who where thankful for the clothes and prayers that we supplied. After our time at the dump we went to a shelter for others who had lost their homes. They were living a tent city type setting and I can't imagine having to sleep inside a tent when it is 100 degrees outside. It would be disgustingly hot, but that is just how these people were living. They told us that when the flood came, the water was coming out of the windows of their house and they tried to save what they could, but they were thankful to even come out with their lives. We spent some time there passing out clothes and playing with the kids. I, of course, chose to help lead the kids in some songs and games. I learned a new way of playing "London Bridges" and had a blast hanging out with the kids and seeing their smiles.


After we finished, we ate some lunch and then had some free time. We decided to visit Mario's mom, who was braiding hair with his sister. When we got there they were just finishing up so we had some time to hang out and talk with them. Mario's nephew, who is 4 years old, adores Mario and was so glad to see him! Seeing the two of them interact DEFINITELY made me miss my own niece and nephew- Elisabeth and Nathan- even more than I did before!!!


While we were there, Mario asked us if we wanted his mom and sister to braid our hair. At first I said no, but then I thought that it would be good, seeing as my shower situation for the weekend was not the best and that it would be a good way for me to experience something new from their culture. As soon as I said yes, Christina, Mario's sister, got to work! It did not take her long at all and in no time I was a new woman!
We had a really fun time with Mario's family, but we had to go because we wanted to see the beautiful sunset at the beach before we went to dinner and then to small groups with the church. The sunset was gorgeous, as usual in Puerto, and dinner was great as well. After dinner we each split up and went to give a devotion at a small group. To me it was a challenge because even though I am a "missionary" it is intimidating for me to have to give a message in Spanish in front of a group but it went really really well and I am glad that they gave me the chance to share. After small groups we heading to the park to hang out for a little while before heading home for the night. When I got to the house I was staying, Wendy was already there watching some TV so I asked if I could take a shower again since the day had been so long and full of sweat. This time it did not take me as long because it was not my first time and because I only had to wash half of my hair thanks to my new do!

Sunday morning we got up, ate another wonderful breakfast at another home and then went to church. After we had been in the service for about 5 minutes, someone came up to us and said that our leader wanted to talk to us. We quietly walked out of the service to find our leader who informed us that there had been a mistake and another family had made us breakfast and was waiting for us to show up! We did not want to offend anyone so of course we went for our second round of delicious breakfast!! After that we had a fun day at the beach planned with the youth from the church. We went for a few hours and then Mario and I decided to go visit his mom again while everyone else was still hanging out at the beach. When we got to her house she whipped us up some wonderful fried things made out of flour called fritas. We ate and then had to say goodbye and leave because our time in Puerto San Jose was coming to an end. We went to pick up the other YWAMers at the beach and made our way back to the city after a long and fun-fulled weekend!

There were two things that surprised me this weekend in Puerto San Jose. The first thing was on the first day when we were there. I met a girl who asked me where I was from. I responded with the normal "California" response and she said that she was from California too. Then we started speaking in English, something I miss doing, and she told me that she was born in a town called Bakersfield. You can imagine my response!!! I was so excited and we began to talk all things Bakersfield. She moved to Iowa when she was 7 so she didn't grow up there, but to meet someone who actually even knew where Bakersfield is was exciting for me!

The second thing that surprised me was that in the youth group there were 2 girls named Susan! I have never before met a Susan in Latin America. Susana is somewhat common, but never Susan, especially two in one youth group! Obviously we took a picture together so I will leave you with a portrait of the three Susans...