Good-Bye, Puerto Rico!

 Good-bye, Puerto Rico - “Isla del Encanto!” Good-bye, and I wonder when – if ever – I may see you again? I've loved listening to the night orchestra, your little coqui's leading the music. I've loved the view from high on one of your mountains, blue ridge upon blue ridge away in the distance, and the green, green valley below. I've looked out over the sea that surrounds you and loved watching the waves breaking your shore.

“With joy and with weeping much seed has been sown”....well, I think it was only a few seeds. As to the weeping, those seeds were watered with a few tears, but they were tears of thankfulness; tears moved by my unworthiness and thankfulness to the One who IS worthy.

I won't forget our friends here. I won't forget the heartfelt invitations to “Come back to us!” I hope one day I can....if it is the will of the One who plans the way. As we heard yesterday, “our times are in His hands”.

Now we move on. I'll wave good-bye, and hope to “see” you again in the Dominican Republic.

                                        Hilda

From East to West and East again

 On Monday we headed west on the main highway that runs across the northern rim of the island. It is a beautiful drive and a good road most of the way. I drove – for the first time here – part of the way. I'm still very hesitant to drive in or near the city. This island may belong to the United States, but the traffic does not behave like it is expected to behave in the States!

At the western edge, we stopped at an overlook to enjoy the sea below. The heavy clouds made the colors less than we had hoped for, and soon it was pouring rain. We headed south to Aguadilla, then “followed our nose” as Jeannette put it, winding in and out on narrow streets with streams of rainwater running down the hills, and in low places over the road. In the flatland not far from the ocean we came to the nice little home of our friends and were glad for room to drive in beside the house with a roof overhead. Later, the rain stopped and we walked over to look at the river not far from the back of the house. It was high and rushing from the heavy rain. We watched the chickens struggle to reach a roosting place in the trees, the colorful rooster taking the highest place, and admired the lovely little parakeet-like birds in a large cage.

It was cooler after the rain, and we had a pleasant night there. After breakfast and a study in the morning, we headed north and then east, back to the city. We were glad we could make that trip as it is the only chance we've had to spend a little time with those friends who are the furthest away from others and from the city.

Thursday, we came south and east – a little beyond El Yunque park with the rainforest – to visit again in this area where we were two weeks ago. This time we are staying with Irene and Ventura up, up that steep road that ends at their house on the mountainside. We've felt so at home here, enjoying the time with them, and the restful atmosphere where it is cooler and quieter. I love to look at the layers of mountains, shrouded in blue mist, and then the sea in the distance. Close in the foreground is the jungle-like greenery that covers the mountains and valleys.

Tomorrow we'll ride down the mountain with them to the fellowship meeting, and later drive back to the city and a 5:00 p.m. Gospel Meeting there. Tomorrow begins our last week here. It is also Thanksgiving week. When we can, we walk in the large, modern, Mall of the Americas in the mornings before it opens. It is evident here, as at home, that Christmas has over-ridden Thanksgiving. Sad, when we have so much to be thankful for! Psalm 103, our study this past week, reminds us again and again of all that God has done and is doing for us, and that we need to thank Him continually. I've smiled at a couple of the signs....”Don't be a half gifter” with a picture of a bicycle with only one wheel and a few other parts missing. On a store front: “UnScrooge Yourself!”..(come in and find the Spirit of Christmas in our store.)

It is pouring rain again...no wonder that there is a rainforest here.

Upon another island....

Sunday evening again, and a new week. It has rained off and on today, and raining now. The little
“ko-KEEs” love it and are singing loudly. It is so warm and humid that every time I've gotten out of our air-conditioned car my glasses steam over!

But what I really wanted to write to you about is the past week! Monday and Tuesday have already faded away out of memory, but Wednesday we flew to the neighboring island of St. Croix. It is only a 20 minute flight – a whole lot less time in the air than it takes to go through all the “hoops” in the airport, wait for take off, and deplane upon arrival at our destination.

St Croix is one of three United States Virgen Islands. It's size is about 28 miles long by 6 or 8 miles at the widest point. The terrain is quite similar to Puerto Rico, but there the similarity stops. One wonders how they can be so close and have a history and a culture so very different! I didn't realize that they speak English there, and so in trying to pack light, I didn't bring my English Bible and hymn book. Interesting – as a Gospel Meeting had been arranged for about an hour after we landed. So, I had to borrow and quickly find and bookmark verses I had marked in Spanish.

I don't know how to put into words the feelings of the following two days. How to describe the soft, velvet darkness of a Carribbean night? The noise of the breeze moving the fronds of the big palm tree silhouetted against the night sky....stars above bright enough to tell the constellations....and distant lights of the town covering a hillside. In the cool of early morning we sat on the patio to read and meditate – with my eyes often lifting to the view of the sea.

Yes, that was special....but far more special was our visit and fellowship with the couple who so willingly shared their small home with us. Katie grew up in Texas; Michael grew up right there on the island. Little Rylon Philip joined the family in August. Their testimoney, their story, is so encouraging, so heartwarming. There are several chapters in their lives that come before the decision they made – moved by prayer and the hand of God – to return and make their home on this island.

Perhaps the highlight of our stay was the weekly Bible Study meeting one morning when we met together with the three black ladies who are living on the island. We – all from different states and islands and backgrounds and races and cultures sang together “Come Unto Me”, “Sweet Words of Jesus” and “Teach us Lord Our Days to Number”. We prayed together and shared our meditations on the study – Psalm 89 – in a precious unity of Spirit.

I really did enjoy getting a tour around the island and often a view of the sea at every turn. On the hillsides one can see the old sugar cane mills still standing from another era. The highway curves around Point Udall, which is the easternmost point of the United States. I had to actually see it on a map to visualize that.

Friday afternoon we boarded JetBlue again for the brief flight back to Puerto Rico and our Spanish world here. It is good to be back, good to see again today those I've grown to love here, but I will never forget the days on that other island – where, by the way, they drive on the left side of the road – and the friends and fellowship we shared there.

WHERE WE ARE

The days are hurrying past, and if I don't put into words  we've seen and done, most will be forgotten – swallowed up by other days and experiences.

We spent most of last week with friends in the eastern side of the island. At least I THINK I have my directions right! On our way out from the city, we stopped at Yunque National Park and rainforest. Interesting and beautiful! I believe they get over 200 inches of rain in the year, and are both proud and very caring of the delicate eco-system.

We stayed with Dina this time. She's getting close to 90, but gets around pretty well – and was SO glad to have us. It does get hotter in the houses than outside, and one learns that you simply have to leave the room door open if you want air to circulate.....I'm learning, but I almost melted before I gave in. ha

We visited Nina, in her wheelchair, who just had the cataract removed from her 2^nd eye. She has diabetes and one leg is looking so bad that I can't help but feel concern. We had a little time with Ana, in her cheery room connected to the home of some of her family. We enjoyed lunch and a study with Yolanda one day. Meeting on Sunday, as well as the study meeting Thursday evening, is at David's house. He lives part-way up the mountain. I found out about the rest of the way up the mountain when Irene met us there with her 4-wheel drive and took Jeannette and I on up to top, where the road ended at the home where she and her brother, Ventura, grew up and still live. Oh, what a beautiful view from their porch! In many places the little road seemed to go almost straight up, and after it rained in the afternoon, we went through water running over the crossing. I could picture the impassibility of that road with snow and ice! That would never happen here, though.

Friday, we hurried back to the busy city and after refreshing at Hilda's house where our extra things stay, we went to Adam and Olga's house for supper. They have three boys, so it is a busy household. Saturday we went to help with some of the preparations to make a new place for the convention in December at Fitzgerald and Melody's house. I have a black-and-blue fingernail as evidence of my ability with the hammer.

Sunday, the friends from other parts of the island came for the union meeting. All brought lunch, and afterward we had the Gospel meeting early so all could stay. It was special to visit with everyone, and to have a couple from Canada on vacation with us – and also two visitors from the city. I was so pleased to look around the room – around 35 people – and know the name of each! I think we've been in each home except the couple on the far west (?) end of the island.

It is Monday now, and a new week....and I must add some pictures to this and wave good-bye. Thanks so much to those of you who've left a note or sent an e-mail.....or just thought of us.