The Last Day of January, 2013

The last day of January, 2013!

It's been two weeks since I wrote of our doings. Much of our goings have been repeats....over the mountains to Constanza again; to Moca again. The days and the trips and the meetings have all run together like pieces in a puzzle that is finished.

We did have an extra-ordinary weekend in Constanza. This time, we took the two young girls from Bonao with us! This was the first time for each of them to go there. The highway to Constanza curves through beautiful mountain scenery. It is said there are over 300 curves in the 51 kilometers (approximately 40 miles?) to Constanza. These mountains are the highest in the Caribbean. The highest is over 10,000 feet.

We had three Gospel Meetings in three homes on our way. Sunday afternoon, we had another meeting near the city and brought the granddaughter of that lady back with us to get acquainted with the other two girls. Monday was a holiday....and it was decided that we would go to the waterfall. We filled the car – Dominican style – and Waldy drove. The narrow dirt road was full of “washboards” and wash outs. There were plenty of views of the productive valleys below. It grew worse as we went on, with water running over it and rocks to traverse with caution. In places, some of us had to get out and walk. NOT my type of road....but after an hour and a half we did arrive. The waterfall IS worth seeing (just not worth getting to!!). Since it was a holiday, a few other people were there also. Some even dared to jump into the cold pool at the foot of the falls. Yes, the water was very cold and a jacket needed in that valley the sunshine can't quite reach. Some of our group climbed a rough trail to see the two layers of higher falls. They reported it was quite perilous. All did return safely and we had a nice picnic lunch before the trip back.

We took our friends home, gathered our belongings from the apartment and delivered the granddaughter - and were on our way again. Another Gospel meeting on the mountainside....and back to Bonao just before dark.

Now, a building project is going on. Five of the brothers, two Haitian friends and a couple of the neighbor men are working with cement blocks to complete the upper story of one of the buildings. These days are busy with cooking and washing! There are around 12 here for meals. It has been raining a lot....but maybe that is easier on them than the sun beating down.