Jairo, Lourdes, Josselyn and Aaron had to wake up early this morning so they could be in line at 6am at the bank to get the kids' passports renewed. They expect to spend the whole day there, so I will take care of everything at the breakfast program today. It is going to be a different kind of day because the kids who have afternoon classes will go to school in the morning with their mothers. Then everyone will be released when they are done with Mother's Day festivities, so we are not sure when they will arrive.
Yesterday there was a huge protest by bus drivers. I only caught the end of it - traffic was messed up when Jairo was trying to get us to the church. But from watching the news last night it was much worse earlier in the morning. The buses parked in the middle of every main street, blocking all of the main roads so the traffic couldn't pass. It was a peaceful protest with no violence. The bus drivers want to raise the rates but nobody is in support because they can barely afford the rates now. I have been on buses twice this visit. Both times it cost 11 Limpiras. That is about $2.00 in the US. I'm not sure if different buses cost more or less, but I do know there are a LOT of buses here. Most are old US school buses, but they are used for public transportation. And I have noticed there are 2 basic kinds of school buses. One has bible scripture painted across the top of the windshield and stickers about God on the back. The other kind of bus say something like "Playboy" across the top of the windshield and has stickers of women or marijuana on the back. I always see them parked at the bottom of the hill by the church. The buses here are washed constantly. I'm not sure why it is so important to have shiny tires on the buses. Maybe if they spent less time washing the buses they could make more money.
The front page of the newspapers yesterday said 3 huge words - FREE ALFONZO VILLATODO. Lourdes was reading a huge 2 page spread and I read it over her shoulder on the way to the breakfast program. He was kidnapped from his car. His car was left, parked on the side of the road between his home and work. The kidnappers are holding him hostage for a lot of money. His family is afraid he will be killed if they ask for help from the police, so they are not talking with police. I have been watching news programs on TV, but for some reason I can't find anything on TV about it. Maybe I am watching the wrong channels.
****** Evening Update ******
At the breakfast program today, one of the girls gave me a bag of conservas, which happen to be my absolute FAVORITE candies, as a Mother's Day gift. I think everyone was shocked when I started jumping up and down and screaming, "Conservas! Me ENCANTA conservas!!" Here is the embarrassing part. I was so excited by the conservas that I thanked the girl who gave them to me, then immediately forgot who it was! I have to ask on Monday.The funny thing is that I was doing laundry before I went to the Breakfast Program this morning. Of course that is my best thinking time, so I was thinking back to Mother's Days in the past when I worked in a lock down facility with boys. Almost none of them had a positive relationship with their mother, so I sometimes (like it or not) played that role. On Mothers Day they would often make cards for me instead of their biological mothers. I always had to wonder about their intentions with the cards. If they were trying to butter me up because they had ulterior motives. It was so wonderful to receive a Mother's Day gift this year that I knew came from a thoughtful heart. Even though I am not sure whose heart it was right now. (MUST find out Monday.)
The kids were super hyper at the breakfast program today, so we prayed, they ate, and we sent them on their way. I rode home with my favorite cabby, Jose. I finally got his phone number after seeing him on the corner a few days ago. Since he has no teeth his "sesenta" sounds just like "setenta" so I had written it down wrong. Now I've got it right. He gave me a ride home, stopping along the way at the grocery store for me, and still charged less than some have asked just for the ride straight home. Plus we have nice little chats. I did a second batch of laundry. Can't call it a load when I don't load it into anything. Now I have the rest of the day to relax. I have a great life! Although this morning when I was wringing out sheets til my hands cramped, I might have said it was just a good life. Most moments it really is great.
I think my neighbors in the front house are coming back home tonight. I am fine when they are gone, but I do prefer having them here. I did yard work so they could come home and find things just as they left. Mango trees are a lot of work! The mangoes are ripening, but they are up so high. I have to figure out a safe way to get some down. I banged on them with a rake and they didn't budge, so I'm guessing they are not quite ready yet. But when they fall it is quite a trick to get to them before the ants do. It felt good to get out there and do some physical work.
Need to run down to the store while it's still daylight and by some limes for my corn on the cobb tonight. Yummy! Then a shower and some reading time in my clean sheets. Sounds like a perfect evening.
Happy preface to Mother's Day -
