MRI is done. I can pick up the results Saturday, but don't expect to have them read until Monday afternoon. All of this time I assumed I would shove my arm into the machine, or perhaps they had a smaller machine. I didn't expect to have to spend 25 minutes inside the horrible thumping tube. I've done it before, so I knew I could make it, but it is still no fun.
On the way home I called Erika. The phone clicked off before I could leave a message. For a minute I wondered if she had hung up on my call. Then I realized that my phone does that all of the time. I don't jump to that assumption when it hangs up on other people, so there was no reason to assume that Erika hung up on me.
I called back and a male voice that I don't recognize answered. He must be Erika's boyfriend. He said that Erika was out but would be back soon if I were on my way over to visit. I explained I was not on my way, and thought it sure was nice to know that he was okay with me stopping by if I had wanted to!
After Erika stood me up for the first time ever on Saturday and then didn't take my calls, friends suggested Erika could be in a relationship with a man who is controlling and won't allow her to see me. I doubted it because she was always so adamant about only dating a man who treats her well, but it is certainly possible. The young man's attitude on the phone today did not seem controlling or like he didn't want me to see Erika. What a relief! I think it's a good sign that he believed I would be stopping by.
However, I have called back several times tonight and Erika is not answering. It may take a while for her to be comfortable talking with me again. Or maybe she is just busy and didn't hear her phone ring. No jumping to conclusions! At least she will see I am calling and know I am not giving up on her.
Tomorrow I am doing home visits for the first time in Villa Nueva for my new job. Yay! Exciting!! I look forward to getting out into the community and meeting the people I will serve.
The person I am shadowing will meet me at the office at 8 a.m. I am the only person who doesn't live in the community we serve. It can be a bit difficult for me to get in and out of Villa Nueva. It's super close to my house, but too dangerous to walk to. Since my co-workers live there, they just walk or take a bus to the homes they are visiting. But it is not safe for me to go there alone. My co-workers have to go the office (which is two bus rides for them) or meet me at a safe place outside of Villa Nueva and take the bus back in with me. Tomorrow if we go from the office we will probably go in with security. All of this makes working with me more time consuming for my co-workers. I feel bad but I'm also grateful that they are willing to go out of their way to help me be safe.
When I finish in Villa Nueva I am going to meet some ladies who are marinating the meat for a fundraising barbecue at my church Saturday. I figured I could help and learn how to do it at the same time. The lady who is preparing the meet is famous for her delicious cooking, so I will be learning from the best!
