We Have Arrived!

Yesterday morning we arrived at the church, tired and hungry, and then the muffins and coffee made that a little better. We grouped up to go to the airport. We were at the airport for a while before our flight. The first flight was just an hour, so some people got in a power nap. We landed in Charlotte, North Carolina and had a little while before our tedious four hour flight to Curacao. Eight of us had to check the bags back so the rest of us ate while they went back through security. It was mostly barbecue, but Scott was brave and ate airport sushi. When everyone else got through security, again, we ate some more and found some frozen yogurt. (yum!) Scott and Rich rushed ahead of the rest of us to the boarding gate because they wanted their roomy exit seats, they got them. The flight was long, some people took naps, others read, but Scott and Rich passed their time by harassing Elizabeth, who unfortunately, had to sit in front of them. We landed in Curacao, and waited in a long line to go through their average security system. After that, we boarded the Fokker 50, no joke, and squeezed into our little seats. We all found it strange that the letters on the seat numbers skipped B and E. A, C, D, F. On the 55 minute flight, we filled out the confusing immigration forms. We landed, and were all glad to get off of the cramped plane and see Willie. It took a while to claim our baggage and check in, in one little room of the small airport, right in Barquisimeto. We were happy to see Samuel again, some meeting him for the first time, and met his brother. Warren was also there to greet us, as well as Willie. The newbies took in the (dark) sights on the way to the seminary. We got there and were pretty happy to get to bed.

Today, we woke up pretty early, and ate breakfast with no hurry. That’s something you learn here, you are never late. We took our time getting ready for church and then went to Pastor Carlos’s church first this morning. Rich and John were the only ones who understood any of the service, but we appreciated the attempt to translate near the end. There was such high energy, and everyone was so happy and intrigued at what the pastor had to say. The service wasn’t long, and right after that we went to Pastor Alexander’s church. That was a sight to see. People were dancing to the music until they passed out on the floor. They worshipped until they fainted. Not many of us understood what they were saying, but it made us happy anyway. That church had helped 53 people find Christ during this past week. When it was time for children’s church, Elizabeth, Stacy, Peggy, Scott, and Kim went with them. The kids didn’t speak English, and we didn’t speak Spanish, so thank goodness for Yoe. He translated what the kids were asking us and other comments. Scott did some magic tricks, much to the kids’ amusement, and made balloon animals, just like last year. The kids were eager to learn English. They would ask us what perro  or gato meant in English. Peggy danced with them a little and Stacy took a bunch of pictures. They were so happy we were there and we were so blessed to be loved by strangers. We were accepted like family to both churches, and here at the seminary. We left the church and went shopping! We went to Tintinino Market. It was like a flea market. There were wood carvings, blown glass, blankets, hammocks, purses and jewelry, knick-knacks for children, knick-knacks for adults, and more. The car ride back we were all pretty tired, and we stopped for some good marron. (coffee) Samuel was kind and ordered for us because of our lack of knowledge of the Spanish language. We took some pictures that we put on the Due West Facebook page, and Scott and Stacy took some “selfies.” Some people dozed off of the car ride back to the seminary. When we got back we unloaded our goodies from the market and hung around until our devotion at nine.

Come back tomorrow! Hasta manana!

 

Sorry there aren't many good pictures, Stacy and I had a battle with the computer. It won. More pictures tomorrow!