Most of our congregation, plus a few visitors
Failed panoramic, but you get the idea...
After lunch, we went to a friend's house to spend a little more time with our departing friends. We played a card game called Cuarenta (40) that is quite popular here. The rules don't make much sense at first, but the game is rather fun and addicting nonetheless. Afterwards, we played another game I refer to as "Animals" - a card game where the players select an animal sound and when a match is laid on the table, the players with the matching cards must race to make the opposing player's animal sound in order to "win" the cards. You can imagine how hilarious this gets.
A friendly game of Cuarenta - wait... there is no such thing...
Monday: After work today I ran to the grocery store, picked up a few items for dinner, came home, cleaned the house a bit and made dinner (pulled BBQ chicken sandwiches and Italian pasta salad). A small group of us watched the video together, and then discussed it. Then we ate dinner and talked for a while. Before we knew it, it was after 11pm! Where does the time go??
Tuesday: After work, my roommate and I stopped for a bagel on our way to meet the group for service - yum! We had a very interesting (and long) conversation with a woman who was well acquainted with our work. In fact, she knew we were Jehovah's Witnesses just from our brief introduction through the intercom.
Service Selfie!
Lunch Time!
In the afternoon, we met up with another friend, did some informal preaching at the Mercado de Artesenal, had lunch at the Magic Bean and did some calls at the Mall. Then three of us continued doing return visits and then a study. It was nearly 8pm by the time I arrived home. Then I made dinner for my roommate and I and we did our Bible reading together and chatted until we were both falling asleep.
Wednesday: I wasn't feeling very well today. After work, I just laid on the couch and my roommate and I watched a movie (she wasn't feeling well either). I felt terrible for missing the meeting, but was in no condition to attend. I was appreciative of all the friends who were thoughtful and took the time to check up on me. It reminded me of how special and loving Jehovah's Organization is.
Thursday: After work this morning my roommate and I grabbed a bagel on the way to the park to meet the group for incognito witnessing... its getting to be a bad habit this stopping for bagels all the time and I'm noticing the effects of the excess carb intake. Gonna have to correct that...
Another successful day of incognito witnessing! We had several nice experiences. One man we met expressed great interest in attending the meetings. One man with his family actually approached us and was quite pleasant and friendly. And while walking along, we passed by a film crew doing a piece on how people were dressed for the climate this time of year (I might be on TV!!), both crew members spoke English and we were able to share literature with them. One woman who spoke English, though not interested herself, told me that she has a friend who speaks English and is interested in the Bible and offered to pass the magazines along to her friend.
I stopped at the grocery store on my way home - I had to go back to work in the afternoon as it has been an especially busy week. Once home, I worked for several more hours in the afternoon and then prepared dinner for phone witnessing that evening and cleaned up the house so it was presentable. I make such a mess in the kitchen every time I cook!! Tonight I served cinnamon rolls (from scratch), scrambled egg omelets, and bacon.
Phone witnessing was awesome! Our group had two really nice and long conversations that agreed to be contacted again next week.
Friday: This morning was a very busy work day, followed by an equally busy service day. I met up with my friend for studies and return visits in the afternoon and on into the evening. I got home around 7:30, then called my other friend and went to her house to hang out and catch up. Her guests arrived home from their trip to Otovalo around 10, then we all ate dinner together and talked (and talked and talked..) I ended up leaving after midnight!
Saturday: This morning I met up with a few others for early morning witnessing at the park. We had a very nice conversation with a woman who had brought her dogs to the park and a family who's daughter was enrolled in soccer summer camp. After that, we headed to the bagel shop and I was able to witness to a man who was there with his 4 year old daughter. He worked at the Embassy and traveled around from place to place depending on the length of his work contract. After a nice conversation, I left him with the Family Life tract and directed his attention to the website where he could find videos for his daughter.
After we ate our bagels, we headed to the Hall. The one brother had a Bible study that morning and the other had a meeting for the information desk for the International Convention. My best friend here was the only other person to show up - but she and I always have a great time preaching together! We did a few calls then contacted another friend to try to encourage and spent the rest of the morning at our friend's house writing letters and drinking Cuban coffee (yum!)
My friend and I departed at noon and I went to two different grocery stores to find the ingredients I needed to make a dessert for a gathering that evening. While I was leaving the store, however, the host of the party called me to ask if I could make cheesecake instead. So back in the store I went, got the ingredients for cheesecake and raced home, changed my clothes, threw all the ingredients and supplies in a large bag, hopped in a cab and met up with some others to take a bus down to Sangolqui (in the valley, about an hour away).
I made (2) cheesecakes, and a mixed berry topping to go with it. The party was a lot of fun; dancing, ping pong, food and karaoke. We left, tired and happy a little after 11pm and took a taxi back to the north of Quito.
