I live "The Wonderful Life"

The past 10 days or so I have really had it impressed upon me that I am truly living a wonderful life. These are some highlights from those days.

The first three pictures were taken over at SCORE, where Avy & Gladys Prado and their two teenage children, Joel and Sophya, live in one of the small apartments. They are Costa Ricans (Ticos) who have been working there with SCORE for a number of years. In August they moved here to help establish a couple of new churches. They are a fun couple with a wonderful sense of humor and are always ready to serve others. Their children are also a delight! Fortunately, for me they all speak English. But they have offered to help me with my Spanish!

Gladys is actually Argentinian, so when we went over to their place they served us an Argentinian barbecue. It seems that in that country meat is cheaper than veggies or potatoes or rice. So the traditional Argentinian BBQ consisted of sausage, chicken, pork and beef. Small pieces of each and oh so delicious! Served with a small salad.


Bob, Tim and Avy at the grill! Yes, that's a pool in the background, too!

Avy is an incredible chef! The sausage (Longinista) is served on a bun with lettuce, tomato and salad dressing. It is unbelievably delicious!

Gladys and Evelyn~~Two dear sisters in Christ

Then on Tuesday I came home from an afternoon in the clinic pharmacy. After a quick dinner I told Bob I would like to go for a walk. So we did~~we walked the shore of the Caribbean! Less than 5 minutes from our apartment!

Wednesday and early Thursday I had a migraine (THAT was not part of my wonderful life!), so I didn't eat much. Thursday night when I got home again from the clinic pharmacy I was starving! Bob was offering me different ideas of what he would make for us...a big salad or eggs, veggies, hashbrowns, etc. Nothing was going to do it. I told him I wanted to go to Giulia's (Pronounced "Julia") Italian Cafe. Giulia's is owned by Judah, a Jewish man from Jerusalem, who makes the best cheeseburger ever!!!!
~~Yes! a Jewish man who owns an Italian cafe in the Dominican Republic right across from the Caribbean who specializes in American cheeseburgers!~~
So, we walked up to Giulia's at the end of our street, where we discussed U.S. politics with Judah. Obviously, Judah does NOT want Obama elected. Neither can he understand why anyone in the States would vote for Obama!

Papo, our caretaker, has given us fresh fruit twice in the past week...papaya and some fruit I haven't a clue what the name is. They are bigger than a cherry tomato, have a skin similar to kiwi, but have the texture of a grape, but are very sour! Oh and fresh papaya is nothing like the orange chunks in cans of fruit cocktail. It has a delicious flavor and real texture! He also gave us two coconuts fresh from the tree!

Sunday morning during the church service at SCORE, Bob gave a 10 minute devotional. Avy has asked Bob to do that each week. Bob's doing it, obviously, in Spanish; and he is doing a wonderful job. I can tell, because the people are nodding their heads, so that means they know what he's saying!

Which leads me to today. Avy flew back to Costa Rica for a few days and arrived back last night. He brought back a friend of his, who also happens to be a hairstylist that has his own beauty shop in San Jose, CR. This friend came just for 48 hours specifically to do the hair of all the missionaries with SCORE. So, today I got my hair cut by a Tico hairstylist! It's so different than anything I've ever had. ((Avy offered to drive me back to our apartment and introduce me to Bob)). He also offered to drive Bob to the hospital if he had a heart attack. Fortunately, Bob loves it and so do I!
Sophya, Joel, Dianna, Erica, and Evelyn are now also sporting new styles! Gladys not only got her hair styled, but also had highlights put in! We're trying to figure how we can raise $$$ to being him back every few months to maintain our styles! :)

Sophya & I with my new hair style while it is still wet. The bottom picute is after it has dried. It isn't set, just finger combed into place! I keep running my fingers thru it or looking in the mirror to see if I still like it~~I DO!


So, the LORD has impressed it on my heart and mind these past few days that I am truly living a wonderful life. ~~ eating delicious BBQ's with Argentinians and Ticos; walking on the shores of the Caribbean, serving in a clinic pharmacy, eating exotic fruit and drinking fresh coconut milk, discussing American politics with a Jewish man in an Italian cafe, getting new hairstyles and listening to my hubby give the Gospel in a foreign country but in their language and I was able to understand what he was saying!