Mail Day!

*I apologize if this post looks strange in its layout...Blogger would not co-operate and let me move pics where I wanted them.....*
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Yesterday was our mail day ~ which means a drive to Santiago (about 3 hours each way).
Just as a reminder, if you look at our prayer card there is an address on the back for Ft Pierce, FL. THAT is the address where all of our mail and pkgs are delivered. It arrives at the offices of Missionary Flights International (MFI). Every other Tuesday they then deliver our mail (along with a multitude of other missionaries) to Santiago.
This is the plane that they use. It's a DC-9. It's also the plane that we flew on when we moved to the Dominican Republic on December 15, 2003! They add in seats when they have passengers ~ otherwise the space is used for cargo.
The site of this plane arriving is a joyous one! This picture of it was taken the Tuesday before this last Christmas.













I think I mentioned before that I am currently enrolled in a Pharmacy tech course through a distance learning program. Originally, as I finished a pkg of material and took the exams, they would then send the next packet of course material. This had me rushing though the books, so I could be sure to have my next packet when the mail arrived in two weeks. Since I had paid the course in full, I contacted them and asked if they would just send the entire course to me. Which they did.

This picture on the left is the 4" stack of materials I have to complete to finish the course! That doesn't include the 2" stack I've already successfully completed. By the way, God has been gracious! I am carrying a 96% for my course grade thus far.










However, since these 3 to the left are in the stack, that grade average could be altered :)

The company made one *slight* mistake. They left out one of my PhT modules, and included this packet below instead. So, I guess they decided I should expand my education..... I guess a phone call is on my 'to-do' list for today. PTL for SKYPE!

(I do like the pencil though~ Anyone else remember when this was on the 'school supply list' each Fall?)


After picking up our mail, which included a box of fabric I had ordered (clearance priced + 30% off ~~~YES!!!), we then headed to CarreFour on the northern side of Santo Domingo. This is a French owned store. It has household appliances, hardware, clothing AND groceries! They carry items that Jumbo or La Sirena do not. However, many of their labels are also in French. I was going to purchase a pkg to make flan, but my French is a bit rusty. After figuring out that I needed to add milk, I couldn't decipher the rest of the directions. Decided that would then be a 'recipe for disaster."
This picture is how most of our yogurt is packaged. It is thicker than a beverage, and runnier than regular yogurt. This time I tried mango, but my favorite is guineo (banana) or pina colada (pineapple and coconut). I can purchase yogurt in individual containers, including some US brands, but they generally run from $1-$2 each. This 100gm bottle in only 60 pesos. (well under $2) and is delicious!!!!

Shopping here in the DR can be a challenge, but it can also be fun. They have a habit of packaging things together for a promo. Sometimes it makes sense, such as a plastic bowl with a box of cereal. Other times we shake our heads and laugh. A bar of handsoap with a can of vegetables? A sponge with a can of soup?

Or the time the gallon jug of cooking oil came with a battery operated wallclock; while the quart size came with a cheapie CD case!

Yesterday I had fun and got a treat (or two).
As we turned down one aisle, the shelf had an *oferta* sign. We always check those out as they are the specials. This special was for ~fine de Dijon~ mustard in adorable little glasses. They either had blue, green or lavender base. You can see which I chose.
These were only 30 pesos (almost 36 = $1), but in the houseware department little glasses like this are about 35 pesos and they don't have the lavender base. The labels are easily removed so I now have two adorable little glasses.
The mustard is really good, too. I tried it last night on whole wheat toast with Gouda cheese! I will be sharing some of the mustard, however, with another one of the missionary families as the expiration date is April 23, 2009. But, they will receive their portion in a plastic container :)

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Our temperatures are starting to warm up. I actually had a fan on all Monday night in the bedroom. Since Thanksgiving we have had pleasant temperatures, and have not been using any fans at all. The entire time we have lived here we have never had such pleasant temps for such a long period of time. All good things must come to an end, I guess!

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One bad part of yesterday is that somehow I managed to aggrivate my Achilles tendon on my right ankle. It started hurting as we were leaving CarreFour. I thought it would settle down overnight, but it hasn't. Many of you remember my past problems with this. It's NOT near that bad. We do think this will be a lifelong problem of small flare-ups. Right now it's very annoying!

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This Saturday the SCORE ladies will meet again. We started about a year ago with our *First Friday*. We try to set aside the 1st Friday evening of each month as a time for the missionary wives to get together for a time of fellowship, prayer, short Bible study, and a snack. We've had to change it to Saturday due to a major conflict for some of the ladies. This Saturday I am giving a brief devotional. I want to give it on prayer but put an emphasis of "pray without ceasing" How our life should be an attitude of prayer, of continually offering up prayer to the LORD. As different ones are brought to mind, to stop and pray for them right then. We may 'know' why the LORD has brought that person to mind, or we might not. But I believe that the LORD brings people to mind for a reason. I believe we should use that as a stimulus to pray for that person.

Any thoughts or input from any of you would be greatly appreciated!

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So, hope you all are having a delightful day!

love,

~anna~