Much has happened since my enseña post. I had another study with Ligia, and it, like my study with Paula, turned into a study with a group (three in total), all sharing in the study, making plans for our next visit. It's such a cool experience to have others curiously stream in, and then just straight-up enjoy learning. If it's from the Bible and it makes sense, they seem to embrace it ~ it's amazing to me!
A.J. got really sick last week, though is 99.9% better now. At first we thought it was just the flu, as he had a fever and the aches; however, he had other issues that don't usually accompany the "typical" flu. At the end of my entry here, you will find his story (that he blogged himself ~ his first post :), which explains how he came to discover that he had the dreaded Giardia parasite. When we shared the news with the other gringos who have lived here for a while, they grimmaced knowingly and lovingly commiserated.
Thankfully, A.J. was better in time for the Circuit Assembly, which was Saturday and yesterday. He was in charge of "Refrescos/Bebidos" (refreshments/beverages). At the assemblie
s and conventions here, coffee, tea and water are served for the friends. They of course realize it's not free and generously make voluntary contributions with each cup they take. The coffee is made old-school-style, boiled in giant silver pots and strained through a cloth mesh basket. There's a brother from our sister congregation, Sur, who makes it each assembly - he was A.J.'s right-hand man - and he also brewed up some aromaticas. That consisted of putting herbs and sticks and leaves into the ginormous pot of boiling water, and the friends sucked it down like coca cola. Speaking of sucking it down like coca cola, we were surprised...no, shocked is the better word, at how many young children came up to the counter to get their coffee. They easily outnumbered the adults 4 to 1. The Aussie family from the Florida congregation helped us the whole time, and at one point, Amelia (their older daughter) was asking the children how old they were, and would then fill their cup accordingly. However, we soon realized that there would be no changing of their culture by simply forcing our westernized opinions on them, so
we acquiesced and gave the three year olds what they demanded. We served in the morning before the session, at lunch, and then in the afternoon, when the program was over. On Saturday, the music was starting for the afternoon session, which meant we were packing up shop. A horde of children came up to the counter. Sorry kids, no more coffee ~ you can take a water though and go find your seats. The leader of their pack insisted "But it's for him!" and pointed down to a little person I could not see. I leaned over the counter and looked down under the overhang to see a baby who probably just started walking. I couldn't hide my shock: "He's so young" I declared! She gave me a puzzled look, waited a minute to see if I'd budge, and then walked away, baby in arms, to the assembly hall. It was quite the experience, all-around.
Also quite the experience was having our first assembly part in Spanish. Yesterday A.J. and I had an interview on the symposium: Concentrados en las actividades espirituales (Focus on Spiritual Activities), on the part Matrimonios (Married couples). We were naturally both very nervous, and as we waited backstage for our cue, I paced the floors, drank cup after cup of water, breathed deeply, said prayers...I feared that I was making everyone else who was waiting for their parts that much more nervous, but I couldn't help it. Finally, we were summoned to the stage, and the part floated by like a hazy dream. It went perfectly fine, and people told us that they understood our Spanish and enjoyed the interview. Success! I wanted to go to sleep the minute I exited the stage, since I had managed to pump enough adrenaline to get me through a triathalon. You can see the interview in our new Picasa album: (
album posted,
VIDEO IS HERE! CLICK HERE!!)
Now, onto A.J.'s experience > > >A.J.: 
Up to this point, I have contributed nothing to this blog. There's really no reason for me to, Jordanne does a fine job. However, Wednesday, December 9, 2009 will 'live in infamy', at least for me. That's the day I used a small Tupperware container in a way that I had never wanted to imagine.
Sixty-eight years and 2 days earlier, on another "date which will live in infamy," Pearl Harbor was attacked. That event launched a nation into the grips of war. My experience in no way approaches the same level of international relevance. Regardless, I hated it.After this experience was over, I made the mistake of muttering to Jor: "That's one for the blogs." She couldn't truly capture my feelings about the incident and pour them into words. No one can, unless you are as uptight and ridiculous as I am about this sort of thing. So, as they say, "It's go-time." I publish my first blog about this. You see, I had been sick since the previous Friday. While sparing the details, I was...enjoying?...frequent, quality interchanges with cold porcelain fixtures. And yes, they were "interchanges." It's scientific: 'For every action there is an equal, opposite (and disgusting)reaction.' It got bad. The thought of any sort of activity, including eating was repulsive to me. If I never ran again, played basketball again, or even ate Chipotle one day again - I didn't care. That's how bad it was. But life goes on. It must. Jordanne and Damaris carried on with daily activities as best they could without me. In other words, my incapacitation didn't impact much at all. Sunday morning the ladies attended the Public Discourse and Watchtower Study in English while I slept. Mark and Becky McCleskey were also present, assuming that I would be giving the talk. The McCleskey's are very good friends of ours. They keep good tabs on us and have been nothing but helpful since our arrival in Ecuador. My pathetic condition would prove to be no exception to their kindness. This is where things got interesting for me. I believe it was Monday, December 7th that Becky made the suggestion. "Perhaps it's time to provide a sample to the lab for testing." That's not a direct quote, it couldn't be. Jordanne was the one speaking with her. If it was me, after much robust laughter (you know how I love robust laughter), the 'equal and opposite reaction' would have been: "You must be joking me." But it wasn't me, it was Jordanne. And she was on board, all the way. Suddenly, I started to feel a whole lot better, even though I didn't.Let's be honest. Retrieving the aforementioned "sample", no matter the method employed, would be no picnic, as they say. And that's another thing. You use Tupperware for a picnic, not for this. If you haven't gotten the point yet, I rejected the thought of "submitting a sample" entirely. It's gross. Unfortunately, reality takes precedence and I felt no better. During the early morning hours of Wednesday the 9th, I prepared a sample for medical examination.Here come's the best part. What happens in your bathroom is typically between you and no one else. Not this time. I now had to share something so private, so sacred, with a complete stranger - and even worse I would find, with people I know and love. It turns out the McCleskey's were right down the street from the lab and offered to meet us.Meeting up with Mark and Becky, sample in hand, we exchanged pleasantries. Mark had great questions. "You've got a good, fresh sample there, right?" My reply was "No," since it was by now about 8 hours old. The next logical question was, (you guessed it) "Did you at least store it in the fridge?" Next time I'll keep that in mind.All agreed, a rather attractive young lady welcomed us from behind the counter at the lab. I was then instructed to remove my sample from the bag and place it a white tray. I was hoping, maybe even praying, that I would just hand them the bag and they would take it away for no one to see, aside from the technician. However, the tray I was instructed to place the container in was right out in the open, on the counter, for all to see. The biggest problem now was that my chosen container was clear. That's when I was informed "You know you can buy opaque containers from the pharmacy?" Poop. It was too late for that now. Now, my specimen sat there staring at everyone, for a good, long while. Two more ladies walked in to the lab, much to my chagrin. All I could say is, "I am so sorry." However, they didn't seem to mind as they hovered right there at the counter. Right there at the counter.I paid my $3 and got out out of there as fast as I could. It turns out my problem was a parasite. Our reliable sources tell us these things are pretty common. So I suppose I should get used to this scenario. Good thing Jordanne purchased two small, clear Tupperware containers.
It's been a great week so far. Yesterday morning both of my Bible students were home (key) and ready to learn!!