Saturday 16/06
Got up .. Packed up and the car. Julianne and the children came with us..
Went out to the Medanos ( the huge big sand dunes) on the outskirts of Coro. We went for a short walk but the sand was so burning hot from the sun .. That we only took some photos and then had to turn around and go back to the car.
We walked to another big playground/park really close by and took a lot of photos.
From there we started our 2hr journey to El Mene, stopping in at a sister's home in Tocopero to buy some "dulce de leche"/ soft caramel sweet! We nearly bought out her stock.
Willians and my suegra had arrived in Yaracal by the time we got there, so we picked them up and then drove by the yaracal gospel hall to see it and take some photos.
Home out to El Mene and have some lunch.
Dad and nearly everyone went out to a neighbour (who is also a brotherfrom El Mene assembly) who has about some 40 pigs on his farm. I think they all enjoyed themselves. (I stayed home, had a shower as it was so so hot .. Then had a rest in the hammock (that Dad so kindly put up for me!) and talked with mum.
Rests, then baths and qo off to the meeting. After the meeting, we had a cake for Abel's 11th birthday (14/06). Then it was pack our ports ready to head off the next morning and off to bed.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Venezuela Sunday 17/06
Sunday 17/06)
Up at 5am, left Mene just after 6 am. Stopped to buy empanadas for breakfast at El Palito (Puerto Cabello), then on to Valencia .. Arriving about 1hr before the meeting time, so we stopped at a panaderia for a drink etc, and then headed on to the meeting.
Tarapio Gospel Hall... Wow... It was sooooooo good to be back at our home assembly once more! It felt like we had just been away for a week or geo and were back home again, except for the fact that our then 8 month old firstborn baby is now 8yrs old and going around taking all the photos of wveryone for mum and dad.
It was so encouraging to see so many old faces, old faces who were young ones years ago and have grown up, been baptized and added to the fellowship of the assembly, 1 brother and 4 young sisters who are to be baptized next week ( including a young sister who was a girl in a SS at Tazajal where weused to go to help out of a saturday afternoon).
The sisters had so kindly prepared a really delicious meal (pabellon: rice, carne mechada, caraotas y tajadas) which was served in the hall in large polystyrene plates with their lids on. Fresh fruit juice and a delicious big cupcake for desert.
After leaving the hall we went to visit an aged sister who is bedridden. It was such a joy to be able to all stand around the bed and sing her favourite hymns... Have her even say a few words to us and see her faint smile from the depth of her heart. We also were able to see and briefly encourage a dear sister from our assembly who, sadly, hasn't been at the meetings regularly of late.
Yenny de Maduro and her girls were there at Tarapio that morning, so they came to visit with us and then we all headed home to my suegra's home. Quickly washed some clothes and then get ready for SS at Cania de Azucar.
It was such a joy to be at the SS there in C de A. That was the SS close to Willians home that he and Ramon had started with just a few children many many years ago. Some 5 yrs or so ago, a house was bought for the purpose of a building for the SS and any gospel meetings. The Sunday School was held in the back yard with some 50 children or more there, most of who are from unsaved families and who have to be picked up in cars from closeby sectors of Cania de Azucar.
A lovely family from the assembly live in a part of the house and act as caretakers too.
After SS, Pablo ( our primo who is in assembly fellowship along with Lisneyda his wife) dropped us home and we got ready to head on down for the Gospel meeting.
After the gospel meeting we came home and primo Gerson Pabon along with his wife, 2 teenage kids and a smaller girl came around to visit and brought some cachapas for dinner together. They all stayed for a lovely visit and then it was off to bed.
It was Gerson who was kidnapped just some months ago. By the grace of God his life was spared... He is still not saved .. Please pray for him and his family.
Up at 5am, left Mene just after 6 am. Stopped to buy empanadas for breakfast at El Palito (Puerto Cabello), then on to Valencia .. Arriving about 1hr before the meeting time, so we stopped at a panaderia for a drink etc, and then headed on to the meeting.
Tarapio Gospel Hall... Wow... It was sooooooo good to be back at our home assembly once more! It felt like we had just been away for a week or geo and were back home again, except for the fact that our then 8 month old firstborn baby is now 8yrs old and going around taking all the photos of wveryone for mum and dad.
It was so encouraging to see so many old faces, old faces who were young ones years ago and have grown up, been baptized and added to the fellowship of the assembly, 1 brother and 4 young sisters who are to be baptized next week ( including a young sister who was a girl in a SS at Tazajal where weused to go to help out of a saturday afternoon).
The sisters had so kindly prepared a really delicious meal (pabellon: rice, carne mechada, caraotas y tajadas) which was served in the hall in large polystyrene plates with their lids on. Fresh fruit juice and a delicious big cupcake for desert.
After leaving the hall we went to visit an aged sister who is bedridden. It was such a joy to be able to all stand around the bed and sing her favourite hymns... Have her even say a few words to us and see her faint smile from the depth of her heart. We also were able to see and briefly encourage a dear sister from our assembly who, sadly, hasn't been at the meetings regularly of late.
Yenny de Maduro and her girls were there at Tarapio that morning, so they came to visit with us and then we all headed home to my suegra's home. Quickly washed some clothes and then get ready for SS at Cania de Azucar.
It was such a joy to be at the SS there in C de A. That was the SS close to Willians home that he and Ramon had started with just a few children many many years ago. Some 5 yrs or so ago, a house was bought for the purpose of a building for the SS and any gospel meetings. The Sunday School was held in the back yard with some 50 children or more there, most of who are from unsaved families and who have to be picked up in cars from closeby sectors of Cania de Azucar.
A lovely family from the assembly live in a part of the house and act as caretakers too.
After SS, Pablo ( our primo who is in assembly fellowship along with Lisneyda his wife) dropped us home and we got ready to head on down for the Gospel meeting.
After the gospel meeting we came home and primo Gerson Pabon along with his wife, 2 teenage kids and a smaller girl came around to visit and brought some cachapas for dinner together. They all stayed for a lovely visit and then it was off to bed.
It was Gerson who was kidnapped just some months ago. By the grace of God his life was spared... He is still not saved .. Please pray for him and his family.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Venezuela - Thursday 14/06 - Friday 15/06
Thursday 14/06
Willians is in Maracay with my suegra.
The boys and I had a great night's sleep at El Mene.
After breakfast we went up to the Colegio Evangelico (christan school) there in Mene. We said hello in all the classrooms and took lots of photos to take back.
From there we went back home to finish packing our few things and the car to leave for Coro to spend the night with Julianne and the children. We made 2 stops along the way at 2 different brothers' workshops to say a hello. We stopped to buy some chinese fried rice (etc) upon arriving in Coro and took it to Julianne's to eat.
After lunch, Dad, Fernelis and myself took all the kids to a swimming pool for a couple of hrs. Dad sat by in a bali hut and read his Bible while the rest of us had fun in the swimming pool. We arrived home about 5pm .. Had baths, dinner then out to the meeting.
It was prayer meeting .. And it was encouraging to hear many brothers take part as well as the hearty "amen"s and singing ... That really sounded like everyone was singing!
Home and after some cake and nestea ... Put the kids to bed .. Managed to connect the ipad to the internet (wireless, that Julianne says it's the first thing that has accepted to connect to the wi-fi here at home! :)
Hence, today's update! Won't be back to wi-fi internet until sunday evening at my suegra's..
Friday 15/06
Friday 15/06
We got up in the morning, and after breakfast went with Dad and Fernelis and the boys up to the school run by the assembly.
We packed the car and left for Coro (where Julianne and the children live).
Made a couple of quick stops along the way the say hello to some believers who have their workshops alongside the highway.
Upon arriving in Coro, we stopped to buy some Chinese food for lunch and headed around to Julianne's to eat it.
Then Dad, Ferne and I with all the kids headed off to a swimming pool for a couple of hrs. It was fun and lovely especially as it had been soooo hot and humid ... So water and shade was great. The pools had several big cement toboggans/slides. BUT ... They had been painted just the previous day (unknown to us!) .. With oil based paint (according to the fellow Ferne spoke to, they hadn't had time to put the wax on as someone had paid to have a birthday party there!) hence, the kids ended up with white painted (and basically ruined) pants. I only went down once and still ended up with white spots on mine. It felt like you were rubbing off the wet sticky paint.
We headed home, had baths, dinner and headded out to the prayer meeting there in Coro.
Home, put the kids to bed .. Then wrote up some diary and talked with Julianne and Mum while Julianne did some sewing due for the next day. Mumheaded off to bed at some time, and I stayed on talking to my big sister until about 2am, when she was nearly finished her work.
Willians is in Maracay with my suegra.
The boys and I had a great night's sleep at El Mene.
After breakfast we went up to the Colegio Evangelico (christan school) there in Mene. We said hello in all the classrooms and took lots of photos to take back.
From there we went back home to finish packing our few things and the car to leave for Coro to spend the night with Julianne and the children. We made 2 stops along the way at 2 different brothers' workshops to say a hello. We stopped to buy some chinese fried rice (etc) upon arriving in Coro and took it to Julianne's to eat.
After lunch, Dad, Fernelis and myself took all the kids to a swimming pool for a couple of hrs. Dad sat by in a bali hut and read his Bible while the rest of us had fun in the swimming pool. We arrived home about 5pm .. Had baths, dinner then out to the meeting.
It was prayer meeting .. And it was encouraging to hear many brothers take part as well as the hearty "amen"s and singing ... That really sounded like everyone was singing!
Home and after some cake and nestea ... Put the kids to bed .. Managed to connect the ipad to the internet (wireless, that Julianne says it's the first thing that has accepted to connect to the wi-fi here at home! :)
Hence, today's update! Won't be back to wi-fi internet until sunday evening at my suegra's..
Friday 15/06
Friday 15/06
We got up in the morning, and after breakfast went with Dad and Fernelis and the boys up to the school run by the assembly.
We packed the car and left for Coro (where Julianne and the children live).
Made a couple of quick stops along the way the say hello to some believers who have their workshops alongside the highway.
Upon arriving in Coro, we stopped to buy some Chinese food for lunch and headed around to Julianne's to eat it.
Then Dad, Ferne and I with all the kids headed off to a swimming pool for a couple of hrs. It was fun and lovely especially as it had been soooo hot and humid ... So water and shade was great. The pools had several big cement toboggans/slides. BUT ... They had been painted just the previous day (unknown to us!) .. With oil based paint (according to the fellow Ferne spoke to, they hadn't had time to put the wax on as someone had paid to have a birthday party there!) hence, the kids ended up with white painted (and basically ruined) pants. I only went down once and still ended up with white spots on mine. It felt like you were rubbing off the wet sticky paint.
We headed home, had baths, dinner and headded out to the prayer meeting there in Coro.
Home, put the kids to bed .. Then wrote up some diary and talked with Julianne and Mum while Julianne did some sewing due for the next day. Mumheaded off to bed at some time, and I stayed on talking to my big sister until about 2am, when she was nearly finished her work.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Venezuela Wednesday 13/06
Wednesday
Early rise and even more so for my lovely mother-in-law who got up really early to make us all arepas to eat on our expedition for breakfast.
We left for Caracas.. A bit later than we had wanted but in the end it worked out quite good as we missed all the traffic jams that usually await you coming into Caracas! The boys slept all the way so that was great.
Once at La Bandera bus terminal,we took a taxi to the cable car entrance to El Avila, which is a huge national park mountain that runs alongside Caracas and on the other side you have Maiquetia (I think) and the coast.
It was just drizzling when we (our little Alcala family as well as tia Faride and Abuela) got there...
We took our cable car up to the mountain... And WOW.... You could see it way up in the mountains ... Where there is a huge big metal cross... BUT ... When we got to that mountain, that was only just the start! It went on and on and on! Higher and higher all the time! I think I heard that it is the longest telesferico/cable car in the world ( whereas Merida has the highest one in the world) ...
I don't know how long we were in it for .. But by the time we were heading up into the clouds/fog ... We were ready for it to arrive. It must have been at least 10 mins ride! We did get some spectacular photos of Caracas though.
Once up the top of the Avila, we went for walks along the cobblestone path/road along the verry top of the mountain ... Ate strawberries (grown locally up there) and cream, also ate palmeritas, dulce de leche ... And took lots of photos.
It is over 2000m above sea level and was impressive how all of a sudden a little breeze would vome along and you could so visibly see the fog moving across your path. Right up the top at the very end is a huge big hotel of about 20 floors that looks over Caracas.
We walked back down our path and the boys played on a pretty cool playground ... THEN ... We went into the ice-skating rink! Only Willians E, Michael and myself had a go, but I think the others on the side had even more fun watching us! (both Willians and Faride said they loved hearing my suegra laughing whilst watching us!!!)
We had 20 mins on there and wow, Michael stole the show! He just flew around as if it were on his inline blades on the verandah at home! Where there were soooooomany of us (especially teenagers from a highschool excursion) around the edge just holding on .. Dear swift little Michael enjoyed himself all over the middle! Willians did pretty good .. And me .. Well, I can truely relate to how slippery ice is now! Often it was nearly impossible to get your grip! I think I must be getting old! Just the same, we had fun!
Upon recovering from our skating, it was lunch time: cachapas with cheese, and hot toasted buns with chicken, ham and cheese, pernil .. With malta to drink and then hot chocolate.
We had been told it was only a 20 min walk to the next colonial village you could see spread all over the mountain down a brick cobblestone road, so off we set down this steep road!
Early rise and even more so for my lovely mother-in-law who got up really early to make us all arepas to eat on our expedition for breakfast.
We left for Caracas.. A bit later than we had wanted but in the end it worked out quite good as we missed all the traffic jams that usually await you coming into Caracas! The boys slept all the way so that was great.
Once at La Bandera bus terminal,we took a taxi to the cable car entrance to El Avila, which is a huge national park mountain that runs alongside Caracas and on the other side you have Maiquetia (I think) and the coast.
It was just drizzling when we (our little Alcala family as well as tia Faride and Abuela) got there...
We took our cable car up to the mountain... And WOW.... You could see it way up in the mountains ... Where there is a huge big metal cross... BUT ... When we got to that mountain, that was only just the start! It went on and on and on! Higher and higher all the time! I think I heard that it is the longest telesferico/cable car in the world ( whereas Merida has the highest one in the world) ...
I don't know how long we were in it for .. But by the time we were heading up into the clouds/fog ... We were ready for it to arrive. It must have been at least 10 mins ride! We did get some spectacular photos of Caracas though.
Once up the top of the Avila, we went for walks along the cobblestone path/road along the verry top of the mountain ... Ate strawberries (grown locally up there) and cream, also ate palmeritas, dulce de leche ... And took lots of photos.
It is over 2000m above sea level and was impressive how all of a sudden a little breeze would vome along and you could so visibly see the fog moving across your path. Right up the top at the very end is a huge big hotel of about 20 floors that looks over Caracas.
We walked back down our path and the boys played on a pretty cool playground ... THEN ... We went into the ice-skating rink! Only Willians E, Michael and myself had a go, but I think the others on the side had even more fun watching us! (both Willians and Faride said they loved hearing my suegra laughing whilst watching us!!!)
We had 20 mins on there and wow, Michael stole the show! He just flew around as if it were on his inline blades on the verandah at home! Where there were soooooomany of us (especially teenagers from a highschool excursion) around the edge just holding on .. Dear swift little Michael enjoyed himself all over the middle! Willians did pretty good .. And me .. Well, I can truely relate to how slippery ice is now! Often it was nearly impossible to get your grip! I think I must be getting old! Just the same, we had fun!
Upon recovering from our skating, it was lunch time: cachapas with cheese, and hot toasted buns with chicken, ham and cheese, pernil .. With malta to drink and then hot chocolate.
We had been told it was only a 20 min walk to the next colonial village you could see spread all over the mountain down a brick cobblestone road, so off we set down this steep road!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Venezuela - Monday Tuesday 11/06 - 12/06
Monday morning..
It was great to wake up and hear 2 of our boys laughing and having fun with their abuela and aunt!
As I heard during the day it would have been a very different story if it wasn't for those grandkids!
Breakfast was prepared with lots of love and hard work by abuela and Timothy (from his perch up on a big stool alongside the kitchen bench and stove!) ... Even Timothy made some arepas too!
During the morning we had Mum, Dad and Ferne pop in on their way to Valencia to get the air conditioning fixed then home to Mene. Tia Yamile and Tio Eduardo (Cucuta), tio Hernando and his granddaughter Sinai, tio Efrain with Hilcias his son (a dear primo!) with Karen his wife and little Gabriel who is Timothy's age (all from Maracay) came around in the morning and spent nearly all day here.
Some went out with my suegra to buy things for a huge big stew/soup. Faride, Oswaldo and tia Yamile took the boys to a small park just doors away from home. They had a ton of fun and even pushed their aunt on the merry-go-round ( like the ones in Manizales when we were kids). It was hot ... So we all drank lots of water. On coming home Michael played soccer in the front porch with tio Efrain!!! They had a ton of fun. T and Gabriel played with 1 talking in english and 1 in spanish. A couple of sisters from the meeting (mother and daughter) came also and shared lunch with us all.
After lunch the little Alcala family had a sleep (in our air con bedroom! We're spoilt!) several otheer came to visit whilst we slept and another cousin (Carolina) with her 2 daughters. I stayed home from the meeting as M had a temp .. Along with T and Oswaldo. Most of the family members all went to the prayer and ministry meeting as something special in memory of Nona.
It was late to bed talking and the boys loving their tio Oswaldo spoiling them with cartoons on his huge tv screen in his room! He even managed to change the language to english!!! ( they're making the most while it lasts!!!)
Tuesday... Michael woke up with a high temp and vomited his little breakfast that he ate. He had some medicine and was able to play a bit (soccer on abuela's front enclosed yard).. Complaining of sore throat and sore tummy (from lack of food!)
Willians went to get his cedula (id card) and came back with a new one within an hr!!! Free os charge!
We had a lovely long visit and catch up with Paul and Daph Chapman .. And they brought us some photos that we'd given them to bring over to the grandparents here!
After that we all enjoyed a really delicious lunch made by abuela and went for a quick rest.
In the afternoon, Carolina (prima) and her 2 daughters came and spent the afternoon with us.
We all went downtown and walked the mall where Nona used to sit and set up her stall to sell the fluffy teddies and animals and dolls that she had made.
From there we went to Chicha Felix... A place my dear husband often dreamt about! The chicha is sooooo good! Willians had 2 large cups, and W.E. and T had 1 1/2 cups each!! So many memories and Even more in the making!
Home from there as M was still looking sad. Primo Pablo, Lisneida his wife and 3 children came around as we were to go and buy hamburgers from Garfield... More memories, as well as most delicious hamburgers (McDonalds needs a few lessons!). Willians and Pablo ended up going and bringing them home... And right now are all watching Couragous on tio Oswaldo's screen.
It was great to wake up and hear 2 of our boys laughing and having fun with their abuela and aunt!
As I heard during the day it would have been a very different story if it wasn't for those grandkids!
Breakfast was prepared with lots of love and hard work by abuela and Timothy (from his perch up on a big stool alongside the kitchen bench and stove!) ... Even Timothy made some arepas too!
During the morning we had Mum, Dad and Ferne pop in on their way to Valencia to get the air conditioning fixed then home to Mene. Tia Yamile and Tio Eduardo (Cucuta), tio Hernando and his granddaughter Sinai, tio Efrain with Hilcias his son (a dear primo!) with Karen his wife and little Gabriel who is Timothy's age (all from Maracay) came around in the morning and spent nearly all day here.
Some went out with my suegra to buy things for a huge big stew/soup. Faride, Oswaldo and tia Yamile took the boys to a small park just doors away from home. They had a ton of fun and even pushed their aunt on the merry-go-round ( like the ones in Manizales when we were kids). It was hot ... So we all drank lots of water. On coming home Michael played soccer in the front porch with tio Efrain!!! They had a ton of fun. T and Gabriel played with 1 talking in english and 1 in spanish. A couple of sisters from the meeting (mother and daughter) came also and shared lunch with us all.
After lunch the little Alcala family had a sleep (in our air con bedroom! We're spoilt!) several otheer came to visit whilst we slept and another cousin (Carolina) with her 2 daughters. I stayed home from the meeting as M had a temp .. Along with T and Oswaldo. Most of the family members all went to the prayer and ministry meeting as something special in memory of Nona.
It was late to bed talking and the boys loving their tio Oswaldo spoiling them with cartoons on his huge tv screen in his room! He even managed to change the language to english!!! ( they're making the most while it lasts!!!)
Tuesday... Michael woke up with a high temp and vomited his little breakfast that he ate. He had some medicine and was able to play a bit (soccer on abuela's front enclosed yard).. Complaining of sore throat and sore tummy (from lack of food!)
Willians went to get his cedula (id card) and came back with a new one within an hr!!! Free os charge!
We had a lovely long visit and catch up with Paul and Daph Chapman .. And they brought us some photos that we'd given them to bring over to the grandparents here!
After that we all enjoyed a really delicious lunch made by abuela and went for a quick rest.
In the afternoon, Carolina (prima) and her 2 daughters came and spent the afternoon with us.
We all went downtown and walked the mall where Nona used to sit and set up her stall to sell the fluffy teddies and animals and dolls that she had made.
From there we went to Chicha Felix... A place my dear husband often dreamt about! The chicha is sooooo good! Willians had 2 large cups, and W.E. and T had 1 1/2 cups each!! So many memories and Even more in the making!
Home from there as M was still looking sad. Primo Pablo, Lisneida his wife and 3 children came around as we were to go and buy hamburgers from Garfield... More memories, as well as most delicious hamburgers (McDonalds needs a few lessons!). Willians and Pablo ended up going and bringing them home... And right now are all watching Couragous on tio Oswaldo's screen.
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