Three Congregations, One Kingdom Hall.

Meeting signs at Kingdom Hall gate. 

Our first meeting...Brother Ebony gave the talk.

So many visitors, so many names and faces.  It's hard to keep track of who's who.  I have great empathy for the Watchtower conductor,  Brother Tim. Brothers and Sisters are constantly coming and going here,  some for a few days,  weeks, months. Both elders have only been here since last August. I can usually remember faces, but then to place a name... Sometimes I  remember the first name, other times the last.

8 or 9 were supposed to have left in the past few days, but some may not make it out as planned. Supposedly there is to be a general strike or protest today and tomorrow,  and the streets are to be shut down. Walking should be possible, but no vehicle traffic, maybe not even tuk-tuks. First thought is that this is a disorderly third world country, but perhaps more accurately this strike may represent a greater national unity and freedom of expression than we experience in the  US.

We do not expect this strike to affect us overly much, we've mostly walked everywhere so far. We did take one tuk-tuk ride on Sunday to a hotel for a farewell party for the Ybarra family. They are ones that may be stuck here for now. Lydia loved the ride, but in spite of her excitement,  managed to fall asleep on the return trip home. (She also fell asleep on the pickup truck ride back from San Marco.  She woke up with a start near the end and shouted "Plane!" Must have dreamt the truck noise was a plane engine.)

Today is midweek meeting,  so we are taking it easy. We need to find me a hat today or tomorrow because I got terribly sunburnt in the San Marco ministry yesterday. Wednesday and Thursday are both unscheduled relax and shopping days. Wednesday is also cleaning day, a local woman is coming in to do housekeeping for us.

It is somewhat more difficult traveling with Lydia because she needs to be carried or strollered wherever we go. We end up being exhausted before we get half of what we expected to get accomplished. Plus the troops are often famished because we haven't developed a routine or have sufficient food at home yet.  Everything looks a lot closer on a Map! Distances are getting a bit shorter as we get more familiar with the streets, but still manage to take the long way.

Lydia just got her wish. "A plane, a plane." A helicopter just flew overhead,  maybe part of the government response to the protest?

We are taking precautions with the stroller so it hopefully lasts the month. Lydia gets carried over the rougher terrain and rides on the smooth (smooth here is a relative term).

Our front walk ... smooth.

O-wanj, o-wanj. Harvesting off the ground. 

The upper drive...still sort-of smooth.

The lower drive to Porton Verde.