News from Puerta Trasera

Hi!  I am writing this from Jeanette and Don's place.   They live up on the hill up from the brick oven place in Sandy Bay.   We came here on Saturday because the owners of our place are visiting with friends.  It has been great to spend time with our friends Jeanette and Don.  It is unfortunate that I have a sinus cold and laryngitis which makes visiting a little more difficult.

the sunset last night.... the heavens declare His glory!!

Last week we had a great week visiting with Pat and Nancy, the owners of the place we are renting.  It was good to get to know them a bit better.  Usually we go to Seadancer while they are down but for the first week we stayed in the house together.  It was good to visit, to share meals together, Bob and Nancy did a puzzle together, and today he has gone diving with them.   They are really happy with the property and I think Carlos deserves a big pat on the back for that!!

bob finished the puzzle his Mom gave him for Christmas!

We also were able to take Jamie and Ron, our missionary friends from Arizona on a tour of the East Side of the island.   That was the first day I started to feel sick with a sore throat but I pushed through and still managed to have a good time taking them through the mangroves, visiting our friends Stephanie and Carlos in Jonesville, and enjoying visiting the Garifuna Village in Punta Gorda.

jamie and ron enjoying the mangroves

this is the view from Punta Blanca.. um.. nice!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob, and our boat driver Melvin

me:  chillaxing!!

We took a day off from the shop to just relax with our friends and it was wonderful to get 'away'.
On Saturday after we were settled in to Don and Jeanette we went over to West Bay to help celebrate Sebastian's first Birthday party!   I still wasn't feeling too good and hesitated going but really wanted to go even for a little while and I am glad I did.  It was good to see everyone and join in the festivities.  Laura is a wonderful hostess and we really enjoyed her Tres Leche Cake (3 milk cake which is a classic island cake!)

Laura cutting the Tres Leche cake!  it was delicious!!!

Today being Monday, we have enjoyed a quiet day of reading, resting, and getting ready for another busy week ahead.  Bob went to the bank and then we went through the market looking at prices for black shoes for the kids who will be returning to school in a couple of weeks.  Last year Bob was able to get a good deal on the shoes since we bought so many but this year the lowest they would go was 10.00 a pair!  I think we need to send a local into the market because when they see our white skin they think:  MONEY!!!   We still have some money left over from the Christmas funds and we want to help out in that way but we want to make it go as far as possible and get good deals.  We have been working with Joan in French Harbour and she has sent us the sizes of children who otherwise couldn't afford shoes.  Can you imagine not being able to even afford shoes?  It is a different world here!!

   We are also going to be getting uniforms from Nichita, a new store here at a good discount price.  We want to thank those of you who sent money at Christmas.   We are going to be using some of that for helping kids get outfitted for school.  Do you know that if parents can't afford the uniforms, shoes and books then they just don't send the kids to school??  It is a sad but present reality for many families here so yes.. thanks again!

buddy says hi.. he is enjoying the sunsets up here!