Today is the first day in several weeks that we have not had team members here to assist, the last of our visitors left yesterday.
So the first thing Kathy and I did, was head to the beach! We had lunch and a chance to talk....we need to do that...review, regroup, assess and pray. The food was great,  but there was little sun, so according to my calculations :) we need to return...soon!
After lunch we went into Beria where we bought a few necessities and did a little 'window shopping' for the people we love back in the project. One day soon we hope to take the 3 Amigos shopping for some much needed clothes.
We got back home long before dark, and as soon as we were showered we made some popcorn and watched a movie. We even had a bottle of Diet Dr Pepper!!! Compliments of Jason and Lindy Pieratt, thank you guys!!!

Today we started the process of cleaning and organizing our houses. Even though we have several weeks before the next team comes in, there is much to be done.
Of course all the washing is done by hand ( no easy task, when you're talking about heavy thick bath towels and blankets!) Our ladies are amazing!
We have had some issues with Bed Bugs....let's just say they are eating well at house #6! So our strategy is to wash and spray everything in sight!
They have won several battles but we shall see who will win the war!

This afternoon, Kathy and I had the privilege of going to the home of Maria, one of our emprigadas, she had a baby last Friday. A precious little girl, who is absolutely beautiful!
We brought a bag full of gifts the Texas team bought for her. Kathy and I were able to give her some money which will be used to buy pop and make fried cakes for the party!
This Sunday afternoon will be the baby dedication, Maria will 'officially' bring the baby out  and announce her name and dedicate her little life to the Lord! Praise God!!!

When we asked what her name will be Maria said that she was waiting for us to pick the name!! Can you even believe it??
I have loved Maria in a special way since I first met her. She has helped me to understand Portuguese, and has been ever so patient with me as I try to speak with her. She simply has a beautiful smile and I just love her!
She is actually an amazing young women with now 5 children. She works all day for us, cares for her growing family, as well as attends night school where she is taking 9 classes!
It was hard to believe that I was sitting in her home, deciding what her baby's name would be! Maria simply said she wanted her to have a name from the bible.
So, Kathy and I had no problem coming up with the name Ester. They pronounce it Esh-tar. It sounds so beautiful, and when we said the name to the baby she smiled! Seriously!

On our way home home we got a call from Zito explaining that his daughter Noemia once again had malaria. Praise God we were able to stop by the clinic and pick up medicine and bring it to her. We encouraged Zito to spray around his home with Baygon, a familiar bug killer, in an attempt to stop the cycle of malaria that is going around his home.
We arrived back home, the smell of Baygon still in the air.... and put our clean sheets and blankets back on the bed. We shall see who wins this next battle.
We won't ever take the saying 'sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite' lightly again, they hurt and itch big time!
Thanks again for reading.....