The Five Chicas - Saturday, August 28, 2010

Our sleep-in day only amounted to one half hour longer than usual. We set the alarm for 6:30 because we had a busy morning getting our place cleaned up, table set, and everything ready for our young single adult friends who were coming to cook for us today.

While Rich was on an errand to collect another chair, a fork, knife, a couple plates, and a cooking pot from the office kitchen, he ran into Andrea who does the daily cleaning of our apartment building. He asked about the hot water situation, as we are without again today. It didn't correct itself overnight. She said that all of San Fernando had the water off for a while yesterday and our tanks on the roof were drained. Now they are filling up again, but it takes hours and hours. The cold water is okay, but still no hot yet.

We did our usual Saturday cleaning and set the table for seven people. All that the girls wanted us to provide was the drink. The appointed hour for them to come was noon, but at 11:40 our buzzer rang. They said, "The chicas are here." Glad I was ready!

They got right to it peeling potatoes, cooking rice, cutting meat, chopping onions, red peppers, and tomatoes. What were they cooking? It looked interesting! They told us that they wanted to fix a dinner for us but that all of us would not fit in any of their homes. So, they asked if they could fix it at our place. We were thrilled.

These five darlings include Daniela Corales, Shirley Rejas, Sahara Marín, Lidia Sanchez, and Abish Rejas (twin to Shirley). All but Lidia belong to the San Fernando ward and we became aquainted with them as they befriended and supported Lidia when she was being taught the gospel by Elders Peterson and Hales who eventually baptized her a few months ago. The twins were baptized at 8 years old, Daniela joined the church about a year ago, and Sahara has been a member for a couple of years.

All five of the girls are originally from Perú, so they fixed a Peruvian meal called Lomo Saltado. It was one of the best meals we have had since being here. They cut potatoes into french fries and cooked them in oil, and topped them on the plate with the meat which was sauteed in Soy Sauce and spices and cooked with onions, red peppers, and large wedges of tomatoes. They cook white rice with seasonings and it was delicious. Normally rice needs some kind of a sauce on it for me in order for it not to be so bland, but this rice was delicious all by itself. I need to learn what they did.

The presentation of the meal was perfect and we had such a good time visiting. When it is a small intimate group, I try my Spanish more freely. They were eager to help me and I don't feel as intimidated.

While they were fixing the food, the water guy came to check on us to see if we had hot water yet. We didn't when he came, and after doing something with our hot water heater and draining some line, it worked fine. Thankgoodness, because we needed hot water for cleanup. I tried to get the girls to let me clean up later, but they wouldn't hear of it and plunged right in washing, drying, wiping the wall off behind the stove for grease splatters, and even mopped the floor in the kitchen area. It was spotless!

We ordered ice cream for dessert and had it delivered. We ordered two kilos, with one being chocolate. That was the flavor of choice today. Time flies when you are having fun and it was 4:30 when they all left. They had been with us for almost five hours and we enjoyed every minute. We were generous in our praise and thanks for their kindness and thoughtfulness in wanting to treat us. We told them to watch facebook for their pictures to be shown to the world. Abish wrote that it will be a Saturday she will always remember. These are great young women and we love them a lot.

We changed clothes quickly and hurried to the bus stop to catch the bus to Tigre. The sisters called today and wanted us to accompany them to help teach an older lady they contacted. They told us what bus to catch that would drop us off right on the corner where her house is located. It was a snap to find, but the best thing was that the bus we got on to come home was the one that dropped us off right at our apartment building. Couldn't have been better!!