Waffles for Las Chicas - Saturday, November 27, 2010

No sleep in day today because we had many things to do before noon when our young friends would be coming for lunch. After getting myself showered and ready, I started cooking the panceta (bacon). It was a miracle I found it in Coto a couple weeks ago. It is very thin and fries up to be very crisp, but it is good. I also baked several potatoes yesterday to make hash browns so I had those to peel and grate.

While I was preparing the food, Rich had several errands to run. We needed more orange juice and also our laundry needed to be picked up. We also needed to get copies of some pictures that we wanted to give to the chicas and others at church tomorrow. He was anxious to get on with his tasks, but knew the fridge was coming this morning, so needed to be here for that too.

Pretty soon the buzzer rang and the refrigerator arrived. They unboxed it and put in it's place and started to leave. Rich asked if they were going to take away the big cardboard box and all the packing material, but they told him that they didn't take the garbage with them. Strange! So he had to take it down to the dumpster himself. The cardboard would be picked up in a minute if left on the street, because people walk around daily finding cardboard to turn in for money. That's how a lot of people make their living.

I whipped up the waffle batter and started making them to keep warm in the oven. I would have preferred them fresh off the waffle iron, but then I would have been cooking the whole time and not eating with the group. They were okay, but not like at home with my waffle iron. This one was an old one used at the mission home that was given to the office when the Argyles left.

When the chicas arrived, they came bearing gifts. Beautiful red roses and a fruit filled cake from a panaderia were a surprise and much appreciated. They are such sweethearts.

Sahara, Shirley, Daniela, Lidia, Abish and Ana have become some of our most favorite friends and we are going to miss them so much.

After eating the meal which they seemed to enjoy, they wanted individual pictures taken with us. So we went out on the balcony to take them. Then we sat around and visited.

A parting shot of the group before they left was a must. They told us they wanted to surprise us and come to the airport to see us off but they needed to ask for the flight information. That is a nice thought, but none of them have a car, and the airport is over an hour away on a good traffic day. They said they might ask some members to take them. But then, that is a lot of gas for a trip that far. We are not worth all the fuss.

After our goodbyes, we cleaned up the dishes and took a nap. Then I took some dishes and things to the apartment next door and made a list of what was still needed. Fixing up the apartment for them for a temporary stay is nothing like the Argyles had to do for us. We always appreciated all the things they rounded up for us to use and all the time and preparations that went in to making us feel welcome in our apartment, but after doing the little that we have done lately for the Schoenys made us even more grateful for what the Argyles did for us.

I went through some papers in the last drawer that needed attention. Now I can organize where to pack the miscellaneous things. One suitcase is done and weighs in at 49 pounds, that is if the scales are correct. Now, that could be a problem!

We listened to the Utah/BYU game on KSL radio over the computer and were disappointed in the dramatic ending. How could that be??