November 16, 2016

Cough, cough, cough.  I have had a cold for several days, but Sunday teaching a large group of children for two hours, left me with some laryngitis and cough.  So, that has interfered with our studies this morning.  Our first stop was with Idalia and Jennifer, studying repentance.  Mario was home, but he had developed a bad tooth ache the previous day and was not able to join us.  Sometimes when he is not home Idalia is more open to conversation and prayer requests.  After starting, I started coughing and coughing.  Jennifer got me some tap water, so I drank that glassful too.  It was a good study, but a little interruptive.  Next, we drove on to Briseida’s, due for the same study.  We talked on the way about how long to continue this study due to the fact they never visit services and often are not home.  But, today, Antonio was working out front, and did not join us.  Briseida was full of questions about marriage, the church and baptism.  So, it was a good study and we really encouraged them to come to services. (They did not make it for the evening.) Of course, I coughed for another stretch.  We also walked down to Wendy and Angelica’s to talk to them about Que Dice and only Angelica was home.  She still sounded interested and wanted us to come another day to pick up her study.  We also wanted to drop by Vilma’s to give her some times on meetings but she was not home.  But, as we walked out of the cemetery, she was  walking home and I couldn’t hardly say a word for coughing.  Goodness.  We dropped by the store and on to the house as Arnoldo and Carolina were coming for lunch.  They arrived close to 12:30 and we had soup and sandwiches.  Arnoldo said that he was planning to do the class tonight, so I said I might stay home to give my voice a rest.  Dwaine walked over to Socorro's and told her that we wouldn’t study, but he would pick her up for a church.  I did study with Carolina and then Dwaine took her, Arnoldo and Cesar on to Sister Ana’s for a study.  He came back through for a short time and headed out for service.  First he got about 6 or 7 people at Sister Ana’s and then picked up Socorro.  Then, on the way out, he encountered another check point by the police.  He was uncertain how well they would receive a carload so full that people were sitting on laps.  But, they were busy and let him pass on!  Yeah.  I rested through the evening and worked on making a doll outfit for Ingrid’s doll.  She was trying to make some plastic clothes one day during a study and I asked if I could bring the doll home.  I have NEVER made doll clothes.  I finally found a simple patter online and got the job done.  I had brought a sewing machine here and it has some fancy stitches.  I have never used any of those, but gave them a whirl.  It worked great and I finished up.  In the end, I really need to get her a new doll, but this will still be a nice gesture.  I enjoyed some quiet time and hope the rest will help recovery.  I am doing the Ladies’ Event in Salcoatitan on Saturday and I hope it is up to par by then.  We also did some skyping. Afterwards, we talked that we really do both need to recover that illusive ‘day off.’  All preparations seem to go so far into the night as we stay booked morning, afternoon and night.