The end of another great week in Puerto Rico

Saturday February 14, 2015

Thursday and Friday were filled with appointments for interviews.  I think we finished the week with a total of 6.  Not bad for taking a 3 day break.  We have been trying to get at least 10 each week.   

Saturday we headed back to Cayey to interview our sweet friend Victor Felix.  He is a former Baptist Pastor who joined the church in 1995.  He is a special person who takes excellent care of the missionaries.  We enjoyed hearing his conversion story. His sweet mother is not a member, but had a blessing at one time that if she would take care of the missionaries there would always be enough food in their home.,  And that has always been the case.  She lives downstairs from Victor in his very humble abode.

Victor and his niece

Sister J, Victor and Elder J

Victor's mom, Victor and his niece

Our sweet friend Victor Felix

Next we set out to the Caguas Stake Center to interview the Stake President.  Another great interview with a great man! 

Becky Fraticelli was there at the stake center waiting for us to take us to her home in Aguas Buenos.  She lives at the top of the mountain, literally.  She led the way and we followed her little green car up the winding road that was very steep in a couple of places.  When we arrived, we thought we had gone to heaven or at least the Garden of Eden.  It was quiet and beautiful.  She lives in a humble home that she had built on the top of the mountain.  She grows a lot of her own fruits and vegetables as well as herbs to cook with.  Becky fixed a late lunch for us of rice with chicken and beans (very Puerto Rican) that was fabulous.  (She sent me the recipes along with a list of spices I need to purchase before we go home - yeah!) My pictures don't do it justice, but we will try . . . . .

Following the little green car up the mountain

Almost there . . . .

Becky's home in "Eden"

Becky & Wade talking about the beauty of her place

Some of Becky's flowers - one of many Orchids

A Vanda Orchid

This is what the wax flowers look like as they start to bloom

Wax flower in bloom

Red wax flower

Becky called this a bridal bouquest

Poinsettias -she has them all down the drive way in various colors

Looking out to the porch from her kitchen

Looking straight off the deck into the jungle

Looking down to the ground from the deck - see the brown dirt??

Grapefruit tree

Plantains - not bananas, but she does have bananas on her property

Her bathroom . . . I loved the tub!

Showing us one of her books about her family

Becky's book collection

Dishing up our lunch . . . it was soooooo good!

The happy cook . . . rice, chicken and beans.  Yummy!

Wade getting ready to enjoy this feast

Deseret - guava paste with cheese

Love this sign she has in her house

Wade & Becky

Wade, Becky and Connie

Becky and Connie in front of the papya tree

We had a great day and enjoyed visiting with Becky.  She is a wonderful hostess . . . wish we could have stayed there longer!!

Visitors continued . . .

February 11 2015

Today was the day for the beach.  At church last Sunday we met a family who live at Dorado.  This is a resort where many Americans have homes.  They invited us to come and enjoy a "5 star resort" at no cost to us.  It was beautiful  We almost had the place to ourselves.

The beach

The swimming pool

Wade enjoyed the shade

Making a sand castle

Sand Castle in the making - I think Eric was having more fun with it than Riessa!

The little fish - she loved the beach!

She was pretending to be a doggy in the water

Eric and Patti are getting serious about this sand castle!

More beach

Another shot of the pool

Thursday February 12 2015

We took the kids to the airport for an early morning flight.  So glad that they made it on the flight . . . Standby can sometimes be frustrating . . .

And then they were gone!

Then it was back to work for us.  We had a great break but are ready to get more interviews done and get the administrative stuff completed.

Visitors . . . Yippee!

February 9,  2015

After finishing last week with 13 interviews, we are looking forward to having a little down time.  Now just so you don't start to think this is a vacation we are on here in Puerto Rico, this is the first time we have really done any sight seeing of the county.  We are too busy gathering interviews - our assignment for being here.

Patti, Eric and Riessa arrived at 9pm Sunday evening.  We made it to the airport and back home without getting lost.  Now that is saying something for us.  Seems each time we go somewhere and come home after dark, we end up lost!

They made it here!

Today, Monday, we decided to go to Old San Juan and visit there.  Eric has never been to Puerto Rico before, so we decided some history would be good.  We rode the ferry from Catano to San Juan. 

Riessa watching the water while we rode the ferry ~ ~ Grandma & Riessa

We then rode the shuttle to San Cristobal Castle and then walked to El Morro.  It was a nice day, windy but sunny.  One of the Senior Sister missionaries had given me a kite for Riessa.  She had fun flying it at El Morro.  It was fun to walk through the ruins there and see how the people were defending the country back in the day.

Riding the trolley through the streets of Old San Juan

This is a cell where prisoners where held.

The etchings on the wall made by one of the prisoners

Riessa loved the tunnels

Riessa loves to pose!

Looking out towards the El Morro

Climbing the spiral staircase

The Three Flags

This tells about the three flags

Enjoying the castle and all to see

San Cristobal Castle

Eating ice cream which is more like a gelato on out walk to El Morro

Riessa and grandpa resting and just having a chat

"Let's go fly a kite"

She loved her kite

One of the streets in Old San Juan - so colorful!

After a day in Old San Juan we drove to Cayey to visit a member who Patti knew while serving her mission here 17 years ago.  Victor Fleix invited us all for dinner.  It was wonderful to finally meet him.  The food was fabulous.  He is a wonderful cook.

Dinner at Victor's home

Victor Felix and Patti

Riessa, Patti, Victor and Eric

Tuesday February10, 2015

Today we went to El Yunque, the rain forest.

At the beginning of  our adventure

Te beautiful flowers

Playing on the roots from the trees

Wade being Trazan!

Hiding among the roots of the tree

Eric playing Trazan

Hanging from the roots

Before picture on his drivers license

We met this guy at the falls below.  He showed us his drivers license - he had lost over 200 pounds!!

The Love Birds

The tower is about 100 feet high

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair"  Half way up the tower looking out the windows

On top of the Tower

Riessa waiting to scare mom and dad

The Falls - we hiked down to the falls and then hiked out the lower trail . . .  About a 1 hour hike.

Riessa's legs were tired so daddy gave her a ride . . . up hill!

Riessa's turn to hang on the roots

Connie made the hike - Wade waited for us at the end of the trail

After our hike, Patti wanted more Puerto Rican food.  We went to the Bonanza Restaurant. Riessa eating with her spoon and her fork.  She wanted some ice cream!
 

 Almost ready for ice cream!

Just chillin' talking about our day