Now, a couple days ago the internet company called. I had no idea what the woman was saying even after asking her to repeat what she said. The phone call ended with me agreeing, "Okay, okay" and her responding, "Muchas gracias. Muchas gracias." Well, I hung up, looked at Andy, and wondered aloud, "What did I just agree to?" Yesterday, Anita went with us to the internet office to figure out what they had called about and to pick up our contract. As it turns out, we were supposed to have received in the mail, an invoice from Quito. What mail? Anita explained that we lived, like everyone else, beyond a locked gate. Furthermore, we lived on the third floor with a back entrance. The woman protested, "But did they not see something under the gate?" It just made no sense. Our gate is shared by seven or eight apartments, which mostly seem to be families. If some envelope was slid under the gate, no one would know which apartment it was meant for. There is no listing of names and apartment numbers. For that matter, most of the apartments are unnumbered. Needless to say, we insisted we had not seen anything, and the woman handed over the invoice that should have been delivered.
Now, I suppose that some businesses or someone with clout, like Guillermo, might have a mailbox of sorts. We are trying to figure this out to see if we can be mailed things (not that their security would be, well, secure). Which, brings me back to the fact that the census forms are not mailed to individuals. Rather, Sunday (11/28) the country shut-down. No, seriously. It was illegal to leave your house before 5:00pm. There were police-men on foot, motorcycle, car, and truck, patrolling the streets. Students and teachers, in khaki uniforms, visited each apartment. We had a young guy who administered our census form. He filled out the first section about the condition of our home. Then, he asked questions like, "Have you used a cellphone, the internet, or a television in the last five months?" A sure guarantee of modernity for the country.
The 9:30am church service was previously re-scheduled for 6:30pm. It was a little less unattended, but a very nice change of pace. In addition, no sooner had the service began than it started to rain and lightening, which provided a neat setting. The four English-speaking missionaries we had met on our field trip the day before were there lined up in the front row. We always sit near the back, but Guillermo "suggested" everyone move closer since there were fewer members in attendance. So, we found ourselves seated, uncomfortably blocking those behind us, in the second row. Lindy, who had given the message on her experience of adult baptism the day before, also provided the message for the service. Lindy is in the Dancing Ministry. Which meant that while the other Church of God missionaries raised their hands, fists, and voices to the Lord, she brought flags to dance with and to distribute to the congregation to be waved during the songs. It also meant that her sermon comprised both a message and a dance about purification. As she danced to the music, she eventually stripped off her colored skirt and flags until she wore only white. It was something new for us, but it was a very heartfelt dance.
A photo after church, since we went through all the trouble to take off our pjs for it.
Oh yes, we also had our make-shift Thanksgiving meal before church. It was delicious. The theme was butter, though truthfully that theme isn't new for us.
The Menu:
-pumpkin, brown-sugar, cream cheese dip and caramel dip for apples (as an appetizer?)
-carrots, mushrooms, and green beans, with um, butter
-boiled, mashed fresh pumpkin with brown sugar, and um, butter
-tilapia a la meuniere--which is, um, butter sauce
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