Sunday (written Monday)
Hi again to all of you from John in Georgetown. Happy Family Day! While 'Journey 2010' is now over, I am sure that memories will remain for many years. In my case the memories will be revisited over and over as I sort through and edit over 1000 photos. I would like to suggest that we each take a 'stick' or 'disc' of our pictures to the reunion, where we can view and share them with the Journey 2010 team.
On Sunday we traveled once again to Esperanza, to take part in a very animated and uplifting church service. Perhaps celebration would be a better word. There was much music, featuring an ensemble of drums, keyboard, guitars, and homemade 'noisemakers' fed through a needless amplifier into a stack of giant speakers. Many 'traditional' hymns were just recognizable in the joyful and lively renditions. Singing in at least 4 languages (english, spanish, creole and italian) punctuated the performance. Several speeches and tributes, interspersed with prayers, rounded out the nearly 2 hour service of worship. Etched forever in my mind will be the 'conga line' of clapping, bobbing and weaving celebrants as they made their way to the basket resting on a chair at the front of the church, into which they cheerfully deposited their offerings of coin and paper. I promise you: nobody fell asleep!
We bid our farewells to the villagers and boarded the bus back to our Sosua 'home' for the last time. An afternoon of relaxing at the pool and beach, packing up dirty laundry and wistfully sipping our last cervezas and 'girlie drinks' at the 'B & D Bar', was cut short by the imminent arrival of Manuel and his trusty ironhorse.
A quick trip to the airport, last goodbyes to Elio and Lena, John and Jane, Manuel and Dennis, and a safe flight home. And to top off a great Journey, Westjet got us back to Toronto 20 minutes early - and it wasn't snowing!
Cheers, a slap on the back and high fives to each member of the team!
Love, John.
