Whitney and I got to work out again today. We went to a little gym across the street from the hotel. The cardio machines were in the back and it was so hot. All they had were elliptical's but it was better than nothing. We had a little down time today so we went to the mall. It is really nice with lots of stores. Griff got a suit in one of the stores when he was here as a missionary so I bought Bill one. We did a lot of window shopping and then had lunch at an Italian restaurant. In the evening we went to visit Freddy and his family. They are members and Freddy is a jeweler. They live in a scary part of town but you would never know when you got inside their home. It was so warm and filled with the spirit. We had dinner there. They said that they wanted us to have a true Colombian meal. We had plantains. Freddys wife cut them in chunks and then cooked them in oil and then flattened them and then fried them again. She had made a chicken sauce and also some guacamole. We didn't have any plates or utensils. We held the plantains in our hand and put the sauce on and then ate them. They were so good. She also made us a drink made with guayaba fruit. She mixed it with milk and it was really good.
Freddy showed us some emeralds and I picked one for a ring for Caitlin. Her birthstone is emerald. We also picked out some for earrings for Kirstin. Freddy and his wife really wanted to give us a good deal. They were so kind to us. They have two daughters, Nayarit who is 21 and Angie who is 15. Every home we go into they greet us with a handshake and a kiss on the cheek. Whenever a family member comes in the house, they give each other a kiss on the cheek. They are so loving to their families.
We went from their home to the Sanchez's for FHE. Their son Carlos is 21 and still hasn't served a mission. Brother Sanchez wanted to have a FHE centered on missionary work to encourage Carlos to go. He had Austin, Whit, Griff and I share our testimonies about how Griff's mission blessed our lives. He and Sister Sanchez then shared a spiritual thought. After Brother Sanchez got done he said, "okay, the part most important....we are learning to dance!" We had a closing prayer and then the music came on and we danced! They taught us the "salsa". It was a lot of fun. Their two daughters are really pretty so Austin loved dancing with them!
Every home we have been in they express what a gift it is that we have come to visit them. They are so appreciative. They are very grateful that Griff did what he said he would.....came back to visit them.
When we were in the mall, we saw some missionaries and I knew one was American. We stopped and talked to him and I told him that Griff served in this mission. He said, "I know, I have heard of him. He was a good missionary." What joy that brings to my heart! Griff always says that he loved them and so they loved him. He said that when he first got to the mission, if he didn't like what they served him to eat he wouldn't eat it. Then he saw how much they sacrificed to feed him and he decided that no matter what he would eat everything he was served. He said that sometimes it took him an hour and half to finish it all but he always finished it. Every family we ate with looked at Griff as he was finishing eating and said, "he always eats everything." They knew that he appreciated what they had done for him. At every home we visit, I notice the mom slips some money to one of the children and they run down to the neighborhood store and buy some pop or Colombiano so that they can serve us a drink. I know it comes at such a sacrifice to them because they don't have extra money. They always want to make us feel welcome.
On Tuesday, we got up early to go to Porta Colombia to visit a family that Griff baptized. Their name is Geronimo. Brother Geronimo never did get baptized but Sister Geronimo and their son John did. They were so happy to see Griff. Sister Geronimo has a granddaughter, Melany, who was 3 when Griff was here. Griff loved to play with her. She is now 5 and in school. They went and got her out so she could see him. She was a little shy at first but then she warmed up to him. She is so so cute. We had to walk down a dirt road to get to their house. I took a picture because I wanted to see in my mind Griff tracking down those streets. What a sweet experience this has been for me!
When we got back to Barranquilla it started to rain. When it rains here....watch out! The streets become rivers and everything is swept down in their path. Griff had written home about it but we actually got to experience it. It was pretty crazy. We stayed at the hotel for about 2 hours because we couldn't go anywhere.
After the rain stopped, we went to visit a member named Tule. Griff said that she was the best cook. They live in a very nice house. Her husband isn't a member but he loves the missionaries and is very supportive of her. Griff gave her a Temple apron and she loved it.
We went back to the mall and met the Sanchez's and the Parada's. The Parada's road on a bus an hour and a half so they could spend some more time with us. Again, a great sacrifice on their part but that is how they show their love. We said goodbye to the Sanchez's there and then we went back to the hotel with the Parada's, Hugo, Jorge and another of Griff's converts, Diego and played games and had pizza. It was such a fun last night in Colombia. So many wonderful friends and memories we made. I am so grateful that I was able to experience a little bit of Griff's mission.
I now have a greater appreciation for the statement "when it rains, it pours!"
Ou Wa La
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