Why Bugs and Bells?

Hello all interested parties. That may include offspring, grandchildren, former supervisors, friends, and the Curious. We tried for a more sedate address but those were all taken so we chose something descriptive and accurate instead. We live in a little house built for retired priests, right next to the pastor's house, offices, and the blue and white church where living bell ringers go nuts several times a day. I can onlly hope they wear ear protectors, but probably not. We are, however, very grateful that daily mass has been changed from 7 am to 7 pm. This means the clamor no longer starts up at 6:30 am. Now, about the bugs...This place is 4000 feet high, warm, tropical, mostly dry right now, the daily rains will start in May. Now I average a couple of new bites a day. I hate to think what awaits me in the rainy season. For those of you interested in the more serious, working missionary side of our life here Sunday's retreat for 300 parish leaders was a success if we're going by numbers. Instead of the 300 expected we had 400. This meant the team was overworked, the sharing groups 3 times the optimum size, and things went on until after 7 pm. The attendees included children, young folks, all ages of adults, men and women, and some of the women in the charming indigenous dress, long black skirts, bright sashes, embroidered blouses, and braids with ribbons, that reach well below their hips. At lunch (each of us brought our own) a kind soul offered Dick a taco. He ate it with gusto, and asked what kind it was. "Sesos" (brains). This is my first attempt at a blog and at this point no one knows we have it. If it seems to be working, I'll send out the address and this will be a good way for the interested to keep up with our doings here and exchange views, questions, comments, even prayer requests. yours, for now, Carolyn