December 22

Merry Christmas

Good morning. Merry Christmas from Puerto Rico. Christmas weather is here with "brisas navideñas" (Christmas breezes). Weather is nice...low 70s. PR at it's finest. Christmas is just a couple of days away. As usual, it has rushed up on us. It seems a couple of days ago it was Thanksgiving. I suppose it means we are busy and so it is--Let me explain. 

As in almost churches, we have had Christmas activities, Christmas messages, Christmas music, Christmas delicacies. Two weeks ago, we heard a great message tied to Christ's birth from one of the church members. Then, last week we enjoyed a Christmas concert from a band playing music that is unlike anything you have heard in your neck of the woods. "Pura música jibara" (Pure Puerto Rican country music) with local instruments. One word sums it up.."NICE" As for the delicacies; we roasted a whole pig on a spit. The chef and I lit the fire and began cooking the 86 pound "oinker" on the church grounds at 3:00 AM. At 10:30 we were cutting it up and serving it with rice, pigeon peas, "pasteles" (tamales made of green bananas and other flavors). The crowd was good considering the surge in COVID-19 incidents. I believe we tallied 81. 

This Sunday we are putting on a production done by a few of the church members...monologues and solos. We dare not do more because of the pandemic. Then, the 3rd of January, we have a guest singer coming in to sing Christmas carols to finish up Christmas. Like everywhere, we are "chomping at the bit", raring to go, but the virus insists we pull back on the reins. When the green light comes on we will be ready and out the gate. In closing, Mary and I treasure your interest in our lives and work here. Blessings to each of you. Don't forget, "In Him we live, move and have our being." Let us live for the King!

Johnathan and Mary

Downtown Aguadilla...where we live

Peña Blanca (Wishing Well beach) in Aguadilla