Thursday Night Goings On

We’ve been meeting on Thursday evenings since June and find it one of our best ways to connect. It’s a worship and prayer time that has a koinonia (community, fellowship) feel. Here’s what a “typical” evening is like:

5:35 – I’m “late” and waiting in the papelaria for copies of some new songs we are singing tonight…was suppose to be at the Oxxo five minutes ago for some of the folk.

5:58 – I’ve been at the Oxxo for 15 minutes and no one has shown up yet ………oh here comes three of them now. “We’ve got to wait; two more coming on the bus in 10 minutes.”

6:26 – Finally arrive back home...five more already here. There are kisses all the way around from everyone. Christina and some of the younger ones are outside jumping on the trampoline.

6:34 – Stephen is tuning his guitar….tuning………tuning…. He introduces us to Sam and Kifi who are new to the group. We’ve been meeting for three months now and the feeling of friendship and community is growing. Everyone from El Puente is invited, but it mostly tends toward young adults.

6:40 – Arianna grabs the djembe; Isaias an egg shaker; Esteban a tambourine as we hand out the song books.

6:43 – Finally under way with a Scripture reading. Our first song tonight is Mighty to Save and then we sing Todopoderoso. Worshiping through song, prayer, Scripture reading fill the evening.

7:30 – Diana heads to the kitchen to begin preparing for the meal. She turns on the coffee pot on the way by.

7:36 – Stephano arrives after finishing football practice.

7:44 – I peal off as the group begins to wind down so I can go up the street for roasted chicken, tortillas and soft drinks.

8:10 – The meal is ready for the fourteen of us who came tonight. The roasted chicken with the adobado seasoning is extra tasty. Someone has brought cookies for dessert.

8:20 – Most of us are crowded around the table eating, while a few continue to play guitars. It’s a fun time……..lots of joking and laughing. Arianna connects on the internet with some friends in South Carolina, and we talk. Danielle tells us stories from Maine.

8:48 – We begin to think about going………..Isaias and Nancy stop by for their kids. We stand and talk for a few more minutes. Kisses all the way around for everyone as we say our goodbye.

9:12 – We pile the nine people in the van who need a ride home. Maria goes along. “Could you take Leslie home, too, so she won’t have to ride the bus so late in the night?”

9:25 – With everyone safely home we head across town to drop Leslie off.

10:22 – Maria and I arrive back home. Christina and Diana have done all the clean up and putting things away. It’s been another good evening.