The Nest is Never Empty

Last week, Elbia and I decided to go and visit her mom.  Her sister, Delmi had asked me on Sunday if I would come and talk with her.  It was raining off and on all morning and it is a bit of a walk to the house.  Finally in the early evening the rain had let up enough.  The clouds were still gray but there was only a light drizzle.  Elbia and I jumped in the truck and started up the road.  We turned off the highway at the Caribbean Citrus sign and took the dirt road up the hill.  It has actually stayed fairly clean since the grader passed through a few months ago.  Further up the road the bush was looking so overgrown that I almost missed the turn off.  Elbia has good eyes and she reminded me that this was the road.  (It actually looked more like a small path where it met the road.)  The grass was at least five feet high and very thick.  We turned up and drove to Elbia’s grandmother’s house.  Gladis loves flowers.  Her yard is almost magical with all the bushes and plants with pretty flowers.  My yard is all green, but she has pink, purple, cream and red flowers all over.  We got out of the truck and I called to Enilda, Elbia’s 12 year old auntie, to make sure that the dogs were all accounted for and under control.  She laughed and called back to me that all was well and I could come around the vehicle.  I hailed Enilda and then said my not so great Spanish greetings to Gladis.  The woman is always smiling and happy to see me.  I passed under their house and started up the path that leads to Nidia’s house.  The path is a fairly steep upward climb but the worst is that it is very rocky and uneven.  It takes a lot of concentration to make the walk successfully.  It is especially difficult with sandals!  They flip flop and slide out from under my feet constantly.  I really need to think about shoes or sneakers for days like this!  We passed the out house and out door shower and then turned to the left and continued to make the climb.  Nidia does this all the time with three little ones!  As we were about to make the last left turn I started to call out “Good evening” so that they would know I was approaching.  When I came in sight of the house, I saw Nidia running around and Delmi jumping up and down.  The baby was in the hammock and the other two small ones were sitting on the dirt floor.  The house is made of boards that are randomly put together.  There is no door and only two beds in the house.  The floor is packed and swept dirt.  Nidia was cooking over a fire.  She has a gas tank but it is too far to carry it to the main road to get the gas filled.  The air is sweet with the smell of the orange blossoms on the hill around them and the smoke from the wood fire.  There is a slight chill in the air from the drizzle and low hanging clouds, but no one is dressed for it.

So we get down to business.  Delmi tells me that she wants to come back and stay with us.  I know that she is in need of a safe place.  I asked Nidia how she feels about it and she only replies, “Whatever you want, Ms. Linda.”  I am not sure how to answer this except that I can see in Delmi’s face that I had better say yes.  So I do, I say yes.  Then Nidia informs me that little Dani is also packed and ready to come along with Delmi because she does not want to sleep in her bed alone.  Dani has come and stayed with us before for various reasons and she has never been very happy about it.  So I figure she will maybe stay one night.  That is fine because she has preschool the next day and then she could go home on the bus.  No problem if it makes it easier for Delmi.  So we trudge down the hill with two cardboard boxes and three backpacks filled with clothes that do not fit anyone and books for school.  I do love walking and it is a good evening for the walk.  The rain has still held off, probably because I have remembered to carry my umbrella.  As we pass the grandmother’s house she starts to laugh and tell me that her two little ones want to come as well.  Fortunately she is laughing!  Enilda smiles at me and says, “Ms. Linda, you must really love them.”  I smile and think to myself it is true.  Jesus has given me a real love for these children who really need us to just be here when they need us.

Well, that was a while ago and Dani is still not homesick!  Oh, well, what is two more in the nest anyway.

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