Last Week's Adventure III

Monday was spent traveling, Tuesday we spent in Workshops, but Wednesday we took some time off for relaxation! We started our day with Morning Prayer at St. Mary's, had breakfast, then caught a bus to Bocas del Drago, a beach on the other side of the island. We passed the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute's station in Bocas and several plantations. We also had to stop and shoo five goats out of the middle of the road, but I didn't grab a photo of that. Then the road seemed to have more potholes than paved surface. It was an interesting drive, with some tropical forest on one side of the road and the beach on the other. When we arrived at our destination, we grabbed a few tables and ordered coffee and sodas. Some folks went in the water, some folks grabbed a hamaca, and some of us sat at the table and talked. I also did some reading (The End of Ancient Christianity R.A. Markus, if you must know). Señora Paola, who cooked for us all week, provided us with snacks; we had to be discreet sitting at the edge of the restaurant, but we had plenty pattie and ham and cheese sammiches, too. We headed back to Bocas del Toro around 1:00 p.m. to rest up for the evening's activities.

Here are photos


Bishop Murray at Bocas del Drago


The Restaurant



The beach from the right and the left



Reyito en un hamaca


Padre José en un hamaca


Tropical Forest (taken in motion on the bus)


That evening we participated in the Patronal Festival at Iglesia Santa María. Padre Victor, a Dominican and the pastor of the local RCC, participated and vested with the clergy of the diocese. He worked with Bishop Murray back when Padre Murray was priest-in-charge of St. Mary's and St. George's. Of course, the Bishop preached and celebrated. We also had a wonderful repast after the service with much fellowship. I have spent a lot of time in Bocas, and it is always great to see everybody once again.
Here are photos


Padres Moreno y Austin before the service.


In the sacristy


The organist waits


The church is almost full a good half hour before the service


Bishop Murray preaching


The congregation of Iglesia Santa María with Bishop Murray and Padre Kenny Ryan-King.



This is my friend Shirley and her son and granddaughter. They are members of St. Michael the Arch Angel Church in Guabito.



Padre Victor, Obispo Murray, y Padre Kenny


These little girls were quite well-behaved during the service


I decided they needed to let loose