We blew bubbles with our bubbalicious bubble gum before sticking it on the famous Gum Wall. After we toured the market, we went down to the water front to watch the ferries and the ocean liners as they entered the Puget Sound. We bought clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls for lunch at Pike Place Chowder. It was soooo good! Once we finished lunch and shooed the encroaching pigeons away from our feet, we walked to the Columbia Tower. We were going to climb to the top of it, but found out that it cost money, and opted not to. We were told it was free to look out from the 75th floor during the week. From there we walked along 3rd avenue towards the Seattle Center.
We took pictures of the Space Needle and we watched several cycles on the Inspiration Fountain as it shot water 100+ feet into the air, and in every direction! A teenager was showing off an array of Michael Jackson moves, complete with a glove on his right hand and interchangeable hats depending on his mood, near the fountain. He was really good, and repeatedly moon walked right out of the way of the approaching spurts of water with ease! Others were not so lucky! When we finished at the Seattle Center we made our way towards the Queen Anne district to get a good view of Seattle's Skyline. After that we trekked back to downtown Seattle caught the 21 bus to West Seattle and back to Roberto and Audrey's home.
We arrived at the same time as our cousins got home from school. We played cards with them until dinner was ready. Audrey had been given a huge tin of leftover pad thai and fried rice from work to take home to her family for supper. It was delicious and there was more than enough to go around! The next morning we were given more injera bread from Sophia, the same Somalian woman from the day before. After breakfast we found a Starbucks near there home. We spent the day blogging and reading since it had been forecasted to rain. It didn't rain, it was just cloudy all day but otherwise perfect Seattle weather as Roberto would say! We returned to their home and a dinner that had been provided for us by Sophia. It was an Eastern African version of spaghetti, and it was very delicious! The next morning Uncle Roberto, Chris, Lauren, and Lemuel headed to Whidbey Island to hike around. We could not got to Rainier as we originally planned because it was raining/snowing heavily on it. We didn't get home until dinner time. It was really good to spend time with Uncle Roberto and our youngest cousin but we were all extremely tired on the way home.
Sunday morning we rode the bus to church with their family, and after the service we went to Chinatown with them and did some shopping! Audrey bought a duck with its head still attached! We ate that for dinner along with more Somalian food! Sofia had made the family a huge platter of fried rice, seasoned chicken and lamb, and a bunch of roasted vegetables! At this point we were thoroughly overwhelmed with her kindness. She had 5 kids of her own and was also watching several of her nieces and nephews at the time we were in Seattle, and still she found time to cook meals for us and our Aunt and Uncle! The rest of the evening we spent playing with our cousins and talking with Audrey and Roberto. On Monday we had been planning to ride our bikes to the ferry and take that across the Sound to Vashon Island. Unfortunately, it rained hard that day so instead we went to a park when there was a break in the rain. We found an awesome miniature zip-line and spent an hour pushing each other and taking pictures on it! When we came home, Chris went with Roberto to pick up Lemuel from school and Lauren met up with Sahara, another Somalian woman Audrey works with, and they went shopping for Henna supplies. They went back to library with the supplies and Sahara started painting Lauren's hands. Sahara was incredibly fast and painted all the designs free-handed! This time and experience was such a blessing because this gave them a chance to talk. They talked about the struggles Sahara faced coming to America and all the troubles she had experienced trying to find work and start a new life here. Lauren was able to talk with her about their religious and cultural differences, and Sahara would not have been able to talk so freely with Lauren if Chris had been around. Lauren's decorated hands were beautiful and in order dry the henna she had to put her hands in the oven for quite a while.
After dinner that night we took pictures with their family. Once the kids went to bed Roberto, Audrey, Lauren, and Chris all prayed together for blessings on one another and that God would continue to provide the things we all needed and for the Somalian women who had shown us so much kindness. Roberto and Audrey wanted us to take a sum of money, which was no small amount to them, and a ton of rice and leftovers with us to help get us home. We were utterly blown away by their kindness and the ease with which they parted with their belongings and money! They blessed us immensely that night with there prayers and their gifts! After praying we said good-bye to Roberto since he would be getting up early for work. The next morning we went with Audrey to drop Lemuel off at school, and then to say good-bye and thank the Somalians for all their love. Chris waited for the bus with Lazarus and said good-bye to him. We both said good-bye to Audrey and thanked her for everything that she had done for us. The last to leave was little Dorcas, who would hardly talk with us the first night we arrived. She really connected with Lauren and wanted to hold her hand all the way to the bus! Lauren loves the sassy ones, and Dorcas was definitely very sassy, but a very sweet girl once you spend enough time with her! After all of the good-byes we got into the Jeep and headed back on the road again. Seattle was not only a fun and unique city, but it was a chance for us to experience other cultures and God's love in a new way. Many of the people we met had very little in a physical means, but they had an abundance of love, joy, and a desire to bless others with what they did have. With no question we were greeted with open arms. They were even willing to go outside of their cultural and religious bounds to make us feel comfortable. Typically, Audrey rides with Sahara and Sofia to work, but because we were with her that first morning she felt it would be easier to drive separately, but the women insisted that they drive all three of us. Audrey declined their offer, we didn't think twice about this situation, but Audrey informed us later that this was no small gesture! They do not allow other men, besides their family, into their homes or even shake hands with them, but they were willing to give Chris a ride in their car! We felt so loved by all of these women as well as Roberto and Audrey! We had a wonderful time there!
Love, love!!!
ReplyDelete