Heading to the orphanage today, we stopped by Hollandesa, a chain bakery they have here in Antigua. I have avoided them, because the cakes in their window look absolutely sinful. Today I was stopping because I’ve been invited to a baby shower for Anna, one of the nurses at Hermano Pedro and said I would bring the cake.
Anita had seen a darling cake in the window, and thought it would be perfect, so we all stopped on our way to Hermano Pedro. I was right—the cakes there are irresistible, and unfortunately they sell single serving pieces. . .I managed to resist, however, by buying a snack for Rachel and Gracie, on the condition that they let me have a bite of each of theirs (can’t quit sugar cold turkey, you know!) Grace obviously liked hers!
Katie, Katheryn and I made good on my promise to take Henry to Camperos, and I think he enjoyed being the one and only kid along. I had forgotten how much fun it is to only concentrate on one child and really have time to dote on them. And dote we did, especially Katie. We even stopped next door at Marco Polo’s for ice cream!
I returned to Hermano Pedro after the kids had been fed dinner (a real privilege for a volunteer to come back after 5 pm) after picking up the cake. I was glad Mari had offered to drive me, because I couldn’t believe how heavy the cake was—I’m not sure I could have carried it all the way walking! I was not disappointed in it at all.
Though I’m not a big fan of showers, I had been honored to be invited, and enjoyed getting to spend some social time with the nurses I work with. They are a great bunch of ladies, and I enjoy getting to know them on a more personal level.
The shower was held right in the smaller children’s ward, and the cribs had been decorated.
The shower was surprisingly similar to those we have in the US—except the focus seemed not to be on games as it is back home, but on FOOD, and lots of it. We even had 2 cakes, and were given generous portions of both. (Glad now I didn’t succumb to a treat at Holandesa this morning!).
A custom I really enjoyed was that each woman who attended the shower was asked to make a wish or pray a blessing over the baby.
Each day I feel more and more welcome and accepted by the nurses, and being included in this celebration was a confirmation of their growing friendship with me. I am grateful.
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