Ven. Dhammananda, 4 bhikkunis, a volunteer, and I left at 8:30 am to go to her youngest son's house and prepare it for the baby on the way. A bhikkuni and I sat in the truck, which is common here (along with no seat belts), but my tummy had the "ut oh" feeling the whole time.
View from the trunk
His wife is 7 months pregnant, so the 5 bhikkunis prepared the house by doing a chanting ritual. I did not know where to sit when we entered the house because I did not want to block the view of the bhikkunis or sit somewhere where I was not allowed. I learned that I must sit lower than the wife.
Blessing the family
Afterwards, we went to her middle son's art gallery and Ven. Dhammananda blessed it by drawing with some sort of cream on the door. There was a painting and ukelele that I would like buy, but I do not know if I will ever find the place again. Ven. Dhammananda bought me a small notebook as a memory of the place. I did not know how to thank her for the gift and the invitation to come meet her family and watch the ceremony.
Blessing the art gallery door
Sign of the art gallery
We returned in time for lunch and her family brought us pizza from nearby. It made me smile since I just had some yesterday, but this was the kind that everyone puts ketchup on here...so I do not consider it true pizza. It tastes good without the ketchup though. They saved me some spaghetti with cheese sauce and mushrooms, which I appreciated and enjoyed for dinner. Having food that I eat in America for dinner really helps my homesickness.
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