Preps

Our arrival at El Cristal on May 23 marked the beginning of my third preps season here in Ecuador.  In May of last year, I was on the prep crew at Las Mercedes.  Then in October, I missed out on preps entirely due to being at the two conventions in Colombia.  So, El Cristal was completely new to me on the preparation front.  There's a lot to do at that place!  There are two large homes on the property.  Sra. Ligia lives in one and runs a hostel on the property when conventions and Special Meetings are not on.  The other house is owned by a couple who actually lives in the States, so it is used for storage of convention things during the year.  In addition to these houses, there are several cabins that we use for sleeping during the meetings twice a year.  The grounds are beautiful, and the weather is typically quite pleasant year round.  Due to the frequent rain, the area is quite lush and green.  Due to the same, mold is also ever-present.  The brothers spent nearly the entire first week of preps power washing roofs and walls and sidewalks and driveways and... with a vengeance.  And believe me, we sisters welcomed the day when that noisy machine was turned off for good!  Anyway, I believe upon our arrival, a few amongst us were a bit (quite a bit) overwhelmed by everything there was for us to do with a quite small crew.  I, however, could not be dismayed.  "Don't worry.  It'll all get done. I have COMPANY COMING!!!!!"

First things first

The area where we are to sleep must be cleaned.  

During the meetings, the sister workers sleep in two cabins that are connected in the middle by a common area with a sink, countertop and small porch.

Cabin #1 downstairs

The view from cabin #1 upstairs

Cabin #1 upstairs

Looking across the common area into cabin #2

So, since I was responsible for cleaning cabin #1, it looks like I didn't really get any pictures of the other cabin, which is where I slept.  Never fear, I'm sure that my visitors will have more pictures later on!  

This is the "departamento" located on the side of the white house (casa blanca).  During the time of meetings, this area is also used for sister worker sleeping.  It is handily located right next door to the laundry.  Once my visitors arrived, during the second week of preps, I slept here with them.  

Company's coming!  We must get their space ready!!!  :-)

So here's the process from start to "nearly finished".

Panorama (left to right) taken from the front upstairs door of the casa blanca

Inside the casa blanca

Looks like there's a little work to do!

Power washing the meeting area

Now we're back to the sister workers' cabañas.  

The back porch view - chicken coop and chickens everywhere!

Follow the sidewalk to the right, and the meeting area is just down the stairs on your left.

Cabaña common area

Cabaña #1

Cabaña #2

The departamento is looking more ready for company!

Bedroom #1

Bedroom #2

Living area / Bedroom #3

And this bedroom in the casa blanca is also on its way to being ready!

And this is the point at which we had arrived at the end of week #1.

Lots more to do, but never fear... COMPANY'S COMING!!!!!