Last Thursday we went to the beach, to Luquillo
 on the northeast corner of the island. We have hardly
 ever seen a more beautiful, typical tropical beach
 with a palm grove fringing the circular shore.
 Friday we went to Ponce (named after Ponce de
 Leon, the famous explorer). The drive through the
 Puerto Rican countryside is always beautiful, es-
 pecially now since the rains have made everything
 green. The occasion was the fifth anniversary of the
 Ponce church. They had a big crowd with people
 from almost every denomination visiting. After a
 lot of speeches, etc., I finally got to preaching about
 nine o'clock. I didn't preach long, needless to say.
 In some ways things have not been going so well in
 Haiti since we left. From the letters, I think E-
 is a little discouraged by our absence. But our trip
 here has given us a new perspective and I'm sure
 we are profiting by it in many ways which will also
 aid our work in Haiti. Sometimes it is good to get
 away from problems so that you can get a look at
 the total picture-and that's what this trip has done.
 We will probably never know just why the Lord
 planned things this way, but we are beginning to
 understand a little. I think we will be able to return
 to our work with renewed vigor and insight and
 confidence in the Lord.

May 18-No word yet.

May 21-We still have no official word about our visa.
 I'm over the dysentery, was only down a couple of
 days really.
 The lesson on music reading went very well on
 Saturday-at last, I think they are learning some-
 thing. Poor people have to put up with my horrible
 Spanish, and learning to read music isn't easy either.
 We are anxious to get back to Haiti. Thursday is