It is God's Will, sort of

Today Ona ate La Bibla, a Jehovah's Witness brochure I thought might help my Spanish. Not meant to be, and if anyone could use some religion, some real discipline(that's what the man told me Sunday, standing at my gate, trying to convince me of The Way)it is Ona. And maybe the chickens, hell, they will eat anything and need to get a more consistent approach to egg production. One egg one day, seven the next. But chickens and religion might be a stretch, even for the seemingly desperate(or maybe they were just hot and thirsty?) JWs. I thought about offering them water, and then was reminded of a child dying in the hospital because the parents would not permit a blood transfusion. Its all about discipline, sacrifice, and if it doesn't work out, there is always the here-after. I am surprised that Dominicans believe in this path. For a culture that lives for the moment, for the now, the day, why would you gamble on being paid back for your sacrifice when you are dead? It seems in-congruent, but the charisma must cross the cultural barrier. And what about birthdays? It is a Dominican practice to approach any and everyone you know on that special day for a gift, usually a beer. "it's my special" is yelled at Gringos. Prepare to purchase a beer, or have a donation ready. I am at a loss....and there seem to be a fair amount of JW Temples, big cement coliseums...packed with Dominicans? I guess if they are willing to walk up the hill to my house, there must be something to it. On Sundays, I usually attend a men's softball game in the next town, where I am affectionately known as the enfermera de Los Normans, team nurse. No one goes to church , that's for sure. And there has only been one team prayer at the beginning of a tournament, just for show I am sure. Otherwise, its play ball as usual, lots of beer during and afterwards, and only the occasional " A Dios", usually when someone sneezes.