At 4 o’clock I finally called. The garage of course. The small, secondhand tasks that I did all day, from adding black eyed peas to the stew to the laundry to organizing a workspace to whatever, did not keep my mind from reoccurring thoughts.

What on earth is the garage going to say?

When will I get the bus back?

Let me see, what is an inclusive list of what could need work?

So yeah I called, and spoke with Diana. She let me know everything is going smoothly and the bus will be ready Monday. Soothing words.

Sarah and I looked over the bus layout while we were on the phone today. She also thinks we shouldn’t have a problem busting it out in the remaining time. And then in all likelihood we will have time to put in an electrical system.

Frank poured a sweat last night in an inipi built from local trees by him, our hosts and a different Sarah.

A common theme in Frank’s words is intention. When we do something, he says, you must know why you are doing it and be present and focused on this purpose. This sweat was to get all of us together, on the proverbial same page,

We each had responsibilities in the ceremony. As I wrote, the host family, along with Frank and Sarah,erected the inipi. Tobacco was ritualistically wrapped in specifically colored canvases in order. (Tobacco is apparently the one thing not available on the spirit world, making it an appreciated offering.) Frank also made altar, upon which the wrapped tobacco was tied. Before we walked to the inipi, Mme Awesome verbalized the Tour’s purpose and read the poem which details the prophecy. Sarah prepared the wood for the fire containing the rock people and lit it. Zeke carried the not playing around molten red hot rocks into the inipi’s center and served as the doorman.

As part of the sweat, after songs and prayers, we all said our intentions out loud. Frank explained that the sacrifice of being in the sweat is noticed and help is returned from the spirits to us and our families.

It sparked a recollection of everyone I can remember. I had trouble remembering some people’s names! Whew I was finally able to after some searching. It was a sweet moment and I wished all well.