Notes from Cottonwood

We found the Catholic church. St. Tomas is in town, built in 1996 with American money, and it looks like a church back home: pews, a spire, statues. The surprise: half the people in the pews are Iradis, and they sing in three languages. The homily was in English and Iradi both and Father Daniel apologised that he'd mixed them up. Nobody minded.

After Mass an old lady took Lily's face in both hands and said something to her for a full minute. I asked what, and a man next to me said: "She says your daughter has a good forehead." I think that's a compliment.

St. Tomas after Mass.