Meetings, Meetings, and More Meetings

Dietrich's photography skills of half of the San Pedro crowd on Friday night.
Luis, Yesi, and their grandmother.

Sergio and Jorge arm-wrestling.

Carol trying to lift Jaciel.

Church in San Pedro was small...but where 2 or 3 are gathered together, God promises to be there in the midst of them. We came home from church and then I gathered up my Bible, a songbook, and my journal and off I went to find some place to sit in the shade. The outside air was muggy and the spot I chose was not very accomodating. I switched positions several times and made myself endure the hard concrete because I had found a place where I could sit unmolested. The only man that spoke to me was someone who delighted in showing me that he had a English/Spanish parallel Bible with him, just like me! I meandered home to drop off my things and go prayer walking. I shortened my route thanks to the thick, tepid air. After the Choix service I climbed in the truck with the Mochiqui villagers. Loren did his little "Tricia es la jefa" (Tricia is the boss) speech again and it worked like a charm this time. We came back and played a bit of volleyball in our homemade court in the backyard. It was fun minus the fire ants that caused unnecessary pain. Ouch! I was reading on the front porch when Rojelio, his sister, and a friend came bounding up to the window. They played for quite awhile... Salvador showed up for a little too; just to pop in and out for some water.

I felt like all that I did on Monday was laundry. I started in the morning, but the water and electricity were, eh, struggling. I deserted my task for the finer things in life like my usual morning Phase 10 game with Vanessa and Lupita. I won for the first time! They enjoyed the Spanish instructions I had written out for them. When I got back, Kedric and I walked up to the hardware store for spray paint. And there I saw the hugest Mexican I have seen so far. He filled the entire doorway! Caleb was a darling and painted all of the crafts for me. We had some extra help with Lupita, David, and Aile around too. There was lots of action around the house until we left for San Pedro. After Kid's Club, I helped Yesi memorize her verses until she said all of Salmo 23 (Psalms 23). We came back and Kyle (as I affectionately call pollito, or little male chick) tackled me while I looked through a cookbook to decide what to make for Tuesday's lunch. Then all of the Yoder family left for a birthday party and I stayed behind to drink hot chocolate, read, and go to bed early.

Tuesday was a day that I'm glad does not happen every day. Yikes. Tuesday was Dia de la Bandera (Day of the Flag) and a parade started in the morning while we were eating breakfast. We went running outside and ended up racing all of the way down to the hospital to get ahead of the parade. The funny thing was that neither Kedric nor Kyle were wearing shoes...and Caleb was carrying his cereal bowl and shoveling cornflakes in as we walked past crowds of people. Janessa prepared to die of humiliation while I laughed uncontrollably. We made our own little parade! I got another box today from my dear friend Alissa with Cheerios and dark chocolate!!! Diego, the post office man, told me when I walked in the door: "I no speak English," when he actually speaks very good English. I asked him if there was a box for me and he said no....with a big stupid grin on his face. "Let's see; Treesa Kenal." When I got back from the post office, Loren told me that Julian, Fransisca, Gris, and Briancito were staying for lunch. I was trying a new recipe which was not working out well. After spilling grease on my clothes, having Janessa run for extra food, and talking to people who were asking me for money, it all turned out fine in the end. A drunk sat on our porch for a good part of the morning, upset with the world and talking to his imaginary friend beside him. He tried to tell us that he was not drunk and encouraged Loren to drink some of the "water" in his bottle. The poor little soul finally wandered off to find someone who might believe him. People were in and out all morning and by the time that dishes were done, I was ready for a break! After break, I finished the craft project and made the desserts for Wednesday lunch...when the gringos would be together again since the DNI board is visiting Mexico. Then we ate and planned on going to Caleb's game until we found out that his game had started at 5:00 instead of 7:00 and was already over. I called Alissa and talked to her as long as her cell phone service permitted (not very long). I changed the light bulb in our room as I was talking to her...It got a little tricky but at least I could stop bumping into things as I paced. I thought the day might end there, and it almost did. But someone came pounding on our door asking for a gringo to translate for another gringo who had collapsed and didn't know any Spanish. Loren and Caleb rushed off to the hospital and came back with phone numbers of the man's relatives. Donna tried calling and only got ahold of one man named Slick (nice name, huh?) who gave us conflicting information from the gringo himself. Loren ended up running to Los Mochis to stay with the man until his family could come. Whew! What a day!

All of Wednesday morning, I was incredibly draggy. I was tired and a little grumpy, if I must admit it publicly. My cold felt like it had invited a friend over. I baked lots and lots of cookies and even burned a few for people who stopped in. How nice I am! I took a plateful over to my old landlady's house and she received me with delight. The poor lady is very lonely since Stacey and I moved out. We talked for quite awhile. I struggled with my Spanish, but she was very forgiving and understood surprisingly well. I feel that God gave me so much grace in that hour as we communicated at a level we never really had before. Pepe whined at me across the fence, but the landlady shut him (her?) up with: "Si, tu conoces a ella, pero ella no te quiere" (Yes, you know her, but she doesn't want you). I barely got back in time to jump into the Rod's van and head out to the orphanage for lunch. We had delicious chicken casserole thanks to Rachel. I sat between Rosalina and Roxina to keep them from fighting. We didn't stay long, but it was short and sweet. The ride home was short too, but not so sweet. The van was suffocatingly warm. I called home and talked to my sister until my brother cut into our conversation. So I talked with my brother until my mom cut into our conversation. Yes, I have quite a rude family. After siesta time, I walked uptown to Marlen's house to take her some cookies. Once again, I felt God's grace with the language as I talked with Marlen, her grandmother, and her uncle for over an hour. The uncle only ate one cookie because cookies were so sweet. Yet, he was drinking a coke that he said was better in Mexico than the States because of the extra sugar in it. I had such a good time and left so late that I only had time to quickly change before Rod arrived and we headed for San Pedro. We picked up people in their villages and packed them in like sardines. Allen Roth had the message. After listening to him speak English for five weeks in NYC, it was funny to hear him open his mouth and rattle off an entire sermon in perfect Spanish. After the service, most of the little kids delighted in calling me Salchica. We drank coffee; Fransisca saved out a cup full of black coffee for me before she ruined it by dumping milk and tons of sugar in. We stayed and visited for awhile and then headed home, dropping people off in their respective villages.

On my day off, I woke up early, but I enjoyed laying in bed just thinking and relaxing. I showered, did laundry, and then went souvenir shopping (I'm almost done!). I walked up to the plaza and was impressed to see all sorts of little shops set up....maybe for the beginning of Lent (???). No one bothered me and I relaxed peacefully with my Jungle Doctor book and my journal. When I got back, I had a meeting with the DNI board. Janessa informed me that I should be nervous, but I wasn't really. After the meeting, I was very hungry and ate a bowl full of beans. Mexico is changing me. Loren picked up the people in Mochiqui and we left for the San Pedro service. I sat on a stool during the entire service which was highly uncomfortable. Allen Roth talked about the trinity, a very interesting topic... After the service, we had bread, coffee, and Mexican corn (on the cob with mayo, cheese, and lemon). We got home late and I crawled into bed dirty.

All of Friday morning, Janessa and I worked on craft projects for Sunday and made lunch as Loren and Donna met with the DNI board. We had tostadas for lunch with lots of delicious toppings. In the afternoon, all of the workers met with the board to discuss policy changes, etc. Brianne and I biked back into town. I showered and got ready for the evening. We picked up Mochiqui and Colexio people in Rod's van, resulting in twenty-five people in a fifteen-passenger van. More people came to Friday evening's service than the previous nights, PTL. Allen Roth talked about the family...a worthwhile topic of discussion in Mexico. I sat between Diego and Miguel who fought over holding my Bible and tried to steal my songbook. After coffee and animal crackers, Sergio and Jorge talked non-stop on the way home. The rest of us were tired and tried to ignore them, but it was impossible. I got home before the Yoders and was ready for bed when they arrived home.

We had cornflakes for breakfast and then got ready for the morning. The children for Saturday school were early as usual and we let them in to terrorize the backyard. I bought groceries for lunch and then worked on the pile of dishes until class started. After class, I made bean burritos and guacamole for lunch. Allen stayed for lunch and entertained us with Spanish culture stories. I was still being entertained when the phone rang and my mom was calling me. I talked to her while I did dishes and then walked up to the plaza to read. Silly me forgot my water bottle and had to walk back home after only an hour. The day isn't over yet, and I'm not sure what the rest of it will hold for me. Pero Dios sabe! (But God knows!)

Retreat, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, and Hotdogs

The men in the kitchen- Loren and Rod.
Playing ga-ga, a completely viscious game that includes scrapes and other injuries.

Miguel wasn't content to ride the bike the normal way.

Eating at the taqueria...lots of us!

Hiking up the mountain.

A beautiful view!

Suzanne, Maria, Regina, and Janessa at the top of the mountain.

Jeffrey and Chuyito...they wouldn't cooperate for the camera.

Fernando, Carol, and Kyle ready to race.

Caleb on the high jump during track and field.

Playing guitar.

The entire retreat group.

We had to push the truck Sunday morning. We thought our troubles were over when Loren bought a new battery two weeks ago...but alas. Kedric and I looked pathetic enough to recruit two other gentlemen to help us push it the entire block. Unfortunately, Janessa had the brainy idea to get the camera, capturing our humiliation forever in digital proof. In San Pedro, Rod preached a sermon about putting our faith into action as children howled and screamed behind the pulpit. We came back for lunch and a tiny bit of siesta time before the Choix service. I had a hard time keeping children straight during the service, and I braced myself for the ride to Mochiqui with both Jorge and Santos. Loren told them both that I was the "jefa" (boss) of the back and they had to listen to everything I told them. It worked a little. But boys will be boys. We came back home and planned for the retreat starting on Tuesday. Then Janessa and I walked up to the clocktower which was not climb-able. According to the guard at the bottom of the tower, he wanted protection aroung the three new clock faces before little Mexican deviants wrote their names all over them. I went to bed with a headache.

My headache was only worse by Monday morning. I then realized that I was getting a case of "gripa" (a cold). I went to buy groceries and had to avoid two dogs wandering around Don Josecito's little store. I had a hard time with speaking and understanding Spanish while I visited Vanessa's family; my mind was tired and my ears were closed, thanks to my cold. Overall, the visit went well. I left them feeding little Alejito some Hershey's chocolate. I helped with laundry and lunch. and made some phone calls after lunch. Then we headed to San Pedro. Fransisca tried to fill me with her radical philosophy that if I truly fell in love with a Mexican, the language barrier wouldn't matter at all. Aloud, I imagined a confession of love that went like this: "No puedo hablar contigo, pero te quiero mucho!" (I can't talk to you, but I love you so much!). We came home, scarfed down some food (that I am incapable of spelling and therefore will not). And then we trotted off to Caleb and Kedric's first basketball game at the stadium. I had a lot of fun watching the kids play a relaxed game of Mexican basketball.

Tuesday was the first day of retreat. All of the missionaries from Choix gathered at the orphanage for a three day retreat. For most of the morning, the ladies sat around and watched Rod cook lunch (the men were in charge of the food all week). He did a very good job with spaghetti, garlic bread, cucumber salad, and chocobananas. I played knockout with some of the kids and managed to get Miguel out... I was proud of myself since I haven't shot a basketball for muchas meses (many months). I watched the kids play games and then we all went out to the taqueria that evening. We had two long tables full of people (there's around forty of us altogether). When we got back, we sat around the campfire and then had cake and ice cream for Kedric's, Debbie's, and Fernando's birthday. I set up my cot in the playroom and crashed, totally exhausted.

Loren made potatoes, eggs, and toast for breakfast, but I was too tired to enjoy it to its potential enjoyment...Chuyito had been up several times during the night and I hadn't slept good because of my cold. After devotions, a large crew of us went hiking up a mountain. Rach, Fernando, Domingo, and I brought up the tail of a long line of energetic hikers. But we had better conversation, I'm sure. LOL. The lookout was gorgeous; we could see the orphanage, Mochiqui, and Choix. On the way back down, poor little Fernando was so weary that Rach carried him part of the way. Back at the orphanage, I helped Rosaline color a picture she had drawn and then we all went out to eat at Pollos Mayos. There were so many people packed into that tiny little restaurant that I got weary just looking around. But the food was delicious. Rachel had made flan for Sam's birthday and we devoured that when we returned. To fight my cold, I took a caffeine pill (no, I doubt it is scientifically proven that it works, but it did!). Bri and I took a little walk to escape the noise from the dozens of children underfoot. Those were a blissful 15 minutes. I helped Loren fry up onions, although I was breaking the rules and helping in the kitchen. We all roasted our own hotdogs, during which I got stuck with hotdog sticks several times from kids who remembered that one of my nicknames is salchicha (hotdog). We ended the evening, watching the first half of Mary Poppins in our little outdoor theater. The neighbors behind us were hooting, like they too were watching it.

Good luck with a good night of sleep. My cold was merciless. Lenn made oatmeal and then we set up track and field day for the kids. I was in charge of the high jump and had a lot of fun. I got my first real sunburn which wasn't even very bad thanks to the sunscreen I lathered on beforehand. Lenn made fish for lunch. Miguel passed his lunch hour by watching me through a pair of binoculars as I ate. I spent the afternoon sitting on the porch and reading. Others joined me to observe the men try the high jump. I think the record was Rod jumping over 17 stools stacked together which means nothing to anyone who does not live in Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico. LOL. We went to the taqueria again that night. Rach and I sat across from Scott, his friend Dean, and Ian. We had interesting conversation about issues we didn't agree on. But we weren't fighting; I promise. I showered and then joined the movie watchers with the end of Mary Poppins.

On Friday we ate breakfast, compliments of Rod, and then had a group photo. We packed up and then parted ways, realizing that we would all be together again for the special activities that afternoon. I made food for the special activities and then took a nap before we headed back out to the orphanage. A lot of kids had said all of their Saturday school verses, so we had many more children plus all of the gringos. I love kids a lot, but I was very weary by the time I served my 80th plus hotdog... We ate s'mores and piled back into Loren's truck to come home. The girls sang as we drove through Choix, a shining light to the little city. Marlen and Aile stayed overnight but they slept in the livingroom with Janessa...which meant that I got the room entirely to myself.

Saturday morning I woke up after many long hours of uninterrupted sleep; it was marvelous. We had Saturday school. I spent the majority of the morning inside, answering the door and ushering children in and out. Afterwards, I made lunch and did up dishes. I walked out the door and practically ran into Bri and Rach who were heading uptown. So I joined them in doing a little shopping. But first, they helped me make hotel reservations for my family. I'm getting more and more excited for March 9th to arrive. I can't wait to see seven people I haven't seen in six months (that's a LONG TIME!!!). When I got back, I helped Donna with crafts for this weekend's meetings. And then we had pizza...

Sweet Coffee, Kickball, and a Quinceanos

On Sunday... After the San Pedro morning service, Julian entertained us with comments about their gatita (female kitten)...or feita (little ugly thing) as he called it. Fransisca brought out some "coffee" that put straight sugar to shame. I, a black coffee drinker, was wincing but drank it out of sheer politeness (or necessity to keep warm from the chilly wind). Before we left, Fransisca broadly hinted that I could give her a backrub for un ratito (a tiny little bit). And so I set out for home with sore fingers. I talked to my sister (viejita, LOL) for most of the afternoon. FELIZ CUMPLEANOS, mi hermanita!!! After the Choix service, I hunted down Brianne. I didn't realize how much I would miss daily contact with girls my age until Stacey left. Together, we watched Chuyito try to walk and almost pop his shirt buttons with his fat little belly. I ate supper with Caleb for a change (I'm a fast eater and he's very slow, so sometimes I'm done eating before he starts), but only because Donna and I were making plans for next month when my family comes.

On Monday... We had waffles for breakfast. Yummy... Afterwards, I bought groceries and spent the entire morning at Vanessa's house, talking and playing games. Back at home, I helped to finish up lunch and then we ate with Rena, David, and Emanuel as guests. I took my time off to read and use the Internet. We left around 3:00 for San Pedro. Not many children were there for the Kid's Club, but we still played kickball afterwards. It was great fun and very humorous. Lots of the children would holler, "Tirala bien!" (Throw it good!) when they saw that their kick would be caught, therefore warranting another try at bat. One little boy delighted in calling everyone taller than him, "Gordo" (fat) although he happens to be a gordito himself. We headed out later than usual but got home in time for Loren's macaroni and bacon soup.

On Tuesday... I woke up with a headache. I took caffeine, and was ravishingly hungry long before lunch. I worked on the invitations for the special activities (for the children from Saturday school who said all of their verses) and made red rice and beans for lunch. The meal reminded us all of Stacey *sniffs*. I sat in the hammock and then walked uptown to go souvenir shopping. I wrote out the new verses for Saturday school and helped with a supper that I didn't eat until after I was finished talking with my grandparents. I finished the day off with reading and a cup of tea.

On Wednesday... I crawled out of bed excited about the day that lay ahead of me. I love those days when I experience such a joy for living the life God has called me to live. I made my favorite peanut butter-chocolate chip cookies. I only burned one tray which everyone delightfully consumed. Good thing that Lenn and Ian were around... Ian came back with a video clip of two men playing guitar, ranchero style. In the clip, I saw a bodiless hand reaching for a cookie. That made me feel good. I helped Donna with our delicious fish lunch and then walked up to the plaza, hoping to meet up with Bri who was having her day off. No luck. Back at home, I mixed up cut-out cookies and set out a sandwich supper. Then came prayer meeting. Instead of letting my mind wander with all of the Spanish circling around me, I started praying that I would have an opportunity to talk with Salvador again. God answered my prayer right away; Miguel came in after prayer meeting and told me that his big brother was there. I didn't talk to him long, but I kept marvelling over my rapidly answered prayer. Afterwards, Donna and I looked through a Spanish hymnbook and tried to figure out what songs they were in English. I pounded out a few on Janessa's keyboard (juta, I'm out of practice!).

On Thursday... I woke up early on my day off, but didn't crawl out of bed until 8:00. I got ready for the day and did my laundry. By ten o'clock, I had hung out my laundry, cleaned my room, and made a few calls. So I ate a can of tuna (hee hee) and drank some hot chocolate and then meandered up to the plaza where my relaxing afternoon ended up as not so relaxing as I had hoped. On my way home, someone stopped me and talked to me in perfect English. It was almost unnerving to think of all the things he's probably overhead us gringos say in the past. He claimed he will come to church on Sunday...which is doubtful since Mexicans are forever making rash promises. I took an afternoon walk and came back to dictate Kedric's spelling words to him. I made up a sentence with each word that had to do with my darling family coming in March. After bean burritos, I showered and crawled into bed and *blushes* was asleep shortly after nine o'clock.

On Friday... We had pancakes for breakfast and then I rushed off to El Fuerte with Rod, Christa, and family. They went to see a doctor and I tagged along to read books to the children in the waiting room. First, we stopped at the largest grocery store that I've been to since I've been here. It was maybe bigger than the food section at Super Wal-Mart!!! The children were very good and my job was very easy. My throat was dry from reading, but that's the only problem I had all morning. I got home in time to grade Caleb's quizzes before lunch (I'm feeling more and more like a teacher). I called home and iced one-hundred cut-out heart cookies for Saturday school. I had fun. Donna and I went to Mochiqui and I helped Tita with her sounds and reading (I told you I'm becoming a teacher). I played catch with a bunch of the little girls. Afterwards, we walked to the orphanage where we celebrated Suzanne's 15th birthday. Note: In Hispanic countries, the 15th birthday for a girl--or a quinceanos-- is a celebration of a girl becoming a woman. Some people have spent as much on a 15th birthday party as a wedding! We ate tostadas and celebrated, but not to that extreme. Some of the guys played guitar and I got to hear "My Savior, My God" for the first time since I've been here. It makes me miss you, Bradley!

Leobardo with his dessert.
Diego, hiding from the camera as usual.

Domingo, after a round of tostadas. Notice the salsa on the tip of his nose.

Christa, Dylan, and Rod eating their tostadas.

And then the birthday girl herself...Happy Birthday, Suzanne!

On Saturday... El Dia de Amor y Amistad or Valentine's Day. We passed out the cut-out cookies for Saturday school and the kids loved them. I made lunch, cleaned up, and then headed to the plaza to read. The afternoon was beautiful, but as the sun moved, I lost my shade and tried hunting down a new bench. Unfortunately, all of the shadey spots were occupied, so I tromped on home. I wrote out a song on posterboard and went prayer walking. Right now, we're getting ready to go out to eat somewhere... Yum...

Good-byes, Wal-Mart, and Jackrabbit

SUNDAY: I woke up to a chorus of roosters cock-a-doodle-doing and little boys yelling in the hallway. I had to think for a long time before I realized that I had indeed awaken in the correct place...my new home with Loren and Donna and family. We ate breakfast with a large selection of cereal: Soriana cornflakes, Kellogg's cornflakes, Nestle cornflakes, Maizoro cornflakes or raisin bran. Afterwards, I bounced along on a stool all of the way to San Pedro where the bugs swarmed (fortunately, I was armed). After the service, we had a very long, bouncy, ride home, depositing people in their respective villages as we went. In the afternoon, I hung pictures on my new wall and enjoyed being purely lazy. After the Choix service, Stacey and I went along with the truck out to Mochiqui with a very bad Jorge and an extremely bad Santos. Stacey and I ate lots of popcorn for supper and then went out for a walk.

MONDAY: Monday was Stacey's last full day in Mexico. I cut up and cooked another pumpkin (the over-abundance of pumpkins reminds me of the Biblical account of the oil jar that never ran dry). I ran to the tienda (store) to buy groceries for Vanessa's family. Then Stacey and I set out for another game of Phase 10 with Lupita and Vanessa. We got back in time to do some baking before lunch...while Rena mopped the floor around us. I went to the bank and enjoyed seeing my checking account in pesos (it looks like a lot more money). We made the dessert for the girls' party on Friday night and played more Phase 10 with Marlen. That evening, after we walked Marlen home, we hopped into the truck with Donna to go to "verb class", which unknown to Stacey, was a surprise goodbye party for her. When Donna opened the bodega (shed) door, we heard a giant "SURPRISE!!!" and proceeded to eat cake, ice cream, and peanuts.

TUESDAY: After our alarm went off way too early in the morning, Stacey finished packing while we looked on soberly. We set out to Los Mochis, squishing eight people in Loren's little truck...but had to jump back out to push the truck until it started. Finally, we all piled in again and took off. Fortunately, it was chilly enough that the tight spaces didn't matter much. First we took Stacey to the airport and waited with her until her flight was called. We drove out along the runway and watched her take off, en route from warm, balmy Mexico to freezing cold Virginia. We dropped Donna and the boys off at a park and went to Telmex to cancel Stacey's and my Internet. We went back to the park and when Janessa and I walked in to find the others, we promptly stepped in mud. That made six muddy pairs of shoes trying to clean up on the grass around the light poles before traipsing into the huge Americanized mall. I experienced a bit a culture-shock at the size and cleanliness of the stores and the people who looked and dressed more American than Mexican. I had a spicy chicken sandwich and fries from Burger King in the mall food court. And I went to Wal-Mart for the first time since August. I love America, but I must admit that I was relieved when I saw the "Bienvenidos a Choix" arch and found out we were having bean burritos for dinner. I went to bed early and drifted off into oblivion until the morning.

WEDNESDAY: We had oatmeal for breakfast. It's strange to eat with a family and strange to eat something warm for breakfast. I mixed up chocolate-chip cookies for the men to take to the prison. Donna was pre-occupied so I entertained myself by cleaning some kitchen shelves. We had delicious chicken, potato salad, and biscuits for lunch. After my time off, Janessa, Marlen, and I walked around town to pass out the invitations to the girls' party on Friday night (yes, Mexicans do things last minute...otherwise they forget). Marlen was the perfect person to have along. She stood boldly at the front gate and bellowed, "FatimA! MiroslavA! LupitA!" while Janessa and I cowered behind her. We came back for a quick supper and prayer meeting.

THURSDAY: On my first day off in my new home, I got up late and did my laundry and read my book in the hammock. It was wonderful. Rach brought me a tiny piece of leftover jackrabbit. Sam, from the orphanage shot it with his BB gun and someone from Mochiqui cleaned and skinned it. Rach and Bri cooked it in the crock pot and I expressed my desire to try it. So there it was in front of me, hidden in the quesadillas I had made for my brunch. Was it good? I think so, despite my mental block that I was actually eating a jackrabbit. After eating, I meandered up to the plaza to read some more and then came home to read again. Uncle Tom's Cabin is a very good book, btw...even if it is 617 pages long. I worked on things for the girl party and helped with dinner. Loren and Donna left for the evening so Janessa, Caleb, Kedric, Kyle, and I stayed home and watched Barney Fife make blunder after blunder.

FRIDAY: The entire morning was spent preparing for the girls' party. Janessa (who was supposed to be kept in the dark about the party) had a million questions with a million elusive answers. I felt like I was working too hard to keep secrets from girls that popped in and out all day, curiously surveying their surroundings. Donna told me to take time off, but I felt too guilty laying in the hammock while others slaved away around me. Therefore, I helped Rach and Bri by offering suggestions with decorating while eating their leftover Jell-O. LOL. I was working on the party favors when our first guest arrived a few hours early. She helped me prepare the favors until more guests arrived. Close to thirty guests came in all. Debbie and Donna gave talks and the girls played games. Rach, Bri, and I prepared their food plates and then mingled and socialized after the games. I went with Loren to take the girls home and found myself victim of much ado and rib-breaking affection. When I got home, I showered and crashed.

SATURDAY: As always on Saturday, we had Saturday school. Aile had spent the night so she helped us set up for class. We ate another cornflake breakfast before the children herded in. There wasn't as many children as usual, but we still had a good class. After the last of them had been sent home, I asked Aile to help me prepare lunch...we were eating nopal (cactus). She ended up basically making the entire meal while I heated up leftover beans. After cleaning up from lunch, I walked to the plaza to read my book. When I returned, Donna, Janessa, and Aile were hanging a shade from the outside wall to the trees over the hammock. Ah, I've gotta love living here. Today isn't over yet, but I'll try to keep it low-key so you all don't miss anything exciting in my life. LOL.

Cots, Buses, and Zorro

At the "Zorro" hotel with beautiful little jungles.
This beautiful tree was dropping its flowers on the thatched roof.
Yes, that's actually a tree growing through the tile floor of one of the courtyards.

One section of rooms.

"Prayer time" for Bri and Stacey in the Catholic church we visited.

Group photo!

The re-built fort of El Fuerte. We didn't go inside because it cost money.

Standing with the statue of the masked Zorro who was born in this hotel.

Another pathway leading to another beautiful courtyard.

Eating a coffee plant. (???)

Brianne.

The outside of the government building we toured.

Standing in front of the mural in the government building.

At the plaza.

The outside of the church we visited. (Sorry these are so mixed up!)

Getting Mexican hot dogs in the evening. Yummy!

This week contains more pictures than words. I know that's what everyone likes anyway. *grins*

SUNDAY: San Pedro service and the afternoon off to enjoy reading. Choix service and rode in the truck to Mochiqui. Took a walk and met up with Salvador who wanted to walk with us and show us all of the videos on his phone. Hot chocolate in the evening.

MONDAY: A total of four months in Mexico. Stacey sick. A long Phase 10 game with Lupita and Vanessa. San Pedro Kid's Club. Helped Fransisca wash dishes afterwards. Verb class.

TUESDAY: Made the invitations for the girl party next Friday night. Passed out tracts in Aguajito and Colexio, two little villages. The orphanage boys picked on me, but I got no sympathy from Johan. A family from town came for a spaghetti dinner. Mario, the father, spoke very good English.

WEDNESDAY: Worked again on the invitations. Walked uptown to buy more ribbon and tripped as I stepped out of the store....along a very busy street. Talk about conspicuous! Wrote out verses. Leftovers for dinner and then prayer meeting. Stacey and I carried two heavy cots several blocks and fought our uncontrollable laughter at how stupid we looked. We made a spectacle...even though we tried to subtly sneak along the back streets. "Apudate! Apudate!" (Hurry! Hurry!)

THURSDAY: Girls' day out. Took the bus to El Fuerte. Jabbered all of the way while the Mexicans onboard remained warily silent. Walked around the plaza and toured two awesome hotels. One hotel took up an entire block and contains part of the mansion that Zorro was born in. It was incredibly beautiful! Pizza for lunch and choco flan for dessert at a cute little cafe. Then came souvenir shopping and a sickening bus ride home. Naptime and then hotdogs from a street vendor. Fun with just the girls.

FRIDAY: Packed, packed, packed. Souvenir shopped uptown with Stacey. Toilent paper in my load of laundry. *sighs* Went to Mochiqui without Donna to study with the girls and play games with them. SLEEPY!

SATURDAY: Saturday school. Made lunch, packed, moved, and cleaned our empty house. Said goodbye to the landlady and the card-playing boys outside our street. Unpacked and helped with dinner--pizza!!! Walked Marlen home in the dark. So tired!!!