Burros, Benches, and Bikes

SUNDAY: Just before the San Pedro service began, a pollito (chick) pooped behind the pulpit. The kids giggled about it through the opening "Esta Aqui" ("He is Here") song. When Julian stood up for his devotional, he first walked over and grabbed the mop. He made excuses for his deviant bird and then mopped up the poop. Presto! And everything was smooth sailing after that. Sometimes I just love the incidents that happen here that would never happen in the States. Loren had three friends visiting from North Carolina to do some work for the church...so we had company for lunch (and most of the week, actually). In between services, I worked on some writing and e-mails. I sat with Rosalina and Tita and they were surprisingly well-behaved. We went out to Mochiqui. Loren's friends came along and caused quite a spectacle since two of them have curly head of hair, red and blond. When we got back, I helped Donna make dinner. Afterwards, we all walked uptown to the plaza. A concert was just starting and the place was packed. I have never seen so many people in that place in my life. When we got home, I retreated to the solitude of my room.

MONDAY: Loren's friends, Duane, Ryan, and Linden started working on making church benches for San Pedro. I wandered off to Don Josecito's to buy groceries and then headed up to Vanessa's house. We talked, played Phase 10, and then I read some children's books to Gabi. I eventually excused myself to help Donna with lunch. We had brownies and ice cream for dessert. I had to include that; it was very important. San Pedro Kid's Club was small again, but fun nonetheless. After class, I was talking with Fransisca and Dona Artelmia. In the conversation about different types of delicious food, Dona Artelmia mentioned burros (donkeys). I got a horrified look on my face and they started to laugh at me. Of course they had meant the food burrito and not the animal burro. They laughed at me for a long time. When we returned to Choix, we all invaded the backyard to test out the benches the guys had constructed...very comfortable! Donna and I made chili-chicken salad for dinner and then everyone disappeared to Loren's basketball game and I had the entire house to myself.

TUESDAY: Rachel was gone in Los Mochis and Lenn was gone somewhere between the border and Choix. So I went out to the orphanage for the day. Loren kindly drove me out. My morning consisted of making lunch (and frying fish for the first time in my life) and overseeing that everyone else got their work done. I got to watch Scott make cookies with Teo for Teo to sell out on the road. I made signs that said... "Se vende galletas. No dinero gratis, por favor" (Selling cookies. No handouts please). Teo had the time of his life sitting in the middle of the road with his little table. The other children lined up along the fence to watch who the first victims would be, intermittently rushing inside to keep us updated. Rachel eventually arrived with her parents and her sister and we ate lunch. After lunch, I helped with clean-up and laundry. When I couldn't get ahold of Loren to pick me back up, I decided to bike into town. That's very gracious of me, considering how much I hate to bike. Fortunately, the ride is mostly downhill. Unfortunately, I always forget which spots of the road to avoid. I think I hit every pothole along the way, causing me to fly off of my bike. Also unfortunate, was the fact that rows of people always seemed to be watching. Maybe someone heard I was coming into town and sold tickets. I'm sure he made a smashing, whoever he is! I came back and crashed during my time off. I was home for the rest of the day. I made molasses crinkles which all turned out either burnt or underdone. Alain visited the window and asked for the bicycle pump and the the needle to fill his soccer ball with air. I handed him the pump and told him I didn't know where the needle was. He told me it was the in the jar under the calendar and he was right. It's a little unnerving when children know more about the house than I do. I helped to make tostadas for dinner and we ate and had Ryan's leftover birthday cake for dessert.

WEDNESDAY: Wednesday's are my new day off...So I spent the entire morning drinking tea and reading my book at the plaza. It was fun. I came back and ate tamales and frijoles puercos for lunch with the others. And then I called home and talked with some of my family. The water had some unresolved issues all day, so I didn't get my laundry done. Prayer meeting that evening was small thanks to illnesses circling around the orphanage. Loren ran everyone out to the orphanage and Mochiqui while the rest of us waited on the front porch for his return. When he did return, we headed up for the taqueria. We had fun...especially when Duane mistakenly ordered a meatless meal.

THURSDAY: I was waiting for Lenn to pick me up when Debbie called to say that they didn't need me at the orphanage until 4:00 that afternoon. That was fine; I helped Donna with the things we were assuming we would have to put on hold. I even got my laundry done. Reina and David came and [very fortunately] traded a hen for the stupid gallo (rooster) who had delighted in waking me up every morning. After my time off, Lenn came and picked me up on the moto. I took one glance down at my long skirt and decided to ride side-saddle. When we got to the orphanage, I helped Roxina with her math. It was just very simple subtraction, but she was having trouble concentrating. I helped her count with colored pencils and her fingers (I know that's not good, but I'd rather have her visualize the problem in order to understand it than never understand it at all!). Afterwards, I helped with dinner prep...basically heating up leftovers. During prayer, Chuyito threw up banana on Suzanne and Roxina and Jeffrey pooped his diaper and his pants. So while the other women scattered, I was in charge of portion control and raised hands for half of the table. Not good for a first-timer. After dinner I helped clean up and played with the children. Lenn brought me back home on the moto, but first I slammed my finger in the gate; it throbbed for most of the evening and turned blue and purple...very cool. I went to bed, satisfied that the schedule at the orphanage was looking less and less intimidating.

FRIDAY: I started out on bike for the orphanage in the morning. I started early so I could walk my bike out. (It's like this: walking out alone is not a good idea. Biking is fine. Walking a bike is a compromise because if necessary, you can still hop on the bike and speed away.) So I looked like a dork walking a bike through town, but the other option (riding it) was less favorable than looking like a dork. As I walked by a mechanic shop, a worker was out by the road, scouting prospective customers. "Sierve?" (Does it work?) he called to me while I tried to avoid eye-contact. "Heh heh. Si, sierve pero a mi, no me gusta andar!" (Yes, it works, but I don't like to ride!) I hollered back sheepishly. He just grinned at my answer. Once safely tucked away at the orphanage, I helped with lunch. The electricity was off. I helped Roxina study her math and then she took a test. I was incredibly encouraged and proud of her when she only got one problem wrong! I enjoyed making lunch, but the girls were fighting and had some bad attitudes and not everything got done in time. After lunch I had to stay and help with clean-up. Diego was very slooooowwwww with mopping the floor, but I was enjoying the fact that he was talking with me instead of ignoring me like usual. Finally I was ready to head back into town for my time off. Miguel sweetly walked my bike out to the road for me. I rode most of the way back into town...and rode smugly right past the mechanic shop. I almost got attacked by an angry dog who was foaming at the mouth (I'm pretty sure). I pedaled furiously and was very grateful for my bike! After my time off, Donna and I went to Mochiqui to study with Alma, Carla, Tita, and Delia. We played volleyball and catch by the volleyball courts until Carla and Tita started fighting. By the time that Donna and I got to the orphanage, everyone was already eating. Rachel's family had made the food for Rach's birthday...grilled chicken, potato salad, and Amish noodles, with cake and ice cream for dessert. The evening was chilly and we huddled inside and drank coffee and tea...until Rod, Jesse, and Diego began playing guitar on the front porch and we migrated there.

SATURDAY: I got up late...but got ready in time to do up some of the dishes while Ricardo watched my every move through the kitchen window. "What are you doing?" "Are those cookies over there?" "Did your family leave?" "How soon until I can come in?" "Forty-five minutes!?!!?" Then the class started and I sat beside Domingo, who is rapidly climbing my "favorites" list. Come to think of it, I think all of the kids are climbing that list; now that I'm getting to know them better, I love them even more! He shaded the sun from my eyes with his paper for the last part of class--so cute! Four-square was forgotten in light of the tops everyone was playing with. Some of the kids are amazing with the way that they can throw the tops into the dirt and pick them up with the string and then hold them, still spinning in their hands! Eventually, we all piled into the very hot van and headed for the orphanage. I worked on lunch...not everything went according to plan. Life at the orphanage is very different than in town. In town, no one wipes beans on my shirt or makes me clean up after accidents in the bathroom or clean poop off of baby clothes. The ministry is very different, but I enjoy both worlds. The afternoon was relaxing, most of the kids sat around and read books. Rosalina amused herself by carving holes in her pencil box and sticking wheels into it. Please don't ask why she wants a rolling pencil box, just be grateful that we have creative children living at the orphanage. Just as I was ready to go for my time off, someone noticed a fire in the field next to the soccer field. We thought it was the guys clearing the land for this year's crops, but it was just a fire that had blown away from some trash. Suddenly the flames were huge and all of the boys were out, beating at it furiously and raking the ground so it wouldn't get to the trees, the house, or the chickens. We closed up the windows in the house to keep out the billowing smoke and prayed that God would keep us safe. Finally the fire died down and was under control once again. PTL. I took my time off and came back in time for dinner. Afterwards, the adults enjoyed cake and pie while the jealous children hovered over our shoulders trying their best to make us feel guilty. It didn't work; it only succeeded in making the dessert more delicious. Loren picked me up. We didn't have electricity in town until I had mentally prepared myself for a freezing cold shower. The lights came on a little after Loren's three friends, Duane, Ryan, and Linden returned home from there trip to the Copper Canyon.

Goodbyes, Buses, and New Schedule

SUNDAY: After I got up, I crawled back into bed because I was too cold to go out onto the balcony. We all got ready for church and then piled into Rod's van and Loren's truck for an extra snug ride because of the extra people coming along. The service was good; Julian made sure that my family felt welcome. Rod preached a sermon on happiness vs. joy. I introduced Yesi to my entire family and she charmed all of them with her 7-year-old, toothless grin. We had lunch at Julian and Fransisca's. When we got back, we hung out together until the Choix service. Since it was Brianne's last Sunday and Garrison's birthday, we sang their favorite songs...very loudly. After the service, Salvador stopped by and I got to introduce him to my brothers. Miguel excitedly explained to Salvador how BIG my brothers were. Mom presented Rumaldo and MariCruz with a gift for helping us make tortillas. Part of the gift was a 2-liter coke which Rumaldo proudly carried around with him. We went to Mochiqui to drop off the children and then went to the hotel to look at pictures and eat quesadillas.
~~~
MONDAY: The Yoders were gone all day on Monday, so we had free reign of their house...which we were too busy to take much advantage of. We walked up to the bank to try to pay our visas, but the bank was closed (someone said it was a holiday, but I just think that Mexicans make up excuses to have parties). Then we bought groceries and took them over to Vanessa's. Vanessa's family got to meet my family and seemed impressed (as much as everyone else we meet) at their size. We meandered uptown again for family pictures. A drunk guy walked through our posing and tried to sell us ice cream; but we weren't charmed into buying any. We finished souvenir shopping and stopped at Andre's to eat sopes. They were delicious... Mom and Dad went to Loren and Donna's to sew and nap (respectively) while we kids walked up to the "Bienvenidos a Choix" arch. The sun was blazing hot and I was sure that we'd all come back with golden tans, or fiery sunburns (we didn't though). We took pictures standing directly below the arch and almost got hit by passing cars. We got back to the Yoder's just in time to hop in the van with Rod and Christa to go to San Pedro (actually, only Bev, Wendell, Bradley, and I went along). We had a nice class with very attentive children. After class, I walked up to talk with Narely (sp?) who was sitting on the front porch. I ended up the afternoon still talking to her and her husband, Jesus. By the time we returned, it was time for dinner. My brothers and I bought groceries and then we all helped to make cebiche and fried plantain. Dad decided he would rather starve than eat cucumbers. Loren and Donna got back as we were ready to leave.
~~~
TUESDAY: Janelle and I spent most of the day at the bank. Well, sort of. Our day revolved around our time at the bank, but we skipped out on a few hours of actually being there. We got our number...#117 when the bank was currently serving #32. We walked around town and got K-Freezes while we waited. When we walked back to the bank a half of an hour later, the number was 36. We decided to go back to the Yoder's. We helped with a few things, and then ran back up. The man told us it would be at least another hour yet. We went up over lunchtime and waited for awhile for our turn. The whole ordeal ended differently than we expected...but it's not worth explaining. We did a little more shopping as a family and when we returned, I stopped by the hotel desk to ask the owner where we should leave the keys on Wednesday morning. He, his wife, and his son started talking with me. Eventually Bev joined me and we continued to talk until the rest of the family was ready to head to the taqueria for dinner. We enjoyed the food again. Bradley passed the time by blowing across the tops of the glass bottles. Everyone in the restaurant was staring at us.
~~~
WEDNESDAY: We set out at five o'clock for Los Mochis. The trip was sad because we were all very tired, but I knew that it would be the last time that I would see my family for at least six months. We dropped them off at the airport and I said my goodbyes, as quickly and as painlessly as possible. Scott and I waited at the bus station until our late bus came to pick us up. Then we spent the next twelve hours on the bus to Nogales, Sonora, Mexico (a border town). Scott and I did our very best not too fight... Once we got to Nogales, we ate hamburgers at Burger King and then took a taxi to the border where we renewed our visas. We crossed over into the States for about five minutes until we discovered that no shuttles ran that late at night. So we walked back into Mexico where no one even checked anything. We walked all of the way back to the bus station. It took FOREVER! and it was so cold. We decided to take another busline home...and sat around and waited for the twelve o'clock bus which turned out to be late. I was so tired and kept falling asleep as we waited.
~~~
THURSDAY: We started out on our bus back to Los Mochis and I think I was asleep before we even left the station. I remember waking up various times and feeling extremely numb and uncomfortable. But somehow the hours of the night passed. I woke up for the last time in the morning with the realization that my motion sickness pill was worn off. I ate some chocolate and another pill and was grateful when my world stopped spinning. I was bored the rest of the way to Los Mochis. Nothing blogworthy happened that I can remember. On the bus from Los Mochis to Choix, I kept falling asleep and spilling out into the aisle. When I got back, I forced myself to do two loads of laundry and houseclean my room before I finally showered and crashed. Sleep was beautiful...
~~~
FRIDAY: ...and I got 11 hours of it. I spent Friday morning making cupcakes for fun nite that night. That included a great cocoa hunt uptown and downtown and all over town until I finally found it in Don Josecito's store right next door *sighs*. But I enjoyed walking around town and seeing people again. After lunch, I walked back uptown to the hotel my family had stayed at to give the owner some cupcakes. He was very pleased. I came back to catch up on e-mails and upload pictures for my family. We eventually headed out to Mochiqui...after the Kindergarten parade down our street finally ended. Donna and I studied with the girls and then I went to play games with them. Some little boys joined us and soon we had kicking, and dirt and stone throwing...so we headed back to MariCruz's house. Donna and I got to the orphanage just in time to jump in line for nachos. After dinner, we disussed my new schedule among other things. We got home late and I was soooo tired.
~~~
SATURDAY: I hate roosters. If roosters aren't necessary for chickens to lay eggs, why don't we just eat the roosters and save ourselves lots of early morning frustrations? If you can't guess, a rooster woke me up. Then we ate breakfast ad got ready for Saturday school. After class, I went back with the orphanage crew to help out with Saturday lunch and afternoon activities. The new schedule was an adjustment, but I'm happy with the realization that the schedule will get easier every week. I had to oversee lunch cleanup which meant keeping on top of two naughty little boys. It was fun *grins*. Afterwards, I played lots of games of Snakes and Ladders with the girls and Fernando...and then Memory...and then jumprope. I had my time off in the middle of the afternoon. I tried to sleep off a headache, but only succeeded in making it worse. I helped get dinner ready and then fed Chuyito and ate. After dinner we hung out in the kitchen until Loren came to pick me up.

Cockroaches, Cold Showers, and Sour Milk

At Caleb's basketball game.
K-Freezes and Strawberries 'n' Creme!!!
Sisters at the river.

Janelle sewing.

Mom and MariChuy.

Wendell, Alain, and Bradley.

Michelle, Alma, Bev, and Carla.

Family picture time!

Sunday and Monday stared me in the face with dark, ominous eyes. But I knew that the end justifies the means, at least in this case. Yes, I had tons of things to do, but yes, it would TOTALLY be worth it! I started my week with less than 48 hours until I would see my family and my friend again. At the San Pedro service, the bugs were hunting blood, but the only one that drew on me was one that chomped my toe. I went home in time to finish getting lunch ready. After lunch I called my family, who were just picking up Janelle, my friend. After the Choix service, we took Mochiqui children and Marlen home. My favorite part about supper was putting ice cream in my coffee. Then I made more lists to the millions of things I needed to do before 7:15 p.m. on Monday.

~~~

I got up early to make cookies for my family. I managed to avoid burning them. I must admit that I was extremely proud of myself, but I shared them, regardless. We ate breakfast and then I got to work. I walked uptown to see if I could check into the hotel. The hotel clerk was very accomodating and told me that I could move in "ahorita" (right away). I walked up to the buses and asked what time the afternoon buses went. The man was not so accomodating and I was horrified to learn that I had to get the 1:45 bus and wait around in downtown Los Mochis until Lenn picked me up at 6:30. I decided to take two books even if that meant that I had to carry them around with me all day. Then I finished some last minute shopping and visited Vanessa's family. They admired me, saying that I looked "emocionada" (excited). I didn't spend much time there because I needed to move into the hotel. Loren took Janessa and I up to the hotel to move everything in the truck. As we were unloading cots, a mattress, and crates full of random items, we had lots of observers. Maybe because we had to walk across the busy street. Janessa was so embarrassed that she carried the mattress so that it hid her completely. I was too excited to care much about anything at that point. I stuffed everything in the rooms and walked back to help Loren and Donna a little before they left for their day at the river. I ate lunch alone and then headed off to catch my bus. When I asked what time my bus was leaving, a man told me "ahorita" (right away, and yes, the word is over-used in Mexico). So I unsuspectingly climbed on board and came face to face with the cleaning man who belligerently stood in my way. I asked him if he was cleaning, thinking that if I started a conversation, he would kindly remove himself from my path. Instead he merely nodded stubbornly. I suggested that I wait outside to which he nodded vigorously. As I sat waiting across the street, Sam came up behind me. I excitedly yacked away until it was time to leave. The bus ride was uneventful; I like them that way. I rode the bus all of the way to the last stop, not even sure if I was at the right place. I looked around in the shops, finished one book and started the next until Lenn came promptly at 6:30 to pick me up. Then we were off to the airport. We waited for what seemed like a very long time. Finally their flight arrived and out they came after grinning at me across the security check. Lenn took us to Soriana where we ate gorditas. We had a long trip home and we were all very tired and excited. When we got to the hotel, we realized that my cot did not fit between the two beds. Therefore I slept on a partialy opened cot and we had no floor space. In case of a fire, we all would have died because of the suitcases piled in front of the door. Bev admired our friendly lizard while the cockroaches made themselves scarce.

~~~

We would have slept good if the electricity wouldn't have turned off, taking with it the power for our noisemaker (our air conditioning). Instead, another noisemaker took its place...an boisterous rooster who cock-a-doodle-doo-ed until the air conditioner turned back on. I got up and took a brutally cold shower and afterwards we rearranged our room and traipsed up to JLR to buy breakfast. Meanwhile, the electricity turned back off and we couldn't even heat up the tortillas we had bought. We dropped off our valuables at the Yoder's house and then walked uptown to look around. I took my family to the dulceria (the candy store). They were as fascinated by all of the candy as I was when I first visited the store. Mom and Bradley became patrons and we meandered up to the plaza (after a lengthy stop at the crowded bank) to enjoy our consumable purchases. We sat and enjoyed the plaza and then walked to Pollo Mayo for a mid-afternoon lunch. My family loved the chicken. Dad got into rolling corn tortillas and actually became a pro. We didn't eat near all of our food. Bradley went to pay the bill and the people behind the counter started talking with him...Dad suggested that I go rescue him. We went back to the hotel and then Janelle and I took our leftovers over to the Yoder's. Dad and Mom joined the Mexican siesta time while we kids were more adventurous and went to Caleb's basketball game. My siblings got to meet Ricardo who introduced himself as "Richard" and delighted in talking to all of the gringos who couldn't understand anything he said. Alain, a little boy from town, was fascinated with my brothers. When I asked him what he thought of my family, he said: "Ellos son bien grandotes!" (They are good and huge!). We got back to the hotel in time to climb up on the roof and watch the clouds change colors as the sun set behind the mountains. I gave everyone their souvenirs and then I took them up to the clocktower. Unfortunately, it was still closed, but I wasn't quite ready to give up. I crossed the street to talk with a guard and he pulled over a police truck to see if my family and I could climb the tower. The driver got out and came around to talk with me and tried to talk to me in English. To my family across the street, the scene was intimidating... A lonely gringa surrounded by at least four policemen. But we climbed the tower and enjoyed the view...although three were annoyingly scared of the height and clung to the pole in the middle. Back at the hotel, we tried out our new sleeping arrangement. Bev and I ended up sleeping together in a single bed. A little snug, but we haven't seen each other so SO LONG! We didn't fall asleep right away, but laid there and talked and laughed... I missed those girls!

~~~

I left from breakfast early to start the beans for lunch. Alain met me on the street and asked when my brothers were going to leave the hotel room. The others followed close behind. The girls made cookies for the prison, worked on sewing, and made red rice, beans, and guacamole for lunch. The guys went to the prison for the service with Loren, Rod, and Ian. After lunch dishes, we relaxed a little before heading uptown for the infamous K-Freezes and strawberries 'n' creme. We got ready and left for prayer meeting. Alain met us as we walked. He had been waiting impatiently for my brothers at the Yoder's and finally gave up and came to hunt us down. We were swarmed by children and adults alike wanting introductions. I had suddenly "shy" children pulling on my arms, asking for introductions. Afterwards, the we girls went to Mochiqui. The Mochiqui girls quickly claimed Bev, Janelle, and Michelle with "Es mia, es mia" (She's mine, she's mine). We walked up to the taqueria after we got back. My family loved the food and decided that they needed to come back sometime. Cockroaches were patiently awaiting us when we got back to the hotel. Bradley, the brave "cocky" hunter, came to help the poor girls out. Again, we stayed up, talking and giggling until later than we should have.

~~~

I got up early to start breakfast. Michelle and Bradley came with me to Don Josecito's store to buy the ingredients. The boys fried up the hot cakes while I ran to get syrup and bananas. We had lots and lots of pancakes. The girls and Mom went to the Yoder's to help with sewing and lunch. Bev and Janelle spent the afternoon on the roof while I edited my pictures. Eventually, we all walked down to the river which had shrunk a lot since the last time I was there, but at least it still existed. We skipped rocks, waded, took pictures, and enjoyed the scenery at the river. Dad complained of a stomachache. No one was too sympathetic since he'd eaten a whole bag of salsa verde chips. We came back to look at pictures in our air-conditioned room. We ate at Papa's where Dad determined not to like the gorditas but readily consumed the tortas. We had a drawn-out affair which finally ended with chocolate cake. The day ended with my first hot shower.

~~~

I might have refused to get up if my alarm wouldn't have been so annoying. I sat on the balcony and hid behind the big fern to do my devotions. I was cleverly disguised from the men at the hotel across the street. Janelle and Mom came with me to get breakfast. JLR was closed, but we chanced to meet up with Diego, the English-speaking post office man. We bought groceries elsewhere, ate breakfast, and then went to the Yoder's to get a ride to the orphanage with Lenn. We got straight to work, sewing, cleaning, and making fence. Bev and I organized schoolwork and then we all ate lunch together. We then worked until about 4:00 when we started walking to Mochiqui to make corn tortillas with Maricruz. We visited Alma and Jaciel who were excited to see us...Well, Alma was excited and Jaciel was scared of all of us traipsing across his lawn. Maricruz was thrilled to have so many guests. We helped grind the corn and mix up the tortillas. Rumaldo came back with coke and some sort of meat to eat with the tortillas--YUM!!! We sat around and had a nice visit (thanks to Donna who helped in the language area). After we got back into town, we kids walked up to the hotdog stand and met with the single VSers from the orphanage for hotdogs. We took hotdogs back for our weary parents. I hung out in Mom and Dad's room...then came a knock on the door. Because I was in my pj's, I opened the door and stood behind it. Wendell and Mom looked at the doorway in horror and finally Mom said: "Tricia! Close the door!" Apparently a mysterious stranger in a white cowboy hat had knocked on the wrong door.

~~~

I hate colds. Oh how I hate colds! Especially when they keep me up at night and make me grumpy while my family is visiting. The leftover milk I picked up at the Yoder's had turned sour. Everyone complained. Mom and I went to start laundry and were accosted by Ricardo on the front porch. Then we had Saturday school and I had to introduce my family to everyone. Afterwards we made lunch...really SALTY bean burritos.We walked over to meet my landlady, but she wasn't home. We kids went walking around my neighborhood and got K-Freezes and buy some souvenirs. We again joined the Yoder's for delicious pizza in the evening.

SPECIAL EDITION:

I had a really really good week. I have the best family and friends in the whole world! Of course, it helps that I am such a cuddly cute teddy bear! I am a little jealous of the glorious brown tans that Janelle and Bev got while they were here. However, I was so busy being a tour guide that I had no time for tedious things such as "reading in the sun." What great times we had--I even enjoyed the teasing that the girls so liberally dished out on me. I deserved every bit of it! I wish I had been more open when they grilled me, but some things in my life must remain a secret until I speak further with my father. ~~~ Bev and Janelle

El Cerrito, Direct Objects, and Naps

Marlen all dressed up in the armor of Ephesians 6...as a test drive for Sunday school.
Brianne and Chuy.
Bella and Tita (two girls from Mochiqui) on the teeter-totter.
Marlen and Maria....Look! Grass!!! (a rare site in Mexico).

Me and Brisa (another girl from Mochiqui).

Afternoon activities for as many could fit in the hammocks.

Part of the afternoon crowd.

My week started early. I got up to help Donna with the barbecoa and getting things ready for the big day. I cleaned up the kitchen and then we loaded up lots of things in Loren's truck and headed to El Cerrito, a resort on a hill by the river. People came in by the droves until there was about 170 of us in all. The day was muggy and the breeze delighted in tossing dirt at us (which stuck because we were so sweaty). We met under a palm roof to sing and listen to Allen Roth's message. After the service, we served lunch: barbecoa, sopa fria, frijoles puercos, and corn tortillas. Things got interesting when we ran out of plates and spoons. Then we kicked back and relaxed until the second service under the palm roof. The sun was even hotter than before and peeked through the holes in the roof. I sat beside Marlen and her grandma. After that service we had coffee and bread. Then the droves of people started to disappear. We were so tired and dirty by the time that we got home...and then we only had three inches of water in the tank up top, and no water coming in through the hose. God managed to multiply the water so we all got showers...very, VERY speedy showers.

Monday morning, I heard Loren, Donna, and family get up and start out for Los Mochis to take the board members to the airport and pick up Donna's parents from the bus station. I tried to sleep a little more but still got up earlier than usual to get a few things done. I cleaned up the kitchen and headed over to Vanessa's house. Instead of playing Phase 10, I held Alejito and did my best to communicate. They are so wonderfully forgiving...even when Lupita started asking me questions like: "With what do they make rooftops in the States?" and: "How you you keep the cold out of the houses during the winter?" Try that with a limited conversational vocabulary! Lupita's mother saw that I was struggling and suggested that I answer Lupita in English. I did, and Lupita grinned: "Ah! No puedo entender nada!" (I don't understand anything!). I came home to make lunch for myself while I finished cleaning up the kitchen. I was talking on the phone when the Yoders and Ernie and Faye Mummua (Donna's parents) arrived, looking travel-weary. I wasn't around long to talk with them until we left for San Pedro with Rod's. The class was really small, but very fun. Donna made potato soup for dinner and then we sat around and visited. Junier was outside on the porch, so I went outside and talked with him until my eyes started to drift shut...Time for bed!

Tuesday we got up and around in time for a breakfast of cereal. Donna's parents brought all kinds of delicious cereal from the States for us to enjoy. I had Cheerios (I know, I'm so boring...). Then I cooked beans while I studied Spanish direct objects...I'm getting confused with lo, la, los, and las. After lunch, I walked up to the bank and was practically dehydrated by the time I got back (please don't read the last sentence, dear familia mia; remember that it couldn't possibly be as bad as I make it sound!). It's very hot outside during the day, but the nights still cool off so that the houses feel air-conditioned by the morning. I took a tiny nap and then used the Internet and cleaned up some dusty fans that had been hibernating on the back porch all winter. I helped with dinner and then we ate and sat around the table, just talking and enjoying the company.

I made cookies on Wednesday morning. I haven't had molasses crinkles for sooooo long because molasses isn't available down here! We (or maybe I should just speak for myself) scarfed them down and sent a few to the prison. I went to the store three times, Donna went once, and Kedric went once. Some days we are more scatter-brained than others. Good thing the store is so close. The time I went for hamburger, I forgot the word for hamburger although Janessa had just reminded me before I walked out the door. So I looked at the lady pitifully and said: "Quiero carne mo-" (I want...). "Carne molida?" (hamburger) the lady and another man said simultaneously. "Si!!!" (Yes!). I helped make and eat lunch before I laid down for a rest. After siesta time, Donna tried to keep me busy with odd jobs while Loren fed us cookies 'n' creme ice cream. Then prayer meeting with few non-gringos. I met with Bri and Rach in the kitchen and chubby and fussy Chuyito. His hair got butched and he is oh so cute! Much more happened that evening, but let's just say that I'm grateful for the authority figures figures in my life who have much more experience and wisdom than I have at this point!

I actually got up [relatively] early on my day off (Thursday). Donna suggested that I go to the plaza in the morning to avoid any unwelcome visitors. So I waited with my laundry and headed to the plaza to write and read. Donna prayed at breakfast that no one would bother me, and no one did, PTL. I sat on the same park bench for several hours and came back to the house in time for fish and rice for lunch. Then I did my laundry and took a nap (I'm getting so old!). We ate a quick dinner of bean burritos before we all tromped down to Caleb's basketball game and watched his score a couple points. That was fun.

On Friday, I made cookies for Saturday school. As much as I love cookies, I must admit that by the last tray, I was ready to be done with them. I've been making lots of cookies recently! I did a few odd jobs like writing the church name on the plastic chairs and cleaning out the container of tupperware. We had potatoes and carrots cooked in the leftover barbecoa juice for lunch. It was delicious. I was so tired after lunch that I took a nap (I told you I'm getting old!) and then got ready to go to Mochiqui. I had a lot of fun there, getting dirty with the little girls. After that, we walked to the orphanage for fun nite and got there just in time for the nachos. Yum! Bri, Rach, and I hung out and talked all evening, despite a fussy Chuyito.

Saturday, we got up and ready for Saturday school. Ricardo stood at the window and watched me while I did dishes and asked questions about Stacey. After Saturday school, I made lunch and we ate. I cleaned up and then helped Donna with the brownies for Aile's quinceanos. Then, Kedric, Caleb, and I sat out on the front porch and waited for the buses to go by (I was trying to calculate which one I would have to catch to meet up with my family on Monday). No buses went by in the time we were sitting out there. I'm not sure that we would have noticed them anyway; we were very busy writing strange things in my notebook. Kedric cackled outrageously after he wrote sometime about "Tricia, Salchicha." Then the Yoders left and I showered. Now I'm waiting to leave for Aile's quinceanos (15th birthday party).