Headaches, Flying Salsa, and WATER!!!

Sunday, April 19, 2009. 10:34 a.m.
I'm sick. I hate being sick. Last night my headache was pounding as I tried to sleep and it wasn't better by this morning. I got up, thinking I would throw up, but I haven't...yet. What a lovely way to start the week. Now I'm laying in bed with a bucket beside me wishing that I could join the service outside of my bedroom door. I've never missed a service since I've come to Mexico...until today.

Sunday, April 19, 2009. 2:41 p.m.
I think I'm better. I stayed in my room until everyone was gone, but then I went out to help with lunch. And I ate with the Yoders. I tried to work on some e-mails in my room, but I was tired of the same four walls and walked up to the plaza instead. But it's so hot that I won't stay here long; it's gotta be over 100*.

Sunday, April 19, 2009. 9:50 p.m.
I'm back from San Pedro. I enjoyed the service in the afternoon and getting home in the dark. One of the ladies we picked up in El Tepejuaje spoke perfect English. Strange the people you meet out here in the boonies of Choix. Joe, the man that is here to dig the well, entertained us on the way home with stories from his interesting life. We had a late dinner and then I fell onto my bed, completely exhausted.

Monday, April 20, 2009. 8:32 p.m.
Today is Grandma Kennell's birthday. This morning we had a very late breakfast. I went to the store to pick up some groceries and then over to Vanessa's house to visit her family. I had a good visit with them today. They seemed more concerned with spiritual things than ever before. Or maybe it's just that my language is getting good enough that I can finally understand their questions. God definitely is giving me grace with the language when I talk with them. Lupita might come over tomorrow to make a cake with me. I'm glad that our relationship is getting stronger. I came home and made a cake and then ate taco salad with the Yoder family and Reina, the cleaning lady. I called Grandma this afternoon and had a good chat with her. We went to San Pedro to try to entertain a pile of energetic children for Kid's Club. I did my best to keep my table quiet. When we got home, we ate cebiche and then I hung out in my room and am currently waiting for the shower and looking at pictures from home. It's making me even more homesick.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009. 9:37 p.m.
Today I hit the ground running. I made out my grocery list and went uptown and downtown. When I stopped at SuperChoix, they smiled at me knowingly as I politely asked for "un medio kilo de carne molida" (1/2 kilo of hamburger). They recognize me enough to know that I never visit their store without getting hamburger. At JLR, the cashier told me my bill was "forty-four" in perfect English. Yet, he got all flustered and bumbled about when I asked him if he knew English. Apparently he doesn't. When I got home, I made cookies for the prison, lasagna, garden salad, and pumpkin dessert. The whipped cream stubbornly refused to set up, but I slopped it on anyway. During my time off I mainly laid on my bed and listened to music. At 4:00 p.m. Lupita (Vanessa's sister) came over to make a cake. The cake turned out nicely and she decorated it for Alejito's 4-month "birthday." Fransisca stopped by while we were making the cake and wanted to make one too. She didn't then...but only because Julian was coming at any time to pick her up. When Lupita left, I walked uptown to Kedric's game. While I was talking with Donna and Janessa, some little boys from Kedric's team came over and sat beside us. They just stared at us like they'd never heard English before. Before we left, some kid threw a salsa bag. It was an amazing shot because it first hit Donna in the head and then me in the head and finally splattered in my lap. The coach made the boy come over and apologize. The whole thing was entirely random and makes me laugh as I'm writing about it. Mario from San Pedro was in town and hung out at our house and ate dinner with us. Before sunset, Janessa gleefully informed me that the temperature was currently 105* F. And then she added the punch: "And it's only APRIL!" Well, I had a cold shower and it felt wonderful. Now I'm ready for bed. Good night.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009. 8:39 p.m.
My day off. I got up early and wrote lots of e-mails. Then I walked up to the post office. Diego, the post office man didn't even try to talk much; he's very busy. At home, I typed and did my laundry. After awhile I walked up to the vet's office to buy an ice cream cone. Yum...I haven't had soft serve ice cream since I've been here. I slobbered on it for the walk home. I had to lick fast; the hot noon sun was melting my treat. I made some phone calls and while I was talking to Dad, I brought in and folded my laundry. While I was talking to Bradley, I swept my floor and cleaned out under my bed. While I was talking with Mom, I mopped the floor. While I was talking with Janelle, I cleaned off and wiped down my shelves. I was a very good multi-tasker today. When dinner was ready, I made myself a toasted cheese sandwich. Then we had prayer meeting. I sat between a very bad Bella and a very bad Carla. After the meeting, I went to Mochiqui with the girls (and Jesse, who didn't want to ride a pink bike all of the way home). When we got back, we decided to make smoothies. Janessa and I went to the store [twice] to get the ingredients. After our smoothies, we walked up to Loren's basketball game where I am currently sitting on the concrete bleachers. No flying salsa bags this time....at least YET. It's very hot and the players are sweating profusely; I'm glad I don't have to wash their clothes. Well, my day isn't over yet, but goodnight!

Thursday, April 23, 2009. 8:50 p.m.
ENCONTRARON AGUA!!! (They found water!!!) And at only 57 feet. What a HUGE blessing! But that was later on; let me rewind to earlier in the morning. Loren dropped me off at the orphanage. The children were already hard at work, peeling potatoes. Miguel was even helping. I told him that one day he should help make lunch. He seemed excited at the prospect of making bread. The girls were extremely helpful, but I still had the last minute rush before lunch. We had mashed potatoes with hotdog gravy which was much better than it sounds. I was skeptical at first, but now I'm a believer. I made thumbprint cookies; the kids kept drooling over them as I was making them. Debbie came in to tell me that the men found water where they are digging the well. PTL. I oversaw lunch clean-up. Miguel and Diego hid as usual. Johan told me that they hide from me because I LET them hide from me. "Give them bad points!" I took my time off and spent my time laying on Rosalina's bunk, staring up at the bottom of Maria's mattress. In the afternoon, I went up to watch the well process. It was a fascinating process and I asked a lot of questions, undoubtedly annoying the workers. The children had lots of visitors and in between supervising the visits and heating up leftovers for dinner, my afternoon was used up. We got to eat tamales for dinner; Fernando and MariChuy's grandma was one of the visitors and came bustling through the gate with an armload of tamales. After clean-up, I talked with Rach as she relaxed for her day off. I caught a ride home with Rod, and that's where I am right now...home.

Friday, April 24, 2009. 10:46 p.m.
I started out on bike this morning...well, walking my bike at least. When I got to the orphanage, I started the laundry. I didn't do much sitting and relaxing in between loads; the girls joined me when they were free from their jobs. Rosalina insisted on reading to me from the "Antorcha" magazine. It was hard to understand Spanish syllable by syllable. Roxina came with an "I Spy" book. She wanted me to translate the hidden things, but she gave up after I tried to describe a windmill. I love those girls so much. Roxina helped me fold the laundry and we had a good little chat. She made my day by telling me that, yes, I have an accent in Spanish, but it's not a bad accent. After lunch I biked back into town and used Internet time until we left for Mochiqui. MariCruz was at the creek washing clothes and we joined her. Sitting beside the water was much cooler than walking along the dusty road. But eventually, Maria and I carried clothes up to the house and studied with Carla and Tita. While Maria entertained them with a card game (a good alternative to throwing rocks), I hung out the dripping laundry. We then walked to the orphanage and then caught a ride back into town. Loren ran some errands in town. We passed the time by looking for aluminum soda cans. The singles got together in the evening. The kids were all upstairs watching a movie so we played a card game called "Snitch." It was interesting to see the different personalities coming out during the game. Lenn brought me home and now I'm writing a few words before I drift into oblivion.

Saturday, April 25, 2009. 9:43 p.m.
We got up late as has become the norm for Saturdays. However, this morning was REALLY late. I discouraged myself by taking a Spanish test online and finding out that I really don't know much about Spanish verbs. At Saturday school, Santos sat at my table. He was extremely pesty, but I didn't feel like moving to another table. I didn't go to help at the orphanage today. Therefore, Janessa and I walked up to the store and bought a variety of fruits and vegetables. That's what we had for lunch....and it was delicious. We chopped mango, pineapple, watermelon, plum, cantaloupe, pear, cucumbers, carrots, and broccoli. After all of that, I took my time off. After time off I walked up and visited my [former] landlady. We had a good little chat before I went to visit Vanessa's family. I didn't stay long, but came back to help with miscellaneous jobs until dinner. Marlen and Janessa had made delicious pizza and Marlen and I had made smoothies to go along with it. The food was really good today now that I think about it... Now I'm sorta being lazy and sorta waiting for the shower.

Easter, ATMs, and Birthdays

Yesi with 30 braids...SO CUTE!
"Un dia a la vez, Dios mio, es lo que pido de ti!" The guys playing for the Easter service.
Uriel waiting for his mommy to finish mixing up the cebiche.

Lots and LOTS of cebiche.

Leobardo with his birthday cake.

SUNDAY: Christ is risen! Teo's birthday. San Pedro and Choix service piled into one service at the orphanage. Meeting early to chop lots and LOTS of veggies for cebiche. Service started late...surprise, surprise. Served lunch to the crowd of people. Sat down to eat up the leftovers. Helped with clean-up and headed home, exhausted. Cleaned out the frig to have a dinner of leftovers. Drank hot chocolate together in front of the fan...It was hot!

~~~

MONDAY: Got up late, but Janessa got up later. Prayed for grace with language before I left for Vanessa's house. Had meaningful time with their family. Ate some sort of meat they offered me. Not sure what part of the cow (but not the intestines because those were still laying around). Lost my appetite for lunch. Walked up to the bank, but the ATM was out of money. Talked with visitors that came. Went to San Pedro. Loren had bean burritos waiting when we got back. Walked uptown for sour cream. Uneventful evening.

~~~

TUESDAY: Bad night of sleep. Shopped for ingredients for Cincinnati chili, pumpkin oatmeal cookies, and pumpkin bread (yes, we have lots of pumpkin again). Ran out of money and had to make a second trip. Spent all morning in the kitchen. Ate lunch. Did dishes. Tried to take a nap. Passed out tracts in Choix with kids from the orphanage. Lots of walking around town. Laughed at Maria's adorable accent: "Oh, dis is SO EMBARRASSIN! Here CUMS a TDRUCK!" Started to clean my room after dinner.

~~~

WEDNESDAY: Carol's birthday. Woke up with my alarm, but laid in bed much longer. Did laundry, finished cleaning my room. Ate a HUGE bowl of Cheerios. Walked up to the plaza to enjoy the beautiful day. Wrote in my journal and finished reading my book. Went to the bank (the ATM had money this time) and tried to avoid the crowd of people behind me who were eagerly peering over my shoulder to check my current balance. Went shopping, but only bought one thing. Talked with Stacey for an hour; I miss her. Finished my laundry. Hung out by myself until prayer meeting. Ran to the store with Janessa for bananas for evening milkshakes. Laughed at old pictures.

~~~

THURSDAY: Out at the orphanage. Made lots of peanut butter. Made dessert for Leobardo's birthday. Enjoyed the delight on Leo's face as he celebrated the first birthday he ever remembers celebrating...his 13th birthday. Tried fruitlessly to hunt down Miguel and Diego to do dishes. Johan finally unearthed them for me. Read for time off. Washed dishes. Visitors from Choix. Making dinner with Debbie. Came home to find a card and a package for me!!!

~~~

FRIDAY: Ceremoniously mounted Loren's bike and pedaled out to the orphanage. Figured out that if I lay the bike nearly on its side, I can climb on and off without too much ado. (But there is still something to be said for dignity...or human pride. I pedaled furiously up a big hill just because I felt eyes boring into my back from the audience at the bottom of the hill. I couldn't bear to practice my new "on-the-side" technique in front of three pairs of curious eyes. So I sweated away, taking great gasps of air simultaneously through my nose and my mouth until I was over the hill and relatively out of sight where I could dismount.) Did eight loads of laundry with the help of Roxina. Ate lunch and scurried off directly to town (yes, on bike). Walked/ran up to Oxxo to buy Christa some chocolates and then walked over to Rod and Christa's house with Janessa to visit Christa. Worked on e-mails until Donna somehow arrived without the broken-down truck. Much ado about vehicles, but finally ended up at Mochiqui. Studied with Carla and Tita. Came home to eat hot dogs roasted on an open fire. Crashed.

~~~

SATURDAY: Hot chocolate in the morning. In charge of Chuy during Saturday school. He was fussy until I fed him a pumpkin bar. Very HOT ride to the orphanage. Crush of children on the right-hand side of the van as we passed the circus...They were desperate to see the animals. Made quesadillas and oversaw lunch clean-up. The children were outside to watch the men get the well rig ready. Couldn't fall asleep during time off. Got up to help get dinner ready. Walked up to the boys' dorm to see the progress with the well rig set up. Came home to update my blog.

Curious George, Jesus Film, and Laundry

The masked figures, fariseos or judios, who walk the streets, dancing to rattle the shells on their legs and beating their drums. The are extremely popular and plentious the few weeks before Easter.

Rosalina showing off one of her drawings.
Roxina and her great guamuchile-picking adventure.
Chuy reaching for something he shouldn't have.

Carol and Jeffrey.

Dylan and Alyssa eating dinner before the Jesus film in San Pedro.

Osbaldo, Rod, and Fermin eating cebiche.

Fransisca kept calling Christa "ranchero" woman.

Roxina, MariChuy, Fernando, and Rach at bedtime.

SUNDAY: Daylight savings time began in Mexico. The guys forgot and came late for breakfast at the orphanage. I biked to Choix so I could catch a ride to the San Pedro service. We didn't pick up anyone; they all had things to do and people to see...or were sick. Loren talked to us about forgiveness. Yesi decided she was mad at me and remained pleasantly aloof during the entire service. I can't say that I minded sitting alone. I came back with Rod and Christa and started lunch before the others got home. I had lots of e-mail waiting for me in my inbox, and I stuck with them until I was done replying. After the Choix service some of us walked all of the way back to the orphanage where Lenn was preparing banana/peach smoothies. Rosalina and Roxina tried to teach me how to dance ranchero-style to go along with their whiney ranchero tape that belongs in the trash. I taught them a few steps of a waltz before we called it even...with nobody particularly enriched from the experience.

MONDAY: I spent the day in town. I showed Loren how to run the washer and then I sat down to write out a verse poster for Vanessa's family. Then I bought groceries and made my weekly trek to their house. My Spanish was struggling all day...which was frustrating. Back at the Yoders', I helped make lunch. At three o'clock, Rod came to pick us all up and we headed to San Pedro, mentally preparing ourselves for the long night ahead of us. Class was small, but the kids were involved in the class and cooperative. After the children left, we had several hours to kill before we started the Jesus film. Christa and I folded Fransisca's laundry and watered the yard. Gris served us cebiche...yum! The movie started later than planned because of a technical difficulty. But soon, we were up and running. People came trickling in. Pray that it touched them...especially so close to Easter. After the movie, Rod took me back to the orphanage and Lenn came running out to let me in.

TUESDAY: I was in charge of lunch again. But this time the groceries were not late and the children were blessedly cooperative. Suzanne gave me moral support by doing her schoolwork in the kitchen. After lunch I took my time off and promptly fell asleep. When I got up, I folded some laundry and then a big group of us headed into town to pass out tracts. The outside air was MUGGY! (The hot weather has hit us hard and fast.) Roxina and I worked together, on opposite sides of the street. When we got back to Yoders', Domingo wanted me to read him a book, and he picked Curious George, in English. He sat cuddled up beside me, defying his 5-second attention span. I was amazed when he went to pick out another book...this time in Spanish. He patiently corrected my pronunciation and remained oddly captivated until it was time to leave. Suzanne and I had great plans to climb up on the bodega roof and watch the moon and eat tapioca pudding. But our plans were foiled when we heard Lenn and Sam having a meeting inside of the bodega. Rats...

WEDNESDAY: I biked into town with my laundry. The bag kept slipping off my shoulder so I finally hung it off the handle bars where it hit my knee every other second and threw me off-balance. I was embarrassingly ungraceful and very sweaty. But when I got to the Yoders' the water was still not on....and not on...and not on.... I tried not to worry and headed up to the plaza to hang out. But there were too many people around, the sun was intense, and I was a target for people asking for money. I came back without enjoying my time much at all. But then I called home and did laundry when the water was on. My day started looking up. I laid on my bed and read my book. I stopped partway through my day to buy myself "lunch" which consisted of a few unhealthy things and a banana. Prayer meeting came and went. I gave Teo a chocolate covered coffee bean and he grinned at me in delight. He felt special, but I hope he didn't keep the other boys awake.

THURSDAY: I was in charge of getting the kids up and ready for the day. I wasn't too excited, but it was worth it to let Rachel get an extra hour of sleep on her day off. We ate homemade doughnuts with our morning cereal. Fat little Chuy saw the doughnuts and snatched one out of the container as MariChuy toted him by. He looked a little crushed when I took the doughnut away and handed him over to Suzanne for his bowl of oatmeal. I was in charge of lunch, but the groceries were perfectly on time. Nothing exciting happened except Chuy rolling off the couch and hitting his head on the tile floor. Diego and Miguel had to do dishes and hid out by the washing machines. Fortunately, Scott spotted them and hauled them in. After siesta time, I helped Debbie by helping the girls with homework and warming up leftovers for dinner since other things that had come up. After dinner, Suzanne and I had fun teasing Maria mercilessly. We played with Chuy who was jabbering on and on about something. I asked him, "Is that what you're going to do tomorrow?" and he gave me a loud affirmation that sounded vaguely like "Si!"

FRIDAY: I had fun doing laundry all morning. I got started late, and ended up watching Chuy while I ran the two washers. He loves being outside and eating dirt and kicking soccer balls around. I entertained him by showing him the water spraying out of the hoses. He looked on in silent wonder. Then I set him on top of the washer when it was spinning and he cocked his head and stared worriedly down at his rumbling feet. The next time I set him on top of the washer, he grinned and laid down, putting his ear up against the machine and patting it affectionately. He loves to talk when he's in a good mood. He tells me all sorts of stories. I think he said "ball" and I quickly tried to teach him the Spanish equivalent, but somehow "pelota" doesn't come out as easily. After lunch I got ready to head back to Choix on bike. Teo told me I couldn't leave. Maria told me "Ah wull miss yoo SO MUCH!" Despite all of that, I left. On the way home, I noticed that town was bustling with visitors for Semana Santa (Holy Week). Unfortunately, I got stuck behind a truck that had several men in the back trying to practice their English on me. I couldn't go around them on either side and they were waiting for a parking spot. The only gratification I gave them was an "Adios!" as I saw an opening and pedaled furiously around them. I saw Donna, Janessa, and Kyle when I got to the house. It was good to see them and catch up on the last couple of weeks. At four thirty we left for Mochiqui. Maria Ines joined Donna and I. The most challenging part of the day was when a screaming Tita came back to MariCruz's house with blood dripping down her face. Carla was right behind her, terrified and crying. Some rock-throwing had gotten a little out of hand. Tita was fine after Donna checked and cleaned her wound; prasie God it had missed her eye! We went to the orphanage and ate nachos and soup and talked. I tried to keep and eye on Chuy who insisted on getting into trouble.

SATURDAY: I got up late; it was nice. All of us did actually, and barely had enough time to set up for Saturday school. The class was small, most likely because of Semana Santa. I went back to the orphanage and made quesadillas for lunch while Rach oversaw the children's jobs. Right after lunch, I had my time off in which I slept. (I am getting old with all of these naps.) When I got up, I went in to wake up Chuy who was already awake and grinning at me. For dinner, it was just the girls, Fernando, and Chuy. The boys were having a party up at their dorm and Lenn's family was out to eat. Rach made little Ritz cracker pizzas to make the evening special for the girls. We played outside on the soccer field until dark. I caught a ride home with Loren...very dirty but happy.

Cebiche, Cheerios, and Guamuchiles

On SUNDAY, I woke up after a restless night of sleep. We got ready for church and then the guys loaded up the new benches. Marlen came over and we hopped into the van with Rod. In San Pedro, Yesi had a stomach-ache and very lethargically hung on me. The new benches were so nice to sit on during the service, and they smelled good too! Marlen and I rode in the back of Loren's truck all of the way home...and we stopped in both Tepehuaje and SantaAna. It was a long, windy ride, but we bounced along merrily. After lentil soup for our late lunch, Marlen and I hung out in my room. We looked at pictures and she wrote a note to Stacey via my Facebook. We ate lots of my boxed chocolates and just hung out together. It was so much fun to be with her again since I don't see her as often as I used to. During the Choix service, Carla was marvelous [and unusually] well-behaved. Santos sat in the front row...very unlike the bad little boy he is. However, on the way to Mochiqui, he was so bad, that Loren had to get out and have a little chat with him. After that, he was a thankfully more subdued.
~~~
On MONDAY, I got up early enough to drink tea and send off a few e-mails before seeing all of the visitors and Donna off. Then I had the house to myself. I packed to move out to the orphanage for the week and did a few loads of laundry in between cleaning up the kitchen. I bought groceries and arrived at Vanessa's place late. Regardless, I sat around and talked and read to them for quite awhile. I was about to leave, but they insisted that I stay and eat cebiche with them. How could I refuse cebiche??? So I had REAL, MEXICAN cebiche for the first time. It was spicy and delicious, despite the "raw" fish. Vanessa's mother told me that every time she makes it, she will send some over to me. I can't wait. When I got home, I finished laundry and kept an eye on the hatching chicks. The rooster flew the coop and I had to coax him back into the pen because I had no idea how to catch the stupid thing.I called some friends but had to cut one conversation short when Rod came to pick up Marlen and I for the San Pedro Kid's Club. We rode in the back of Loren's truck (Rod's van was at the mechanic's). It was very windy and dusty. We used the new benches for the Kid's Club. The class was bigger this week; Rod had motivated the children to bring friends (he mentioned prizes). Mario brought six friends and decided that he probably deserved at least two prizes. I bugged the kid about his new cell phone because: "Tengo mucho mas anos que tu tienes, y todavia no tengo un celular!" (I am a lot of years older than you and I still don't have a cell phone!). The ride home was not only windy, but also very cold. When they dropped me off at the orphanage, I quickly put on my sweatshirt. I arrived in the middle of the soccer game. I unpacked and then went outside to watch them play. We ate dinner, cleaned up, and then I went outside to watch the kids "dance" their tops. When all of the kids got ready for bed, I read my book and felt lazy.
~~~
On TUESDAY, I woke up early and dozed off and on until the kids started getting up. I'm sleeping on the bottom bunk below MariChuy. Fernando is sleeping on a cot next to me. They both enjoy watching everything I do...I'm currently the novelty. I felt like a floater while the kids got ready for the day; I didn't really know what to do. After breakfast, Debbie and Rach put me to work in the kitchen. The groceries were late, but I managed to get all of the fish fried before lunch. Scott and Teo were making cookies to sell while I made cookies for lunch. In the meantime, Scott and I had several "discussions" while Teo's solid presence kept us in line. I tried to feed Chuy a bowlful of rice and beans for lunch, but he hardly ate anything...so I laid him down for his nap. I took my time right after lunch and spent the time reading in my room. After time off, I played with Fernando and brought in the laundry. I was folding laundry when Debbie had to leave dinner preparation to sit outside and be a presence as MariChuy and Fernando visited with their mother. So I finished dinner and oversaw clean-up afterwards. I played with Chuyito outside and hung out with the kids. I even beat Diego arm-wrestling; the cheater tried to use both hands. I talked with Maria, Roxina, Rosalina, and Suzanne and then went inside as they all got ready for bed.
~~~
On WEDNESDAY, I got up at my new, normal time although it was my day off. I combed Rosalina's hair and ate Cheerios for breakfast. Carol eyed them jealously, but Lenn said he didn't understand why I would eat them for my day off since they weren't even worthy to eat on a normal basis. He called them some awful names, including: "over-priced" and "tasteless"!!! I was pulling a bike out of the stack when Lenn came out and offered me a ride since he was going to town anyway. How could I refuse? Deanna and I hopped on the moto and off we went to Choix. Once in Choix, I used the Internet and then walked up to the plaza to read my book. I had fun sitting in the shade a being a bum. After awhile I got very hungry and walked to Andres' to get a sope. Yum...Andres wasn't there at first, but he came momentarily. We talked as much as we could with my limited Spanish. He's a very friendly man. His wife came and I visited with her too until I was finished with my food. Afterwards, I did a little shopping and then went for a leisurely stroll before prayer meeting. Afterwards we went back to the orphanage and pretty much got ready for bed...
~~~
On THURSDAY, I was in charge of lunch, which was very unfortunate. The start of the morning was relaxed; the children were perfect little angels and stayed outside picking guamuchiles. Eventually, we realized that the groceries were not going to arrive on time...When Ian and Diego arrived, kitchen work was a tizzy. Lunch was late; the potatoes weren't done and the green beans were crunchy. I suggested that we keep the stupid beans cooking until dinner when they might actually be edible. Debbie helped me and we started laughing off some of the stress. During lunch clean-up, I finally started to relax. I played with the kids until siesta time. I was planning to read, but my time off turned into a literal siesta time. When I got up, something exciting happened. The playroom doorknob broke and Suzanne was locked in her room. Instead of panicking, she rejoiced in the fact that maybe she would get a longer time off. Fortunately for the rest of us, Ian rescued her. After dinner, I helped with clean-up and then went outside. Leobardo was just learning how to dance his top and I had fun watching the delight in his eyes every time it hit the cement spinning. "Lo baile CUATRO veces!" (I danced it FOUR times!). That night while the girls were getting ready for bed, we talked and drank tea. Rosalina decided that she liked green tea with milk--a girl after my own heart. Rach showed us pictures on her computer.
~~~
On FRIDAY, I did laundry. Rach showed me how to operate the two washers with the hoses and barrels to re-use the water. I was outside all morning, figuring out how to do seven loads of laundry with three washer-fulls of water (for wash and rinse water). Someone had creatively designed it, and it wasn't too hard. I enjoyed the job much more than working under stress in the kitchen. We had delicious taco salad for lunch and then I took my time-off. When I joined the rest of the world, Maria and I walked to Mochiqui. We walked and talked...I am so grateful that she knows English; a relationship can go so much deeper without the language barrier. We stopped at the little store where she bought a citrus drink. Then we visited Salvador and Enriquetta's house before moving on to study with Carla and Tita. Maria enjoyed being a teacher and I let her be in charge. It was fun to watch her blossom in her responsibility. We played games with the children afterwards until flying dirt and stones became too much. We started back to the orphanage, weary. As we were walking back, we ran into a string tied across the road. Some people were walking towards us and probably chuckled to themselves as we took giant steps over an invisible wall. But we returned the favor by giggling at them as they ran their wheelbarrow right into the string. The soccer game was in full-swing. I sat and talked with Rach and Christa. After the game we piled into the house for nachos. Miguel hid under the table when he saw me looking at the job list. Incidentally, he responsible for washing the dishes. I was in charge of Chuy while Suzanne played 4-square. He amused himself by trying to eat guamuchile seeds and other particles of dirt on the ground.
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On SATURDAY, I woke up too early, like most of the downstairs children did. Fernando and Rach left for Fernando's doctor appointment before six o'clock. I had to talk the others into falling back asleep. When they all got up, they acted a little lost without their main authority figure. I struggled with getting them around in time for breakfast. I felt that more than just being lost, they were testing my authority. I didn't enjoy that at all; it was frustrating. Miguel was in charge of breakfast dishes and hid on the shelf beside the Tupperware. At Saturday school, I made a phone call for Rach and tried to help keep a little order in the class. Santos was terribly bad and got into much trouble. I was relieved to get back to the orphanage, although my struggles did not end there. While I was delighting in the fact that I had all of my groceries and lunch would be on time for the first time since I've been in charge, we ran out of gas. Grrrrrrr... Scott quickly changed it out and lunch was relatively on time. When the boys went up on the hill, things around the house quieted down. Roxina decided that she wanted to ride the horse and she used it as her ladder to pick guamuchiles. She was so cute and having the time of her life. I played with Fernando and eventually woke Chuy. He was miraculously content to sit on my lap and play with the guamuchile pods. I had my time off then and came back in time to help finish up dinner. After dinner, I got a full slideshow of Rosalina's drawings before we all headed to bed.

This video clip is from a few weeks ago...Rod and Jesse playing guitar RANCHERO style.