Adventure 2020 3

February 3 Destination today is the city of Empalme, which fortunately is a shorter drive. We set up in the same location as last year on a bright sunshiny day. Today I was asked to serve at the ministry table, and I did all the while asking God to give me the words to say to each person that I spoke with. Two people, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, gave their lives to Christ as I shared the gospel with them. We told them about a church nearby where they could go to learn more about Jesus.

February 4 Back to Potam we went only to a smaller location this time. There were a few people I recognized from having seen last time. It was rather cool today with the clouds and the wind and I felt bad for some who had come to our clinic without being prepared. The cold does make a person tired and it felt good to get back to the mission. Tim was busy at the mission cutting and welding metal. Early bedtime for us both.

February 5 Another cool windy day but at least the sun was out today. Most of the medical team went out for various adventure like boating, kayaking, climbing Tetakawi and just enjoying a day of rest. Tim's rest was welding and cutting of metal, while my rest was sewing up a pillow, reading and napping. Supper tonight was at the home of a couple who attend the SCCC with a few of the medical team. We were divided to different host homes.

February 6 Despite having rested yesterday I was not yet feeling up to my optimal health so instead of joining the medical team heading to Santa Maria, I choose another day to rest and recover. Tim has been spending his days working with Heimer cutting and welding metal as they worked to complete the railing for the house being built here on the property. I did spend some time in the morning helping out in the kitchen with one of those jobs being to remove the "shells" and tails from a lot of shrimp. It might be more enjoyable if I liked eating shrimp but I do not, but Tim does so he was grateful and happily ate my share. Lupe and his son Luis have been building a septic tank at the mission and I have been watching the progress.

February 7 So glad to be feeling back to my self. Ed & Terry were coming to volunteer today so they offered to give me a ride as well as Don & Diana (a couple who had been missionaries in Peru for over 10 years who spoke fluent Spanish and were helping by interpreting for the nurses and doctors). It was much more enjoyable riding in the car instead of the bus. Today we were in the town of Vicam and saw 629 people. Not all wanted to see the doctor as we also were giving out sunglasses and reading glasses. I ended up helping at the glasses table and it was very busy. I was encouraged to try on a pair of fun sunglasses, which I did while placing my pair safely in the drawer. After my lunch, in the trailer, I decided to check in the drawer just to make sure my glasses were there but they were gone. Andrea and Robin, the two ladies in charge of glasses, were quite upset that my glasses had disappeared and felt very bad. We did find out who had unknowingly given mine away as they did not know they were my person pair. I assured everyone involved not to feel bad as I had really wanted to purchase a new pair but felt guilty because my current pair were still in working order and now I had nothing holding me back from buying a new pair. I did choose a couple of pairs of sunglasses to use in the meantime. Today was good, busy and tiring.  Found a spot in the van for the ride back, also nicer than the bus, and faster. 

February 8 A clinic was held here at the mission in the morning with less than 50 people showing up. This was also an opportunity for the team to take inventory of the supplies left over so that they would know how much to purchase for next year. Tim was still busy with the metal work. The afternoon provided opportunities to visit, cut Tim's hair and visit some more. A feast of ribs, mashed potatoes, broccoli salad with chocolate or lemon pie for dessert not to mention the appetizers that were served before the meal. This banquet was to thank the medical team as well as all the volunteers who helped throughout the week. Edgar and Rosy collected pictures from the team and compiled them into a short video for us all to watch. Mike thanked everyone for their part in helping to serve the people of Mexico. If you would like to see the pictures please check out this link: 

https://youtu.be/7qH8w3BMXio

Adventure 2020 2

January 29 Well now, how would I describe today's activities. Since the boss is still away things can run a a slower pace. Vehicles were washed and cleaned and rooms were checked and prepared for the team coming tomorrow. I assisted Tim with cutting some metal for the railings on the top floor of Bob & Betty's house. A book was possibly read and sunshine was most likely enjoyed and supper was consumed. Looking forward for the teams arrival.

January 30 By mid afternoon the medical team arrived. The trip down was smooth with only a short luggage look through on this side of the border. Supplies were organized for our first location tomorrow. It was good to see familiar faces and to meet a few new ones. 

January 31 After a delicious breakfast the rest of the supplies were packed into the trailer including a cooler containing our lunches that we each made for ourselves with a table loaded with options. Our first location was at a church in the city of Guaymas. The doors opened at 12 noon and went till 4. It was nice to start off with a slower day and get everyone reacquainted with the procedures. Many people committed their lives to the Lord with the guidance of the prayer team. Every day there is a group of people who commit themselves to pray for those who come and to share the gospel of Jesus and to provide them with the word of God. 

February 1 The sun rises and falls each day as God has designed and what beauty that surrounds us is a blessing to behold. On the bus by 8 am to reach the town of Potam which not only includes Mexican nationals but Yakaies (I'm sure I am not spelling this correctly). My position today, as it was yesterday was to sit at the triage table and take down the patients vitals. This year we have two doctors, one PA, four nurses, a physiotherapist, several paramedics and a medical student plus many volunteers to help things to run well. The bus ride there and back was a bit long but thanks to some new highways it took much less time than it had in the past. Thankful to be back at the mission and off the bus.

February 1 Sunday, a day of rest. Pastor Glen, at the San Carlos Community Church, asked the question, "Now what?" Using the book of Acts and the first church to challenge and encourage us to be like those first believers. To believe in the power of the Holy Spirit that we as followers of Jesus possess to fearlessly share the love of Jesus with all. Not just with those we love or like but with everyone. Lunch was consumed at a couple of locations and some came back to nap while others soaked up some sun on the beach. There were four brave souls who ran from the mission to lunch, which was a mere four miles. Not for me, although I did walk for a ways along the beach. Today is Super Bowl Sunday so now while I sit and journal there are those who are watching the game. They are watching in Spanish as they have so far been unable to figure out how to watch it in English. I think I will find another book to read. So far I have only read five since we left home and today was able to share some of those completed books with a fellow book lover. I hope she enjoys them.

Adventure 2020

Well, we have decided and have begun another adventure. So, here it goes. 

2020

January 16 We left home in minus 32 degrees Celsius, which was the coldest weather by far for us to head out in our home on wheels. As we crossed over the Canada/USA border just south of Brandon we soon found ourselves battling strong winds and blowing snow which is rather challenging when you are driving a taller vehicle. At those moments when a semi tractor would pass by it felt as if we would be blown off the road. But thanks to God and my excellent driver we continued on.  Determined to make it to North Platte, we did and spent our first night in the familiar surrounding of a Walmart parking lot.

January 17 I heard the rain overnight and was a little concerned and decided not to rush away and get back on the road until the sanding trucks had made their passes. Ice and slush covered roads and continued high winds made for another challenging day of travel. Thankfully once we entered Kanas we were soon met with a temperature of +18 with lots of sunshine. We enjoyed a simple Mexican supper in Dalhat and continued on before stopping for sleep at a Flying J in the town of Santa Rosa.

January 18 What a joy to wake up to another beautiful sunshiny day. Of course one could not simply drive past the pistachios store without stopping in to make a purchase. Then it was time to find a car wash to remove all the salt and sand from our home. We stopped again, considering it was warmer today, at the White Sands National Park and it was beautiful. Washed the RV and got a Sonic strawberry shake, walk-up style (the RV does not fit). In the town of Lordsburg we made a stop at a Denny's to fill our bellies with he nourishment we needed to continue on. Arrived at the home of Dennis & Nancy in the town of Benson, AZ where we enjoyed a lovely evening of conversation before retiring for the night.

January 19 Thanks to Nancy for her great cooking we lingered over our breakfast and enjoyed more conversing with each other.  After filling up our home with water and stopping at Safeway to pick up food we made the short drive to Patagonia Lake State Park where we planned to rest for a couple of nights. Sunshine and +21 made it all the more enjoyable.

January 20 What a beautiful park and beautiful day. Today Tim is feeling out of sorts as I had the other night. Despite Tim's lack of abundant health I was able to convince him to come out in a kayak on the lake as I promised to do most of the work. I did keep my promise. Kayaking on a calm peaceful lake is one of my favourite things to do. After a late lunch we took a short hike beside the lake before returning to our home and our books. Being outdoors in nature is energizing and I wish my love for it would motivate me to get out and enjoy it more than I do. Once the darkness took over we pulled out our playing cards to once again enjoy the game of Canasta.

January 21 The rain began sometime during the night despite the forecast prediction of it only starting after lunch. Packing up was a little wet, but thanks to our planning ahead we had the essentials all packed away the night before. The drive to Nogales and the USA/Mexican border was less than 30 minutes away. No line up made for a quick and easy crossing. Our drive down into Senora was calm and peaceful although we are bright and alert as we pass through Hermosillo so as not to make a wrong turn. At approximately 2:00 pm we arrived at our winter home - Casa de Esperanza. It felt good to be back. 

January 22 We had hoped we would get straight into working but quickly discovered that today was a day off for the current team, The Connect Church from Montana, so we eased our way in. We met some new people from Manitoba, Gary & Connie and together with them and Art & Brenda we enjoyed an afternoon riding ATV's on a beach in Empalme where much to our delight  we found sand dollars. I settled with taking three home but I'm not sure how many Connie took. As the tide went out we saw more and more sand dollars. Never have I seen so many in my life. 

January 23 Having enjoyed a Mexican breakfast of refried beans and eggs and tortillas we joined a team for a work project. This team had begun to build a house for a mother and her adult son, whom she cares for every day as he cannot care for himself due to having cerebral palsy. They are currently living in a broken down bus with little to no windows. This bus is like a furnace in the summer time and very cold in the winter. "George" has a wheelchair in the bus that is adjustable for him but this chair cannot fit out the door so whenever he needs to or wants to come outside his mother has to pick him up and carry him down a few steps and out the "door" and put him into an old regular wheelchair which does not work well for him. As we worked others from the team became emotional as we all knew what a blessing this small home that we were building would mean to the mother and son. The home we are building is 18x16 feet. Someone else had already built them a bathroom so we are making sure to connect the two. Tonight we made the drive to Fatima where the Connect Church presented a kids program. It was wonderful to see the changes that have been made since we first began coming down here. Today there is not only the pastors home, a church with a kitchen, two buildings to house orphaned children,  a roof over the courtyard (which is much needed in the heat of the sun)  and they have also purchase property on either side of them. The property beside the church will soon contain a playground set for the kids provided by a church in Phoenix. What trip can be complete with a Mexican hotdog. This trip my pick was a "pregnant" hotdog, which consists of a spicier sliced dog stuffed with a regular dog on a steamed bun which is then loaded with onions, mayo, and (I forget - maybe next time we get them I will write it down).

January 24 We went back to our house project where we stacked and poured another three layers of styrofoam with cement. This project will now be on hold for a few weeks as the next team coming is the medical team. We are hoping and praying that we can complete or mostly complete this home before we return home.  This afternoon was tomali making time. I have never liked tomalies but despite that, here I was helping to make them. In the end these ones actually tasted alright. We brought the food to a drug rehab which we shared with the men after the Montana church shared a moving drama followed by some touching testimonies. The group also spent time washing the feet of those men who were willing. 

January 25 The Montana group left at four am so it is very quiet here again. The local group (the ones who serve here year round) were busy today washing bedding and cleaning the rooms for the next team. Tim and I installed a medicine cabinet and some ceiling lights in the bodega (which we helped in finishing last year by tiling in the bathroom). Tim also repaired the sagging bed by adding center supports. I helped where I could but also found time to read a book. 

January 26 Sunday, a day of rest. We enjoyed the message presented by Chuck at the San Carlos Community Church, and the taco fundraising lunch for a youth project. Nap for Tim, reading for me and taking the quad for a drive around to see the sights was how we chose to spend our day.

January 27 Since there is no team here (they arrive on Thursday) we, that is everyone here, is working on projects here at the mission. One of those projects is to complete Bob & Betty's house. The weather is most enjoyable and perfect for reading. Soon it will get busier so I am taking advantage while I can. Before, during and after Christmas I had been very sick and even wondered if we would be able to come down. It wasn't until we were here for a few days that I began to feel like myself again and am so thankful to God that my health has been restored. 

January 28 Rosy was asked to mix cookies this morning and I willing, cheerfully helped to bake the cookies. Peanut butter, oatmeal raisin (I would have preferred to omit the raisins), ginger snaps and drop cookies. By time we were done we were all quite tired. Naturally I spent some time reading in the afternoon. For supper Tim, myself, Shorty and Boomer (a fellow Manitoban) went to Boye's Burgers for supper.  Service here in Mexico often seems to take a long time but we had no complaints about the food. Another evening spent playing games in the kitchen with new friends and old. Took a few flower pictures today for my mom.

PS. Since my iPad is outdated I will have to wait until retuning home before I can add photos to this blog. It might be time to upgrade.