Thursday, I went with a church group from Colorado to do some Manual Labor at Pan de Vida. The original plan was to put a roof on the pastor's house, but the pastor prefered us to do work on the roof of the school.
Half the group went upstairs while I helped on a different project... A couple from Canada has a ministry to provide clean water in poor countries across the world. They have special steel molds to create concrete forms. When completed, they fill forms with Sand and Rock and the natural filtration can remove 98% of the impurities. The top level of the filter traps the bacteria which feeds itself as the dirty water is filtered through.
Anyways, the forms had not been used since December and there was a fine layer of rust that needed to be smoothed with a grinder. My job was to grind the form as smooth as possible... I spent about 60 minutes on one side getting all the impurities off till it looked like polished silver. I found out that they did not need it that clean. So in 30 minutes I did the other three sides. The other team rotated 3 people to clean the inside form. Once polished they had to be oiled and assembled. Then we manually mixed concrete 2 parts Rocks 2 parts Sand and one part cement. We added water till it looked like cookie dough then poured it into the forms. It is tiring work to toss rocks with shovel and to lift 5 gallon buckets 4 feet off the ground to fill the forms. All in all, I really enjoyed putting my muscles to work and to have an item that will benifit others long past when we leave.
You can check out their website www.friendswhocare.ca
You can check out their website www.friendswhocare.ca
http://www.friendswhocare.ca/BIOSAND%20INTRODUCTION%202005.ppt
Jeanne (Joel's Mom) flew in on Friday and we have had a great weekend with her here. Friday we ate at a nice restaurant, Si Señor. Saturday we rented a car to see the dump (North), get plants and go south to El Eden (where Predator was filmed). The driving experience in Mexico was not as bad as I anticipated. I was honked at early in the day for crowding out a motorcycle, but beyond that I felt like a real Mexican driver.
DUMP:: We explored the whole dump neighborhood and saw the Garbage built lean-to's. My Moms favorite decoration was bed spring fences... they look a little like Chain link.
PLANTS:: We picked up some plants for our balcony from Romy's Garden. Hibiscus, Bugenvilias and Taza de oros were among Leslies Top Selections. It took 3 tries to climb our hill with the rental car... but we finally made it to deliver the flowers. I think the trick was turning off the A/C.
Jeanne (Joel's Mom) flew in on Friday and we have had a great weekend with her here. Friday we ate at a nice restaurant, Si Señor. Saturday we rented a car to see the dump (North), get plants and go south to El Eden (where Predator was filmed). The driving experience in Mexico was not as bad as I anticipated. I was honked at early in the day for crowding out a motorcycle, but beyond that I felt like a real Mexican driver.
DUMP:: We explored the whole dump neighborhood and saw the Garbage built lean-to's. My Moms favorite decoration was bed spring fences... they look a little like Chain link.
PLANTS:: We picked up some plants for our balcony from Romy's Garden. Hibiscus, Bugenvilias and Taza de oros were among Leslies Top Selections. It took 3 tries to climb our hill with the rental car... but we finally made it to deliver the flowers. I think the trick was turning off the A/C.
EL EDEN:: The entrance to this location is a 2 mile dirt trail. Our car was a glorified Geo Metro and it was a difficult task to track all the way to entrance. Once we were there it really was beautiful, but probably not worth the trip.
After returning the car, we ate dinner at Pepes Tacos. This was our first Taco experience since the September episode of food poisening from bad tacos. These tacos were great and we did not get even a hint of nausea.
After returning the car, we ate dinner at Pepes Tacos. This was our first Taco experience since the September episode of food poisening from bad tacos. These tacos were great and we did not get even a hint of nausea.Today I lead worship with Joy (the pastors wife) at church. The guitar I borrowed had an electronic imput that did not work, so I played acousticly. It felt great to lead a whole congregation in worship. I look forward to an opportunity to do it again.
After church we went to Sayulita. We had a great time renting body boards and watching surfers.
While we were on the beach we noticed Whales playing near the horizon. They were the most active whales we've seen... They must have been playing. We closed out the weekend with dinner on the balcony.Sorry for the long Post... We will try not to skip so many days-
God Bless
4 comments:
Children:
How wonderful is it to have Jeanne there for a few days? I'm sure she enjoyed seeing your apartment, and visiting the sites where your ministry is done.
Joel, you have the muscles and the mechanical aptitude to be more than helpful there, and I am sure that there will be no immediate end in sight to the physical chores that will be offered you. You, of course, also have a fine mind, and a good heart, and when you work with the children there, or lead the church congregation with your music and your fine voice, you are still serving; them and the Lord.
Sometimes the simplest physical work can be the most grueling. I remember when I had the strength, helping out a friend one weekend. She lived in a cabin out in Matlock without running water. There was a clean creek 50 yards from her porch that she used as a cooler and for her drinking water. But she liked to grow a large garden too. She bought a 500 gallon Army surplus tank, and had it delivered. After sanitizing it, she decided that we would hand carry five gallon buckets the 50 yards from the creek, crawl up a 6'stepladder, and pour it into the tank. It required like over a hundred trips to do so. I was one pooped hombre at that point, but I felt a real pride of accomplishment. Later she hooked up a drain from her roof gutters into 50 gallon barrols to help water her garden.
Yes, there you are driving in Mexico. Just be extra cautious. If there is an accident, what is your legal status? Are you on a work visa, or visitor's visa, or what? Some residents could or might haul you into the Mexican courts, and that might be a dicy business. Even being there as missionaries, some Mexican still must consider you as "wealthy Americanos", right?
Yup, those Geo Metros are gutless wonder. Melva and I made the mistake of buying one for Chrystal as the first car. Then Leslie inherited it for a bit. The car broke down every other week; what a lemon! So it does not surprise me that you found it challenged by your hill. Melva says that if she visits, she will rent an motel at the bottom of the hill, and you two could come and visit her. It is like all those stairs at your first apartment in Federal Way. They prevented me from ever visiting with you there. Glad to hear that you now have some house plants to fuss with and class up and cheer up your digs.
Very brave of you to have another meal at Pepe's Tacos. Maybe you will build up some Mexican antibodies while in residence.
Sayulita looks wonderful in your pics. And to have had the bonus of seeing whales frolicing too, what a joy!
Yes, as to skipped days, remember there are now several loyal blog readers out here waiting with bated breath for you postings and pics. Have you been able to do some work with your graphics, and been able to submit them to your office at home? There was some snag about getting on the internet, Melva tells me. Has Leslie looked at the American clinic yet for part-time work?
Love: Glenn & Melva
Glenn-
I appreciate the long responses... you definitely win the longest response award. Leslie did look for a job at a clinic and it is too big of a demand for her at this time.
They require:
FLUENT SPANISH- in high stress situations, they need to communicate effectively in medical terms and have everyone understand exactly what is needed.
SPANISH Documentation: besides verbal communication she would need to learn all the abbreviations and method of documentation for the hospitals in Mexico.
FM3 Work visa: to be "Legal" to work in Mexico.
Since the purpose for being in Mexico is to help the children, At this time Leslie does not want the headache of working in a Spanish Hospital.
That is about it, Thanks again for the comment!
www.friendswhocare.ca/ tells all about the bio sand filters to be made for each household. The couple on the right of this website shook my hand on Sunday as they visited J&L's church. I also met Randy and his wife who do the island feedings and Dennis and Faye who have connected J&L to the children at the dump. Many servants of God. My trip has the feeling of waking up from a detailed dream. That feeling is magnified as I sit at my computer and realize that life is truly all about God.
Puerto Vallarta has growing pains. Much construction.....mostly with tourists and wealthy condo dwellers in mind. Canadians and Americans support the economy. You will recognize Costco, Sams Club, Super Walmart, Home Depot, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Starbucks...and they look just like they do in our home town. Those buildings are very noticeable architecture against the MX landscape. Mexicans try to entertain all of the temptations common to man. Nightly, the Booze Cruise pirates fight and shoot their cannons and fireworks. From J&L's terrace, the dialogue coming from the microphones onboard can be distinguished. Daily, familiar sounds of barking dogs, crowing roosters, MX music from lowrider cars, and competing church bells gonging waft their way to the top of "the hill". Puerto Vallarta is never boring.
J&L were key to my success with the language barrier and avoiding cultural faux pas. Leslie could make a living as a companion shopper as she can barter and identifies unreasonable price requests. The price is not the price until you pay it. Walking away sometimes forces their hand!! I learned how to ride a bus. How to use TelMex phone cards. And MX ATM machines. Here is some trivia: I withdrew $50 and with the exchange rate my account was only charged $46 plus 40 cents for the transaction.
The water and the food had no adverse effects on my digestive system. I got some bug bites at El Eden, but it did not result Dengue fever.
Life at the Kellner Apartment on THE HILL is
good. J&L look for your comments on their blogspot, they visit the KOMO website for local news, enjoy your emails, and work at staying connected as a couple. They walk together three evenings a week and have no use for step aerobics because they have the real thing. That last statement cannot be appreciated until you have made the hill climb yourself. It seems to be a 45% grade. Thanks for your hospitality, Leslie&Joel. It was so good to see you being successful in your new environment. God is good.
Leslie and Joel:
Interesting how it is with parents. The children are Leslie and Joel to Melva and I, and Joel and Leslie to Jeanne and Bob; just a matter of familial perspective I guess.
Looks like Jeanne, who writes a mean blog comment, may have tied me in the "long comment" award. Thanks Jeanne for your lush and detailed narrative. It makes us feel like we too have visited the J&L or L&J hacienda.
Kudos to Leslie for mastering the shopping needs. Bartering is essential to keep the expensives down I am sure. All this talk about the 45 degree grade up to your place, THE HILL--man it must be special. Did this not deter you in the slightest when you were looking to rent an apartment?
No response yet from you kids as to whether you have access to the internet yet. Would that not be essential so that Joel can stay in touch with his office? Can you have access to your blog site without being on the net? Kind of confuses me; but then when it comes to computers, what doesn't?
Taffy was having an especially tough time with her arthritis last week, and then it was off to Casey to get one of her injections, and that seemed to perk her up a bit. Maybe Melva could use one of those mysterious shots? She has suggested such when her back and hip problems are acting up. She has now joined the new gym, and the Curves experience will melt into the past.
Joel, we had Jesse and Andrea take a nice ride in your VW last Friday. He liked it, saying it was a lot smoother than his Honda to drive. Diane has offered to have an egagement party for Andrea and Jesse in a few weeks, or is in April? Have to check with Melva.
It feels like you kids have been in Mexico for months already, and it has only been weeks. You are settling into your island and dump ministries, and soon the time will actually fly by.
I really enjoyed Jeanne's narrative. She is an expressive and skillful writer.
Glenn & Melva
Post a Comment