Of all the cars we looked at this seemed to be the best... It has spent most of its life in "Park." There are only 66,000 km which is about 44,000 miles. Most of the vehicles in our price range had twice that or more. The glass had no chips or cracks. The interior had no tears in the fabric or dash. It gets more than 40 miles per Gallon (17km per L). The bonus is that is has Aire Acondicionado (air conditioning). I don't think any of the vehicles we were looking at were equipped with this bonus. The shocks/suspension are good, Tires were pretty new with the exception of passenger rear which we changed today as well as the oil.
Pastor Luis from Pan de Vida took a look and said it was a great car. The one thing to remember is change the timing belt every 45,000 KM... if that breaks then you are in big trouble. I called the owner and he had changed it last year.
I am so thankful that we have a support team around us. We are just silly Americans trying to do some good here in Mexico and God has protected us from scammers and provided good voices of guidance. The couple who sold the car were nice, the lawyer who handled the transfer of property was good too. If we take good care of the vehicle, we should easily be able to sell it for the same we paid.
(I apologize for the long segment about the car.)
The Salvation Army building is coming together very fast! I went Tuesday and Thursday this week and we have moved all the blocks needed till they start the 2nd story. I wish I had taken pictures the first day I arrived, because I took Leslie with me today and where once there was only a floor, we now have walls over head.
I have met some good guys out there. Gary and Bob worked with me Thursday. I can really relate to Bob. He has a diverse history as an artist, contractor and custom builder. I can relate to his story and enjoyed his company on Thursday. He seems like someone who has a lot of life experiences to share.
Leslie is going to take over and discuss Boca, Pan de Vida and possible new ministry opportunities.
OK....well, I went back to Boca this week with Randy and met a lady named, Carmen, who I think is the school district super-indendent? Not really sure...anyway, she and I were able to discuss some nursing opportunities for out there. It sounds like the need is really to educate the parents. She has asked me to think up seminars on things like skin care, wound cleaning, infection prevention, lice education, etc. to teach the parents. I love the idea and I'm excited to get started on that! For the next two weeks, there is no school as the Easter holiday is a huge Mexican holiday...Semana Santa (Holy week). Yes...they celebrate for two whole weeks. So, I will be in contact with Carmen, and when school resumes, hopefully I can get started with these education opportunities.
(Part of the school at Boca. Boca is a 30min. drive and is where we catch the water taxis to go to Yelapa)
(The line-up for lunch. The cook woke up at 4am to prepare two buckets full of fresh fish tacos. They were Delicious!)
(Part of the school at Boca. Boca is a 30min. drive and is where we catch the water taxis to go to Yelapa)It was awesome working with the kids out at Pan de Vida this week! The little girl's lip healed (see last blog entry for details) with no signs of infection...Praise God! There were a couple sick kids this week...a 4mo. old with a fever and congestion, and a 4yr. old with a really sore throat and a high fever. I think the baby has pneumonia (I listened to her lungs which had lots of crackles and were quiet in the bases...for you nursing gurus). The older one (I'm almost positive) has strep throat. She had white patches in her throat and it was hard for her to swallow. I gave them both antibiotics and am working hard on praying for them as well. Please be praying for my little patients out there for God's healing and graceful hand...that will heal even more than medicine!
(This is Montse, short for Montserrat...her lip is almost all better!)
(This is Montse, short for Montserrat...her lip is almost all better!)We also had the opportunity to take out two boxes of clothing to school today, thanks to God's provision of a new car! The kids loved it and we can't wait to give out more...Lupita helped me...she knows exactly who needs what and what size.
( Yay! A new dress!)A funny thing that happened today...we went to Costco to return Joel's skim board (it broke the first time we used it:( and at one of the sample tables they were giving away (drum roll please) SHOTS of TEQUILA! We couldn't believe it, and still can't! Just one of the ways life here in Mexico is different.
Anyway, as the week is winding down, we have to say that we are so thankful for God's provisions every day! We could never make it without Him. Please continue to pray for our kids and their spiritual and physical well-being. They need so much love, patience, and kindness...please be praying for us that the Lord would be working through us to be able to meet some of those needs.
We love you guys and can't wait to hear from you!
The Kellners
5 comments:
Yay for a new car!!! How's it doin on the ol' hill?
How exciting for you, Leslie, that you have the opportunity to inform and teach the parents preventative care for their kids. And all the nursing skills that you are able to use on them, also. I never did get why you get so excited to do those kind of things, but hey, I guess that's why I'm not a nurse. ;)
Alright, we'll hopefully see you soon! Love the Valencias
PS Your hair is so long now Leslie!! I guess you don't have to worry about strict nursing policies for a while, huh!
A Chevy Monza--that must be a model they sell overseas, or in Mexico. Back in the day, the Monza was a model of the Corvair, the air cooled car GM made in the 60's, in competition with VW. It was not well engineered, and did not stand the test of time. For a car of that age, ten years old, only 44,000 miles is incredible! How does it do on your hill? And how great that you finally could take some of the donated clothes out to the children. Thinking of all those boxes sitting there in your apartment was sad.
Joel, your construction work does sound stimulating; probably healthy too; providing you with skills and confidence to work on your own home, after your mission adventure is concluded, and you come home, and find a house to buy. But that is all fuzzy pie in the sky for the moment. It really does sound grand that you have been surrounded by such fine people, who seem to appreciate you two, and shower you with affection and fellowship. Then again I'm sure that a couple like yourselves does not turn up too often down there, young people who have prepared for this mission trip for countless years, made your sacrifices so that you could go. Putting the car in Pastor Ric's name was a true stroke of luck. Are there no requirements for insurance down there? In another month or so, you will really appreciate that air conditioning.
Hard to imagine two weeks of celebration for Easter, but it does kind of sound like the Spring Break that college kids and high school kids get up here.
Leslie, almost every day your nursing training is called into play. Won't it be grand if you get a chance to do some Parental Ed. That, after all, is the crux of the problem. The kid's various predicaments reflect the parent's attitudes. Your hair is getting long and lovely. Boca looks a lot more like a spiffy school, and not a make shift affair. The buildings at Yelapa look pretty good too. When you kids return I am sure that you will have hundreds of digital photos to share. Do your American driver's licenses suffice for all the driving you want to do? Probably they do, as long as they are still valid back in the USA, right?
Spring starts officially this week. Trees are blossoming everywhere. Now we are going to have to mow the lawn again soon. Taffy and Keezie send their love, and so do your mother and I.
Glenn & Melva
Hi Leslie! Bet you didn't think you would hear from me. It was nice reading your blog. AC is really cool, get it cool.
Sounds as if you are doing well, we miss you in class and I will tell everyone hello.
Our fundraising for the Y raised $164,000.00! Keynote speaker at the final meeting was the lady from our class, whose daughter was diagnossed with inoperable cancer. There was not a dry eye in the room. Then into the MDA fundraising the week following the Y's campaign was over. Now I am raising money for MS.
Real estate is busy, which is good.
Reading your story relly hits home with me, I so look forward to doing something like that one day.
Leslie you hair is so long!
Take care see you soon.
Matt Caldwell
congrats on the car! Looks like you are doing a great job. Keep it up!
Your car looks like it was very well taken care of .Looks like a vw in the front esp the head lights.It sounds like the preventave mat. has been done also . Sound like a great Car.I tryed to look up info on it on GM Mexico web site but had no luck.Paul
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