This week Randy's Kids and Dennis and Faye's are off because of Semana Santa (Holy Week). It was perfect for us to spend time relaxing with Sarah and John. On Sunday we had to take two trips to the airport. As standby passengers Sarah got the last seat on the first flight and John got the last seat on the Last flight. Had they tried to stick together they would not have made it. We picked Sarah up first around 2:30. She brought our last boxes of donated clothing. John came in around 4. It sure is nice to have a car to pick up passengers and avoid the $20 taxi fare. The car is climbing the hill like a champ, even with 4 people. Sunday evening we ate a Sunset dinner on the balcony, then walked the Malecon (Boardwalk).
(The Catholic church was bustling with people on Palm Sunday)
Monday we drove our car to Sayulita. Dennis and Faye have asked me to make a ministry video comparing the beauty of Tourist Vallarta with the hard life at the dump. I brought my camera and caught some good footage of surfers, palm trees and beach umbrellas. As usual, it was a nice day spent body boarding, eating tamales and catching some sun. We took the Scenic Route home around Punta de Mita. Our car had its first issue when we returned from Sayulita. The temperature gauge rises and falls, the sign of a bad thermostat. We will have to get that fixed. Luckly it always goes back down before it gets too hot.
Tuesday we went to the El Eden Canopy tour. Regularly $85 we negotiated $58 deal for 4 people. It was less about a Canopy and more about Zip lines. Some zip lines, we travel 35 or 40 mph over 270ft ravines. It was a thrill, but I wished we could have spent more time. They sort of processed us through as if we were items on a conveyor belt as opposed to paying customers. One guy would clip us in and push us off, the other would unclip us and send us hiking to the next departure point. We also had a tour of a tequila factory. It was an 8 minute tour of the history of Tequila. Did you know the Agave plant has to grow 8 years to get to the size needed for Tequila processing? Once the leaves are cut off the center looks similar to a Pineapple the size of a basketball.
Wednesday we helped at Pan de Vida. Although there is no school, the church provided a 3 day Vacation Bible School. We helped set up the roof tents where they served 40 or 50 kids breakfast and lunch. Sarah and John fit right in. They were helping with Jackie's little brother who was a greater problem than Jackie. Kids were split into 2 groups: Older kids and younger kids. One group did crafts as the other played in water. There were two large "kitty pools" set up inside and a place to warm up and dry off up on the roof outside. A group from Illinois really did a lot to make the camp go smoothly. They did a puppet show and planned some crafts. The kids were attached even after 3 days. Leslie had a new patient as well. An older woman who seemed to have some respiratory issues. As she continues to help people medically, we are praying that God's healing hand would touch them even more than any medicine.
(This is Leslie now) On Thursday, I took Sarah and John to a couple of shops and then headed to a local beach, Playa de los Muertos, while Joel worked at home until the afternoon. It was CRAZY! We've never seen so many people at the beach here at once. It really reminded us of Waikiki beach in Hawaii...you could barely find a place to lay your towel. Most of the people out on the beach were families with the day off or Mexican vacationers. There was also the occasional American or Canadian tourist as well. The Mexicans outnumbered everyone else.
Today, Sarah and John finished up some last minute shopping at the market before they got on a plane headed for home. On our way to the market, we saw a public mock crucifixion as today is Good Friday. That was really neat...definitely not something you would see out in public in the states. It is sad to see them go and it rekindles some feelings of homesickness, but I think we'll manage to survive. We are looking forward to a festive weekend with semana santa continuing. We have been invited to Sunday Easter lunch at Randy and Sandra's which we are grateful and happy for. Next week looks wide open for us as the kids don't have school. We'll see what develops.
Prayer needs: 1.) I woke up this morning with a really sore throat...I never get sick at home and I'm assuming I caught it from someone at school. My head is starting to get stuffy and I'm sneezing a lot...I guess it's a good thing that there's no school next week. 2.) Please keep my "patients" in your prayers...I really don't know what I'm doing, (having only just graduated from nursing school) and am really praying for God's guidance and wisdom in how to diagnose and treat them (since you don't need a Rx for medicine) and deciding whether or not to take them to a doctor. I'm thankful for my palm pilot with all the info I need. 3.) Please keep praying for God's guidance and wisdom as to when we should return home. 4.) As the Salvation Army building project wraps up for Joel, he would like more opportunities to use his muscles. 5.) Please continue to pray for God's provision for us financially. Joel is working a little from home, but we know that everything that we get is from the Lord and we really want to be wise with what we have and are continuing to depend on God to provide for us.
Well, that about wraps it up! Once again, we will try to write more often for your sake and ours...it takes a long time to write one of these things after not writing one for a week! We love you guys and appreciate all your thoughtfulness and prayers! (We couldn't resist taking a picture of this funny pineapple man!)
The Kellners
4 comments:
That is great that John and Sarah came out to visit! We hope you guys are doing well and will be praying for you! Parker says hello and can't wait to meet you.
Take care,
Christian and Melissa
Great to hear that your car can climb the hill, even with four people in it--but the "strain" might have added to the thermostat or radiator issues. You are very wise to jump on that quickly.
A lot of people at my office were off for Good Friday. Holy Week here "seems" less celebrated, of course. One has to "look around" to take notice. This visit by Sarah and John was a terrific shot in the emotional arm for you two.
The idea of a ministry video showing the juxtaposiiton of the dump and those who live there to the tourist beaches is terrific. It should make for a lively film. We have poverty here at home too, but nothing that can compare with what you are witnessing and working with. It will make impressions on you that will last a lifetime, and will make you even more grateful for the lifestyle you will work hard for and enjoy when you return.
With Easter upon us tomorrow, and two of our three girls spread out so very far from us, it will be hard to have a quiet meal alone. We do miss you kids a lot, and not just because we are stepping over your belongings all the time.
Your trip to El Eden and the Tequila factory do sound like fun. One problem with "tours" is just what you experienced, we get the feeling that we are just being processed. The best bet is to make a mental note of returning solo, without the group, to check things out later; if that was possible.
Those pictures of the children at the Vacation Bible School are precious, as all your pics of them are. It really brings home what your mission is all about. When you were teenagers and used to go on Church mission trips for a week, you would only get a taste of what was needed. Now you are in the thick of it.
A public mock cruxification does sound fascinating, and you are right, you would not see that kind of action in Federal Way, Kent, or Sumner. Tomorrow we will think of you two at Randy and Sandra's. Happy Easter to you children.
We hope your sore throat is fleeting and you do not have that spring cold. That will slow you down some. We do pray for your success, and we believe that your aid and assistance for those folks that have come to you for medical advice is guided by a divine hand. You know a lot for a fledgling nurse, Leslie, and you represent a positive influence in the midst of a situation where medical help is hard to come by. And keep making your references to the palm pilot. It is a fine tool as well.
Love: Glenn & Melva
Hey you two! We are still praying about going down there, I hope you are as well. It would be so stinkin cool to go and see everything first-hand...
Alright, keep up the good work, we're praying for you, and that God will continue to work through you. We love you!
Oh yeah, I love all the pictures!!!
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