Back to School::New Kittens!

Hola!

First of all we apologize for not updating our site all week. This was "back to school week" for the kids and we are exhausted! The kids were really unfocused upon coming back on Wednesday...they were still on mental vacations. Nonetheless, they were excited to be back and were excited to see us. We are amazed every week at the interest shown by tourists who are here on vacation and want to come out and help! On Wednesday, we had a family of 5 who had found the "Pan de Vida" website before coming on vacation and decided this would be something worthwhile to do. On Friday, and today, Saturday, we had a young couple who are here on vacation from Wyoming who just discovered the website the day before they left to come here! We always hear how heartbreaking it is for these vacationers to leave the kids, even after one day! We feel so privileged to be able to be with them every day! We feel so blessed to be more than just a visitor...we have a special place in those kids' hearts and them in ours...God has blessed us with such a special gift!

(JOEL WRITING)
This week, I worked out at the dump putting in a cement floor with Pastor Ric. This was one of the tasks we knew about before coming down and I looked forward to helping out. This project was started by a short term mission team last week. We finished in 4 hours Thursday morning.
I was amazed at this family's living condition. The Roosters and chickens were inside the house on their beds... The entire house was smaller than the front half our our apartment. From their front door you can see all corners of the house. There was a toilet in the top left corner that drained into their front yard. In the lower left corner, there was a chicken coup and kitchen (which consisted of a round plastic table and a two burner "camp stove" that was hooked up to a 10 gallon propane tank). In front of me were 3 beds and the chickens. To the right was a TV and some shelves for misc items and clothes. Helping Ric and I mix concrete and lay the floor was a couple on their HONEYMOON from West Virginia, and a older gentleman from the local church. As we said above, it is great to see these vacationers donate some of their time for a good cause.
Some people may be thinking... What difference is a cement floor vs a dirt floor? This time of year the answer is not much, but when the rain comes the difference is Night and Day. Imagine the rainy season. When you get out of bed, you must step into thick, dirty, stinky mud. There is no place to keep anything clean. Now imagine having a clean and solid place to put your feet instead. It cost about a $150 to buy materials, but it does so much to change the quality of life.

(LESLIE AGAIN)
I went to Boca with Randy this week and had a really INTERESTING time! First of all, because the kids are back from school, they were having a parade with the kindergarteners to celebrate the beginning of Spring. They dressed up like animals, and flowers, and bees. There was a queen and a king, and a prince and a princess. It was so precious! As they were being driven down the street in the back of the truck, you might have thought it was the Macy's parade with how proud they were and how they were waving. After the parade, we went into the empty classroom to serve the lunch where we normally are. Next door to that room is another empty classroom that I've never seen being used. I saw a woman walk up with her 2 dogs and go into that classroom. Apparently those doggys were there to have surgery....yes, surgery....right there at the school! Being a nurse, I was more interested in watching that than serving food, and I'm sure you can imagine the kids' curiosity. The vet came in with all his supplies in a plastic bin, grabbed an empty desk to set up the operating table, put the dogs out, and they were neutered by the time we left after lunch! Only in Mexico! I wish I had my camera!...Actually, it turns out I had it in my purse the whole time, I just didn't know it!

I was also busy this week preparing a presentation on First Aid for the parents out at Boca. I'm not sure when it will be, but I'm excited for the opportunity. I've been in contact with one of the community leaders out there who will be helping me facilitate. Please be praying for that opportunity!

Today was an awesome day at school. The kids LOVE it when we sing songs. Joel has been bringing the guitar, and thanks to the good 'ol' Sumner Pres. days in Ensenada, Mexico, I know a lot of their songs. A couple weeks ago, we introduced them to "Pharoah, Pharoah," and we had a request for that one today! They are doing really well on their memory verse in English and Spanish. If they can memorize it by June, they win a trip to the water park. The verse is John 14:6.
After school, we went to the paint store to buy two shades of blue, and one shade of purple (almost gray). Vera told us the colors she wants on her walls, and where, so we got started on that today, now that the ceiling is done. We only got one wall today because it took FOREVER at the pain store to mix them all. Anyway, the wall turned out really nice! We probably won't be back until next week to work some more. Tomorrow is church, and we plan on resting afterwards and on Monday.


The last bit of news for the week is that our adopted cat had kittens! Her name is Pancha, and she had three kittens right outside ours and our neighbor's apartment in the bushes. She lives outside, but we give her attention, and Joel doesn't know it, but I sometimes sneak her a meal or two. We went to the store to get her kitten food...I didn't know that's what mamma cats need to eat. We've been taking care of her and making sure she's getting food and rest. There is also another little girl cat, named Micha (mee-cha) who will also have kittens any day now. They are both the neighborhood cats who everyone keeps an eye out for and helps take care of.



We have a couple prayer requests: Joel is sick with something like a cold. He became ill on Thursday and had a slight fever and felt horrible. He is much better, but his voice has left him. Please be praying for me also as I haven't been sleeping well. There have been many nights, including last night where I lie awake practically the whole night. I have been praying in the day and night about this problem and it's getting frustrating because my energy level is way down, and I have a tendency to develop a bad attitude when that happens!

Well, that's all the news for now! We hope everyone is doing great. We love you guys and miss everyone!

The Kellners