After a relaxing weekend, we are back on the scene. Yesterday I, Leslie, went to Quimixto (pronounced ku-meex-toe) for the first time with Randy, and starting next week, I will be doing a "mini-clinic" every-other Wednesday. Next week, I will bring flyers into the community announcing the days that I will be there, and the Wednesday after that, I will hopefully have a few patients. Between now and then, I will be needing to buy first aid stuff, antibiotics, eye drops, and other medicines. The "clinic" will actually be in the "front yard" of one of the community member's homes. He and his wife were running a restaurant there which is no longer in operation. It is a perfect place because it is under covering and has a nice, smooth cement floor. It seems that the other opportunity in Boca may fall through as my contact hasn't been a very good contact after all. Please be praying for one or the other to actually work out.
(This is the school in Quimixto. Check out the huge tree in the background!)
One interesting site that I saw in Quimixto was a wrecked tourist boat as we were pulling up to the shore to be dropped off. It was a 2-story party-boat type thing that apparently came loose from the anchor and crashed into some rocks and sank. Must have been an exciting day for those tourists! I guess it happened about two weeks ago and they are working on taking it apart to get rid of it...Luckily it was very close to shore and no one got hurt.
After that, Joel and I went to school at Pan de Vida. Patty and Ray will be leaving this coming Monday, and we have been asked to take over their class. We've been sitting with them these past two days to get a feel for the teaching style they're used to. These kids are a little older than the ones we've been working with...probably between 7-9 yrs. They are working on the "house," learning what the different rooms are called in English. Today, we had them each draw a house on a big piece of butcher paper and furnish them with pictures from magazines. It was really fun and the kids really got into it! They all put a pool outside their house...the "pools" were pictures of huge resort pools!
(JOEL SPEAKING)
Yesterday we celebrated our 3rd anniversary. Ever since we came on the first trip to
Puerto Vallarta, Leslie has wanted to go to RHYTHMS OF THE NIGHT. It is a dinner tour to Las Caletas, the old home of John Huston, the movie director. They take you out there on a boat and then you watch a 30 minute live dancing presentation. Then have a romantic candle lit dinner buffet.
It was a very beautiful place and great way to celebrate our Anniversary.
(Joel's hair is a little fluffy after the boat ride out to Las Caletas!)
(A really nice view of the shoreline from the boat)
(A Nice Candle Light Dinner)
Today we slept in and I did work for Fine Designs, touched up the Blue walls at Vera's, worked out at Pan De Vida and then started to paint Vera's Bathroom. This is were the Drama begins. Her bathroom is an odd shape room below the stairs. I can reach 80% of the room but the top point I needed a ladder. I removed the boxes and suitcases, brought in a bucket and wiped down the walls to prepare for the paint. I had even found some wall patching paste and filled in the holes. I got out the ladder and planned on painting bathroom from the top down
As I was painting the ceiling something unexpected happened.
(A really nice view of the shoreline from the boat)(A Nice Candle Light Dinner)
Today we slept in and I did work for Fine Designs, touched up the Blue walls at Vera's, worked out at Pan De Vida and then started to paint Vera's Bathroom. This is were the Drama begins. Her bathroom is an odd shape room below the stairs. I can reach 80% of the room but the top point I needed a ladder. I removed the boxes and suitcases, brought in a bucket and wiped down the walls to prepare for the paint. I had even found some wall patching paste and filled in the holes. I got out the ladder and planned on painting bathroom from the top down
The Ladder slipped, Gravity took its hold on me, and before I knew it I was on the floor. I fell through the shelf on the wall and the bathroom sink. The whole sink actually came out of the wall! I fell straight on my back, catching myself on the shelf and sink on the way down. Water began shooting out of the wall and I had no way to stop it... I am sure my body hurt, but I needed to find some way to stop the water. I found a sponge in the kitchen that could stop the majority of the water only for about a minute, until the water pressure was too much. I called Leslie and she came to help. I said "We need something to stop the water." She had brought the caulk from when we fixed the window, unfortunately that would not work. Water was flooding the floor in the front part of her house and rushing out the door. We didn't know where to turn it off!
Luckly, Eric our neighbor came by and turned the water off outside. That left a HUGE MESS inside for us to clean up. We moved the furniture from her living room and began sweeping up the floor. The adrenaline wore off and I noticed a gash under my Left arm, I also discovered another scratch on my left wrist. My left butt cheek is also sore. I am thankful that I was all that happened. The porcelain sink was shattered on the floor, with large serrated edges pointing up. I could have landed on a sharp point and had to go to the HOSPITAL. There could have been nothing there and I would have fallen strait to the floor and I could have been knocked out. It is unfortunate that we have to buy a new sink for Vera, but I am so glad that it broke my fall Instead of an 8 foot fall, I had a two foot fall to the shelf, three foot fall to the sink and then 3 foot fall to the floor. You can see from the picture the damage.
We called Vera and apologized. She was not upset. She talked with Emilia, another neighbor, and they know a plumber who lives close. Hopefully it can be fixed by this weekend.
I still have my cough, which keeps both of us up at night. The bugs have also been making cameo appearances which drive Leslie nuts! They practically covered the whole bathroom wall and floor one of the nights they were here...we might have had a glimpse of what one of the plagues of Moses was like. We've also been battling fear of the future...finances, when to come home, what will happen when we come home, finding new jobs, etc. Between these things and what happened today, we are feeling under attack and would appreciate your prayers!
I have recently been listening to a series of teachings from the son of Randy and Sandra. Their son Adam is a 30 year old pastor in Illinois. He has a website
http://borderlandsweb.com/
I think it would be a good source for anyone looking for good Biblical teaching. He is currently addressing the Emerging Church.
Well, that's it for now! Hope all is well for everyone.
Joel and Leslie
3 comments:
Gosh Children, what a turbulent few days. Joel you must have had an angel guide your body first into the shelf, and then into the sink. An 8' fall has been known to paralize, even kill some. I can see where you would have had the feeling of stress and anger, frustration and trepidation, that knawing feeling that you are being attacked. That and the virus that lingers there, even in the warm weather.
Happy Anniversary! You and Leslie, Melva and I (April 3rd), and Lucille & Warren, April 12th; all clustered together--what a reality. Melva and I loved our brief visit with Lucille and the family last week in Texas. We took Lucille out to dinner at a steak house for our anniversary, and had to rise early the next morning to prepare for our 2 hour drive back to Houston for our flight home.
Leslie, how grand to find pussycats wherever in the world you go. You are a cat person, for sure. I hope your "clinic" days are not too traumatic. You might end up seeing some folks that really do need major medical attention. Is there any kind of city referral, or National Health Care system you can plug into, or are the poor just left adrift to fend for themselves?
Your anniversay dinner looked and sounded grand! One of these years, after your return home, we will have to do a double anniversary dinner some time; or not. It is neat to just get off my yourselves too. Jesse drove your VW up to the airport to pick us up a week ago, as we winged in from Texas. Your mother has probably emailed you about her conference and our week in Lolita.
Joel, won't you keep your job at Fine Designs when you return? We all feel that Leslie will have her royal pick of several nursing jobs. Nurses are always a shortage all over the Northwest. Is your car running OK--not overheating?
Leslie, have faith that as your "patients" come to you, you will not have to "doctor" them. You will do what you can, and that will be a lot more than their own community seems willing or able to do.
As May approaches, and you two make a visit up here for Joel's friend's wedding, we will talk about the "future". Finances really do plague all of us. We are having to spend $6,000.00 on the downstairs shower. I am still in shock over it. Welcome to owning your own home, folks.
Love: Glenn & Melva
Thank you, God for a lesson without serious injury Knowing the details of that accident makes our hearts faint. Whats a few more gray hairs!
We had our first "hot" day of 2008. I dug out my Crocs and a pair of shorts. Dad finished chopping the cord of wood we had delivered. Carl and I did the wheel barrow and the stacking. No mishaps other than a bee sting. Somehow a fuzzy bumble bee flew up my pantleg and got me more than once on the front of my thigh. How bizarre.
From John 14:27 Jesus talking to the disciples: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
You serve Immanuel, God with us. He is immutable, never changing. He is our HOPE and our PEACE.
Hey Guys!!!
Happy anniversary! Three years is quite a feat. It's good to hear the school and medical clinic are going well. We are also happy to hear you are semi-healthy and safe with the bugs and the nasty fall. We will definitely be praying for you.
Nathan started walking last month...so cute! I would send you pictures but I somehow lost your email.
We love you and miss you. Take care of yourselves -
Andy and Becky
P.S. Leslie you looked soooo beautiful in the picture on the boat.
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