Most of you who know us know that the sun in not our friend…we both come from Scandinavian backgrounds and are fair and freckled. Ralph has way more trouble with this than I ever do and before we came to Mexico he had a lesion on his scalp that our doc in Washington froze off, twice no less. But the thing has come back again so a visit to the doc here was in order. He took one look and wondered aloud why on earth the doc in the US didn't cut it off to begin with, and he proceeded to give Ralph a bit of a funny haircut and then cut the lesion out and stitched him up and sent him home. He'll get the stitches out next Thursday, and while the doc doesn't really think its cancer he sent it for biopsy to be sure. Those results will be back in two or three weeks.
Dr. Maldonado is an interesting guy. Born and raised here in La Cruz, finished school here and went off to university to become a doctor. Upon graduation he had offers to work elsewhere, including a big hospital, but in the end he decided to come back to La Cruz and help his people. He has a great practice. No insurance forms to fill out, no three weeks waiting for an appointment to see him. No appointments at all actually, just come on in. He does his own triage as to who gets seen first, first come first served if there's nothing serious. Efficient office too, two exam rooms, waiting room, bathroom and his small office. He has one woman to help him out. No nonsense cut to the chase kind of guy. Funny too. Works 9 hour days, six days a week. Office visit, surgery, biopsy, three kinds of medicine and another office visit for stitch removal. $2,000 pesos!! Less than $200 US. You won't find that in the US.
Friday, August 4, 2006
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Visas…who needs 'em
We do, but the saga continues. We were supposed to get them this Thursday, but they called us and said they didn't have them yet. We were thankful they called, it was a very nice courtesy that they didn't have to do. They weren't sure when we might get them, though, and said we should just check back occasionally. We will and will let you know when we finally have these rascals in hand.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Mangoes are the zucchini of Mexico!!!
I love mangoes. I'm fairly addicted to them. That's a foregone conclusion. In Washington, they were an expensive treat. But they are grown here by the zillions commercially for export and in nearly everyone's yard. The growing season is very long considering the climate and the many varieties that come on at different times. It didn't take long for the word to get out in the neighborhood that the American lady loves mangoes. Over the last several weeks this luscious fruit has arrived by the bag and bucketful!! Our two neighbors across the street have trees, plus our neighbor behind and all three families have been quite generous.
Two other ladies several blocks away that we have a nodding acquaintance with also arrived on our doorstep with grocery sacks full. Then Eloy, Jacobo's handyman, arrived for a job here with guess what?? A bucket full of mangoes for me. Have I had my fill yet? NO. Not sure I ever will. I never turn them down, partly because I enjoy them so much I could and do eat them every day. Partly because it would be rude to turn them down. But I haven't been totally greedy either. I've shared the wealth with the Lumppios and have stockpiled some frozen chunks and pureed mango in the freezer for the future.
To say life is sweet here is an understatement!
It finally dawned on me though, mangoes are the zucchini of Mexico. Why you ask? Have you ever heard the joke about zucchini season? Can't leave your car windows down or your sunroof open regardless of how hot it is because you'll come back and find a "gift" of zucchini in your car.
I never grew zucchini in Washington because I knew so many others who did who were thrilled to unload them once they started coming on. If you ignored them for a day or two they'd be the size of a small dog. You had to be constantly vigilant and get them out of your garden. People would bring them to work and church to share. They were everywhere. But, I loved them too…made tons of zucchini bread, a great zucchini casserole (thanks Ginny) and even a killer zucchini chocolate chip cake from a recipe from Ralph's Aunt Donna. Froze them in batches for these treats later in the year when the harvest was over. God is good to provide such a variety of things from his bounty. Could have just been all Brussels sprouts!!
Two other ladies several blocks away that we have a nodding acquaintance with also arrived on our doorstep with grocery sacks full. Then Eloy, Jacobo's handyman, arrived for a job here with guess what?? A bucket full of mangoes for me. Have I had my fill yet? NO. Not sure I ever will. I never turn them down, partly because I enjoy them so much I could and do eat them every day. Partly because it would be rude to turn them down. But I haven't been totally greedy either. I've shared the wealth with the Lumppios and have stockpiled some frozen chunks and pureed mango in the freezer for the future.
To say life is sweet here is an understatement!
It finally dawned on me though, mangoes are the zucchini of Mexico. Why you ask? Have you ever heard the joke about zucchini season? Can't leave your car windows down or your sunroof open regardless of how hot it is because you'll come back and find a "gift" of zucchini in your car.
I never grew zucchini in Washington because I knew so many others who did who were thrilled to unload them once they started coming on. If you ignored them for a day or two they'd be the size of a small dog. You had to be constantly vigilant and get them out of your garden. People would bring them to work and church to share. They were everywhere. But, I loved them too…made tons of zucchini bread, a great zucchini casserole (thanks Ginny) and even a killer zucchini chocolate chip cake from a recipe from Ralph's Aunt Donna. Froze them in batches for these treats later in the year when the harvest was over. God is good to provide such a variety of things from his bounty. Could have just been all Brussels sprouts!!
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Pastor Jose
It's been an interesting month or so for church here. For some reason, the two or three other women that used to come sporadically haven't been here in weeks…don't know why, no one seems too. And then Gloria and Mimi left for several weeks of family visits all over northwestern Mexico. Not only does this mean no music for the services, but it also means Pastor has been alone at home for the better part of a month. I think he was pretty happy at first, having the house to himself, no real schedule with the family. But I think the novelty has worn off now and he's looking forward to them coming back. Should be mid-August sometime. He's not quite sure.
He's also cancelled church a couple of times, and the other times it's just been us, him and Adolfo. One Sunday it was just us and him and he gave a 45 minute sermon on the evils of alcohol and drugs and sex outside marriage. Huh? Must have been practicing that one for another audience!
Plus, his foot has been bothering him quite a bit again. It got all discolored and funny looking, even getting a bit of fungus on it. He went to a specialist in Culiacan, who told him it was really nothing to worry about. So he's not worrying. I should probably follow his lead. Please keep him in prayer, as he has been lonely with his girls gone and also for the healing of his foot. Thanks.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Gully washer!!
In the case of being careful what you pray for, we got a big lesson this week. We’ve been in a drought here for a long time and even though we love the dry, sunny weather, we’ve found ourselves praying along with the local folks for rain. Rain to irrigate the crops that will be planted soon and rain to fill up lake El Salto for the tourist fishing season that buoys the economy here.
Boy oh boy, having a stalled tropical storm even remotely close to your neighborhood gives you lots and lots of exactly what we’ve been praying for: RAIN! Tropical storm Emilia got stalled just for a bit over the tip of the Baja peninsula and dumped rain on us for over three days. It turned the far side of our street into a little mini raging river for many hours at a time, but it always stayed on that side of the street, so we never had to deal with that muddy flow. It filled our patio with about two inches of water, many hundreds of gallons, but never crept into the house. We used the broom to sweep out as much water as we could, as our patio has no drains.
The rain soaked the wall in the guest room down about two feet from the ceiling and also under the window in that room and started leaking through the corner of the kitchen, but that was it as far as the house goes thankfully. Our landlord checked it out, says not to worry it will dry out just in time for the big rains coming in August and September. Yippee.
Our water company’s pumps were flooded out by the Rio Elota, and so our whole neighborhood has been without water for more than two days. They promise it will be back later this afternoon. Praise the Lord, showers and dishes tonight, laundry tomorrow!
Tom and Lidia had actual flooding in their guest room and lost their internet connection at one point. They spent a sleepless night on Tuesday trying to keep the water at bay so it wouldn’t invade the rest of the house, Tom on the roof with a squeegy pushing the excess water off and Lidia and her friend Ingrid mopping and soaking up the water that did get inside.
Thankfully on Wednesday they located the cause of the flooding, two drain pipes on the roof had been cut off during the reconstruction and those two holes let the water pour into the house and out through the electrical outlets in the guest room. They consulted with our friend Layo at the big ferreteria up the hill from us, found a guy who came out and took a look. He installed some extra joints on the pipes, bringing them above the water level on the roof and presto! No more flooding! And for only $20 pesos! Praise the Lord.
In the midst of all of this our letters from Religious Affairs arrived in Mazatlan, so this morning Tom, Ralph and I journeyed south and picked them up from DHL and delivered them to immigration. They accepted them (yea!!) and told us to come back in a week for our visas! Praise the Lord!
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, whatta week, whatta God. Thanks for your prayers.
Boy oh boy, having a stalled tropical storm even remotely close to your neighborhood gives you lots and lots of exactly what we’ve been praying for: RAIN! Tropical storm Emilia got stalled just for a bit over the tip of the Baja peninsula and dumped rain on us for over three days. It turned the far side of our street into a little mini raging river for many hours at a time, but it always stayed on that side of the street, so we never had to deal with that muddy flow. It filled our patio with about two inches of water, many hundreds of gallons, but never crept into the house. We used the broom to sweep out as much water as we could, as our patio has no drains.
The rain soaked the wall in the guest room down about two feet from the ceiling and also under the window in that room and started leaking through the corner of the kitchen, but that was it as far as the house goes thankfully. Our landlord checked it out, says not to worry it will dry out just in time for the big rains coming in August and September. Yippee.
Our water company’s pumps were flooded out by the Rio Elota, and so our whole neighborhood has been without water for more than two days. They promise it will be back later this afternoon. Praise the Lord, showers and dishes tonight, laundry tomorrow!
Tom and Lidia had actual flooding in their guest room and lost their internet connection at one point. They spent a sleepless night on Tuesday trying to keep the water at bay so it wouldn’t invade the rest of the house, Tom on the roof with a squeegy pushing the excess water off and Lidia and her friend Ingrid mopping and soaking up the water that did get inside.
Thankfully on Wednesday they located the cause of the flooding, two drain pipes on the roof had been cut off during the reconstruction and those two holes let the water pour into the house and out through the electrical outlets in the guest room. They consulted with our friend Layo at the big ferreteria up the hill from us, found a guy who came out and took a look. He installed some extra joints on the pipes, bringing them above the water level on the roof and presto! No more flooding! And for only $20 pesos! Praise the Lord.
In the midst of all of this our letters from Religious Affairs arrived in Mazatlan, so this morning Tom, Ralph and I journeyed south and picked them up from DHL and delivered them to immigration. They accepted them (yea!!) and told us to come back in a week for our visas! Praise the Lord!
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, whatta week, whatta God. Thanks for your prayers.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Cosala
Okay. We are supposed to take one day a week off away from the ministry, but we aren't very good at it. Since the camps are vacant for the summer a lot of the ministry presently happens on our patio and in the neighborhood surrounding the house. Even if we say we are going to take a day off, ministry somehow creeps in...it's just part of our everyday life. We have resolved to try harder to get away, and in that spirit we took an afternoon off and drove out to Cosala, a small pueblo about 50 miles east.
The road to Cosala is a far cry from the straight autopista between here and Mazatlan...get on, peg to 110 KM/H or so and hit the cruise. Autopilot the whole way. BORING. Not so this road! It's a lovely two-lane black-top, very curvy and hilly as it climbs in and out of foothills of the Sierra Madre.
We were slowed a bit while a cattle drive in front of us cleared the road. By the time they got the last beef into the trees there were four cars stacked up behind us! Ralph let them follow for a bit, then left them in the dust as he enjoyed the challenges of this road!
The challenges included a new Spanish word: Derrumbas. Didn't have the dictionary with us and we had no idea what it was, just that we were entering Zona Derrumbas. Didn't take us long to figure it out though. Zone of collapses!! There were two pretty large rock falls blocking the lanes in two spots through this area. Had to slow way down and go into the other lane to avoid them. Note to self: Don't drive this road at night or in the rain!!!
We marvelled at the thousands of yellow butterflies all along the roadway, they were truly amazing and very busy with all the wildflowers along the road. With all the rain we've had lately the hills have burst forth in green with splashes of wildflowers here and there, absolutely beautiful!
We got a great, shady parking spot near the plaza and got out and wandered around. There are unexpected little fountains and bronze busts of favorite sons and daughters of Cosala who've gone on to fame of one sort or another.
The town is self is pretty small, and is much more old fashioned than La Cruz. It has tons of tiny, winding streets made of stones and concrete. There's a nice mix of hotels, shops and restaurants, a history museum, lots of little vending stands with food, snacks, souvenirs, a lovely plaza and two Catholic churches!
The "new" Catholic church is about the same vintage as ours in La Cruz, but it is larger, and much nicer.
After exploring for a while, we found a spot to have a quick lunch, then wandered a bit more, exploring the central market, which also happens to be where the local buses stop. Cosala is the end of the road, so there is a lot of bus traffic getting people to and from the larger towns along the roadway, back out to the libre and autopista (free highway and pay highway). The town doesn't have a local bus route as far as we could tell, but does have a lot of taxis to haul you around if you wanted. There's even a small local airport!
We decided we'd better get back home and got a bit turned around getting to the one road that exits the puebla! It took us a few minutes and a few helpful townsfolk to get us on the right track and out of town, but we made it. We had a thoroughly enjoyable time and will likely explore some of the other small communities around here sometime soon. Including a refuge for tortoises that's around here somewhere close. Soon as we figure out how to get to it we'll go out there!
The road to Cosala is a far cry from the straight autopista between here and Mazatlan...get on, peg to 110 KM/H or so and hit the cruise. Autopilot the whole way. BORING. Not so this road! It's a lovely two-lane black-top, very curvy and hilly as it climbs in and out of foothills of the Sierra Madre.
We were slowed a bit while a cattle drive in front of us cleared the road. By the time they got the last beef into the trees there were four cars stacked up behind us! Ralph let them follow for a bit, then left them in the dust as he enjoyed the challenges of this road!
The challenges included a new Spanish word: Derrumbas. Didn't have the dictionary with us and we had no idea what it was, just that we were entering Zona Derrumbas. Didn't take us long to figure it out though. Zone of collapses!! There were two pretty large rock falls blocking the lanes in two spots through this area. Had to slow way down and go into the other lane to avoid them. Note to self: Don't drive this road at night or in the rain!!!
We marvelled at the thousands of yellow butterflies all along the roadway, they were truly amazing and very busy with all the wildflowers along the road. With all the rain we've had lately the hills have burst forth in green with splashes of wildflowers here and there, absolutely beautiful!
We got a great, shady parking spot near the plaza and got out and wandered around. There are unexpected little fountains and bronze busts of favorite sons and daughters of Cosala who've gone on to fame of one sort or another.
The town is self is pretty small, and is much more old fashioned than La Cruz. It has tons of tiny, winding streets made of stones and concrete. There's a nice mix of hotels, shops and restaurants, a history museum, lots of little vending stands with food, snacks, souvenirs, a lovely plaza and two Catholic churches!
The "new" Catholic church is about the same vintage as ours in La Cruz, but it is larger, and much nicer.
After exploring for a while, we found a spot to have a quick lunch, then wandered a bit more, exploring the central market, which also happens to be where the local buses stop. Cosala is the end of the road, so there is a lot of bus traffic getting people to and from the larger towns along the roadway, back out to the libre and autopista (free highway and pay highway). The town doesn't have a local bus route as far as we could tell, but does have a lot of taxis to haul you around if you wanted. There's even a small local airport!
We decided we'd better get back home and got a bit turned around getting to the one road that exits the puebla! It took us a few minutes and a few helpful townsfolk to get us on the right track and out of town, but we made it. We had a thoroughly enjoyable time and will likely explore some of the other small communities around here sometime soon. Including a refuge for tortoises that's around here somewhere close. Soon as we figure out how to get to it we'll go out there!
Friday, July 21, 2006
A little family update
We recently had a new addition to the family: Elleah was born to our cousins Kiesha and Josh and what a cutie she is!! She's doing fine and looking great. We are thankful for this wonderful new addition to the clan!
Our grandaughter, Savannah, recently graduated from pre-kindergarten and it was a very big deal. I know I'm pretty prejudiced on this subject, but isn't she just the cutest?
And this week Ralph's cousin Matt went home to be with the Lord. He was a wonderful, loving guy and he will be sorely missed on this earth, but welcomed with great joy in heaven! He was wheel chair bound and living in a nursing home, however he remained quite active, wheeling himself along the exercise trail in his town, participating in his church. He loved to get post cards and letters and we've tried to be faithful keeping in touch with him in this way through the years. We are thankful he's gone home to be with his Lord and is free of the things that bound him while he was here with us! Praise the Lord.
Our grandaughter, Savannah, recently graduated from pre-kindergarten and it was a very big deal. I know I'm pretty prejudiced on this subject, but isn't she just the cutest?
And this week Ralph's cousin Matt went home to be with the Lord. He was a wonderful, loving guy and he will be sorely missed on this earth, but welcomed with great joy in heaven! He was wheel chair bound and living in a nursing home, however he remained quite active, wheeling himself along the exercise trail in his town, participating in his church. He loved to get post cards and letters and we've tried to be faithful keeping in touch with him in this way through the years. We are thankful he's gone home to be with his Lord and is free of the things that bound him while he was here with us! Praise the Lord.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
