Hola,
If we had somehow forgotten that we were in Mexico, our digestive systems have reminded us that we are definitely not in Winkler anymore. But such is life on the runs - ha ha, I thought that was too funny not to include.
We arrived at Pan de Vida in Queretaro on Tuesday in the mid-afternoon and ate our first meal at the orphanage. By Wednesday lunch our digestive systems had begun to assert their wills and while we took food from the orphanage we didn't eat much of it. Mostly the smells just turned our stomachs. At that point we decided that until we feel better we will do our own cooking in our guest house kitchen.
On Wednesday I (Herb) tried to work with Malchor but I just couldn't do it. I felt light-headed, my legs felt weak and my stomach was upset. I made it until coffee time and told Malchor I wouldn't be able to continue.
Joan worked in the kitchen that morning and had the good fortune to cut up cabbage that had been donated to the orphanage, worms and all. She also cut the spines off cactus leaves so that they could be cooked or something to be eaten. We didn't stick around to find out what they would use the cactus for.
After lunch we went into town and found a grocery store called Superama that seems to be run by Wal-Mart. Then we went to Wal-mart and Costco and felt a little better about our situation. It's amazing how much like the Wal-Marts and Costco's at home look like the ones here. We ate at McDonald's in the Wal-mart and never has McDonald's food been enjoyed as much by our family as it was that evening.
Thursday was a holiday in Mexico. It's sort of like All-Saints Day with a Mexican twist. As I understand it people get the day off work and they go to the cemetary to visit with their loved ones who are buried there and bring them (their dead relatives) their favorite foods to enjoy. We noticed in the grocery store that they sold bread that was in a unique shape and with our limited Spanish we were able to decipher that it was some type of bread for the dead. It reminded me that while we miss our loved ones who have died, our hope in Christ is that one day we will see them face to face in heaven, not in a cemetary leaving them "bread for the dead".
As a result of the holiday on Thursday we didn't have to feel guilty about not working. Joan didn't work in the kitchen and Malchor, the construction foreman, didn't come to work so I didn't have to worry about not going to work.
On Friday I was able to work all day with Malchor, his son Juan and a helper named Nico who seems to have somewhat impaired mobility in his right hand and leg. I acually made it all day with only a slight lie down at lunch time. We placed steel mesh and rebar for the second floor of the new wing of the school which they hope to have completed in approximately four months.
This morning the boys - Rey and Jeff - went to American Football practice. They came home having run/walked the equivalent of 2 kms at an altitude of approximately 6000 feet above sea level. They were pleased that they were the biggest kids in their age groups - the Mexican people here are not very tall of stature. Needless to say they didn't have much spunk when we were walking around downtown in the historic part of the city.
This morning Paco - a Mexican man who works at the orphanage - and I went into town to pick up bread and milk donations for the orphanage. It turned out that we didn't get to the bread store on time but we were able to get a donation of milk from Leche Queretaro one of the local dairies. It is rather a peculiar feeling to know that the place where we live relies so heavily on donations from others.
One the way home from the historic district we stopped at Superama to buy more groceries. There was much rejoicing in the family as we were able to find and purchase Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. The Superama only had four boxes so we bought them all in case some other desparate ex-patriot American or Canadian got to them before we did and, who knows, the Superama may have a manyana attitude toward restocking. We also bought a pizza for supper.
Tomorrow is Sunday and there is a church that meets at the orphanage, so we don't have to get up early for church - nor is there any way we should get lost going to church. In fact I have decided that I will try very hard not to set an alarm the whole time I am here. Joan observed that the only time pressures we are under are the ones we place on ourselves.
Joan has been asked to help with teaching English and Computer to the students at the Pan de Vida School. She is mulling over whether or not to do that and if she does consent, how would she go about doing so having never taken any TESOL classes.
I will try once again to add pictures to this blog to get you all up to date. If it doesn't work you will have to imagine what all of this looks like.
Grace and Peace to all.
If we had somehow forgotten that we were in Mexico, our digestive systems have reminded us that we are definitely not in Winkler anymore. But such is life on the runs - ha ha, I thought that was too funny not to include.
We arrived at Pan de Vida in Queretaro on Tuesday in the mid-afternoon and ate our first meal at the orphanage. By Wednesday lunch our digestive systems had begun to assert their wills and while we took food from the orphanage we didn't eat much of it. Mostly the smells just turned our stomachs. At that point we decided that until we feel better we will do our own cooking in our guest house kitchen.
On Wednesday I (Herb) tried to work with Malchor but I just couldn't do it. I felt light-headed, my legs felt weak and my stomach was upset. I made it until coffee time and told Malchor I wouldn't be able to continue.
Joan worked in the kitchen that morning and had the good fortune to cut up cabbage that had been donated to the orphanage, worms and all. She also cut the spines off cactus leaves so that they could be cooked or something to be eaten. We didn't stick around to find out what they would use the cactus for.
After lunch we went into town and found a grocery store called Superama that seems to be run by Wal-Mart. Then we went to Wal-mart and Costco and felt a little better about our situation. It's amazing how much like the Wal-Marts and Costco's at home look like the ones here. We ate at McDonald's in the Wal-mart and never has McDonald's food been enjoyed as much by our family as it was that evening.
Thursday was a holiday in Mexico. It's sort of like All-Saints Day with a Mexican twist. As I understand it people get the day off work and they go to the cemetary to visit with their loved ones who are buried there and bring them (their dead relatives) their favorite foods to enjoy. We noticed in the grocery store that they sold bread that was in a unique shape and with our limited Spanish we were able to decipher that it was some type of bread for the dead. It reminded me that while we miss our loved ones who have died, our hope in Christ is that one day we will see them face to face in heaven, not in a cemetary leaving them "bread for the dead".
As a result of the holiday on Thursday we didn't have to feel guilty about not working. Joan didn't work in the kitchen and Malchor, the construction foreman, didn't come to work so I didn't have to worry about not going to work.
On Friday I was able to work all day with Malchor, his son Juan and a helper named Nico who seems to have somewhat impaired mobility in his right hand and leg. I acually made it all day with only a slight lie down at lunch time. We placed steel mesh and rebar for the second floor of the new wing of the school which they hope to have completed in approximately four months.
This morning the boys - Rey and Jeff - went to American Football practice. They came home having run/walked the equivalent of 2 kms at an altitude of approximately 6000 feet above sea level. They were pleased that they were the biggest kids in their age groups - the Mexican people here are not very tall of stature. Needless to say they didn't have much spunk when we were walking around downtown in the historic part of the city.
This morning Paco - a Mexican man who works at the orphanage - and I went into town to pick up bread and milk donations for the orphanage. It turned out that we didn't get to the bread store on time but we were able to get a donation of milk from Leche Queretaro one of the local dairies. It is rather a peculiar feeling to know that the place where we live relies so heavily on donations from others.
One the way home from the historic district we stopped at Superama to buy more groceries. There was much rejoicing in the family as we were able to find and purchase Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. The Superama only had four boxes so we bought them all in case some other desparate ex-patriot American or Canadian got to them before we did and, who knows, the Superama may have a manyana attitude toward restocking. We also bought a pizza for supper.
Tomorrow is Sunday and there is a church that meets at the orphanage, so we don't have to get up early for church - nor is there any way we should get lost going to church. In fact I have decided that I will try very hard not to set an alarm the whole time I am here. Joan observed that the only time pressures we are under are the ones we place on ourselves.
Joan has been asked to help with teaching English and Computer to the students at the Pan de Vida School. She is mulling over whether or not to do that and if she does consent, how would she go about doing so having never taken any TESOL classes.
I will try once again to add pictures to this blog to get you all up to date. If it doesn't work you will have to imagine what all of this looks like.
Grace and Peace to all.
posted by Franz Sabbatical Updates @ 10:04 PM
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