Hola

Just a few reflections about the difference in our world in Nova Scotia, as we know it, and the world as it is here in this area of Mexico.

At home, most kids have a cupboard full of shoes, usually brand name. Here, you cannot even buy running shoes, they have to be brought in from the States, so they only get to wear them in the cold months because the mission cannot afford them all year round. Most of the poorer people wear local made sandals year round and it can get cold. We have had two days of cold wind and rain and hail and thunder. I have on a fleece lined Jersey in the camper and put a coat over it when I go out. But I have a furnace. We went, this afternoon to Dan and Ana's ( the pastor ) for a bible study and they do not even have a stove. They are in construction and have only had styrofoam for doors but have no other place to live. The boy's house still has no hot water, even in the kitchen, and Larry & Paul Stearns started to plumb one in today and had to stop because of the storm. The Hot Water tank, is of course, outdoors. Last night was the Christmas service at Osobampo, I did not go as I don't have a good throat at the moment, but Larry said it was something to see how happy everyone was. Someone had a barrel burning by the front of the church and people were standing around it for heat. Larry left here at 5.15 and got back at 8.00. The bus had broken down so on the way to the church they piled about 12 of the girls in the back of the truck. Still legal in Mexico. The children sang in both Spanish and English and then were given small gifts and candy and hot chocolate and cookies. A rare treat for them where for our kids it is commonplace. Someone has given a donation for a Christmas treat for the kids so we are all taking them into Navojoa tomorrow to, believe it or not Pizza Hut, for dinner. We will, of course, help to pay as everyone will but for many of the kids this will be a completely new experience. Hopefully Christmas Day will be warmer as they are planning to have all 20+ kids open their presents on the patio at the boy's house while the adults watch. Time not set yet. Boy, when we had the talk with Carl and James about how fortunate they were to have a roof over their head and food on their table, we thought we knew what we were talking about but we have found out we were not even close.

December 27th,2002

Well Christmas day was warmer but the kids still opened inside. We all had coffee and sweets and watched the kids. They each got a plastic box (sort of like a shoebox) of little gifts and they were all so excited and happy. They not only got gifts but something to store their treasures in. All kids have treasures of one kind or another. It is gradually warming up although I know you have had quite a storm. It went down to 34 the night before last but yesterday it was warmer and today inside the camper with the windows all open and in the shade it is a comfortable 70 but much hotter in the sun.

We went again to Alamos to Bible Study Yesterday in the lovely house with the courtyard and afterwards picked some fresh grapefruit off of the tree in the yard and had fresh radishes pulled for us for a salad. Then Paul and Ruth and Larry and I wondered around the town square a bit and ate tacos and lorenzas (two tortillas cooked with meat and cheese between to which you add your choice of cucumbers or guaquamole or different kinds of salsa to) at an outdoor stand and picked up some fresh made tortillas to bring home that were still hot.

We feel that God has called us to this place so will not be going further south but will be here, God willing, till the middle of March. Many are going to the States on January 1st or 2nd, some to a missionary conference in California and some just to pick up supplies and Charlie will be picking up more people for his caravan. They will be leaving here on the 11th but as Larry has to wait for computer parts from the states he will not be nearly done his work by then. The pieces keep piling up and he thinks he has one machine running and it crashes again. But we are missing at least one monitor and mice and CD Drives and a couple of hard drives and on and on it goes but with God's help he will eventually get them up and running.

Happy new Year to all

Shirl and Larry