Mexico, part two.
I was at the school in Puerto Rico, Mexico and worked with about 75 kids. After that I went to lunch and back to the school and the clinic people and I went to the mother of El Presidenti’s home there in Puerto Rico. It was a beautiful place and we ate lunch on the patio under a palm frond covered area.
We went back to the clinic and I saw some secondary school age kids playing marbles. They did not take each others when they hit them…just playing for fun. I showed them a couple of string tricks and they were too cool to react, but you could see an eyebrow or eyelid raise just a little. I knew I had them caught.
I gave out a couple of strings to the most interested and the others watched as I taught them. One by one the others asked for a string. It is so much fun to give them something new to do.
I then worked with some of the people in line at the clinic and some of the adults and children that were hanging around. A group of mothers has so much fun with the strings. They laughed and laughed and I was able to make fun at them…even in Spanish. What a good time.
My Spanish is growing enough that I was able to translate for a few people working with the pharmasists. (pardon the spelling). They saw about 130 people that day. We closed the clinic and loaded everything for the trip back to San Carlos. A quick clean up and we were off to El Presidenti’s home for supper.
I started to rain and lightening while there. Then it really started to rain. The street turned into a river and the lights went out. Then they came on, then they went out again for a while. When they came on, Donna Marda, El Presidentie’s wife got out the bingo cards. They were pictures for non readers. (She gives lots of parties for the people in the area, especially for the children.)
The day before she gave a party for the children of the school in San Pedro for Three Kings Day. They had candy and games. She is really a caring person and tried to make our stay perfect. They want mission groups to return.
After the rain we walked back to our quarters. We tried to connect at the internet cafe but things took so long. One half hour and still connecting to the first site. We gave up and went back for devotions at the senior center.
Friday the construction people were finishing the casita and the clinic people returned to Puerta Rico. I stayed in San Carlos because I heard there was a secondary school there. I walked over to the elementary and ask about it. They told me it was straight down that street. When I asked how far away it was they said it was 5 minutes.
I started walking, and walking, and walking. Every once in a while I would ask someone if I was going in the right direction. It finally dawned on me that at the elementary they thought that I had a car. I continued walking and finally came to the school.
I explained to the director of the school, as best as I could, what I wanted to do with the kids. After he made sure it was free he had his assistant change schedules so I could see all the students, a couple classes at a time.
The school is grades 7, 8, and 9. There are kids from the whole area. To go to High School they have to go two hours to Victoria. The kids were great. Almost all knew we were in town and knew about the “String Man”. We laughed, clapped, and had a wonderful time.
There was a break at 10:30 for tortillias with beans. Then back to the classes. At about 1:30 I finished and they graciously gave me a ride back to the city center. The clinic people were coming back about 2 so we could all go to dedicate the casita or little house.
We all went to the edge of town where they had built the casita. 12 X 18, It was to house a family of 12. They cook outside and have a latriine but sleep in the casita. I felt so wasteful with my 4 bedroom home and only two people in it.
We then drove up to the local attraction, a waterfall. A tree had fallen over the road during the storm last night so we walked part of the way and parked. Most of the group forded the river and went rock hopping up to see the waterfall. I stayed with 3 or 4 others and just enjoyed the rapids and the tranquility of the place.
We then returned to clean up and go to El Presidenti”s home for a cookout in the garden. We all sat on the patio while 3 men cooked steak and chicken on the large grill. Beans were cooking in the fireplace and they had salsas, quesodillias and other things. What a treat. They really do appreciate what we are doing.
We thought we were going down there to serve and we were serves so royally. It was a great time. The only hitch was that one of the doctors got sick. Montazumas’ Revenge or something. She need a shot to settle her down and we packed up for the trip back. We were driving to Rio Bravo and spending the night, then driving on Sunday for Oklahoma.
Along the way they tried to get a flight for the doctor to the US but could not. We decided to stop at Rio Bravo at the clinic and give her introvenious liquids and medication and drive straight through. She had one bottle in the clinic and the set up one for while we were driving. (They used one of my strings to hold the bottle. They are handy for many things.)
We had a very safe trip home, no problem with customs and nice weather until we got close to Oklahoma. It was the middle of the night and fog set in. Deer were out and we were trying to make time to get the doctor home for proper treatment. God is good and kept us safe. We drove…with some stops for 22 hours and I arrived home at 7AM on Sunday.
It was a short trip but very meaningful. I think we accomplished all we wanted to do and more. I got to know some new people on the team and meet some great people in Mexico.
The Mexican doctor was really taken with strings and wants me to come down and do some workshops with people at Manos Huntos, (Hands Together).
The team was very gracious and paid my way to go because they thought the strings would add a lot to the trip. I think they did. I am so lucky to be used by God in this ministry.
Well, I am now packing to go to Germany next week. Thanks for reading this. Hope you realize that you can do something for people. I use a simple piece of string. Maybe you can call shut-ins, or take someone to the store. Maybe you can support a mission or work with prisoners. Whoever does for the least of these…
Dave