Mexico Mission- Vegetarian Day!

Another beautiful day in Tlancualpican as it remains unusually cold for this time of year. There isn't any heat in the dormitories as they are built for the scorching temperatures of the summer. But an early front blew through just before we arrived on Sunday, and the mornings and evenings are in the 50's, which makes for comfortable work days as they are in the 70's.

This is vegetarian day which means most everything we are eating today is grown. There was some leftover chicken which found its way in the empanadas, but the chalupas were wonderful. A crushed bean base with locally grown tomatoes, lettuce, cheese garnished with avocado, a green chili, and cream. Mexican food aficionados should be envious.

Before hitting the work sites, we spent a good hour learning about GETTYE's health mission. Obviously in rural Mexico, there are not enough nurses, doctors or hospitals, so the center sponsors several health programs to teach young women the basics. The women then return to their villages and become sort of first responders as they are equipped with first aid kits. We met one of the women who learned how to give injections during the training. She admitted she was kind of fearful of having to inject others, but now is the person called on when the need arises. She is most grateful of the training, and told us how her knowledge of the Heimlich Maneuver saved her Aunt from a choking incident.

As for the work detail, "Builder" Bob Lasalle and "Agile" Allison Gower perhaps had the most fun building a dam for the irrigation ditch which runs along the property. The timing couldn't have been better as the rainy season finished about a month ago, and the water hadn't flowed down the ditch for eight months. Bob and Allison admitted while they didn't really understand what they were building with the boulders, their leader cried out "Agua, Agua!" and they looked up the hill. Sure enough just as they finished the project, the water started flowing down the embankment and the dam held, diverting the water into the irrigation ditch to water the many recently planted plants on the property.

C.J. Yeoman, aka "Mrs. Clean" drew up the dirty job, and for that we'll let her tell you the story.

We thought we had finished painting the guest house, but were surprised with the word that the outdoor shower needed painting as well. Carleton took a look and realized it was quite stained with something ... workers were dispatched for the local version of "Formula 409" and some really tough scrub pads. It was only after I had scrubbed for about 20 minutes that the house's occupant said the stains were bat guano! Not exactly what you deal with in Houston, TX. Oh, well, the painting will wait for tomorrow, but the tiles are clean now ...