KIKOMAR AND INDEPENDENCE DAY
Here we are nearing the end of October already and I've been meaning to write about the activities of mid-September. Oh well, as the Mexicans say, "mas tiempo que vida" (more time than life). Mexican Independence Day is on September 16th. It fell on Tuesday this year meaning the kids didn't have classes until Wednesday of that week. I decided to take the week off and visit my dear friends who are developing a camp, "Kikomar", on the coast of Veracruz. The camp property is right on the beach and although the weather was cloudy and the sea rough most of the week, I enjoyed being with my friends, reading on the beach and getting to know the Castellano family better.
The Castellanos are the caretakers at the camp. A family with five children they eke out a living catching fish, selling coconuts and working odd jobs. However,their love for the Lord is evident and their faith that He will provide all their needs. Sicne the sea was a bit rough, it was good for cathcing fish and I had a great time going along with them and seeing the work in action. They have a large net which Carlos, the oldest, grabs one end and walks way out into the sea, up to his chest. The rest of hte family (since they don;t know how to swim) stay on the beach holding the oteh end of the net. After Carlos has walked a ways he begins to circle back, trapping fish in the net as he walks. The otehrs begin to pull on the net and bring it into shore. They then take out the fish and drop them into a wheelbarrow or bucket. They repeat this operation several times until they have a good number of fish.
I even got into the action and pulled out a few slimy fish of my own! The best part came later that afternoon when Carlos cleaned the fish and cooked them up in tin foil over the kitchen fire complete with garlic and onion. Delicious!
While I was there we took the children to school in the "Zorro" (fox), my friends black pick up truck. Normally Pablo, the father, takes them on his motorbike or they have to walk. I was surprised to learn that this school exists of only two rooms and three teachers. Two elementary school teachers and one junior high teacher. The teachers spend a month with each family as a way for the school board to pay for room and board.
It was a great week and just what I needed after the hectic time that preceded it. I'll close with a couple pictures of my friends dogs, Pimienta (Pepper) and Mostasa (Mustard) as well as a few pictures of Independence Day here in Chalco Valley. Thanks for your prayers.
Drop me a line when you can and "Viva Mexico! Long live Mexico!)
