Electric Sewing Machines

Last month the sewing group "La Esperanza" got their electric sewing machines up and running. We also have a short-term (3 months) volunteer here right now - Kristen - who is accompanying the group. Here are some pictures of the first stitches on the new machines. Kristen in on the left side of the second picture. WELCOME and THANKS to KRISTEN!

More Blog Info

On the right side, under "links", I've added links to Merideth and Kiara's blogs in case you want to read what they are writing about their time here as well.

Pictures from March

Well, it's happening. The longer we are here, the harder it is to write about what is going on. Thanks those of you who are still checking our blog, even though I post little. I'm at home sick today, but thanks to internet access at home, I can still be a bit productive. I'm filling out grant applications and progress reports and updating our blog. Here are some pictures from March. Martin building dry latrines in Chiaucingo, my mom helping the sewing group in Zacango, and our friends from Kansas. I see that we're not taking near enough pictures these days either. I guess it's a sign that we're feeling more at home here.

May 2008

The rains are beginning to come. It is raining as we write this.
Isaiah just learned how to play checkers and loves it.
Micah is trying to lasso a cow. This afternoon he asked the neighbor to help him. They almost succeeded.
Liz is working in her garden regularly.
Martin is avidly following the Obama campaign, listening to Chicago Public Radio and reading news online.
Isaiah likes to practice dribbling a basketball.
Micah can now ride a bike all by himself.
We are excitedly awaiting guests (Teresa, Kent, Mags and Luisa Dutchersmith) who will be with us for the next 3 weeks.
Liz is looking for more funding for our work.
We recently received money from the Canadian embassy in Mexico City to build 25 cisterns this fall.
Martin is keeping the team’s vehicles up and running and finishing up a dry latrine project in a nearby community.
We had our first “house church” as a family in the tree house.
The mangos on our trees are getting ripe. Anyone hungry?
Liz’ grandma died last week. We remember her fondly.
Isaiah’s homework lately is to practice his 3 and 4 times tables.
Martin refereed his first women’s basketball game last week.
Micah wants to go ice skating and keeps asking if there will be snow in Chicago when we are there this summer.
We booked our airline tickets to come home in July.
We fly into Detroit July 8th and will be in Bluffton through July 17th. (Attending a nephew's wedding in Minnesota July 11, 12.) Then in Chicago July 18 to 24. After that we will be in Kansas from July 24 to 28, and finally on to San Francisco July 29 through August 5 at Liz' brother's wedding. Home to Oli (as we now call Olinala) on August 6, 2008.