The End

This is officially the last post on this blog. I have decided to close this blog. It's something I've needed to do for quite awhile, but didn't realize it until a friend suggested it this weekend at church retreat. As soon as he said it I immediately felt the truth deep in my heart.

I haven't been able to post all the incredible pictures from our last week in Olinala due to technical issues with our computer. I've decided to move on. Our ending time in Mexico was very difficult with regards to MCC. Our ending time with our friends in Olinala and our friends in the communities was an incredible gift, and I am grateful to MCC for the opportunity to live and love in that part of the mountains in Guerrero, Mexico.

I'll close with a quote (author unknown to me) a friend sent the other day.

"There is no healing without help.
There is no power as potent as possibility.
There is no transformation without truth.
There is no change without vulnerability.
There is no beauty without struggle.
There is no statement like your life.
There is no end.
There are only beginnings."

Here's to a new beginning.

Ever Again?

Wow I haven't blogged for a really long time. I wonder if I ever will again. I haven't even posted the incredible pictures from our last week in Olinala, back in November. Sometimes it feels like yesterday and sometimes it feels like the 4 months it really is. I can look at these pictures without crying now. But when I do look at them I ever more determined to go back and visit this summer.

Enrique, Lupita and David

We made a trip to Cuernavaca on Saturday and spent a wonderful afternoon with our former co-worker and dear friend Enrique, his wife Lupita and their son David. It meant so much to us to be able to talk and spend time together again. They are doing well and expecting a baby boy the end of December. Special times indeed.

Basketball

Still playing basketball.

Farewell/Brithday Party in Teticic

On Friday our family went to Teticic and had an afternoon of fun, laughter, and great food with friends. These women were part of the "year 1" garden groups. We talked about all kinds of things, laughed so much my cheeks hurt, and shared a delicious meal together. It was a beautiful time of reconnecting and just being together.

Day of the Saints and Day of the Dead

We were inspired by all the alter making in town to make our own at home for Oma (Martin´s mom) and my grandma. The boys and I worked all afternoon. Isaiah declares this alter our best one yet!











Everyone is setting up alters to remember the saints and those who have died. There was an alter competition between the schools yesterday. Amazing.

Rancho Bonito

Yesterday all 4 of us went to Rancho Bonito in the afternoon. After a wonderful meal of handmade tortillas, beans and salsa, the adults sat around and talked while the kids played outside. I´ve mentioned before that we´re doing some impact evalaution in a number of communities. So I asked the group some specific questions and then we just talked. The women are very interested in trying to have a small garden during the dry season. They have friends and relatives in nearby Teticic who participated in the garden program two years ago. There was an incredible amount of energy in the room as they talked about what they can do now that they have cisterns to store water and don´t have to spend so much time each day collecting water. More women feeling empowered and thinking about the future.




And this is the time of year when people make alters and remember those who have died. Part of this includes making Tlachcallis, a cornmeal cookie. They were in the middle of making the cookies when we arrived, so we got to each some hot, right out of the oven.

More Chiles

It´s been very cloudy here for a week or so. While I´m enjoying the cooler weather, the chile farmers are trying to dry out their chiles and it´s not going so well. Earlier in the summer there wasn´t enough rain. Now there isn´t enough sun.

Sitting Pot - Contle Atl Yehuatoc

There is a group of 24 people in the nearby community of Chiaucingo who got organized and turned in a project proposal for 24 cistern to the Canadian Embassy a few months ago. Last week they found out that their project was approved! They are thrilled. They invited my co-worker Manuel and I to talk with them about the next steps. One of the steps includes opening a bank account for the group. Yesterday the committee came to Olinalá and I went with them to the bank. Here they are proudly signing the necessary forms.
Then we went to the internet cafe to check their email and send the bank information to the Canadian Embassy. (This is their first time using a computer.) Finally they mailed the signed contract.

It´s very inspiring to listen to these women talk about their hopes and dreams for the future. And what they will be able to do both with the water they can store in the cistern and with their increased confidence in themselves and what they can do when they work together.

(Sitting Pot is the name of their project - they chose a Nahuat´l name.)

Happy 8th Birthday ISAIAH!

We finally got a chance to celebrate Isaiah´s birthday this weekend. (He was sick in bed on his "real" birthday.) On Friday he took a cake to school. And on Saturday we had a birthday supper and piñata. ¡FELCIDADES ISAIAS!

From October

Martin and Micah in the kitchen.


Isaiah has done a lot of school work this month


People are drying their chiles - this is a common site for me as I visit different communities.

Missionary Month

October was Missionary Month (in the Catholic Church) and since the boys go to a Catholic school, they got to parade through town last Wednesday. I love how much people here parade through the streets to celebrate. Complete with a band and police escort.

Impact Assessment

This month we´ve held some community meetings and talked with people about how the appropriate technologies (cisterns, dry latrines, family gardens, fuel-saving stoves) have impacted their lives. We´ve asked them to talk about what changes they have experienced. It´s been a lot of fun.