Wedding Plans part 1

Just a quick update on how our wedding plans are coming. We have decided on a place, I think. We will know for sure in about two weeks. The time of the ceremony has been a topic of more discussion than I care for. I think I'm going to lose that battle, but I guess it's not that big of a deal. I have created an invitation style that I really like. I've decided to make them myself. It will be a lot of work, but I'm sure it will be fun and I have plenty of time. We still have not found all of our wedding party. Some people, like my brother, are not so easy to get a hold of. Then there are the others. Not from LOST, but those who are not part of the wedding party, but are truly essential to making May 3, a special day. I'm always thinking of something else that I need someone to do. Picking bridesmaids dresses is not a task that I am enjoying. Finding a style is hard enough, but then to find it in my color adds to the difficulty. I can find what I think is the color, but is it really? It's hard to tell over the internet. I did register with JC Penney and Williams - Sonoma. Williams - Sonoma was fun because it's kitchen stuff and I like to cook and love to bake. I had registered on a honeymoon site, but decided not to go with it.
So speaking of the honeymoon...I have been looking into some places. I found one that I was pretty excited about, but found out today that it is no longer available and I didn't like the alternative that was offered. I'm waiting to hear back about another place. Well that's all for now. I have literally spent all day on my laptop and I need to call it a day.
God bless,
Kimyco

Day of the Dead

So yesterday was Day of the Dead. This is a major holiday here in Mexico. Some Mexicans feel that death is a special occasion because the soul is passing into another life. Plans for the celebration are made throughout the year, including gathering the goods to be offered to the dead. On November 1 and 2, families usually clean and decorate the graves. Most visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with ofrendas, or offerings, which often include orange marigold flowers. In modern Mexico this name is often replaced with the term "Flor de Muerto", Spanish for "Flower of the Dead". These flowers are thought to attract souls of the dead to the offerings.

Toys are brought for dead children , and bottles of tequila or atole for adults. Families will also offer trinkets or the deceased's favorite candies on the grave. In some parts of Mexico people spend all night beside the graves of their relatives. These offerings are also put in homes, usually with foods such as candied pumpkin, pan de muerto (bread of the dead) or sugar skulls and beverages. The offerings are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the deceased. Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the "spiritual essence" of the offering food, so even though the celebrators eat the food after the festivity, they believe it lacks nutritional value. I have visited an altar that was built in a home in El Zorrillo. They even had a basin of water and a towel for the deceased to freshen up before partaking of the food that was put out for them. Pillows and blankets are also left out so that the deceased can rest after their long journey.

I mentioned that I have visited an altar that was built at a home, well, some families build altars or small shrines in their homes. These altars usually have the Christian cross, statues or pictures of the Virgen Mary, pictures of deceased relatives and other persons, and scores of candles. Traditionally, families spend some time around the altar praying and telling stories about the deceased. In some regions, celebrants wear shells on their clothing so when they dance the dead will wake up because of the noise. Some will dress up as the deceased.

Public schools also build altars with offerings, usually leaving out the religious symbols.

Government offices usually have at least a small altar, as this holiday is seen as important to the Mexican heritage.

Interesting.

Pig Out

This month I was able to fly to Sacramento CA and participate in a missions conference at Valley Springs church in Roseville. It was a three day event that started on Friday night. There were several missionary speakers. Some from Africa, one preparing to pastor in Tijuana, Mexico, and others. There was another room set up with tables where we set up our displays and greeted people as they passed by. We were able to give them pamphlets, business cards, prayer cards, verbal information, and some showed videos. On Sunday, the last day, they brought in a whole roasted pig. The body of the pig was cut into little chunks and we were provided with toothpicks to sample the swine's carcass. It was quite yummy!

I had the privilege of staying with former Ensenada Outreach Center missionaries, Barney and Sally Jones, whom I had not seen since the summer of 2005. It was great to get to spend time with them. On Saturday night I was kidnapped by two former interns Kayleigh and Brittney, both from the Sacramento area. It was fun seeing them and hanging out.

My flight there and back was open seating. When I boarded to come back home there was an open seat about four rows from the front that had two women in both the window and aisle seats. I was going to go further back, but thought better of it. So once I was seated I whipped out my "Brides" magazine and started flipping through the pages. The lady in the window seat took out a small pad and a pen and started to write something. She wrote a question asking me if I was getting married. So that started a conversation between us. It turns out that she and her husband are missionaries for Silent Word Ministries. She is my age and her name is Kim. Oh! That reminds me. I met a girl at Valley Springs named Kimiko. Cool, eh? Anyway, I really enjoyed chatting with Kim on the plane. I felt a connection between us and kind of hated that the flight had to end. We exchanged information and have been in contact since our returning home. She's from Nashville, TN. Hi Kim.

At Last

At last I have received a marriage proposal from someone I actually want to marry and I know that God is fine with me marrying this person. I've had others that I knew were not the ones. Thank you God for patience and wisdom! So on September 30, 2007, David Trules asked me to marry him and I excepted his proposal. We have decided on May 3, 2008 here in Ensenada. One thing, though, about getting married in Mexico is that the woman's last name does not change. Don't get me wrong Dad, I love the last name you gave me, but I'm ready to change it for the purpose of marriage. So we're hoping that David will be able to get his visa and we can have a civil ceremony in California and then a church wedding in Ensenada. Yesterday we went to look at a prospective wedding and reception site. We did like it, but we are going to check out a few more that we know of. One of the great things about weddings in Mexico is that they have what they call "Padrinos". What the padrinos do is pretty much pay for the wedding. So we made a list of things that we need, i.e. a place, food, decorations, etc... and we divided it up. So he has things that he has to find padrinos for and I have the other part of the list that I have to find padrinos for. I guess we might call them sponsors. So, God willing, on May 3, 2008, I will become Mrs. David Trules. At last.

Brighter is Better

Well, now that the busy season is over Mardy Barnes, one of the full-time missionaries here, has been hard at work sprucing up the dorms. He has taken down the blinds, ripped out the carpet, put in tile flooring, made twin beds into queen-size beds, and added bright colors to the walls and beds. Looks great Mardy!




What do you think?

Rest for the Weary

Our summer season is officially over. I'm not saying that we are weary, but at times during the summer I'm sure we were. Last week and this week we have been on vacation. It's so quiet around here. Once again I am the only one in the house. This summer I shared the house with six other girls. Though the most we had at one time was five. When I get the stats on the number of houses, meals, clinics, and such I will share them with you.

I do, however, have stats on me. So I'll let you know......I am now dating a man that I met this summer. His name is David and he is a great guy. The past two Sundays I have attended his church with him. I really like it though the worship is rather lengthy, but that's typical of Mexican churches. He's very courteous and mannerable and he takes good care of me. He never walks in front of me, he opens doors for me, pulls out my chair, and he even pours my drink from my individual bottle into my cup. One really rare thing about him is that he carries my purse wherever we go. The first time he did it I had several things that I was carrying so that was understandable, but he has done it every time even if I do not have other things to carry. My father is not too crazy about that idea, but I think it is so sweet. Well that's all for now. I will gladly keep you posted on que pasa with our relationship. Please pray for us.

Belen

Yesterday was a tough day. A few of us attended the funeral of an eleven year old girl who drowned. I have heard different stories of how she actually ended up in the water. Her name was Belen. She was the only girl of eight children. I first met Belen a few years ago when I lived in the village of Maneadero where she lived. She and her brothers would attend the feeding program and various VBS's that were held there in the clinic in that village. She would often be left in charge of caring for her brothers. Several months ago she helped Kayleigh and I move several boxes and things out of the clinic.

We showed up at 10 a.m. for the funeral, but the pastor told us that it had been pushed back a few hours and told us to join everyone up at the house where they had the wake the day before. There was her small casket with many flowers and candles surrounding it. An hour or so later some of us helped carry the flowers as we walked behind the casket down the hill to the church where the service would be held. There were many family and friends there. Half of them were the children that Belen had attended school with, befriended, played with, and gone to church with. Toward the end of the service the pastor asked all of the children to stand at the front and asked myself and my fellow missionaries to come and pray for the children since we had been active in that community. Some of us taught at the school there, cooked and served food for the feeding program, interpreted for VBS, and cared for the children in the daycare that we ran. During that prayer many tears started to flow. Then Belen's father, through tears, managed to say a few words to the attenders and to his beloved daughter. Though it was very sad I'm glad that I was able to attend and say goodbye to Belen until I see her in Heaven.

Another Kim in the Kitchen

The last two weeks here at EOC were pretty busy and the temperature is rising in Ensenada. Thank God for my good friend Nona Kim. Last summer we worked many hours together in the camp kitchen and last week we were together again. Flippin' pancakes, scramblin' eggs, and grillin' fajitas. Thanks Nona for your hard work. It was good to have you here again.

What a Relief!

Well, this week has been a big week. We have been cooking for 170 people twice per day. I have spent more hours in the kitchen than in my bed. But for the past 3 mornings, and it will happen again tomorrow morning, I have had relief cooks. Fletch and Leonard, who call me Chef, have volunteered this week to come in and help me in the mornings. The first two mornings I tried to be there working alongside of them, but this morning I pretty much sat back and let them do their thing and that's my plan for tomorrow too. They have been such a blessing. Thanks Leonard and Fletch!!!!

Also, last month we opened up a little camp store. We sell coffee drinks, sodas, Mexican blankets and ponchos, candy galore, YUGO shirts, greeting cards, and I could go on and on. But one other thing that we sell are my cookies. I bake cookies and sell them to the store as a way to supplement my support. Sometimes I cannot keep up with the demand. The cookie sales have gone very, very well. This week there have been a couple of men who have bought however many there were in the store at the time it opens, they sit outside at a table and they share them with people who come and talk with them. Cool, eh?

Have your cake and eat it too.

Well, somehow I have gotten involved in cake decorating. Actually, last year a friend of mine asked me to make her wedding cake. Of course I laughed because I had never done such a thing. I love to bake and I have baked hundreds of cookies, but cookies a cake do not make. She insisted that I could do it so I agreed to it. I solicited the help of my good friend Nona Kim from La Palma, CA and we made a 4 layer cake and 3 separate cakes that sat around the main cake. It was hard work, but we did it. The cakes turned out beautifully. Unfortunately, I lost the picture that I had. Anyway, before this a another friend of mine, Randy, from Canada had given me some tips and allowed me to help him make an extravagant cake for a 15th birthday celebration. Here in Mexico it's like a mini wedding. Then a fellow missionary Patti Coles bought some supplies for me and showed me a few things. So I decided since I had some tools I should use them. While I was home in May I decided to take a cake decorating class. I failed to take a picture of my first cake, but here is a picture of my second one.

Have You Noticed...?

Have you noticed how often we use there's in place of there're? So, according to what we learned in elementary, there's = there is (singular) and there're = there are (plural). Why do I hear so many (and I do mean many) people say things like, "There's so many people... or there's a few reasons..."? I just read an article on MSN Health & Fitness that quoted a lady as saying, "There's thousands of babies born that way every year." So what she actually said was, "There is thousands of babies born that way every year." There is so many people..., there is a few reasons. I hear this in person, on TV, and I read it. Every day! It bugs me so much. What's happening to our grammar?

My New Ride

Well, though my Nellie (my Corolla) has served me very well in Mexico I'm hoping to turn over the keys to a new owner soon. In other words I'm selling her to make room for my new blessing. Thanks to Mr. R. Davies of California I now have the Title to a 2000 Dodge Durango.

A Day in Jersey

So Friday we were able to treat the kids to a day at the park. There is a park here called Jersey because it is owned by a company called Jersey which is a major producer of milk products. To enter the park you must present three tops to any of their products. So we asked the kids to save or find three of these tops. All of them showed up with their permission slips and lunch and we loaded the van for a day in Jersey.

Happy Easter!

Spring

Hello all. I know, it's been way too long since I have written. Please forgive me. Hopefully, this will work because I've been having problems with my site.

Anyway, the U.S. decided that Daylight Saving time would come earlier this year and Mexico stayed the same. So right now Ensenada is not part of the Pacific time zone. Weird, huh?

On the first day of spring we had a party with the kids. They love pizza, so once again I ordered a pizza. This time I got one that has 60 square slices. It's huge! But before we ate we did one of my favorite crafts. We took some stick pretzels and dipped them in chocolate frosting and stuck them together to make a bird's nest. Then we gave them speckled malted eggs and several different jelly beans to put in the bottom. On top of the eggs sat a yellow marshmallow Peep's chick. So the end result was a mother bird sitting on her nest of eggs. It's so cute.