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?