New day of sweating buckets. when I moved to Hawaii years ago, I remember it took about six months to acclimate. I love the heat and humidity here, it is amazing for all the metal the surgeries placed in my back and neck. In CA, I would roll out of bed and gimp around. Here, not so much. To warm up for the gym I just wave my arms around in the air a few times and I already have that warm up sheen. I do love my little gym here, you have several choices but the one i like is all local people, no air conditioning, older equipment, all in kilos, no shirt required, kind of place. This is how I am learning Spanish and making friends. A typical day for me is wake up at six, read my Bible, coffee, shower, hang with Kailea, (up at 6 ish) Go to the gym with KaiKai, Gia at yoga or Zumba. Work out with my new buddies, head home, clean up the house, orphanage by 10, work it, sweat, get eaten by every type of bug. Leave when you feel an inner heat that does not go away with water… meaning, about to pass out. head home, shower up, and run some errands. Every errand is an adventure and a learning experience. Yesterday I needed two hex nuts, a machete, sharpening stone, and staple gun. (of course in the States I have 5 awesome machetes, 3 staple guns and a whole top notch sharpening set a buddy gave me…in the States) Three Ferretarias (hardware store) and three horas later later I had my hex nuts and one machete. no staple guns on the Island. The machete was basically a wad of metal, I ground it down today. I did end up with two roasted chickens and tortillas for about ten bucks. A good day. Every person should experience being either a minority or an abject foreigner. It teaches patience and humility. I am respected here because I smile and try to learn the culture. They do not care about my car, portfolio, clothes, etc. Everything that makes you, you…that is what they care about. Same as our gym, work ethic, ability to get along and cleanliness, that translates and crosses barriers. During the recession in San Clemente, we almost got there. Our humility in job loss and wage reduction brought us closer together, unfortunately, we have short memories. Maybe not, good stock as they say. Well, off to find ganejos de la tierra, earthworms. Take care my friends.
Monthly Archives: July 2013
Ciudad de Angeles – Julio
After years of dreaming, and 2 years of planning, the Lucy family has finally arrived in Cozumel, Mexico. God has opened the door for us to go on the mission field and work with the local orphanage, Ciudad de Los Angeles as well as other organizations on the island and the Yucatan peninsula to provide humanitarian aide through agriculture, sanitation and construction.
June 28th Eric and Tonka, (our 150 pound, 68 kilos, Boerboel dog) arrived in Cozumel to set up the household and site check with the orphanage. He was welcomed with customs agents, police and soldiers taking photographs with the dog. Gia and Kailea followed 2 weeks later.
After finding a home, Eric began his work at the orphange by breaking ground and aerated the plot which will be the revitalized garden. One of our goals is to create an organic garden, teach composting and worm farming. Most of the fresh produce on the island comes by ferry, so it very expensive and often substandard. Soil on the island is expensive as well. I believe the plot of land (see below) cost 15,000 pesos, or $1,250.00. By creating our own nutrient rich soil, we might begin to help not only the orphanage, but the surrounding neighborhood as well.
Future site of the next home.
The orphanage currently has 44 children but would like to bring in another 40 children from central Mexico. We will be helping to build three new homes, and a transition house for kids graduating from the orphanage and going to local College. We are also working on some water purification solutions and of course continual maintenance.
The staff is phenomenal and the volunteers, extraordinary. We are starting out slowly, building trust as we go. If you know Eric, this is driving him nuts. But it is the right way to go about it.
We are starting seedlings at our house and hopefully will be able to plant them once they can stand up to the monsoons. We have been practicing our Spanish and working on our Immigration status. One thing is the same as the states. It took two weeks and then four days waiting at the house to get the cable guy to hook us up. Some things cross all borders.
Thank you for your continual prayers, this is a great island and wonderful people surround us but it is still a bit scary. God is good.
7 Day Hero, Mexico 