A Final Walk in Centro

Popcorn with Valentina

Corner in Town

Basketball in Centro

Going Fishing

We have been extremely blessed to be able to spend so much time here in Zihuatanejo.  It is not only an escape from the grey, rainy and cold of the North West, but also a time of reflection and a little escape from the world.  We are so insulated from the reality of others as we live in great comfort and are blessed beyond what we need.

Jesus said: "The poor will always be with you...", and that seems true in many places around the world.  Here in Zihuatanejo it is particularly true in a majority of the area. We are also told: "To whom much is given, much is expected".  We have been fortunate to meet up with a number of individuals who also come here and are doing their best to help those in need.  There is a temptation to simply give money to the poor, (sometimes we do) but that often times furthers their dependency and takes away their self-worth and dignity.  It makes you feel good, but sometimes ends up hurting the ones you are trying to help.  We have found that there are better ways to offer kindness, support and help.

Some of the conditions are so deplorable that its difficult to know what to do, like the families living at the dump.  This year a team came down to put an addition on to the small stick school.  They need education!  The team also helped build a small shack house for a recent widow with two kids.  Later, we were able to provide a stove for her so that she would be able to cook for her family.  A helping hand up.

I wish that we were so noble and righteous and that our motives were so pure that we could claim to only come here for the poor and needy, but of course that is not true. We enjoy our time here but try to limit too much self indulgence  There is always the struggle between serving ourselves and serving others.  However, we could not justify simply laying on the beach for three months and pampering ourselves as we look around and see a community of extreme need.  It is a balance, but admittedly to our favor.  Each year we do purpose to look for ways to be used.  It feels better and helps in that balance. Our focus this year was working with the Children's Home and creating new websites for some non-profits.

So we end our time hopefully a little wiser, a little more humble and perhaps, just perhaps a little closer to God's heart.

More tropical beauty

Unusual white flower with orange spikes

Karen found an unusual flower growing at our place.  Looks like some kind of white tropical starburst flower.  Of course, Karen is anxious to get home so she can start playing in the dirt.  Tomorrow will be the last post of the season.  Just a little reflection.

Last Days and Nights

View of Centro from La Playa

It seems like we've had too little time here, yet, its been nearly three months. Someone asked me yesterday if we felt more at home in Zihuatanejo, if we are busier here than at home and do we have a lot of friends here?  Well, yes, we feel at home here and have been here long enough over the years that its as though we are living here rather than being on vacation.  Zihuatanejo is still a small town and we've met a number of locals and long-term visitors who have become good friends. We keep in touch with them and always look forward to seeing them.  Of course, they can never replace our dear friends and family at home.

Last Roof

Working on his roof

Saturday, I went with Andy and Mo to the 06 de Enero Colonia to take pictures of their last roof of the season.  They have installed about 100 roofs over the last three years.  Each roof requires the recipient to help and then help with labor on the next person's roof.  One lady was there working since she received a roof earlier in the season.  She felt badly when she received her roof. She was so poor that she couldn't provide a meal for the workers.  Yesterday, she brought some "Mole" chicken and we all shared a little chicken and tortillas..  The roofing project is building community while gently sharing the gospel.

One happy lady

I just had to include this photo.  This is the lady who was helping with the roof.  She is perhaps one of the happiest individuals that I've met.  She says that she is always "feliz". What a smile!

Semana Santa is Coming

Gathering at the beach

Our time here is coming to an end and so is the peaceful quiet beach on La Ropa.  The beach will be packed for the two weeks "Semana Santa" around Easter.  This picture is only a sample of what to expect. And then as if by magic, it will return to a long empty beach with few tourists.  Just the way we like it.

Evening Walk

La Perla

Walked La Playa Ropa last evening and enjoyed the lights along the way.  We were walking along and looked down in the sand to see a small child who had dug a deep hole and was sitting in it up to his head. Yes, the parents were somewhat near by.  La Perla restaurant is open in the evenings and you can sit at a table in the sand and just relax to the gentle breeze and sound of the waves and enjoy a quiet meal. We are winding down, only 6 sleeps left.

Comida

Jose Luis and Jorge

Today, I am having lunch with the guys on the beach.  Everyday they have food delivered and share a meal.  Karen is making "Gringa Tortas".  She went shopping for everything and will make up the Tortas for the afternoon meal.  Tortas are a sandwich made with a soft round bread roll.  You can put just about anything in a Torta made to your liking.  Today they get the Gringa version: jamón, queso, tocino, lechuga, chiles, tomates, rajas.  

Getting Around

Combi to Ayocuan

Our primary mode of transportation is the "Combi".  A small mini van that packs in customers with standing room only.  We pay 7 1/2 pesos each ( about 50 cents) one way.  A taxi is between 40 - 50 pesos ($3.50). When we go to Las Pozas, about 20 miles South, it is 11 pesos each one way.  In the evening when its dark, we always take the taxi.  

Tiendas

Neighborhood Tiendas and small eateries are the engine of  the community. There are thousands of these small shops on just about every street corner.  They provide an important and necessary service to the neighborhoods and are an amazing distribution system of the basic needs, produce, tortillas, staples and every conceivable item that you may need. These Tiendas are often simple stores that families have created in their homes.  In every neighborhood it seems as though the community knows where to go to get their groceries or that specialty item.  

I don't know it to be true, but there also seems to be a loyalty to certain tiendas. Karen has specific neighborhoods and small markets that she likes and often uses for certain items. Some of these tiendas are no more than a few items like produce that families put out in front of their house to sell. It doesn't take much to start a tienda, so they spring up all over.   Recently, after a few days, I went back to the dump and found that even there a tienda magically appeared.

Tiendas are a cultural icon in Mexico, but like all things, change is occurring.  Sam's Club, Costco, OXXO and others continue to be an alternative. They will never fully replace the tiendas but do cause a controversy here in Zihuatanejo.

New Tienda at the Dump

Dump Tienda

Meet Rose

Rose

Rose!  She is one of the dear kids at the Morelia Orphanage, Irekani (to live).  Rose faces many difficulties in the future due to some physical issues.  Right now she doesn't know that, she is just a sweet and loving kid.  She didn't let our language barrier stop her from talking to me and made me sit with her as though she has known me all her life.  She clung to me and let me experience the pure innocence of a child. Rose is special, and I know that God sees her as "Special".

Another view

View from the Catalina Hotel

Had a great breakfast at the Catalina Hotel overlooking Playa La Ropa. Apparently Playa La Ropa (Clothes Beach) got its name when a merchant ship sank off the bay and its cargo of silks and fabrics washed up on the beach.

Morelia Road Trip

A reflective moment

Took a two day road trip to Morelia to visit the Orphanage, Irekani, to help with a new website.  Sandra cares for 24 children in a large downtown historic home.  The kids basically run the home and all have their duties and responsibilities.  The home has a music program and I was treated to singing, piano and guitar.  Sandra worked with Jake Miller for a number of years at another orphanage.  The kids still remember Jake and the girls and showed me their pictures.  They all say "Hola".

Panaderia

Fly Patrol

Inside the Mercado, you can buy just about everything as you wonder around the various booths.  This lady is selling fresh "Pan".  Not a place where Nancy would shop.  The feather duster is to keep away the flies. No, we don't buy our fresh bread from this Panaderia.

Market Scene

Cleaning nopales cactus

Market day for fruits and vegetables. Typical scene along the sidewalk in the Mercado area. The woman is cleaning the cactus of the prickly barbs. Radishes the size of limes.  For lunch we ate some street-side quesadillas with squash blossoms (cooked on a comal) and drank "agua de pina y naranja".

Noe the gardener

Bananas at Noe's

Last year, Karen grew Heirloom tomatoes from seed and gave them away to Noe (our friend down the street).  He really likes to grow things (Bananas, papayas, peppers, guayabas, and tomatoes. Recently he even brought in a truck load of good soil. Noe has banana plants along the front of his place, they are currently sprouting a new crop.

Getting to Las Gatas

Water Taxis

You can get to Playa Las Gatas, a small remote beach in Zihuatanejo bay, by walking the footpath or by taking the water taxi from the municipal pier.  Buy your round trip ticket for 40 pesos and hop on a panga.  These taxis double as fishing boats when they have clients.  Las Gatas got its name from the whiskered nurse shark that use to inhabit the waters.

Training

Bomberos

The Bomberos (Firemen) are vigorously training in the surf, running the beaches and practicing rescue techniques in preparation for Semana Santa. (Holy Week).  The beaches will fill up with Mexicans as they flock to the sunny climate for a week of vacation. The other day I saw them running up and down in formation waist deep in the surf shouting some group chant. Looked like some military drill.

Table Decoration

 What are they?


While sitting at the table listening to some fine traditional Mexican guitar music, Karen noticed a small white cluster of flowers.  She grabbed my camera and took several shots.

I googled small, white, Mexican, cluster, round flowers with dark green leaves (and a variety of other descriptions) and could not identify them.

Of course I am hearing everyday how nice the weather is in Oregon and how we should be home so that Karen can start her gardening.  She is, of course, missing many of the blooming flowers that we normally see much later in the Spring.

Traditional Mexican Music

Edgar, Miguel Y Roberto

The other afternoon we walked down to La Playa Ropa to take in some live traditional Mexican music at El Marlin restaurant (right on the beach).  These guys were a nice blend of vocals and guitar.  Lots of people play guitar and sing, but these fellows were artists.  We bought their CD.

Grandes Olas

Full Moon and High Tides

The last few days have brought very heavy surf and waves to Playa La Ropa. It has made swimming and water sports a bit more difficult.  Huge waves seem to come in a series of 3 and then a brief window to either get into the water or exit.  Karen is very careful and respects the power of the ocean after her experience two years ago.

Neighborhood Scene 3

Container Garden

Here is another typical scene of a home garden and wrought iron steps.  They extend right on to the sidewalk.  One can still see the Terracotta containers used all over, but tradition sometimes has given way to plastic, economics and convenience.

Neighborhood Scene 2

Here is another image of a neighborhood home with a lush natural garden.  Papayas, coconut palms, bananas, flame trees and clothes hanging out to dry. It is interesting, we've noticed that there is a love for plants and gardens, patio gardens, container gardens and flowers around most homes here.  Everything grows like a jungle.

Neighborhood Series

Kids are kids everywhere

Just a Typical rural neighborhood scene.  Dirt streets, barefoot children, hammock hanging, palm tree, unpainted bricks and a sign on the house "Se Vende", For Sale. 

Fresh Tortillas

Waiting to buy tortillas at the neighborhood Tortilleria

Tortillas are a staple of the Mexican diet. Some estimates suggest that the average Mexican eats more than a half a pound of tortillas daily. It is also estimated that tortillas account for more than half the daily calories and protein of Mexico's poor.

It's Mexico

Truck Repair

Friday, we started out to the dump to install stoves when we heard John's truck making a grinding noise.  It was obvious, the brakes.  Luis, the local stove installer, pulled into his friends backyard shop and sure enough, the brake pad had eaten into the rotor.  The good news is we immediately got the rotor turned $7.00, new pads, $24.00, labor $14.00.  We were off in less than two hours.  Once at the dump, Luis informed us that he left most of his tools at home.  He looked at me and said "We will improvise".  Gotta love it, Mexico.

Thursday Pozole

Pozole at Santa Prisca Restaurant

In the State of Guerrero, the tradition is: Every Thursday is Pozole Day.  Pozole is a Mexican hominy soup/stew garnished with avocado, onions, pork or chicken, pork rinds, lettuce, chillies and a number of other spices and toppings.  You can have red, green or white pozole.  We had green. Si es jueves en Guerrero, es el pozole.

Plancha Stove

Old stove using too much wood, dirty and smoking out the house

Instructing the family on the use of the stove

Approximately 15 years ago, I joined a Northwest Medical Teams group to install stoves in the hills of Oaxaca, Mexico. We had to hand build these stoves using bricks, mud, re-bar and a few tools in very primitive villages.  Previously, families would build small fires in the middle of their shacks and the smoke charred both the inside walls as well as their lungs.  Additionally, they used way too much wood and had to travel miles to collect what wood they could find due to depleting supplies.

Ben started a new ministry here in Zihuatanejo installing stoves. The problems are the same, however the technology is much improved over what I used in Oaxaca.  Interestingly, these units are now manufactured in Oaxaca and easy to assemble.  The cement structures are prefabricated and sit on cinder blocks.  We installed two yesterday and vented the exhaust out the roof.  They use a fraction of the wood and provide a healthy living environment. Needy families are identified by Zihuatanejo Christian Fellowhip. Ben ordered 50 units, so there's lots to do.

Sisters in front of their new stove

Fresh Coconut

Yesterday, Karen and I set up our chairs on the beach at our friend Jose Luis's place.  One of his workers, Jorge, climbed a palm tree bare foot without any safety equipment or lines and cut out some coconuts.

Jose Luis used a machete and processed the coconuts for drinking and then later, opened them for the white meat.  He said that years ago while working in front of the Hotel, he did this up to 70 times a day for the guests.

Coconuts are plentiful and it this case free.  Much like apples just growing on the trees.

Purple Flower

Just a small little purple vine growing behind a restaurant.

Working the Beach

Cats on La Playa

Was hanging out at the beach with my friend Jose Luis, the guy who rents Hobie Cats.  Well, it got real busy and he had several customers at the same time.  He took a group sailing and yelled out Rogelio, I need you to be "Capitán".  So, I grabbed the other Hobie and took a couple out for an hour sail.  The pay is lousy, but the benefits are super.

Weather report from Oregon

Spring came early

Well, our neighbor sent us a picture of our home in Oregon.  The weather has been unusually warm this winter and trees are already blooming.  I even had to have the neighbor boy mow our yard.  Normally we get a picture of snow, so this one is really causing Karen to be homesick.  She's ready for her garden.  Thanks Tim Tam.

Hand-made Cigars

Rolling out the tobacco

While walking in centro Zihuatanejo we pass many small shops.  This fellow was making cigars.  A man who was just sitting there made the claim that he was some distant cousin of Fidel.  Primo del primo del primo del Fidel.  Karen decided to pass on lighting up a fine Cuban stogie .

Vista de la bahía

Took in the view of the Zihuatanejo Bay at a hilltop restaurant, Casa Cuitlateca, at sunset. 

The food was pretty good, but the view was spectacular.

  

Chores for the Boys

Proverbs 12:11 A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.The boys have many chores. One of them is tending the chickens.  The rooster was a bit aggressive and I heard him shout in perfect Spanish: "Shoo, Shoo!".

Another shameless chicken post

Mr. Gallo

Gallo - Rooster

The neighborhoods are alive with chickens.  Usually they tend to be a bit untidy and scraggly, but this fine rooster was strutting his stuff.  Kind of fun to hear them crowing, adds to the ambience.

Synonyms: atmosphere, air, aura, climate, mood, feel, feeling, character, quality, impression, complexion, flavor, look, tone, tenor

Graffiti

Was walking in town and passed by an open field and a wall decorated with graffiti. Some graffiti is quite elaborate and creative, but I still object to the vandalizing of anyone's property. There has to be a better outlet for artistic expression.

Meet Fernando

Fernando has been working the beach for years.  He has a colorful life, but I won't post that on the internet.  He does own a horse, but the Departamento de Ecología does not like it on the beach.  Same with dogs. Next humans.

Just walking about

A look down a path

Did a walk around in a small village about 20 miles South of Zihuatanejo.  Dirt roads, primitive living, and families just going about their lives.  It seems that there were as many dogs as people.  I would enjoy a longer stay just watching and observing how this community operates.  So many wonderful and fascinating images around every corner.

A star is born

Fundraiser

Thursday evening we attended a Fundraiser for the Children's Home. It was an evening at Ita's restaurant where we all gathered for a meal of Ribs, Carne Asada or Mahi Mahi.  Wanda Lee, a Gospel Country singer, provided some entertainment and we were blessed with the kids singing as a group. We had a small auction, passed the hat and collected a few pesos to support the children.

Cristian Cruz's three year old daughter, Kaylani, grabbed the spotlight and sang a song from the movie Frozen.  She was in full costume alive with drama, acting, twirling, and singing out "Let it go, let it go, let it go...." 

There has been a lot of support for the Home and we have individuals going out daily to help with cleaning, food prep, repairs and of course the remodel of the kitchen.  When it involves kids, it seems that many have a heart that simply wants to help.

Nueva Cocina

Poco a poco, the new kitchen at the Children's Home is shaping up.  Counter-tops are going down, tile is being set, plumbing is nearly complete and you can see a new kitchen if you just imagine.  Yesterday, a worker asked me to hold a piece of sheetrock while he screwed it in, so now I can say that I helped. Click on Image to enlarge.

Steve working on beam

Outdoor Kitchen