Well dear Friends & Family,

We have returned to Mexico after traveling by car 11,688 miles. The trip started in Puerto Vallarta (85 degrees) on June 5^th. and ended on September 9^th. 

THE TRIP

We traveled for 4 days to reach Cancun (95 degrees) on the Caribbean. We traveled through such cities as Morella, Guadalajara & Toluca. We stayed in Taxco (70 degrees), one of our favorite picturesque towns located on top of a little hill south of Mexico City. This town is known as the site of the silver industry in Mexico.  It is very quaint and we are sorry we couldn’t spend more time to discover its many customs and sweet people. You could spend hour’s just taking pictures due to its unusual beauty. After two days we continued on our trek across the beautiful inland country of Mexico passing through such cities as Puebla, Villa-Hermosa, Cuidad de Carmen, Campeche, Merida and then onto Cancun. For those of you leery to drive in Mexico you are sure missing out on a beautiful country with as good if not better roads than the USA. The people are very friendly, helpful and just downright courteous to us foreigners and each other.

When we arrived in Cancun there was a torrential down pour and the water was up to the door sills. So we suffered our first and only car problem on the whole trip. The water shorted out our starter and drained our battery so the car was placed in a shop known by our friends and 3 hours later we were repaired.  It cost us $120 dollars which was less than the states.

We then spent some time with our old teacher friend, Patty & her husband Marcos. They showed us around town and we took a ferry out to an island called Isla de Mujeres (Island of Women). Both Marcos & I figured we were in trouble with an island named in such a manner. We thought we would be shopping all day. Hehe. Just kidding, I think I bought more stuff than Faye. 

We stopped in Chichen Itza (98 degrees) and viewed the marvelous temple ruins spread out over many acres.  We noticed on our Mexican map that there are temples all over Mexico even one close to Texas. 

Then we left for the states crisscrossing the middle of Mexico.  Faye and I have never seen so many miles of fields of corn, peppers, tomatoes & strawberries etc. We even saw grain silos large than the huge Caesars Place in Las Vegas.  We were struck by the abundance of the land, much of it untapped. 

It took us about a full week to reach the border in Nogales. We then traveled to Gold Canyon, Arizona near Phoenix (113 degrees) and stayed with our dear friends Steve & Vickie Moreland. You may remember that Steve and Vickie came down and helped us teach the kids in May 2006.  We were really ready for some important rest and relaxation by this time. It gave Faye and I time to unwind in a beautiful, friendly home with all the comforts of home. We evened enjoyed their company sitting in the pool in the summer evenings. And it also gave us an opportunity to visit with my youngest daughter, Jennifer and two of our grandchildren Zachary & Lindsay.

Then we started our traveling (1 ½) days to Folsom, Ca. (80 degrees) to our daughter Teresa’s home.  This then became our base of operations for the end of June, all of July and part of August.  Of course, we were treated royally everyday as we recuperated from our long journey.  My only job besides e-mailing the world daily was to make sure Lucky (a huge black Labrador) exercised me every day. Do you know how many times you have to throw the ball into the swimming pool for a Labrador?  Neither do I, but my arm is now much stronger though. Hehe.

While in Folsom, we started our real work. We hit every thrift store known to man to buy items for the kids and the two mission schools. We also bought tons of food items for our own pantry, plus other things we kept seeing on the TV only ads.  We also had friends over like Delores & Wayne M. of Florence, OR. whom we played countless hours of Mexican Train & Sequence games.  Delores & Wayne also helped us teach in Puerto Vallarta. Also Ted & Kathy S. of Napa, CA. who also helped us teach in Mexico.

Then Ted & Kathy invited us to stay with them in Napa on the Napa River.  Ted is a real sailor and took me out on his boat to show me Napa and the surrounding areas.  As you know, I am an ex-Navy sailor myself.  So as we were heading down the river at full steam I wondered why we were attempting to troll using the anchor attached to the bow. Captain Ted couldn’t figure out why the bow was so high in the air and had us move forward. I then could see the anchor bouncing off the top of the water and let the captain know. Needless to say he was very embarrassed.  I told him that I wouldn’t tell everyone, just some of my many friends. Boy, is he going to kill me. Hehe.  I love fond memories, don’t you? Hehe.

Well, back to Folsom. No, Ted didn’t throw me out.  Then a visit to Shingle Springs, CA to visit with our oldest daughter Melissa, her husband Steve and our granddaughters Kera, Julie & Courtney. We found out we were going to have our first Great Grandchild. Our granddaughter Julie had a sonogram and has named the expected boy arrival Christian. Praise the Lord.  While in Shingle Springs we were invited to speak at the Shingle Springs Foursquare Church about our work in the two mission schools.  We also met friends there who sponsored us and also visited us last year.

Back to Folsom until we once again headed to Ted & Kathy’s in Napa. I was not sure how I was going to be received due to the boating incident. But fortunately, Ted is getting old and forgot all about the anchor. Hehe.  And they even took us to Julia Child’s Restaurant in Napa for a wonderful lunch.  They even brought the pastry chef out and introduced us. That pasty chef then went to kitchen and prepared us a huge plate of desserts.  She wanted to show her thanks to Faye & I for our work in Mexico. How special, we felt.  About this time you are probably wondering how many pounds we have gained on this trip?  I’ll tell you at the end. Hehe.

Well, we are now off to the Bay Area and our home church. Our long time friends Ed & Sharon G.  in Alameda, CA. (65 degrees) have decided they can stand our company for awhile because they know we will leave soon for Southern California. I am just teasing. They treated us like family and we truly enjoyed our wonderful biblical discussions and wonderful home cooked meals. Sharon could sure show Julia Childs a thing or two. Oops, I guess she will have to wait as I hear from Faye that Julia is now with the Lord. Sharon & Ed took us to their church, Shiloh Christian Fellowship where the pastor gave us encouragement.  Then Teresa hired a limousine and took us to dinner in San Francisco at the House of Prime Rib. Oh, Lord what a wonderful meal. Yes, I know I have to check the scales again. P.s. Sharon and Ed also helped us at the mission 4 years ago.

Now a visit to our church First Presbyterian Church of Hayward/Castro Valley where we make another presentation. The church also donated a 1997 Dodge 15 passenger van to our mission work.  The church asked us to leave the van so the congregation can fill it.  After a couple of weeks, the church called and said it was ready to go.  I first had to arrange a driver.

Well, now to head south to the LA Basin. First stopping and staying with Jim & Linda M. in Camarillo, CA. (75 degrees)   Jim & Linda helped us teach most of the spring two years ago. They are anticipating returning in November to once again help us teach. We thank them for their dedication to the kids and their hard work assisting us in Puerto Vallarta. Thanks for the roof above our heads as we travel and the fine meals. Oh, how I am dreading those scales.

Now onto Covina, CA. (95 degrees) and our other helpers and great supporters, Randy & Dodie C.  Boy, talk about rolling out the red carpet.  We could sure get spoiled quickly visiting all our friends. It just doesn’t stop. God is so good to us. Not only did Randy & Dodie feed us, they took us to a fancy hotel for dinner, where we were all refused admittance because we were in shorts and they just changed their policy regarding shorts. This is another fun story as you probably think we ended up at a MacDonald’s. Nope, they had a wonderful backup plan and the scale is my worst nightmare. Oh well, hard to refuse wonderful friends when they force feed you. Hehe. 

Then off to Diane & Fred K.  in Rancho Cucamonga.  I just can’t believe the generosity of our friends.  They even gave us their master bedroom!  But we sure needed the time to rest as are travels again were catching up with us.  Diane & Fred are good friends of Randy & Dodie and were along for our restaurant travails in our shorts. Diane has also helped us teach the children in the mission school.

We next go to visit John & Linny S. in Carlsbad, CA (85 degrees). Linny is our webmaster and is now doing a brand new website  (His Will, His Way Ministries). She and her husband John have helped us through the years with tons of time, resources and teaching at the school.  Linny also got her Lions Club involved each year which blessed the children. Linny also spent time babysitting our home in Puerto Vallarta in 2006.

And spent a whole two weeks helping us teach in 2005. Now back to Covina to await Earl.

Next we traveled to Running Springs, Ca. high in the mountains above Los Angeles to see our dear friends, Harold & Lynn W.  The mountain air was delicious and without smog.  They to have helped us teach many years ago in Puerto Vallarta.

Now, we wait as our dear friend Earl D. from Northern California picks up the van in Castro Valley and travel to Covina.  After a very long trip he arrives.  The van is literally filled from roof to floor and from front to back. Earl barely had room for his own luggage.  We decided that we would need to empty the van (in 100 degree weather).  It took Faye & Earl all day to sort the clothes etc.  We knew someone would send us sweaters or ski clothes or items that we just couldn’t use. So we were able to bless the local Salvation Army.  We also had donated items stored at Randy’s to fill all the extra space we gained.  Bottom line: no way could we have taken it all to Mexico. That night with all the items sitting in the driveway and our trip starting early in the morning, we ate dinner wondering if we all had the energy to tackle this huge task.  Randy walks up to us and says “Our bible study group has decided that they will load the truck for you”.  Well we all almost cried.  This wonderful group of Christian brothers & sisters show up in their good clothes and a miracle happens. The miracle was to get it all back into the van. It took three grown men to get the side doors shut after a good hour of loading.  We can’t thank them enough. God is so good. Randy & Dodie have also helped us teach at the school.

The next morning Earl tells me the van was not running very well so I decided to have a tuneup, oil change etc. and change two tires before we hit the road. So late in the day we head for Arizona.  We spend our first night in Gila Bend, Arizona.

Were off to the border at Sonotya bright and early the next morning.  We arrive at the border crossing at Sonotya and we are refused entry due to the clothes & school supplies. After spending two hours trying we head for Nogales and arrive late in the afternoon.  We show our documents and we are told that we need an original DMV title for the van. The original title had already been sent back to our church for the church’s official church stamp and all we had was a copy.  We decided to call it a day and try again the next day. 

The next day we arrived early and tried all over again but to know avail.  We then turned poor Earl around and sent him back to Covina to stay with Randy and Dodie.  We then traveled 3 ½ days and arrived home very tired and slightly discouraged.  But do you remember that Hurricane Henrietta that traveled through Mexico from Cancun and changed to a tropical storm in the middle of Mexico.  Guess what day it hit northern Mexico? It hit the first day we were trying to get through the border and caused extensive flooding and wind damage to all the areas we would have traveled if we had not been turned back.  God knows best and protected us all.

So now we wait for the proper paperwork to arrive from DMV and also a letter from a Mexican Senator for the clothes & school supplies.  I will fly back and pickup the van and drive it across when God provides us the documents.

Our web page is now being reconstructed by Linny. At the present time there is only a “Home Page”.  But keep looking as we will have many pictures and links to the schools.  Now keep us in prayer for the van’s delivery & our very busy Christmas schedule as they children practice their singing etc. for the upcoming holidays.

Faye & I, gratefully thank all the wonderful friends mentioned above for all their love, resources and watch care during our travels. Did you notice the three things they have in common? 1) They helped teach 2) They are good friends & 3) They all show God’s wonderful love to the kids & us.   You maybe ask how long they have been good friends. That’s easy; from the moment they helped our kids learn that there is hope. That hope is Jesus. God bless.