December 23, 2015

A year has flown by, we are ready to head south again....

We are looking froward to serving in Mexico again this winter!  This year the teams that we have been helping with are coming close together, so we are looking forward to 3 weeks of intense but exciting work. We are armed with 200 teddy bears, 200 gift bags and 78 toques to hand out to some we meet. :)

We are hoping to keep you informed of some of the highlights, but know that we won't be here every day....

We wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS!! and hope you enjoy our blog over the next few weeks!

Mat and Donna

Thursday to Sunday - Clinics and a couple extra pictures

Well, Thursday was another day for the clinic and we were at Maytorena.  It is a small village where many of the people work in the fields about 30 miles away from the town. They are bussed out at between 430 and 530 in the morning and work out there for the day.  Even though so many are working, there were still quite a few who came through to see us :)

This gentleman was our oldest patient.  He was 100 years old. I took his picture with one of doctors and a nurse that was helping move people this day... 

The glasses set up :)

Another one of the doctors coming out his tent with his translator and his patient.

Empalme - A city just south of Guaymas on the ocean as well, was our best attended clinic. 440 people came through to either have a medical consult and/or receive glasses.

The 5-6 nurses stations kept quite busy over the days of the clinics.

The line up. :) It never seemed to end this day, but was so good to see so many people be helped.

San Carlos clinic - 102 people went through the clinic in about 4 hours on Saturday morning.  The rest of the day was spent cleaning and packing up supplies as the team headed out on Sunday morning early.  This picture is another view of our busy nurses.

Two of the people that were seen by the doctors and nurses.

Our bear patrol ladies - they made sure every child that came to the clinic on Saturday received a little bear (and a big smile)  :)

On Sunday we got to sit and enjoy a wee bit of the out of doors... here is a pelican posing for his picture...

And this one diving into the water... 

We can't believe that our time is coming to a close here, it seemed like it was going to be a longer time, but it has flown by, and I'm not sure we're ready to come home ;) but we are so very grateful that we have had the opportunity to come down here and serve and love these people.  It has been a wonderful time!

Clinics :) Just the first few

Well, the clinics have begun, so sorry for not getting them posted earlier, yesterday was the day I had tried to get it done, but time ran away.

Friday was a half day, with much rain. It was a slow day because of that.  We were in the city of Guaymas, in the neighborhood called Independencia. 

Not too many pictures from Inependencia, sorry, but there were quite a few who came and were helped.

Day 2 - Vicam Pueblo 

 a small town/village on the way to Obregon, about 1.5 hours south of San Carlos.  This a Yaqui village so it was interesting to have some not be Spanish speakers and have to use two translators :) 

These 4 men came together in the morning, and seemed to be enjoying talking together.

One of the ladies that came through with her sons, they were sooooo cute! 

One of the nurses and her translator.

One of the girls at the end of the day with her bear.

Housing that seems to be quite common in Yaqui villages. Made of small sticks.

A better look at the sticks they use.

Day 3 - Potam

Set up in Potam is on a large court.  The ladies of the village were hard at work when we arrived sweeping off the court to ready it for us.  Mat and one of the men from the village starting to set up.  292 people were seen! Busy day :)

More set up, the people here just pitched in and helped. :)

One of the girls that came that was super cute. Got to talk with her and her 

Juan Carlos and Betty sharing with those in line.  Some of them didn't move up in line they tried to stay there just so they could hear what they were saying.

Some men on our way out of town.

Day 4 - Fatima

another area in Guaymas, a very, very poor area of the city. 300 people came through... about 150 of them were there for glasses, so not as busy as Monday for the doctors.

One of the homes visible from clinic.

One of our doctors, just a little break :) It was a great day.

Yesterday was a "day off" when the team was able to enjoy being here in San Carlos and area.

January 23, 2015 - Maytorena

On Friday, the 23rd (sorry we are so behind) we went to a new town to have a kids program and give some clothes away.  When we got to town, we headed out in a few groups to invite people to come...

One would think that when you are inviting people to come in 30 min to a kids program, well, in Canada, I don't know that many would arrive.  But in Mexico :) This was our first game of duck, duck, goose :)

A soccer game going on at the same time :)

One of the little guys that was watching.

Coloring after some games.

Some of the many children and parents that came...

A picture of some of the crowd that arrived... 

What a fun afternoon :) We so enjoyed meeting these people.  And look forward to going back this week to see them again.

Saturday - Sunday

Hello!

We just wanted you to know that Saturday was wonderful! We were in a small village about 1.5 hours south of San Carlos. This was the first time we had been to this village, and the need was apparent. We will share pictures later :)

About 210 people were seen on Friday.


Yesterday was a day of rest :) we wen out for lunch and enjoyed the sunshine.

Hope all is well for you all!

Friday January 30, 2015

Good Evening!

Greetings from a wet San Carlos.  There are many people who haven't ever seen rain when they have come here, and they are getting introduced this year :) We are having a nice down pour, even as I write this, so am not sure that I will get it posted tonight.

Mat was out with the Medical Team for their first half day session.  (I have not been doing well health wise, so it was felt it would be wiser for me to stay back today and do some other things so that I can get involved tomorrow and next week.)  They saw 107 people which was very good for a dreary wet day here in Mexico, most things go slower on wet days, almost like our snow days in Canada. ;)

I have some pictures to post from last week, and we will get some from these next few days. Just wanted you to know we are still enjoying our time!

Blessings!

Friday January 30, 2015

Good Evening!

Greetings from a wet San Carlos.  There are many people who haven't ever seen rain when they have come here, and they are getting introduced this year :) We are having a nice down pour, even as I write this, so am not sure that I will get it posted tonight.

Mat was out with the Medical Team for their first half day session.  (I have not been doing well health wise, so it was felt it would be wiser for me to stay back today and do some other things so that I can get involved tomorrow and next week.)  They saw 107 people which was very good for a dreary wet day here in Mexico, most things go slower on wet days, almost like our snow days in Canada. ;)

I have some pictures to post from last week, and we will get some from these next few days. Just wanted you to know we are still enjoying our time!

Blessings!

Thursday, January 22, 2015

We got to go with the team and help with two of the children’s groups and then go and do a little manual labor on the house that is being built for this very purpose J

This children’s group has meetings 3 times a week, and they have English classes, a movie day, and teaching on hygiene and things like that on different days.  Each morning this children are also given breakfast.  They are picked up from different areas of the neighborhood in a van and brought to the church where they have a good time.

There were close to 60 children that were there on Thursday.  

 We watched one little girl, maybe 6 years old, move to another table to be able to feed her younger sister.  She left her meal until she had fed her sister then ate herself.  

Some of the children eating.

This is one of the girls who had to wait for surgery as she had a cyst on her head, surgery happened a few years ago, and she is doing SO well!

The building project... This is the house that is being built for this children's ministry, they will have a place to feed the children and do clubs;  and then a place to live upstairs.

Afternoon kid's club - the dogs were contained on the roof :)

There were songs and a story, then face painting, balloons and colouring :)

Wednesday Afternoon

On Wednesday, we spent our morning trying to get more things organized for next week with the Medical Team. 

In the afternoon and evening we were able to go with the team and spent time in Guaymas.  In the afternoon, we went onto the street with 500 Coca Cola, and spent about an hour handing them out.  People in every country are surprised when they are given something free J and who doesn’t like a Coca Cola.  Along with the Coke, people where told that God loves them, and with some conversations were started and others carried on with their day.