We woke up a little late this Tuesday morning and while I was filling the washer with the hose for a load of wash, several of the boys from the school came to the fence to talk. I asked them how they were doing and some spoke up and said they were fine. Then I asked if they’d like to come have an art class today and they said they could come after computation class, which ends at 4. So I’m going to get ready for lots of kids today and hopefully they’ll let me take their picture. Lord willing, it will be some seeds planted for the Kingdom.
Being here in Tepeyac has been a learning process for us, as far as the cultural aspects of this area of Mexico are concerned. I was already familiar with the culture of the area of Baja, Mexico we lived in for 7 years, and it had a strong Indigenous influence as many of the people we ministered to there were Trique and Mixteco natives from Oaxaca, Guerrero and other southern states.
But here in Coahuila, the culture is different, and I’m sure, influenced by the U.S. that is not far away. We haven’t seen many homes with televisions but see that some have satellite dishes on top of their homes. There are only a few school-aged children that don’t attend classes, and we’ve tried to encourage them to go to school, but their parents haven’t registered them so they can’t attend. We are praying God will work out those problems as they have little chance of leading very productive lives wandering the streets at 10 and 12 years old. In the meantime, we spend time with them, and they like to hang out with us when they’re not riding horses and hanging out with their friends.
Here in town, 35 children attend the local elementary school up through 6th grade, and laterthen they are bussed to Palmira for the upper grades. It was a nice surprise to learn that a teacher comes to Tepeyac from Acuna to teach computer classes on Tuesday and Wednesday. The children told me they really enjoy that class.
Right now, many of the families are picking pecans for money. In Jiminez, there’s a business that allows you to pick their pecans and pays for you to sell them back to them, after you’ve shelled them. Most of the people we see here have the tell-tale black thumbs and fingers that come from shelling pecans (nogales). They tell me that for about two or three more weeks they can do this type of work. There are lots of trees in the orchards, they say, and we’ve seen little grandmothers, and even youngsters with the evidence of this hard work. One lady next door told us she and her daughter picked and shelled 190 kilos one day. A kilo is a little over two pounds, so you know they worked hard. I can’t imagine it. I think they told me they made 25 pesos a kilo of the shelled pecans, which is about two American dollars for a little over two pounds. Right now, it is the most profitable work to be had in this area. When you think of how much we pay for pecans, it gives you a whole new perspective of what goes into that product. Most jobs here make about $60. U.S. per week.
When we get a chance, we will try to pry the door on the pickup so that it will open again. I sure hope the mare that hit us last night is okay. Bill’s going to go look for her later today.
Blas asked us if we could help him haul a sheep that he’s purchased that’s pregnant. He needs to move her to his house, and he and Bill will get into the back of the pickup and ride with her. Who would think we’d be hauling sheep in the back of our pickup in Mexico? I’ll try to get some pictures….sounds like another adventure to me!
We will try to keep you updated whenever we can and appreciate your prayers for us and reading our blog. God bless you today as you keep Jesus first in your life!
In His service,
Toni and Bill
By the way, on our way over here to San Carlos, we saw the mare that walked into our pickup last night and she looks fine. Thank the Lord!
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