Garden Restaurant

We are finally getting more rain. It has not been heavy, although Thursday morning it rained quite hard for a bit over an hour, with a bit over an inch. However, most of the rains have been about half an inch or less, but they have been frequent--every day and even twice one day. Thus, the cumulative effect has been significant. Also, there hasn’t been too much runoff as the rain can sink down. Our street down from the Carretera is now covered in green grass between the cobbles. I said our rains here in La Floresta have been light, but Chapala, barely 5 kms away, gets much more. On Friday morning we had a light rain (less than 10 mm.), but when we went to Chapala, the streets were small rivers. I hope that it is beginning to raise the level of Lake Chapala.

We have discovered a new outing for the 3 niñas at the Garden Restaurant. They have a blowup plastic trampoline that little kids can jump on. We like the restaurant because it has a huge garden with a number of fruit trees (grapefruit, orange, lime and banana); they also have a peacock and 2 peahens, plus some Bantum chickens. Last year when Jeff, Tarra and Aiden were here, we went there. It was great for Aiden, because he could run around when he didn’t want to sit longer. The waiter there knows us well and is great with the kids. Last week, they made quaesadeas even though it wasn’t on the menu. However, we got hamburgs and cut them up this week. After eating the kids play on the trampoline. After we take them to one of the malecons (walkways along the lakeshore). By the end of the afternoon, they are usually tired out; Barb and I are as well. We ususally come home and lie down for a while. [By the way, if you click on these photos, it enlarges into a full size photo.]

We are doing an information page (with photo) of each child at Love in Action. We are getting more information about their backgrounds. All of their stories are wrenching and some are truly horrific. These individual pages will be sent to the godparents and sponsors of the kids so that they can learn more and feel more in touch. Just in the last couple of weeks, there was another family of 5 brought to the center; the mother would go off sometimes for days and leave the 12 year old girl looking after her younger siblings. They arrived without clothes so are having to share with other kids the same size. We want to try to get some more clothes. It is troubling to learn of kids in such need, but it is also extremely heart-warming to know that Love in Action is giving them a chance to get an education and some hope for their lives. Anabel, the founder and director, also is housemother for the age 13 and over girls (she has 14 girls). Several of those girls realize how important an education is and really put themselves into their school work and are doing really well. Anabel glowed as she was talking about them.