I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July. This was the 2nd time that I didn´t celebrate it in the US. The only other time was when I was in Romania. I can´t even tell you how big of a deal they made of it in Romania. There, the US Embassy puts on a huge fireworks exhibit in the park that is behind the embassy building. This park is probably 2 miles square with lots of rivers and lakes. There were so many people there that it was hard to find room to sit down and claim.

Here, in Mexico, they didn´t do anything, but it was a blessed day.

Yesterday afternoon as I was driving to the orphanage, I saw a couple of the boys rollerblading in the town square. After I picked up my laundry, I went back and we watched them skate around a bit while we all enjoyed some yummy coconut treats. A few of them found themselves some chairs in the bushes or on the sidewalks, but no one got the slightest bit hurt.

Last night, we went to the park. We usually go to the park on Friday nights as long as the weather is good. Most of the time, a local pastor puts on a Christian movie, and one time the kids from TH handed out tracts to everyone in the park. It was really cute.

Last night, I saw some kids that I have met on other Friday nights, and we met a new one as well, Jesus. This little boy is 8 years old and I couldn´t tell if he had CP or William´s Syndrome. He was so cute and friendly. He had the scroniest little legs that had mud streaks running down them. The other kids didn´t want to play beach ball with him because his reactions are a little slow so he couldn´t hit it very good. Yet, he enjoyed it. He asked Sadie and I if we would be there again today. It´s great to meet new people (and kids) and just to love on them.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Sometimes I forget that I am in Mexico or I will forget about the differences between the two countries. It´s the little things that make it so dramatically different. Here are some examples:

• In the states, if they want everyone to know something, they will have commercials, put it on the news, radio, and/or put it in a mail flyer. Here, they don´t do any of those things, they will just have people drive around with intercoms on top of their cars to spread the message. They do this for everything from letting people know there´s a fair in town to telling people to watch their water usage since we´re in a drought.
• In the states, there are noise ordinance laws. You have to be quiet after 10. Here, the music and parties usually start at 10...or midnight. It´s great fun, especially when you´re an old fart like me and like to go to bed early.
• There are no plumbers, realtors, or advertisers. (The first 2 would really come in handy right now - well, Bob fixed one of my leaks so I´m not really in need of a plumber anymore. Thanks Bob!)