Two Jeeps on the Pothole Express

Hello,fans! Another trip with the bishop and team today, this time to the lower altitude, the "hot country", but not so hot today. Never got over 71. We headed out in the morning, for the 2 and a half hour trip to Ayoajapa, a few miles on a double toll road, then many miles on the pothole express, the "free" highway, then down green tunnels of sugar cane, 10 ft. tall, with pink tinted tassles rising another 4 ft., dancing in the breeze. It is planted so close to the road the leaves brush the car. From there we headed into another green tunnel, this one completely closed overhead by the huge, dense foliage of mango trees. There were uncountable orange trees, fruit languishing on the ground, other citrus, big, green and shiny, papayas not yet ripe, sheds full of pineapple, and coffeebeans drying on rooftops.

The bishop led the way in his usual cavalier, sprightly style, but we groaned in despair as he sailed past the only gasoline station (usable bathroom) on the whole trip! On arrival, being presented to the young, smiling pastor, we said, "Nice to meet you. Where's the bathroom?"!! That young priest is responsible for his parish and 14 dependencies. He and his catechists had 65 children ready for confirmation.

The views were lovely, the usual ranges of rolling hills and soaring mountains, totally covered in thick vegetation. We had fog starting out, but eventually could feast the eyes on the views. Cane grew even on hillsides, many homes and business were thatched, and those little places seemed to grow right out of the ground. There was the usual assortment of mules, cows, goats, pigs, horses, turkeys (courting!), and countless chickens, gorgeous roosters. We think we even saw a small deer once, but it may have been a big-eared goat. Another interesting sight was literally hundreds of huge trucks, piled sky high with sugar cane, waiting patiently for their turn at the sugar mills.

After mass, we feasted on mutton (I passed), rice, beans, tortillas, guacamole(hot!) and freshly picked avacados, ripe and buttery. Also rice, and as a special treat, sheeps' blood, cooked, chopped and seasoned. (I passed again.)Also available were red wine and tequila.

The trip home was fine, up to a point, just the usual "congo-line" driving, trying to avoid the potholes. We passed several small to larger rivers, some totally clean and pristine, rushing over the rocks. But a couple miles from our toll booth, where the double highway starts, normally just 20 minutes from home, ohoh, we saw a LONG line of brake lights. Cars and trucks, including some of the huge, overloaded ones hauling cane, on and on it stretched. Fifty minutes later, we had inched up enough to see the ambulances heading in the other direction, another parked in the middle of our road, and a little later, we finally got through the toll booth and headed home!

Something about life in a little Mexican village, with all its inconveniences, really feels familiar and comfortable to us. Today, the electricity was out all day. Imagine, a 2 hour Mass with NO amplified music! They don't even have TV there, unless they can afford the satellite service. But we were right at home. After seeing a few stern looks from some of the ladies, when the bishop explained about married deacons, and I was this one's wife of 50 years, they warmed right up. The kids, as usual, were darling. According to the Lord's promise, if we've left children, (and grandchildren) at His call, by rights we should have 500 children, 500 children in law, and 2100 grandchildren! Plus the originals, of course! What wealth!