Piñata hunting and a "Blind Boxer" at Christmas dinner.

What is a Mexican Christmas dinner without a piñata?  Since we are in La Paz and will be celebrating tonight it was time to go find a piñata!  So with some direction from Cindy off we went to a store on Jalisco that carries many of them and supplies to put in them.

 In the "Party" store getting supplies for the piñata.

Some of the choices.

 Resting in town at the Mercado.

 

Michelle stuffing the piñata with all sorts of candy.

We have not prepared many piñata's.  Actually, none!  So we filled this one FULL to the top with candy.  When we got it full we realized how heavy it was and that any quick jerks on the rope would probably tear this thing apart.  

 Dustin getting the last few pieces in.

 Elijah delivering piñata abuse at the celebration.

Mad dash after the piñata burst.

 Aunt Linda with two of her nieces, Cindy Nuñez and Gwen de la Peña.  

These are daughters of Cecil and Faye Byers.  Cecil was Linda's oldest brother.

 Ventura the "Blind Boxer".

30 years ago Jose and Cindy traveled from La Paz through Phoenix, Arizona where we lived at the time.  They had a young man from Mexico traveling with them.  His name was Ventura. We got to know him as he stayed with us for a few days.  We reconnected with him about 12 years ago in La Paz. 

Ventura has lost his sight over the last several years as diabetes took it's toll.  During the years before the loss of his eyesight Ventura was well known for his boxing and coaching young men to box.  

In the last few years he has petitioned the local and state government and has had a full sized professional type boxing ring built in front of his house!  Even though he is sightless he continues to coach young men in boxing and teaches them to be responsible and accountable young men.  He shares with them the love of Jesus and how his life has been transformed by the Spirit of God living in him.

He is now petitioning the government to build a shade cover over the boxing ring so that they can get more use of it during the heat of summer sun.

An example of his humor was exampled the other day when he spoke about how he protected himself while it was raining.  A plastic trash bag was offered to him to place over his head and upper body as he walked down the street in the rain.  He laughed when he said that he must of looked a sight with the bag over his head and no holes in it for his eyes! 

Ventura is a great example of a man who has chosen to not allow his loss of sight to cause him to be diminished.  God is impacting the lives of many young men through Ventura.  

 Philipe and Mary Lou getting the food prepared for the family Christmas dinner.

Philipe and Mary Lou have cooked for us and the groups we have taken to La Paz for many years.  Philipe has always lined that ledge with a decoration of fruits and vegetables in a symmetrical display.

 This is an example of a fruit tray produced every day for us.

 Janelle and her cousin Tania. 

Tania and her husband Omar live in La Paz with their two children Emilio and Sophia.

  Eating under the palapa. 

 Tania bringing wonderful desserts from Café Exquisito.

 Philipe and Mary Lou preparing elote.

  I think Dustin and Michelle like it.

Ramon then sang and played for us with that "Mexican" style.

 Than we sat and spent a while visiting around the fire.


 

Brody loading blankets.

Earlier in the day we went over to Pastor Chuy's house and helped load the blankets and clothing for the trip to Melitón in the morning.

Evan helping with the loading!

 Jeff, Don and Dusting getting the job done.

 Off to Melitón in the morning to deliver these blankets to those who have none.