A friend just sent this to me…

Pretty Sweet to say the least..

Hi Bob,

We visited our daughter, Louise, and her husband, Adam’s home in Red Deer for Thanksgiving.  They have two sons, Ty (5) and Brody (21/2).  It was a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Our grandson, 5, had big surprise for us!

We were doing some early planning for Christmas.  We talked about giving some money to a charity rather than buying each other gifts.  I mentioned the Mexican Schools Project and Pasitos de Luz.  Louise asked Ty if he would like to help the children in Mexico.  He said “yes”.  He left the table without any prompting and came back with a small coin purse that he dumped on the table.  He had 5 dollar bill and some change.  He took out the quarters and left all the rest for the children in Mexico.  His donation totals $5.90.  I will send a cheque for that amount to the Mexican Schools project.  He said he wanted to keep the quarters ($1.75) so he could take them to school to give to the United Way.  He is in kindergarten.  Ty gave away all his money!  We are so proud of him!!!

Ty Erickson

An excerpt from the Aspengrove School website:

The Grade 2 class recently had a visit from a “Superhero” named Bob Johnson, who has been helping children across Mexico for the last 20 years! He has been going to extremely remote areas, where children don’t have schools, electricity…all of the things that we are so lucky to have, and raising money to build schools and homes and provide school supplies to the children and teachers. Please check out his blog for more details: www.mexicoschoolsproject.ca

After the presentation, the children discussed what they learned and feelings they had (see the attached photo). As Action is a big part of the IB curriculum and philosophy I told them that when people learn about these types of situations and think about how they feel, it often leads to them taking action. I asked the children if they thought we could take action and they came up with the idea of raising money via a bake sale. We wrote a class email to Mrs. Fitzgerald, asking for permission, and she granted it on 1 request: that we make a commitment to eating healthy for 1 week. The children have risen to the challenge and have been giving up certain items from the lunches (food high in sugar). Don’t worry, I have labeled each item and they will be returned to your child on Friday. It is actually quite amazing how little has had to be handed over, as the Grade 2 student’s snacks and lunches are of excellent nutritional quality!

This entire process has also enabled the students to learn about goal setting and decision making, which are a part of the Grade 2 BC curriculum learning outcomes.

Student reflections after Bob's visit

The information below is about an upcoming event being held to raise money for a kindergarten school in Coralles.

________________________________________

Dear Bob,

Thanks to your generous support last year,$10,000 was raised for Mexican Schools Project. The original goal of building a home for the high school principal in Villa del Mar was surpassed so that the much needed additional housing for 5 teachers was also achieved.

This year, Yoga & Nia Holidays with Barbara Crompton is raising money to build a kindergarten school for the very remote village of Coralles, 2 hours south of Puerto Vallarta.  Currently, there are 20 to 30 children who have no school to go to this year.

You and your friends are invited to help by joining us for another fun filled soiree and silent auction.  Bask in the July sun on the False Creek seawall, meet old friends and discover new ones at The Wicklow in Vancouver (610 Stamps Landing, next to Monk McQueens). The cost is $45.00 per person (includes appetizers and one drink). Purchase tickets online or at the door.

Please let us know that you are coming by phone or email to:

Barbara Crompton
Ph. 604-618-4591
Email. bcrompton@fitnessgroup.com

If you are unable to attend, we would greatly appreciate any contribution to this very worthwhile cause. You may donate online or mail your cheque to:

Mexican Children’s Relief Fund
c/o 235-1628 West 1st Avenue
Vancouver, BC
V6J 1G1

A tax receipt for the donation will be mailed to you. Please provide your full name and address.

With Gratitude,

Barbara Crompton

Bob recently brought a donated van to Mexico, it was quite a wild trip, but he did arrive safe with the van. below is some information on what they plan to do with the van in Puerto Vallarta.

Vallarta Enfrenta el SIDA A.C.
(Vallarta Confronts AIDS in English)
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco

Benefits and uses for a van-type vehicle for Vallarta Enfrenta el SIDA, A.C. (VES)

1. VES organizes and produces regular health fairs and other events at which we provide rapid HIV testing, education, counseling, and prevention services throughout the Banderas Bay region.  These events, held in public plazas and parks, as well as other open locations, require diverse materials and equipment; such as tables, chairs, portable awnings, printed material such as flyers and educational material, rapid test kits and related medical supplies, etc.  We also must transport between 5 to 8 persons to the event sites.  To date, we have relied on the support of volunteers who provide use of their own vehicles, or even on taxis when volunteer vehicles are not available.  As the schedule of these events are publicized for days or weeks prior, it is of utmost importance that we are at the advertised location when we say we will be there.  The lack of our own vehicle creates difficulties in organizing and mounting these events as scheduled and advertise.
2. The interior of a van-type vehicle can be (and would be) adapted to perform HIV testing and counseling in more clandestine locations where we also work, (outside of bars and clubs at night, at public Parks and other locations where sexual encounters are either arranged or consummated).  Our experience has shown that persons who frequent such places are both highly vulnerable to HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, and less likely to seek medical and social services in conventional settings such as clinics, and health fairs. Thus, outreach in these places is vital to our mission to reduce infections and get people who are HIV positive into treatment.
3. A van would facilitate transport of patients, who are sometimes quite ill, to the CAPASITS clinic for necessary medical attention.  Transport for patients with very limited economic means is among our contractual obligations with the CAPASITS clinic.
4. The vehicle could be decorated outside with appropriate messages to increase public awareness about HIV and methods to avoid infection.  It would function as a mobile banner to disseminate the messages of Vallarta Enfrenta el SIDA, A.C.

HOLA  HOLA

The first part of the trip went great and got all the 20 bolts of cloth  that  good friends donated for a womens cooperative across the  US  border  with  no hassle.

Then came Medford Oregon. I could almost taste California but the van did not want to go over the mountain pass and kept over heating and this was on a Sunday…Lucky (sort of) I found the only place in town that did  auto repairs.

They were very sweet and thought is was the thermostat sounded good to me and was not all that expensive but that was not the problem and they could not figure it out as it  ran fine in town but did not like elevation….They were stumped and they  were closing..  They  asked  if I could come back manana when the head  mechanic was in…. What choice did I have …
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