Thursday March 20th

Katie has an annoying cough for the past few days which refuses to leave. We got an email from both Vickey and Sister Maureen, who said the ladies that were going to see the kids they sponsor would be going back to the US side around 3:30 and that if we wanted to meet them at the bridge on the Mexico side we could hitch a ride.

We did that and hopped in the red truck around 4. Sister Maureen dropped us off at the mansion the kids occupy(yeah some mansion) bullet holes in most of the windows, from the Cartel occupation days.

The girls came home from school shortly after, and we received our customary big hugs. They look so good in their school uniforms.

We talked to mom with sign language and the help of the translator on the tablet. From what we learned, the vacant lot where the husband burned down the house has already been sold. That was disappointing, as we had hoped they could get that lot for a reasonable amount, and then build a cinder block house there.

Now Katie and I looked at each other sort of at a loss as to what we were going to do next. Erika and the kids and Katie and I went for a walk around the complex. I would say there are probably 5 nice homes, and the rest are all vacant lots. Erika's husband Livario was working on cleaning the car of one Dentist he works for who has an extremely nice house. Livario went across the street and got another Dentist named Juan who is fairly young and speaks pretty good English.

To make a long story shorter, it seems the only way to get a lot or a house for the family, would be to get some type of bill of sale from the current pseudo owner. It takes a long time apparently to get any documentation that you own the property from the proper authority. In fact, if you get a bill of sale and move in, then start paying the taxes and utilities, and apply for legal ownership....then....after some lengthy period of time the proper authority will get around to you, and decide because you have been paying the taxes it is now yours, and will issue papers saying so.

According to Juan, this is just the way it is. Some may have papers but most don't, so it is a bit of a gamble when you pay for something, that it will really be yours in the end, but it looks like once you move in an start paying, it is unlikely anyone else can get you out.

Juan was very friendly and helpful and spent quite a bit of time with us. He said we could phone him if we needed more help with anything.

Livario and Erika said they would keep looking, and Katie and I thought that even though they are supposedly only supposed to stay in the present temporary house for 2 months, that they could probably stay there indefinitely while they are looking, and there is really no one interested enough to kick them out. We sure hope that is the case anyway.

We had fun with the kids as usual, and Erika's father was playing his guitar and singing, and he is really quite good with a nice voice.

Livario has already cleaned up the yard and the courtyard out back so it looks a lot better. They still don't want to spend money on the house though, as it will not be theirs.

Sister Maureen came back around 7PM, and we got our big hugs from the girls, twice, and I always look at Livy who looks sad that we are going. This time though she knows we will be back on Saturday for Erika's birthday.

Sister Maureen dropped us off at our car on the US side, and Katie and I headed home.

Funny thing...both our friend Al and myself bought 2010 Toyota Rav 4's within weeks of each other in 2010. They came with Sirius Satellite radio and was supposed to be for three months. It has continued working for Al until last week, and mine quit yesterday on the way home from Mexico. Oh well, great while it lasted.

and so ends another great day in the valley....

more later....