http://tinyurl.com/27dsjnk

They will receive 100 more books in another month or two and also have an open house later in the year.

This is a project funded by a southern Wisconsin, USA, nonprofit in conjunction with a Mexican family in LaCruceita, Oaxaca, Mx.

The books are in lower level Spanish for young children, but higher level books will be added over the next 3 years. Also, donations of Spanish books are welcome, but must not be political/religious in nature. This is a community owned and operated library for the children in a very high mountain village.

It is possible children from two “neighboring villages” may also benefit, but they will have to travel some distance on mountain trails to see and select books. Children are encourage to check out books and have them in their homes for the benefit of all of their family members.

The library will likely become an education and social hub for children and probably have internet capacity.

The contact people are Luis and Elva, owners of Los Portales and Onyix restaurant in LaCrucecita. This is their website –

www.losportaleshuatulco.com

Luis Alfredo Estavillo Chavez
Bugambilia 603, La Crucecita
Bahías de Huatualco, Oaxaca. México
C.P. 70989
Tel (958) 587.00.70

Much work on the library has already been accomplished since the day of our delivery of books shelving material.  In addition, a dental clinic is under construction and teachers are living in the community and teaching sewing and voluntary library skills.  You can check out the photo album on my Facebook page at the following link.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3816824&l=e24b5750f2&id=669922354

We hope to return next winter to the state of Oaxaca and visit the ¨little library in the mountains¨at San Felipe.  It is the 40th library established in the state of Oaxaca by expats from USA and Canada living in Oaxaca City.

Stephen Sardeson, ¨The¨Genuine Tourist, living in Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, MX

Our Puerta or Gate and Upstairs on Left

Walking up to our First Floor

Because we are living in Tlaxcala again, we have been able to renew old friendships and visit familiar places.  Two nights ago, we ate “cows feet” during a delicious feast with our next door neighbors.  Last night, we attended two carnivals with wonderful dancers, including attending carnival for the second year in a row in our own  neighborhood .  We were recognized by our neighborhoods in view of our “resident status.  We also recognized some people, including some dancers, and my personal favorite, the local seller of blackberries. 

 We have about one month left in Mexico for this winter and much to try to accomplish with so little time.  I have been exploring a new theme for T-shirts by searching this years photos.  Also, we want to check on buying glasses in Mexico.  Then, we want to make at least a couple more tours with “Mexico Mystic,” AKA, Robert Cox, our professional guide from nearby Apizaco.  See sidebar of this blog for his website.  Finally, we have one more medical/dental mission trip in late April in southern Puebla.

 We were asked by friends why we don’t do any “missions” in the state of Tlaxcala.  So far all of the “missions” we have accomplished have been in the neighboring states of Oaxaca and Puebla.  We advised our friends that we have not been “asked” to join any missions in the state of Tlaxcala.  Perhaps we will find some to participate in the state of Tlaxcala next year.

 Speaking of next year . . . we do hope to return.  However, we also want to repeat a trip to northern Haiti, and in the meantime, somehow survive the dramatic economic downturn in the USA.  While we have been encouraged by recent personal developments, we still have some apprehensions regarding our ability to continue to personally finance our adventures.  The economy in the USA is in very bad shape and, in my mind, likely to be so for a very long time, especially for young people entering the labor market and retirees out of the labor market.

 This morning we hear on our English TV news station about the deaths of USA employees in northern Mexico.  We were also reminded by media of the 14,000 deaths, mainly drug related, in Mexico this past year.  While such news is disturbing, it does NOT reflect the mainstream quality of life in Mexico, especially in southern Mexico, AND for those who have no interest in feeding the drug industry.

However, if people choose to believe such media “events,” I guess it will mean that Mexico will only be lightly visited by USA citizens for the next several years.  We did find though that a LOT of Canadians are still “beaching it” on the southern coast of Mexico and that development of private homes and condos has pushed forward, although a bit slower. 

 I guess I will end my “report” for now.  We are expecting Mexico Mystic (Bob Cox) soon.  Wednesday we will be visiting some less visited by extensive archaeological ruins and having breakfast with an expat couple we recently met via Bob and Rachel. 

 I will post a LOT of videos and photos in the months ahead so stay in touch if you are interested in such.  Adios, Silversard, a “Genuine Tourist,” reporting from Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala.

One food project has been the raising of chickens for both eggs and meat.  You can see the chickens being inoculated by Luis and MsSardo in the following photo.   

Chickens for Eggs and Meat

You can see a video of how the CHILDREN helped catch the chickens on YouTube at – 

 

Other videos of regarding San Felipe are also available on YouTube by searching under “Silversard.”  One, for example, shows the children demonstrating their reading skills to Luis during one of his visits. 

A few months ago, the “Expats” living in Oaxaca City agreed to set up a new library in San Felipe with the help of funding from the USA.  You can learn about their earlier library projects at – 

http://www.oaxlibrary.com/ 

In order to see information specific to their library work, you need to click on their “outreach programs” tab and read about “Libros Para Pueblos.” 

Luis and Elva traveled to San Felipe in recent months to meet with school officials (and indirectly community leaders) about the project.  Here is a photo of the teachers who want to see the project succeed.   

 

 

Luis (left w white shirt) and Teachers

The teachers have offered a large unused office in the school building as a location for the new library.  If the location is selected, the community residents, working with Luis, will build library shelves and small desks and chairs for the children to use when selecting the books for their personal use.  Of course, the new library will be open to all children.   

 

 

Possible Location For Library

Luis and Joe Wilkes, Oaxca Lending Library Contact, will be traveling to San Felipe in the near future to meet with the leaders of the community and finalize the establishment and location of the library.

While much remains to be done, it is likely the library will become a reality sometime this year.  Regardless, we must remember that it is all about the KIDS of SAN FELIPE LACHILLO who are so very interested in working with Luis and Elva on their education. 

Luis Listening To Child Reading Publicly

We will be in Mexico for the next 3 months or so and hope to travel to San Felipe Lachillo near the end of March to see the progress on this project.  Won’t you join us via this blog and follow the progress of this small village.

Stephen Sardeson, Genuine-Tourist.com, reporting from Baraboo, WI, USA 

  

  

 

 

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Correction — Total swim time for all 9 bays was 5 hours and 24 minutes, not 10+ hrs. previously reported.  I can hardly believe it!  but it was reported to me by Wayne Overby who was in a kayak next to Luis the entire time.

**********************

We “summarized” in part 2 by reminding people that Luis was a “man with 2 missions,” one to establish an “open water swim” record for the Bays of Huatulco, and the other to be of assistance to the “children of San Felipe.”

He said that he used as his “mantra” the expression, “Cada Brazada, Un Aliento Para La Niñez,” which loosely translated means with, “Each Movement of the Arms, A Breathe For Childhood,” so that he had the energy to make the necessary strokes to complete the course.

One can only wonder how many strokes or “breathes for children” had to take to swim approximately 14 miles in UNDER 6 hours.  No matter, however, for he was doing it for the children of San Felipe. 

More photos and videos just a click away –

One day the children we in Huatulco and saw the ocean for only the 2nd time in their short lives even though they can practically see the Pacific from the mountains where they live.  Here is a photo of them enjoying the ocean.

Luis used the time with the children to also go for a practice swim with his two dogs.  One of the dogs was 14 years old and could not keep up with Luis and the other dog as they all returned to the beach and were greeted by the children.  The children loved the two dogs almost as much as they enjoyed the ocean as you can see in the following Youtube video –

If you would like to support Luis and his “missions,” you can contact him at — losportales_hux@hotmail.com or ”drop” me an email at — silversard@yahoo.com

The swim lasted many hours (about 10 and 1/2 hrs.) but ended on San Agustin Beach.  Here is a photo of Luis at the beach of San Agustin.

More photos are just a click away –

On the beach, Luis was greeted by many, including this woman of personage.

And later, Luis stopped to thank and pose with the “army” men who protected him on route from natural predators.

However, we need to “summarize” by reminding people that Luis was a “man with 2 missions,” one to establish an “open water swim” record for the Bays of Huatulco, and the other to be of assistance to the “children of San Felipe.”  He said that he used as his “mantra” the expression, “Cada Brazada, Un Aliento Para La Niñez,” which loosely translated which means with, ”Each Movement of the Arms, A Breathe For Childhood.”

Luis is really swimming so the children of San Felipe can produce their own food and have sufficient energy to learn in school each day.  All dontations he receives as a result of his successful swim will be used to futher the food and educational programs these children.  If you would like to meet them look below –

And if you want to see how they actually caught those chickens, go to the following YouTube video –

There are children in the state of Oaxaca who live in a remote village over a mile high in the mountains not far from the head waters of the Rio Copalita . Their community, San Felipe Lachillo, is part of the Santiago Xanica Municipality. Within the community are over 200 school children who live in “extreme poverty” with little food or other needed supplies.

Now, how Luis Alfredo Estavillo Chavez, owner of Onix Restaurant in LaCrucecita, ever learned about their struggles and found them is beyond me because the village is miles inland, slightly northwest of Huatulco, and without roads or rivers to or from its location. Like too many children, in too many countries, the children of San Felipe Lachillio have little food and little energy to attend and concentrate on learning while in school.  

Luis Estavillo, has decided to do something to help the children. He believes his own life and that of his spouse, Elva, has been very blessed, and it is time to demonstrate his gratitude using some of his own funds to help children who are in much distress. Luis would like to see some kind of an industry started in the community of San Felipe that would make enough profit to pay for the food for breakfasts of the school. Perhaps a small scale “fish farming” industry could be started or maybe something could be manufactured from bamboo that could be sold in the markets of Huatulco, Pochutla, or even Oaxaca City.

He has the support of the community already. The following is a photo of families of the community gathered at the “city hall” where they learned about the plan for the children of their community–

With the support of the community, a new shelter was constructed as a kitchen and breakfast area for the children in order to protect from the sun and rain. It is under construction in the next photo-

More photos are just a click away –

The shelter has been completed and is ready for use. The next photo shows a grandfather, his sons, and their spouses and children who participated in the project and stand to benefit from its operation –

What is missing in this picture? It is the children eating breakfast in preparation for a school day. Yes, the shelter is built, but what is missing the industry to produce or pay for the food to be provided.

In order to raise funds to start industries in the community to buy food for the school breakfast program, the Huatulco Tri Sports Club Civil Association and Luis Estavillo are sponsoring a swimming event on the 18^th or 19th of August, depending on weather conditions.

Luis will start swimming at 7:00 am from San Augustin bay and end at Conejos bay around 15:00 pm. His arrival will be celebrated at Conejos beach with food and drinks for everyone. It is a SOLO, NINE BAY SWIM, a total of 23.5 KM or 14.6 miles.

With “each stroke of his arms, he will take a breath and give breath to children.”

Please consider sponsoring him as he swims in one of the following ways:

*****************************************

SPONSORSHIP PER BAY: Pledge $10, $15, $20 for every bay that Luis swims.

SPONSORSHIP PER KILOMETER: Pledge $5, $10, $15 for each km that Luis swims.

SPONSORSHIP PER HOUR: Pledge $10, $15, $20 for every hour during the swim.

If you are interested in participating in any of these sponsorship options or just making a donation towards the cause please contact one of the people below for banking info.

*****************************************

Luis Estavillo: losportales_hux@hotmail.com 958 587 0070

Elva Medina Valles : elvacosmo@yahoo.com.mx 958 581 0448

Valerie Verhalen: Valerie@PalmPrincessMexico.com 958 587 2527

Stephen Sardeson: Stephen.Sardeson@Sardeson.org USA – TAX DEDUCTIBLE; e-mail for details

************************************

LUIS ATTEMPTED THE NINE BAY SWIM DURING HURRICANE SEASON —

Luis attempted the swim during the weekend of “Mean Hurricane Dean” in the Gulf. The Pacific Ocean was difficult for Luis to manage even though he had trained for the event for over one year. The Port Captain stopped his swim after 7 hours at the 3rd of the 9 Bays he was attempting to swim. I will post photos about his on this Blog in the near future, but in the meantime you can see them by going to –

http://www.tomzap.com/ph5/read.php?6,7233,7233#msg-7233

Luis received $1,850 in pledges for the attempted swim from people in the USA from California to New York City.

Stephen — http://www.Genuine-Tourist.com — reporting

We are happy to report that on Saturday, November 15^th, 2008, Luis Alfredo Estavillo Chavez successfully completed an “open water swim” of the 9 Bays of Huatulco and “set a new standard” in doing so.  The event was a formal judged and certified by Edgar Pedraza Jiméz.  The following is a very loosely translated  summation by the judge.

The past Saturday 15 of November. I am carried out (certified) the crossing in morning swim of the individual swim of the 9 bays by the sportsman Luis Estavillo Chavez, leaving at 7:00 AM from the Bay of Conejos and arriving after 12:24 PM at the Bay of San Agustin . . . . Giving to faith and legality of, I swim the Judge and Director of Association State of Swimming . . .  announce a new sport event in the Bays of Huatulco under the heading of “open water swimming,” and “open” the invitation to any national or international sportsman to try it and to surpass the time established by our friend Luis. It was one pleasing experience to have participated in this project that as much effort him cost to Luis, but obtained the recognition to its effort and tenacity. Greetings to all. Edgar Pedraza Jiménez

Luis attempted the swim twice before but was thwarted by severe storm conditions and strong currents on the previous attempts.  On his third and successful attempt, he wisely decided to swim the Bays in the opposite direction of his previous attempts.  Apparently, he still encountered strong currents near the lighthouse and Cacaluta Bay but got through by keeping up his strong pace.

The following photo is of Luis receiving certification of his swim from Mr. Edgar Pedraza Jiménez, Judge and Director of the event.

More photos are just a click away –

Luis formally trained for the swim by swimming many times a week for several years in  the Bays of Huatulco and by receiving guidance from a swim coach.  He also “simulated” parts of the event by swimming the distance in three separate legs on more than one occasion.  The next photo is of his swim coach monitoring his swim from a boat.

 His coach was also with him when he received the certificate on the beach at San Agustin.

We congratulate Luis on his success and thank him for “paving the wave” for the sport of “open water swimming” by setting a record of a high standard at the Bays of Huatulco. 

If you are interested in seeing Luis in brief videos during his second attempt, go to –

Stephen, — http://www.Genuine-Tourist.com — reporting from Baraboo, WI, USA

http://www.tomzap.com/ph5/read.php?6,26004

The developing group (represented in Huatulco by John Graham) has some even more GRANDE plans to build a complex near La Entrega.  You can see initial info about the project entiltled, “the Point,” at – 

http://www.huatulcovacationresorts.com/thepoint.html  

To my knowledge, “the Point” has not been started yet because of the current project “Playa Chahue Condominum” has not been completed nor fully marketed (in these difficult times).

**** OPTIONAL READING FOLLOWS****

I have written many articles for “TomZap.com” which supports a ”Visitors Comments Forum” at –

http://www.tomzap.com/ph5/list.php?6 

but have not encouraged people to follow the forum because many of the postings are so negative. 

Here are a couple of samples of postings that I enjoyed writing a while back –

http://www.tomzap.com/ph5/read.php?6,3346,3346#msg-3346

http://www.tomzap.com/ph5/read.php?6,3344,3344#msg-3344 

So . . . if you are a BIG Huatulco fan, you many want to check “TomZap.com” from time to time.

Stephen, a “Genuine-Tourist” reporting from Baraboo, USA.

A Serious Artist

But, we have another child in this photo, and he is a “working stiff.”  Notice the CD on the table by the little girl in above picture.  It is a CD produced by a 5 year old singer in Xalapa, and you can hear him peforming on the following YouTube link with his YOUNGER sister dancing (white blouse) on the platform in front of him. 
 

Stephen, at — http://www.Genuine-Tourist.com –  reporting from Baraboo, WI, USA