El Lavadero (The Pictures are for you Maribel!)

This morning Luke and I took the kids into Chapala, here's a picture of the kids by Chapala Lake. 

This is Matthew standing in front of our house. 

This is the view of the Lake from the YWAM (or JUCUM as they say here) campus.

This is a picture of Mandie and Matthew on the way to the village we went to on Wednesday. 

Now on to clothes washing in Mexico!

This is a lavadero. The process is pretty simple. You fill the right side of the sink with clean water and you never allow any soap or dirty clothes on that side. On the left side, lay your piece of clothing on the washboard inside out, get it very wet, and rub your bar of soap over it until it is very very soapy and sudsy.

Then the fun part, you work your clothing back and forth over the washboard with great vigor until the soap is thoroughly infused into the garment. Flip your clothing and repeat.

Next, you use a plastic container to scoop water from the right side of the sink over to the left side thereby rinsing off all of the soap and dirt. Once the water runs clear, you squeeze the life out of it, and hang it to dry. 

Your clothing will be dry in no time! Simply gather your things from the line, fold, and put away. Finito!!

Now, there may be one of these near by. It may even have a shiny cover to keep it clean. Just pass it by (unless you are washing sheets . . . then use it by all means!!)

This is a picture of the drying area.

This is a picture of the squirrel they caught the day we arrived. Apparently this little guy had really caused some trouble. 

The pictures taken here are from the laundry area on campus. We have a lavadero in our house and some lines hanging inside. I have since used the one in our home. The pictures are from the day I learned. A very nice 16 year old boy named Isaiah did laundry by me and showed me the ropes. He was a very good teacher who speaks very good english. 

Bien Dia!!