A COOP Moment With A Big MIGROS!

The COOP

On one of our last shopping and sightseeing days in Switzerland, we AYCers were allowed to scatter a few blocks and roam in groups of two or more,  I would say they were our "don't get lost buddies" in downtown Geneva. Well, thats what I would have called my buddy because we stayed very close together and in the vicinity of our scattered group! My buddy that day was the best official AYC Switzerland 2012 photographer, Chelsea. I think if there was an award for all the AYC photographers in 2012, I'd say she would win.  She was a great photographer and even left herself out in a few group pictures so she could take the pictures! Chelsea was in dire need of alkaline batteries for her camera, the last ones she had were dead and they were much needed as she was taking pictures of the events for our team. We went on a mission to find batteries. She and I went to two stores one the "COOP" which was a 3 or four story grocery, clothing, pharmacy, and electronics store one very unique place that I have ever been in.  The second was "MIGROS" a grocery store, we looked in both stores for batteries but could not find any it was very hard to even ask a clerk because most did not speak much English and worst our poor French. But we searched and searched till we landed on an aisle and to our amazement was a huge sigh of relief,  ahhhh yay we found AAA batteries! "Yes, two packets that's all we need we'll take them!"  We go to the check out and as Chelsea was sliding her credit card she noticed the computer said two packages for $29.99 "Wait! That sounds awfully expensive for just a small package of batteries? Are you sure they are that much?" The clerk nodded her head to a yes.  Chelsea cancelled the transaction and again we went on a dire mission to find cheap batteries, finally after much searching, we decided we NEEDED them or els? Somewhere a long the mission we shopped till we dropped and thinking and laughing, who would ever pay $29.99 for small package of AAA batteries? Back home you can buy a years worth of batteries for that much.  After much searching and going around both stores (we actually went around both stores more times then Joshua did at Jericho:) We finally found some and to our relization they were somewhat a little cheaper then the $29.99 ones! Thank God He sure hears the prayers of two desperate AYCers on a dire mission to find cheap and very much needed batteries! Thinking back on this hilarious and adventurous moment, God allowed me to see that He truly cares about His children when something so small can be such a desperate thing but yet so amazing and fun! I thank Him for a "COOP moment with a Big MIGROS!"

MIGROS grocery store they had every food product imaginable! 

My AYC Chopping buddy Chelsea and Me

Breakfast With Mimi

Mimi's pan toastado con queso and chocolate caliente

I recently spent a weekend in California visiting my dear sweet grandmother, who I like to call "Mimi" sometimes "Abuelita" or Abuelita Mimi." In this story I will refer to her as "Mimi." Mimi is from the country of Ecuador, South America her eldest son, Josias is my father. 

The first morning of my visit, I woke up to the delicious aroma of freshly made hot chocolate and 'pan tostado con queso' (hot fresh toasted bread with cheese) To be honest I thought I was dreaming but as soon as I smelled it, I jump up and walk around the corner to the dinning table and there it was waiting for me to enjoy! Mimi join me and we blessed the food, she would have her coffee with her 'pan tostado' and we'd talk not just a few minutes but several hours and then my tia would join in the conversation with her cup of coffee and pan tostado as well. Just listening to Mimi tell about her life, funny stories or  giving me some encouraging words weather it be on finding the right husband or telling me God is in control of all things, those words mean and really lifts my spirit and makes me want to be a better women and wife someday.  "Breakfast with Mimi" makes everything so much more meaningful and extra special! I will always cherish those moments with Mimi in my heart.  I have learned oh so much from her or rather from both my grandmothers. I am so thankful that God has truly blessed me with Godly women in my life! I have learned so many lessons from being a single lady to hopefully being married and a mom one day!! I hope to have several more "Breakfast's With Mimi" in the near future well, as you can tell she makes the best chocolate and 'pan toastado con queso' ever!  I can just sit for hours and enjoy being in the company of a great lady who raised a great son, who raised a daughter who will hopefully someday raise a son and/or daughter too!!