The Fall 2009 Trip proved to be quite productive and much fun for the six who traveled to Mexico. For two of the team members, Cheryl Abbott and Amy Eilertsen, this was their second trip with the project … they were on the 2004 trip with ten others who were promised a ride in the reconditioned 1960 Mercedes Unimog am-bulance that was to have arrived prior to their „04 visit. Well, five years later, Amy finally got her ride in the ambulance as it moved across the courtyard of the Servimont compound in Tlachichuca, Mexico. Both gals got to see it for the first time and marvel at the craftsmanship of Dr. Gerardo Reyes and his men. It now looks brand new! Muy bueno!
   For adventure and fun in the mountains, all six members success-fully climbed La Malinche, standing tall at 14,640 ft., higher then any peak in the contiguous United States. A few stray dogs fol-lowed the group to the summit, and Amy‟s boys, Matthias (11 yrs.) and Galen (13) had the entire pack named by time the summit was achieved. One team member also summited Pico de Orizaba and another got to 16,000 ft, congratulations to both!.
This trip, as well as others in the past, combined adventure with compassion and charitable giving; the MEX-AMbulance Project continues to grow in the following ways ...

Ambulance: The Delegada of the Cruz Roja Mexicana for the entire State of Puebla visited the site of Dr. Gerardo Reyes‟ Clinic and ambulance location while we were in Tlachichuca. Cruz Roja Mexicana runs 22 ambulance centers, the state nursing pro-gram, and hospitals in Puebla … Dr. Reyes‟ site has been named the 23rd Cruz Roja Mexicana site in the State of Puebla. Our con-tributions are now made directly to the Red Cross in Puebla in sup-port of the ambulance and Dr. Reyes‟ work in Tlachichuca, MX. On this trip more Unimog parts were brought into the country for the ambulance, including a new fuel pump … the work on the am-bulance continues with more lights, wiring, lettering and cabinets being built … the Unimog, now with R.C. radio frequencies will soon to be on the road performing long awaited community and mountain service to the people of the area and visiting climbers.

Computers: A second reconditioned HP computer from Wincycle in Windor, VT was delivered to the Tlachichuca Elementary School where 5 computers have been donated, along with an InFocus Pro-jector & spare lamp, and payment for three years of internet ser-vice. And, an Apple laptop was donated to the Hildalgo school.

Solar Ovens & Flap Hats: On this trip, two more solar ovens for Hildalgo, donated by the “Children Helping Children” Program at the Richmond School in Hanover, a third oven for a new site, the Village of El Paso, located slightly north of Hildalgo, and a fourth to be used for educational purposes at the elementary school in Tlachichuca (to date 11 ovens donated). And, once again, a very kind and generous donation of many more wonderful wool flap hats by Vermont Originals located in Morrisville, VT … the hats make the people so happy and help to keep them warm during cold win-ter rain and snow … elevation of Hildalgo approximately 11,500 ft.

  It is only through the generosity and kindness of so many that the project continues to grow in the above listed ways … this suc-cess is directly attributable to you! This is your good work un-folding … you are the spirit behind the project! Muchas gracias!