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aimee76
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Well, hey, here I am again. My original post seems to have stirred up quite a storm. I want to apologize if I offended anyone, really. But there are
sure some awesome answers, even the one-liners on here! I have enjoyed your input.......................
Someone asked what I meant by the damage that these short term/weekend warrior missionaries do down here..................
Most of them are probably good folks who have ZERO idea of the damage they do because they visit thru "Agents" who really have no other Mission down
here besides bringing big convoys of white vans and collecting their bucks to put them up in a "safe" place and give them tours of where poor people
live.
I suggest that if you want to really help you work with someone who has a track record and good references that can be verified and that that
individual or group ACTUALLY be in CHARGE of the mission itself.
One example of harm is this: Earlier this summer a group of Christian Hairdressers (!?)showed up on a "tour" . They dismebarked their vans at an
indian labor camp and proceeded to cut all of the little indian girls hair. Their moms were not capable of giving permission either because they spoke
no english or spanish (duh, and the group had no tranlators)) or they were working in the fields.
For most indian women/girls, long braided hair is their crowning glory...........but the "Christians" did not take this into account.
When the fathers got home from work they were ENRAGED! One man beat his wife so badly for allowing her daughters hair to be cut that she miscarried at
6 months along. Now I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT ADVOCATE BEATING A WOMAN FOR ANYTHING, BUT these weekend warriors came down here with NO REGARD FOR THE
CULTURE they were affecting. They just thought that as Americans they knew best...................
We are the people who ended up taking the severely beaten woman to the hospital...................
We were the people who were also blamed and had the relationship we have labored for so many years to build with these folks damaged. They figure all
Christians are alike and we aren't. It has taken TIME to gain the people' trust again....
I also see another Agent who is collecting money on the internet to build "bathrooms" for the indigenous. You should see the abominable shacks he
builds with his visitors. I wouldn't bathe a DOG in one of them. How can the indigenous better their lives if this is what they are told is
befitting??
If you are going to do something do it right!!
We feed some 60 children EVERY day. When a group comes in to "play" basketball or "bathe" the dirty little children"their words not mine" without
taking into consideration that it is lunchtime and the children miss the ONLY MEAL THEWeY WILL likely recieve all day, then these folks are
interfering with our program........................
I know one couple who lives in Ensenada that picks up 2 -3 indigenous kids whenever the mood strikes them , with no parental permission and takes them
home bathes them and takes them to Walmart and Mcdonalds! If some stranger took one of your kids and gave them a bath, would you not freak out???
Again it is an attitude of trying to push american ideas of what is right or wrong off on a totally different culture.
We are blessed to be guests here in Mexico and must respect the culture or stay home.
I DO get upset at the hypocrisy within the Church and with the convoys of white church vans that stream thru my neighborhood and do crappy work to
make themselves feel better.
I don't think it is okay to give a poor child a ragged pair of shoes that you would not put on your own grandchild and then demand that the event be
turned into a photo op! Do they ever think of the fact that having their picture snapped by strangers might embarass or shame them?
Give in secret and you will be rewarded publicly, I promise.
I am not perfect obviously, but I am what I am and I am working on it.
Short term missionary visits have become a cottage industry in Baja. It is close to the Border and a safe place to go for rich church people who want
to make themselves feel better and then leave as quickly as they can....................with no regard for how their visit may have affected the local
people.
I hope this has cleared up some of your "doubts" about me. I came off quite strongly, but maintain my position, just don't want to alienate anyone!
BTW-I have no connection to the Foursquare or any other Abomination.....oops I meant Denomination!
One other word, Americans are the most GENEROUS people in the world. I love them. I am proud to be one. Without good people who give of their time ,
and finances we could do NOTHING here or anywhere!
Love and Peace!
BTW- I agree Drs Without Borders is a great org.
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wilderone
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You have some valid and enlighteninig observations. So some still need "bathrooms" ? How can this be accomplished? Septic tank, concrete, walls?
Not too difficult (?)
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Brian L
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Location: Alpine, CA
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Mood: No Bad Days
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This post has been enlightening and hysterically funny. I laughed out loud a couple of times yesterday, and hardly ever do that from reading posts.
Aimee has some good points, and besides her crazy weird second post, has done a good job explaining her position. I think she is right...
Brian
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redmesa
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Posts: 580
Registered: 3-12-2008
Location: Van Isle and Bahia Asuncion
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Volunteer tourism has become a big business. You pay 5000 dollars, tour poverty, pretend to help, and sleep at the local 5-star. The world
continues to buy and sell people at all levels.
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aimee76
Newbie
Posts: 17
Registered: 3-26-2011
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mcfez
I think that if you come onto the BN with a temper...you'll just get laughed at. Perhaps some real information...as history, who YOU
are...experience.....
This extra info would certainly help your cause here. Regardless.....of the issues down there you are having....I thank you for being down there
helping out the needy. 5 Stars for you.
Walt Eckstein
President/director at Baja Christian Fellowship
Location
Veracruz Area, Mexico
Industry
Nonprofit Organization Management
Walt Eckstein's Overview
Current
* President/director at Baja Christian Fellowship
* Operations Manager at Tools for Rebuilding the Nations
Connections
30 connections
Websites
* Company Website
* News Feed
Walt Eckstein's Experience
President/director
Baja Christian Fellowship
Nonprofit Organization Management industry
January 2010 – Present (1 year 8 months)
Direct operations of outreach to the poor with education and basic human needs...food, clothing, shelter.
Operations Manager
Tools for Rebuilding the Nations
Nonprofit Organization Management industry
December 2009 – Present (1 year 9 months)
[Edited on 8-3-2011 by mcfez] |
Your CV is quite long repeating itself time and again! Amazing without really saying anything truthful about who you
are........................RETHINK YOUR CHALLENGING ME TO REVEAL MYSELF, for you may not want the truth to be known, but hey here
goes.................
I take issue with your saying I would be laughed at..................for displaying my true raw emotions...................the laughter helped me and
I appreciate it. I feel the Forum has welcomed me more than most average people would. I respect their laughter and i feel some LOVE too..........not
to mention I can agree to disagree, that is not a problem for me.
My only regret is that I may have offended anyone, again I publicly apologize. I AM TRULUY SORRY IF i OVERSTEPPED MY BOUNDS AS A "NEWBIE" i ADMIT
FREELY i AM IGNORANT OF INTERNET PROTOCOL AND APPRECIATE ANY HELP, YA'LL SEEM TO BE SUCH A GREAT GROUP!) But I have hung around the Board and I had a
feeling that acceptance if not agreement is something to be found at this Board. And that is what I seek........I want to help in any way I can and
also be able to express myself as I am.....................
As for you, Walt, you are one of the leaders of the groups I come against in my work EVERY DAY. Unlike you, I LIVE THIS LIFE. And i have a bone to
pick with you....
IN fact, you are in possession of a catering truck that was verbally gifted to our ministry , with the specific purpose of us (OUR MINSTRY people)
going into the streets of TJ and Ensenada to minister to the homeless SATURDAY NITE WITHOUT FAIL SINCE 1998...........(Kirk, who donated the truck and
still has his camping gear stored in my home, NEVER MEANT for you ( a total stranger to have it.)
It was his only material possession, in fact when he donated it he was still sleeping in it regularly and took a great leap of faith by giving it. He
donated it to us in faith and another huckster waylaid it, participated with you and finally thru health circumstances just forgot about it.
I recently asked Mardell Shebley what would come of that catering truck, she told me that you told her it was in such poor mechanical shape as to be
USELESS. She says you said it is NO LONGER in USE.
I say , I have people who are willing to fix it and put it back into good use.....back to the purpose for which it was given , which NEVER was feeding
overfed children one day a week and spending the rest of its days garaged somewhere...................if you will allow that.
Or , really if you DO want to help the indigenous and you have this mobile capacity-why do you not go to the labor camps which get no attention, where
kids truly are starving?? I'll gladly show you several nearby which get zero attention. We long for the catering truck that you possess although it
given to us so that we can feed these poor kids who are too far out to walk in fo rfood once a day. One catch is that these groups do not want there
pictures taken and that is one reason why they get no help. So if you take me up on my offer be prepared to respect that please. We are even willing
to work side by side with you to reach them. We will purchase the food,all we need is the use of the truck.....................which was again given
to us to begin with!
I do not get it. Ah but then I do. It is easier to do your little show close to home so you can get the bucks from the visitors without causing
themselves or you much discomfort........am I onto something?? I hav eyes, maybe become burned out and cynical, BUT NOT AGAINST THE PEOPLE I SERVE,
only against those who continially exploit them.
I have known you since you first came to Baja with Tatiana..............and were run off from Gabriel House for usurping authority................
We have been here some 14 -15 years and will joyfully serve here until we are moved on, by the Lord.
As to ya'll being transferred to beautiful Veracruz........would you be using the supposedly "worthless" truck there?..................why not
Culiacan Where we are considering going to where the heat index is about 120 degrees day and night but where the people are literally DYING to receive
the Gospel..............we WANT TO GO THERE AND ONLY AWAIT REPLACEMENTS HERE (to take over this work, gee WHIZ! YOUR SUDDEN MOVE CONVENIENTLY
COINCIDES WITH YOUR NEW MARRIAGE...............Could you be "Honeymoon Missionaries" to Veracruz??? Gee, that would be cool for you.
I do WISH YOU THE BEST. And I pray that before you leave you will hear Holy Spirit telling you to return the truck to it's intended
ownership.......................I know He is speaking to you and we do not care what mechanical shape it is in, we just hope you will LISTEN to the
Lord and do what is right, so that we can get on with our mission here.
Regardless, just as the Lord took Saul's Kingdom and gave it to young David, we know He is still capable of that today. I'd hate to see you go thru
that though, when all you really need to do is what Holy Spirit suggests.....................
I really do have agape love for you as a human being. I was saddened when I learnedwhat your former wife had done to you and we kept you in prayer
for a long time. Only to find out the Lord had already blessed you with a new wife!! PRAISE GOD, i THOUGHT.
AT THE SAME TIME , WHAT IS RIGHT IS RIGHT-I AM TELLING YOU THAT THE TRUCK THAT YA'LL SAY NO LONGER WORKS WAS OURS TO BEGIN WITH. PLEASE RESPECT THAT
AND RETURN IT, IN JESUS' NAME .......................i(f that means anything to you- I do not know anymore.) I have seen so much horriffic church
politicking going on in my part 3 years I never know who REAllY BELIEVES WHAT...............
MAYBE THAT IS WHY THE LORD SAID "FAITH WITHOUT WORKS ARE MEANINGLESS??"
MAYBE nowdays we must show our fruit first........................I am happy to provide you with references of our fruit in this field of white before
you turn over the vehicle.
Thank you for your consideration.........................
(I first sent this as a personal correspondence to Walt and have e in several weeks gotten NO answer, therefore I am bringing it up publicly.
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DENNIS
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I think we're all in over our heads here.
Why not wish Aimee all the best and leave her alone. She's on a quest that most of us don't even want to understand.
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luv2fish
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
I think we're all in over our heads here.
Why not wish Aimee all the best and leave her alone. She's on a quest that most of us don't even want to understand. |
Amen, I'll light a candle at Our Lady of Sharkeys.
But really aimee thanks for your work.
[Edited on 8-5-2011 by luv2fish]
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aimee76
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Registered: 3-26-2011
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| Quote: | Originally posted by redmesa
Volunteer tourism has become a big business. You pay 5000 dollars, tour poverty, pretend to help, and sleep at the local 5-star. The world
continues to buy and sell people at all levels. |
yOU NAILED IT QUITE CONCISELY REDMESA...MUCHAS GRACIAS ANDDIOS LE BENDIGA............
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aimee76
Newbie
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NAILED IT MY MAN
| Quote: | Originally posted by aimee76
| Quote: | Originally posted by redmesa
Volunteer tourism has become a big business. You pay 5000 dollars, tour poverty, pretend to help, and sleep at the local 5-star. The world
continues to buy and sell people at all levels. |
yOU NAILED IT QUITE CONCISELY REDMESA...MUCHAS GRACIAS AND DIOS LE BENDIGA............ |
ONLY DOWN HERE THEY "LIKE TO CALL IT "TRANSFORMATIONAL TRAVEL".......OR "JUSTICE JEWELRY"........depending on what they are selling..at what moment it
fluctuates regularly............JUST ANOTHER SMART QUIP DESIGNED TO JUSTIFY TAKING MONEY THEY KNOW IS MEANT FOR A BETTER CAUSE.
I am not angry , okay?? I am a happy camper, happy happy muy happy............
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aimee76
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Registered: 3-26-2011
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| Quote: | Originally posted by rdrrm8e
Science flies you to the Moon...
Religion flies you into buildings... |
THIS IS SO FUNNY AND SO TRUE IT STOPS ON EIN HER TRACKS. ouch! BAHBAHA...............AIMS
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mcfez
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
I think we're all in over our heads here.
Why not wish Aimee all the best and leave her alone. She's on a quest that most of us don't even want to understand. |
Exactly (more or less!) what I said here earlier. Give anyone credit for helping the needy.
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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bufeo
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Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
I think we're all in over our heads here.
Why not wish Aimee all the best and leave her alone. She's on a quest that most of us don't even want to understand.
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I'm not sure that's all "she's" on, but hell, I read the thread.
Allen R
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redmesa
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Posts: 580
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I'm not a christian but I think aimee is trying to help even though religions have done a fair share of harm in the world. If she/he needs to
vent...well, Bajanomads has known many venters over the years. So I say "You go girl"! I am sure there are many here on nomads who will be there in
a new york minute if you say you need some specific help that we can provide.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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"transformation Travel"!!!!! jajajajaja...kinda snappy name though....the whole idea makes for some pretty funny "travel scenarios" in my mind!
great topic
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henshaw
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Tell how you realy feel about it !
You can\'t fix stupid
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aimee76
Newbie
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| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
"transformation Travel"!!!!! jajajajaja...kinda snappy name though....the whole idea makes for some pretty funny "travel scenarios" in my mind!
great topic |
I am glad you think it as hilarious as I do.............maybe I was misjudged. Somebody sAid i was on more than Cuervo. Well, dang, if I didn't have a
darn job to do maybe...............but hey. I've already bared my soul, if I was on "something else" d\o you really think I would hold back? What do
ya think I am on?? I really do not care what people think of me, I just want to help the community and do my job......
On the whole, I want to thank everybody. Ya'll are A'right in my book................and I don't doubt you would help if you could............however,
at this point the only help I need is to expose the hucksters that truly make our work a heartache....i DO NOT REQUIRE ANYTHING FROM NOMADS BUT A
GOOD THOUGHT AND MAYBE A PRAYER.......normally we work with joy, but we when see hapless northmericans(that includes you Canucks) being MISLEAD and
OVERCHARGED when u shouldn't be charged at all,well I take issue.
I am going to continue to expose this phony transformational travel trend where ever I can. WHY?
Simply because it hurts the locals by creating a welfare mentality in them and it hurts the visitors by painting a skewed picture of the
indigenous......................
RODNEY KING ONCE SAID, "wHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG??" Well duh, because some people just dont want to.....
That is my experience with the Christian Travel Agents. They just do not want to work with anyone who really works here because they might lose a
precious buck or 2???
BTW-McFEZ ECKSTEIN, I still want my truck back, no matter what a grand "poster" YOU ARE....................i KNOW YOUR CONSCIENCE IS SPEAKING TO YOU,
SO JUST LET IT GO OR AT LEAST LET US SHARE IT........
tO EVERYBODY ELSE, i AM GLAD i WAS GOOD FOR A LAUGH. lAUGHTER IS AFTER ALL THE Best MEDICINE........
lOVE,
AIMS
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by motoged
WOW !!???
The righteous get self-righteous ...
Ya gotta love it... 
I say do away with ALL the missionaries... |
The world would be a better place without missionaries .....
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
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Mood: Peacefull
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fishabductor
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by Martyman
What is the opposite of the missionaries position? |
The Altar Boy position.
[Edited on 3-28-2011 by DENNIS] |
Oh...You are SO bad...
...but funny as hell
I think we are both going to hell. |
I'll see you there ...
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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Was it a Ford or Mac?
| Quote: | Originally posted by aimee76
BTW-McFEZ ECKSTEIN, I still want my truck back, no matter what a grand "poster" YOU ARE....................i KNOW YOUR CONSCIENCE IS SPEAKING TO YOU,
SO JUST LET IT GO OR AT LEAST LET US SHARE IT........
tO EVERYBODY ELSE, i AM GLAD i WAS GOOD FOR A LAUGH. lAUGHTER IS AFTER ALL THE Best MEDICINE........
lOVE,
AIMS |
What da hell are you mumbling about? Taking your truck? You were doing just fine here till you decided to muck my name here.
First of all.....I praised your efforts here in this discussion several times. Not a negative about you. I went on line...found...copied..and pasted
in information about this guy you are complaining about (that's called helping BTW).
Let's keep the facts Godly clear.
"a grand "poster" YOU ARE................."
Yes..and proud of it. Information I offer here is appreciated..... by many reading the BN. Fact is....DavidK, Dennis, Ken Cooke, shari, motoged,
nbacc, ramuma53, and a few hundred others here are thankfully grand posters here.
You? One. Just one post. WHOOPEE! You are not in any position to judge any of us here.
I now should request Doug... to convey this post of your over on the OFF TOPIC Forums. You have gone from offering some information about charities in
Baja...to personal hatred of certain groups and people.
In fact...why dont you start a new post in Off Topics....and I'll be happy to rip you....your last few retorts here implied that all other "help"
organizations are evil...while you are the lone savor of the land. Ya...righto.
Now...be cool here at the BN
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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aimee76
Newbie
Posts: 17
Registered: 3-26-2011
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hmmmmm.
If you are feeling "judged" it is certainly not coming from me. I am in NO position to judge anyone and don't want to be. Maybe you aren't actually
the person I thought you were...................there are folks with the same last apellido/name out there.
One thing I do know is 'that your conscience will either accuse you or excuse you", that's what I have read and experienced anyway. Just a personal
opinion.
Maybe you didn't know the circumstances behind the whole situation.
Also lets be clear there are many, many AWESOME people doing AWESOME work down here............people who have given up everything else to serve the
poor...................I NEVER SAID NOONE HERE WAS HELPING THE DISADVANTAGED.................THE ONLY BEEF I HAVE ARE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CHARGING
VISITING FOREIGNERS TO TAKE POVERTY TOURS.
Is that clear? And I maintain that position.
I am nobody's, and I reiterate NOBODy's Saviour and I forgive u for even implying that I would think that.
My point is that there are many many people (expats) down here who do not know about these agencies that CHARGE visitors to seethe poor while
interfering with the work of the persons who labor here year in year out............I thought and still think that people need to be aware that this
practice is going on and that these groups are damaging to this particular area.
Hopefully, those who hear this will discourage others from participating in such activities.
What else can I say? Even if you are the person I thought you were, maybe you didn't know the circumstances behind the catering truck's donation, I
am assuming I made a mistake regarding who you are, and since I have attempted to contact that person time and time again and he refused to respond I
saw the opportunity to contact that person publicly...........evidently it was a case of "misidentification" (if there is such a word) and I
publicly apologize if I did. The last thing I want to do is "muck" your name up.........................
Again-EVERYBODY AT BAJA NOMADS, my apologies to McFez and may he be ever blessed.
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