The back patio of Lake Chapala Society hummed with congratulations and feelings of pride and accomplishment on May 4, as more than 180 students of Lake Chapala Society’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program received recognition and certificates.
Having successfully completed nine months of study, the students, ranging in age from 15 to 70, gathered, along with family and friends for a ceremony acknowledging their efforts.
LCS Executive Director Terry Vidal and ESL Program Director Inez Dayer welcomed the participants and offered their congratulations. Volunteer expatriate ESL teachers, who conduct the English classes, presented the students with their certificates of completion. Teachers, students and family members mingled and interacted over refreshments after the formal program.
Students will register for the coming year’s classes August 12 to 16 at the LCS Wilkes Education Center in Ajijic.
Immigration meetings
The Lakeside Chamber of Commerce has agreed to host a series of “by invitation only” (actually “by appointment”) meetings regarding the new immigration laws and their administrative rules and regulations. Recognizing that there is a significant amount of confusion and disinformation about the changes, those at the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce have arranged for an immigration official to directly provide answers to questions and other information to ensure that people attending these meetings are given the correct facts.
Meetings will be held about every two weeks, with location, date and time provided to registered attendees two days in advance.
People with questions for which they need answers and possibly appointments should direct these questions to Robert Foster at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please include telephone number(s) with your emailed question to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Since space is limited, only registered attendees will be meeting directly with the official. Those without an invitation (appointment) will not be permitted to enter.
In the situation where a number of notes about the same question are received, Foster will provide one or possibly two invitations and those not invited will receive a written copy of the official’s actual answer.
Note: Immigration officials are not authorized to give answers regarding foreign-plated automobiles.
Friends
Just so you know, the email address listed for the Lakeside Friends of the Animals (LFA) in this publication last week should have been This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. LFA has been providing spay and neuter surgeries and emergency treatment for the pets of Mexican nationals of limited means since 2006. They need your help. Currently, 40 sterilizations and five emergency treatments are provided each month through the Ladron de Guevara Veterinary Clinic in Riberas del Pilar.
LFA is also committed to bringing education programs about the humane treatment of animals to Mexican children. To that end, LFA has allied itself with the Humane Education Alliance that has created a program to be offered in 51 schools.
Please contact Cameron Peters at (376) 766-4341 or the email address listed above for more information or to arrange for a donation.
Benefit
A Grand Comida Mexicana to benefit local firefighters and Civil Protection staff is scheduled on Sunday, May 26, 3 p.m. at Lomas de Chapinaya, Ajijic (Carretera Chapala-Jocotepec 975). Live music will be provided by Orquesta Axixic. The event will also feature a cash bar and valet parking.
Tickets are 100 pesos and on sale at Diane Pearl Colecciones in Ajijic. For more information call 766-5252.
Center for Spiritual Living
The Center for Spiritual Living’s theme for May is “The Divine Feminine.” On Friday, May 24, at the regular service beginning at 5 p.m. (Nicolas Bravo 17), Reverend Maureen Jones will present “What’s Better than Comfort?” followed by Dreya-Wolf-Wilson speaking on “The Sacred Singing Bowls for the Full Moon.” Classes continue with “The Basics of Spiritual Living” from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays, and “The Experience of God” on Thursdays, also from 10:30 a.m. Also, don’t forget the Spiritual Cinema, “The Peaceful Warrior,” Sunday, May 19, 4 p.m.
All are welcome to join in any or all activities. For further information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 766-0920.
Unitarians
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Sta. Margarita 113 (southwest corner of Santa Clara and Sta. Margarita) in Riberas del Pilar. On May 19, Cate Howell will lead the service, with speakers Janice Kimball, Francisco Urzua, and Max Bird. Kimball will give the talk, “Ponderings of the Soul.” The service will be followed by a coffee hour. For more information please call 766-1119 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Christ Church Anglican
Christ Church Anglican Fellowship will observe the Day of Pentecost by celebrating the Holy Eucharist Rite II at 9:30 a.m. in the Little Chapel by the Lake (Carretera 10, Chula Vista, Ajijic). Grahame Leech will be baptized by the Rev. Rob Wells. The sermon will be by Wells on the topic “Show Us the Father,” based on John 14:8-17, 25-27.
Christ Church and the Little Chapel by the Lake have a common fellowship time between their two services in the Fellowship Hall of the Little Chapel from about 10:30 a.m. until 11:15 a.m.. The Lunch Bunch will gather at Pranzo’s after the Fellowship time.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
The last time you attended a family reunion, was your great-great-great-great grandfather there? Were there any Babylonians at your last birthday party? Did some Hittites show up the last time you went to church? What do such strange questions have to do with Pentecost? The earliest believers were still wrestling with the sudden departure and absence of their risen Lord, and their resurrection jubilation had descended into fear of their religious and political enemies, when suddenly … what? As hard as it is to put words around it, the Pentecost experience gave power and “legs” to Easter, and also assured believers of every time and place that, in the words of this week’s sermon, “We Were All There” – our faith is never lived out in isolation but in the company of all believers, past, present, and future. The expression of that reality takes place at St. Andrew’s every Sunday at 10 a.m., and is always followed by a time of welcome, refreshment, and fellowship in the Garden. The church is located at Calle San Lucas 19, just a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Little Chapel
The Little Chapel by the Lake will hold its regular service on Sunday at 11:15 a.m. The Reverend Gene Raymer will deliver a sermon titled “That’s the Spirit!” Following services, members of the congregation will enjoy a fellowship luncheon at Min-Wah restaurant. The church is hosting car washes each Saturday this month put on by the members of Love in Action Children’s Shelter to raise money to send the shelter children to camp. They are held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.