English Carols...

At this time of year, while shopping for groceries, I almost forget I am in Mexico...until I realize I am the only one in the store quietly singing along with the Christmas music being played:) Because for some reason, at Christmas time (and certain stores or restaurants all year round) English music is played. I don't know if this is because there isn't much for this season's music in Spanish, but I have rather enjoyed it:) I say it's a bit of home being brought to me while I shop.

I have wanted to blog all week, but this has been one crazy week, so I have taken advantage of all the free time to get ready for Christmas here and prepare for company. But it is high time to give you all an update of what's going on here. This week has included the following:

1. Message preparation...LeRoy that is, not me. He preaches on the 26th in our church, and then on January 2 in Chihuahua.

2. Kids' Club prep...Today we had a bit of a Christmas party/prize day/program prep for tomorrow, and now will take the next 2 Saturdays as a break with school break and those days falling on Christmas day and New Years.

3. Bible Studies...LeRoy prepped and led 1, I prepped and led 2, which makes for a full week all on their own.

4. Christmas program...Tomorrow we are putting on a Christmas program in Vista Hermosa. We are nervous about it, but also extremely excited now after seeing our kids at club practicing. The kids will be singing 2 songs and saying one verse, LeRoy will be doing a short skit involving turning a tree into a cross (can't find a live Christmas tree like you're supposed to use so he's improvising), LeRoy and 2 others will be leading some Christmas carols, our pastor will be leading a devotional, and I with several ladies will be handing out hot chocolate and cookies:). A busy 1 1/2 hours it will be, and I do really hope to get lots of pictures somehow taken too. I'm thankful that a few people from church are coming to support us, so at least Nolan will be off my hands during that time:)

5. Visitation...We tried to do some visitation and connecting with different people, including having our former neighbor and her sons over for an afternoon, and enjoying lunch together.

6. While all that was being done prep for our own Christmas was being done like baking, cleaning, wrapping, shopping, and prepping for my brother and his fiancee.

Yes, it was a very busy week.

Quote of the day

''Quien teme preguntar se avergüenza de aprender''

Many of the restaurants around here give you usher mints after your meal. They are Brooklyn's favorites. I really like them because I'm always trying to figure out the cool sayings and quotes.

The translation of the one I got yesterday is ''He who is scared to ask/question is ashamed to learn''

I think this applies very much to our everyday attitude, and my attitude makes a world of a difference in my willingness and speed of learning. When it comes to language learning, I find I'm at a point where I don't want to ask more questions, because I feel dumb, thinking, ''man, I should know that already, shouldn't I?''

Life is full of learning. Our spiritual journey should also have times of questions. I'm not talking about the valleys of doubt we all certainly go through, but the times we're questioning the status of our relationship with God and others. ASK, LEARN, GROW.

Coffee, Coffee, or Tea?

Where's the ground coffee? Wait a minute, this is all instant coffee!

As the temperatures drop, both inside and out, I find myself drinking more and more hot liquids. Those of you that know me, know I love my coffee. Good coffee. I like to make it myself, grind the beans, a good brewed coffee, or with a French Press, sometimes with foamed milk. It's a bit of an art, I say.

Well, Mexicans are very gracious. If you're invited into their homes, they will most likely offer you coffee, or on hot day, coke. But it's the instant variety. Not that I'm going to slam instant coffee. I mean, you don't look a gift horse in the mouth, if you know what I mean.

When I walk into a grocery store, or even a convenience store for that matter, I'm amazed at the selection of coffee. 95% instant, 5% ground, 0.5% whole bean, if you're lucky. I know, my math there is slipping a little bit! Ask anyone for a synonym for the word coffee, and you'll most likely hear, ''Nescafé, or Combate'', the 2 most popular brands. When you think of it, having a coffee perk, is a little bit of an affluence thing. Not everyone can or wants to spend their spare change on a specialty kitchen appliance or 2, when a kettle and a can of instant does the trick.

As you get used to a culture, you also adapt to their customs. Year's ago, I basically refused to drink instant coffee. The truth is, I didn't know how to do it! I'd put a heaping teaspoon in for one cup! But now that I have had some practice, not that it really takes much, it's not that bad. If we have company I still like to use the perk, it's a bit of a specialty, but if I'm offered a cup of Nescafé, you'll be hard-pressed to see me refuse.

WOW!!

I went to L's house for our 5:30 study together on the book The Power of the Praying Wife. She had invited a few other ladies, one other one had shown up 2 weeks ago and that's it. But this time D came as well, the lady that was the least expected to come. D's husband left her 3 years ago, and since then she has become a Christian. Her husband is still not a Believer and is with another woman. No actual divorce has happened but still separation. Throughout our conversation we answered questions on the chapters we were studying this week, and then D felt the need to share with us something that gave me goosebumps all over. She shared that she has had this book for a few weeks, but every time she picked it up she found it too hard. The first chapter is definitely the hardest to read as it asks you to admit some things of yourself and commit to some changes. D went on to share that over this past weekend she would pick the book up to read it, and immediately put it down, going through this process several times. Finally Sunday afternoon, after church, she made herself read it. She decided that she was going to commit to this book, and with that commit herself to pray for her husband. That afternoon she prayed for her husband. That evening her husband called her and their 3 kids, for the first time in 4 months.

It's stories and times like these that show me the need out there. When first contemplating this bible study with Christian ladies, I wasn't sure if I should do this because they have their own churches, but nothing in the area where they are living. After I decided to do it, and knew that some ladies wanted a topic regarding being Christian and having non-believing husbands, I had no idea what book to use as reference or anything. Tara borrowed me the book The Power of the Praying Wife (I had read it years ago) and several others of you mentioned that it could be a good book to use. I checked out a few other books, but felt this was the one I should do. Yes, I have had my doubts, but this week I felt like maybe I am there, with this book, to even just be an encouragement to ladies like D, to help her continue to pray for her husband, who has shown little to no interest. That maybe to really pray for him with a faithful heart, maybe they can slowly build a friendship again, and from there God knows what could happen.

Thank You

I wanted to thank many of you for your input, as well as the encouragements, on my new Bible Study. I had several people comment on here as well as email material they thought may work. I looked through the ideas you had and I have decided with this group to go through the book "The Power of the Praying Wife". I read this book as well years back and remember I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thankfully I have been able to get the books in Spanish so everyone has a copy, and I will be buying the English study book as well to help us along. So yes, I wanted to say a huge thanks for your encouragements and input into this. We should think to ask for ideas on here more often:)

Pastor Instalation Service

I can never quite understand how a person installs a pastor...(is it like installing a toilet or a light bulb?), but it can be quite an important event. It can signify the beginning of something new, it can give stability where before there maybe was some instability, it can be an answer to prayer, it can mean change.

The church where we have been attending and assisting over the past year, could probably say yes to all these thoughts. This past Sunday, Victor and Ofelia Pedroza were welcomed as the new pastors. It is something the believers had been praying for for a number of years now.  Over the past few months we have gotten to know them a little bit, and see that they have a heart for the community of Anáhuac. Praise the Lord.

Please continue to pray alongside us that the transition into the leadership of the church would go well, and that there would continue to be a unity among the believers as they seek to reach out to their community

Update on my new opportunity...

I finally had the guts to call up the lady I met at one of Brooklyn's friend's birthday party. I mentioned her a few posts back. She lives in Vista Hermosa, the area we minister in here in Cuauhtémoc. She said she was very interested in a Bible study, that her and some friends had one awhile back, but it fizzled out. She does attend a church regularly, and because of her already a long time Christian, I wasn't sure if I should pursue this. I decided to have a visit with her to find out more, to see where she's at, if she's able to be discipled from her own church instead, and so on. I called her yesterday and she had time today to meet. I was so nervous, and yet at the same time had a calmness and peace going with me as I drove over there. She is very easy to visit with, and I found I could easily ask my questions I had without feeling odd. She seemed to open up and shared with me difficulties in her life as her husband used to be a Believer, but has fallen since an accident. She is hurting, and said she has several friends who are in the same position. While visiting with her, my mind was going back and forth whether I am the person for this, or if her church should step in. In the end I realized something or Someone was pulling me more to the side that I should do this study with her. So next came the question of what she feels she needs to study, or would her husband be willing to do a couple's study. She said she'd talk with him but I doubt he'll be willing, from what she shared with me. He knows all about God and Faith, but does not want to be part of it, which I believe are harder cases than people who just have never believed. Through talking some more with her, she told me that her and some others would love a study on how to be wives to their unbelieving husbands. AHHHHH. Not a topic I am familiar with, but I have decided I am going to give it a try as I feel God wants me to do this. Somehow I will make the time to lead another Bible study, and somehow God will give me the wisdom in what to share with them. Please pray for me to find this wisdom from God, and to know exactly where to start.

I am wondering if any of you know of a good study that relates to this that I may be able to use, or can give me any wisdom or input on this. I appreciate any feedback. I am very excited about this, but also know as the time comes closer I will feel way unequipped, and think I am not the person for this. But I know that in days to come I just have to remember my feelings I had while visiting with this young woman and the excitement God gave me this day.

Making the same mistake twice, hmmmm?

Well, seems like it was circus time again. I still remember quite vividly, about a year ago, when we had just moved to Cuauhtemoc, writing about a circus adventure we had. Well, fiasco might be the better word

Anyway, there was a circus back in town. Looked bigger and better, but we were still hesitant to go. I had taken the kids to look at the animals one day, but we didn't buy tickets to the show. On Sunday, Carlos and Yeny from church invited us to go. Needless to say we were hesitant but decided to go anyway. After all, who gives up the rare chance to hang out with friends, right?

Needless to say, we didn't make the same mistake two years running. It was amazing. It's interesting the difference a year makes. The animals were quite spectacular too. An elephant spinning on a stool, balancing on 1 foot. Pretty cool. And the 3 dirtbikes in a 16ft cage. Awesome!

I was just starting to take a few pictures when they told people to put there cameras away, so I didn't really get a good one.

For me it was a good reminder that just because you experienced something once, and you didn't like it, doesn't mean you shouldn't give it another chance. Maybe it was just a one in a million bad experience.

Family Picture

We recently made a new family picture and some of you received it. But, of course, we are forgetful and we know we forgot some of you. We hope there are no hurt feelings through this as we do not like forgetting any of you. For those of you who would like to print a picture out and put it with our previous prayer card, here is a copy of it. We believe it's as easy as save it to your computer and then print it like normal, but if you do have problems with it, please let us know.

Another lady joining...

Last week at my bible study with Yarena, she mentioned to me of her neighbor that would love to join us. She works in the morning and that was the only problem. Thankfully 2 of us can be flexible and starting tomorrow we will be having bible study at 5:00 instead of in the morning. Pray that God will calm my nerves, help me to teach His Word effectively and interestingly, and that this new woman will continue to be interested in who God is. I was so encouraged to hear that Yarena was talking to others about our study. Sometimes I am not so sure she is understanding everything and growing in her relationship with God, but when I heard she was telling others about our study together, that shows me she is growing and wants others to be involved too:)

Please also pray that I will have the enthusiasm to contact another lady in the Vista Hermosa area. She is the one I mentioned about 1 1/2 weeks ago that I met at a birthday party. I have not yet met with her, but I know should soon. I am a bit unsure if I should start a bible study with her, but I need to visit with her more to find out where she is at. Does she have a church where she is already being discipled or would I be the only option for her. I do know she's a Christian already, and has had bible studies in the past with her friends. So maybe she herself is capable of leading studies already too. A visit with her will give me more insight into her life, where she is at, and then I can go from there. But yes, please pray that I will make an effort with this new contact.

New Opportunity!!??

Today I took Brooklyn to a birthday party she was invited to. Her first invitation from a friend at school. She was so excited to go...I was almost sick because I was so nervous. I now had to meet even more new people, and attend our first Mexican birthday party...by myself. I knew nobody, and had no idea really how they do parties. But I knew how much this meant for Brooklyn and how exciting it is for a kid to be invited to a party, so of course I took her. No doubt about it. I prayed for my nerves to calm down and that both Brooklyn and I would enjoy ourselves. I also brought Nolan along because in all cultures babies are conversation starters:) Now I know I did not have to be so nervous. We had a great time, even with Brooklyn being so tired by late afternoon. It was at one of her favorite restaurants with 2 blowup bouncers. She got to play with her new friends around her and experience a Mexican birthday party. I got to meet a few of the moms who have kids in her class and they are so easy to visit with. One is another Christian who has only lived here in Cuauhtémoc as long as we have, but is Mexican. Another lady that was there has now made more of a connection with me. It turns out that she lives in Vista Hermosa right close to where we do kid's club. She is a Christian, but as we talked she said her and a bunch of friends used to have a Bible study but no longer could because of work. So now I have her phone number and we want to try and find a time that will work to do a Bible study together. I was amazed at while talking with her about this I was not nervous but getting excited. Through her maybe we can invite more ladies that are not believers and reach out into the community. She seemed really excited about it. Please pray that I will continue to have this excitement, contact her again, that we'll find a time that works (most likely an evening), and that I can think of what would be the best to study with her and whoever else joins us.

MEXICO 2010

Tomorrow is Mexico's Independence Day which marks 200 years of independence from Spain. Because it hits a big number it's extra special and extra big. We are celebrating tonight with our church with a supper where all the foods have to Mexican. This may sound funny since we are in Mexico, but people here don't just eat Mexican, like we Canadians don't eat Canadian food all the time. What is Canadian food anyway? Canada is just a bunch of different cultures thrown together:) Back to Mexico...I am bringing Mexican Lasagna and Watermelon popsicles that have the colors of Mexico. I'll have to take a picture yet to post those. Then after supper, close to 11:00 we walk to the local plaza and enjoy the AMAZING display of fireworks that can be explained but really you just have to see them to understand. Basically...you stand under them and hope not too many sparks fall on you. It's great fun!!

Tomorrow morning we are driving to Delicias to connect with our fellow missionaries...who just happen to be pretty good friends:) and family too. We'll spend a couple days with Dallas, Tara and their boys connecting on ministry level and just hanging out. With summer schedules different and both having new baby boys in the house, we have not had the chance in a couple months to get together, so this will be a time of relaxing and being refreshed. Being with people where you can just be yourself COMPLETELY just does that. We are really looking forward to that, and being able to 'get away' for a couple days.

1 Year - Summer Update

August was one year since we left Manitoba to move to Mexico. One year of learning a new culture, continuing learning the language, and learning a new way of life. One year of times of loneliness, fears, language mistakes, culture mistakes, missing our old life, missing family and friends. One year of meeting new friends, finding a new home church, progressing in our Spanish, growing closer as a family, seeing God work, and being strengthened through trials. Yes there have been ups and downs, we can't deny that. We have had very discouraging times, but we have also had times where we see God working for His glory. We were told by many that the first year of living in a different culture is the hardest as there are many things to get used to while being away from home. As we look ahead we do feel that the hardest year is past us. Yes we still struggle with different aspects of all mentioned above, but now we kinda know what to expect. We know more about the culture, a lot more of the language, and we know what feelings to expect when we miss home and we know at times how to make it through those hard times. Ups and downs will continue, but we pray that we can continue to rely on God's strength to help us through.

This summer was a time of looking back over our first year to try and re-evaluate what we have been doing and what to do in the future. What has been working, what hasn't. Where do we need to put more of our time, where do we need to step back a bit. And of course learning...balance, balance, balance...even more with our family, within our marriage, and everything else. For the summer we stopped kids' club in Vista Hermosa, my Bible study with one woman, and there were less meetings. Without those it meant more time to slow down a bit and to rather prep for this coming year. We found new kids' club material, and new Bible study material that we feel might reach people easier. Also with Nolan being born LeRoy took more of the work onto himself so I had time to rest up completely and help our family adjust into a family of 5, as well as with Brooklyn starting school. We are very glad we did this. Now our fall begins with kids' club beginning this Saturday in Vista Hermosa. I am hoping to connect with Yarena (my Bible study lady) in the next week to see when we can once again begin meeting together. LeRoy continues his Bible study Wednesday mornings that can have anywhere from 1-4 men joining him. LeRoy meets with Walter as a mentorship thing every Wednesday evening (more or less). Saturdays are full now as we go to Vista Hermosa for kids' club in the afternoons, and then from there LeRoy will go to Anahuac to help with kids' club there and then have evening worship practice to get ready for the following morning's service. And within all that comes visitation, connecting and encouraging fellow Christians in the church, and non-believers around us.

That gives you a good idea of what our lives consist of...when it comes to ministry. Add to that our family life at home fully enjoying our kids, each other, and coming soon....trying to meet more people so we can sometimes just get together with friends.

Parking Lot Help

If you are going grocery shopping (or any shopping that requires an actual parking lot) expect there to be men wanting to help you park, watch your vehicle, help unload groceries into the van, or even help you back up so you don't hit any body. And if you use their service you are expected to pay them a little. For the past year I have tried to avoid situations like this feeling as if they don't think I can do it myself, but what I should have learned a long time ago, is that it's not saying I can't do it, but it's a small way they are trying to earn money, be helpful, just a culture difference and really, it does help. It was very nice help when I was 8 months pregnant going shopping with 2 kids in tow, and it was a great help yesterday with just Emma in tow, but realized it is nice to have someone else put the groceries in my van so I can help Emma get in her carseat and we can get home even a few minutes sooner. Plus, I could help him out by giving him 2 pesos (that's only about 20 cents CDN) that may just make that difference for him. One culture difference from in Canada...not better nor worse, just different.

Quote of the Day

I think I smell something burning LeRoy says (to Faith)

Oh, that's just me farting
Brooklyn jumps in and says (before Faith has a chance to respond)

The ice cream truck

Do you remember the hot summer days when the ice cream truck would come around in your neighborhood, selling ice cream. Although where I lived, the ice cream truck didn't really come and visit, I do remember as a kid, being in town, and the ice cream truck would come around selling his wares.
Well, around here, the ice cream truck is fairly common. Actually, now that I think of it, around our house, I don't know if I've seen one. In Vista Hermosa, where I try to work every Wednesday, it's very common. There's this guy that mounts his bullhorn on top of a white van, and away he goes selling ice cream. A couple of times, I stopped him when he was making his rounds, and bought some sort of homemade ice cream off of him.

A while back, as I was sitting there in the rented house where we do our ministry, listening to the catchy jingle coming from the ice cream truck, something dawned on me. This guy has a product to offer, drives around the neighbourhood, hoping someone has a craving for ice cream, selling them what they're looking for.

Here I am, looking/struggling to find ways of presenting the gospel in this community. What I have to offer is not a product, I am not a salesman, but a messenger sent by God, but in many ways, me and the ice cream man are similar. Both of us are going throughout the community, broadcasting the good news of what we have to offer to the people. The ice cream man is using the tools he has at his disposal: a reputation of good homemade, well priced ice cream, a bullhorn with a cool jingle, and a very recognizable van. I on the other hand, have much more powerful tools on hand, but the question is, am I using them properly? What would happen if the ice cream man would buy a little brown car (nothing against little brown cars by the way, just inconspicuous) take down his bullhorn, close all his windows, park in front of his garage with his ice cream hidden inside? As a Christian, I have the most powerful tools in the world. The Holy Spirit working in me and his transforming power working in the world. I also have the prayer tool, very often overlooked, and definitely underused. Thirdly we have the power of example. We can, and must show the world Christ, through our actions and our words. This is not an exclusive list, I'm sure you can think of more tools that we as believers have at our disposal. The Lord has given us these tools, but am I properly using them as I seek to share the gospel with the many needy people in this community that God has placed me in? This is a question that I have to ask myself as we continue to serve Christ with our lives.

I wonder what is the more successful venture? The sale of ice cream, or the spread of the gospel? Who is having more of an impact in our communities? The ice cream man, or me and you?

Update

VBS ended last week doing well. Kids kept coming excitedly, and we kept getting more tired. We were thankful for the week to be over but also thankful for how it all came together. This morning LeRoy left for Campo Tomas to help at the Adolescent camp (ages 12-14) until tomorrow around noon. He's leading a devotional tonight and helping in any little way he can.

Yesterday we went into Chihuahua and finally were able to pick up our FM3 papers. So we have them in our possession and the waiting game is over. We were also told of a place in Chihuahua where we could renew our vehicle permit. So now as long as we can renew our Mexico insurance over the phone LeRoy will not have to go to El Paso by himself in the next month. We are very thankful for that. Now just have to make sure that it's possible to renew that over the phone. It all expires the beginning of August, so it does need to happen soon.

VBS

Oh how we are so exhausted. LeRoy has been doing much more than I have for VBS, but I think we're equally as tired. Other than that, VBS is going great. I'll start with Anahuac's. LeRoy goes there every morning to teach the 10-13 year olds. Monday they started with 14 kids, and today already had 38 kids. They really only have 4 people there so it's a lot more tiring and busy I think. Our VBS in Vista Hermosa has also gone well. The kids have enthusiasm and seem to be having a great time. The weather has been perfect (other than very hot) so we've been able to do a lot of it outside. Monday we started with 19 kids, yesterday had 28, and today had 37. That's a large group, when we have such a small space. But God is working and the kids are having fun learning about Peter. Friday we will be ending our week with the parents joining us (is what we're hoping for) so we can show them what we've been learning and have a time where we can hopefully connect with these kids' parents. We are praying that through VBS we can have some connections for the future. We have yet to even see many of the parents whose kids come to kids' club and now VBS. Thank you for praying for us this week. We knew we were going to be tired, all 4 of us, and today it's hitting just how exhausted we ALL are.

On another exciting note we got a call this morning that our FM3 papers are ready!!! So we are planning to go into Chihuahua on Monday to finish this off. Sure hope we won't be told we have to wait once again and that we'll actually have them in our hands when we leave their building this time.

Still Here

We are still here, but have been horrible at keeping up with anyone lately, including writing something short and sweet on the blog. So here is just an update from a couple previous posts. Our FM3 papers have still not come, so our trip to El Paso was canceled:( But after a few very discouraging down days, God helped us re-focus and helped us be okay not to have that needed break. Please pray that our papers do come soon. Our van insurance and vehicle permit to be here is due sometime between end of July and middle of August. This means that once our papers come LeRoy will have to (no choice) drive up to renew the vehicle stuff. We are praying he doesn't have to go before end of July in case baby decides to show up, but are disappointed that he'll have to make that long trip by himself due to the circumstances with a new baby. We are hoping he can wait until my mom and sister are here in August, even though it still would suck, but then I at least don't have to be alone with 3 kids for a couple days, and he doesn't have to make is such a quick trip, but rather do a bit of stuff for us there right away.

VBS is this coming week and we have mixed emotions. It is going to be an exhausting week for all of us. The mornings are taken up with LeRoy and Brooklyn at VBS with our church in Anahuac. LeRoy will be teaching a group and Brooklyn will hopefully enjoy being apart of her own class. I will go one or two days to show support, but have not committed to anything there. The afternoons will be taken up with our VBS in Vista Hermosa. Thank you for praying, we have enough people helping us that it should be a great time. We feel like we are nearing being ready for it, but are very nervous as well since we have never led something like this. We pray tons of kids come, but at the same time not TONS because of it being our first time and figuring out how it'll all work on a small yard with a small house. But we know God will be working in us, through us, and in the lives of those kids. Pray that we all (including Brooklyn and Emma) will have the patience, energy, and love for each other to make it through next week. We are looking forward to it, but also know it could be very tough.

All week, little by little, I have been working on a prayer letter. My mind keeps getting stuck and not letting me have ideas and finish it. But hopefully soon you'll have our new prayer/update letter. Hopefully before the baby comes. haha Then again, I am so ready for the baby to come I hope a prayer letter doesn't stop him. Then I could actually maybe think of what to tell you all.

VBS

We are now busy planning VBS for our ministry in Vista Hermosa. It has been a bit tricky trying to figure out the best week to do it but we finally decided to have VBS the first week of July from 3-5 every day. School ends at the very end of June if not the beginning of July, and with baby coming I have way less energy, so hopefully that week will be good. Which means that's in 2 weeks, and have not worked on it much yet, but thankfully can put that as our main focus right now. Several of our other commitments have ended for the summer, one reason being so we can focus on VBS. We are told we can expect from 40-60 kids, and right now there is us and one other guy who is helping. And since we cannot be 2 full time people helping with having our girls there and me being so pregnant, with the other help right now we are only about 2 - 2 1/2 people. NOT ENOUGH. The Ebenezer church here in Cuauhtemoc (it's really their outreach in Vista Hermosa) are trying to get volunteers to help us, but we still have not heard of any that are able to. We have told ourselves now if we don't get more help we simply cannot have VBS this year which would disappoint many kids. Please pray that volunteers will come forward..we would like to have at least 3 more people to help us. We don't want to have to cancel.

Paperwork

This past Tuesday we headed into Chihuahua to do some final paperwork and payments needed to complete our FM3 papers. The papers that let us legally be missionaries here. We were told that now that they had everything they needed from us, we SHOULD have our FM3 visas within a week. So we are praying that this time limit will actually happen and that we'll receive a phone call from them this coming Monday or Tuesday. We are hoping to head to El Paso in the next 2 weeks one final time before baby comes, but it will all depend on if we get our papers or not. We cannot leave until we have them. And we would love to go for a few days, as we know it'll be October or November before going again (not a bad thing just longer than we're used to) and we do have some things we'd like to get out there, since some things are a lot cheaper there, and it's a nice break for all of us. Anyway, I think I am beginning to babble..it's what happens when I try to blog in the middle of the night.

Work retreat (oxymoron or what?)

So this past weekend, there was a planned men's retreat/work day at the Santo Tomas camp. It was high time to organize ourselves to do some of the maintanance that we were falling behind on. And work hard we did. On Saturday evening as we were finishing up our work for the day, and everyone was tired, one of the men was joking that now us Canadians had put in a day working like true Mexicans.

When I think of digging a 6-8inch deep trench back home, somewhere's in the 200ft range, it doesn't seem undoable. The dirt is generally soft enough for a shovel, and away you go. But not here. No way! It took 4 guys 4hrs to dig, purely with pickaxes, it was like cutting through rock. Among the other things we did were make retaining walls for the bathroom showers, revarnish the 2 cabins, and pour a washpad on one side of the dining hall.

Praise God for all the men that came out! 11 in total. One of the neat things was to have a fireside Saturday night, sharing what God is doing and praying for one another. We pray that this can become a regular tradition to go out as men and fellowship together in this way.



Here are just a few pictures, to prove that work actually got done, and that we didn't just sit around eating cookies and drinking coffee, although we did that too.

What Is She Telling Me?

Once again I am in a place where I wonder if the lady I do Bible study with really wants this. It's once again been 2 weeks in a row where she is not home when I show up. She says she wants to study and she does seem sincere that she wants to learn more about God and the Bible. But...then she's barely ever home. In this culture, people don't say no. So how do I read into this? Maybe she is being honest in that she does want this study with me but different family things come up she can't say no to. Or is she just telling me what I want to hear and then leaving when she remembers I am coming by? It's discouraging when week after week you prep a bible study, drive over there praying she's home...sometimes she is, most times she's not. It's tiring on me too but I don't want to stop if she does really want this. How do I find out? When is the time to give it a break and try again in a couple months? That's one of the frustrating things about the Mexican culture..you never know if what they are saying is from their heart, or just what they know you want to hear.

What a Week Looks Like

Today as we were visiting with friends I thought it may be a good idea to blog about what a typical/average week looks like in our lives here. And then maybe another day I will write what a typical day looks like, as there can be TONS of "interruptions" that you don't plan for. But for now...our typical week which to us begins on Tuesdays.

Tuesday - Begin with a time of prayer where we get up a bit earlier to pray, before the girls are up, for our ministries and specific people we know we'll face during the coming week. Tuesday is LeRoy's work day where he either locks himself in the office to do language study, sermon prep, bible study prep, or kids' club prep...or he goes to Anahuac to do visitation or any of the previous prep mentioned at the church where he is able to focus without the noise of children right at the door.

Wednesday - LeRoy's 2nd work day. Bible study in Vista Hermosa with 2 non-Christian men (another man joined), door to door visitation, connection with the kids around the area, work at our rented house there on any prep that may need doing. Every other Wednesday evening LeRoy meets with Walter (pastor of Ebenezer church) as a time of mentor-ship.

Thursday - Faith's work day...lock myself in the office. I am the Mexico field's treasurer so this is the day I can work on whatever needs to be done with that plus my Bible study prep, Sunday School prep (if I teach the coming Sunday), kids' club prep, language study, course homework (I am taking a course now to help with my Spanish), and any other ministry related things I need to get done. Thursday evenings is the evening that we have church meetings or bible study with the people in Anahuac.

Friday - The morning is spent finishing up my Bible study and going to do my Bible study in Vista Hermosa. The afternoon we leave open to be MORE flexible so that if either of us needs more time for something, that's the time to do that extra prep or visitation, or whatever we feel needs to be done. Friday evenings are what we call Date Night. Not that this happens every week because it does get a bit boring at times to have a weekly date where you're constricted to home after the kiddos are in bed, but for the most part it happens whether it's a movie, supper by ourselves, boardgames, etc.

Saturday - Once again a day to get things done we couldn't during the week, finish kids' club prep, and LeRoy makes sure different songs are on the computer ready to go for church the next day. Later afternoon we have kids' club that we do as a family, LeRoy then drops us girls off to occasionally go help with kids' club in Anahuac and then have worship practice for the evening.

Sunday - Church begins at 11, or more so whenever everyone is there, with Sunday School. Church service follows immediately at 12 or whenever they feel Sunday School is over. Service ends usually around 1:30 and we get home at least by 2:30 to find some lunch. So every Sunday is different depending if LeRoy preaches, teaches adult Sunday School, or I teach kids' Sunday School. And 98% of all Sundays LeRoy plays guitar with the worship team. The rest of the day is usually very relaxed for us at home, unless something comes up. But usually nothing does as it's very much a family day to get together with the larger family.

Monday - Family Day!!! NO WORK!!! This we set in stone when we first moved down here, and we are so thankful we have stuck to it. Sometimes it means going out and finding something fun and exciting to do, sometimes it means going into Chihuahua, but usually it means spending a relaxing day at home doing some cleaning and work around the house, all the while having no pressure to get anything done, and taking more time for our kids.

So there you have what an average week looks like, and that is leaving out all the details that make life slower here and just take more time.

Feliz Día de las Madres (Happy Mother's Day)

Kind of a semi-tradition that the Anáhuac Church has is to do a church picnic. So we packed up our stuff and headed out to Sainapuchic. It is close to where the Steinrech Bible School is located.

Carlos was in charge of getting all the meat for the discada (disco), and away we went.
It seems that I always learn something new and interesting when we're together in a non church setting. The other day I saw a few of them sprinkling chili and lemon powder on an orange. Well, here at the picnic, I experienced something new. Chili powder on Watermelon. Forget the Rollkucken, eh? Brooklyn absolutely loved it. I eventually tried it too, and it wasn't that bad.
It was good to get out and do something like this together as a church family. Here's a few pictures showing some of the highlights.

Pine cones on a huge pine tree
Scenic Overview
Cooking the discada

Fundamentals of the Christian Life

Tonight I (Faith) will be starting a course here at the Ebenezer Church. It's called the Fundamentals for the Christian Life, and I am mostly using it to improve my Spanish. I can go without the kids so I won't have them as distractions and hopefully I can do a lot of listening. It doesn't require too much homework between the classes thankfully, but it does involve 2 tests...yes of course in Spanish. I'm a bit nervous for it, but really looking forward to being able to go to this by myself and hopefully not be too tired to focus:)

Answered Prayer

LeRoy had his first Bible study yesterday with the young man we have mentioned before. This guy wants to continue and seems to have many questions. Pray that this will continue next week, and that this man's wife will be able to stay in their store so he can get away and join LeRoy. It really does seem that LeRoy has gained this guy's trust. Thank you for those who have prayed that this would happen. Continue to pray that God will continue to work on his heart, open it up to what LeRoy has to share, and that he will feel God's presence in his life.

Family Camp

Today we are heading off to Santo Tomas for CEMM's family camp. We are excited to go, visit with the friends we have made and meet more people. The girls are excited to go play on swings and slides. Even while it is considered work for us, we expect it will be a relaxing weekend, with our only responsibility of helping serve coffee and cookies tonight. We pray it will be a refreshing time for us.

Today I finally had another Bible study with Yarena, the lady I have mentioned that it's difficult getting together with. She seemed to hang on every word I said and we had a great discussion on what stands between us and learning more about God. I pray that next week she will be home once again so we can continue. LeRoy's study ended up not happening once again, and the guy was disappointed he couldn't leave his store as his wife had to leave to pick up their son. He asked if they could try for Tuesday, so please pray that this time it will work. They have tried 3 times to study together, and every time there has been a legitimate reason why they can't, but it is still discouraging.

Please also pray for 2 little girls we know through our kids' club. There dad passed away about 2 weeks ago, and they are broken. Today I met them on the street and just hugged them. They cried and didn't have anything to say. But are very excited to come to kids' club. LeRoy met their mom a couple days ago. She is without a job or way to provide for them. They don't have much and are in great need. Please pray for healing for this family, and that their mom can come to know Jesus through this hard time.

Please pray

This afternoon I was asked if I was available tomorrow to have a Bible Study. This is the same guy that I've been trying to connect with for quite a while. Please pray that he will follow through and come tomorrow, that God will open his hear to hear the Word.

I feel that it is because of prayer that he approached me to see if I wanted to study. Praise the Lord!

No Study

So for some reason the man LeRoy was excited to get together with today to start a Bible study didn't show up. Please pray with us that it will still begin sometime soon, and that this man is serious about wanting to learn more about God. In this culture people don't say no, so it is possible that he is saying yes while not wanting to.

New Opportunity

It feels like life has kept on being busy, not much time to breathe as we try and get back into our ministries here. Back into some sort of routine. Today as well LeRoy attended the Directiva meeting (like an EMC board meeting) while I relaxed a bit more at home with Tara and the kids. We also had kids' club again today, and since we forgot our keys for the house, we enjoyed the HOT sun and had club outside. 13 kids showed up, 1 of them being a girl. But it was a great time, the kids were excited, but we did find out it's a bit harder keeping their attention since we had to yell for them to hear us (due to outside noise).

The exciting thing that happened on Thursday was that a man that LeRoy has been connecting with agreed to begin studying the Bible together. He has shown interest in the past, and now agreed that he would be willing. Please pray for LeRoy as he begins his first study, and that this man would continue to show interest and want to learn so much more about God. He has a wife and one son (I think) as well, so keep them in your prayers too, that maybe we can connect as a family with them.

Flat tires and Desponchadoras

Yesterday, traveling home, we blew another tire. I mean, not punctured, slow leak style, but slashed. I guess somewhere, we drove across something that slashed the sidewall. About a month ago, we did the same thing, on the other side. Luckily the spare was full of air, and Nate and Bob helped us quickly change it.

In my observations, I've noticed how many vehicles are on the road with not so new tires. At first I made the assumption that people maybe couldn't afford nice tires, or didn't take care of their vehicles, or something like that. The more and more experiences I have with flats (like 4 or 5 in the last 6 months) which is 6 more than I've had in the last 5 yrs, I'm starting to think it's something else.

For one thing, we don't really get snow and icy roads down here (haha). But secondly, I think that everyone here understands that the chances of wrecking your tires are fairly high, and therefore nice tires are kind of an unneccessary expense. When a new tire costs $2000 pesos, and I was able to get a good used one for $300 pesos, what's not to like about that? And besides, there's a good tire shop, or 3, within 5 minutes drive of wherever you are in Northern Mexico. Well, maybe not quite, but almost. And you never know when that can turn into a good opportunity to share God's Word with someone, which has already happened on more than one occasion.

So, stealing from Red Green... "keep your stick on the ice, and a good spare in your trunk"

Back to Routine?

This last week was an amazing week of helping lead a youth group in Delicias and Cuauhtemoc. We joined the group at Dallas and Tara's last week Monday, and from there helped translate whenever needed at kids' club, show them some tourist places, and onto our area in Cuauhtemoc. We were so blessed to see them happily work at our place replacing windows and painting, and how eager they were to help fix and clean up at our church in Anahuac as well as clean the Ebenezer church. Friday was a very full day as we took the group to an outreach center for them to help clean up there, then did a kids' club for the first time in Anahuac, and then a service in the evening at Ebenezer. This group of youth was so tired because we kept them busy, and yet at the same time most of them still wanting to keep helping out whenever and wherever possible. They were a huge encouragement to us as they helped us in our areas and just spent time with them. They went home yesterday, so now it's back to some kind of routine...once we go back to Cuauhtemoc tomorrow. Today is a much needed off day.

What's really exciting is that by having this youth group do a kids' club in Anahuac, it gave our church the extra boost it needed. They have been talking about starting a club for a couple months, but never got going. Now on Friday when they were helping out the church announced they were having another time of club the next day!!!! and are going to continue to do it every Saturday!!! We were..and still are..so excited to hear this huge step for the church. There are many capable people there who will do such an excellent job and it's exciting to where that will go.

So now when we get back we'll have to try and get into a routine again. Back to visitations, Bible study prepping, sermon prepping, and just back to life in Mexico. And hopefully back to more blogging and catching with people.

Our First Mission Group

A group from Kleefeld arrived in El Paso yesterday, and today drove to Delicias with Dallas and Tara. Tomorrow we will be joining them and begin our first experience as missionaries to co-lead a missions trip. We think we have almost everything lined up for the couple days they will be in Cuauhtemoc, but we are nervous about last minute things that need to happen and be organized. Like how LeRoy will be able to be here at our house helping with installing new windows and at the same time explain well enough what needs to be done at our church in Anahuac (trees taken down, and some repair on the building). But we know God will help us take care of details like that. And whatever happens, we just pray that this week will be a huge impact on these 15 young people, and their 5 leaders. That they will see God working in the lives of those they meet, that God can touch their hearts and open them to what needs to be seen, that this week will be a huge highlight in their Spiritual walks. Pray for us too that we don't get stressed out being with a huge group the whole week but that we will all fully enjoy the week with everything we have planned for them.

Full Minds

We are back to a full loaded schedule after my parents left on Tuesday. We had a great time with them, but now it's back to work as we have a group from Kleefeld coming this weekend. We're working with Dallas and Tara planning and organizing it all, and we'll be all together for the majority of next week. So we are doing final prep stuff making sure we have everything we need for work projects, have others lined up to help in different locations, menu is almost done, some food has been cooked, more needing to be cooked or baked, etc. Never mind prepping for Bible study tomorrow, kids' club prep, and I am teaching kids' Sunday school this weekend. Plus trying to get back into life after having parents here for 3 weeks. It feels pretty lonely. But so far we are doing okay, but maybe only because we are so busy thinking of so many different things. We are hanging in here, doing our best to help each other out and make things easier on the other person, kids included.

Yes, these days our lives are very busy. I have for so long wanted to call friends back home, but when I think of it I then remember the time change and that it's too late on their end for me to call. And until we have our time change (another week and a half) it's a greater time difference yet too. So I think those phone calls will once again have to wait a couple weeks. But I do have to admit I am one of the worst people to be in long distance friendships. Anyway, I should get to bed, it's been a long good stressful day, and I'm exhausted. But I do hope to start blogging more again, to keep you all posted on our life down here.

Preaching

Initially (like 1 month ago) LeRoy was supposed to preach yesterday. But then some plans changed and he was told he wouldn't have to. He decided anyway to prepare a message so he had one ready for when the time came. That message is half done, and the other half needs to be worked on before he preaches in 2 weeks. BUT...yesterday we got to church and he was asked if he was ready to preach:) haha He mentioned that he was told he didn't have to but also said he could do something. So last minute, during Sunday School he is looking for what he could share. I have to say I thought he did a pretty good job considering he didn't have much notice, no notes other than his Spanish Bible (not having a chance to look at the English version to make sure he understood the passage correctly), and he somehow still had a 25 minute message. Another culture difference...sometimes you may have to do something like this last minute. Would that ever happen in Canada? Possibly, but we sure don't hear about it.

Need Ideas

So I am wanting to write an article for the EMC Messenger, but have absolutely NO ideas. So I am asking you:) Is there anything you would like to know about our life down here, or just have any good ideas that I could write about?

Back At It

We are home and now back to work. I will (hopefully today yet) blog more on Our Family Adventures blog about our trip and how we're feeling to be back. We wanted to get into work right away today knowing we'll be wanting to take more time off when my parents come next week. Yesterday while driving we made a huge to-do/want-to-do list and thankfully we have been able to check a few of the things off. I was supposed have a Bible Study this morning but decided we'd just visit since I didn't have too much time to get something ready. Brooklyn and I took a drive to visit her and her girls, but they weren't home. So we just turned around and came back home. That's just how it goes sometimes in our life here. Tomorrow we'll have kids' club again, and hopefully us being gone the past 2 weeks from it won't have affected if kids will come or not, but we will find out.

We heard today that our church in Anahuac is starting to take a class 2 hours every Sunday for the next 6 weeks. Alvira will be teaching it and they'll be studying the book of Acts. We're very excited to hear the church's enthusiasm on this and hear that this is another way they are growing personally and together as a church, growing closer to God. LeRoy is thinking of joining in, not to take it for credit, but to audit it.

Coming to an End

This week is coming to an end soon:) This week has been busy TRYING to make a couple connections, getting some work done, but plans seemed to change lots as there was waiting for people to show up when they said they would, and so on. That's how life is in a Latin culture. I have also been preparing another Bible study for tomorrow morning..I think it's ready. After one more day filled with a Bible study, tutor time, and an evening with friends from church and lots more packing, we will be leaving Friday morning for El Paso for our annual staff retreat:) We are looking forward to being with fellow staff (kinda like a family gathering for us already) connecting through sessions, hanging out, swimming, the zoo, and relaxing. After the weekend we'll stay there for a couple days before flying out to Alberta for a bit of holiday time to attend a family wedding. So we won't be here in Cuauhtemoc for a couple weeks, so blogging may stop. But we still will be HERE on the computer so blogging may continue:) We'll see how it goes.

What a Week

It has been awhile since we have posted about what's been going on here, so this may be a longer post. Or I may lose my energy so fast that I just end it earlier. Anyway, we have had a tiring week full of different adventures. It began last Friday. We had to go into Chihuahua with Alvira and Dallas and Tara to begin our paperwork for our FM3's, which are our paperwork making us more legal to be doing what we are doing here. As far as we knew we could begin this paperwork, get our in-transit papers, and still be allowed to leave the country if needed. After about 3 1/2 hours of filling out paperwork, going to make photocopies of visas and passports, and going to the bank to pay some fees for our new paperwork, we thankfully found out we had everything we needed to hand in, but also that if we hand it all in, we are NOT allowed to leave the country until we have the FM3's in our hands. That takes about 2-3 months. Normally this would be okay, IF we didn't already have plans to leave Mexico 4 times in the next 2 months for various reasons. The biggest one being going to La Crete, AB in 2 weeks where LeRoy is officiating his brother's wedding. About a year ago you could still ask for permission to leave Mexico while waiting for your FM3's, but it's a new rule now that you cannot. So, now what?

We decided we could not hand in our papers since we had to go to Canada, but we also had heard you are not allowed 2 visas back to back. But thankfully the officer helping us advised us that another new rule says you can have 2 visas back to back. Our tourist visas expired this past Wednesday. So our only option was to change some plans for this week and head to El Paso on Tuesday, drop off our old visas and vehicle permit. We decided to spend the evening and night at the guesthouse to try and make the fast trip a bit more relaxing, and then on Wednesday we re-entered Mexico praying we would not have any problems getting new visas for all 4 of us as well as a new vehicle permit. God was definitely with us as it all went so smoothly with not even one complication.

So that was all Friday, and our quick trip this week. The weekend was busy for us getting ready for Emma's 2nd birthday and having kids' club. And then Monday was a day of work/tourism. A FULL day of driving to check out Copper Canyon (you can see pics of that in our February '10 album). So this week in total we have had 3 very full days of driving, and we are extremely thankful that our girls did absolutely amazing being stuck in their car seats that whole time. Having Dora playing for 3 days straight helped too:)

This morning I had my first Spanish Bible Study with one lady in Vista Hermosa. I decided to go through John with her as she is a very new Believer and felt that she needed the very basics first. She seems very excited to learn more, but in a way is awkward having just one on one. And yet it also has its many advantages, as a trust can be built a lot easier.

Appreciate what you have!

A few days ago Faith and I were talking about how things are coming along for us in regards to our spanish language skills. The one thing that came to mind is that we REALLY took for granted being able to communicate in English. Every week we are progressing in our language, but last week I just had to chuckle when JK from church suddenly asked me "you still have trouble expressing yourself, don't you?" Yes, I most certainly do.

Everyone learning a new language inevitably makes a lot of bloopers. The other week we were cleaning up an extra room at the church in preparation for beginning a kids club and we found this bubble maker. Later on I was trying to figure it out and asked someone "how do you make those bubbles again" Their response was to double over in laughter. They asked me, "do you know what you just said?" Well, I was too embarrassed to admit that I didn't, because I thought I did. I had looked it up in the dictionary earlier, and although the word I used does mean bubble in other spanish speaking countries, the word I used apparently was a term for the human backside.

Similarily, I thought I had learned some new vocabulary, and in the context was using it as ''awesome'' since the spanish doesn't have a direct translation that works very well. Anyway, after using it a few times, I came to realize, this time without anyone having to tell me, that it was pretty much the most vulgar equivalent. Anyway, the lesson is, be careful what you say....but not too careful, otherwise you won't ever learn.

Odds and Ends

Well, today I (LeRoy) went for breakfast with Walter, my mentor. We had a wonderful time discussing ministry ideas, chatting about opportunities in the churches etc. I also shared with him some of the struggles we have in our work in the neighborhood of Vista Hermosa. Sometimes I find it very hard to get motivated to go there by myself. Nor is it always healthy to be going it alone.
On a more positive note, Faith is going to start a Bible study with a lady in that area, and I may have made connections with a store owner in the area that says he too is interested in studying the Bible together. Please pray for the Lord to work in Arnie's life (not his real name), and for wisdom and courage for me to find a time that suits him to get together

New Blog:)

So we have decided to keep this blog a more ministry based blog. Where we'll have ministry updates, prayer requests, and answers to prayer. That sort of thing. So now you can find a link up top called Our Family Adventures. That is where you will find more personal blogs on our family, home life, and prayer requests that are more related to us personally. So you can choose where you want to look:) And with links at the top on both blogs you can stay connected to both very easily. And there are also links to our Pictures on both so we're always easy to find:)

Health Update

Thank you for your prayers, LeRoy's grandpa possibly will be going home tomorrow, and they were able to take him off the pace maker yesterday. God is so good.

And my health has once again been restored as well. Sunday evening the kidney pain had already let up so much I was able to have a restful night, and Monday morning I felt like a totally different person, other than the morning sickness. So once again God brought me through a health scare, and I stayed sane through it:)

Update on Grandpa

Thank you for all who prayed for LeRoy's grandpa. He had heart surgery on Friday to try and clear 14 blockages he had. We have not heard how many they were actually able to do, but he made it through surgery. He is now slowly recovering and a huge step in his health is yet to happen. He has a very weak heart due to major heart attacks in the past, so now he is hooked up to a pace maker but they are wanting to take it off. The problem is his heart isn't strong enough. Please pray that his heart will be strengthened so they can disconnect the pace maker and he can continue to live without needing to be plugged into something. And again, thank you for praying for him.

Another prayer request is once again for my (Faith) health. Yesterday was a pregnancy sick day for me, but then in the evening my kidney once again started acting up. So up until now I have been trying to bear with the pain and discomfort since I can't take anything for it this time around with being pregnant. Now it does feel like it's letting up, and my stomach is actually growling for food after not eating for almost 2 days. Pray that I will figure out a way to eat healthier so this doesn't occur so often. I really would prefer not to live with the fear of it always coming back. I'd rather be in labor, when you know there's a good ending to the pain.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY & GRANDPA

Well Dad, today you are 50. Too bad you're not feeling so great, but we are glad you are able to celebrate tonight. We'll celebrate with you in spirit today, and with you personally in 5 1/2 weeks:) You are a very special man to all of us whether you are dad (in-law), grandpa, or my daddy:) We all have our memories with you and are excited to make many more. We pray for you and hope today you can have a very special day. We pray that you will have another year full of blessings upon blessings. We Love You!!!





I recall the day when my LeRoy came to call,
It feels like only yesterday we swam and played football,
But we knew, the time would come, for you to set me free,
But no matter where I go, you know I'll always be,

Your Daddy's Girl

Love you Daddy

Please Pray

LeRoy's grandpa is having heart surgery tomorrow to fix some artery blockages he has. No one knows anymore how many there are, but 2 major ones are completely blocked, another is 80% blocked, and then there is more. Please pray he makes it through the surgery as he has had heart problems in the past and at first the doctors denied doing the surgery, and for some reason changed their minds.

Preschool Already? - 13 weeks

Here in Mexico school works a little differently than back home. In Canada preschool is optional, and kids have to start beginning with Kindergarten. Here, preschool is optional at age 3, but at age 4 is mandatory. So since Brooklyn will be turning 4 in May she has to go to school starting in August. We've kept our ears open for a couple months of different private schools (we said no quite quickly to the public schools) and after a couple meetings with 2 different schools, we registered her today at Colegio Bilingue Gestalte. A private bilingual school that offers preschool up to grade 3. I had a meeting with them on Friday and I was so impressed that I brought LeRoy and the girls again on Monday so they could see it too so we both knew what we were trying to decide on. Brooklyn did not want to leave. Here's a little about this school...preschool has it's own wing of the school and it's own playground area, all the teachers know and teach in english up until kindergarten, music class twice a week, gym twice a week, computer class twice a week, uniforms are a must, they stressed fun in every other sentence...much more I could probably say. We found it quite hard thinking of Brooklyn going to school, more people to entrust her to 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. One of the biggest reasons we picked this school was thinking of Brooklyn's personality. She is quiet, shy, does not give her trust easily (she still refuses to say hi and bye to new friends out here), and she's a timid little girl, all until she opens up and trusts you. Then she's a very different child. The environment we felt when we were at the school was the perfect kind to accept her and help her slowly open up. We are excited to have found a school for her, and to see her excitement about it, that we know will leave very fast when the time comes for her to realize we can't stay with her at school.

Another very exciting part of life is that today I am 13 weeks pregnant. We have hit the date I always look forward to. On Friday I had another appointment and another ultrasound. I love my monthly ultrasounds. I got to hear the heartbeat beating strong, and see baby's 2 legs, 2 arms, 2 eyes, and see it move around like crazy!!! So now in the next month LeRoy and I need to decide if we want to know if this baby is a boy or a girl:) Need to decide before my next appointment, in case the doctor can tell by then and just blurts it out. haha I think we are leaning towards finding out with this one. We are both just too eager to know if we'll have another precious little girl, or our first little man.

Some New Pics

To view the pics I am sure you know what to do by now:) They are in the January '10 album.

Mexican Lasagna

This is a post with an excellent recipe. I found it last year while in Texas and I have now made it for several people, and it's been a huge hit. I've even been told by a few they like it better than the traditional lasagna. And we love it too:) So I thought I'd share the recipe with all of you and you can all taste it, since I can't make it for everybody.

Mexican Lasagna

1 1/4 lbs ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups salsa
1 can (16 oz) refried beans
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (10 oz) enchilada sauce
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies
1 envelope taco seasoning
1/4 tsp pepper
6 flour tortillas (10 inches)
3 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided (I have used other cheeses as well)
2 cups broken tortilla chips
Sour cream, sliced ripe olives, guacamole and chopped tomatoes, optional

In a large skillet, cook beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in salsa, beans, enchilada sauce, chilies, taco seasoning and pepper; heat through. Spread 1 cup sauce in a greased 9 x 13 pan. Layer with 2 tortillas, a third of the meat mixture and 1 cup cheese. Repeat layers. Top with remaining tortillas and meat mixture. Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese and top with tortilla chips. Bake 10-15 minutes more or until cheese is melted. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with sour cream, olives, guacamole and tomatoes, if desired.

ENJOY!!!

Revoluciona: Youth Conference

If you read the previous post, you see that Faith has a subtle way of making sure that I sit down and write about this past weekend.
Well, it was quite a weekend, very eventful in many ways, and very difficult to put all of it into writing. I guess it would be a good idea to start at the beginning. The event was in Juarez, across the border from El Paso, TX. The CEMM(EMC) churches had invited many of the other churches in the area to attend the event, and this led to there being about 250 at Friday's session. The speaker was great, actually all were really solid, around the theme of revolutionizing your life, church, ministry and city. We were all really challenged by the conference, that if we didn't go home and do something about our faith, acting it out, well then we really haven't learnt anything.
I guess what stuck out to me was that we should be able to say, like Paul, 'if you want to see an example of Christ, look at me'.
As many of you have probably heard, while we were in a session, someone got shot basically in front of the church. That was kind of disturbing, but it taught me many things. One of them is that it is amazing to see the church in Juarez growing and gaining momentum despite the violence. Just seeing how everyone remained calm through it all, trusting and knowing that God takes care of his people. I was amazed and realized more and more, how lacking I am in faith, so often.

In the end, we will only know in time if the event had any impact. I hope and pray that it does. I already heard from some in our group how they were planning on putting their faith into action a lot more. "To the eternal King,immortal and invisible, the only God-to him be honor and glory forever and ever!Amen."

Home Again

We arrived home this evening, LeRoy dropped us girls off while he went to drop off the rest of the full van of guys, and we're looking forward to spending some time together again. LeRoy spent the last 3 days with 6 other guys, plus many more, at a young adults retreat in Juarez. He says overall it was a great weekend, I look forward to hearing more of what he learned. And the best part...God was with them, protected them, and they came home safe and sound. Us girls spent Friday shopping with Tara and her boys and then joined them in Delicias for the weekend. It was a great weekend, full of treating the kids and ourselves. It was a time to relax and enjoy girl time, even with the 4 kids. Now I have the girls in bed, and I await for my dear husband to return so we can spend the rest of the evening together. But I have a feeling he'll want to go to bed early...it was a very full weekend...including about 10-12 concerts in 1 1/2 days...just to give you an idea. I'm sure LeRoy will want to write more yet of his time out there, once he's had time to digest it all.

Hope you all had a great weekend:) We sure did!!

Excitement

With life here feeling very lonely it has been so nice to have some exciting things happen. We have had 2 random men show interest in studying the Bible with LeRoy. One of these men showed up in Vista Hermosa on Saturday asking us where he could find a church. A great conversation starter:) And he also told LeRoy he would love to get together and study the Bible. We don't know exactly where he lives in that area, but do know he only moved there a week ago from Juarez, so hopefully he will be walking around or in his front yard this afternoon while LeRoy has gone to search for him. This coming weekend is a young adults retreat in Juarez. LeRoy along with Dallas will be bringing some young men to this and there has been more interest in going than we initially though which brings more excitement. Hopefully there will still be at least one or 2 seats left in the van for me and the girls to catch a ride to Chihuahua and meet up with Tara for some shopping and the weekend at their house.

Growing excitement here at home is this baby. Brooklyn is getting even more excited, saying good morning to the baby every day. I can just imagine her enthusiasm when she can start feeling the baby kick and move around.

And excitement for future visitors became official yesterday. My parents will be spending close to 3 weeks with us beginning of March. I can hardly wait to see my mommy and daddy:)

We are looking forward to having a family from church over tonight for supper. I have yet to make New Years Cookies this year, so today I will make some, and let our company taste one of our traditions:) This morning the girls had their last Hepatitis needles, and they did so great. Emma clung to me and cried before and until it was over. Immediately after the needle she starts laughing and says "sucker, sucker". haha She already knows at this doctor she gets a sucker when it's over. And Brooklyn also amazed us and didn't scream at the top of her lungs which I was expecting. I like it when kids surprise us.

Yesterday we had a much needed outing with great friends. We met Dallas and Tara in Chihuahua for supper at an excellent fast food tacos restaurant with a nice big play structure for the kids. We ended up being there 2 1/2 hours. We are so thankful to have good friends out here with us. Someone to have a break with and a time of breathing away from ministry. But then there also comes the time to come home, and yesterday again we were hit with the loneliness, even when not leaving the country.

It's About Time

I know it's been far too long since you've heard anything from us here. Every time I sat down to write, my mind went blank. A lot of our feelings have been full of blankness this week. Feelings of loneliness, questioning why we don't just go home, and if we're actually doing what we're supposed to be doing while here. But then the feelings of excitement come with the work we are doing. So a lot of mixed emotions going on. I also was pretty excited last week when we saw snow:)


We had so much fun with LeRoy's family here. With 7 extra adults in the house it was chaos and fun. We met them in El Paso and spent a couple days there and then headed down here on Christmas Eve. It was nice to spend Christmas Day with family, and yet to be able to celebrate it here in our new home. In a way we could have a bit of our own traditions still then too. We started one this year with the girls that LeRoy's family grew up with. It's pretty much like stockings, but involves putting out bowls on the table Christmas Eve. I don't know how that German word is spelled, so I won't even try. The picture above is the girls looking what treats are all in their bowls. It was hard when the time came to say goodbye early Monday morning. After crying for awhile and realizing we were back to feeling lonely, we were thankful the girls let us sleep in a couple hours. The following picture is Emma with Uncle Nate.

This week we have tried to get back into our normal routine, do major cleanup, and try to get healthy. All that seemed to be difficult. LeRoy is still fighting a cold, which seemed to turn into a sinus infection yesterday. He's been miserable so he is at the doctor as I type. Today something hit me, maybe it's just pregnancy, but I'm not sure. I just feel I need to rest which is near impossible with a sick husband and 2 young kids.

My mind has come to a blank once again. There's been lots I what to write about, like....why I like snow so much, differences in culture we noticed over the holidays, and more that I just can't remember. But like I said, as soon as I sit to write on some topic, my mind goes blank. Maybe I can blame this on pregnancy. haha