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| Time passes so quickly. I have wanted to update, but I really like adding pictures. I have gotten on my computer several times to upload pictures, but our internet connection is not allowing uploads. Today I have decided that I will update without pictures.
In August we had a real Mexican Fiesta birthday party for Ezra's 7th birthday. It was really fun. Our Mexican friends helped us make it very traditional. We had two piñata's, one for the children and one for the teens/adults. The children's piñata was made of paper mache type material and the teen/adult one is made of a clay-type pot. The stick to hit the piñatas was decorated with colorful crepe paper and they sing a song while the person tried to hit the piñata. When the song was over, so was their turn. We also played games. Musical chairs is a must at any birthday party here. We provided live music, and it was lots of fun. That was a special day!
We also took a trip to the beach in August. The water was heavenly, but the weather was very warm. We had a condo and enjoyed the time there immensely. Our dear friends from here in Mexico went with us, Romel and Angeles and their two little boys. One thing that was strange was finding crabs in the house. They were big (IMHO) and they moved around the perimeter of the room. We wore shoes whether we were inside or out!
October brought news that we were opening the ranch up to a camping group from a church in Guadalajara. We had two kids from the Cooper family here, and also our dear friend Jerin from California. Our family, along with these hard workers, prepared our property for the camp. We cleared, cut, cleaned, and repaired the area. We had a bulldozer come in and prepar a large playing field and three large areas to put up tents. It was a lot of work, but the rewards were so worth it. The families that came were blessed, and our ministry expanded.
In November we headed back up to the states to renew our visas. We used the time to do our Christmas shopping and go through our boxes to bring more school supplies and clothes back down here. Our entire family gathered for Thanksgiving at the Little Rock Training Center. It was really good to be all together again. The Kaney family, Tim, and Emily (used to be Tasker from California) and her husband and two children joined us to celebrate on Thanksgiving day. We had a very blessed time in the states.
We got back to our home in Mexico in time to prepare for the Miracle Mountain Ranch Mission Team that came down to help us. They arrived on December 13th, and we kept them very busy. They helped clean and remodel our barn. They trained our family in horse care and also gave everyone a riding lesson. They also blessed churches in Guadalajara through physical labor during the week, and bringing music and messages on Sunday. A highlight for our family was the evening we all went down to the plaza in our little pueblo here. We brought tracks, music, and a translator. This team helped us reach out to our own community in a very real way. The Mexican people loved them, and opened their hearts to this team as we had never before seen. It was fantastic. The door which we had been peeking through was now wide open to our family as the community saw clearly demonstrated the things we had been telling and showing them the last year.
The team left early in the morning on Christmas eve. That is all but BJ. He stayed with us to enjoy a couple more weeks here, and share Christmas time with us too.
Now, if you have waded through all this, you are ready for our big news. On New Years Eve morning we received a call from Mr. Gothard. He and Jim talked quite a while. The news of that conversation was that we will be moving back to the states. He is moving us to Oklahoma City for the time, as they have a need for a cook in their facility. Mr. Gothard would like us to work toward raising our own support and then returning to Mexico, supported on the field by friends and family. We are praying earnestly, and would appreciate your prayers as well, for wisdom as to what God would have us to do next. There are many things here that are difficult to leave, however, being here has been difficult too. We are seeking God's will through all of this.
I hope to be able to post pictures soon. I wanted to at least post the family picture that we took while we were all together in November. If not before, I should be able to post it once we get back to the states.
Happy New Year from Mexico! | | |
| Life just keeps happening. Last weekend we had a Mexican birthday party for Ezra. It was really fun, with two pinatas and a Mexican birthday song, and friends to help celebrate the Mexican way. It was so much fun. But again, I need to catch up on a few other things first before I am current and can get into current events.
Not long after we moved here we found there were puppies next door that needed to be loved as they grew. Our family enjoyed the puppies, but always returned them to the neighbors after having some fun with them. That is the best way to have puppies.
Thaddaeus enjoying three of the puppies. And I think they are enjoying him too!
Ezra and the puppies had fun together too!
We find that we often have people over for one reason or another. Or sometimes for no reason at all. We always find lots to do here. This is Jer. He and his wife and two little girls have been here as missionaries almost 10 years (I think that is right...it's close to that anyway) They visited and most everyone went down to our dock and tried fishing. Jer was teaching Ezra how to fish. It was really fun!
Here's another gathering at our house. Of course we always eat when we get together with friends. This group has missionaries and neighbors learnng to communicate and enjoying the fellowship.
When we got our home here, it came with two dogs, puppies really, about 5-6 months old. Not too long after we moved in, one of our dogs was hit by a car and killed. Jim was able to find this sweet puppy. She is part chow and we call her Fiesta!
My goal is to post once a week. There is so much I could share. Like the rodeo we went to while BJ was with us. It was quite the show. We were announced as guests of honor, and many of the townspeople came up to us with words of welcome. During the rodeo BJ was "flown" a paper airplane with a note on it telling him that he was very good-looking. (In Spanish of course)
And then there are all the times we go out on the horses, just us, or with our friends.
The blessings we are experiencing are innumerable. The beauty that surrounds us, the sunsets, the fun and education of the different animals. We now have a cow and her calf. We found the cow feeding on the lawn this morning. She had gotten out of her pen. She is a very sweet cow and Jim decided just to let her "mow" the lawn. We will put her back in her pen later. She provides delicious milk, more than we can consume. And most of us have learned how to milk her.
Also, learning a new language has been a challenging, yet fun experience. I know what ever we can learn will be an asset to us no matter where God directs us.
Enough rambling. I'll put up more pics next week.
Que tengan un buen fin de semana! | | |
| Last week we went to the beach about four hours from here in a little fishing pueblo called Chacala. It was a relaxing time for all of us. We went with another family, a Mexican family that we have come to know and love since arriving here in Mexico. They have two little boys, age 2 & 4. The water was heavenly, and so we all spent lots of time in the ocean. We got a boogey board and an inner tube and rode the waves. Most of us, including yours truly, got flipped at least once. But this is not what I got on to blog about.
It is so hard to catch up on past things when current things keep happening. But I will continue on my quest.
In April BJ was able to come for a two week visit. He has learned many things about horses as he has apprenticed at Miracle Mountain Ranch. And so he worked with all of us to help us become more comfortable with our newly acquired animals. When he visited we had two horses. We now have three, and will have more before the end of the year.
Pictures...my favorite part.
BJ enjoyed working with Ezra, and Ezra loves to ride.
BJ took time to work with each of us on the horses, giving us tips and just helping us feel comfortable. This is him working with Kymberly.
After everyone else had a lesson, BJ and I headed up the mountain. It was a beautiful ride, and a special time with BJ. Everyone else joined at the top of the mountain in the truck to take turns on the horses up there.
BJ also was able to work with Sasha and her two horses across the lake at the office. BJ enjoyed it, and I think Sasha learned some things too.
We are back in school this week, full swing. It feels good to be back on a schedule after so many months of just getting by with the basics while Mom was in school. So I am hoping that I can make an update at least once a week, and eventually get caught up.
Hasta proxima vez.
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| Hola! The first half of these pictures were posted yesterday. Today should complete the road project pictures (However the road project itself still has a long way to go.)
Here is our friend Chris with two of the workers. His life was a testimony to these men!
The Mexican men that worked on the road would bring their lunch, make a fire and cook it right on the job site.
I couldn't resist showing you the view from the job site again. It is so pretty. This picture was taken during the dry season. We are now in the rainy season and everything is green and lush right now. It is even prettier.
Here you can see the progress on the road, and the cows are checking it out, too!
We also enjoy beekeepers on our property. They give us honey in exchange for letting them put their hives on our mountain.
While we were working on the road, BJ was able to come for a visit from Miracle Mountain Ranch in Pennsylvania. He tried his hand at both the bull dozer and the excavator. Here he is working the bull dozer. He ran it for quite a while while I played on the excavator. BJ stayed for two weeks. It was really fun, but too short!
Here is a picture of me running the excavator. Yes, Chris is helping me. That thing does too much at one time, and when you get the bucket full and move it, the whole machine wobbles. It was quite the experience.
I really liked running the bull dozer better. I felt a bit more in control. I moved some dirt and rocks, let them take my picture, and climbed down. But it was fun!
Tomorrow morning we leave to go to the beach for a few days. There is no internet access, and it is also rumored that there is no cell phone reception. I guess that will make it a real vacation. All that to say, I will not be posting more until we return home on the weekend.
You all have a good week! I'm packing the sunscreen, and Jim wants to pick up a frizbee. Adios!
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