Easter

We were late on Thursday to show the Jesus film to the children in Huejotzingo.  We didn't have a copy of the movie, so Abraham tried to find it online, but he wasn't able to.  The good thing is, the Puebla Christian School library had a copy of the Jesus film for children.  We had told the children the film would be at 5, and we didn't even arrive in Huejotzingo until 5:30.  However, soon we rounded up the children who had arrived but had given up and left.  We have an air popper, and the children were entertained taking turns dumping the kernels into the machine and watching the popcorn explode out.  Once we had a huge tub of popcorn ready, we set up the television and started the movie.  Although all the children immediately informed us that the movie had just been on the television, they still watched with interest.

Abraham leading the Seder Supper

The following day, Abraham, Six, and I set up a Seder meal for the children. This was the first time we had tried presenting the meal, and there were plenty of distractions what with flies, some children fussing loudly over the taste of the bitter herbs (radish), and one participant protesting that she couldn't eat lamb because it is red meat and Lent hadn't ended yet.  Still, overall the supper went well, and Abraham spoke of how each food symbolized not only events of the past but also our present human condition.

On Saturday Abraham and I went to the market to buy ingredients to make gorditas and salsa for our Easter morning breakfast.  During the afternoon Six and Abraham worked on making the gorditas and salsa while I almost finished unpacking.  Ken arrived in the evening, and we practiced a few songs.

Sunday was an early morning, since we planned to have the service at 7.  Accustomed either to late rising or to early rising and immediate work, no one showed up on time.  The children of family that lives upstairs in the house where we rent the downstairs arrived, sleepy and tousle-headed, along with their mother.  The children left with Abraham to see if anyone else was awake and to help wake the sleepers.

At 8:15 we actually started the service.  We sang several Easter songs and took turns reading portions of Scripture related to Jesus' resurrection.  Abraham explained the passages briefly and told the children that if they hadn't received Jesus into their hearts, they could take the opportunity to do it that day.  I was seated next to a girl who normally attends but who openly declares that she believes there is no God.  Usually during singing, she sits slouched, staring off into space.  On Sunday she actually sang along with "God Will Make a Way", a song we introduced for the first time.  Slight progress perhaps, but encouraging all the same.

After the brief service, we served the gorditas with salsa and also atole, a thick warming milk drink.  When everyone had eaten their fill, the majority of the children began a game of soccer and then kick ball with Abraham and Ken.  Six and I worked on some of the children's scarves that they are making to exchange with my students at P.C.S. shortly after Children's Day.  Some of them have already finished their scarves, but a few are a bit behind.  As the day grew hotter, the children, Ken, and Abraham continued playing until finally it was too hot, and everyone was too tired.

In the afternoon, Six and Ken went to visit family, and Abraham and I took the bus to Puebla to eat potluck lunch with some P.C.S. teachers.  We enjoyed a pleasant time with them and returned home at night.

This Saturday is Dia del Niño, and we will be having a small fair in Huejotzingo.  A family connected with P.C.S. has games, including an inflatable water slide that they will be bringing, and we hope to have icees as well, since we found out that there is a man in the neighborhood who knows how to make them.  We pray that other neighborhood children will see the games and join in and that they will also be interested in joining us on Sunday afternoons.

Residentes de Huejotzingo

Desde el 2 de abril, Abraham y yo estamos viviendo en Huejotzingo.  Porque los dos todavía estamos trabajando y/o estudiando en Puebla, hemos estado viajando, la mayoria del tiempo por autobús, cada día escolar.  Tenemos que llegar a la parada antes de las 7 para no llegar tarde a Puebla.  Normalmente regresamos a la casa alrededor de las 6.  Como resultado de estar mucho tiempo fuera de casa, no hemos terminado de desempacar, pero hemos avanzado suficiente para poder vivir cómodamente.  Durante las vacaciones de la próxima semana es probable que vamos a poder terminar de desempacar y acomodar todo.  De hecho tenemos que terminar para poder preparar los dos cuartos separados (dónde ahorita tenemos cajas medias llenas) para cambiar el grupo de los niños allá a finales de éste mes.

La semana pasada, el martes, adoptamos un cachorro de la calle y le dimos por nombre Canelito.  No lo tuvimos mucho tiempo.  Desafortunadamente, ya estaba infectado con parvo virus antes de llegar a nuestra casa, y murió el sábado en la mañana.  Fue un final triste para un intento de rescate.  Ahora, aunque hemos tallado el patio con cloro, es difícil saber si hemos matado todo el parvo que trajo con él.  Parece difícil  adoptar otro cachorro sin vacunas.  El veterinario nos dijo que la vacuna no hace nada para un cachorro ya infectado y que el virus puede sobrevivir hasta dos años si no muere por el cloro.

El sábado en la tarde después de salir de la veterinaria, fuimos a visitar a algunos de los niños y pasamos un rato con ellos.  Después, fuimos a visitar una familia y en fin de cuentas pasamos un tiempo bastante largo con ellos.  La mama, Doña Benita, me va a enseñar como hacer tortillas este lunes, y luego voy a enseñarle a ella y algunos de sus hijos mayores como hacer algunas galletas y pasteles.

Dos veces hemos invitado a nuestra casa a los niños del grupo que normalmente esta con nosotros los domingos en la tarde.  No fueron, pero esperamos que ellos y sus papás estén más a gusto con la idea de que son bienvenidos.  Ésta semana, en el lugar dónde normalmente nos reunimos, vamos a tener actividades relacionadas con la Semana Santa El jueves, vamos a poner por lo menos parte de la película que se llama Jesús.  En la tarde del viernes, vamos a presentar una comida de pascua – no una comida completa, pero con porciones pequeños de los elementos principales – y explicando que representa cada comida en el Antiguo Testamento y que representa para los seguidores de Cristo hoy en día.  Domingo en la mañana vamos a tener un servicio de más o menos amanecer a las 7.  Por favor oren para que los niños asistan y que aprendan o tengan confirmado lo que saben del sacrificio de Jesús.  Estaríamos agradecidos si asisten los papas, pero normalmente no lo hacen.

Que tengan un domingo de resurrección muy bendecido.  Acuérdense, ¡Jesús resucitó!

Huejotzingo residents

As of April 2, Abraham and I began living in Huejotzingo.  Because both of us are still working and/or attending school in Puebla, we have been commuting, primarily by bus, every school day.  We have to be at the bus stop by 7, or we will be late arriving in Puebla.  Usually we return home by about 6.  As a result of being away from home so much, we haven’t finished unpacking yet, but we have made enough progress to make the house livable.  During Easter break we will probably be able to finish unpacking and settling everything.  In fact, we need to finish so that we can prepare the two separated rooms (where we currently have half-unpacked boxes) for moving the children's group there by the end of this month.

Last week we adopted a street puppy on Tuesday night and named him Canelito.  We didn't have him for very long though.  Unfortunately, he had already contracted parvovirus before we took him home, and on Saturday morning, he died.  It was a sad ending to the attempted rescue.  Now, although we have scrubbed the patio with bleach, it is hard to know whether we have killed all the parvo that he brought with him, so it looks difficult to adopt another, unvaccinated puppy.  The vet told us that the vaccine does no good for puppies who are already infected and that the virus can live up to two years if missed by the bleach.

On Saturday afternoon after leaving the vet's office, we visited some of the children and spent a short time with them.  When we left them, we visited one family and ended up passing quite awhile with them.  The mother, Doña Benita, is going to teach me how to make tortillas this coming Monday, and I will teach her and some of her older children how to make some cakes and cookies later on.

We have twice invited to our house the children of the group that usually joins us on Sunday afternoons.  They did not come, but we hope that they and their parents will become more comfortable with the idea that they are welcome.  This week we will be having Easter activities at the location where we normally meet.  On Thursday afternoon, we will be showing at least part of the Jesus film.  On Friday afternoon we will present a Passover meal - not a complete one, but one with small portions of the main elements - and explaining what each food represented in the Old Testament and what it represents to Christ-followers now.   Sunday morning, we will have a semi-sunrise service at 7 o'clock.  Please pray that all the children attend and that they will learn or will have confirmed what they know of Jesus' sacrifice.  We would also be glad to have parents attend, but they usually don't.

Have a blessed Easter.  Remember, He is Risen!

La casa sandía

Esta pintado de verde brillante y rosa, en verdad.  Pero básicamente es la casa ideal en Huejotzingo, por lo menos hasta que Dios provee el dinero para comprar un terreno y construir nuestra propia casa.  Nos cambiamos el viernes, haciendo viajes de ida y vuelta de Puebla a Huejotzingo, primero transportando las plantas, algunas cajas, y muebles pequeños.   La iglesia Dios es Amor nos prestó su grande camioneta y fue de gran bendición porque dos personas que originalmente ofrecieron su ayuda y tienen camionetas, a la mera hora no pudieron ayudar.

En lugar de ellos, una madre soltera y su hijo pre-joven nos ayudaron a empacar algunas cosas y cargar.  Fueron con nosotros en el primer viaje a Huejotzingo.  Cuando regresamos, vimos que había llegado mi cuñado para ayudar, y por eso, Marina se quedó conmigo en el departamento en Puebla para continuar empacando y limpiando un poquito, mientras su hijo Isaí, Abraham y mi cuñado Ricardo subieron y transportaron muebles mas pesados.  Marina tuvo que irse cuando todavía estaban fuera, entonces yo continué sola un rato hasta que no hubo mas que hacer.  Ya estaba oscureciendo cuándo regresaron los tres, esta vez con un estudiante del seminario como refuerzo.

Transportamos todo, menos el refri y un escritorio con estantes, en el último viaje.  Tuvimos que bajar las cosas de prisa en la casa porque Ricardo y Dan tenían que tomar su autobús para sus casas.

Abraham y yo regresamos a nuestra casa nueva, llegamos a las 11:30.  Después todavía tuvimos que estacionar la camioneta de 15 pasajeros en el patio, con el tamaño apenas  suficiente para la camioneta.  Abraham dirigió, y cautelosamente metí la camioneta hasta casi la pared de la cocina.

Mientras nos preparamos para acostarnos, tuvimos la primera sorpresa.  No había agua en las casa.  Lo bueno es que la casa cuenta con una cisterna, aunque el agua había estado estanqueado por 6 meses.  También la llave de afuera tenía un chorrito de agua, y con eso nos las arreglamos.

El tubo de gas de la estufa sufrió daños durante el cambio, y tampoco tuvimos gas, y por eso usamos una parrilla eléctrica la siguiente mañana.  Era difícil encontrar cosas y todo estaba regado por todos lados.  No trabajamos mucho en la casa sábado porque nos invitaron unos amigos a unos quince años en la tarde, y también Abraham iba a predicar domingo en Dios es Amor.

El domingo, después del tiempo con los niños en Huejotzingo, Six regresó a la casa con nosotros para pasar la noche.  Una vez, tuvimos prendidas tres luces y estuvimos usando la parrilla para calentar agua de la cisterna para bañarnos.  El uso de electricidad fue demasiado para los circuitos y se quemó un fusible.  Ni modo, fue demasiado tarde de todos modos y era la hora para dormirnos.  El problema fue la próxima mañana cuado tuvimos que levantarnos a las 5:50 para alcanzar el autobús a Puebla a tiempo para llegar al trabajo a las 8.

Con la ayuda de una vela y luz tenue de la calle, pudimos prepararnos y salir.  Incluso llegamos a tiempo para las clases en Puebla Christian School.

Cuando regresamos a la casa en la tarde lunes, nuestros vecinos, quienes están a cargo de la casa (los dueños viven en los Estados Unidos), estuvieron intentando hacer funcionar una bomba para sacar el agua estanqueada de la cisterna. Por fin decidieron llamar a un plomero, y él si supo que hacer.  Una vez que la cisterna estaba casi vacía, el joven bajó dentro de la cisterna para limpiarlo con una escoba dura y jabón mientras su hermano menor sacó cubetas del agua enjabonada.

Mientras trabajaron ellos, Abraham y yo trabajamos en arreglar la estufa con su tubo nuevo y el tanque de gas.  Bueno, yo le di las herramientas a Abraham mientras el trabajaba.  Con la estufa reparada y funcionando y el refri ya en casa con la ayuda de un amigo, y la cisterna limpia y llenándose, el lunes en la noche se veía mucho mejor que el fin de semana anterior.

Aún durante el fin de semana de caos, hubo muchas bendiciones.  Un amigo le dio dinero a Abraham para que pudiéramos comer afuera el domingo en la noche.  Otro amigo de otra iglesia estuvo dispuesto a pasar al departamento en Puebla para recoger el refri y el escritorio con estantes y después nos dejo en casa.  Por “coincidencia” encontré una vela mientras estaba buscando otra cosa en las cajas el domingo en la tarde y la tenía prendida en el baño mientras me bañaba.  Por eso tuvimos por lo menos esa luz cuando se fue la electricidad.  Y la lista es más grande.

Gracias por sus oraciones.  Estoy segura de que contribuyeron a las bendiciones del fin de semana.  Por favor sigan orando 

The Watermelon House

It is painted bright green and pink, true.  But it is pretty much the ideal house in Huejotzingo, at least until God provides the money to buy land and build our own home.  We moved in on Friday, taking round trips from Puebla to Huejotzingo, first transporting plants, a few boxes, and small furniture.  The church Dios es Amor had loaned us the large van, and that was a blessing, because the two people who had said they would help us move and had trucks couldn't help at the last minute.  

Abraham, Marina, and Isai
carefully maneuvering a tree

Instead, a single mother and her pre-teen son helped us with last minute packing and hauling.  They went with us on the first trip to Huejotzingo.  My brother-in-law had arrived to help when we returned from there, and so Marina stayed with me at the apartment in Puebla to continue with packing and some cleaning, while her son Isai, and Abraham and my brother-in-law Ricardo loaded and transported heavier furniture.  Marina had to leave while the guys were still gone, so I continued on my own for awhile until there was nothing more to do.  It was getting dark when the three returned, this time with another seminary student as reinforcements.

We transported everything except the fridge and a large desk/book shelf on the last trip out.  We had to hurry to unload everything into the house, because both Ricardo and Dan had to catch buses home. 

Abraham and I returned to our new home, arriving at 11:30.  We then had to park the 15-person van in the patio, a space only barely large enough.  Abraham directed, and I gingerly pulled the van in, right up to the kitchen wall.  

As we prepared for bed, we had our first surprise.  There was no water in the house.  The good thing is, the house does have a cistern, although the water had been in it undisturbed for about 6 months.  The outside faucet also had a thin trickle of water, so we managed.

The gas pipe of our stove had been damaged in the move, and we also hadn't bought a tank yet, so we made do with an electric burner the next morning.  It was difficult to find anything, and everything was scattered all over.  We didn't spend long working on the house on Saturday, because we had been invited to a quinceaños in the early afternoon, and also Abraham was scheduled to preach on Sunday at Dios es Amor.

On Sunday, after the kids' group at Huejotzingo, Six returned to the house with us to spend the night.  At one point we had three lights on and were heating cistern water to bathe with on the electric burner.  The power drain proved too much for the circuits, and a fuse blew.  Oh well, it was late anyway and time to go to bed.  However, not having electricity was difficult the next morning, because we had to get up at 5:50 to take the bus to Puebla on time for work at 8.

With the help of one candle and dim light from the street, we did manage to get ourselves together and out the door.  We even arrived on time for classes at Puebla Christian School.

By the time we returned home on Monday afternoon, our neighbors who are also basically the landlords (the real owners are in the States), were busily trying to get a pump working to empty the stale water out of the cistern.  They finally had to call a plumber, and he was able to make the pump work.  Once the water was almost drained, the teenaged boy climbed into the cistern to scrub it with a stiff broom and soap while his younger brother hauled out buckets of soapy water.  

While the boys worked at cleaning, Abraham and I worked at setting up the stove with the new pipe and gas tank.  That is, I handed Abraham tools, while he did the work.  What with the stove fixed and working and the fridge delivered to the house by a friend, and the cistern clean and filling, late Monday evening had a much brighter outlook than the weekend had.

There were numerous blessings, even in the weekend chaos.  A friend from church gave Abraham money so we could eat out Sunday night.  A friend from another church was willing to pass by the apartment for the fridge and desk/shelves and then drove us home.  I "happened" to find a candle while rooting through boxes earlier in the evening on Sunday and had lit it in the bathroom while I bathed.  Thus there was at least that light available when the electricity went out.  The list goes on.

Thank you all for your prayers.  I'm sure they brought about the blessings of the weekend.  Please keep them coming.