Adventures in Mexico

Love never fails

2012-02-14T11:02:00.000-08:00

Happy dia de amor y amistad to everyone. I like Mexico's emphasis on love which includes friendship and family in the celebration, rather than just the romantic love of couples. I am daily thankful for my Valentine, the best friend and companion that God could have given me. We will be celebrating with dinner at home today.

Yesterday we had a wonderful blessing from one of the girls who has been coming on Sunday afternoons almost as long as the mission has been open. Her home life is one of the most tragic I have personally seen, and sadly Abraham and I recently learned of a new tragedy in her immediate family. She doesn't know about it yet, and we are praying for her and her family.

Her heart has been very wounded by the problems she has suffered, and her attitude is often harsh and difficult. She once told Six that she doesn't believe in God, because if he existed, she wouldn't have suffered as she has. Up to this point, she continues to feel this way. We have, however, seen some encouraging advances, and yesterday was one of those.

A couple months ago, we told the children that they could win a Bible if they memorized 1 Corinthians 13. We offered to help them memorize if they came by the house during the week. This girl and her cousin were the only ones who did, but they only came a few times, and then both decided they didn't want to keep memorizing.

After a time, Abraham set the deadline of February 14th for those who wanted to memorize the passage and win the Bible and another prize. On Sunday I asked the girl if she was ready to say the chapter, and she said not really, that she had forgotten all she had previously memorized. I told her that if she reviewed a few times at home, she would probably discover that she still remembered most of what she had learned.

Yesterday she came. She reviewed the passage a few times, and then she was able to say the whole chapter from memory. We discussed what the verses meant, and then she received her prize. Our prayer is that this scripture will take root and grow in her heart, and that she can let go of her sorrow and bitterness to run to the arms of Love. We also pray that other children will be encouraged by her example of success and that they too will commit scripture to memory.

...faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love!

Pregnant in Huejotzingo part 2

2012-01-25T09:01:00.000-08:00

Baby Lechuga - rather hard to tell exactly what the images show...

The written report of the ultrasound

Monday was the medical day. Abraham and I took the bus to Cholula, about 35 minutes away from Huejotzingo, in order for me to have a blood and urine test and then my first ultrasound. The tests, of course, had to be fasting, so we went as early as possible in the morning. During the ultrasound, the doctor confirmed that Baby Lechuga is growing well, and we saw and heard the heartbeat. Abraham remembered to tell the doctor that we want Baby's gender to be a surprise. As she moved the sensor around, the doctor said, "Are you sure you don't want to know? I can see so clearly!" When we affirmed that we do not want to know ahead of time, she good naturedly complained, "Couples come in, and they want to know, and the baby hides. Yours is clear, and you don't want to know."

She estimated the due date to be May 1, about 2 weeks after what I had thought. She told us that all is well, but I do have to be careful to notice if Baby either stops moving entirely or begins to move frantically, because the umbilical cord is wrapped one time around his/her neck. There is still plenty of time for the baby to either dislodge the cord with gymnastics, or wind it up more with the same.

Abraham went for the other medical results yesterday afternoon, and the doctor said I'm in good health. If everything continues well, I can have our baby at home. Excellent news!

On Monday afternoon, after returning from Cholula, we still had the doctor's appointment at the general hospital in Huejotzingo. Those appointments we schedule in order to have a record of my existence and the progress of the pregnancy should an emergency occur during our baby's birth. Cholula is too far away.

We waited in line almost an hour for the nurse to take my weight, blood pressure, and pulse, and then we joined several others to wait for the general practitioner. That wait was another 2 hours. When it was our turn, the doctor checked baby's heartbeat and my ankles to look for swelling. He said my due date is May 15th. I think I prefer the due date given by the ultrasound doctor.

Thank you for your continued prayers. We are blessed.

Pregnant in Huejotzingo

2012-01-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

I'm not entirely sure anymore how far along I am. Yesterday Abraham and I went to a doctor that some friends had recommended, and he said maybe I was a bit less far along than I had thought. He insisted that an ultrasound is necessary, along with routine blood work to see that I have no infections that I may not be aware of. All standard practice in many countries in this day and age. However, several things about this pregnancy haven't been according to the "normal" American pregnancy. As I read What to Expect When You are Expecting and also the facebook posts of some friends who are also due about when I am, I sometimes chuckle and sometimes feel a nagging worry.

The book glibly talks about my "pregnancy team." According to the book this team consists of my ob-gyn, general practitioner, and any specialists, as well, perhaps, as a fully licensed midwife. In theory. Until yesterday, Abraham and I hadn't even found a doctor, much less any specialists or ob-gyns. My first doctor "visit" was at about 2 months pregnant in the home of my mother-in-law with a doctor friend of hers. He, however, was not a good option for continued care, because traveling to see him requires a two hour bus ride.

Option number two was a gynecologist here in Huejotzingo who we visited shortly after seeing the first doctor. She was kind and professional and ordered normal medical tests to be done. The problem with her was that she then left the country, not to return until July.

One of our choices all along was my Mexican grandmother who served as a midwife for more than twenty years (although she has no medical certificate). Her experience is vast and varied, and she is not hesitant to send women to the hospital in case of an emergency. Abraham, Six, and I traveled to the near-by city of San Martin to see her. She is somewhere in her 80's, although no one knows for sure her exact age. When we asked her if she would attend the birth of our child, she said no. She is too old.

We were stymied for awhile. We kept an eye out for gynecological practices in Huejotzingo, but we didn't see any. We joined the Seguro Popular (socialized health insurance), and when I was about 5 months along, we went to my first appointment at the general hospital.

Abraham waited in line at the hospital from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. just to get the appointment time, and then he called me to say to hurry over. Shortly after I arrived, a nurse began weighing, taking blood pressure, and measuring the height of all the people waiting for appointments. That done, we were told where to wait for the doctor. Turns out that no pregnant woman in Huejotzingo sees a gynecologist until her 8th month, or possibly up to the last week before her due date. Until that time, her case is handled by a general practitioner.

After almost two hours of waiting, we passed into the doctor's office. The medical check-up consisted of the doctor staying seated on his side of the desk while we sat on the other side and he asked questions. He asked me if I had felt the baby move, and when I said I didn't know, that this is my first child, he laughed. After about 15 minutes, he handed me the appointment card for a check-up in January, and we left.

Last week, Abraham and I decided to pay another visit to my Mexican grandmother. She gently massaged my stomach, asked about the baby's movements (which I can now definitely feel), and expressed concern that the baby wasn't big enough for six months. We talked with her some more, and she finally agreed to assist with the birth if she's still alive then.

The doctor we saw yesterday inspired much more confidence than the doctor in Huejotzingo. His office is in Cholula which takes between 30 and 40 minutes to get to by bus. We will continue to go to his office for check-ups, and on Monday I will have my first ultrasound. We will also continue to go to the general hospital in Huejotzingo, not because we intend to have the baby there, since we'd rather have him or her delivered at home, but just in case an emergency arises. That hospital is the closest.

The adventure continues. Please pray for the health and growth of our baby and for whatever medical care may be necessary. Pray also for peace when worry threatens.

Dryness in Huejotzingo

2012-01-10T17:25:00.000-08:00

The dead vegetation by a road near our house

The dirt road in front of our house

In this part of Mexico, there are two seasons: dry and wet. The wet season lasts from the end of April or beginning of May through the end of September or beginning of October. Occasional showers may still fall towards the end of October. During that season, rain arrives almost every day, usually in torrents with lightening and thunder. All the plants turn green, weeds grow ceaselessly, and the roads become rivers - muddy rivers if they aren't paved.

Not long after the rains taper off, the green begins to disappear. Unpaved roads become powdery dust. Brown swiftly fills the scene and stays for the remainder of the dry season. A few hardy pines still show welcome green, but all the other vegetation dies. The landscape transforms from the flowers, leaves, and grass of the wet season to bleakness.

In late December or early January, cold winds start to sweep down from the volcanoes. They lift gritty dust in clouds, and the dirt flies into yards and homes and covers every surface in a fine layer. How welcome is the refreshing, cleansing rain when it returns in its season.

The dry season is like the spiritual lives of many people in our neighborhood. They continue in the dryness of rituals and traditions that cannot give them life. The years are cycles of worship of a variety of saints and of Mary, but a life-giving relationship with Jesus does not exist.

Please pray that we will bring the living water to the people of Huejotzingo.

Jan. 1, 2012

2012-01-02T10:55:00.000-08:00

Snack time

Happy New Year! Abraham and I brought in the year quietly with my mother- and brother-in-law at their house. We ate pizza and watched Ever After, and then, shortly after midnight, we all went to bed. We wouldn't have much opportunity to sleep in on Sunday.

Abraham was scheduled to give a short message in the church service, and the bus ride from Six's house is two hours to the church. The attendance on Jan. 1 was sparse, being as most congregants were probably traveling. The service was also much shorter, so we were able to get back to Huejotzingo in the afternoon without hurrying.

Most Sunday afternoons the number of children at the kids' club is between 12 and 15. Yesterday afternoon however we had 21 children at the house. Four of the children returned after an absence of four months. Hopefully they will continue to come as they did before.

After our usual time of various games, puzzles, and coloring books, we played a game with everyone together involving the names of fruits. Abraham used this game to introduce his lesson on how we should bear fruit throughout the year by means of maintaining a close relationship with Jesus.

Even after the lesson and snack, most of the kids stayed for awhile, enjoying more games and fun with us and their friends. We are thankful for the participation of the children and the return of the three brothers and their sister yesterday. It was an encouraging and blessed way to begin the new year.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2011-12-12T13:42:00.000-08:00

The past two Sunday afternoons, the kids that come to Bible study helped to adorn the two rooms where we meet. Some of the kids decorated the tree, while others clamored up on chairs to string tinsel. Abraham let those who wanted to help him drill holes in the wall for the nails to hang decorations.

It isn't just the decorating that have brought Christmas to the rooms. We have also been teaching about the true meaning of Christmas. Abraham taught about the first Christmas from Joseph's perspective. What changes in expectations and emotions Joseph must have gone through! This past Sunday I compared two kings, Herod and Jesus, and concluded by asking the children which was the real king.

On the next two Sunday afternoons we will continue teaching of Jesus' birth and of the people involved.

There is an event that eclipses Christmas for many Mexicans. Dec. 12th is the day Catholics set aside to celebrate and worship the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patroness. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims bike, drive, or walk to the Basilica in Mexico City. Most carry images of the virgin with them. Starting at 12:30 a.m. and continuing throughout the whole day in the Basilica and across Mexico, the people attend services, set off countless fireworks, and hold festivities. Many stores remain closed throughout the day, since for the majority, Dec. 12th is a national holiday. Celebrations on Dec. 24th and 25th never come close to the 12th.

Two of the young people who have attended Bible study on Sunday afternoons almost since the mission started will be receiving their first communion on Dec. 13th. Flor and Daniel have heard many Bible stories with us, and Abraham and I visit their family every Thursday evening, often answering doctrinal questions that the parents bring up. Some time ago, Flor prayed to accept Jesus into her heart, yet she continues, along with her family, to worship Guadalupe and other saints. Please pray for the Alameda family and for Abraham and I as we share Christ with them. We anticipate conflict for Flor and Daniel and perhaps their family after they have received their first communion. From what we have seen in some other children who used to attend on Sunday afternoons, there is new pressure to stop attending Bible study after the communion.

Blessed Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T16:11:00.000-08:00

I hope that you all passed a thankful time with friends and family this Nov. 24th. Abraham and I certainly did.

About a month ago, we invited my mother- and brother-in-law to eat with us. A little later we decided to also include a friend of Abraham's from childhood and the friend's girlfriend, both of whom had been to our house before. A few days before Thanksgiving, we also invited another friend from seminary and his girlfriend. The day before Thanksgiving, we talked over and decided to invite a family here in Huejotzingo that we visit every Thursday. Several of the children of the Alameda family also come every Sunday afternoon for kids' club. On the day of Thanksgiving Abraham asked if we could ask another seminary friend to join us as well.

At 9:30 Thursday morning, Abraham and I had just finished breakfast when two ladies who have had considerable difficulties lately knocked at our gate. They stayed and talked with us for a couple hours and then took their leave.

It was almost 11, and nothing was prepared for the Thanksgiving feast that we had invited 16 people to attend. Abraham and I went into high gear. Turkey in the oven, more potatoes bought for the mashed potatoes, stuffing on the stove, lots of apples chopped, pumpkin pies added to the oven, corn...Oh, and the chocolate chip angel food cake as well in case two pies weren't enough.

At four my in-laws arrived, and not long after that several of the Alameda children came. The turkey was being traditional and not cooking on time, but everything else was ready. At 4:30ish the two seminary students showed up, and then our last two guests arrived at 5, because they had thought the invitation was for five.

Their timing was just fine, because by that time the turkey was actually ready. It was time to dig in! Our feast included salsa and tortillas, since a proper meal can't be without those items here. Although most of the food was new to several of our guests, they dug in with gusto.

Once we'd finished eating, the Alameda children left to help with chores at home, but the other friends were ready for games. We had wild rounds of Spoons and other good-naturedly stressful games. I dropped out of the games for awhile to skype with my family in the States.

By about 10, the play had wound down, and everyone was ready to graze on left-overs. We all agreed that we should organize another gathering, and soon. Abraham and I were blessed to introduce the tradition of Thanksgiving to several people who had never had it before.

Single parents' event

2011-11-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

Last night the second single parents' event at Dios es Amor took place. Abraham and I organized the event, but a small army of volunteers helped make it a success. One teacher at Puebla Christian School sent out an email asking for donated items so that she could set up a very low-priced garage sale for the parents with proceeds benefiting a single mom who recently suffered a heart attack. The PCS director and his wife attended the event to help in many different ways, including driving Abraham and I and three guests from Huejotzingo back home after the event. The PCS administrator and his wife also attended, helping by playing the piano during the dinner and with set-up, the garage sale, and clean-up afterwards. Some PCS parents donated money to offset the cost of food for the dinner, and another PCS family provided their chocolate fountain and bought the chocolate. A group of seminary students and a PCS mom donated their time to give massages, manicures, facials, and light make-overs. A PCS dad drove Abraham and I to the enormous Central de Abastos to buy most of the ingredients for the dinner and then drove us to the church to leave the food. Another PCS teacher let us stay the night at her apartment in Puebla so that we could go to the market early on Tuesday. The elementary students made tissue paper flowers and made vases out of bottles for the decorations at the event.

And then there was the team from the church. One mother gave her time to take care of the kids brought by single parents. Many junior high and high school youth group members arrived early Thursday afternoon to begin cleaning and chopping vegetables and fruits for the soup, salad, punch, and chocolate fountain. They steadily chopped through mountains of onions, carrots, potatoes, apples, and more and then cleaned up to have room to prepare stuffed and breaded chicken breasts assembly-line style. By the time the food was ready, the parents were seated at the table, ready to eat their dinner. Now the youth group took up trays and served the tables.

In total, seventeen single parents attended. When they arrived, Abraham lead some games while the kitchen crew continued to prepare dinner. About an hour later, the PCS and seminary group arrived and set up the garage sale and beauty parlor. Soon the parents were enjoying treatments, and then it was time for dinner. As the parents finished dinner and began their dessert from the chocolate fountain, we held a small raffle, and then the evening had ended for the parents.

There was still plenty of clean-up to do, and again the crew pitched in. By a little after ten, the last dish was washed and put away, and we left for home. The team of helpers was larger than the group of parents that were at the event, but everyone stayed busy except for when they took time out to eat.

Until the next single parents' event...

The Days of the Dead

2011-11-01T15:52:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. Unlike last year, Abraham and I didn't go to a graveyard to investigate how people pass these days, but there are abundant signs just outside our door.

At first glance, the practices and traditions of the Day(s) of the Dead may seem innocent. Families remember and honor their dead, and children learn from an early age not to fear death. A closer look, however, shows that the majority don't simply remember the dead.


Cempazuchitl sold at a market

In front of many gates, families form a cross from the petals of the marigold flower (called cempazuchitl) and also make a trail of petals leading up to the cross. The marigold is used to guide the spirit of the dead, either because of its strong smell or because of its bright color.

On a drive to another state on Saturday, we saw fields upon fields of cempazuchitl flowers being cut by families, and many trucks filled with bundles of the flowers passed on the road.

Incense

Candles

Small sugar figures for altars

Once the spirit has arrived at the home, guided by the flowers, candles, the smell of food on the altar, and the welcoming call of the families, the family has an altar prepared with food, candles, more flowers, and incense. The families do not set up altars simply to carry on a tradition. Most, if not all, truly believe that their loved ones return in spirit form during the days of the dead and that the spirit partakes of the offerings left at the altar.

A drama in the city square

In the schools across the nation, students are required to bring in offerings to the dead. Those who do not bring offerings lose points on their grades. October 31st is a partial day of school, only for putting out the offerings on the altars. November 1st and 2nd are non-school days.

Please continue to pray along with us that these practices of calling on spirits and celebrating death can end. Pray that the people will be steeped in the life-giving power of Jesus.

The students we don't have and some we do

2011-10-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

Soon after moving to Huejotzingo, Abraham, my mother-in-law Six, and I started teaching classes out of our home. Abraham began general tutoring, Six taught sewing, and I offered English and drawing. We started the classes just as school let out for the summer, and we had a variety of students for awhile.

After some time Abraham began to teach one of the girls who also came on Sunday afternoons how to read. She is 10 years old, doesn't attend school, and doesn't know how to read. Using a curriculum called Mas Luz, Abraham taught her syllables and they practiced using the Bible verses in the book. Dulce continued for a few weeks, and she, her sisters, her cousin, and her nephews attended every Sunday afternoon as well.

Then she and her family stopped coming on Sunday afternoons, and she also stopped attending reading class. We found out that when her cousin Natalia participated in her first communion through the Catholic church, she was then forbidden by her father from coming with us anymore. We suspect that the other girls have also been forbidden from coming on Sundays and that probably Dulce is no longer allowed to come for reading.

As for the English classes, I had some students who came faithfully for several weeks and then stopped coming. Some of them stopped because of work or school and some because of lack of interest. New students continued to come, but usually only after other students had stopped attending. Last week two new ones came who were born and lived in the United States for eleven years and therefore are bilingual. Their mother wanted them to continue practicing English in order not to forget. They came twice, but now they haven't returned. Now three days have passed without a single English student.

In the drawing class and in Six's sewing class, we each have one student who has continued to come faithfully. The sewing student is the mother of the drawing student, and they live around the corner from us. Just this last Sunday, the mother and her husband also started a piano keyboard class with my brother-in-law Ken. These neighbors are actively practicing Jehovah's Witnesses.

Where are the other students? Please pray with us that we can minister in this neighborhood, both with the mid-week classes and on Sunday afternoons. Pray that those who have been forbidden to come will either be allowed again or that they hear of God's personal love for them in another way. Pray for Dulce, that she will be able to learn how to read somehow. Join us also in thanking God for the Alameda children who returned on Sunday afternoons after several months of absence. Their catechism teacher had forbidden them from coming, but although they continue studying for their first communion, they decided to return with us as well.

San Miguel

2011-10-07T14:44:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I last wrote a blog entry. With a less structured schedule than the one Abraham and I used to have while working at Puebla Christian School, things like regular blog entries sometimes slip through the cracks. Since the last time I wrote, two friends visited us for a week, and my parents came for two. Abraham and I have continued teaching classes in our home as a form of community service and outreach, and Abraham also has been going to Puebla twice weekly for Greek classes at the seminary. I teach art at Puebla Christian School on Thursdays as well. On Sunday afternoons the children still come to our home for Bible club and often stay after to play.

Programs such as this one were posted all over Huejotzingo giving times and dates for all activities

One of three towers full of fireworks

Huejotzingo's patron saint is San Miguel (the Archangel Michael). Immediately following Independence Day, the festivities began for San Miguel. Abraham and I saw part of one procession leaving one of the churches and winding through the streets, and we all heard continuous fireworks throughout the days (and sometimes nights) that followed.

The highly decorated outside of the church

On the actual day of San Miguel, September 29th, we walked downtown to see the activities. As on other days, the fair rides and many booths selling food, trinkets, and other wares were crowded. The zócalo, or town square, cathedral had the largest concentration of people. Inside, the smell of hundreds of flowers thickened the air.

A table covered with San Miguel trinkets

What is ironic about the celebration, is that every poster and decoration referring to the event had the phrase ¿Quien Como Dios? (who is like God?). However, none of the adoration was in any way directed toward God. Our prayer is that the people here can leave their worship of others and direct their adoration to the only One worthy.

Two VBS´s

2011-08-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

We´re on the other side of two VBS´s, one at Dios es Amor and one at our house in Huejotzingo. To see all the pictures from both VBS´s and some other pictures from summer, go here. The Dios es Amor VBS was the last week of July. In total, 450 kids attended, although not all at once on any give day. Abraham and I were in charge of games, and we spent time brain-storming to create games that would coordinate with the year´s theme of Moses. Some of the games went very well and some had to be modified on the spot. As is true of every VBS in Dios es Amor, everyone had to be willing to move to wherever there was a vacancy at any time. When we weren´t leading games, Abraham helped with the Powerpoints for the Bible stories and set up the pictures for each day. I pitched in with the kitchen crew in spare moments. Everyone participated in clean-up every day after the children had gone.

Two weeks later a very different VBS began in Huejotzingo. Monday was the most attended day with 20 kids. Each day the number dropped, until Friday when the number went up again to 15. At first glance the numbers are discouraging. Why so few when there are so many children in the neighborhood? We pray to have more children come, but also the low numbers do not tell the whole story. About half of the children who did come were new children who had not attended the Sunday afternoon Bible club or VBS before. They were able to hear the stories of Moses and also hear of how Jesus is our only provision. Each day that Abraham taught the Bible class, he emphasized that salvation is only through Jesus. He told the children that they could talk with any one of the adults about how to receive Jesus into their lives.

Although no child talked with any of us, the seed has been planted. Please pray that it grows in their hearts. Pray that they will join us on Sunday afternoons to hear more of the Gospel. Currently we are teaching out of Matthew. Pray that through the children, their parents can also hear. Although the invitation to attend Bible club on Sunday afternoons is open to everyone, only once in awhile do one or two adults visit.

Please pray also for the classes that we are teaching. We hope to use them as a community outreach, but attendance is very low. I have only three English students who attend regularly, even though others have visited, and one student for the drawing class. Abraham had students only one time for tutoring, and Six has one sewing student. We would love to have more students, but we also do not want to become fixated on numbers. Our hope is to serve well the students we have even as God brings more if it is his will.

Summer in Huejotzingo

2011-07-22T17:18:00.000-07:00

For a month and a half we've virtually been without internet. Today we finally have everything properly installed and can make contact with the rest of the world.

Since school ended, we've had our share of adventures. First, the weekend after PCS ended, Abraham graduated from the seminary. He still has to take a semester of Greek and two 4-day classes, but other than those, he is finished.

The following Saturday night, Abraham suffered a sudden intense attack of pain. We still didn't know any of our neighbors, and we didn't know how to get to the hospital. Fortunately, Abraham felt a little relief walking, so we set out in the misty night to walk to the Red Cross station seven blocks from our house. In the ambulance, the attendant asked if we had a doctor and where we wanted to go. He warned us that there probably was no doctor in the Huejotzingo hospital, because it was a Saturday night. I asked to go where there was a doctor.

Long story short, the ambulance took us to a small privately owned hospital. The doctor diagnosed appendicitis, but said the surgeon couldn’t come until the next morning. The nurse hooked Abraham up to an I.V. with strong antibiotics, and the wait began. On Sunday morning, the doctor said that surgery was necessary, so at 11 a.m. Abraham went in for his first surgery ever. Again at the doctor’s insistence, we stayed at the hospital until Thursday, although Abraham recuperated quickly. Through friends and family, God provided the money to pay the bill, since in Mexico the bill must be paid in full on leaving the hospital.

A few weeks later a team from the mission Uncharted Waters came for a three-day sports and evangelism camp in Huejotzingo. Unfortunately, their coming coincided with terrible weather and almost non-stop rain for the whole time. We had a very different camp from what they normally provide. Instead of crowds of young children, the only people in attendance were junior high or older. Most of the time we played soccer and invited the on-lookers to play, but after some intervals we stopped the games and the team taught Bible stories and other related stories. Abraham took turns with two other translators.

Once school ended for the Huejotzingo kids, we began classes in our house. Abraham is tutoring general subjects for the kids who are struggling in school, I teach English and drawing, Six teaches sewing, and Ken offers drawing, guitar, and piano. We hope to use the classes as outreach and to get to know more people in our neighborhood.

Next week Abraham and I are in charge of games for the VBS at Dios es Amor. The second week of August will be the VBS in Huejotzingo.

Please pray for us as we continue to work here. Pray that we stay healthy, pray as we present the gospel in an area hostile to change, and pray that we have wisdom. Thank you for your support.

The absolute LAST day

2011-05-31T15:38:00.000-07:00

Last day water games for elementary kids

My classroom, forlorn

As far as Abraham and I know, today was our last day teaching at Puebla Christian School. I have been teaching full time for four years, two years each in 1st and 2nd grade and then in 5th and 6th. Abraham taught PE for two years, working the students hard (even assigning homework as 50% of their grade), and we saw with satisfaction how the kids became stronger, healthier, and more energetic.

But now we have another call. We moved to Huejotzingo April 2, and have been commuting the hour+ on the bus every day coming and going. We have been so busy it was hard to even find time to buy groceries or do laundry. Now, suddenly it's over, and the whole summer yawns before us, almost empty of plans. It's rather a dizzying feeling. What will we do with the summer? Most missionary families are heading for the States, but we will not be travelling anywhere, as far as we know. There is great need in Huejotzingo, but we are not sure where to go from the one Bible study, one weekly home visit, and Sunday afternoon kids' club that we already have.

Please pray for us as we look for God's guidance on what to do. Pray that we can use our time wisely. Please pray also for some difficult situations with Marta and with the Alameda family.

Graduation

2011-05-18T12:54:00.000-07:00

May 18th was the graduation for my sixth graders and for the eighth graders. Time always flies, and this school year was no exception. With only 10 days left in the school year, we are wrapping up, thinking about summer, and preparing for cleaning up and packing away. The sixth graders wrote speeches for their graduation, and I assigned the fifth graders to write speeches as well. It was amusing to read the best memories that the students recorded in their speeches. All of them recalled the time when I laughed uncontrollably at something a student said, although that happened near the beginning of the year. Isn't that how memories are? As teachers, we present history, science, math, art, music, grammar, and other subjects, but the kids remember a moment of outrageous laughter above all.

There are many things I will miss about teaching at Puebla Christian School, since this is our last year as teachers there. However, I will not miss having to catch the bus at 6:55 a.m. and the almost one hour ride into Puebla and then back in the late afternoon. I will not miss being so busy that we do not even have time to shop for groceries in the market. I will not miss being tired almost all the time.

We will be able to invest much more time in Huejotzingo once the school year ends May 31. We plan to start classes, some teaching English and then a variety of other classes for children and adults. We are not entirely certain what the schedule will be or how we will conduct the classes at this point. We will also plan to start more Bible studies in homes.

Lately we have felt challenged by the work necessary in Huejotzingo. There is one teen in particular who has been coming to Sunday afternoon Bible study for a long time. She has professed faith in Jesus, and eagerly listens and participates in the classes. We are saddened, however, to see that she still regularly attends mass and goes to processions honoring La Virgen de Guadalupe. A few nights ago, Abraham saw her and a few of her siblings out walking. He greeted them and asked where they were going, but they did not want to tell him. They were going to either a procession or to mass. The traditions of the Catholic church have a deep hold on the lives of the people. Please pray for their eyes to be opened and for wisdom as we teach and live out our faith there.

Nuevos Niños

2011-05-17T13:19:00.000-07:00

El sábado 30 de abril fue el día del niño en México. Hay una familia misionera con conexiones con Puebla Christian School y ellos tienen varios juegos hechos en casa y una resbaladilla inflable. Ofrecieron el uso de los juegos en Huejotzingo y también donaron dulces para premios. Abraham y yo pasamos la mañana en diferentes trabajos. Abraham fue para ver si una familia de Huejo nos podría ayudar a cambiar las cosas de donde habíamos estado rentando para las clases del domingo a nuestra casa, y yo fui a comprar algunas cosas, sacar copias de las invitaciones para la kermés, y distribuirlas. Tan pronto como regresamos a casa, la familia misionera llegó, y empezamos a arreglar los juegos.

Todos nos sorprendidos por la cantidad de gente que llegó a la kermés. Esperábamos alrededor de 20, pero más del doble llegaron. Nuestro patio se llenó de niños esperando sus turnos para cada juego. Varias mamás de Huejo y jóvenes ofrecieron su ayuda con los juegos lo que hizo posible que el evento saliera bien puesto que no planeabamos tener tantos participantes. Por las siguientes tres horas, nos mantuvimos ocupados, tanto que ni siquiera pude sacar la cámara. Afortunadamente una de las jovencitas sacó fotos.

Invitamos a los participantes para regresar a la clase del domingo a las 3. La mayoría de los que normalmente van con nosotros llegaron y cinco niños nuevos. Las cosas que Abraham cambió del otro lugar estuvieron (y todavía están) apiladas en una mesa, pero de todos modos tuvimos un tiempo de juegos, lectura, esgrima, y una historia de la Biblia.

El domingo siguiente preparamos una manualidad para que los niños hicieran para sus mamás. Tres adultos de Dios es Amor vinieron a ayudarnos, lo que fue una gran bendición porque hubo más niños nuevos, y en total tuvimos 22. Pasaron casi toda la tarde haciendo sus manualidades para el día de la madre.

Los niños de Huejo que han estado asistiendo por más tiempo hicieron bufandas para dárselas a mis alumnos de PCS, y mis alumnos hicieron campanas de bambú y adornaron y llenaron frascos para intercambiarlos para el día del niño. El domingo dimos los regalos de los niños de PCS a los de Huejo, y el lunes llevamos las bufandas a los niños de PCS. Los dos grupos respondieron con placer y entusiasmo. Ambos grupos apreciaron el trabajo y los resultados del otro. Me hubiera gustado si los dos grupos se hubieran podido conocer pero ésta vez no fue posible.

Por favor sigan orando por Abraham y por mí mientras estamos invirtiendo más tiempo en Huejotzingo. Viviendo allí ya se han presentado retos, pero también hemos empezado a construir relaciones nuevas, más que nada con los niños que viven cerca de nosotros.

New kids

2011-05-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

Saturday, April 30th was el dia del niño in Mexico. There is a missionary family connected with Puebla Christian School that owns several large home-made games and an inflatable water slide. The family offered to take the games out to Huejotzingo and also to donate candy as prizes. Abraham and I busily spent the morning in different tasks; he went to find out if a Huejo family could help us move our supplies from the place where we had been renting for the Sunday afternoon classes to our house, and I went to buy a few supplies, make copies of invitations to the games, and distribute them in the neighborhood. Shortly after we both returned home, the missionary family arrived, and we began setting up.

We were all surprised by the amount of people who arrived for the fair. We had expected about 20, and more than double that number showed up. Our patio was soon filled with children waiting their turns for each game. Several Huejo moms and teens volunteered to help run the games which made the event possible, since we had not planned for so many participants. For the next three hours, we all stayed occupied, so much so, that I didn't even take out the camera. Fortunately one of the teens took photos.

We invited the participants to return at 3 on Sunday for the class. Most of the regular attenders came and also five new children. The items that Abraham had transfered from the other location were (and still are) piled on one table, but we still managed to have a time of games and reading, Bible sword drill, and the Bible story.

The following Sunday we prepared a craft for the kids to make for their mothers. Three adults had come from Dios es Amor to help which was a blessing, because even more new children came, so that we had a total of 22 children. They spent almost the entire afternoon making their Mother's Day gifts.

The Huejo kids who are have been attending for longer had been working on scarves to give to my PCS students, and my students had made bamboo windchimes and decorated and filled jars to exchange for el dia del niño. On Sunday, we distributed the gifts from the PCS kids to the Huejo kids, and then on Monday we took the scarves to give to the PCS kids. From both groups the response was enthusiastic pleasure. They both appreciated the work and results of the other set of children. I would have liked for the two groups of children to have met in person, but this time around it didn´t work out.

Please continue to pray for Abraham and I as we invest more time in Huejotzingo. Living there has already presented many challenges, but we have also already begun to build new relationships, especially with the neighborhood children.

Easter

2011-04-27T16:12:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-12T14:27:00.001-07:00

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

2011-04-06T14:22:00.000-07:00

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.

La Nueva Casa

2011-03-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

Adentro la casa tiene los mismos colores

Gracias por sus oraciones por una casa en Huejotzingo. El jueves pasado, cuando Abraham fue allá, preguntó a varias personas en la calle si sabían de una casa para rentar. Algunas personas sabian de una casa y le dijieron a Abraham dónde vivían los dueños. Es una casa bastante grande, con cinco cuartos y un baño. Dos de los cuartos están aparte y tienen una entrada separada que da directamente a la calle. Estos podemos usarlos para el club de niños que tenemos los domingos. Ahorita Dios es Amor paga la renta de los dos cuartos y una área abierta, en la casa de una família de Huejotzingo, pero en mayo vamos a cambiar el club a nuestra casa.

El baño parece más o menos un pasillo, largo y angosto, y separa dos de los cuartos de la casa. No hay nada que nos diga que uso tiene cada cuarto, así que, vamos a decidir, dónde va a estar la cocina, el comedor, la sala y nuestra recámara. El patio va a darnos muy buen espacio para nuestras plantas y también para tener algunos juegos con los niños. Dios en verdad proveyó el lugar ideal. Seguimos orando por los fondos para comprar un terreno para que podamos construir nuestra propia casa y así no tener que pagar renta. Los dueños de la casa a donde nos mudaremos acordaron cobrarnos una renta más baja de lo que originalmente querían, pero solamente por seis meses. Después de ese tiempo van a evaluar la situación y tal vez mantengan la misma renta o la suban.

Aunque cambiarse durante el año escolar es difícil, nos ha dado la oportunidad de ver al pueblo de Dios trabajar junto. Antes de que encontraramos una casa para rentar, varias personas nos ofrecieron sus cuartos en sus casas o nos hicieron saber de lugares en renta en Puebla. Una vez que encontramos la casa la semana pasada, las personas empezaron a ofrecernos su ayuda para empacar y mudarnos. Uno de mis estudiantes sabiendo que Abraham y yo necesitabamos cajas, se aseguró de juntar varias cuando su familia fue de compras a Costco. Otras personas nos han mandado dinero para muebles, pues tenemos muy pocos.

Ha sido de ánimo ver al grupo de estudio bíblico de PCS de chicas de séptimo, octavo y noveno grado, trabajar duro para juntar dinero para Don Jorge y Doña Marta. Las chavas me preguntaron acerca de las necesidades, y cuando les dije que Don Jorge necesita lentes, decidieron organizar una venta de postres horneados con la meta de recaudar mil pesos. Vendieron el lunes y el martes y juntaron cerca de setecientos pesos. También hemos empezado a recibir más y más plástico y metal reciclables cada semana, los cuales se los damos a Marta, quien los vende para ayudarse a cubrir gastos. Por favor sigan orando por Marta y Jorge y las chicas de PCS quienes están tendiendo sus manos a personas que ni siquiera han conocido.

Our New House

2011-03-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

The inside of the house is just as brightly painted
in these same colors.

Thanks for your prayers for us to find a house in Huejotzingo. Last Thursday when Abraham went to do the Bible studies there, he asked passersby if they knew of any houses for rent. Some people did know of a house and directed him to the renters. It's a fairly large house, with three rooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. The lay-out allows us to have two rooms - the ones with separate entrance to the street - for the kids' club that we have on Sunday afternoons. At present Dios es Amor pays the rent for two rooms and an open area in the house of a Huejotzingo family, but in May we will move the supplies and the club to our house.

The bathroom looks sort of like a hallway, long and narrow, and it separates the two rooms from the rest of the house. There is nothing to distinguish any of the rooms for any particular use, so we will decide where to locate our kitchen/dining room, the living room, and our room. The patio outside will provide ample space for our potted plants and also for some games with the kids. God truly provided the ideal place. We continue to pray for the funds to buy land so that we can build our own house and no longer have to pay rent. The owners of the place where we will be moving agreed to rent to us at a lower price than their original quote, but only for six months. After that time, they will evaluate the situation and maybe keep the same rent rate or maybe raise it.

While moving during the school year is difficult, it has given us the chance to see God's people working together. Before we found a house to rent, several people offered rooms in their houses to us or let us know of possible places to rent in Puebla. Once we found the house last week, people began to offer to help us pack and move. One of my students, hearing that Abraham and I needed boxes, made sure to collect several when his family went shopping at Costco. Other people have sent money for furniture, since we have very little.

It has been encouraging to see the 7th, 8th, and 9th grade girls' Bible study at Puebla Christian School working hard to raise money for Don Jorge and Doña Marta. The girls asked me about their needs, and when I told them that Don Jorge needs glasses, they decided to put on a bake sale with the goal to raise 1,000 pesos. They sold sweets on Monday and Tuesday and raised about 700 pesos. We have also begun receiving more and more recyclable plastic and metal each week which we give to Marta who sells them to help meet expenses. Please continue to pray for Marta and Jorge and for the girls at PCS who are reaching out to help people they have never even met.

The "Real" Olympics

2011-03-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

Tuesday the fifth and sixth grade went out at 10 for an extra time of PE, but this time it was for the "real" Olympics that they had practiced for last week. The kids had chosen countries to represent and made flags to carry in the opening ceremony. Because my classroom has an even number of boys and girls, the teams were made up of a boy and a girl. I was pleased to see how well they worked together, choosing their country, designing their flags, and even deciding on the color to wear for the games.

Abraham and I added some events to the ones the students had practiced last week. They had not had time to practice "discus", but they tried it anyway (although frisbees are hard to throw discus style). We also added a wet shirt relay at the end of the games. Since Tuesday was a scorcher, the kids didn't mind the soaking shirts. When the hockey, tug of war, discus, shot put, and relays ended, Spain emerged as a winner, with the other countries following not far behind. Everyone received chocolate coins as prizes, and we returned to the school for the regular classes.

The end of the school year, our last with PCS, is coming close to an end. We just began fourth quarter, and we'll end May 31. Abraham and I, however, have to move this weekend or the next one, if the seminary gives us the chance to wait a few extra days. This is an unwanted adventure, since we do not have a place to move. Many people have kindly offered space in their homes, and we may have storage space at the office of one of the missionary families. Still, neither Abraham nor I are excited about having to move while still working at PCS and while Abraham still has classes at the seminary. We have known about the move since December, but time sneaked up on us, and we have not packed or prepared anything yet, nor do we even have boxes to pack in. Please continue to pray that we find a place to live, preferably a house to rent in Huejotzingo. We are also praying for the funds to buy land and build our own home, but that will be after we have to move.

Olimpiadas

2011-03-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

Los alumnos de quinto y sexto acabaron de leer su capítulo de historia sobre los griegos de antigüedad. Abraham y yo organizamos algunos eventos olimpiadas martes, su día normal de educación física. Hoy también tenían su examen del educación física, y por eso extendemos su tiempo para incluir practica en los eventos olimpiadas. En ausencia de materiales oficiales, usamos palos de escobes en lugar de javelinas, bats de béisbol y pelotas whiffle en lugar de palos de hockey y pucks to hockey, globos llenos de agua en lugar de un shot put, y frisbees en lugar del disco. Tuvimos las raquetas y birdies para jugar bádminton, pero fue divertido ver cómo los estudiantes tuvieron que perseguir los birdies alrededor de toda la cancha, debido al hecho de que los alumnos nunca había jugado antes.

En ocho días van a pasar las olimpiadas para quinto y sexto. Los dividimos en equipos de dos, y van a escoger un país para representar. También van a escoger cual colores que van a llevar y van a hacer sus banderas. ¿Tal vez van a ganar premios de aceite de olivo? Eso fue el premio que ganaron los griegos de antigüedad.

Varias personas en Huejotzingo y en Dios es Amor nos están ayudando a buscar una casa en Huejotzingo. Solamente tenemos dos semanas más antes de que debamos salir del departamento para que el seminario los pueda vender. Por favor siguen orando para un lugar para nosotros.

Una vecina de Lupe y Marta recientemente empezó de asistir el estudio bíblico que Abraham encabeza los jueves. Fatima no es cristiana, pero tiene muchas preguntas y ha asistido con ánimo las dos semanas pasadas. Hay tiempos cuando ella o Lupe no pueden asistir, pero las mujeres decidieron hacer su propio estudio una vez a la semana. ¡Que animo nos da ver su interés en crecer más!

Los alumnos de PCS y sus familiares siguen llevando latas y plásticos reciclables para Marta. Hemos llevado una bolsa enorme llena a ella cada semana, a veces más. Con el dinero que gana vendiendo las cosas, puede pagar parte de su renta mensual. Las chavas de la clase de Biblia en PCS han estado planeando como pueden recaudar dinero para comprar lentes para Don Jorge.

Olympics

2011-03-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

The fifth and sixth graders just finished their social studies chapter about ancient Greece. Abraham and I put together some Olympic events for them on Tuesday, their normal PE day. Today they also had third quarter's PE test, so we chose to extend the PE period to include practice in the Olympics. Lacking official materials, we used broom sticks instead of javelins, baseball bats and whiffle balls instead of hockey sticks and pucks, water balloons instead of shot puts, and frisbees instead of discus. We did have proper badminton equipment, but it was quite entertaining to see the students pursue the birdies all over the field, because most of the students had never played before.

Next week will be the actual Olympics for fifth and sixth. We divided them into teams of two, and they will choose what country to represent. They will also choose what colors to wear and make their flags. Perhaps they will win olive oil? That was the prize the ancient Greeks won.

Several people in Huejotzingo and in Dios es Amor are helping us to look for a house in Huejotzingo. We now only have two weeks left before we are supposed to move out of the apartment so the seminary can sell them. Please keep praying for a place for us.

A neighbor of Lupe and Marta's recently joined the Bible study that Abraham leads on Thursdays. Fatima is not a Christian, but she has many questions and has eagerly attended the study the past two weeks. There are times when she or Lupe cannot attend, but the ladies decided to hold their own Bible study once a week. How encouraging to see their interesting in growing more!

The students of PCS and their families continue to bring in recyclable cans and plastics for Marta. We have been taking one enormous trash bag full to her each week, sometimes more. With the money she earns by selling the items, she can pay part of her monthly rent. The PCS girls' Bible study has been discussing ways to raise money for glasses for Don Jorge.

Reportes terminados

2011-03-08T16:02:00.000-08:00

Mis alumnos de quinto y sexto escribieron reportes sobre unos líderes de África y también prepararon discursos y carteles. Todos se alegraron cuando terminaron el trabajo. Fue difícil para los alumnos aprender como escribir reportes (con bibliografías), pero también me costó trabajo como maestra. Necesitamos usar el Internet porque, aunque PCS tiene una biblioteca, es pequeña, y de casi ninguna de los líderes que escogieron los niños la biblioteca tenía información. Puebla Christian School también tiene internet, pero a veces no sirve, y nunca en mi salón. Para buscar información, ocupamos las seis laptops de la escuela y también uno de los niños usó mi laptop (que no sirve cuando no esta enchufada), y dos de los niños tenían computadores de sus casas, y otro niño usó la computadora de la biblioteca. Bajamos al salón de maestros, y empezaron a trabajar los estudiantes. Igual, empezaron las preguntas como, "Mrs. Lechuga, no encontré la fecha de nacimiento de _______ en éste sitio. ¿Qué hago?" Las preguntas eran constantes y también los problemas con la tecnología. Una de las computadoras no se conectaba al Internet. Otra se conectaba pero siempre perdió la señal inmediatamente después.

A pesar de todo, los estudiantes finalmente terminaron sus reportes y escribieron sus discursos. Hicieron carteles en casa y el tres y cuatro de marzo presentaron la información al grupo. Todos hicieron un excelente trabajo. Por un tiempo no vamos a hacer reportes otra vez.

Terminamos el capítulo de la Grecia Antiguo y Abraham y yo vamos a organizar unos “Juegos Olímpicos” para ellos el martes en su tiempo normal de Educación Física. También van a traer un ingrediente para preparar pizza, puesto que los griegos fueron los que inventaron la pizza, sin jitomate pues éste fue un cultivo del Nuevo Mundo.
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Esta semana los estudiantes de PCS están, en el campamento de énfasis espiritual, junto con otras dos escuelas y de escuelas en casas. Los estudiantes de primaria estuvieron desde el sábado hasta hoy, y los estudiantes de secundaria y de preparatoria empezaron hoy en la tarde y van a estar hasta el viernes en la mañana. Abraham y yo íbamos a ayudar con el registro, pero terminamos yendo a “Dios es Amor” para una conferencia que empezó el viernes. Hay un grupo pequeño de Pennsylvania en la iglesia y el pastor del equipo dio una conferencia acerca de, Una vida de servicio. Abraham tradujo el viernes y asistimos el sábado y el domingo en la mañana.

El domingo, estuvimos hasta muy tarde en Huejotzingo. Después de haber estado con los niños en la tarde y de haber empezado con ellos “Caminata Bíblica del Nuevo Testamento” fuimos a visitar a Marta y Don Jorge como normalmente lo hacemos. También fuimos a visitar a una pareja y nos quedamos con ellos por mucho tiempo, porque estaban pasando por una crisis en su relación. Six y yo hablamos con la mujer mientras que Abraham habló con el hombre. Por favor oren por ellos. Humanamente hablando su relación no tiene esperanza de salir adelante, pero Dios puede cambiarlos y unirlos otra vez.

Seguimos buscando una casa para vivir en Huejotzingo. Tenemos que salir de los departamentos antes de que termine este mes, pues el seminario va a venderlos. Por favor oren para que encontremos una casa pronto.

Finished reports

2011-03-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

My fifth and sixth grade students wrote reports and speeches and made posters about African leaders for social studies. We are all glad when the reports were finished. As difficult as it is for the students to learn how to research and write reports (including bibliographies), it is just as much of a challenge for me as their teacher. We have to rely on the internet, because, although PCS has a library, it is a small one, and almost none of the leaders that the children chose to research have information in the library. Puebla Christian School also has internet, but only sometimes, and never in my classroom. To do research, we would check out the school's six laptops and then also one of the children would use my computer (which does not work unless plugged in), and two of the kids brought computers from home, and one of the children used the library's desktop. We trooped down to the teachers' lounge, and the students began. And so did the questions, "Mrs. Lechuga, I have not found _______-'s date of birth on this website. What do I do?" The questions were constant, and so were the technology problems. One computer would not connect. Another one would, but then it always dropped the signal.

Yet, after all that, the students finally did put their reports together and wrote their speeches. They worked on posters at home, and on March 3rd and 4th, they presented their information to the class. They all did an excellent job. We will not be doing reports again for awhile.

Now we have finished a chapter on ancient Greece, and Abraham and I will be organizing some "Olympic Games" for them on Tuesday, their normal PE day. They will also be bringing in ingredients to make pizza, since the Greeks first invented pizza - without tomatoes which were a New World crop.

This week the PCS students are at Spiritual Emphasis Camp, along with students from two other schools and from home school. The elementary students attended from Saturday to Tuesday, and the high schoolers began Tuesday afternoon and attend until Friday morning. Abraham and I were going to help with registration, but ended up going to Dios es Amor instead to attend a conference begun on Friday. There is a small team from Pennsylvania at the church, and the pastor on the team gave a conference on servanthood. Abraham translated on Friday, and we attended on Saturday and Sunday morning.

On Sunday, we stayed very late in Huejotzingo. After being with the children in the afternoon and starting Walk Through the Bible New Testament with them, we went to visit Marta and Jorge as we normally do. We also went to visit a couple and ended up staying with them a long time, because they are going through a relationship crisis. Six and I talked with the woman while Abraham talked with the man. Please be praying for them. Humanly speaking, their marriage does not have hope of survival, but God can change them and bring union again.

We continue to look for a place to live in Huejotzingo. We have to move out of the seminary apartments before the end of this month, since the seminary is selling the apartments. Please pray we find a place soon.

some steps back

2011-03-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

Very soon we will probably be moving out to Huejotzingo. The apartment where we have lived since shortly after marrying is owned by the seminary, and they will be selling the apartments at the end of March. Abraham and I have asked around to see if there is a place closer to both our schools where we could stay for the final two months of the school year, but so far we have found nothing. Therefore, on Sunday we asked a Huejotzingo man to keep his eyes open for a place where we could move there. Huejotzingo is not close to either Puebla Christian School or the seminary, but since we intend to move there to work full time after the school year ends, it seems logical to move as soon as the seminary apartments are not available. This will mean very early mornings for us both, since the bus takes at least an hour and a half between Huejotzingo and the schools. Please pray that we find a place to live and that we can move out there without any difficulties.

There is no doubt that the people of Huejotzingo need to hear about God's love for them. Last September, Abraham began spending several hours every Thursday in Huejotzingo with several different families. He continues with a Bible study with Lupe, Marta, and Jorge. The two women accepted Jesus into their lives during a study with Abraham several months ago. After hearing that Marta collects recyclable cans and plastics to stretch her meager income, one of the girls' Bible study classes at Puebla Christian School began campaigning for students to bring in recyclables and also asked for prayer for Marta and Jorge.

While it is encouraging to see the P.C.S. students take an interest in these two, there are times of difficulty as well. One of the men that Abraham had been talking with on Thursdays suffers from health problems brought about by intestinal inflammation. Two weeks ago when Abraham visited him, the man was in extreme pain, thinking he would die. Abraham spent some time with him and prayed with him. Last week, the man was feeling much better, but had a hostile attitude toward Abraham. He said Abraham had tricked him about the Bible, that the Bible did not teach the truth. He cited the parables of Jesus as an example of untruth, because the stories didn't actually happen. He also implied that Abraham makes him waste his time by stopping to talk with him. It was discouraging for Abraham to hear him speak in such a way after the man had been friendly before. Please pray that the man would be open again to hearing the gospel and that he would give his heart with all its burdens to God.

Another problem that has arisen is with three of the children that had been coming regularly on Sunday afternoons. The mother of one of the girls reopened her small store, and then she told the children that they had to be in charge of the store rather than go with us. Two of the children are niece and nephew of the store owner, but they live at the house with her and two of her children. The children are around the ages of 8, 10, and 11, and the two younger ones are responsible for the store. Please pray that they will be allowed to leave the store on Sunday afternoons.

Valentine's Day

2011-02-17T07:43:00.000-08:00

Chris, Naty, and Wendy working on cards with Alfonsina's help

John 15:12-15 "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

At Puebla Christian School, I have been spending class time during the days around Valentine's Day to try to express to the students what love really is. So many times they have the idea that love is an emotion or a mood. How many passages in the Bible refer to true love! My prayer is that the students will learn that love isn't what Hollywood normally presents.

In the same way, Abraham preached on Sunday at Dios es Amor about God's love as shown in the book of Hosea. The love story there is an awkward one. How many people would want to accept God's command to marry a prostitute? Hosea did, and through his obedience and the message he gave to Israel, a clear picture of God's unconditional love (which includes discipline!) is painted.

Abraham also spoke about Hosea to the children in Huejotzingo. He emphasized Hosea's love for his straying wife which represents God's love for his people Israel and also His love for us.

We have heard that in Huejotzingo there is a plague of prostitution, including of children. Please pray that this darkness will end and freedom will come to the people there.

Outing at the park

2011-02-01T10:46:00.000-08:00

After a great deal of planning and after two garage sales to raise money, we finally took some kids from Huejotzingo to the Parque Ecológico. Abraham and I left home at 7:30 in order to pass by Puebla Christian School to pick up some things for games and then get to the church by 9. Janelle, another missionary, had agreed to drive us in her van, since the church van still had not been returned from impound after the accident in the summer. We set out for Huejotzingo, arriving a little after the time that we had told the children. How exciting to see that the six children and one adult were outside, waiting impatiently, ready to go for their first time to the park.

Abraham and I visited a few other people that we had invited to see if they could come, but no one else could join us. Zalma, Naty, Cris, Pedro, Liz, and Wendy along with their mother, Imelda, climbed into the van, and off we went.

It was noon by the time we reached the park, and the children immediately scattered. We had to hurry to gather them again. They are accustomed to taking care of themselves and wandering where they will in Huejotzingo, but in the enormous park, it isn't safe to let them. We split into small groups, and I accompanied four of the kids to the playground for awhile.

We gathered back together for lunch, and then transported the various paraphernalia nearer the park's lake, where a young man was renting time in Zorb balls. At first the children were wary, eager to try out the floating balls, but anxious over whether they really would stay closed and float on the lake's surface. Finally my brother-in-law Ken had to go first to prove the balls were safe, and then the kids were ready to take their turns too. They had a marvelous time, all but one boy who couldn't overcome his fear and sat teary-eyed, watching everyone else have fun.

Ken felt badly for the boy, so when we all finished playing in the zorb balls, Ken paid for almost everyone to go on the lake's paddle boats. Soon the boy was laughing and shouting again, enjoying the paddle on the lake with his friends and family.

When we first arrived at the park, the kids' attention had been riveted by a gigantic slide. They had to wait to go on it, however, since it wasn't open in the morning. After finishing the time on the paddle boats, they ran to the slide to check; it was open! They abandoned themselves to flying down the undulating slide on cushions, squealing and laughing the whole time.

By the time they ended with the slide, it was after four o'clock, and Janelle was on her way to pick us up. Even as everyone piled into the van, they began asking, "When are we coming back?" "Where are we going next time?" Maybe ice skating? To a pool? To another park? We'll have to decide.

Please pray that next time even more children and adults come. Pray that the parents will have confidence in us, that we aren't trying to kidnap their children, and also that through outings like this the people can learn that God loves to give us joyful time together.

A week in review

2011-01-24T11:20:00.000-08:00

Silly hair night at AWANA

Every month or so in AWANA, the leaders organize a silly theme. This last Wednesday night was silly hair night, and the kids and some adults came with wild 'dos on display. For snack we had cupcakes decorated with candy faces and goofy "hair." After AWANA ended, Abraham and I stayed as we always do to lead the junior high group. The group is a very small one, usually with four or five preteens gathered with us in the home of one of the ladies who lives on the property. Normally we discuss Bibles verses, sing, and talk about how the week went.

Abraham preached at Dios es Amor on Sunday, talking through Psalm 73 and the questions that the author, Asaph, has about people who do wrong and still seem to prosper. Later, in Huejotzingo, we read the same Psalm with the children and then split into two groups to put together accompanying dramas.

This week on Friday Abraham and I will be starting a discipling study with a couple that occasionally attends church. The young man is a Christian, but he has struggled with his relationship with God, and the struggle is reflected in his relationship with his girlfriend. I will be studying with her. She is not a Christian and has had many difficulties in her life.

We hope to take the children from Huejotzingo to the Parque Ecologico this coming Saturday. We have no idea how many children (or adults, since they are invited as well) will go with us. One of the parents has doubts about whether we will return the children, so he has forbidden the children to go with us. We invited the father to join us, but he will be working. Please pray that the children who do go with us will stay safe, have a good time, and help the uncertain father to see that we don't intend any harm to his family.

Throughout the week, Abraham and I continue teaching at Puebla Christian School. Abraham now has an extra PE class, so that he teaches five classes a week. Starting Monday, I took on the art classes for the 1st - 4th graders in addition to the regular teaching with the 5th and 6th grade. Some afternoons Abraham also tutors two of the PCS teachers in Spanish. Please pray for us as we work at the school, help at Dios es Amor, and minister in Huejotzingo. It's a busy schedule, and very tiring.

Sunday is not a day of rest

2011-01-17T11:52:00.000-08:00

Abraham and I decided almost as soon as we were married that Saturday would be our day of rest. The Bible is quite clear that we should take time off to recharge; God set the standard when he rested on the seventh day of creation. He didn't need to, but we do.

Sunday certainly wouldn't be the day to chose for rest in our schedule, or in the schedule of anyone who has a leadership role in church. We hit the ground running as soon as we leave the bed.

Jose and Flor working on scarves

At Dios es Amor, Abraham helps with the Powerpoint for songs, the children's class, and the sermon. It's not a difficult job, but it does mean we should arrive a few minutes early so he can set up the projector and check the songs and notes.

Once the church service ends, we eat as soon as possible if someone will be driving us to Huejotzingo or set off for the bus stop right away if we don't have a ride (and eat on the bus - always interesting). We try to be in Huejotzingo by three o'clock, although that does not always happen.


Naty working on her scarf while I read to Gus - too young to make one		.

Yesterday the kids came at varying times and immediately began working on their scarves. With the exception of two of the boys who still struggle with the pattern, the kids are making steady progress and enjoying the work. One of them begged me to tell him what my PCS students will be making for the gift exchange, but he's just going to have to wait until April 30 (Dia del Niño) to find out.

After they had worked for awhile, we sang some songs and then played Sword Drill. Next Abraham told the story of the siege of Jerusalem when God saved Israel by making the Syrians hear the sound of a large army marching to attack them. He told the story twice and then we broke into groups to tell it again and discuss some questions. One child from each group stood up in front to tell the story one last time to everyone.

Abraham told the kids that the people of Israel were faced with a danger from the army outside and from starvation and that today many people are faced with eternal death because they don't know Jesus. Those of us who do know him have the responsibility of telling people the good news of salvation, just like the four lepers outside the city gate told the people inside the news that the army had left. He said that if any of the children wanted to know Jesus, they could talk to any one of the adults. Naty chose to talk with Leo, the man from Dios es Amor who had driven us to Huejotzingo. She asked Jesus into her heart, and the angels rejoiced. Please pray for her, that she will grow and that we will be able to help her in her new walk.

The kids left after their snack, and Abraham and I went to visit one of the families briefly. It was near eight o'clock when we all left to visit Marta and Jorge. Ever since accepting Jesus into her heart, Marta has suffered one trouble after another. Last night when we arrived, she was in bed, unable to get up because of an injury to her ankle. She was preoccupied with how she would take care of her diabetic and almost blind brother Jorge and how she would earn money to pay the rent. We stayed and talked and prayed with her. Please pray for healing for her ankle, for encouragement, for the income she needs, and for help for her brother. They are both elderly.

We did not return home until 10:30, and then Abraham had to work on homework. He is taking an interterm class on the Minor Prophets. Last week he did not get to bed until after 1 any night, and he got up at 6 to keep working. This week looks like it will be more of the same. The last day of that class is Thursday. On top of the class, he also teaches PE at PCS, tutors two teachers twice a week in Spanish, goes out to Huejotzingo (this week on Friday), and helps with AWANA on Wednesday. This is a heavy, exhausting schedule, and I will be glad when the class ends.

sports evangelism

2011-01-10T14:34:00.000-08:00

Abraham and I learned a lot during the three day conference in Mexico City which was about how to use sports for evangelism. Another missionary had invited us to the conference, although he did not have much information when he invited us, so we were not sure what the conference would be like. What a blessing it turned out to be.

We drove to Mexico City with three other missionaries from Puebla, arriving Tuesday evening. The pastor of the host church, Rod Fry, had organized housing for all the people attending the conference, and Abraham and I were assigned to stay with a young lady from Mexico City and another young lady from Arkansas. The funny thing when we first went to their house is that we had actually met the missionary from Arkansas before when we helped with the camp in Queretero over the summer.

Wednesday morning we joined people from many local churches for the training, presented by a team of five from the ministry Uncharted Waters. Throughout the morning, the team presented the reasons for using sports for evangelism and also presented other related information. We participated in discussions and took notes in the manual that the UW team had provided.

In the afternoon, the team taught us some drills for soccer and some for basketball to prepare us for the camp that would begin at four and end at six. They also explained the schedule for the event and told us how we could help when the kids arrived.

After lunch, Abraham and I set out with David, one of the members of the local church, to invite kids to the camp. We had not gotten very far when we passed a group of people in loud, aggressive argument. A young man was pulling on a young woman while her friend tried to separate them. The young lady's mother was shouting at them all and then desperately appealed to us for help.

She told us that the young man was trying to take her pregnant daughter back to live with him, and that he had hit them both that morning. The man vigorously denied what she said, and the insults and shouting continued. Abraham and David stayed to help while I went to look for the church's pastor. He was leaving, but his wife returned with me. When we arrived, the situation was much calmer, and Abraham was talking quietly with Yair, the young man, and Karla, the young woman. After some time, they both agreed to seek counseling with pastor Rod Fry and his wife Myra. Please keep them in your prayers.

Other groups had gone into the neighborhood to invite children, so we returned during the opening explanation of the day's theme and the accompanying sports story. After the story, the group divided into those who wanted to learn more soccer and those who preferred basketball. Abraham went with the soccer group and I went with basketball, so that we could learn drills for both. The skill drills lasted for about half an hour, and then we broke into smaller teams so that one of us could share a personal story that fit the day's theme. After a water break, we regrouped for more skill drills and then everybody came together for a Bible story that also fit the theme.

Each of the three days had roughly the same schedule. On the second day, the team from the States asked us to take over with some of the stories in the afternoon, and on Friday, the team stepped back to allow the local church people to take over all the teaching, sports drills and all. On the final day, two ladies from the church used the evangecube to share with the children how they could accept Jesus into their lives. Several children raised their hands after the presentation, indicating their desire to accept him.

Abraham and I believe that the tools from Uncharted Waters can be valuable out in Huejotzingo. One of the other Puebla missionaries plans to partner with UW to continue sports ministry around the city, and he already asked the team to return in July to do a camp in Huejotzingo. This, and other camps that we will organize, will be an excellent chance to share the gospel with people who would otherwise never even talk to us. Please be praying in advance for this opportunity as you also pray for our continuing involvement there.

rabbit in the freezer

2011-01-04T11:35:00.000-08:00

We've started school again at PCS after two weeks of vacation. During the time off, we enjoyed relaxing at home, catching up on things that get pushed aside by work, and visiting family. The time went very quickly.

One of the things we did over break was to use some of the garage sale money to buy yarn and small hand-held looms for "knitting" scarves. We took the supplies to Huejotzingo yesterday to teach the kids how to make scarves. When the scarves are finished, before Dia del Niño at the end of April, the Huejotzingo kids will exchange the scarves for gifts that my PCS students will make for them. I hope to involve my students as much as possible in the work in Huejotzingo so that they can see another part of Puebla that they may not have been aware of before, a part where children only sometimes go to school and where many adults do not know how to read.

We hope to take the Huejotzingo kids to the Parque Ecológico on January 15th. There are still many left-over items from the first garage sale, so we plan to hold a second one on the 8th. What with buying Bibles, the yarn and looms, and giving Marta money to start her business, we have used most of the first garage sale money, so we hope to sell well in the second one.

On Sunday afternoon, some of the Huejotzingo children who usually come in the afternoon did not join us, so Six went to visit the family. When she came back, she handed me a plastic bag that had a dead rabbit in it. The father, Don José, often goes hunting with his brother and his boys, and they had shot some rabbits and gave us one as a gift.

That made for some interesting learning for Abraham and I, neither of whom had previously skinned and gutted a rabbit. Don José and his family would have laughed uproariously at our clumsy efforts, but Sunday night, we did manage to skin and clean the rabbit and now have it waiting for us in the freezer.

This week Abraham and I will only be teaching one day at PCS, because we will be going to a conference in Mexico City. It is a conference about using sports for evangelism, and a group from the United States will be teaching. We do not know any other details about the conference, but we believe it will be a good resource for Huejotzingo.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We are looking for a place to live in Huejotzingo. We are still praying that God will provide the funds to buy land and build a house. One of our friends at Dios es Amor is an architect, and yesterday he offered to make house plans for free. Another man who lives in Huejotzingo is a contractor and has offered his help building, and the father in same family that gave us the rabbit is a master builder as well. God has provided the plans and several builders, so we pray he provides the land and materials.

garage sale and Christmas party

2010-12-21T11:29:00.000-08:00

Six talking with one of the ladies from the church

Abraham watching while some
children chose toys

Early in January, we would like to take the children of Huejotzingo on a day trip to a large city park, the Parque Ecologico. They have never been to the park, and it is a fun place to play. There are basketball courts, a large aviary, soccer fields, several playgrounds, and lots of open grassy space to play in. On the weekends, there is a company that has zorb balls that float on water. People pay 25 pesos for 10 minutes to play in the ball. Awhile ago, we decided it would be enjoyable for everyone to spend the day at the park and also go in the zorb balls.

In order to pay for the zorb balls and the transportation to and from the park, we planned a garage sale. People from Puebla Christian School and the church Dios es Amor donated a variety of items, and we set the sale date for the 18th of December. It was a long day, but we raised more than the amount necessary for the day trip. The remaining funds will help pay for Bibles and will help a widow start a tamale-making business.

In addition to raising money for Huejotzingo, we had the chance to witness to some of the people who came to buy items. One of the people is a teenager who came to see if we had dress pants. He asked if we were starting a business. I told him no, that we had come on behalf of Dios es Amor. I explained where the church was and invited him to attend. His response caught me off guard. He said, "I am not permitted to." Then, by way of explanation, he showed me the chain around his neck that had the image of La Santa Muerte. He told us that he began following Holy Death after he received a job the day after praying to her. Those who follow her vow not to seek any other religion. Abraham was able to spend some time talking to Jovani, telling him about Jesus' promise of eternal life and explaining that Jesus has conquered death. We intend to visit Jovani on Wednesdays before going to the church for Awana. Please pray for him; he has become involved with a powerful evil. Pray also that we can share the gospel clearly with him.

Pedro helps Naty hang a poster

One of the church ladies donated
gift bags with treats for the kids

The children and adults thought of gifts
to give to Jesus this Christmas

On Sunday afternoon we had a Christmas party in Huejotzingo. We hadn't decorated for Christmas yet, but the kids were more than happy to help put up posters, hang tinsel, and decorate the tree. We were glad to see that Naty and Zalma, after a few weeks of absence, returned to spend the afternoon with us.

During the afternoon after decorating, we sang Christmas carols and then discussed what gifts we could give to Jesus for his birthday. Suggestions included obedience, respect, and love. Abraham also read the Christmas story from the Bible. When the service ended, we dished out pozole and Christmas punch that had been donated by several people from Dios es Amor. Everyone ate their fill, and we saved some to take to Marta, Lupe, and Jorge, the people that Abraham has been studying with on Thursdays. Marta and Lupe are the two who recently accepted Christ into their hearts, and Marta is the widow who wants to begin selling tamales in order to have an income.

Thank you for your prayers. Please keep them coming.

Have a very merry Christmas!

Bigger than Christmas

2010-12-13T11:46:00.000-08:00

December 12 is the day in Mexico dedicated to the Virgen de Guadalupe. It passes up Christmas in the importance of the celebration, for on or before the 12th, tens of thousands of pilgrims travel in car, on foot walking or jogging, or by bicycle to the Basilica in Mexico City. So great is the number of pilgrims that the Catholic church has designated different days for different groups of people to make their journeys to the Basilica. If everyone tried to enter on the 12th, there would be no room for the majority.

Those who cannot make the pilgrimage to the Basilica gather in great numbers in other chapels or cathedrals dedicated to the patron saint of Mexico. People wait in lines for 2 or more hours just to be able to enter the crowded chapel.

So the celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus takes second place to the reverence offered by tens of thousands to the Virgen de Guadalupe.

The day of Guadalupe fell on the Sunday this year, so we half expected that none of the kids would show up to the class in Huejotzingo. For the first hour and a quarter, it looked like they wouldn't, but then at 4:15, Flor came with her baby and her little sister. We read with them and studied verses in the Bible that refer to the roles of angels. Then we walked the three home. We stayed awhile there to talk with Flor and Lupita's parents and also with the three children who were supposedly going to be leaving for Oaxaca and Michoacan, and then we went to visit with two ladies who have been doing a Bible study with Abraham on Thursdays.

And here's the excellent news! On Thursday, both of them chose to give their hearts to Jesus. If you also follow Him, you have two new sisters. Please pray for them as they grow and pray for Abraham as he continues to study with them.

Reading

2010-12-06T07:43:00.001-08:00

We have found that the rate of illiteracy or near-illiteracy is quite high in Huejotzingo. There are several of the adults that either do not know how to read at all or only have rudimentary reading abilities.

One of the men that has been doing a Bible study with Abraham was commenting on how different people from different religious groups have come to his door telling him many confusing things about the Bible. "And now here you are," he continued, "Reading from the Bible and telling me different things. How do I know who is right?" Abraham challenged him to check in the Bible for himself, but that challenge is impossible right now, because the man does not know how to read. Abraham then said, "Let me teach you to read." And so he began teaching the man, but the task is difficult, because the man is now often at work from dawn until after nightfall, so for the last two weeks, Abraham has not been able to meet with him.

A large number of the children also read poorly or not at all. Several of them do not go to school anymore, and those who do often have little or no help from their parents at home. Their parents are completely absent, at work for long hours, or do not know how to read.

When we move to Huejotzingo, we hope to begin an informal school where the kids and their parents can learn to read, in addition to learning basic math. We would also like to teach English and some job skills for the teenagers. This school would of course include Bible lessons as well.

Please pray that we would find a place to live in Huejotzingo and that we would be wise in teaching the academic subjects, the life skills, and the Biblical content.

We found out this Sunday that the children who supposedly were going to be leaving for Michoacan and Oaxaca had not left. It is not clear whether they ever really were going to leave. When we saw them on Sunday afternoon, the two girls were hidden with a group of boys about their age, in their young teens. They ran off giggling when we approached, but then some of them drifted back. The younger brother of one of the boys told us that they were playing at being boyfriend(s) and girlfriend.

We began to talk with the group, and then Abraham told them sternly, "It is not your time to be playing at dating." One of the boys protested, "We were just telling stories." So Abraham said, "If you value these girls as your friends, then you won't be hiding here with them. People will begin to talk badly about them." Please pray for these young teens. They see much more sexuality than they should, and they believe it is fine for them to be experimenting. Pray for prudence for them and wisdom for us.

Like a soap opera

2010-11-29T07:19:00.000-08:00

For the last few Saturdays, Abraham, Six, Ken, and I have been spending the afternoon in Huejotzingo, helping the kids memorize their parts for their small Christmas play, taken from the accounts in Matthew and Luke in the Bible. Each Saturday has had it's difficulties and frustrations. On the first one, only a handful of kids showed up, so we passed out at least the principle parts. Right at the end of our time there, a few other children came, and one of them was upset to find that only minor parts remained. With ill grace, she agreed to a small part in the play, but she did not actually accept her role.

When we returned the following Saturday, we found that this girl had been working throughout the week to persuade the other children to trade parts with her, so she could have a larger role. She also made fun of her cousin who does not know how to read, convincing her that she could not participate. When we talked with the other children and helped them see that they could indeed continue with their original roles, the girl renounced her smaller part.

Throughout the following week, the girl continued her campaign, working on the play's narrator to persuade her to drop out so the other girl could take over her role. She succeeded in making the narrator drop out, but we still would not let her take the place of the narrator, knowing that it was better not to let her have her way in the scheming.

This past Saturday, however, came the most difficult change. I could not go out to Huejotzingo due to a nasty cough, but when Abraham and Six returned to the house, they told me what had happened. The girl who had been trying to manipulate her way into bigger roles in the play has been with us on Sundays for a long time. She is not a believer, and her life is the stuff of the worst soap operas. Our prayer was to share God's love with her, so that she could change and follow his guidance.

It would seem our time with her is over, however. Abruptly, she, her mother, and her brother have moved to Michoacan to live with her estranged father. Her older sister will be moving to Playa del Carmen. Meanwhile, her cousins, the two children I wrote about in the previous post, have moved back to Oaxaca. Please keep those two families in your prayers. Both of them are involved in illegal activities, and they leave in Huejotzingo messy problems that involve other family members that we still work with.

Please pray also for the Alameda family. Half the children in this family join us every Sunday afternoon and are involved in the Christmas play. On Thursdays Abraham began a Bible study with their father and also began teaching him how to read, but the obstacles are constant. This week Abraham will not be able to go because the father will be working the whole time. The family is devoted to the Virgen de Guadalupe and the traditions passed down to from their parents, but they also willingly invite us into their home and discuss the Bible stories openly and ask many questions.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-23T18:31:00.000-08:00

Amen to that!

I'm thankful for so many things. In no particular order: family, friends, an apartment to live in near both the seminary where Abraham attends and the school where we teach, food, lotion in this dry climate, a job I enjoy, good health, markets, blankets on cold nights, my laptop, music, time spent with my husband, books, and so very much more. I'm thankful for people like you who pray for Abraham and I. We need your continued prayers. I'm thankful also for those who support us financially. You make many of the above-mentioned blessings possible.

We have this week off from school, and it has been lovely to wake up later and spend time relaxing or finishing tasks that cannot be accomplished when we go to work every day. On Thursday we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with my mother- and brother-in-law and some other PCS teachers, along with a Mexican family that used to work at PCS. We'll be potlucking and will have most of the normal feast food plus rajas con crema and tortillas.

On Friday Abraham, Six, Ken, and I will be discussing and writing out a vision statement for Huejotzingo. As the time approaches for our probable move to live in Huejotzingo, Abraham asked Pastor Manuel of our church if he thought we were the people to be missionaries in Huejotzingo. Manuel said he would discuss with the elders and ask them to write yes or no and the reason why for either answer. We will know their response early in December, and the vision statement will help to clarify what we believe God is calling us to do at the mission. Please pray for us as we prepare the statement and as the elders consider Abraham's question. Pray also that there will be a place for us to live, preferably land we can buy where we can build a house (and the funds to make this possible).

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

The Kids of Our Lives

2010-11-16T13:05:00.000-08:00

Last week, my fifth and sixth grade students joined the rest of the elementary for a field trip to a small museum display about the Bible. The exposition that we saw was a traveling section from the larger museum Maná in Mexico City, and due to its reduced size, we only spent an hour there. It was an hour well spent as the kids heard about ancient clay tablets of the Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, illuminated manuscripts and much more. They had a chance to see Bibles translated into various different languages and also Bibles written in creative formats like Manga and only pictures. A professor had come to explain the contents of the display cases to the children, so they were able to understand better what they saw.

When we returned to school, my students had a number of questions, so we spent time discussing the apocryphal books, the original languages of the Bible, and the Ark of the Covenant. The children were fascinated to hear about how scribes in ancient times and monks in the Middle Ages copied the Bible with infinite care and how Gutenberg's invention of the printing press radically reduced the cost of books and made Bibles available to more people.

In Huejotzingo, Abraham, Six, Ken, and I have begun going on Saturday afternoons to rehearse a Christmas play with the kids. Last Saturday only two of the children showed up, but it was a good opportunity for us, because those two had never heard the Christmas story before. One of them, when I said, "Why don't we read the story in the Bible?" declared roundly, "The Bible is boring!" When I asked what stories he had read from the Bible, he said he couldn't remember any of them.

We sat down with the two children, and I read from the account of Jesus' birth in Matthew. Abraham asked some questions to see if the two understood. I continued reading in Luke, so they were able to hear, for the first time, the real story of Jesus' birth.

The two kids who were with us last Saturday recently returned to Huejotzingo after being away for about four years. They do not have a father, and their mother is not very dependable. The younger boy is staying with his great aunt, and his older sister is with her cousin. Neither child has learned to read, although the boy is about 8 years old, and his sister is probably 10 or 11. We are glad that they have been regular attenders on Sunday afternoons and now on Saturday as well. Please pray for them. They have not asked Jesus into their hearts, although both listen fairly attentively as Abraham teaches Walk Through the Bible on Sunday afternoon. They are also both very vulnerable and both live in less than ideal homes.