VBS

Abishael sleeping after a  busy day in VBS nursery

Abraham and two others setting up chairs

 Summer has come and gone.  Abraham and I helped in the VBS of our church during the third week of July.  The theme of the week was God Walks with Israel.  Abraham was games leader, while I worked in the nursery.  Each day there was a varying number of children and adults, but the final count of attenders was over 400.  

Two weeks later, we held VBS at our home in Huejotzingo.  It was a year of several firsts.  Due to lack of transportation, volunteer help from the church was at a minimum.  One young man from church helped us four out of the five days, and to do that, he stayed at our house.  Another lady also helped several days, and she had to leave home early to take two buses in order to arrive.  My mother-in-law also stayed the week with us, as did my dad who was our photographer.  Because of few helpers from church, it was the first year that all the children attending the VBS were only from Huejotzingo.  We had no worker's children in attendance except for our own son, Abishael.

Also a first was the help of a Huejotzingo couple, Christian neighbors of ours.  They came each day.  Because they came, neighbor children of theirs also attended for the first time.

Telling the story of Cain and Abel

Thomas can't stop telling about Jesus

Our theme was Dios con Nosotros, God with Us.  Starting with the creation story, narrated by an angel, we taught how God made everything perfect.  On the second day, Adam told about naming the animals and how God created Eve and also how the first couple enjoyed perfect communion with God in Eden.  Eve came the third day and sadly told how sin entered the world and ruined the perfect relationship that God intended for us to have with him.  She also narrated how God immediately promised a Savior.  On day four, a lady gave the story of Cain and Abel as an example of how sin exploded into the world, but there were still people who called on the name of the Lord.  Finally, day five, Thomas, Jesus' disciple, recounted how God kept his promise of a Savior by sending Jesus.

Adam and Eve figures and creation books

Abraham reviewing the story Adam told

We chose songs and crafts, developed games and worksheets, and practiced verses each day that reinforced the message.  God's desire is to be with us, to restore the perfect relationship that existed in the beginning.  A total of 31 children participated during the week.  We were encouraged to see their enthusiasm and their recall of all they learned as we reviewed with them.

The young group painting

The young man from church is also a professional clown

game time

Little ones coloring animal pairs

Take care of your brother

The same game with smaller kids

The sheep Abel sacrificed-a reminder that the Savior would die in our place

The closing day, Sunday, the young group recited three of their five memory verses and the older group did the same, although their verses were longer.  We sang the week's songs, and Abraham briefly went over the stories we'd heard, asking many questions as he reviewed.  The kids remembered very well.  They enjoyed the slide show, including various videos, that my dad put together.  After receiving their diplomas and small prizes, they dug into the cake that the church sent for us.  Three parents attended the finale.

Most of the VBS week at our home, I had some health problems, and some of the problem has continued.  We saw one doctor during the VBS week but there was no change in the situation.  A second doctor two weeks later did help some, and then we saw a third doctor today.  He also helped and assured us that soon there will be relief.  Please pray for health for all of us.  Pray also as we follow up with all the kids who attended the VBS and pray that they will share what they learned with their families.

Time Flies

I did not think it had been so long since I last posted.  We have been busy, as usual, and time flew by.

Unfortunately, the school that we started did not continue.  The one girl, although motivated to learn, is not allowed to come anymore.  In fact, even though she used to be at our home often, she now no longer comes at all.  We suspect that an outside influence is at work to prevent her.  Please pray for Dulce and her family.

The three kneading English muffin dough

The older teen girls so far have not come on Tuesday evenings, but the three who began coming when we lowered the age to 10 and 11 faithfully attend.  They have made flowers from recycled plastic bags, decorated old cd´s, made English muffins, designed wreaths from toilet paper tubes, and more.  Next week my mother-in-law will teach them out to make patterns for skirts.  Each week we have been reading out of Proverbs and discussing how the verses apply to our lives.  One girls in particular has opened up about her struggles as she talks with us.


Summer is fast approaching for the neighborhood kids, and we recently started an English class on Tuesdays and Saturdays.  Right now we have five students, but we expect to have more once word spreads and summer begins.

Mother´s Day games

Some of the kids, playing on the patio

On May 9th, we held a Mother´s Day event at our home.  We enjoyed a time of talking with the ladies, followed by some games with prizes, and then a craft time accompanied by snacks.  Abraham had anticipated that children would also come, and he was right.  In fact, many more children came than mothers, and he was kept very busy with them as they played on the patio.  They joined us inside for the snacks.  To follow up, we instituted a monthly craft time for mothers.  At the first one, only two neighbors came, but it was a good time just the same as they talked freely about their lives, dreams, and struggles.


 Vacation Bible School is around the corner.  The one at Dios es Amor will be the third week in July.  Abraham will be helping with games, and I will be in the nursery.  The one at our home is scheduled for August 10-16.  In some ways, that is still far off, but we have quite a bit to do to prepare for it.

Please pray for the preparations and for both VBS´s.  Pray also for doors to continue to open to us as we share the gospel and get to know our neighbors.  Pray for good relationships.

School? Yes? No?

We started school with four students last Tuesday, using the curriculum on www.educazion.net.  Three of the students are from one family, and the fourth from another.  Three of them we figured were in third grade, and the fourth in kindergarten.  For two days, the kids came at 10 and studied until 12:30 when they took a break.  They returned to study until 3, when they went home.  Our school week was Tuesday - Friday.  On Thursday and Friday, only one student came, the girl from the other family.

Abraham went to visit the family of the three students to find out what had happened.  The oldest girl cannot come to school anymore, because she helps her mom at home.  She is also attending classes to become a beautician.  The boy will probably not come anymore, because he is discouraged.  He took his pages of work home, and his family criticized the way he wrote and formed his letters and then gave him a page of math to do that he couldn´t do.  They concluded that he didn´t learn anything with us (in the two days!).  The youngest girl, the one in kindergarten, probably won´t come anymore, because she told her mom she doesn´t want to.

That left us with one student, an eleven-year-old girl who has not been to school for years.  She struggles with reading and math, but is very motivated to learn.  When I asked if she wanted to take a stretch break during the hours of class, she stood up, stretched, and immediately sat down.  On Tuesday at 3 o´clock, after studying various different subjects throughout the day, she asked me if she could also read a lesson of Mas Luz with me.

Then on Wednesday, she didn´t come.  Abraham went to visit her family, and her mom said the girl had to accompany her sister to deliver tortillas.  Up until that day, her sister had delivered tortillas alone, but on Wednesday her mother said the girl had to go too.  She promised that the girl would return on Thursday.  She did not.  Please pray that, if the school will be of help to the kids, they can continue.  Pray that they will not be discouraged and that they will put in the effort it takes to learn, even after years of being out of school.

pizza-dough hands

A couple weeks ago, we started an activity time at our home for the teen girls.  On Tuesdays at 5, the girls can come to make crafts or food - a different activity each week.  We also read and discuss some verses.

The first week we made no-bake cookies (which never hardened...), and the girls requested to make pizza the following week.  They didn´t come the following week, but a neighbor couple, also Christians, came, so we made pizza with them, and then had dinner with them.
 
Originally, we set the age for the Tuesday night activities at 12, but we decided to lower it to 10, and on the next Tuesday night when we made soap, three girls, ages 10 and 11 came.  They enjoyed the process of soap making, although one girl was rather uncertain about stirring the mix after I told them that the glycerin could catch fire if it boiled over (this I know from personal experience).  No fires broke out, and the girls took home their heart-shaped rosemary-honey-lavendar soap bars that evening. 

We plan to make cards next week.

Please pray that the older girls will also attend, since they are the ones we specifically planned for.  They have difficult home lives and are very vulnerable to abuse as they look for love.  We hope to offer them love and a safe environment here.

Holy Week

One of the altars without all its decorations

Street leading up to altar

Processions of the different statues began throughout Huejotzingo even before Holy Week.  People sign up 15 to 20 years ahead of time for the chance to host one of the statues in their home.  Hosting a statue involves setting up the scene, feeding everyone who arrives, and providing for the masses held while the statue is in the house.

At the time when the statue will be travelling from one place to another, a car sets out ahead, announcing to the neighborhood that the statue will be passing.  There are also numerous posters throughout the area, showing when different events will be held at each altar.

Stencils used for decorating the street

People turn out to sweep in front of their houses, hang garlands, and paint the streets for the procession.  Vendors also gather around each host house and along the procession route.  Early in the afternoon of each day of Holy Week, music begins to fill the streets, lasting until evening.  Sounds of Ave Maria, Vivaldi´s Spring, opera, and other classical music are the soundtrack of the afternoon.

Jesus´  suffering and death and Mary´s pain are the focus.  On Good Friday, most businesses are closed.  There is one final procession throughout the streets.

Easter Sunday is not noticed much.

On Thursday evening we held a seder meal at our home, inviting the kids who normally attend the Sunday afternoon kids´ club and their parents.  Eleven kids and teens came, and Abraham reviewed the story of the first Passover.  After that we served the seder meal foods one at a time, explaining the significance of each one.  When the meal ended, most of the kids stayed to play for awhile.

The following night, once again in the evening, we had a Good Friday service.  Twelve kids and teens arrived to hear to story of Jesus´ death for our sins and how his death removes the barrier between God and mankind if we accept his sacrifice.

They and their parents are invited to an Easter service at 11 a.m. at our house.  We will have an Easter egg hunt where each egg holds an object from the Easter story.  After reviewing the story, we will have brunch and games.  We plan to have a great celebration.

He is risen!

The cleanest house in Mexico?

Lots of laundry

After almost a month at my mother-in-law´s house making sure that Abishael had completely recovered from pneumonia before returning to our colder house, Abraham, Abishael, and I went back home to Huejotzingo on a Wednesday  morning.  Because of our extended absence, the house had accumulated a layer of fine dust that decorated shelves, books, all our clothes, everything.  Abraham and I immediately began a thorough cleaning of our room, because Abraham is allergic to dust.  With the washer running full of bedding and some clothing, we took all our clothes off the shelves and hangers and heaped them in a tub in order to wash them little by little.  I dusted while Abraham mopped.

Doll house toys drying

On Sunday our adolescent dog began to show signs of sickness, vomiting and not wanting to eat or drink.  After kids´ club in the afternoon, Abraham called the vet, and he said that a strong outbreak of giardia was sweeping through Huejotzingo.  He told us that we could also be infected by it and recommended an intense cleaning of our house and patio with creolin.  Abraham scrubbed the patio with a solution of creolin, while I began mopping the floor and cleaning all the kids´ toys in the part of the house where we have classes.  Soon the house smelled like a hospital.

We spent Monday, normally our day of rest, in super-clean mode.  Our living room rug had to be washed, as did all the floors, and all of Abishael´s toys.  Unsure of how paranoid to be, we started using filtered water to rinse our dishes after washing them and decided to bathe Abishael in boiled water rather than in the shower.  The vet came and vaccinated both dogs and prescribed oral medicine for them as well.  Even so, the adolescent dog died on Monday night.

We still don´t know exactly how cautious to be.  The adult dog is fine, and none of us has become sick, but information on the internet indicates that we still could up to some months later.  We are going to put chlorine tablets in our cistern and roof tank on Sunday night after kids´ club and will spend Sunday night through Tuesday at my mother-in-law´s house, since the water at our house will be unusable for 48 hours after we put in the chlorine tablets. 

Please pray for us that we don´t get sick, especially Abishael.  Pray also that we can return to our normal lives with normal classes with the kids and that we can start the school and the English classes soon without any further interruptions.  Our original plan was to start the school in January and the English classes in February, but sickness changed those plans.

Here I raise my Ebenezer

The "fruits" on Abishael´s "tree"

December 12-Jan 8 we visited friends and family in the United States.  It was a wonderful time, and we enjoyed the activity and the chance to meet people that I hadn´t seen in years and that Abishael and Abraham had never met.  Abishael was the toast of the town, and he experienced many new things, along with meeting some of his extended family for the first time.  He especially loved fish and had a great time at two different aquariums and at The Huntington where there are many koi.

A little over a week after we returned home from the United States, he had a new first - being a patient in a hospital.  We returned from the States on Tuesday, and by Saturday he had a slight cough.  On Monday his pediatrician diagnosed a throat infection and prescribed medicine.  By Wednesday, however, Abishael´s fever was returning every time the tylenol wore off, and all he wanted to do was sleep.  Thursday morning we took him back to his pediatrician, and he told us that Abishael would have to be hospitalized, because he had bronchial pneumonia.

On entering the hospital, his x-ray

Our pastor´s brother-in-law is a doctor at one of the hospitals in Puebla, and his daughter is a pediatrician who has rounds in the same hospital.  Abraham called Dr. Jorge, and he arranged for us to check in to the hospital, without having to pay the 10,000 peso entrance fee.  After the staff assigned us a room, we went for Abishael´s blood test and chest x-ray, and from there to the room where his treatment began.

Because he had already been taking an antibiotic, Dr. Magdalena prescribed three different and stronger antibiotics, along with other treatments.  The nurses inserted his i.v., a difficult and painful process for a baby who has no idea what is being done to him and why.

So began the hospital stay.

We checked in early evening, and by the time night had fallen, the various treatments had taken some effect.  Abishael had entered the hospital droopy, pale, fussy, and glassy-eyed.  He regained some color and energy almost immediately, and over the stay steadily transformed into the bouncy, curious child he normally is.  His love of exploring and playing with everything made keeping the i.v. line in very difficult.  In fact, it pulled out once, obliging the nurses to replace it in the other hand, wrapping the whole works in bandage to keep it more secure.

Day 2, playing with Daddy

As anyone who has ever stayed in a hospital can attest, the following days were tiring and long.  But we were extremely blessed.  Abishael´s body didn´t object to the strong medications, and the pneumonia cleared up well.  Dr. Magdalena did not charge for her time.  The hospital bill was less than we had thought it would be, and our church took an offering to help us with the cost.  Several people brought us food, so that it was only on the last day that we had to buy our meals.  Most of all, people all over the world prayed for us and for our son.

And so, like with the Biblical stone called Ebenezer, a stone of remembrance set up so that the Israelites would recall God´s provision, we remember God´s faithfulness to us in healing Abishael and using his people to bless us in many ways.

Abishael is still taking an antibiotic, probiotics, tylenol, and an expectorant, and he has one more day of out-patient nebulizer treatments.  We have to be very careful to guard against a relapse, especially since the weather has turned cold.  Please pray that his lungs will strengthen and he will return completely to normal.  Pray also for our finances, because, although the cost of treatment was a fraction of what it could be, it was still significant. 

Game Day

Extreme jenga - one lap around table,

5 secs to move a piece

 On Saturday we had a game day at our house.  Two of the children showed up at 10 for their reading class, and the rest arrived at around 11 to begin the games.  The games were simple ones that Abraham had invented, some that he invented on the spot.  The kids were divided into two teams for the various competitions. 

Knock over the blocks with syringes of water

Pictionary with Christmas words

What fun they had!  They entered enthusiastically in games of which team could build the tallest tower using a mix of puzzle pieces, duplos, and blocks, who could keep the balloon in the air longest using only one hand, team Jenga, and more.  After two and a half hours of play, we served popcorn and Tang, and sent the kids home.  We will have another game day this coming Saturday.

In part we had planned to hold a rehearsal for the Christmas drama that will be this coming Sunday.  However, only three of the actors arrived Saturday, so we postponed practice.  The drama is simple, and the parts do not need to be memorized, so one or two practices will be sufficient.

There has been an interesting development this last month with one of the families that we have known the longest.  Over a year ago, two of the children entered into catechism classes and were told by the teacher that they should no longer attend our kids´ club on Sunday afternoons.  They continued attending, because the older girl said, "You teach the same thing."

This family is one that we visit almost every Friday.  I usually take a book to read aloud to the younger kids and I play or talk with them.  Abraham talks with the parents and the older daughter, and most Fridays tells a story out of the Bible.

The end of September is when Huejotzingo holds a huge festival to the patron, San Miguel.  During the festival, there are altars with figures of the angel, and people pray and bring flowers to the statue.  There are parades where children are dressed as the angel, and a statue of San Miguel is carried or driven around on a platform.  The family invited us to attend their celebration, but we decided not to.

Ever since that time, the children have not attended the Sunday afternoon kids´ club.  We still go to their house to visit, and they still listen to the Bible story.  A couple Fridays ago, the youngest girl finished reading a book with me, and then solemnly explained that they will no longer attend on Sundays because we teach something different from what they believe.

This last Sunday, however, four of them did come.  Three of them left as soon as Abraham began the Bible story part of the afternoon activities, but the older boy stayed.  The boy who stayed is the one who almost never came on Sunday afternoons and usually is not around on Friday evenings when we visit either.  The few times he did come on Sunday afternoons, he usually did not participate in any activities, but stayed aloof.  This Sunday was no different in that respect, but the fact remains that he did stay, and he did hear the Bible story. 

So, there is progress even though the kids no longer attend.  At least now they acknowledge that what we teach and believe is different from their traditions, and we are still welcome at their house.  We do not know why the boy chose to stay on Sunday, but he was there and did hear the message.  Please pray for their hearts to be opened so that they can accept the message of the Gospel.  Pray that our Friday visits can be of great benefit to them, and pray also that the parents will allow their children to attend the school that we plan to start in January.

Blessings and Thanksgiving

We have had a busy few weeks, especially on the weekends.  This past weekend, we traveled five hours by three different buses to a distant town for the wedding of one of Abraham´s cousins.  We arrived there Friday night, and the wedding was Saturday afternoon.  Many relatives had gathered as well, so both Abishael and I met several for the first time.  Abishael took the whole trip in his stride, only getting really fussy mid-reception when it was time for him to eat and sleep.  Thankfully, we found a couch a bit removed from the general activity where I could feed him and let him sleep.

Abraham, Abishael, and I left early Sunday morning in order to be back home in time for the kids´ club in the afternoon.  In addition to the normal Bible story - this time about Moses - and the story´s activity, the kids also made cards.  A pastor from the East Coast who has visited Dios es Amor several times is currently working with relief teams among people devastated by Hurricane Sandy.  Abraham asked the pastor how we could help, and he said we could pray and also send cards made by children.

On Sunday afternoon, we showed some pictures of the storm´s effects to the children and also explained what the pastor had told us about several people who had lost virtually everything.  The children worked in pairs to make bright, sticker-covered cards, willing to be a blessing to people they had never met.  The cards will go to the States with a  Puebla Christian School teacher who is going for Thanksgiving, and from there she will mail them to the pastor.

The previous weekend, Abraham, Abishael, and I enjoyed a Saturday outing with several Puebla Christian School teachers to Chignahuapan for the first day of the Christmas bulb fair.  We stopped first to see a lovely waterfall and eat lunch and then continued on to the downtown area.  The streets were bursting with people and store after store of an unimaginable variety of spheres, all hand-blown and individually painted.  It was difficult to choose among so many beautiful designs, but we all found what we wanted, and after several hours looking around, we headed home.  It was a lovely day and a pleasant way to spend time with friends.  I especially felt the blessing of being able to be with people that I no longer see very often, now that I am not involved with Puebla Christian School anymore.  At times being in Huejotzingo can be lonely, but I am thankful for the continued opportunities to be with friends.

This coming Saturday is another such opportunity.  Because Abraham is the PE teacher at Puebla Christian School, we can go to the staff Thanksgiving potluck.  I know from past Thankgiving gatherings that there will be more than enough to eat and plenty of laughter and fun.  On the actual day of Thanksgiving, we are hosting several Mexican friends in our home.  Some of these friends joined us last year for their first Thanksgiving meal, and they were happy to continue the tradition this year.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to thank especially those who support and pray for us.  You are a blessing!

It´s Not Numbers and Government Paperwork

The amount of children that come to our home moves in tides.  Sometimes we have large numbers and are almost overwhelmed with the comings and goings and noise of the children.  Sometimes we have low numbers, and we wonder where the children have gone.  This is one of those times of quiet.  After Sundays with 20-some children attending the kids´ club and 11 or 12 children arriving in the afternoons for their reading classes and play, suddenly the number dropped.  Huejotzingo celebrated three weeks of masses, a fair with rides and game booths, and other activities for the patron saint, San Miguel.  The day after the biggest celebration, the day of San Miguel, only three children attended the Sunday afternoon kids´ club.

And yet, it´s not about numbers.  Certainly we miss the children who didn´t come, and we wonder how they are doing, and we hope to see them again.  However, there is also an advantage with only three children.  One of the three is a young teen who has been attending on Sunday afternoons, on and off, for a long time.  Because there were only three children, she had the opportunity to talk for a long time with Abraham about her struggles in school and at home.  After she had shared her troubles and Abraham counseled her, he prayed with her and assured her of our love and support.

As she talked, the other two girls happily ran in and out of the house, taking pictures and playing with Six and I.  The two girls enjoyed the extra amount of attention we were able to give to them, and they had a fun afternoon.

Aside from continuing with the kids´ activities and taking care of our steadily growing son, we have been embroiled in paperwork.  First, we applied for an appointment to register Abishael as an American citizen and get his American passport.  After applying twice because the first time I had entered one date wrong, we received a confirmation email from the American embassy in Mexico City with an appointment for Oct. 15.  Next, we applied for Abraham and Abishael´s Mexican passports.  We couldn´t get Abishael´s however, because I didn´t have my FM2 visa renewal yet, although we had turned in the paperwork for that in August.

Abraham was able to get his passport, so he applied for an appointment in the U.S. embassy for an interview to see if he would be granted a visa to visit the U.S.  To our surprise, he was able to secure an appointment for the very same week.  He had to go in twice, once for fingerprinting and a photo, and the second time for the interview.  He was granted the visa, and that same day, my dad used miles to buy tickets for us to visit the U.S. in December.

My visa was finally processed, and Abraham scheduled an appointment for us to get Abi´s Mexican passport.  Once we go to Mexico City to register Abi and get his U.S. passport, we will finally be done with paperwork for awhile.

Thank you for your prayers.  We know that Abraham´s visa and the other various government processes went smoothly because of those prayers.  Please continue to pray for the neighborhood kids, that they and their parents would see Christ through us.  Pray as we finish paperwork and prepare for our first visit to the U.S. as a family.  There are many of you that we are looking forward to seeing in December!

Rocking chair connections

It´s interesting what a rocking chair can lead to.  My husband´s grandmother used to be a midwife, and we persuaded her to attend me during Abishael´s birth.  While she was at our house the day he was born, she enjoyed our rocking chair, and we decided to give her one.  We told her we´d visit her home a month after Abishael was born, but that month extended into four.

Finally, we chose a day to go visit, taking the rocking chair with us to give it to Abuelita Esperanza.  Normally we travel by bus to San Martin where she lives, but taking a rocking chair on the bus would have been difficult, so we called a taxi instead.

It took a long time for the taxi to arrive, because the driver got lost.  Although he only lives about a mile from us, he misunderstood Abraham´s directions, in part because of extreme tiredness.  Just as we pulled out into traffic, he admitted to us that he had been working all that night and morning.  Now that afternoon had arrived, he was still at work. 

With the rocking chair sticking halfway out of the trunk, tied in by a shoelace that the driver had pulled out of a pair of work boots in his trunk, we began the drive to San Martin.  As we travelled, Six and Abraham began to talk with the driver, Alfonso.  Alfonso told us that he never takes a day off.  Any time of night or day that he receives a call, he goes to work.  He talked about his three sons, the youngest of which was born with heart problems that require expensive medicine.

As he continued to talk, Alfonso said that he considers himself a Catholic but that he also doesn´t like the way of life they lead.  "We drink and smoke and carouse," he said, "We are some of the most difficult people there are."  He went on to say that he sometimes attends a universal church, a Brazilian cult church, in Puebla.

We arrived in San Martin, and Alfonso asked Six to bless him.  She prayed for him, and he bowed and kissed her hand.  Abraham invited him to visit us if he wanted to discuss the Bible and faith in God.  He also offered the option that we could go to Alfonso´s house instead, if he preferred.

Alfonso asked us to visit him, describing where he lived.  The following Wednesday, we went.  There was a lot going on at the house with his sons running in and out and hurrying to get ready for school which they attend in the afternoon, and with other relatives also entering and exiting.  We stayed for awhile, and Abraham explained how the Bible came to be in the form that it is now.  Alfonso told us more about his home situation which is difficult and declared that he plans to go to the United States at the end of the month.  He said it was better for him to visit our home for further talks, but so far he hasn´t come. 

Please pray for this new relationship and for Alfonso and his family.  Pray for his 1 1/2 year old son who suffers from heart problems.