Barbie baptism

Hmmm... are you curious by my title? Well, tonight at church Greg was going to do his best at describing what the Bible says about baptism. So he decided he would bring a Barbie and a plastic container filled with water to explain how immersion is done. Many of them had no idea what this would look like so he thought this would help them to have a better understanding. He had all of the props ready and was well prepared. Of course when he has props this makes everyone very attentive to see what he is going to do. All eyes were focused on Greg as he had the container in front of him filled with water. He was explaining how it all worked and pulled out the Barbie and off came her clothes. Poor Barbie was completely naked in front of the entire church. Of course they all burst out laughing and the moment was changed instantly. Once everything calmed down he did a fine job of explaining how and why this is done this way. It was quite comical and so I thought it would give you a good laugh too!

I have been wanting to tell you about a certain visitor I had recently. Her name is Lupita. She and her mom came to my home looking for some wise counsel. I know some of you are probably thinking, "Why did she come to you?" I know, I know, I thought the same thing, but I guess I am wise in comparison to some. Very few, but some! :o) So anyway, they began to tell me about how Lupita had changed over the past 3 months and was always mad or sad. Lupita explained to me that she even told God she didn't think he had the power to help her. That is some tough stuff to hear. Lupita explained that she felt miserable most of the time and hated her life. I asked her if she had felt like Satan was attacking her. She got these really big eyes and said, " That is exactly how I feel. I feel like Satan and God are both pulling me and I don't know which way to go." I asked her why she came to me. She said, " Well, we had an appointment with the witch doctor and my dad said, if we were going to follow Jesus, why not seek help from those who follow Jesus instead of those who follow the devil." You see, this family has been attending our church group on and off for years now. However they never can quite commit with their whole heart. So, I asked her who she wanted to follow and she said, " I really want to follow Jesus. I want to learn more about him and live how He wants me to live." She then bowed her head and gave her whole life to Him. It was precious. The amazing part is how this has affected her family. They are now committed. They have come every time that it was possible and have really been trying to change their ways. Please pray for this family. They always seem to have problems in their home and they say they know this is Satan's strategy. We are praying that they will see God's hand in their lives like never before. Thanks for praying! Love you!

Good Weekend

Hi friends! We have started to go into town once a week for physical education. Greg teaches them tennis sometimes and other sports other days. Annie and I like to swing, go on the slides, or play hop-scotch. This has been good for our family and we can see a difference in our kids after we do this. This past Thursday we went into town for this very reason and also had the privledge of spending time with our boss. He has been here twice to visit us and encourage us and this has been a blessing!

So, as we were leaving the city to come home, we noticed a lot of cars backed up in traffic. We found out that there was a group of people who were making their feelings known to the government because they had been kicked off of their land. So they decided to block the main road into town. You couldn't leave or enter into town.They were all just sitting in the middle of the road and had a truck and a bus parked sideways. We still don't understand how the police can allow this to happen. We heard they stayed there for 3 nights from around 4 pm until 1am. We ended up having to go WAY out of our way to get home and it took us an hour and a half instead of 20 minutes. It was interesting to see how my kids reacted. They all just took it as normal; it didn't even phase them. They know this culture so well and just understand that this is the way the people let their feelings be known. I won't tell you about how Greg let his feelings be known! :o) Needless to say for a guy who is a planner, this did not sit well!

This weekend we spent our time visiting people. We visited a man who was extremely ill. Bless his heart he lives so poorly. He lived in a small shack that looked similar to a chicken coop. It had holes all in the wood slats that made up the walls and it was freezing cold in there. Now, when I say freezing, it wasn't 32 degrees, however; it felt like it. At night here, it is probably in the low 50s. If you are sleeping outdoors, it feels like freezing. This poor guy had a dirt floor and one blanket over him. He did have a mattress but I think the floor was probably cleaner. When we arrived he told us how sick he was and showed us his leg. His right leg was completely swollen and from the knee down it was as red as a radish. It was totally infected. Then he raises his shirt and showed us his stomach which was all swollen as well. He said he had 6 children and none of them came to see how he was doing or offered to get him help. He said he wanted to die. He wanted God to take him away from his misery. I understood why he would feel that way. We located a doctor that makes house calls and this Dr. visited him today. Greg got him the medicine the doctor prescribed and we are going to try and get him into town for the tests he needs to have done. The doctor thought he possibly had cirrhosis of the liver but without further testing he could not be sure. Anyway, if you think about it, please pray for this man. His name is Pancho.

So, we had a good weekend. There was a lot more to it than I just described but I don't want to bore you anymore. I did write our newsletter so if you want to receive that and didn't, please let me know. Love you all! Missy

Loving a Mexican's honesty!

So, it has been too long since I have received a back-handed compliment. So... today was the day! :o) I had a doctors appt. today, it was just a check up for my Shingles. I have been taking Lyrica for the past 3 months and I have gained a little more than 10 pounds. So, I just stopped taking it and was set on telling this man I was NOT going to take it anymore. I went in and told him the only problem I still had was the itching. He tells me I need to continue on with this medication for 3 more months. Hmmmm.....that would be 20 pounds in 6 months. No thank you! I told him I had gained weight and he said, "Well, stop eating so much." Okay, that wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear. I told him I had started Weight Watchers and was trying to lose the weight. He then says, " Well, lets weigh you." Also not what I needed to hear. I wanted to say, "Look bud, the only thing wrong with me is I itch! Plus the fact that YOU put me on a medicine that made me gain weight." Instead, I smiled looked at the scale as if it would eat me and stepped on it ever so lightly as if that would make me weigh less! Sure enough it said what I already knew. He smiled really big and using his STUPID English says, " FAT LADY!"  Me: "Ugggg.... keep smiling, don't knee him," then he grinned again and said, " FAT PRETTY LADY." Knee goes up, and Greg starts talking about my medication. Oh how lucky that man is! Anyway, so now I know, I am a fat, pretty, lady. Somehow, that doesn't make me feel good. Doesn't that man know anything? His wife is probably anorexic or maybe she left him for a fat man. :o) I must say, sometimes this culture just about does me in! Anyway, I am not taking the medicine even though he thinks it is a good idea. Hope this has given you a few laughs! I am laughing now as I sit here and think about the doughnuts in the kitchen. Love you! The Fat Gringa

church

Hi everyone. I only have a second because I am helping Alex with Spelling and Annie with Bible. However, I do have a second. Last night at church I really just wanted to take pictures of everything to show you just how things can go on any given night here. When I arrived I realized that we had 2 special guests. They are from another church in a nearby village and they came to visit. Now it is customary that if there is a guest Pastor visiting, you allow him to preach. I know that in America this would never fly. So, one of these men was expecting to preach.

I was a little bummed because Greg had worked on a special message about baptism all day long. He was well prepared and was going to do his best not to offend anyone; but just make it known what the Bible says about baptism. We are preparing to have a baptism in the next few months and he wanted everyone to be well informed about what it was we were doing. Anyway, when I saw he wouldn't be preaching I was sad for him. However, he didn't seem bothered at all, he said it was God's plan. We think so differently! I sat down and waited for the rest of our group to arrive. 10 minutes passed, nobody, 20 minutes, 2 more people, We went ahead and started with about 8 adults and 5 kids. 45 minutes after we arrived, there were about 25 adults and 15 kids. The strange part was that almost all of our regular group was missing, they were all new. There was a room filled with new people who had come for the first time. That is when I grinned and thought to myself, " When will I learn? He IS in control!" I was happy then that there was a guest speaker! I am not sure how Greg's message would have gone over with first timers!

Okay, now to give you a visual for some laughter. Imagine a room with brick walls and plastic outdoor chairs lining the walls. Okay, all of these seats are filled and they have added a few benches as well. I am sitting there singing our songs with all my heart, making sure to pronounce all of the Spanish words correctly. I notice that everyone is looking up. I thought, "Oh how wonderful, they are singing to God. They are praising Him and looking up to Him." Then I hear some snickering... "hmm.. wonder what is so funny." I then notice what they are laughing at, there was a mouse running back and forth along the rafters. These ain't HIGH rafters either. Jerod later tells me that this mouse had been running above my head the entire time. Everyone knows how much I hate mice, and that made it even funnier. So, that is how church went last night! Wish you could have been there!

Love ya!

General update

Hi friends! I had a tiny bit of time before we start our Friday night meeting and I wanted to get you updated on some things. First let me say I had a wonderful birthday and enjoyed lots of food, family and fellowship. (Even if the family was spread all over the world, it was still nice.) Thanks again for all of your sweet comments! I am now officially over the hill. Oh well.

Next... the puppies. When we returned from our week out of the village we found the mama extremely skinny with only one puppy left. The other 5 had died while we were away. Sadly this is just part of life here in the village.

We arrived home and had some house guest the next day. Some friends of ours from Mexico City came to spend a few days with us and learn a little more about our people group. They have started to work with some of our people who have moved to Mexico City to sell furniture. We were happy to have them all here with us to love on our people.

They left and the next day my two precious friends from a nearby city came to the village to kidnap me. They took me by surprise and we went to our favorite restaurant and ate a delicious meal. We then went to my friend's home to watch a movie without any children around! It was a great birthday surprise!

I am now trying to catch up on emails, write my newsletter, and talk to you! In the background I am listening to Annie playing with 2 friends and talking and laughing all in Spanish. Her Spanish is really good now and she just loves to have her friends over. So, thank you again for praying for her Spanish. It has worked!

Adolfo, (our landlord's father who was sick with Shingles) now only has a few days left on this earth from what I can tell. He is precious and loves for me to come and rub his head and face as he just lies in bed. I guess because my hands are a lot softer than anyone else around here. Clear sign I work a lot less!  I have checked the hospice website for signs the end is near and he is definitely showing those signs. I am so sad for Mada, his wife. She said, well, all of my family is here now (They have come from a city on the border of Mexico and from California) but soon I will be here all by myself like a little fly. She has 8 kids and only sees 3 of them regularly. Anyway, please pray for all of them. They are fixing up Mada's home preparing for lots of people to come after he dies. They know it will be soon. Oh, it isn't from the Shingles that he is dying, but from prostate problems. However the only pain he seems to have is from his Shingles. Please pray.

Now, about Shingles..... I think that should be a 4 letter word. It has now been about 3 and a half months since I got Shingles and I still have some pain and itching. The itching seems worse than the pain but it is very frustrating. I have this huge, ugly red spot on my forehead from the bumps. Not pretty. Definitely not what you want to have when you are turning 40! Anyway, I know one day the itching will stop, but I don't think the red blotch will ever go away. I guess I just need to accept that and move on. Okay, enough about that.

SO, you now have been officially updated on most everything. Church is going well and we continue to grow. We are having a fun day at the farm on Sunday so I will try to post some pictures after that day. We always love these days. I must go now as our meeting will be starting soon. Love to you all! Missy

Pyramids

Yesterday I had a wonderful birthday and wanted to thank all of you for the precious comments, emails and e-cards. I was happy to have my honey back home and be able to enjoy a day with the family back together. 

We spent most of yesterday with the Conners and had a great time with them. We love our team, even though they are so very far away from us.

We  visited a popular pyramid today. It was amazing. Really amazing. We enjoyed seeing what life was like way back many many years ago. We got a LOT of exercise and a lot of sun. We enjoyed everybit of it! Hope you enjoy the pictures. Love you! Missy

My birthday cake.

me wearing my cake! Love Mexico traditions!

Me, Jerod, Alex and Annie with the Conners. 

The Conners with their 2 man team.

Volcano PoPo.

Us visiting the pyramids at Teotihuacan near Mexico City.

Greg, Jerod, Alex, and Annie on top of the pyramid.

At the top of the mountain there is a spot that many believe when you touch it you can receive healing powers. This woman was touching the spot.

This is the Pyramid of the Moon. This picture was taken from the top of the Pyramid of the Sun.

Me and Annie on top of the Pyramid of the Sun.

Resting.

Greg and the boys in front of the Pyramid of the Moon.

That little red shirted spot is Greg on top of that pyramid. (with the boys)

The view from afar. The Pyramid of the Moon is straight ahead and the Pyramid of the Sun is on the right.

A very tired vender. Click to enlarge.

So far I'm a diggin' 40!

Hi friends! Today has been a great day and I really wanted to let you all know how happy I was to receive you messages. You have made my day! I will upload some photos so you can see how I spent it. Love you! Missy