Fun times!

Fun times! These are just a few of the pictures I have been meaning to upload. I will try to get more on here, it just takes a loooong time to do so. I will try though! I need to go now because are heading to church for the Lord's Supper and a lesson on Christ's last days. This is always a tough time around here for the people  in our church because there are so many things that are traditional here but are directly related to idol worship. That poses a big conflict for many of them and some continue in their traditional ways of idol worship. This makes us sad, but only HE can change this. Please pray for them throughout this week! Love to you all! Missy

Racing, blindfolded to change a babydoll. It was a hoot!

This was at the baby shower. The women were drawing pictures of what they thought the baby would look like on plates which were on top of their heads.

We were the first people there which was nice, that is a blessing about being here! This was a picture of the boys teaching their friends how to bowl.

Annie was just enjoying the celebration part of the party!

This is Eto, he was loving this!

The boys with their friends at the bowling alley.

This is little baby ? she was born the day after the baby shower. They still haven't named her yet!

Little Alex with Max, the sweetest dog ever!

Alex turns 12!

My baby boy turns 12 today! It seems like yesterday he was 2 and tackling his brother. We knew then he would love football, and sure enough he lives and breathes it!  We celebrated his big day on Saturday because Holy Week starts tomorrow and we knew this weekend would be a very busy week everywhere here in Mexico.  We took two of his friends bowling and that was a hoot. Ya know doing things like that in the states is fun; but doing it here.... well it is something else! We had a blast. The main reason being the two boys we took had never been bowling, so to watch them bowl was just a lot of fun! I am going to bring my computer to town today and try to upload some photos. love you all! Missy

Waist Away

Strange title, huh? Well... let me tell you a story. When I was in 7th grade I was a little chunky and the kids made fun of me on the bus. They mooed at me and called me wide load and put wide load signs on my butt when I would sit down on the bus seat. It was a terrible time in my life. I remember how horrible I felt when they would call me names. One day I just couldn't take it anymore and ran home after getting off of the bus and just sobbed when I got inside my house. Of course my mom tried to make me feel better and told me they just did it because they knew it bothered me. Soon after that I started working out 3 days a week at a little aerobics studio in a strip mall. It was called, Waist Away. I was never good at sports, never good at playing instruments, never good at really much of anything. BUT... I was good at this. I really enjoyed aerobics. The women who did aerobics with me, averaged in ages of probably about 30-50. The majority ( from what I can remember) were probably in their 50's. Or that is how it seemed when I was in the 7th grade. Anyway... these women were so kind to me and so encouraging to me and I felt good when I was there. I learned to love this type of exercise. I then went on to do the same type in high school and in college.


However.... I have NEVER been what I would consider skinny. I have always had to work at staying an average size.

So.... when my precious people asked me to help them; I couldn't turn them down. The majority of the women in our village are really overweight. They receive money from the government if they meet certain requirements. They have to sweep the streets twice a week at 6:30 am, they have to attend some teachings on different things and they have to exercise with a certain lady 2-3 times a week. This certain lady however is teaching them all of these techniques that are causing them a lot of pain. She must have just seen something on TV and is just making them do some things she thinks will help them. However, what she is teaching them is really doing more harm than good. So those that really want to lose weight are meeting together and trying to work out in a proper manner. That is why they have asked me to help them. It really is precious to see. Some of these women are like Biggest Loser big. They have such a desire to lose weight though and they are really dedicated to this. So we had our first session tonight and I have to say you guys would have peed your pants if you had seen it. I mean, the windows were covered tight so no one could see, and they were dressed in everything from skin tight jeans ( b/c they didn't fit) to sweat pants, to their full indigenous dress. I mean all layers of their indigenous dress and they were doing leg lifts and sit ups and dancing around and I was hot, so they had to be dying! Of course I never knew that part of my job description would be aerobics instructor, but... I would do just about anything to reach these people, so.... I guess I am aerobics instructor. (sometimes, hopefully not all the time!) So I guess it is true that God can use even our weaknesses for his glory. Or in this case... my big bottom! ;o)

I have another story to tell, but I will wait and tell you tomorrow! Love you all! Missy

Baby Shower

Hi Friends! Hope you are all doing well! I have to tell you some days I want to write on here and never find a second to do it. So, I am making myself take time before this story is old news. I guess you wouldn't know it was old news, but the way my memory is lately, I would forget. I have lots of pictures to add to the story but b/c our internet is so pewey, it just won't allow me to upload photos anymore. So, I will have to wait until I am in town someday to do  that. Anyway... here goes.

My  friends come by my house last Friday night and ask my how to fill out a Baby Shower invitation. It was all in Spanish except for the words on front which said, "Baby Shower" in English. Now they have never had a baby shower nor been to a baby shower before and really had no idea what to do. All they knew was that they had seen them in movies before and wanted to have one. So, I helped them fill it out and then they asked me if I could come. They were planning on having it the next day at 3 they said. They told me they were telling everyone to come at 2 but they knew no one would be there until around 3. So, I told them I could come and would see them a little before 3.

So... around 2:45 I am thinking I should leave and then I get to thinking. I bet they are expecting me to do everything. So I go online and look up a few baby shower games that don't require reading or writing or many materials and head to their home. I arrive and see that the mama to be is cooking their typical party meal, her mother-in-law is stirring a salsa over the fire in a big pot and the grandma to be is making pineapple juice. I am a little surprised they are just now doing all of this but, nothing really shocks me anymore. I visit some of the family members, take some pictures and hang out with Lupita. (The recently wed teen-ager who we have been praying for) That is a whole other story, for another day.

 So... about 2 and a half hours later, you heard right, 2 and a half hours later, around 5:30 people arrived and we all sat down in chairs. They had some cute decorations, balloons and streamers and a poster up and we looked at those things and then it came... "Melissa.... what do we do now?" Ha! I was so thankful I had planned something ahead. So I taught them some really fun games to play and for some women who never have fun in their lives, these women laughed soooo hard I thought they would wet themselves! It was great! After we played 4 games, we ate their food, then had cake, and then she opened her gifts. It was quite humbling to see some of these sweet gifts. She got a little hat, some fruit, some juice, crackers, a blanket, a tiny pack of diapers, some socks and a few outfits. Some of the women who were more well off bought outfits, cheap, but still a little better than some of the other gifts but she was so grateful for the gifts she received. I was blessed to be there! I will upload the pics of this soon, because they were awesome! Love you all! Missy

new house

So, I only have a few minutes but I will try and explain these pictures quickly.

This is the front of our new home. We are still lacking windows but hopefully we will have those soon!

The house is connected to two others, one on each side. This one you see is part of our landlord's brother's home.

This is the railing around the upstairs. There are vaulted ceilings and that is why there is all the open space. The room you see below with the window is the kitchen.

Our backyard.

Annie's room.

Jerod and Alex's room.

The stairs going downstairs. They haven't put up the banister yet.

Eating area where the wheel barrow is and kitchen on the other side of it.

Living room with all the furnishings! :o)

Bathroom- potty is in front of sink, it is small but pretty.

Annie and her best friends. I wish you could see how dirty she was!

Jerod, Alex and their friends, funny thing is 4 of them are grown men.

J and A with friends.

That would be me with some of my friends.

Our House

Many of you have asked about our new home. It is really coming along. We can't tell you how blessed we feel to have found this house. It is never easy to find a home to live in, in a village of indigenous people. They don't have homes just sitting around ready to rent. They all live in their homes and if they don't live in them some part of their family lives in their home. So, finding the home we live in now and the one we have found in the new village is definitely a direct answer to our prayers! So for that; we have YOU to thank!

When we first found this new home it needed quite a bit of work, but most of the homes that no one is living in, still need a lot of work or someone would live there.  This home was left sitting, unfinished for many years as it's owner went to the US to pastor a church. He is a wonderful man and has become a friend to us. What a huge blessing! So, in place of paying rent for the next 3 years we are finishing the house to live in. This is a blessing to the owner b/c he will have a finished home and we will have a place to call home for the next 3 years and both of us come out winners. I am going to TRY and post some pictures now to show you what the house looked like when we found it and what it is looking like now. It is a really nice home for us and I can't complain for one second. I am thankful to our company and to all of those who support us financially for making it possible for us to live comfortably while serving our people. We love you all!! Missy

Sorry, I have tried for the last 30 minutes to upload one picture and have had NO luck! So, I will try and do this again some other time this week! Love you!!

Church

This a group that meets in another village nearby. They have grown quite a bit!

This little girl really wanted her picture taken with Annie.

This is the man who started this group.

I love my job.

This is Jerod telling Bible stories to the kids in our village. We generally have about 20 each week. They love to come and love to hear these stories! He really does an excellent job! Alex helps too!

Waiting to hear a story.

We gave them some craft supplies and they were making lepers.

One of these is a sad leper and another is a happy, healed leper.

They love making crafts and are so creative!

This was the group of adults listening to stories in our new location. Not many adults ( as someone pointed out ) ;o) but we did have about 25 adults and 20 kids. We are pleased with this new location.

This is a newcomer and we are so happy to have her!

Friends sharing.

This is the first time this husband has come. He never liked attending when it was being held at our old location. However, since we moved, he has made us benches for the kids and has come to one of our studies. We are encouraged!

Please pray for our group. There are always ways in which we see our people under attack. We are blessed by each one of the people in our group and are praying they will stay strong as we transition to our new area of ministry. We love you all! Missy