Camp, Sun, Fun, Friends, Work, Fun..........

So as you can tell I had to change the blog's look again. I just got tired of it quick. I always think if I am tired of it, you must get tired of it too. I just have to force myself to stay somewhat dull, because other looks just don't do it for me. When I see them on other blogs they are adorable, then when I do them, I fail. SO... hope you are okay with brown. ;o) 

Our past weeks have been sooo busy. Some days we go from sun up to sun down. This past week we had a chance to do a little more relaxing than work and we needed that. Our boys went to camp with 141 other mks and had a blast! It was neat to see them make new friends, have fun and just enjoy being a kid. (We weren't there to actually see that, but we did see pictures.)

While they were at camp we spent the week visiting with friends. We played games, went swimming, ate lots of yummy food and enjoyed just being with friends. It was so awesome. We are so blessed to be able to work with such wonderful people. Greg and I both feel so refreshed as we have now returned to work.

We had a great day today as we had our first day of opening our clothing closet. It was neat to see the youth of the church get involved as well as the women of the church. (the men did some things too!) Everyone had a role and with everyone working together it went very well. We gave away lots of beans and rice to each person that came. We were also able to give out more blankets to those we felt needed them. Many were able to share the gospel with some who were interested in how they could get right with God and many who came asked for prayers for different needs they had in their lives. All in all it was a huge success! I was happy!!

I have a gazillion pictures to upload on here and will try to do that soon. I just don't want to overwhelm you with all of the ones I took. It is always hard for me to pick just a few when I take hundreds. I will post a few now and then maybe I can get some more on here later this week.

Popo in Puebla, so pretty! It was just letting off steam.

Playing in a natural spring. We had a great time!

Our sweet friends, the Conners. 

We worked hard to get this photo. I must say, it is beautiful and so worth our efforts! Pretty cool, huh?

Greg and Annie at the goat farm in the Conner's village.

Me and my Honey!

We went to a very interesting zoo. It wasn't what you would call OSHA approved. (FOR SURE!!) You could pretty much enter into the cages if you really wanted. If you put your fingers in the cage, you would be fingerless. I have never been this close to any of the animals. It was cool, though. 

This leopard didn't like Greg or Ben ( the Conner's son) and decided he would pee on them. It was WAY too funny. He just cocked his leg at them and intentionally sprayed them. We all got a good laugh out of it! Even Greg!

Greg wiping off leopard peepee! 

He quickly took a little bath!

You can't really tell from this picture, but this is a huge bear, taking a chicken from a man's hand for dinner. 

Greg decided he would open this door and show how easy it was for kids or anyone to get into a cage. So he opened it just a crack. 

That tail belongs to a large alligator which was in the cage Greg opened. SO safe, huh?

This is Ben having a conversation with the small bear.

Check out the lock on this cage... there is a lion back there..you just can't see him.

I do believe he would eat my fingers off!

Annie and Micah enjoying each other.

This was the last day of camp and they were all worshipping here. There were a few parents in the back, but most all of those are kids.

Annie was enjoying the singing! She loves her "Uncle Alan!"

The boys with some of their closest friends.

This was the first Annie had seen of her Alex, and I think they both were happy to see each other!

There aren't any restaurants on our drive home so we have a Mexican tailgate party! The kids were happy. 

 I missed my babies!!

This was on our drive home. Mexico is beautiful!

This was all of the women getting ready for our clothing closet today. 

We had a lot of clothing donated and we expect to receive a lot more now. We will open this up once a month as an ongoing ministry. 

The youth were in charge of giving out the rice and bean bags to each person who came.

This is Vero, Elvie and Pastor Isai from the church we have partnered with to reach the villages in this area. 

These are two of the women who received blankets. I love this ministry that allows us to love on the people and meet their physical and spiritual needs. Thank you to Manos Hermanas for allowing us to bless the people in this area! 

This little fella was a little bit shy until.....

he was offered a plate of food! So cute!

This little girl was so cute. She wanted this dress so badly and was wearing it around and then asked how much it was. Well... how can you tell her a high price when she wanted it that badly? It was Annie's old dress that was given to us and it made us happy to be able to give it to her for VERY cheap.   I love the look on their faces. Her mom was happy for her, can you tell?

We ended the day giving thanks to God for allowing us to bless so many and for blessing us with this ministry. I don't don't usually take pictures when people are praying, but I took this one without anyone really knowing. It was just too touching to pass up!

                                                           Love you all!! Missy

God is working!!

Hi friends! Last week I explained how we were able to visit this new family and share with them. Well we were able to bless them with some blankets from a blanket ministry that has been such a blessing to so many and we also were able to give them some clothing. (I have been going through all of our clothing  because we are trying to start a clothing closet at a church nearby.) Well, we took some of Annie's clothing and gave it to this family. When we arrived this week, this precious little girl was wearing one of her old dresses. That made us feel so good to know that we were able to help this family. BUT... it should make one of you feel good too! Because, Beth Spray that is the dress that you gave Annie a LONG time ago and now it is being passed on again! So, you just never know where your clothes are going to end up! ;o)

This little one couldn't quite wear Annie's clothing so we will have to look for some for her! How cute is she?

This woman was so excited about receiving her blanket!

This woman had her baby just a few days ago and was happy to have a blanket too!

This is how many here make their money. They make handmade pottery. Each one of those bowl is worth about 25 cents. They struggle. 

We are trying to have more "family days." Last Sunday we had a family day and had a great day at this awesome park. We played board games, had a picnic, Annie rode her bike, and the boys played a little football. It was a great day! 

Annie always makes friends wherever she goes. Wonder where she gets that? ;o)

This was a little drama that happened in front of our home this week. An 18 wheeler went over the speed bump in front of our home a little too fast and the bottom fell out. It was kinda funny. They had to call another truck, empty all the drinks they were hauling into it and then the put a belt around the empty one and all went on their way. It was fun to watch. 

This has been one of the things we have been spending a lot of time on... discipleship. We are working with believers in about 4 or 5 villages, helping them to understand things more in depth. It is kinda like a seminary on a very small scale. Then they are taking what they are learning and putting it into practice in small groups in their villages. It seems to be going well! 

This is one of the men who Greg has been helping. He was telling his first story to a group here. It went really well!

During church, Annie does childcare! ;o) 

This is what the church has collected so far for our clothing ministry. We are excited about this ministry and do hope it will be up and running in a few weeks. It is neat to see some rather poor people giving what they have to bless others that have even less. I learn more from these people than I will ever teach them!

This is the street where one of our church groups is located. I like to see the house on the left with the meter attached to it. 

These are two of the boys in the church we helped with today. They were happy doing a simple craft. We take so much for granted, like crayons. 

Annie made another friend! 

So, now you know what we have been doing for the last week. There is so much work here to be done, it is just crazy. So many people are just waiting for someone to come and tell them about Him. We are just trying to find time to reach them all! 

On a somewhat sad note, please pray for the Cretzman family. www.cretzmanstocuba.com  They are going to be celebrating the life of their 3 year old daughter tomorrow. (Monday) She died last week in a car accident when they were on their way to visit a church in Ohio and their van slid on black ice and they hit an interstate sign. It is a sad story but their faith is amazing and very inspiring. Please lift them up! Blessings to you all! Missy

Open Doors

Hi friends! I hope you all had a great day yesterday. I have been sick for the past week and yesterday was my first day of really feeling halfway normal. So we set out on a mission to bless Annie's friends. Annie's love language is definitely gift giving. She loves to give people gifts. She made cupcakes with Daddy and then crafts with me. Then we went to her friend's homes and delivered them all. It was fun!

While I was laying in bed sick my superhero husband was out saving the world! ;o) We have been trying to start a new work in a village about an hour from here. It is a village that has been known to have a lot of resistance to the Word. So we have prayed about it and about a month ago Greg went to visit a family that that lived in this village with one of their mutual friends. The visit went well and they were invited back this past week. Only this time they were asked to share from God's Word. Greg said it was an awesome day and they loved hearing stories from God's Word. One man said he even wanted to give his whole heart to the Lord and make Him his Savior. This family invited them back and asked if they could start coming every week to share more stories with them. So the door has been opened to this village and we couldn't be happier! Yay God!! 

These were the women in this family making a meal for Greg and his friends who came to visit them.

They start early here.

Lastly, for Valentine's Day my sweet husband gave me the best gift I think he could have given me. This new piece of furniture has transformed my kitchen in ways I could have only imagined! I am soooo happy! I love you all and hope you are all as blessed as I feel! Love to you all! Missy

We found a man here who makes furniture and he made it to our specifications.

Isn't it pretty? I love it! I am happy, happy, happy!

My present to the family was homemade pizza. 

They all made their own individual pizzas and they were yummy. 

This is Annie's pizza.

We even had cheese breadsticks. It was a good day!