Make a joyful noise unto the LORD

Last week the older four and K got to attend Music Camp.  They have only just begun piano lessons, so I wasn't sure how beneficial it would be for them to go.  Plus, I wasn't sure if I wanted to take a week off from school.  We were assured they had classes for beginners and I also thought it would be a good opportunity for them to be immersed in Spanish again (we have been speaking a lot of English at home and of course when we were in the US, so the kids confidence has fallen a bit).  We are so glad they went.  Three of the children picked a new instrument and worked on learning it, while Hannah stuck with getting better at piano.  Josiah broke his wrist the day before camp began, but still managed to play the penny whistle.  They had devotions, music doctrine classes, music theory, choir, and instrument lessons.  That made for a pretty packed day.  Most days from 6:30 am to 10:30pm or later, then of course you have to stay up and chat.  It took several days to recover and I still haven't recovered the laundry, but it was such a blessing.  I stayed here with Haden and studied for my upcoming medical mission intensive class and prepared to teach Children's Class for church for the first time in Spanish....more on that later.  Camp was about 45 minutes away, so Sam drove back and forth participating when he could there and keeping up his responsibilities here.  

On Friday night they did an outreach in a nearby village by putting on a concert.  It gathered quite a crowd.  Lena doesn't stick out at all, does she?

Josiah and another girl, both new to the penny whistle, learned to play Amazing Grace.

Sam and Adelina during recital on Saturday morning.  Sam was able to join in some of the violin classes, he began learning to play back in Jr. high, but it has been a long time.  Adelina was completely new to the violin, but enjoyed it very much.  

They even had a conducting class and Sam and K were good enough to conduct for the recital.

Or maybe just the best of the worst, I never really got a clear answer on that.

Choir 

Josiah on his way to the clinic the day before camp.  He was pretty bummed he was going to have to be in a cast again.  He just got out of one in Jan.  Plus this week is his birthday and he'll be in a cast, but it is healing well and it's not slowing him down too much.  We made a good contact with the doctor at the clinic.  He gave me his personal cell in case I started going to births and had anything I couldn't handle or had any questions.  He's also checking into helping me get medications I need to carry.  Praise the Lord!  Oh!  And NICE splint job G.I. Joe daddy!

Music doctrine, I think.

Lena working hard.

Sam brought the guitar so he could learn a little, but Samuel liked it so much and was working so hard on it, he didn't have the heart to make him share.

Isn't this little guy adorable, I couldn't resist adding him here.

Sam made a yogurt, oatmeal dish that we made at the Children's Home a lot.  It was a big hit.  The kitchen staff invited us to come back and help in the kitchen next year!  LOL!

Theory Class

Creative use of resources, theory class in the bus.  K was able to learn how to say music words in Spanish and how Spanish theory is different from American.  Now she can use it here when she teaches.  Amen!

Another Good Week

We read Anna Lopez's blog this week and we are praying for the orphans she mentioned.  Go over and check out her blog and join us in prayer for the children.

Below are some cute pictures of our last few weeks at our new home here in La Chona.

You go get em' bro.  I gotta refuel.  Snacks!

OK! I'm ready!  I got your back!

"OK lil' bro!  Let's head back to home base."

"OK big bro.  It must be snack time after all that fighting!"

"No!  Not snacks lil' bro.  We gotta catch some zzzz!"

"Don't worry Heidi's got our back."

"OK! Lil' bro. up and at em'.  We got to build up our defenses!"

"Build!  I need my snackage!"

"Snackage lil' bro!  No time"  I'm catching in coming!"

"I'm coming!  I got your back......."

"Oh no!  Too late!  Don't worry big bro.  I'm combat lifesaver trained!  If only I hadn't replaced all my gauze with snacks!"

"Whew!  That was close!  Thanks lil' bro!  We gotta head through the jungle before dad gets time to mow it down!"

"Ready Freddy!"

Now that's one tough snack eating Joe!

Isn't K a good sport!  She's been a huge blessing to our family.

Found one of Bro L smiling.  He's harvesting rocks out of my garden.

Look at Haden's creation.

Oh no it's gone rouge!

Have you ever seen a banana tree flower?

Josiah trying to have a good attitude about dog poop clean up duty.

Lena praying for the rain to hold off until after the movie outreach.

Have you ever felt like a storm has come upon you suddenly and almost washed you away?

And then the SON breaks through!

We're Back

I'm curled up on the couch with Haden he's looking at "Usborne Mysteries and Marvels of Plant Life" and I am reading the little inserts he finds interesting and wants to know more about.  Adelina painted his face for him this morning, so he's "Sweets", the cutest clown on the block today.  We just completed our first week of school and my house is filled with the sound of children happily playing.  Samuel is working on a WWII comic and Hannah is singing hymns in Spanish and English.
We are back in Mexico and mostly settled into out new home for the next ten months in "La Chona" Mexico.  In addition the Sunday services in town and out in the village, Tuesday nights out in the village, Thursday nights here in town, Wednesday night prayer meeting and Saturday visitation we have already done an evangelical movie out reach in the village, ladies meeting in a town a couple of hours away and a trip to Guadalajara to take a visitor to the airport.  Whew!!!  It looks to be a busy year with lots of opportunities to improve our Spanish and serve in the ministry.  Sam has been leading the music for services and is working on sermons, so he can do some of the preaching.  I will be teaching the children's classes some starting this month, so send up some prayers, because it will be my first time in Spanish.
We had our first visitors from our sending church and what a huge blessing they were.  Bro. L and his daughter K drove down with us, as usual there were a few "hiccups".  Fortunately it was smooth sailing on this side of the border.  They helped us unpack, get moved in and clean up the yard.  K has stayed to do a "missionary internship" with us.  Not sure we are exactly experts at mission work, but we are glad to have her.  She is playing the piano for services, helping two of the young ladies in the church with their piano skills (Hannah is translating for her - GO HANNAH!), giving ALL my children piano lessons and helping me with school.  She's also done a lot of laundry.

Please continue to pray for our Spanish.  We are far from speaking perfectly and we are now neck deep in life and ministry.  Also, please pray for the kids school.  Our time at the children's home made it difficult to keep up with school and the first half of this year was sent in language school.  I hate to use the word "behind" for my super sharp kiddos, but we have some work to do.

On an end note:  We were able to use some of the medical supplies that were donated to clean and treat what looked like a bite from a brown recluse or south american wolf spider.  The bite was 6 months old, swollen and about the size a plum, located on the ankle.  He had already been to doctor, but it continued to get worse.  Since treatment, the swelling has gone almost completely and it has diminished in size.  Praise the Lord!

I know the prayers our God's people make all the difference in our ministry and we are so thankful for all those who think of us and take time out of their day to pray for us.  i just can't say that enough.  Below are two examples of people praying for us that have been very encouraging to us.


Report from another missionary visiting Ozark Baptist Church:
"We were just at Ozark Baptist in Arkansas. They knew you and your husband very well (they support you guys.) Sang your praises. We were there for prayer meeting and let me just tell you that they were praying for you guy :)"


Another friend takes God's prompting seriously:
"I have been meaning to tell you about the dream I had a while ago. I woke up and was concerned for Sam and Hayden's safety -- they were the only ones in the dream, but I somehow knew you were all in danger an we had to get to you -- then I realized it must be from the Lord, so I prayed for you all. I prayed more than ever. And I prayed fervently for a few days after that before the email prayer request was sent out!! Praise the LORD for protecting your family! I am so grateful to be a part of that hedge of protection that was put around your family last month/ early this month and to be an ongoing part of your ministry! 

Of course we always pray for you. :) We will continue. We love you guys! 

C"


Below is a chronological review of Sam's Facebook statuses, as you can see his trip was a very fruitful one. 


Tomorrow I start my trip back to our new town in Mexico (Encarnacion de Diaz), Carie and the kids will be in the States for a while longer. But for now a verse found in Phillipians 1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all...


From 1PM monday to 3PM Wednesday, I've taken two church vans, 1 train, 1 plane, a bus, and a taxi. Traveled about 2500 miles. AND arrived to our home in Encarnacion. Thankyou to all that prayed. Please continue to pray as I start getting the parts for a tent, that we will be able to get it done quickly.


FYI - for all. I've made to our town La Chona. The conflict that happened here lasted 4 days and has been quiet since. I've purposely been walking through the town just to see what the sentiment toward us would be/is...I feel as safe as anywhere else in Mexico. ---- The new tent church is coming along, God has clearly directed our steps in finding materials and manufactures needed to get this done. Lord willing we will be in it this Sunday. Thank you for your continued prayers.


The "tent" church is coming along. Drove through Aguascalientes for 3 days looking for a place to have the tent made and find the right size tubes for the frame. 1st we found the "tent" makers and it went from *$30K pesos to $20K to $8K....Praise GOD. Then drove all day Tuesday looking for poles...finally in exhaustion I prayed...Found the tubes 20 minutes later. PRAISE GOD from whom all blessings flow.  ENDSTATE: currently we have the frame built and will be picking up the canvas tomorrow afternoon. Should have the tent ready for service and the church fellowship this Sunday. God's so good to give us so many blessing...undeserving. *Prices listed in pesos, so divid by 12 more or less to convert to dollars.


Are you ready brother...my response "listo por Cristo" or ready for Christ or to do what ever Christ wants of me. Today we picked the tent up at 12:00, and we started putting things together. Bro Gerardo and I worked for 7 hours today getting it together. How do 2 men move 350-400 pounds of canvas tent up and over a 3.5 meter high frame..."poco un poco" (little by little).  The two rain storms that blew through made for some extra fun. Will have pictures soon. We Praise God for His provision for the tent and for keeping us safe today. Thank you to those who have been praying.


The church members were excited to be meeting in the new church.  It is a great solution until they are able to start building on the land that has been purchased and while they are building.  Sam has made his way back up to Arkansas and the entire family will be headed back to Mexico very soon.  We are all excited about serving in La Chona during the next year.