Impromtu Science Experiment

Sometimes, when we have time and we think of it and we remember the containers, we get milk from a farm close to Casa Betania.  Adelina and Daniella, who is also seven, went with Sam on Tuesday morning.  They got to watch the cow get milked.  Adelina was very inspired.  She found a large box and got some of the children to help her draw and color a cow.  She then cut it out.  When we got home she asked for a plastic glove, which she filled with water, attached to the cow with help from her daddy and gave a milking demonstration.  It would have made a great science project for a science fair.  After an experiment with water in the glove, we let her use milk.  She even demonstrated how the baby cow nursed.  Haden thought that was great and gave it a try, complete with moooooing sound effects, too cute. 

BTW, I started a new blog dedicated to all my crazy cooking and gardening adventures.  www.wanderingmamacooks.blogspot.com

Thank you!

A huge thank you to the Moxley family for their constant kindness towards us.  They have been faithful financial supporters and I am completely confident they consistently hold us before the throne of God.  Yesterday we received a lovely surprise.  Our first care package.  It was so thoughtful and encouraging.  Baylin and Lanie sewed the girls the cutest skirts, which they absolutely loved, immediately put on and wore for the rest of the day.  They also sent Starbuck's coffee, both regular and decaf.  A playmobile set for Haden, that he played with ALL day yesterday and today, LEGO sets for the boys and BOOKS!  YAY! 

The Smoke of a Thousand Villages

"In the vast plain to the north I have sometimes seen, in the morning sun, the smoke of a thousand villages where no missionary has ever been" —Robert Moffat, who inspired David Livingstone

This quote always brings instant tears to my eyes.  The above picture, taken on July 4th, 2010, by Missionary Sam Means, my dear husband, embodies that quote.  On Tuesday morning a young man Sam has befriended, carried a Proclaimer (audio Bible) where we can not yet go.  His intention was to present it to the village chief as a gift.  Please be in prayer this week.  We are hopeful God's word will be heard for the first time by many.  

Sam's facebook status July 6th:

Please join us in prayer this week for Balam. I gave him a "Proclaimer" (audio bible) and a bible to take back to his village Tuapurie; he will be giving it to the chief as a gift tomorrow morning. They proclaim to be believers in Jesus Christ but have mixed paganism with Catholicism. They don't welcome visitors, they tie them up and take to main village chief. God's Word is going where I can't take it...for now! ;)

 

Sam mentioned maybe we should begin praying for good camping equipment.  It is very easy to get excited when you see God work, but we don't want to get ahead of God. 

 

If You Get a Word From God

If you get a word from God, just step out and He will take care of all the details, right down to the teeth.  Last year two of Hannah's teeth began coming in very high, because there was not enough room for them.  God put us in touch with the right orthodontist for Hannah's condition.  They fitted her with a device that started making room in her month for her teeth and her teeth have began moving into the correct place.  They worked around our very busy schedule last year.  In fact, Dr. Lowder's office was the last stop we made on our way out of town, as we started toward Mexico.  Also, They were very generous to us and God provide the rest of the funds needed for the devices, as he always does.

This special device fits into Hannah's mouth and she tightens and expands it periodically.  It had almost reached it's full expansion and it was now time for a new device.  We were able to get a mold of her teeth made at a dentist here in Jerez and Dr. Lowder's office was able to fashion the new device, both Dr. Lowder and the dentist here noted that the "progress was excellent".  The concern was how to get the device here in a timely manner and unharmed as they are somewhat fragile.

Not sure how God worked it all out, but a colleague of Dr. Lowder's with knowledge of this device, just happened to be coming to Fresnillo, a nearby city, to visit his daughter, who is a missionary there.  He hand delivered the device and even did a few adjustment to fit it just perfect.  He also took pictures, so he could consult with Dr, Lowder.  Thank you so much Dr. Mahon and Dr. Lowder's office and Praise the Lord!

Every last detail!

 

Hannah's new smile!

Huele!

Sam and I are absolutely obsessed with learning Spanish.  My last lesson had some words in it I thought I would never be able to remember.  Then after being at Casa Betania for only an hour or so, one of the kiddos said, "Huele rico".  AHHHHH!  I know that word, that's one of my new words!  "Huele, huele, huele, huele!", I said.  "Este es mi nueva palabra!"  See how that works!  Learn it, use it, so what if you sound like a 3 year old.  I'm absolutely surprised how much the word smell is used, especially when you are cooking for 40 people. 

Oh and just in case you're not sure what to do with those nopales you picked up at the market today here's a recipe and how to prepare them.

Boil in water until they are olive colored, and then I boil a little more because they are toxic if not cooked and I am paranoid...about that anyway, not about most things.  Then you stain and rinse.  If you're really hard core you can buy them whole and remove the thorns and cut them up yourself.  You'll have to find those instructions elsewhere.

Now for Prickly Pork (Hahaha!)....get it!  You will later.

4 K pork
4 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp ground cumin
10 cloves garlic minced
20 tsp mexican oregano
6 cups nopales (cactus)
2-3 yellow onions
2 cups salsa verde

Accompaniments (all are optional)
fresh flour tortillas
taco shells
tostades
shredded lettuce
sour cream
salsa

Place pork and herbs in crock pot, cover with prepared nopales (see instructions above) and sliced onions and top with salsa.
Cover and cook 6 hours until pork is tender.  Strain (or not) and serve with accompaniments.  This is one of my favorite meals at Casa Betania.  Again, you'll have to divide it yourself if you want to feed less than 40.

In other news the boys have caught the futbal bug that is so prevalent here in Mexico, especially during World Cup tournament.  They are telling me how the teams are doing and who has won the Cup in past years and who all the other boys think will win this year.  The US and Mexico have both done well so far, which make it extra fun.  Yesterday they got to watch Mexico stomp France with their friends here at Casa Betania, very exciting. 

And finally more Superman of course, on the trampoline with his buddy Brayan.

Aren't those last two the best!