Saturday, July 30, 2005
Friday, July 29, 2005
July 29th, 2005
Okay, so, we finally have internet at home, but our computer is out of service. We are borrowing computers until ours is fixed. It’s actually being sent back to the states to be fixed and sent back to us. I can’t load pictures to our blog until we have a more permanent computer which should be soon! Bare with us!
Baby news – I have my 5 month appointment this Monday at 1:00pm. I’m feeling great, but my iron is low as was just reported in my most recent blood work. I’ve always struggled with low iron, so this is nothing new, but my energy level is lower than usual. My doctor did put me on an iron supplement, but so far it hasn’t been changing my levels much. We have a girl’s name in mind, but are searching for just the right boy’s name – any suggestions would be helpful! I have been working with a doula, and for those of you not familiar with the term, a doula is the woman who worked with the midwives. While midwives delivered the babies, the doula coached the mother-to-be through the delivery. My doula’s name is Susan (what a coincidence!), and she has been wonderful even in the 2 times we’ve met. She will be with Mark and me in the hospital working with the doctors and nurses up until the point when I deliver – then it’s just me and Mark. The doctors all respect her role as a doula and she will be a great advocate for me while I’m going through the birth process. She will help me with breathing, positioning, and encouraging in addition to getting me whatever else I need to keep me more comfortable. Since the doctors here tend to give cesarean sections very quickly, she will be my advocate as she works with the doctors in order to do everything possible to avoid a c-section unless it’s absolutely medically necessary. I am much relieved to know that she will be a part of our delivery. I have felt little movements here and there, but it’s hard to tell if it’s my body, or the little one’s. No definite punches or kicks yet. I’ve had 4 dreams that it’s a girl, and all of my Mexican friends say it’s a girl because 1. I haven’t felt a lot of movement yet, and 2. because I’m round and not football shaped. Mark is still convinced that “Larimers only make boys”. We don’t want to know what we’re having until the little one arrives. We’re so excited!!!
Mark has been very busy every day working at the seminary. For those of you who have worked on it in the past, you wouldn’t recognize the place! The library is just about finished. All it needs is to be painted and tiled, and then they can start using it as a library / computer lab. The walls surrounding the seminary have been covered and smoothed with cement for a more eye appealing finish. They are now in the process of digging trenches around the entire property – way out to the back and along the row of houses next door, where they will build a wall to enclose the entire property. Pastors Braulio and Hernando have been faithfully working with David and Mark and also Oscar as well as others now and then including Raul, Jesus, and others. The seminary has found a “friend” too. A tiny little kitten has found a home in the classroom, and since he is being fed daily by the work crew, it looks like he’s there to stay. They affectionately named him Francisco in honor of our friend Pastor Francisco who is soon moving to Tiajuana.
Also, exciting news, we have begun a youth group at Crossroads for young’ins ages 11-16. We currently have 4-6 kids in that age group. We are still finalizing a name for the group, and we are having fun getting to know them. We forgot how. . . challenging it can be to work with this age group since Mark and I are used to working with the high school and college aged kids. Last week we took the gang to Bol La Paz – the first bowling alley in the area. We had a great time, but it was much more expensive than we had anticipated! Crossroads has given the youth group a budget of 200 pesos (about $20.00) per week for our outings and materials. We blew 3 weeks of our budget in one night of bowling!
That’s all for now! Keep us posted on what’s happening back home! We miss you and love you all!
Baby news – I have my 5 month appointment this Monday at 1:00pm. I’m feeling great, but my iron is low as was just reported in my most recent blood work. I’ve always struggled with low iron, so this is nothing new, but my energy level is lower than usual. My doctor did put me on an iron supplement, but so far it hasn’t been changing my levels much. We have a girl’s name in mind, but are searching for just the right boy’s name – any suggestions would be helpful! I have been working with a doula, and for those of you not familiar with the term, a doula is the woman who worked with the midwives. While midwives delivered the babies, the doula coached the mother-to-be through the delivery. My doula’s name is Susan (what a coincidence!), and she has been wonderful even in the 2 times we’ve met. She will be with Mark and me in the hospital working with the doctors and nurses up until the point when I deliver – then it’s just me and Mark. The doctors all respect her role as a doula and she will be a great advocate for me while I’m going through the birth process. She will help me with breathing, positioning, and encouraging in addition to getting me whatever else I need to keep me more comfortable. Since the doctors here tend to give cesarean sections very quickly, she will be my advocate as she works with the doctors in order to do everything possible to avoid a c-section unless it’s absolutely medically necessary. I am much relieved to know that she will be a part of our delivery. I have felt little movements here and there, but it’s hard to tell if it’s my body, or the little one’s. No definite punches or kicks yet. I’ve had 4 dreams that it’s a girl, and all of my Mexican friends say it’s a girl because 1. I haven’t felt a lot of movement yet, and 2. because I’m round and not football shaped. Mark is still convinced that “Larimers only make boys”. We don’t want to know what we’re having until the little one arrives. We’re so excited!!!
Mark has been very busy every day working at the seminary. For those of you who have worked on it in the past, you wouldn’t recognize the place! The library is just about finished. All it needs is to be painted and tiled, and then they can start using it as a library / computer lab. The walls surrounding the seminary have been covered and smoothed with cement for a more eye appealing finish. They are now in the process of digging trenches around the entire property – way out to the back and along the row of houses next door, where they will build a wall to enclose the entire property. Pastors Braulio and Hernando have been faithfully working with David and Mark and also Oscar as well as others now and then including Raul, Jesus, and others. The seminary has found a “friend” too. A tiny little kitten has found a home in the classroom, and since he is being fed daily by the work crew, it looks like he’s there to stay. They affectionately named him Francisco in honor of our friend Pastor Francisco who is soon moving to Tiajuana.
Also, exciting news, we have begun a youth group at Crossroads for young’ins ages 11-16. We currently have 4-6 kids in that age group. We are still finalizing a name for the group, and we are having fun getting to know them. We forgot how. . . challenging it can be to work with this age group since Mark and I are used to working with the high school and college aged kids. Last week we took the gang to Bol La Paz – the first bowling alley in the area. We had a great time, but it was much more expensive than we had anticipated! Crossroads has given the youth group a budget of 200 pesos (about $20.00) per week for our outings and materials. We blew 3 weeks of our budget in one night of bowling!
That’s all for now! Keep us posted on what’s happening back home! We miss you and love you all!
Sunday, July 17, 2005
July 17th
July 17, 2005
Sorry it’s been a while since our last update, but our laptop is in the shop and could be for quite a while. It seems the fan expired, which caused a shutdown of other important functions such as the keyboard and video monitor. We are praying for a quick arrival of a new fan and repair.
I (Mark) have been spending much of my time over the past couple of weeks on construction of the seminary with David and the pastors of the regional convention. The library is nearing completion! Stucco has been applied to the interior walls and ceiling, electric has been run, and Monday morning we will be pouring the floor. Many of the men and the students from the English fellowship will be lending a hand to make it all happen. Then all we need to do is apply some paint, install the doors and windows, lay the floor tiles, and lighting fixtures. Many of you who have had a hand in the construction would be pleasantly surprised at the progress.
The vision for the seminary not only includes theological training for pastors and lay leaders, but also includes housing for seminary students, a youth center, and a place for the convention to hold larger regional events and conferences. Progress might be slow, but this project has unified the pastors of the Baptist Convention! I consider it pure joy to work with them, laugh with them, sing with them, and share my life with them.
Susan and I just found out about another opportunity for ministry that is starting to take flight. Steve and Lois (missionaries from TEAM Missions) and the Reeds have been talking about joining forces to make a skateboard park a reality in La Paz. Steve has taken some steps to secure a grant though a Christian organization in the States which would cover most of the costs of land and construction materials. The vision is to reach out to the community and provide a clean, supervised, drug-free, and well-maintained park for kids to skate or just hang out together. We are praying that this dream becomes a reality.
Pictures will follow of the seminary progress, and we have much more to say, but don’t have time at the moment! To be continued. . .
Sorry it’s been a while since our last update, but our laptop is in the shop and could be for quite a while. It seems the fan expired, which caused a shutdown of other important functions such as the keyboard and video monitor. We are praying for a quick arrival of a new fan and repair.
I (Mark) have been spending much of my time over the past couple of weeks on construction of the seminary with David and the pastors of the regional convention. The library is nearing completion! Stucco has been applied to the interior walls and ceiling, electric has been run, and Monday morning we will be pouring the floor. Many of the men and the students from the English fellowship will be lending a hand to make it all happen. Then all we need to do is apply some paint, install the doors and windows, lay the floor tiles, and lighting fixtures. Many of you who have had a hand in the construction would be pleasantly surprised at the progress.
The vision for the seminary not only includes theological training for pastors and lay leaders, but also includes housing for seminary students, a youth center, and a place for the convention to hold larger regional events and conferences. Progress might be slow, but this project has unified the pastors of the Baptist Convention! I consider it pure joy to work with them, laugh with them, sing with them, and share my life with them.
Susan and I just found out about another opportunity for ministry that is starting to take flight. Steve and Lois (missionaries from TEAM Missions) and the Reeds have been talking about joining forces to make a skateboard park a reality in La Paz. Steve has taken some steps to secure a grant though a Christian organization in the States which would cover most of the costs of land and construction materials. The vision is to reach out to the community and provide a clean, supervised, drug-free, and well-maintained park for kids to skate or just hang out together. We are praying that this dream becomes a reality.
Pictures will follow of the seminary progress, and we have much more to say, but don’t have time at the moment! To be continued. . .
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
July 6th, 2005
I hope you all had a great 4th of July, it was just another day here in La Paz. No fireworks, no picnics. . . Anyway, it's been another exciting week here in Mexico.
Mark preached at Crossroads last Sunday on John Chapter 4. When we arrived at church, we were greeted by not only Mark's bald head but 3 other bald heads! In order to show Mark support in his taking charge of his baldness David Reed, Milton, and Rueben all shaved their heads!!! We were shocked. One man in the congregation asked what kind of shampoo they used. Mark made it clear to the newcomers that this was not a cult, but followed it up by saying, "of course that's just what a cult would say".
Mark has been working with David at the seminary. They have continued working on the library by covering the walls with textured cement. Mark is learning yet another Mexican trade of whipping the cement onto the walls to make them look less like cinder blocks and more like internal walls. He has been working with Pastors Francisco, Braulio, Guillermo, Hernando, and David in addition to another Pastor Francisco from the mainland. Fortunately, the weather has been a bit more bearable with cooler mornings (low 90's) with less humidity. The plants we planted in the garden in February look great!
I have been enjoying participating in women's ministry with Joyce and getting to know the other women of Crossroads. One woman Barbara is starting a breakfast program in one of the colonias of La Paz called Vista Hermosa (Beautiful View). Currently, the children have to pay 5 pesos (about $.50) for a government assisted breakfast which includes beans, meat, fruit, and milk. Although this may not seem like a lot of money to us, the families also have to pay 5 pesos to bus their children to school otherwise they must walk about 30 minutes into town to the school. Since most families have an average of 3-5 children, this can be financially overwhelming. Barbara is working on getting a free breakfast plan started by this October. While she is waiting for clearance on the program, she is spending time getting to know the families. Most of the families from Buena Vista came from mainland Mexico in search of a better life for their families. We met one family who owned a hardware store. They are doing very well for themselves supporting their children. Other families are not doing so well. One family we met - a family of 8, live in a very small home (smaller than a single car garage in the states). The father is unable to work, so the 17 year old daughter is burdened with the responsibility of providing for the family in the best way the family knows how. Please pray for this family. The decisions they are making are hard for us to understand.
This week we also had the opportunity to get together with the other pastors in the convention for a breakfast. During the breakfast (which was very spicy for my American tongue!), we discussed ministerial strengths and downfalls. The Reeds have been extremely instrumental in forming a partnership between the Mexican Baptist Churches. Before they came on board as missionaries, the churches were separate entities and wanted nothing to do with each other. Now it is not uncommon to see them studying together, working on the seminary together, and participating in each others services. While it is important to acknowledge how far the convention has come in regards to working together, they still have a long way to go. It was a great meeting/breakfast, and it was great to spend time with all of the pastors and their wives.
Our friends Ruben and Carolina (I enclosed a picture of Ruben playing worship music on the malecon) are leaving for mainland Mexico along with about 15 other leaders and members of First Baptist Church for a mission trip and evangelism conference. Pastor Alejandro and his wife are also going, so Mark and the Reeds will be filling in his pulpit over the next few weeks. Please pray for this group - for safety, growth, and for God to use them in a mighty way while they're there.
I think you're caught up to date for now. Keep the comments and the e-mails coming! You continue to be in our prayers!
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