Friday, August 19, 2005
August 19th, 2005
What have the Larimers been up to lately?
The Crossroads Youth Group is in full swing meeting every Wednesday evening from 7 to 9pm. We started out with only 4, and now we have upwards of 10 teens and pre-teens attending weekly. The ages range from 11 to 16 years. While most of the teens are permanent residents of La Paz, we have had the pleasure of having Eilene and Fidel’s 2 grandchildren who are visiting them from New York. Claudio (16) and Dominga (13) have been with us since July, but we are sad to be seeing them off next week as they return to the states.
We are trying to involve the teens in service projects which takes the focus off of themselves and allows them the opportunity to help other people. Although there are opportunities around every corner, our 2 main projects have been the seminary and the construction of Mary and Raul’s house. Some like the work more than others, and at times it’s challenging for us as leaders to show them the importance of serving God through serving others. Overall, it’s been exciting, and we are seeing God’s hands at work.
Mark has been busy, busy, busy at the seminary with David working to complete the library. It looks great as it has been painted, ceiling lights have been added, electrical outlets are in place, and the floor has been completely cleaned out. Once the floor tile is set and the ceiling fans are in place, the books and the computers will be added making it a fully functioning library! It’s exciting to watch it all come together. It’s also very exciting to take a walk down memory lane and to remember the different groups that have all put their skills and energy into building it.
In addition to eating, sleeping, eating, and sleeping, I have been leading the Women’s Bible Study on Tuesday mornings. We began the book “Women of the Bible” by Ann Spangler & Jean E. Syswerda. This is a book I have used before while studying with 2 of my FBC Bethlehem students. It covers 1 woman from the Bible every week. So far we’ve studied Eve, Sarah, and Hagar. Next week, we take a look at Lot’s Wife. Although I’m still developing my “teaching” skills, I have enjoyed the weekly gatherings and times of study with this group of women.
In Baby News. . . Emma is doing well. She’s moving all the time now. The other morning I got up and my whole belly was lopsided. I had a big lump on my left side, but nothing on my right side. It’s very exciting. My next appointment is September 1st. We did have the opportunity to tour the hospital I will be delivering in. We were very pleased with the friendly staff, the cleanliness of the facility, and the beautiful rooms – Mark even gets a leather couch to sleep on in my room! All we have to do is wait now!
We hope all is going well with you! Keep the e-mails and the comments coming!
The Crossroads Youth Group is in full swing meeting every Wednesday evening from 7 to 9pm. We started out with only 4, and now we have upwards of 10 teens and pre-teens attending weekly. The ages range from 11 to 16 years. While most of the teens are permanent residents of La Paz, we have had the pleasure of having Eilene and Fidel’s 2 grandchildren who are visiting them from New York. Claudio (16) and Dominga (13) have been with us since July, but we are sad to be seeing them off next week as they return to the states.
We are trying to involve the teens in service projects which takes the focus off of themselves and allows them the opportunity to help other people. Although there are opportunities around every corner, our 2 main projects have been the seminary and the construction of Mary and Raul’s house. Some like the work more than others, and at times it’s challenging for us as leaders to show them the importance of serving God through serving others. Overall, it’s been exciting, and we are seeing God’s hands at work.
Mark has been busy, busy, busy at the seminary with David working to complete the library. It looks great as it has been painted, ceiling lights have been added, electrical outlets are in place, and the floor has been completely cleaned out. Once the floor tile is set and the ceiling fans are in place, the books and the computers will be added making it a fully functioning library! It’s exciting to watch it all come together. It’s also very exciting to take a walk down memory lane and to remember the different groups that have all put their skills and energy into building it.
In addition to eating, sleeping, eating, and sleeping, I have been leading the Women’s Bible Study on Tuesday mornings. We began the book “Women of the Bible” by Ann Spangler & Jean E. Syswerda. This is a book I have used before while studying with 2 of my FBC Bethlehem students. It covers 1 woman from the Bible every week. So far we’ve studied Eve, Sarah, and Hagar. Next week, we take a look at Lot’s Wife. Although I’m still developing my “teaching” skills, I have enjoyed the weekly gatherings and times of study with this group of women.
In Baby News. . . Emma is doing well. She’s moving all the time now. The other morning I got up and my whole belly was lopsided. I had a big lump on my left side, but nothing on my right side. It’s very exciting. My next appointment is September 1st. We did have the opportunity to tour the hospital I will be delivering in. We were very pleased with the friendly staff, the cleanliness of the facility, and the beautiful rooms – Mark even gets a leather couch to sleep on in my room! All we have to do is wait now!
We hope all is going well with you! Keep the e-mails and the comments coming!
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Okay, so we caved! We went to the doctors today for our 5 month check-up, and we told the doctor we wanted to know if the baby is a boy or a girl. He laughed and said, “I thought you would want to know”. So. . . . . After another ultrasound, measurements, and some looking around, we discovered with 90% certainty that we’re having a GIRL!!! We are so excited! He will tell us with 99% certainty at next month’s check-up. Little Emma is due December 20th, and she looks very healthy. Her heart rate is good, everything looks strong, and we even counted her 10 little toes! We shared the good news with our parents via computer phones this afternoon. Everyone is very excited, but still won’t believe it until she’s actually here. I can’t believe it’s a GIRL!
I also want to share with you all how thrilled I was with your emails from our last entry. It was so wonderful to hear about your own personal pregnancy and delivery experiences. We each have unique stories of how our little blessings came to be. Thank you so much for sharing them with us!
Other exciting news. . . Tomorrow we are starting construction on Mary and Raul’s new house! Mary and Raul and their 3 children have become very special to us and to many others at First Baptist Church Bethlehem since we met them 4 years ago. They have also become a special part of the lives of the Crossroads community – our English speaking congregation here in La Paz. I think I shared a bit about them in an earlier e-mail, but their home was basically eliminated earlier in the year in order to make room for a road to be widened. They have been renting a home in their same neighborhood with the hopes of one day rebuilding. At a business meeting 2 weeks ago, Crossroads voted to give their mission budget to help Mary and Raul begin to build their home. Raul is a very talented man who works very hard to support his family. He is so artistic and resourceful, it’s amazing to watch him work and to see the finished product – it’s always perfect. Mary has been helping us with our Spanish and is always a blessing to be around. This couple’s love for the Lord is evident in everything they do. We are so excited to have the opportunity to help them in such a big way. We will be doing construction mainly in the evening so Raul can continue to work his other jobs because it is so much cooler in the evening. Raul has the plans for his house all ready to go. We challenged him to be the “Jefe” or boss for the project since it is his house. He had a very hard time accepting that role. One thing about Raul and Mary is that they are very humble people, and Raul feels that the one supplying the money (the “patron”) should be the one with the “Jefe” title. He has reluctantly accepted the title with the understanding that it’s God’s money and God’s house for Mary and Raul to use. We are so excited to begin this project – and it will be ongoing over the months to come.
Some new pictures have finally been added to our blog site, so check them out when you get a chance! http://www.missionlapaz.blogspot.com/
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!
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
June 29th
My apologies for not writing as soon as I had anticipated. . . Since we moved, we do not have internet connection, so I have to travel to send and receive messages now. So, to get you caught up. . .
My doctor’s appointment was surprisingly wonderful! Our friend Iza came with us, and was very much needed as the doctor although seems to understand English, did not speak a word of it. Iza translated the entire appointment. We had to wait 1 ½ hours for the doctor initially because he was at the hospital, but the waiting area was pleasant and very clean. Once, it was our turn, the nurse reviewed my medical history and weighed me (I only gained 3lbs so far!). Then, we met with our doctor – Dr. Eduardo Esponda Tort. He was very nice, very professional, and quite serious. He read my medical records page by page, and asked a few questions here and there. He got more specific medical history, and then it was time for the ultrasound! I watched the ultrasound on the monitor with the doctor as he pointed out what was what, and Mark and Iza watched it on a TV. set up in the room as Iza translated what the Dr. was describing. We made it clear to him that we did not want to know the sex of the baby, and he respected that but said it was too early to tell at 15 weeks anyway. The whole ultrasound took about 20 minutes. The Dr. measured the baby’s head, his/her arms, his/her femurs, we saw the little heart beating 148 times per minute (right in the middle of the normal range), we saw the whole spinal cord which was very straight, and we even tried to count fingers and toes, but the little fella had his/her legs crossed, so we couldn’t get a good count. The doctor said everything looks great, everything is healthy and normal. He’s putting me on an iron supplement in addition to my prenatal vitamins. Because I’ve always had low iron, he said the baby will demand more of my iron, and I can’t afford to lose any. My blood pressure is good, and the doctor had no concerns. He said keep walking (Joyce and I have been walking 45mins – 1hour every morning while Mark runs with Aaron and Oscar Montoya and sometimes David). He also recommended I join a pregnant women’s yoga group. Not sure about that one yet. . . I asked if they had any kind of Lamaze classes in La Paz, and he laughed at me. Anyway, I feel much better about being pregnant down here after that very positive visit, Oh, and they gave me a string of pictures of the ultrasound and a VHS video of the whole thing! We were so excited! I go back in 1 month for another visit and ultrasound. I wonder if I’ll get a video each month!
We got our own apartment, so we are officially on our own. We are 2 blocks from Casa Buena and less than a block from the bay of La Paz. We have a beautiful view of the bay and the marina, so I can sit at my kitchen table and watch the ships sail in. It’s a small place with a fairly large kitchen and bedroom and tiny bathroom. It came with a fridge and stove which is rare. It’s bright and perfect for the two of us (and big enough for another in 5 months). The best part is the roof. There’s a spiral staircase from outside of our kitchen leading up to a roof with a shade over it with the most beautiful view. I always wanted a home at the beach; I just never dreamed it would be in Mexico! For my ocean view home, the rent is only $330.00 month which includes all utilities except a.c. which is pay as you use it. In the states, this place would cost a couple thousand a week for the location! God is good.
In other baby news, let me share with you the story about the Andrade family. Ricky, his wife Michel (pronounced Michael), and their 2 children came to La Paz for a vacation I believe Friday, June 17th. At the time Michel was 7 months pregnant, and they wanted to have one last relaxing vacation before the baby came. To give you some background information, the Andrade family is from San Diego where Ricky is a worship pastor at a pretty progressive church. They were staying at one of the resorts, and the first day they were there, Michel was feeling some discomfort. They thought maybe it was the heat or the side effects of traveling. The next day, Ricky went for a run on the malecon and was pretty far into his run when something told him to turn back. He picked up the pace, and returned to the hotel only to find a wheelchair outside of his room and a rush of staff helping Michel. On their second day of vacation, at 7 months, Michel’s water broke and she was bleeding quite extensively. The hotel arranged for a van to pick her up and take her to the hospital. On the way, Ricky said, “what if this is it, and you’re having the baby”. Michel responded, “That would be my worst nightmare”. They remembered seeing a sign for Crossroads Christian Fellowship along their travels the day before and were planning on attending that Sunday, and Michel said, “Call that church we saw”. Ricky called, and David Reed called Jesus Cortez (a bilingual member of Crossroads) to come with him in case they needed help translating medical terminology. When David and Jesus arrived at the hospital, they found a very calm Ricky and were very surprised at his level of calmness. They soon found out that Ricky was a pastor and that his sense of calmness and peace was from God. They also realized that Jesus and Ricky knew each other since Jesus had accepted Christ at the same church in the states that Ricky was a pastor at some years ago! What are the odds?! Meanwhile, with Michel, the doctors were preparing her for an emergency c-section. The doctors at Fidepaz Hospital asked Michel, “Do you know Jesus, and do you have faith in him?” Michel responded, “Yes I do, and my faith is getting stronger and stronger every minute”. The doctors on call that night were all believers and they prayed with her laying hands on her unborn child. They performed the c-section, and although they were concerned about his lungs not being fully developed, the baby came out screaming! Having two girls already, having a son was an extra blessing. The baby’s lungs had some fluid in them, and the baby only weighed a little over 3lbs. Michel was released from the hospital the next day (after a c-section!), but the baby remains there. Now, a week and a half later, the baby who they named August (meaning: awesome) van Cortez (from Cortez) Andrade has been gaining about 30oz per day. He hasn’t been able to breastfeed though because he’s just too week. They have been using a syringe to feed him. They are now talking about releasing him from the hospital, but Ricky and Michel are concerned (and rightly so!) because they aren’t able to feed him consistently yet. Please keep this family in your prayers. Their 11 year old daughter returned to the states with Ricky’s mom last week, but they have an 18month old who is still here with them. Little Ani can’t understand why her mom can’t pick her up like she used to. It’s been a very stressful situation for the family as you can imagine. Not quite the relaxing vacation they had planned. While they are “stuck” in La Paz and staying at Casa Buena, Milton, Susu, David, & Joyce are taking good care of them. Michel has to go to the hospital every 3 hours to try to feed August. We are very much enjoying having them as Ricky has been blessing us with his gift of worship and has been giving us lessons in music, presentation, voice, and worship – he is so gifted as a worship leader!
I’m also enclosing pictures of the 4th Baptist Church’s Anniversary Celebration. This is Pastor Francisco’s church where Mary and Raul attend. Crossroads participated in the celebration by singing “I Love You, Lord” in English and in Spanish. The picture I’m sending is the 4th Baptist women singing their song to celebrate their anniversary.
We hope all is well with you! We so much appreciate your comments on our blog and your e-mails. Let me know if you have any questions or if you want to hear more about something that I’m missing in my entries. God Bless!
We attempted to add pictures, but the link is down - we will do our best to add them soon!
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Week of June 20th
Well, time is flying by. Ministry is almost in full force, our schedule is filling up, and we are loving every second of it. The weather is hot, hot, hot!!! Upwards of 95-100 everyday, and the sun is intense!!! Mark is protecting his noggin with SPF 30 daily.
Ministry-wise, Crossroads began studying the book of John last week, and plan to continue along this route throughout the summer. Mark kicked off John chapter 1 at our weekly Wednesday night Bible study, a smaller, more intimate group yet very diverse. Some of you will recognize the names I mention of who was in attendance for the Bible study: Joyce (David was on his way back to the states with his dad who was visiting this week), Milton & Susu, Basil, Raul from Crossroads, Linda (of Chuck & Linda), Cassandra and Paulette, Dave and Jean from Alaska (owners of the B&B we’re temporarily staying at), and Mark and myself. It was a great introduction to John with great conversations and fellowship.
Today, Sunday, Mark preached at Crossroads on John chapter 2 – Jesus clearing the temple. There’s just something about the Crossroads service that is so refreshing and fulfilling. One thing we’ve really been reminded is that our time of worship is not about what we can “get out of the service”, but what we have to offer to God. What are you offering to God? Are you too distracted by the things that annoy you, or are you concentrating more on what you can give to God as a living sacrifice?
Because Crossroads is made up of boaters, vacationers, and the core group of non-Mexican residents (in addition to some Mexican natives who come to worship in English to improve their language skills), we are always meeting new people as well as saying good-bye to old friends. This week we said good-bye to Steve and Agnes Richards and their 3 children who were here for 1 year experiencing the culture by going to the Mexican schools, traveling, fishing, sightseeing, and just enjoying Mexico. What an incredible year they have had in the Baja. Like so many of us, the vortex of La Paz is already sucking them back in, and they already have plans to return in December. Another family we were introduced to was Pastor Ricky Andrade and his wife Michael, and their children. Tomorrow I will share their story – an incredible testimony and experience of God – I can’t wait to share it with you, but I’m waiting for pictures to go along with my story.
Mark also went fishing this week with David Reed and his father from Arizona. They went out towards Tecelote, but only caught a small mackerel that they threw back. They had a great time out on the boat though. Last week David and his dad went fishing with Milton (owner of Casa Buena B&B), and they caught 4 dorado. I’m sure Mark will have more opportunities to go fishing (of fish and men).
Well, tomorrow is my 1st Mexican Doctors appointment – 9:00am. I’m a bit anxious. I’ll include a picture of my growing belly tomorrow with a full account of the appointment. Tomorrow I also want to share details about our new apartment! We move in tomorrow – the place is perfect with an incredible view of the Bay of La Paz – I’ll have pictures of our new place tomorrow too. God Bless!
Ministry-wise, Crossroads began studying the book of John last week, and plan to continue along this route throughout the summer. Mark kicked off John chapter 1 at our weekly Wednesday night Bible study, a smaller, more intimate group yet very diverse. Some of you will recognize the names I mention of who was in attendance for the Bible study: Joyce (David was on his way back to the states with his dad who was visiting this week), Milton & Susu, Basil, Raul from Crossroads, Linda (of Chuck & Linda), Cassandra and Paulette, Dave and Jean from Alaska (owners of the B&B we’re temporarily staying at), and Mark and myself. It was a great introduction to John with great conversations and fellowship.
Today, Sunday, Mark preached at Crossroads on John chapter 2 – Jesus clearing the temple. There’s just something about the Crossroads service that is so refreshing and fulfilling. One thing we’ve really been reminded is that our time of worship is not about what we can “get out of the service”, but what we have to offer to God. What are you offering to God? Are you too distracted by the things that annoy you, or are you concentrating more on what you can give to God as a living sacrifice?
Because Crossroads is made up of boaters, vacationers, and the core group of non-Mexican residents (in addition to some Mexican natives who come to worship in English to improve their language skills), we are always meeting new people as well as saying good-bye to old friends. This week we said good-bye to Steve and Agnes Richards and their 3 children who were here for 1 year experiencing the culture by going to the Mexican schools, traveling, fishing, sightseeing, and just enjoying Mexico. What an incredible year they have had in the Baja. Like so many of us, the vortex of La Paz is already sucking them back in, and they already have plans to return in December. Another family we were introduced to was Pastor Ricky Andrade and his wife Michael, and their children. Tomorrow I will share their story – an incredible testimony and experience of God – I can’t wait to share it with you, but I’m waiting for pictures to go along with my story.
Mark also went fishing this week with David Reed and his father from Arizona. They went out towards Tecelote, but only caught a small mackerel that they threw back. They had a great time out on the boat though. Last week David and his dad went fishing with Milton (owner of Casa Buena B&B), and they caught 4 dorado. I’m sure Mark will have more opportunities to go fishing (of fish and men).
Well, tomorrow is my 1st Mexican Doctors appointment – 9:00am. I’m a bit anxious. I’ll include a picture of my growing belly tomorrow with a full account of the appointment. Tomorrow I also want to share details about our new apartment! We move in tomorrow – the place is perfect with an incredible view of the Bay of La Paz – I’ll have pictures of our new place tomorrow too. God Bless!
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Week of June 13, 2005
Wow, we’ve been here over a week! I feel that I better share some news with you all about our personal lives since the time is right, and I recently realized that many of you haven’t been told yet. . . Before coming to Mexico, Mark and I learned that I am pregnant! I am currently 14 weeks, and yes, we are going to have the baby in La Paz. One of the first things we did when we arrived was to find a doctor. A friend of ours from Crossroads Christian Fellowship (the American church we are primarily co-responsible for) found herself in a similar situation about 3 years ago when she and her husband moved to Mexico from the States. Her name is Iza, and she helped me to find a highly recommended doctor in the area. She even made our first appointment for us which will be next Monday, June 27th at 9:00am. I went to my Bethlehem doctor right before we left, and they copied all of my medical records to send down with me, hooked me up with a 9 month supply of prenatal vitamins and other comforts of home. We also had our first ultrasound and we saw the little one kicking and moving his/her arms and legs like crazy! Although I cannot feel any movement yet, it’s very exciting to know that he/she is active and everything is very healthy. We are very excited and very anxious about the whole process, and will be sure to keep you informed.
Our schedule is quickly filling up. The first week was like a homecoming and a very warm one at that. We had lunch with our good friends Carolina and Ruben and caught up on life. For those of you who are not familiar with this couple, Ruben is about the same age as Mark and Carolina is about the same age as me, and they attend 1st Baptist Church. Carolina’s father owns a large papeleria (paper store) in La Paz, and he is very business minded. Ruben recently quit his job with the government because of the corruption he faced everyday. He worked for the department of weights and measures, but the majority of the department accepts bribes from local companies instead of adjusting their scales to the correct level. In other words, when you get a gallon of gas, most likely, you pay for a gallon, but only receive 3/4. Because he is a Christian, he could no longer feel good about going to work each day, so in February, he quit knowing he was giving up a good income, in order to start a music ministry and a youth ministry program in La Paz. In Mexico, you just don’t quit your job to do volunteer ministry, so this was a very bold step of faith for both Carolina and Ruben. Although Carolina’s father initially disagreed with this decision, he is coming around and becoming more supportive. Ruben shares his love for Christ and music every Tuesday evening along the Malecon (the local version of the boardwalk…only it’s concrete and tile).
We also had our first Spanish lesson with our good friends Mary and Raul. Just some background info on Mary and Raul, they got married when Mary was 14 years old and Raul was 16. Now, about 10 years later, they have 3 children and attend 4th Baptist Church. Last year, they lived on the top of a mountain in La Paz right on the edge of a cliff that overlooks the whole city – the sunsets are beautiful, and the view at night is incredible. Although their house was only about 10 by 12 with a tar paper roof, walls made out of cinder blocks minus the mortar, and their floor was concrete/dirt, the 5 of them lived their very happily for years. Recently, the city did some construction to their area and basically eliminated their home. They are now renting the house next door which has a tile floor, doors, and windows, but this is only a temporary home. They hope to rebuild in the near future after the government is finished doing whatever it is that they are doing. Last year while Mark and I were here for 3 months, we met with Mary and Raul every Monday night to practice our Spanish. This couple speaks no English at all, so it forces us to use the vocabulary that we know to have a conversation. Mary is very patient with us and corrects us when we need it and gives us new words. We spent 3 hours at their home just talking and laughing. It is amazing how God can bring 2 completely different families together and make it feel like we’re brothers and sisters who have known each other for a lifetime. We plan on making Monday nights our weekly Mary and Raul Spanish night.
Saturday, we attended the 19th Anniversary of Principe de Paz – the 2nd Baptist Church. There were over a hundred people in attendance from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Baptist Churches and also from 2 of their missions in San Jose (about 2 ½ hours south of La Paz). The service lasted from about 6:30 until 10:00. Each church participated in the service with a song, scripture reading, or words of encouragement from their pastors. We felt so welcomed as we met old friends – got lots of hugs and kisses, and also met some new friends including the new pastor of Principe de Paz Juan Garcia Barandika.
The Crossroads fellowship is growing very quickly! The congregation is made up of a group of core members who are either ex-patriots, locals who wish to worship with us and learn English as a second language at the same time, tourists, and people from the boating community. When we first began coming to Crossroads, attendance was around 30-35 people. Now, 30-35 people attend throughout the summer months (the ministry’s down time) and closer to 50+ in the winter (the prime vacation months). Worship at Crossroads is generally very informal and participatory. Newcomers often say they feel surprisingly at home with the fellowship.
Our schedule is quickly filling up. The first week was like a homecoming and a very warm one at that. We had lunch with our good friends Carolina and Ruben and caught up on life. For those of you who are not familiar with this couple, Ruben is about the same age as Mark and Carolina is about the same age as me, and they attend 1st Baptist Church. Carolina’s father owns a large papeleria (paper store) in La Paz, and he is very business minded. Ruben recently quit his job with the government because of the corruption he faced everyday. He worked for the department of weights and measures, but the majority of the department accepts bribes from local companies instead of adjusting their scales to the correct level. In other words, when you get a gallon of gas, most likely, you pay for a gallon, but only receive 3/4. Because he is a Christian, he could no longer feel good about going to work each day, so in February, he quit knowing he was giving up a good income, in order to start a music ministry and a youth ministry program in La Paz. In Mexico, you just don’t quit your job to do volunteer ministry, so this was a very bold step of faith for both Carolina and Ruben. Although Carolina’s father initially disagreed with this decision, he is coming around and becoming more supportive. Ruben shares his love for Christ and music every Tuesday evening along the Malecon (the local version of the boardwalk…only it’s concrete and tile).
We also had our first Spanish lesson with our good friends Mary and Raul. Just some background info on Mary and Raul, they got married when Mary was 14 years old and Raul was 16. Now, about 10 years later, they have 3 children and attend 4th Baptist Church. Last year, they lived on the top of a mountain in La Paz right on the edge of a cliff that overlooks the whole city – the sunsets are beautiful, and the view at night is incredible. Although their house was only about 10 by 12 with a tar paper roof, walls made out of cinder blocks minus the mortar, and their floor was concrete/dirt, the 5 of them lived their very happily for years. Recently, the city did some construction to their area and basically eliminated their home. They are now renting the house next door which has a tile floor, doors, and windows, but this is only a temporary home. They hope to rebuild in the near future after the government is finished doing whatever it is that they are doing. Last year while Mark and I were here for 3 months, we met with Mary and Raul every Monday night to practice our Spanish. This couple speaks no English at all, so it forces us to use the vocabulary that we know to have a conversation. Mary is very patient with us and corrects us when we need it and gives us new words. We spent 3 hours at their home just talking and laughing. It is amazing how God can bring 2 completely different families together and make it feel like we’re brothers and sisters who have known each other for a lifetime. We plan on making Monday nights our weekly Mary and Raul Spanish night.
Saturday, we attended the 19th Anniversary of Principe de Paz – the 2nd Baptist Church. There were over a hundred people in attendance from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Baptist Churches and also from 2 of their missions in San Jose (about 2 ½ hours south of La Paz). The service lasted from about 6:30 until 10:00. Each church participated in the service with a song, scripture reading, or words of encouragement from their pastors. We felt so welcomed as we met old friends – got lots of hugs and kisses, and also met some new friends including the new pastor of Principe de Paz Juan Garcia Barandika.
The Crossroads fellowship is growing very quickly! The congregation is made up of a group of core members who are either ex-patriots, locals who wish to worship with us and learn English as a second language at the same time, tourists, and people from the boating community. When we first began coming to Crossroads, attendance was around 30-35 people. Now, 30-35 people attend throughout the summer months (the ministry’s down time) and closer to 50+ in the winter (the prime vacation months). Worship at Crossroads is generally very informal and participatory. Newcomers often say they feel surprisingly at home with the fellowship.
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