to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. Proverbs 25: 25
Well, I don't know about you, but some days Mexico seems distant. And we have good news. So I hope you enjoy the cup of cold water....
Good news list:
1. We're coming back! :) This one has obviously been at the forefront of our prayer lists and I will have another long post about that next week. God *IS* good. We'll be coming 'round the border and would love to get together with as many of you as we can. Road trip plans will be forthcoming....:) We're excited to share the new things that are on our work plate. (This is foodie Friday, so I had to get a food related something in here somewhere...)
YEAH! One decision done.
2. We have an answer about when we'll be leaving for a stateside stint. Late April.
Originally, this took the form of BAD news or at least not the easy news we'd hoped for. Our kids' passports expire in early May. We'd just planned on doing that through the embassy in Mexico City but realized that since we don't have original birth certificates for them with us here, that's a no go.
So - we're needing to leave MX before that. Okay - now the date is no longer an issue - April it is.
YEAH! Second decision done.
3. We're going to have another baby. THAT one was out of the blue....but we're doing good and trusting the Lord in his plans for us....all of us.
4. Alan has been recording most of the week with a group from a village. He's said it's going well - they'll be working here in Mitla through the end of next week with the following week's recordings happening in the village.
5. News for the future....well.....we can make our plans - but God will direct our steps. We're still stepping forward as long as He keeps us on this Mexican road.
Blessings....
Faith
Friday, March 26, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Missionary Kid's Ipod
It's actually a Talking Bible.
Works basically like a tape player - yes, those old-fashioned things. The kids can play, rewind, fast-forward and turn up the volume to their hearts content.
We have it in English for now....Spanish will come later. :)
Janelle especially loves the earphone part. :)
Faith
Friday, March 19, 2010
Foodie Friday.....
'Where's the Beef?'
Well.....since you asked......
This is how the beef puesto (stand) displays their wares. Darn, I don't see any tongue there...
I remember the day I walked into the market to buy groceries early on in our days south of the border and walked past the garbage can at the front door. Something caught my eye as I shifted my weight to let someone pass, EYES staring back at me - as in the head of the cow was just tossed in there.
My first response? AACCKK.
My second? "Well, at least I know it's fresh."
'Beef - it's what's for dinner."
Faith
Well.....since you asked......
This is how the beef puesto (stand) displays their wares. Darn, I don't see any tongue there...
I remember the day I walked into the market to buy groceries early on in our days south of the border and walked past the garbage can at the front door. Something caught my eye as I shifted my weight to let someone pass, EYES staring back at me - as in the head of the cow was just tossed in there.
My first response? AACCKK.
My second? "Well, at least I know it's fresh."
'Beef - it's what's for dinner."
Faith
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Oral learners and teachers
Ahh, yes - I've been 'hinted' at - (nagged) - to write an update on what I've been up to lately. My wife tells me people don't support us just to drink coffee and eat the local cuisine down here, and so they want to know the ministry-related work that we're doing. So now I have to clear a spot at the table of all the plates and coffee cups in order to write a blog post ...
Last week Jim and I traveled to a town about 4 hours from Mitla in the central-west of the state of Oaxaca, called Tlaxiaco, to participate in a local missions-training school there. The school is called Sin Fronteras, and they focus on training Mexican students for mission work, with an emphasis on the surrounding Mixteco villages. Our purpose there was to teach a three-day seminar on story-telling, or, more broadly, on teaching people of an oral tradition. Nearly half the world's population is either illiterate, or otherwise traditionally learn and pass on their culture via oral means - they verbally pass their history and traditions to the next generations using stories, songs, drama and narration. In addition, 75% of the bible is written in narrative form. In telling these people about God, it makes sense to incorporate their natural learning inclinations; even in the US, most of us who grew up in Sunday School learned the stories of the bible at a young age, long before we ever actually read them - as oral stories. In the case of indigenous people who will never have the entire bible in their language, then, oral communication of bible stories becomes an important tool. The hospitality in Tlaxiaco was top-notch, and the hamburgers in the central plaza after dark are good enough to write home about.
Also, almost a month ago Jim and I spent a couple days in the eastern part of Oaxaca, visiting pastors in Juchitan, Matias Romero and and San Juan Guichicovi. There are 3 different indigenous people groups in this area, and while there we distributed various materials to the pastors there and touched base with them on their current needs, and also discussed another upcoming seminar on story-telling .
Besides the traveling, I've spent several weeks working in the recording studio here. I've recorded much of one Zapoteco New Testament that we are now in the process of wrapping up, and also am currently editing an audio set of the Luke video in Zapotec. There is also a 'Perspectives' course being taught in Oaxaca City one night a week that I have begun attending, though we'll be leaving for the US on furlough before this course finishes.
Last week Jim and I traveled to a town about 4 hours from Mitla in the central-west of the state of Oaxaca, called Tlaxiaco, to participate in a local missions-training school there. The school is called Sin Fronteras, and they focus on training Mexican students for mission work, with an emphasis on the surrounding Mixteco villages. Our purpose there was to teach a three-day seminar on story-telling, or, more broadly, on teaching people of an oral tradition. Nearly half the world's population is either illiterate, or otherwise traditionally learn and pass on their culture via oral means - they verbally pass their history and traditions to the next generations using stories, songs, drama and narration. In addition, 75% of the bible is written in narrative form. In telling these people about God, it makes sense to incorporate their natural learning inclinations; even in the US, most of us who grew up in Sunday School learned the stories of the bible at a young age, long before we ever actually read them - as oral stories. In the case of indigenous people who will never have the entire bible in their language, then, oral communication of bible stories becomes an important tool. The hospitality in Tlaxiaco was top-notch, and the hamburgers in the central plaza after dark are good enough to write home about.
Also, almost a month ago Jim and I spent a couple days in the eastern part of Oaxaca, visiting pastors in Juchitan, Matias Romero and and San Juan Guichicovi. There are 3 different indigenous people groups in this area, and while there we distributed various materials to the pastors there and touched base with them on their current needs, and also discussed another upcoming seminar on story-telling .
Besides the traveling, I've spent several weeks working in the recording studio here. I've recorded much of one Zapoteco New Testament that we are now in the process of wrapping up, and also am currently editing an audio set of the Luke video in Zapotec. There is also a 'Perspectives' course being taught in Oaxaca City one night a week that I have begun attending, though we'll be leaving for the US on furlough before this course finishes.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The work side....
Alan is going to be writing a blog post about the work side of thing as he's the one actually DOING it. I promise. I've been hinting (nagging) but he has to stop long enough to sit in here at the computer to do it.
It's coming....really. It's coming.
Faith
It's coming....really. It's coming.
Faith
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Cockroaches....a God-given reminder
If there is anything that make my skin crawl worse, I haven't encountered it yet. No, that is not an invitation.
I will spare you pictures of the roaches we have here. Just know that they are big, gross, determined, and a part of the existence here. In Honduras, they actually seemed more aggressive but still, just all around nasty.
Believe it or not though, these days I'm thanking God for the visual He's given me through them.
As we are still house-sitting, there are quite a few spaces that we have closed off as we either just don't need that space, or the family's things are being stored in those rooms, cupboards, drawers. Wellllllll...........when you have spaces that aren't used much, guess what happens?
Something else moves in.
So you get a cat. :)
Milo is learning to make himself useful regarding the mice issue albeit slowly, but amazingly, he IS handy at finding cockroaches. Nice. (detect sarcasm)
The other coping mechanism is clean like your life depends on it. And in the morning, you start all over again. That has been my first line of defense, but as you can probably tell by the mere fact that I'm writing about this subject....well...defense isn't going to solve all your problems.
The other day Alan and I had decided to stay up and watch a movie after putting everyone to bed. That was all well and good and a nice treat after the day's work. Everything was cleaned up and put away and off we went to the living room.
Lo and behold.....after the movie, Alan takes a cup to the kitchen, flips on the light and finds the cockroaches fleeing the scene.
Disclaimer: You must know something about my husband. I've hardly ever seen the man squirm and that is not because he hasn't had cause. He's done some of the grossest jobs - ones I never would have even imagined existed.
I heard flapping sounds and occasional grunts and made my way to the kitchen. He's kind of standing there and there is a HUGE flailing-almost-dead-but-not-quite-despite-the-size-12-shoe cockroach on the floor. His eyes are wide and his mouth open aghast. I asked the 'oh so helpful question', "What's wrong dear?", and he proceeds to tell me that the counters were covered in roaches. Covered.
Oh my grossness. Barf. Gag. Wheez.
There wasn't anything left out for them to 'go after' (I'm not bragging about my cleaning capabilities but one fact about me is that everything must. be. put. away. in the evenings - I put my kitchen to bed just like my kids.). They were just there. And we wouldn't have known it if we hadn't walked through the room and flipped on the light.
We've tried to catch them 'in the act' since and have only seen a couple. I dare you to guess what my new first-thing-in-the-morning-before-I-start-cooking-breakfast routine is. :/ Scour the countertops/stovetop to make SURE that I'm ending the day and starting it with a clean surface.
I was grumbling about it a bit and then it hit me that this is a little bit like my spiritual life. I can't necessarily just assume that my 'counters' are clean because they look it. I can't just assume that there isn't any ugliness 'out there' because it doesn't come out during the light of day. I can't just assume that because I have a 'mascot' tucked in my corner that he is going to do all the dirty work for me.
I need a daily washing (or scrubbing, depending on the day) of God's word. If I don't, things might look okay for a while - but imagine what lies under the surface. Shudder, shudder.
No thank you. I've already figured out that I don't do well on my own thankyouverymuch and desperately need that scrub down, cleaning, renewing of my 'surfaces', and getting ready for the day He has for me- just like my countertops.
Psalm 19:7-14
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold , than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
By them is your sevant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins, may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Blessings,
Faith
PS: I would also like to publicly thank our neighbors for lending us Chinese Chalk to try and combat those nasty things on another front. :)
I will spare you pictures of the roaches we have here. Just know that they are big, gross, determined, and a part of the existence here. In Honduras, they actually seemed more aggressive but still, just all around nasty.
Believe it or not though, these days I'm thanking God for the visual He's given me through them.
As we are still house-sitting, there are quite a few spaces that we have closed off as we either just don't need that space, or the family's things are being stored in those rooms, cupboards, drawers. Wellllllll...........when you have spaces that aren't used much, guess what happens?
Something else moves in.
So you get a cat. :)
Milo is learning to make himself useful regarding the mice issue albeit slowly, but amazingly, he IS handy at finding cockroaches. Nice. (detect sarcasm)
The other coping mechanism is clean like your life depends on it. And in the morning, you start all over again. That has been my first line of defense, but as you can probably tell by the mere fact that I'm writing about this subject....well...defense isn't going to solve all your problems.
The other day Alan and I had decided to stay up and watch a movie after putting everyone to bed. That was all well and good and a nice treat after the day's work. Everything was cleaned up and put away and off we went to the living room.
Lo and behold.....after the movie, Alan takes a cup to the kitchen, flips on the light and finds the cockroaches fleeing the scene.
Disclaimer: You must know something about my husband. I've hardly ever seen the man squirm and that is not because he hasn't had cause. He's done some of the grossest jobs - ones I never would have even imagined existed.
I heard flapping sounds and occasional grunts and made my way to the kitchen. He's kind of standing there and there is a HUGE flailing-almost-dead-but-not-quite-despite-the-size-12-shoe cockroach on the floor. His eyes are wide and his mouth open aghast. I asked the 'oh so helpful question', "What's wrong dear?", and he proceeds to tell me that the counters were covered in roaches. Covered.
Oh my grossness. Barf. Gag. Wheez.
There wasn't anything left out for them to 'go after' (I'm not bragging about my cleaning capabilities but one fact about me is that everything must. be. put. away. in the evenings - I put my kitchen to bed just like my kids.). They were just there. And we wouldn't have known it if we hadn't walked through the room and flipped on the light.
We've tried to catch them 'in the act' since and have only seen a couple. I dare you to guess what my new first-thing-in-the-morning-before-I-start-cooking-breakfast routine is. :/ Scour the countertops/stovetop to make SURE that I'm ending the day and starting it with a clean surface.
I was grumbling about it a bit and then it hit me that this is a little bit like my spiritual life. I can't necessarily just assume that my 'counters' are clean because they look it. I can't just assume that there isn't any ugliness 'out there' because it doesn't come out during the light of day. I can't just assume that because I have a 'mascot' tucked in my corner that he is going to do all the dirty work for me.
I need a daily washing (or scrubbing, depending on the day) of God's word. If I don't, things might look okay for a while - but imagine what lies under the surface. Shudder, shudder.
No thank you. I've already figured out that I don't do well on my own thankyouverymuch and desperately need that scrub down, cleaning, renewing of my 'surfaces', and getting ready for the day He has for me- just like my countertops.
Psalm 19:7-14
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold , than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
By them is your sevant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins, may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Blessings,
Faith
PS: I would also like to publicly thank our neighbors for lending us Chinese Chalk to try and combat those nasty things on another front. :)
Friday, March 12, 2010
Foodie Friday
Guess what's sprouting at our house?????
We love sprouts. It's like gardening for dummies. Easy peasey....except I did actually flunk sprout class the entire time we lived in Honduras. Something about the mugginess - my sprouts molded before they were ready every. time. I. tried.. So I quit trying for a season. There's a moral to a story for ya....and it's not 'try, try again.' It's more along the lines of 'we're not in Kansas anymore, so stop trying to build a tornado cellar'.
Now I've dug out the sprouter a friend gave me years ago and am at it again. The pics above are the lentils that we sprouted. We *LOVE* sprouted lentils. My kids ate one entire tray as I was trying to locate the camera to take the pictures for the blog!
Caught YOU!!
She doesn't look scared does she?
Yes, I think we like them.
I'll do black bean sprouts next and then when I get some garbanzos.......mmmmmmm.....
Faith
We love sprouts. It's like gardening for dummies. Easy peasey....except I did actually flunk sprout class the entire time we lived in Honduras. Something about the mugginess - my sprouts molded before they were ready every. time. I. tried.. So I quit trying for a season. There's a moral to a story for ya....and it's not 'try, try again.' It's more along the lines of 'we're not in Kansas anymore, so stop trying to build a tornado cellar'.
Now I've dug out the sprouter a friend gave me years ago and am at it again. The pics above are the lentils that we sprouted. We *LOVE* sprouted lentils. My kids ate one entire tray as I was trying to locate the camera to take the pictures for the blog!
Caught YOU!!
She doesn't look scared does she?
Yes, I think we like them.
I'll do black bean sprouts next and then when I get some garbanzos.......mmmmmmm.....
Faith
Monday, March 8, 2010
From one of the devotional books I read over and over and over.
You Are My Hiding Place - a 40 Day Journey in the Company of Amy Carmichael. Arranged by David Hazard
Just His Touch...
As many as touched him were made whole. Mark 6:56 KJV
Many of us try to have a regular quiet time. As we do so, may each of us touch at least the hem of His garment, and receive wholeness in the matter for which we seek Him (Matthew 9:20)
One knows when this has occurred. It is a day when something happens that is different from just reading our Bible or devotional book, or even just praying and asking for the thing.
We touch Him, and all is changed.
What happens? And who can tell how it happens?
We only know that something has passed from Him to us:
Courage to do the difficult task we feared.
Patience to bear with that one particular trying person.
Inner strength to go on when we were sure we could not.
A sweet freshness in our spirit, complete inner happiness, deep-flowing peace.
God's way of passing by, of letting His "hem" come near us, is to take some single word in His Book and make it breathe spirit and life to us. Then, relying upon that word - meditating, feeding our soul on it - we find it is suddenly possible to go from strength to strength.
True, there is always some new, even daily challenge in our lives which call for revitalized faith. And we can choose to go on with God. But He always passes by. There is always the word waiting in His Book, which will meet us where we are and carry us further on. True, it will be a fight to the end - Paul calls it "the good fight of faith" (1Timothy 6:12). But full provision is made for victory in that fight.
And so, whether the struggle that engages us has to do with our inner life, or our outward circumstances, there is nothing to fear. "For your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).
We need never, and by His grace we shall never, be defeated.
Thou Givest - They Gather: 4-5
My father, I believe I see it now. I always want you to do something FOR me. (Or at least to clear the way, so I can do it for myself.) And you want to do something IN me.
Now I see that you want to come with your word and your powerful Spirit, and splice them together with my words and my spirit.
I have wanted answers. You want us to become one....Thank you, for your unending patience with me.
Just His Touch...
As many as touched him were made whole. Mark 6:56 KJV
Many of us try to have a regular quiet time. As we do so, may each of us touch at least the hem of His garment, and receive wholeness in the matter for which we seek Him (Matthew 9:20)
One knows when this has occurred. It is a day when something happens that is different from just reading our Bible or devotional book, or even just praying and asking for the thing.
We touch Him, and all is changed.
What happens? And who can tell how it happens?
We only know that something has passed from Him to us:
Courage to do the difficult task we feared.
Patience to bear with that one particular trying person.
Inner strength to go on when we were sure we could not.
A sweet freshness in our spirit, complete inner happiness, deep-flowing peace.
God's way of passing by, of letting His "hem" come near us, is to take some single word in His Book and make it breathe spirit and life to us. Then, relying upon that word - meditating, feeding our soul on it - we find it is suddenly possible to go from strength to strength.
True, there is always some new, even daily challenge in our lives which call for revitalized faith. And we can choose to go on with God. But He always passes by. There is always the word waiting in His Book, which will meet us where we are and carry us further on. True, it will be a fight to the end - Paul calls it "the good fight of faith" (1Timothy 6:12). But full provision is made for victory in that fight.
And so, whether the struggle that engages us has to do with our inner life, or our outward circumstances, there is nothing to fear. "For your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).
We need never, and by His grace we shall never, be defeated.
Thou Givest - They Gather: 4-5
My father, I believe I see it now. I always want you to do something FOR me. (Or at least to clear the way, so I can do it for myself.) And you want to do something IN me.
Now I see that you want to come with your word and your powerful Spirit, and splice them together with my words and my spirit.
I have wanted answers. You want us to become one....Thank you, for your unending patience with me.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Foodie Friday
Meat.
I didn't take a picture of the stand (should have) because I didn't think to bring my camera on the quickie outing but boy howdy, did I realize what a photo opp I missed when I saw that cow sticking out it's tongue at me while I waited for my order.
Literally. Only the cow tongue. Laying out there in all it's gory....er....glory.
Next week. I promise. :)
In the indoor market in Mitla there are all the fruit stands, then bread and baked goods, flower stands, juice stands, food puestos where you can grab a bit and then you go into the meat section. Each type has it's own area. I already showed you the chicken section. There's also the beef section, and the pork section.
Yesterday, I needed hamburger - carne molida. Carted myself off to the beef section. Not busy....whew. Looking around at all the various items out for my perusal....and trying to breath only through my mouth because 'tis a wee bit fragrant. I didn't see the hamburger but just started asking if they had any. The gals says "SURE" - and grabs a REALLY NICE LOOKING CHUNKS of round roast and grinds that baby right up for me.
Impressive AND fresh.
The catch: Here I was thinking I was being all frugal and eating inexpensively and then about choked when I realized that kilo of hamburger cost 80 Pesos!!! Ack! That's around $3 a pound!!! Yowzers. It only added insult to injury that we could've had that really pretty round of the roast for the same price. :) At first I thought I was paying the gringo price but after talking with a few people that is within the range of normal for hamburger.
Oh well.
In the future if we are going to eat beef - we will probably get the pretty cuts. So you all will forgive me when my kids say 'we don't eat hamburger anymore - we eat steak instead', RIGHT????
Living and learning,
Faith
Thursday, March 4, 2010
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