A New Blog

Since our lives have taken a slight turn in direction I (Faith) have started a new blog.  We're still trying to work through why but it seemed such a shift a clean slate, so to speak, was created. 

Here is the new one if you'd like to drop by.  Each of you has been hugely instrumental in our lives, ministry and through thick and thin, that we want to offer continued participation from you if you'd like.

I'm planning on sending out a blanket email to update and redirect but that will be the last time I do that.  I understand that in this day and age, we are bombarded by media and we don't want to be one more cymbal unless you want us to.  :)

God Bless,

Faith - for the zoo... 

Foodie Friday

Lunch.

This is the hardest meal for me to be creative with. Frankly, it's usually leftovers but I have good eaters and lately between them and the lack of interest I've had in cooking well....I'm revamping.

THIS is our new lunch menu at least once a week. Maybe more....if I need it to be. :)

Fresh Bread
Slices of Cheddar Cheese
3 apples

I may get creative some days and add in veggie sticks but I was too tired today.


I have THE BEST bread recipe in the whole world that is a huge hit for our everyday, go to bread so I'm reimplementing it into the rotation.







Mother Bread - from my sweet friend Kate

2TBS yeast
2 tsp sugar
1 c. very warm water

Combine and let sit for 5 minutes

Then add 1 cup of flour. Let rest additional 20 minutes.

Then add:

1/4 c. butter (or shortening if you want but I prefer real food....:))
1 c. sugar (I usually short this quite a bit)
1TBPS salt
3 c. very warm water

Combine then add in 8 more cups of flour (any combo you'd like). Turn out and knead, adding in at least one more cup of flour.

Let rise 'till doubled. Punch down and put into pans then let rise again 'till doubled.

Bake @ 350 degrees 30-40 minutes 'till golden brown. Brush w/ butter after removed from the oven and enjoy!!

This dough also makes fabulous cinnamon rolls....just sayin'.

I did this today and gee wiz....everyone was happy. Plus my house smelled fabulous so it's a win-win all around. :)

Faith

The Finished Product

This post is about furniture. Just so you know heading into it. :)

For years I've been dreaming of a particular style of table. Back in the day, I thought I had found said table. The problem? It was around $1900. (And the chairs we're like $100 ea....) So of course, we decided that we'd rather eat than have a table to sit at so I back-burnered that idea.

Well, during a perusal of a thread on the Sonlight forums regarding decorating (why *I* was there we'll never know...) I ran across THIS.

Oh my goodness - it was THE table!!! How handy, we didn't have a table other than the one at the parsonage....so guess what I asked for from my hubby for my birthday and Christmas? :) I have a very creative and handy hubby so he altered where he needed to and created where he wanted to. :)

Here is the finished product and I am tickled pink at the results.

MY table has no nails or screws in it though because Alan wanted to try dovetailing. It's awesome. REALLY, REALLY awesome. He'll be building a bench and a few chairs as we need them. In all his free time of course....:)

So, as you can see, we have plenty of space for visitors. Come on over - we'd love to have you.

Faith

A Home Schooling Poem....

I read this at a friends' site and found it hilarious and encouraging at the same time.

Enjoy!

Faith


'Twas 10 minutes to midnight and all through the house
not a creature was stirring except for me and my mouse.
The curriculum websites were all bookmarked and filed,
while I had visions of great books to my ceiling being piled.
And me with my finger poised to click on the "buy,"
a little voice in my head said "Show some restraint - oh, please try!"

"Go away," I said. "I don't want a fight.
I'll get all free shipping if I purchase tonight!"
"It's not fair" I cried out, "they all look so good."
but the voice in my head said, "What if you could?
Do you think your children would know what to do?
They don't need more books, they just need more of you!"

I pondered on this - what was that voice trying to say?
Did it not realize what a deal I could get on e-bay?
I thought and pondered and wondered some more,
then slowly my eyes drifted to the books on the floor.
Three writing, three phonics, four grammar and more,
all sitting there unused except to prop open the door.

I remember the hours spent scouring the sites
and the money I spent would give Bill Gates a fright.
"Come away from the computer." My children would request.
"I can't," I would say, "until I've found you the best."
"But we don't want something different or new,
we want you to teach us like you always used to."

I remember those days when we had just started out.
"I will teach them myself!" I'd announced with a shout.
And teach them I did with good books I'd picked
and they learned and we laughed and it all somehow clicked.
So there I sat in the dark about to purchase some more.
My children as usual would find it a boor.

"No more," I said suddenly clicking the x on the page.
"I'll no longer be a prisoner in this curriculum cage."
We already have plenty and we have quite enough,
we don't need all the new flashy hyped up school stuff.
We'll get back to basics and learning when ready.
We'll stop switching our methods and stay calm and steady.

I'll use what I have and I'll create or borrow the rest,
after all it's always been I who know my children the best.
I know what they like and I know what they need.
I'll not be tempted again by curriculum greed.
I'll teach them to honor the One from above.
I'll teach them to laugh and to live and to love.

Then I'll teach them the things that will make their minds grow
and the things out of books that all kids ought to know.
I'll teach them that learning goes on everyday
but not just in books but in how they live and they play.
If when they are grown they remember one thing I've said,
I want them to hear "Knowledge is power." from the voice in their heads.

~Aime (from The Well-Trained Mind forums)

Randomness...

....or just some tidbits so you realize that I am far from perfect.

I love my husband.

I love my kids.

I really love my husband.

Our kids pick and bicker more than I would like to admit. Yet, they continually surprise me by their flexibility and the fact that they don't have nearly as many hissy fits as I feel I have had.

I've had a year that I wish to never repeat.

I home school our kids. This means we pay for good books, a great science class for them to go to, let our son skin and dissect dead animals and chase snakes, we buy Teaching Textbooks math programs and I drive to the library at least once a week. We talk a lot too...some days.

I am getting used to being back in the United States.

I LOVE Winco grocery stores.

I spend too much time on the computer.

I am content in the knowledge that God is God and I am not. He is completely sovereign and I am trusting his care in spite of the fact that things haven't gone as I thought they would....in much of anything.

I am a huge coffee snob.

I don't really love chocolate.

I get my nails done occasionally. My toenails are ALWAYS painted. Always. I would love to get spa gift certificates for every birthday, anniversary, and/or holiday for the rest of my life. My husband knows this and has fulfilled that wish more than once.

My whole family ballroom dances. Or we're trying at least. :)

I feel guilty over having things so easy these days.

I love to clean and organize, I hate clutter and would rather have one really good *anything* that costs more than 6 trashy versions of the same thing.

I can't decide if I'd rather live in an urban apartment or have 5 acres in the boonies.

I'm grateful for the last 5 years of adventure that we've had in different zones, countries, languages...but am learning that seasons come and seasons go and I will choose to not resent that fact. Now we get to be part of it from a different angle.

Working at keeping calm and carrying on,

Faith

Now What?

It looks like we're going to be living here (Vancouver) thanks be to the LORD for the job Alan has. So now what?

Living arrangements.

At the moment we're still living in the parsonage at our church. This place has been a HUGE blessing. Not only is it rather convenient to the 50 times a week we're at church, but it came furnished and with the invite to stay as long as we needed. :)

This is especially helpful when we remember that we sold IT ALL when we left five years ago. We did keep a few things in a storage unit for one year but frankly, after a year of paying for storage and living without those things, you begin to re-evaluate how much you need that stuff. So we went through it back then and got rid of even more.

So we're left with those odd ends and bits of life that only make sense to you as a person or your life up to that point. Pictures, wedding books, baby clothes, family heirlooms and china. So, bless my parents' heart - they let us store some things under their house and saved us a bundle.

We've culled through even more of that 'stuff' as we've been here. Man - do things go to pot quickly in storage....just saying. Yet some of those bits and pieces have been fun to have back again. Although the china is staying under the house though until we wind up somewhere permanent.

Permanent...hmmmmm....I don't even know what that looks like or feels like anymore. It's an okay thing but I will admit to feeling somewhat gun shy about making decisions that seem like they would be permanent.

Yet, here we are. For our family's sake, at some point we will be moving to a more permanent place of residence.

Not for a while though. A couple of weeks ago we met with someone about finding out where we stand financially with our options. Well....it seems 5 years on the mission field doesn't exactly show up in the work history, so we need to wait a bit longer to be legit.

Oh well. If there's anything I've learned over the past years it's that God has His own timing. It never looks like my expected either. For me now, it's enough to know that He will provide. I can look back and see that one quite clearly.

Faith

Foodie Friday

Okay - so I get asked this question all the time.

BEANS.

Yes, we still eat them. Yes, we prefer them to a lot of things. The fact that they are cheap and easy only adds to their flavor for us. :) I am in love with the bulk food section at WinCo.

Here is my tutorial on how to cook beans. Or lentils which are another staple at our house. note: lentils don't have to be soaked overnight.

Do you have a crockpot? That is BY FAR the easiest way under the sun to cook any and all legumes I have found. I used a pressure cooker for a long time (boy is that fast!) but I need to replace a seal in the thing and switched to the crockpot vs. buying a part.

Rinse dried beans and put to soak in the crockpot.
Go to sleep.
In the morning, rinse again and cover with water.
Add one chopped onion, at least one jalapeno, a heaping spoonful of bullion (I use chicken but have been known to use whatever was available and we're still alive), and about 6-10 cloves of chopped/minced garlic.

Don't pass out. Garlic is your friend. BELIEVE ME. If you cook them without any seasoning - you'll never get the flavor up.

Turn on high for 6-8 hours and there you go. The longer they cook - the softer they get.

NEVER add tomatoes to beans before they're cooked. They won't get soft. Also, if your water level gets too low, don't add COLD water. Your beans will shrivel. I always cover with at least a couple of inches to start with and that's usually plenty to last through the whole cooking process.

I cook at least 2 kilos of beans a week. They freeze great (although ours never last that long) and are used in 90% of our meals.

You can use this method for any and all kinds of beans. Garbanzos are another really great one!

Buen Provecha....

Faith

Reverse Culture Shock....take 5,976,543,210

I have my moments.

Culture Clash is more than a noun. It can be more frighteningly so, a VERB.

I remember the first time we set foot back on US soil after 6 months of very fast and rushing 'immersion' into another country and oh my word, it was unbelievable.

Our first 'reward' to our children (yes, it was for the kids...really) was as soon as we crossed the border, having been through the long wait, paperwork, inspections, and questions from both sides - we drove straight to a Wendy's. Thankfully there was one within about 30 minutes of the border. It was part of a truck stop, which is kind of a study in cultures itself, and we almost cried over a double stack and a Dr. Pepper. The kids just looked at Alan and I as if we'd lost it, but whatever.

Mind you, this was back when my Spanish consisted of about 1st year level (and that was an improvement!) high school and we were living on rice and beans - because I knew those words and could identify those at the grocery store, so a hamburger was a big deal.

After the reward system we would make our way to friends' house for the mandatory 72 hours 'till we could go back down with new visas, si Dios permite, and start the process all over again.

We would come to the US armed with a list. One I'd been working on for the last 6 months. Jotting down every little thing that we would need for the next season that we couldn't find in Madera. Everyone had grown so socks and underwear and some shoes were a high priority on said list along with the other major food group we'd been living on. Peanut Butter. The town we were living in was pretty small and their stock and my ability to 'live off the land' was not as honed as it would become in subsequent years so Walmart was a HAVE TO trip.

So one day into our US stay - I made the trek to Walmart.

Now - I think I may have written about this before but I can't find it and since I'm getting this out before the youngsters rise and need to be fed and educated I'm going give you the short version.

A Walmart trip ALONE after 6 months in a teeny, weeny Mexican town in the mountains where you are the only one who speaks English and doesn't understand a lick of Spanish past 'frijoles y arroz' is plain ol' stupid. At that point I was ignorant of this little, albeit very important fact though, so alone I went. "I'm a competent adult and heck - I can speak this language so this will be a piece of cake!", she said confidently.

Pride goeth before a fall.

Did I mention I went for socks, underwear and peanut butter? I swear I walked in, looked around, panicked a bit - "Egads the lights are bright in here! Egads there are a million people in here! Egads there are shelves FULL of 5 zillion options! AAACCCKKK!" - and saw the HAIR PLACE. I did not realize that Walmart had hair places. I don't think I'm a horribly vain person but I'd been having my husband cut my hair for the last six months and the thought of someone professional (snort) cutting my hair shot across my mind faster than all get out and I could not remember WHY I was there. Not kidding.

Again - I swear I went in for sock and underwear. I came out with a PERM. No socks or underwear mind you, but a PERM. I hadn't had a perm since the 80s - but by golly I wound up with one then. It was surreal. I might add that you don't get great perms at WALMART HAIR PLACES either....not that it could've been improved on much anyway. It was a PERM for goodness' sake.

IF I'd had a friend with me - she could have coaxed me away from the WALMART HAIR PLACE and led me back to the underwear aisle and gently helped me decide boxers or briefs out of the 5 million options but alas, I hadn't thought to pack one of those in my arsenal of defense mechanisms against reverse culture shock. Heck, at that point I hadn't even heard of reverse culture shock.

I must be a person who has to learn through natural consequences. My poor husband had to live through them as well as he was the one who had to look at that permed head of mine (think white girl with afro) for the next six months (we didn't have any mirrors) and survive rags for underwear. My kids have blocked it I'm sure.

Oh well - he never let me go to a Walmart alone again. My natural consequences were not only for my benefit.

TO. THIS. DAY. I have yet to darken a Walmart door. I need a few more years before I venture there.

Apparently - this is not just a cross cultural phenomenon though. Who knew? I guess misery loves company.

Faith - who is a little bit wiser than she used to be. At least where Walmart is concerned.

Metamorphosis

Well -

Here this little blog sits. Frankly because I'm not sure what to do with it. It began as a contact for those who were in one of two categories. One: supporters. Two: related to us by blood or marriage and still wanted to speak to us even though we'd jumped ship, so to speak, and moved to Mexico with our three little kids.

It evolved somewhat into a journal of daily life living cross culturally. The nitty gritty along with spiritual applications and struggles we were having living on faith and many prayers. With the notorious mailing system south of the border it did make a great way to keep people up to date on what we were facing and what they were participating in - and tada - it became THE NEWSLETTER. Also, once I figured out how to post pictures it really upped the visual aids as well...:) Remember that meat picture? Or maybe you don't want to remember that....

So - now what. This has me completely stalled.

We are back in the USA. My husband has a regular job. I am doing regular things. I drive a car now for Pete's sake. I know of many who blog these days and am wondering in the value of one. more. blog. about general life. Really - what's the point? I'm not that skilled in any one area. I don't have parenting, housekeeping, cooking or homeschooling down to a science and I don't have that many brain cells left after 5 years of learning how to live one way to share much in how to make a 180 degree turn and do it pretty enough to publish the process.

Soooooo....that's where I'm at.

Faith

Merry Christmas at our house

Rainy. Cold; at least cold compared to what we've been accustomed to the past few years. Faith took Janelle to the dentist this morning, and with the HP plant shutdown for two weeks over Christmas and New Years I get to kick back with a second cup of coffee and take care of some odds and ends of things around the house that have needed to be done lately. Such as updating our poor, neglected blog.

As we thank God for all he's provided for us this year, we want to reiterate that we now have a sufficient and reliable income and are no longer living on missions support. Any monies received into our missions account in the New Year will be directed to continuing the work we have been involved with in Latin America, but we want to make sure that it's understood that we are no longer living on that account. For five years we have lived and worked on financial gifts, and in that time have never found ourselves in a position of need. God has been truly faithful, as have been His people, and we want to say a final 'Thank You' to all those who have walked with us over the past five years in our exploits.

On another note, for Faith's Christmas present this year she wants a kitchen table. We have a kitchen table; that is, there is a table in the house we are staying in. But she has wanted a kind of rustic, farm-style table for years, and recently found a design that she really liked. And with the afore-mentioned plant shutdown for two weeks, I have found the time to at least get a good start on it.

With a twist, though. When you mix engineering with sufficient free time and a natural interest in timber-frame joinery, what you come away with can get a little wild. At least, wild by Engineer standards. I'm going to try and build the entire table without fasteners. No nails; no screws. At least the lower part - legs, supports, apron. The table top will be planked, which may mean screws. Maybe hardwood dowels; we'll see. Although the idea of hewing the planks out of the forest by hand and dragging them home behind a mule and building the whole thing with hand tools is intriguing, it's not so practical, and I'm not abject to using power-tools, especially my router. My CAD system is 10 years old, so it's practically vintage.

The New Normal

A quick update:

Alan has a job. He's working full time as an engineer here in Vancouver. It looks like we'll be staying in the area longer term.

We need to invest in warm clothes, wool socks and a sun lamp.

For all that....we are thankful.

Blessings,

Faith

The Good....and the Good.

Janelle and I had a date the other day. We needed some girl time and with the other people involved in a few other things - the opportunity was too good to pass up.

It was great fun to hang out, look at things, and talk....just to two of us.

At one point I asked her how she was doing being back in the states. Her response?

"Fine." Hmmm....digging a bit deeper (asking a better question)...

"What is your favorite part about being back in the USA?"

"Well....I like being back with family and friends."

Clearer answer. Then I asked if she was missing Mexico.

"YES."

"What part?"

"I miss my friends."

Hmmmm....the good about being back is also the hard about being back. The good about our time there was new friends and 'family'. The hard was missing family and friends here.

You see where this is going right? We were incredibly blessed in relationships in our travels and service and we're missing them like crazy, but will be focusing on the good in all of it even though there are hard patches.

Faith

I'm Not Mature Enough....

...to update this blog.

As in change it up - update with exciting stories and actual current events, mostly because I don't feel like there's much to say.

There are some things going on so here goes.

We are not in Mexico anymore....physically. Therefore the title should no longer say "Hayes Zoo In Mexico". I did change that.

We've also included the new website of our partners in Oaxaca. It's in the sidebar and gets you some GREAT info on that region and work projects in reaching the unreached w/ the gospel. Even though we're not physically there, we're still watching and praying for them. A mission's trip is in the plan for the future and we have our 'piggy bank' set aside for funding audio bibles. Anyone want to join in? :)

As for what *we* are doing now? Well - job hunting is at a top priority. Alan has been blessed w/ some part time work and for that we are incredibly grateful. We're still praying about full-time employment.

The rest of us are home schooling and learning the balance of running at a United States pace. The kids were lamenting in the car the other day, 'We have to DRIVE EVERYWHERE!!!'. Every once in a while we have culture clash moments but I've had a numb brain for too long and have missed a bunch of 'em. Thank goodness those kiddos are flexible.

So even though Plan B hasn't shown up on the doorstep yet, we're doing our best to use each day to make right choices and watch closely.

Estamos esperando. We are waiting...and hoping.

Abrazos,

Faith

Even when we're not 'there'....

This is a copy of a note from our co-workers Jim and Jamie Loker in Oaxaca. I'm sure you've heard at least a blip of news about the landslides if you watch/listen to any kind of news. I will admit that I didn't know about it 'till late yesterday afternoon as it was a day where I was practically unplugged. Now I'm looking for updates every few minutes...

Devastation in Oaxaca among unreached people groups

by Jamie Loker on Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 7:48am

Dear praying friends,

It is with a heavy heart and a torrent of tears that we bring news of devastation in Oaxaca. Our hearts are aching and grieving for one particular people group that we have prayed for for many many years. Just a few weeks ago we shared how the translated New Testament was finally being recorded for the Mixe people of Tlauhui, and how we still want to see this unreached people group come to salvation in Christ.

Sadly it is too late for perhaps 1000 of these people who are presumed dead after mudslides washed their homes away last night as they slept. I am sitting here literally sobbing for those who are inevitably beginning their eternity of suffering and anguish without Christ. How is it possible that there are no known believers in that region after all these years? I pray that we are mistaken. Please join us in fervent prayer that the survivors' hearts would be softened to the gospel, and that physical help would reach them soon (roads are completely impassable for now), and that we can complete formatting the New Testament to be distributed to the Mixe of Tlauhui. Maybe this situation will open the door to ministry where we were forbidden to go before. That is our prayer.

May God have mercy on these people who have remained fiercely resistant to the Good News which is their only hope in these dark times.

Here is a link to the news we just received: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39398543/ns/world_news-americas

Yesterday we visited with our neighbor, Juan, a Chinantec pastor many short-term teams have worked with or at least prayed with in the past. His people, too, are isolated by mudslides, and food and supplies cannot reach them. The old landing field is overgrown with weeds, so no airplanes can reach them. Also the Mexican arm of MAF, Alas de Socorro (Wings of Help), has no permission to fly for now. Please pray that the officials would restore their papers so that help might be at least air-dropped to those in need.

Another area we have invested in is the Mixe region of Atitlan, where several teams have ministered in recent years with medical outreaches, showing the Jesus film, and Megavoice distribution. As far as we know, they are cut off from help as well. Please pray for a miracle that their food supplies would hold out. Their crops have all been washed away. It is truly a desperate time for so many we have worked with.

For us it remains simply a laundry problem since we rely on solar-powered (clothes line) dryers. It is almost inconceivable that these unrelenting rains have caused so much devastation. We are fine where we live. Jonny refused to take a shower yesterday afternoon, firmly expecting to get a phone call from neighbors needing help once their houses began to flood. It had rained non-stop for over 24 hours, and we expected the homes further down the road to be in trouble.

In the night, I slept fitfully as the rains continued, having a very uneasy feeling about the plight of the folks living on hillsides in surrounding villages. I am in agony now, realizing my fears had become a reality. I dreamed about this.

Bless you as you stand with us in faithful prayer. Thank you for passing this along to your churches and prayer groups. We will let you know if there is anything you can do to help in a more physical way. For now, please just pray.

Partners in reaching the unreached, Jim and Jamie Loker

If someone has forwarded this message to you, and you wish to be added to the mailing list, e-mail : prayerupdates-subscribe@lokerfam.com To reply to Jim and Jamie, write to jim-jamie@lokerfam.com

Thanks! 

End note: As of now the news is reporting a much more optimistic view of the actual number of dead. PRAISE GOD! May this be a catalyst of opening formerly closed doors to this area and people group.

Blessings,

Faith

5 years ago....

September 22, 2005

It is a day that is etched in my memory for better or for worse.

It is the day we arrived in Mexico. After 2 weeks in a truck with our life packed in the back of it, we made it across the border to a foreign country and a new life. Yowzers, was I 'green'.

Sometimes it seems a lifetime ago, other days....not so long ago. Familiar feeling isn't it?

We arrived thinking we were there to fill a particular role and be there for a certain time. That thought process lasted about 6 months then we realized things were not exactly as formerly perceived. God allowed us to be part of something bigger, more complicated. Then we moved on...several times - and now we're back in the US. This is NOT where I expected to be five years ago. Heck, it's not where I expected to be 4 months ago. In some sense it seems a giant step backwards yet, I know that everything is preparation for something...if I will let it be.

I will admit to having struggled a bit the last month or so (okay, so 3 months...whatever) in being here....now. I've felt it's all backwards and somehow I missed the correct exit off the highway. Yet, as I look over the last few months I see God's hand in placing us here.

There are pieces of enjoyment and excitement over having reliable utilities, smooth roads, and availability of basically whatever I feel like. I can speak the language without thinking too hard (although I do have to catch myself that I speak in English some days), I have resources for my children, family close, and I can DRIVE here. :)

Even still, I feel a niggling of something at the back of my mind or heart.

There is a scene from the Lord of the Ring Trilogy that haunts me a bit. It's in the 3rd movie 'The Return of the King' and Frodo is wandering through his house after the journey he went on and says this line...."How do you pick up the threads of a former life?"......

Egads. I know I'm short, but geez - that one hits a bit close to home. Maybe I'm more hobbit than I realize. We've seen outside the shire to the bigger world. We've fought certain battles and traveled dark and rugged roads. Seen some pretty evil things and had to stand close enough to get my eyebrows singed. Met new people, gained some understanding and a whole lot of empathy and gratitude for God's merciful hand.

I am glad for the chance we've had to look beyond our own corners but with that opportunity comes some sense of 'not belonging'. Just another peeling of the layers of self that God needs to remove to bring me closer to realizing this world is not my home. So don't mind me if I seem distracted. The last 5 years has not left me the same...thank goodness right?

I'll sign off with this last bit - I read this the other day and it resonated with me like nothing else has for a while. I guess, for today, I can sum up the lessons I've learned with this statement.

"Make God your permanent residence. Everything else is just temporary"

Is it ever.

Faith

home again, home again ....

Back home again - I arrived Wednesday evening after a fairly uneventful trip that lasted 15 days and included 5900 miles of driving. It was very good to see friends in Oaxaca again, sad to be packing up and leaving but very ready to be tying something off and now able to start making plans in some direction. The priority now is finding a job.

Thanks to all who were watching and praying during the epic journey to the center of the earth, or at least partway there. The trip included few legitimate encounters with police or military, but a couple interactions with local police in Mexico allowing me opportunity to tip them for their wonderful services, which I declined. The trip also included minimal mechanical problems and no accidents or major delays.

Back in the USA

I heard from Alan a couple of hours ago. He has crossed the border and is on his way to spend the night in San Antonio with friends of ours.

I don't have many details on the trip other than the dot he put on the google map online, but he's across the border, safe and sound.

Now, to get him home to ME. :) Oh yeah....something like 5 or 6 more states.

Muchisimas gracias,

Faith

Tomorrow

Thursday, the 2nd begins the trek home. Or to the states. Or back to the family. Or.....

Alan is packed and ready with loose ends tied off in our Mexican world and will be leaving in the morning. Someday I may write about how I feel about that but today it's 'just the facts, ma'am'.

The trip down was extremely swift with only one 'stop' and gosh, would I ever love to see that happen on the north bound trip, but I'm too much of a realist for that.

He is imagining it to be slower for two reasons.

*One - he's loaded.
*Two - with said load, he'll be much more 'interesting' to look at.

We would be thankful for any and all prayers on his behalf. I'll be sure to keep you in the loop.

Blessings,

Faith

To offer you some help, with humor, in gaining some 'international' perspective.

A friend posted this the other day and honestly....I wish *I* had written it, it's so hilarious.

I used to have a very warped, one sided view of missionaries and now that we've been international ones and are transitioning into stateside ones...well...I'm finding myself battling between my preconceived notions and reality...back to notions of what this whole 'thing' should look like now. Shoot.

I offer this to you today...some of it explains where we've been...some of it explains where we are, and hopefully you'll laugh with me, although I don't mind horribly if you're laughing at me either...

Enjoy.

Spotting a missionary. (& Caption this photo)

Aug 13th by Jon

#833. ShareThis

(In the Stuff Christians Like book, a book that declares and fulfills on the promise that God will make you rich if you buy it, I have a chapter about the danger of complaining around missionaries. You can’t whine about the amount of cinnamon in your coffee because most missionaries have a spider story that will trump your caffeinated woes. But how do you spot a missionary? Great question and one that Malin, a dentist missionary in Kenya answers in an awesome way. The photo of the family is the funniest thing I have seen in months. I love this post and hope you do too.)

8 ways to identify a missionary.

1. Missionaries wear funny clothing.

I never intended to where bright-striped Kikoi shirts with tassels. I don’t think my wife Sara imagined herself in Kanga dresses with large shoulder pads. But I’m telling you as my shirts begin to look like I was worked over in a rugby game. And as all of Sara’s dresses have strangely faded to the same shade of gray, those Kikoi shirts and Kanga dresses become really tempting. So at your next church mission conference if you see a missionary dressed like a banana, cut them a little fashion slack.

2. Missionaries throw car safety rules out the window.

My first week at Kijabe I see 8 missionary kids hanging off the roof rack of a Toyota Land Cruiser bumping down the road. The next day I see a baby girl in mommy’s lap cupping the steering wheel rounding the corner Britney Spears style. (I think the baby honked at me too?) Last week I see four teenagers perched on the doors of a Landrover like they are windsurfing. I don’t pretend to understand this recklessness, but on the other hand I think the car seat Nazis back in America have gone too far (8 years old and/or 80 pounds)? By this standard, once my small daughter Amelia reaches 16 years of age she may have to take her drivers test sitting in a Graco Snug Ride.

3. Missionaries can’t dance.

It’s a strange thing to live on a continent where tribal dancing is about as natural and common as breastfeeding in public; and not be able to dance. Go to a mixed church in Kenya and watch the congregation during the praise time. The Kenyans fall into a comfortable, beautiful, African rhythm. Then look over at the missionary. He wants to dance to fit in, but he’s really terrified inside. But he’s smart; he looks to the left to see how they are dancing. Then he jumps in. Clapping on the offbeat, shuffling his hips a little but not too much, and bouncing his neck like a bobble-head. Then the internal debate begins, “do I dance with elbows pinned to my waist or elbows out like wings?”

4. Missionaries seem to always be on “Furlough.”

What is Furlough? It is the time when a missionary leaves the field to come home. According to Webster’s Dictionary Furlough has 3 definitions:

1) A leave of absence or VACATION. (that doesn’t look good to your sponsors)

2) A temporary layoff from work. (It’s not a good thing to be laid off when the Big Guy is your boss).

3)A leave of absence from a prison for a prisoner (Did the missionary break-out from the compound or dutifully serve his full sentence?).

The connotations of furlough proved to be about as positive for the missionary as the former mascot “The Crusader” was for the Wheaton College student. Just like the Crusader; Furlough has also been discarded. So what is the current preferred term? A missionary now takes a “Home Assignment;” implying a task, a duty, a post or a position. Much more dignified!

5. Missionaries are longwinded.

I know when I meet someone and they start talking about their trip to China and all the cultures, towns, language, and people they met. Well, if the story is longer than a few seconds my eyes glaze over as all I can think of is, “But did you get to walk on The Great Wall?” So if I start talking about the Meru tribe, on the NE slope of Mt. Kenya, in Eastern Africa and their Bantu origin and your eyes glaze over…I’ll understand. You just want to know if I saw a lion on safari?

6. All missionaries have a prayer card and we never look that good in real life.

You know what I am talking about those cards with photos of the missionary family smiling, a snappy phrase up above, and always an “if you would like to partner in our ministry” that we all have sent out or given to you. We really do wonder…,do they make it on anyone’s fridge?

7. Missionaries sound different.

If I were to say to my patient, “How can I help you? What’s going on with your tooth?” it would elicit a blank stare from my Kenyan patients (I know my Swahili should be better). But if I were to say, “Tell me where the pain is biting you. Are your teeth shaking? Do you have potholes in your teeth? Do you want your tooth upended?” I’d be understood. We adapt to be understood.

8. Missionaries have big families.

More Kids means More Money. It’s true. Missionaries may be the only occupation I know of who earn an instant raise the moment they have another child. Almost all mission agencies (appropriately so) set a monthly stipend for their missionaries based upon the size of their family. Little Johnny is born and Bam… up goes their salary. I always though the Duggar family with 19 kids and counting (featured on TLC network) would be a great missionary family (I don’t think Jon and Kate and their 8 would still make the cut). Why would the Duggars be great missionaries? The Duggars are Christian. They built their own house. They homeschool. Because of their publicity as reality TV stars I think they could easily raise support. And my rough calculations show that with 19 children the Duggars would be living comfortably at a 200 K plus stipend per year, and their family is just getting started. And can you imagine sitting between the Duggar kids on a 12 hour plane ride to Amsterdam?

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Fun wasn't it?

Where I am right now is that 'We adapt to be understood.' line. I'll keep you posted on how that's going. I'm sure it will be hilarious.

Abrazos....

Faith

Hayes Landing

Alan and Duncan have made it to Mitla. They had a really long day yesterday but made it there safe and sound. :) No problems that day to speak of so that is a huge praise!!

Thanks for your prayers!!! I'll be emailing for the trip back...that's going to be the one where we ask you to pray for invisibility super powers. :)

Blessings,

Faith for the zoo...