Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas.

I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas. I will be heading home "Maryland" today and then later up to PA. to visit with my parents. These past few weeks have been a blast, but busy. I felt I saw myself coming and going at the same time. The week after our ladies fellowship a friend of mine called and told me her husband had left her for another women. I invited her to stay with my.. Bethany and I went to pick her up and she stayed with us for two nights... plus her three children. We had a good time to encourage her, however after those two night I was exhausted. (My friend's name is Evelia keep praying for her she is having a difficult time.)

Early Saturday morning after we dropped Evelia off I went with the youth group to our finial end of the year party. We went to the amusement park. Let's just say I don't feel as young as I thought I was. A few days after celebrating with the youth we had our ABWE Christmas party. It was fun, but Bethany and I were responsible for 4 pies, mash potatoes, and the turkey. So much for being single and only bringing the drinks. Turkeys are expense to buy here. It cost us 440.00 pesos which is about 44 dollars. During the preparation of the pies our lights went out because the light box were our fuses caused a fire. Thank God for answered prayer, because our electrician was able to come right away. About two hours later in Mexico time. He put on a temporary fuse. The next day he came and changed the box. With material and labor the cost was only 30 dollars. Less than our turkey. Then later I was able to celebrate with the kids from kids club. This past Saturday we had a cantata a singing group come to Los Olivos. They presented the gospel message through song. It was exciting because on of the mothers of the children from kids club came forward .

Pictures from the Christmas ladies fellowship

English students
Making cookies..... Craft time... Thankfully it was a nice day to have it outside. YUMMMMM cookies.....

Zina in the red shirt and Estolia in the plaid

Ladies Christmas Fellowship

Thanks for your prayers this past Saturday for our ladies Christmas fellowship. The days before the event I thought it would never happen. I was praying for God's blessing and YES He did bless. Bethany and I invited over 5o women to fellowship. On Saturday about 35 to 40 women came. Yes it was a bit tight in our house. We did set up a tent with chairs and a tables outside too. Bethany lead the devotion, the True Gift of Christmas. We had about 10 women who were unsaved attend, the rest were regular church attenders. All went well, cookies and crafts were made. (Although none of the cookies seemed to stay at our house). Everyone seemed to have a good time. I also want to give a special thanks to Zina Allen another ABWE missionary that helped with the big event.

God is in control

Last week Sofia in the arms of her grandfather, Nelson Morales, today in the arms of the Lord!

Yes we know God is in control, but sometimes it is easier to say the words then to live by them. I say this because last night I received some terrible tragic news. Nelson Morale's baby granddaughter died. Her name was Sofia Nicole. She had just completed a year old on November 2, 2007 and God took her home yesterday November 25. My heart breaks for their family. Pablo (Nelson's son) , Sara, and Alex (Sofia's older brother 4yrs). Please pray for this family because during this time I am sure the parents must be thinking if only we had...... That God would comfort their hearts and for them to know it was an accident. ( Sofia was asleep when they returned home from church so they placed her in her car seat in the bedroom. Later they went to check on her and found she had suffocated from the straps on her car seat. ) I know many parents who do this and their children are fine.

Also pray for Pablo and Sara because they did not have health or live insurance for Sofia. Pray God will supply their financially needs. If you would like to help financially please email me.

I wanted to share this pray request with you all because Nelson and his family are special to me. When I first arrived in Mexico they were the ones that helped me out with everything.

Thanksgiving

HAPPY BELATED THANKSGIVING

Sorry about the cartoon... but my coworker put it on her blog and I thought it was funny and wanted to share.

I had a great Thanksgiving. Several of us missionaries from different mission boards got together to share a meal. It was a nice time of fellowship and playing games. The best story of the night was when Dave, the missionaries house we were at was telling us about how he got the turkey we ate for dinner. Here is part of the story, and of course it is better to hear it live, well Dave and Joanne thought it would be nice to buy a live turkey from one of their friends that raises turkeys. Dave thought it would help this lady financially and he would also be able to come away with a good turkey. First he picked the turkey he thought was best and then he and the lady had to cut off it's head. The lady took the machete and hacked at the turkeys neck. The first blow did not cut off the turkey's neck so she had to do it again... GROSS. Well after they cut off the head Dave had to hold the neck over a bucket to catch all the blood.. YUCK.... He said the turkey would not stay still and it was flinging all over so he said he was covered in blood. Finally when he got off all the feathers, he realized the turkey was all fat and did not have much meat...

I think I will stick to buying my turkeys at the supper market....

Dark Days in Mexico

Chocolate skulls to place at the alters. It is "good luck" if someone gives you one with your name on it. It means you will live another year.

Sugar skulls. I saw these in the store and two days later when I went back they were sold out.

Below are two samples of how the alters are build for dead relatives. Usually it includes mums, crosses, candles, food the dead would like and candy skulls.

Yes the nights are now dark at 6:00 P.M. It is always an adjustment to the time change. Mexico City changed the clocks back last weekend.

However if you are reading the title of this blog I am not only talking about the darkness in the afternoons, but the Spiritual darkness. Today was the official Día de Meurte or in English the official Day of the Dead. The majority of the have the weekend off so they left to go on vacation, the city is not quite so busy. Many people I saw today were buying mums and food to make their alters. It was sad to see the people spending money on something that is satanic for their dead ancestors. Yesterday they made alters for the children who have died and their families, and today the alters are for the adults. People spend up to a month or two months worth of salary to buy items for the alters. Pray for Mexico. They need to understand the truth.

Hair Cut

Today I went in the afternoon with Bethany to get my hair cut. Usually I go to a lady in Los Olivos who only charges a dollar to cut my hair. However I decided to go with Bethany to the place she goes to. I am not one who usually worries about a bad hair cut so a new place didn't scare me. Bethany and I walked in together and we sat a different parts of the salon. I told the hairdresser this was my first time in the salon and I had come with my FRIEND. She then replied to me that she thought Bethany was my DAUGHTER. Now I sat in the chair thinking to myself do I really want this lady to cut my hair??? Do I really look that old???? Bethany and I are 13 years apart, so I could be her mother if I had a kid at 13. The hairdresser did a good job with the hair cut. I later told Bethany what she laughed, I still don't know if it was funny.

Suellen thanks for sending Mexico City some nice Gambian hot weather.. it looks like on Thursday it will be in the 70's at least outside will be warmer. It still is cool and cold in the houses and buildings.

No GAS

Okay Shelly, Bethany, and for the others who know me I am talking about no gas for our house. Yesterday we ran out of gas... which means we couldn't cook a hot dinner when we got home from Los Olivos. It also means we couldn't take a warm shower this morning. Once again it is 40 degrees outside. I was so cold in church my bones were hurting. It was rainy and misty all day the sun didn't come out at all. Usually the gas truck doesn't come around on Sundays hopefully tomorrow morning. I want a hot shower.

Pictures of the Brrrr

Me in front of our community
Bethany at our front door

Bethany and I leaving for our visit... It doesn't look cold but trust me it is. Today was also kind of neat because of the cold breeze it has cleared the pollution. We have been able to see the two snow capped volcanoes from the south of the city. One can see down town very clearly. This is not I repeat NOT something typical. Usually there is too much smog you can't even see the near mountain ranges. Bethany and I have been playing where's the volcanoes?? As we drive and change directions we have been locating them. Kind of like the game where's Waldo.

BRRRR

Tuesday a cold front came in... For those of you who think Mexico never gets cold .. WRONG!!!!
It was a cold 40 degrees. Which isn't too bad if you have heat in your house. The houses in Mexico don't have heat and few of them have carpet so it is tile floor and cement which keeps the houses cold. On Tuesday night Bethany and I went to visit a lady Vicky in Los Olivos. She has been having some problems with her marriage and has been depressed. Here are the pictures of Bethany and I leaving to brave the cold. I has a turtle neck shirt, wool sweater, jacket, hat, scarf, and gloves... and I was still cold! I will download the pictures later today or sometime soon because I got to get going didn't realize how late it was getting and I have kid's club.

One of Mexico´s saints

Yesterday after work I went to the movies with one of my friends. Wednesdays are the day to go because it is two tickets for the price of one. We went to see the movie The Santa Muerte. The Saint of Death for those who don´t speak Spanish. The movie is a Christian movie to combat the major following of the Santa Muerte. In the movie it depicted various types of people who follow this saint and why. It also made it clear that the people who are following this saint are really making a pack with Satan. Also in the film one of the characters presented the Gospel. After the movie my friend and I went to another friends house and later had a prayer time for the cities in Mexico. Many people female, male, children, adults, and even grandparents are following this lie. In Atizapan the town where I work there are two stores dedicated to this "Saint." I was in a regular department store on Tuesday and they too were selling statues of "santa muerte". An old man stood next to me and asked the sales clerk which one he should buy in order for it to help him.

If you google... Santa Muerte.... you can also get some photos and other information. Sometimes to see photos and read more information helps people to pray.
Pray because we know the Bible tells us we are fighting a spiritual battle... and to see the warfare sometimes is a bit scary.

Conference In Cancun

First picutre: Bruce Mcdonald. Second: Mexico City team. Third: Cancun sunrise. Forth: Hotel from the beach side. Fith: Me on a swing.

It has been a week since the conference in Cancun... I think I could minister in Cancun!!!

Our Mexico ABWE missionaries left Saturday September 22 to arrive in a cool rainy Cancun. I was a bit disappointed because our first day there was to be a free day. A day I thought we could go swimming or just relax on the beach. But God had other plans, we arrived and then three of us single ladies went downtown to finish some last minute "things" that needed to be done before the conference. The Conference started on Sunday morning. I was feeling a bit under the weather... We had some dynamic speakers and God used them to challenge us in different ways. The first picture is of Bruce Mcdonald an ABWE missionary who used to work with profesional athletes, but now has a misnistry encouranging leaders missionaries and pastors. We were also introduced to new methods of discipleship and evangelism. The main speaker was presenting on how to witness to Roman Catholics. The conference ended on Thursday afternoon. It was a bit disappointing for it to end, but when it ended the weather was perfect. Thursday some ladies who live on the Caribbean islands and us went to the mall to do some shopping. We had Friday and all day Saturday free to do what we wanted. Friday Bethany and I went snorkeling, and Saturday to the market and just hung out at the pool. Late Saturday night we left to come back to Mexico.... We arrived home around 12:30 at night... Back to reality.......

Birthday!!!!!

On Tuesday September 18th, I celebrated my 38th birthday!!! Boy time flies when you are having fun. I got up and my roommate Bethany made my favorite breakfast french toast... yummmm.... then we Bethany, Carol (one of my ABWE directors) and I went to change our tickets. Those of you who don't know next week or I should say on Saturday the ABWE team of Mexico is hosting the biannual conference in Cancun. Yes we will be working. After changing our tickets we headed to a friend of mines house out in the country. It was a joy to spend time with her and her kids. Then we came home had a special Birthday dinner made by Carol. She even made birthday pudding.. Pudding is not something we can get here in Mexico she brought it from the States. Later we celebrated with the rest of the team with cake and ice-cream.

The last picture is of me using the birthday gift Bethany got me... a foot soak.

Last note: You know your getting old when your mother calls you for your birthday and wishing you a happy 39th birthday and you are only on your 38th birthday...

Viva Mexico

Today is Mexico independence day.... El grito. Mexicans at midnight will yell the grito scream VIVA MEXICO!!! The roads are lined with Red, white, and green, lights and decorations. As I write this blog my neighbors have started their party maybe about 50 people cooking out. Tonight our church in Los Olivos is heading to the mother church to have a noche Mexicana. This will be a time of games, fun, and of course food. This Independence day will also be special because our directors are here from PA. ABWE.

This blog is dedicated to RICH DAVIS.... my ABWE director.. see I really do blog....

DAY OFF

Usually it is nice to have a day off in the middle of the week. I enjoy my day off as Thursday. Today is a day when rest is needed. Yesterday started with a phone call from a friend who told me another friend of mine, her mother was in the hospital. At 9 A.M. I went to prayer meeting at our sponsoring church and right after at 12 we had a pastor leaders meeting which lasted until 3. I left and then went to ministry kid's club. While there my helper told me this might be her last week helping. Really she has only helped a week. Then it was off to visit my friends mother in the hospital. I went with Carlos our pastor. We arrived about 6:15P.M. What a cultural shock it is to go into a public hospital in Mexico. I felt like we were in a cattle call, people were standing everywhere. I also thought what a blessing it is to have good health care. This hospital was like nothing I had ever seen..... maybe like 50 years ago in the States. My friends mother was stabilized when we left. By the time I got home yesterday it was 11:00 P.M. ... but as many of you know you can't just fall asleep after a day like that.
Thanks for your prayers for this last Saturday... The jovenes really enjoyed the ministry day.

Their off

Several of us headed to the airport last night to wish Eleazar and Susi a final farewell. Okay it was not adios it was only a hasta luego. Adios in Spanish has the connotation that you will never see the person again. Hasta luego means until later... They will be in Germany for four months, finishing up what needs to be done with their mission board. Anytime I go to the airport it makes me homesick. I wanted to jump on a plane and head out too. I always find it is harder to be the one who stays then the one who leaves.
This past week was a bit crazy weather wise. Hurricane DEAN hit Mexico twice. We got some of the effects on Wednesday. It started to rain about 10:00 in the morning and didn't stop until sometime late at night.... Any time it rains and rains hard here in Mexico the roads become rivers. It made driving a mess on Wednesday!!! Next time I think I will buy one of those cars that turns into a boat too.
Today we have a special activity with the young people. Pray many new young people will come out.

Opps

The blog below this one should read the 16th not the 9th. Sorry this blog stuff is new

STRESS

Yesterday I went to get my car worked on. The check engine light has come on and I want to know if there is a major problem or not. I don't want to be driving around town and break down. It is stressful enough in the States, but much more stressful in Mexico. My roommate asked her Mexican father if he could help us out. We arrived at his house at 8:30 in the morning. We wanted to get an early start. When we got to the mechanic we waited for over an hour for him to arrive. During our wait we ate tamales... When the mechanic arrived he said he could not help us.... We then went home and ate breakfast again. About an hour later we went and had my tires and alignment done. The great thing about that was the price 180 pesos which is less than 20 dollars. Where is the states can you get your tires rotated, new shocks, and alignment for less then 20 dollars?

We then went to a mechanic for electrical service, he sent us to another mechanic... When we arrived the mechanic told us he could not do the work because he was so backlogged. Maybe another day. All in all we went to 8 different places for parts or service, and I still don't know why my check service engine light is on. We finished the day at 2:00 and then I headed off to work... without ever knowing why my check engine light is on.... It was a typical Mexican morning hurry up and wait... and wait... and wait....:)

When I arrived at work three of the faithful kids who come to kid's club told me this would be their last week. How sad. Next Monday they start school and they have their school session in the afternoon. I told them to come when they have vacation times.

Today I get to go get my passport, which came in a week. Last week I went to the American Embassy to get it renewed. The delivery service came yesterday and left me a note which said I have to come and get my passport. It sound easy, but... we will see. I guess it is much faster to get your passport in a different country. In one week I have my new passport. WOW that was fast.

Birthdays

Happy Birthday... Or as they say in México Feliz Cumpleaños. On Saturday the 4th my mom completed 70 years. On Sunday the 5th my name sake Darlenecita completed two years. Just a weekend of birthday celebrations.

Life around town in Mexico

Brains!!! My friends love brain tacos. I can honestly say I haven't tried them yet. Don't think I will try them any time soon. One of my friends Letty her favorite taco meat is eye. Another meat I am NOT going to rush out and eat..

Living life in a big city can become interesting. Yesterday I went downtown to get my visa. Por fin!!! Only 3 weeks late. Three weeks of riding the buses. I am very thankful Mexico City has great public transportation. It is easy to get around when you can't drive. However yesterday when I was on the bus the weirdest thing happened to me. I was sitting in the back with several other people when this older lady boarded the bus and sat next to me. She must have been in her 60's or maybe even 70's. Nothing odd about that... HOWEVER about 10 minutes into the bus ride she started to slump over. I grabbed her because I thought she was going to fall out of the seat onto the floor. I kept asking her if she was okay, but she did not respond or sit back up. I was rubbing her back to try to get a response. I really thought she was having a stroke or was dying. I looked to the young man next to me for help. Maybe this older women didn't understand me. He must have had the same face I was wearing... I don't know what we are going to do. He then started to ask her if she was okay. Again there was no response. A few minutes later she sat up and then looked at me with this blank stare like she didn't know where she was or what had happened. Again I asked her if she was okay. She still did not respond. I though maybe she can't hear. When she sat up from her slump she put her arms in my lap and proceeded to rest until she felt better. I didn't know what to do. The only thing I did was pray for her when I got off the bus. I sure hope she is alright.

Ministry is going well Eleazar and Susi got married on the 15th of July. It was a nice wedding. My helper who is helping with kid's club and Bible club hasn't been with me for the past two weeks. I have been on my own in ministry but God is providing great opportunities with the kids.