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.