That's life....

Living in another country is always an adventure.
I have been having pain in a root canal that I had done 3 years ago. I have gone to have it checked out several times and put off doing anything about it(hey, I am a missionary and money is tight). I knew from x-rays that I had debris in the bottom of the tooth left from when it was originally done. Pain would come and go, but I could live with it. Until last week....
I started having such pain and sensitivity to cold and hot, I had to do something.
So, I made the appointment I have put off for a year and went to a specialist.
It turned out that the molar next to the root canal was the problem. I had to have a new root canal!!!! The dentist worked 2 1/2 hours, and only finished 2 of the three roots. I had infection and swelling so she put off doing the third root until todya (one week later). I had pain all week and really was not looking forward to another long procedure. However, today I did go back and after another 2 hours finished with the procedure. I return for a cap in another week.
The dentists here are very good. My referring dentist is a Christian. The specialist came to her office, a beautiful little one chair office in the casita next to her house. She did all the work herself, with no assistant. My dentist was in the office helping to translate if needed, but not for any other reason. The two dentists talked the entire time, I listened, practicing my Spanish skills. I learned all about the specialists' courtship with her husband, the local goings on with the other dentists and other things.
The funniest thing was when the specialist continually used a lighter to sterilize needles and to soften the things put into the canal. I had several x-rays and just tried to relax. Oh, and I can't forget about the cell phone calls from her patients that took place while she continued to work.
Not a typical experience in the States, but this is Mexico. Everything here is more relaxed and friendly. Thank you Lord!!!

Not to mention....the procedure cost $1300 pesos...that's less than $130.00 dollars!!! My crown is only $500.00 pesos....less than $50.00 US. Same expertise, less cost.
(Still a chunk from the missionary budget, but in comparison, my last root canal in the US was nearly $1,000.00! YOu can however, feel free to send a donation!)

Things I have seen in Mexico....

• Cow crossing signs on the highway
• Dead cow on the side of the highway!
• Wild horses in our town and crossing along highways
• Dead horses on the side of the road!
• Fields of purple and yellow blooming wild flowers.
• People pumping gas into old coke bottles and water bottles
• A motorcycle used as the "family car". (There were 5 people, including small children and a baby -- riding on the highway!)
• A man with no legs begging daily at the local market.
• Hearing that you can get a loan at 30% interest from a man with no legs!
• A man with no legs putting his kids through college from begging.
• A snake inside my front door.
• Cows on my front porch
• Chickens on my front porch
• Rats the size of my dog roaming the fields next to my house
• Idols being carried in the streets from one town to the next, accompanied by fireworks.
• A man climbing a fireworks display that was about two stories tall, kicking loose the parts not igniting, while the whole thing was splaying out it's fireworks!
• While this enormous fireworks display was going on , the crowd of about 300 was only about 3 feet way!
• Tacos made of beef tongue, beef head, goat and sheep.
• Chicken feet for sale in the grocery.
• Scorpions that are black, brown, clear and some that were really fat!
• Children getting graded on making the most elaborate altar to the dead.
• A man hanging out of the back of a truck going down the highway painting lines on the road with a long stick, did I mention they were traveling fast?
• A man walking in the middle of the highway straight toward us in the dark!
• The biggest moon I have ever seen rising up over the mountain.....I had to pull over and marvel at it.
• Rain water coming out of the drain in my shower.
• Corn being grown on the side of the mountain.
• Dancing horses.
• Men and boys pulling off the highway, or anywhere for that matter, to relieve themselves.
• Small boys driving trucks!
• Four wheelers carrying 6 or more people on them, going REALLY fast!

A Classic Mexican Treat - Mariachi's at Lydia's Farewell

Interns

One of the things we are developing in our ministry is an internship program. This year, we started our program with two wonderful young ladies, our daughter - Havilah, and Lydia Hopkins - a recent high school graduate from South Carolina. We had a great time with the girls. Together, we explored what an intern program could be. This was are first try, so the girls were our "guinea pigs" so to speak. We could not have asked for better ones!
Lydia has a quick smile, a love for God and the enthusiasm of youth; she can also lick her elbow!! Havilah, of course, has our heart in a different way, but she is a gentle, loving, mature young woman with a passion for Jesus. We saw that God arranged this match (her and Lydia) for many reasons. Havilah helped Lydia adjust to living away from home for the first time and helped her to navigate living in a new culture, she was here for her in many special ways. Lydia provided Havilah with companionship and kept her laughing. They both encouraged one another in the Lord. Together, Lydia and Havilah took the first level of Spanish offered by a local language school.

Lydia's term has ended and she left us just recently. Change always comes in our lives, and no matter how prepared you are for it, there is still sadness. Our greatest joy is that Lydia has grown into a stronger young woman with a desire to pursue missions in the future. We will forever hold her in our hearts. Everyone that touches your life helps to make it more of what God intended, Lydia was part of God's plan for us and we are thankful.

The Value of Friendship

I came to Mexico and realized many things. Friends are important in life. They help to make sense of things, they can listen to you even when you are not saying a word, they help you to laugh at life's events, and just aid in making life easier.
We gave up a lot of things when we moved, one of them was being with our friends (you know who you are!), God, however, in His wonderful way of showing His care for us, gave us new friends. I personally think that friends are His way of revealing Himself to you in an intimate way..we all reflect Him differently, like facets on a diamond.
We met Walt and Nancy at church, then they followed us to language school :-) (That was it, when you suffer through language school, you are bound by a glue that few others can understand!!)
Walt and Nancy let us come to their house every week, it is located in the lakeside community of Ajijic. They feed our souls with laughter and great discussions. They feed our spirits by letting us sit on their terrazza and enjoy the best view in Ajijic together. They have fed our flesh with great food and satellite TV. I never watched Survivor until I came to Mexico!! It is like we get to have a mini-spa vacation for several hours each week.
I am including pictures of some of the beauty of their home, of Walt and of Nancy's feet -- (she would not like to see her photo all over everywhere!)
In this chapter of our lives, we are grateful for new friends and fondly think of all the other friends in our lives that have given us the courage to be where we are today!

Cell Group

Tonight we had our weekly cell group. Rich has been teaching on the Holy Spirit, basing the format on the book; "The Spirit of Christ" by Andrew Murray. We had a great discussion. The group is bi-lingual, being translated by our friend, Fabienne.
One of the people attending is Jose (Jose can speak some English). He and his wife, Mari Elena, are good friends of ours from church. We have been with them frequently over the past year. We love this couple, they are humble and kind, and we can share and laugh with them. Rich and Jose really connected early on, he can share with Rich freely.
Jose has struggled often with bouts of drinking. Tonight, he was very joyful and thankful to God, reporting that he and his wife are having a peaceful time in their marriage. They are feeling blessed and content. He is working steadily in town, and she is helping at the Hope House cleaning part time. He has not been drinking for months. We are so thankful to be able to be part of their lives!

Iglesia Familiar Christiana

Rich and I regularly attend a small Mexican church in Ixtlahuacan. In English, the name is the Family Christian Church. Our pastor is Samuel Dorantes. He and his family live in Guadalajara. They faithfully drive 45 mins. to an hour one way to minister to the people here. They arrive on Friday night and stay through Sunday in the church (which is a house on a large piece of land -- but the house is full of mold!) They come each Wednesday as well. On top of that, he holds a full-time job! We admire their commitment.
Church meets outside. We have outgrown the porch, so we have a make-shift tent strung over a dirt area. The music is set up each service, dragging out the sound board, extension cords, computer for projected words and all the sound equipment. Everything is put together with extension cords and cables. It is a bit scary when it is raining and you see the musicians out in the open!
A normal service lasts about 3 hours. We sit on folding chairs placed on uneven ground. Can you imagine?
During the rainy season, we had rocks put on the dirt to keep down the mud. The tarps still leaked, but for the most part we were dry. When it is the dry season, the dust kicks up as the dancers dance! The solution for keeping dust down is to "water" the dirt before church.
The church has recently purchased some land in hopes to build a real church building some day soon. They have been saving money and praying for this for two years or more. Want to come and help them build??? Let us know!