For His Glory

That's life....

2008-11-10T21:56:00.000-08:00

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....

2008-10-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-17T22:28:00.001-07:00

Interns

2008-10-17T22:03:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-08T21:16:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-07T19:52:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-06T20:22:00.000-07:00

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!

Iglesia Familiar Christiana - Pandaristas

2008-10-06T19:26:00.000-07:00

We have "pandaristas", or girls with tambourines and coordinated dance during each worship time. These girls practice every week. They are required to do Bible study, journal everyday and memorize scripture!
The girls were blessed with new tambourines (pictured are the old tambourines) this summer from a visiting mission team. It really blessed them and the sound is great! Our youth are very strong in the church, they practice choreographed dance and skits. Frequently they perform at church, but the real reason they create the dramas and dance is to use them for outreaches.

This is the road to our house..you should see it in the rainy season, what a mess!

2008-10-05T16:15:00.000-07:00

From For His Glory

This is a view from the terrace of the home of our friends, Walt and Nancy. Sigh....isn't God amazing?

2008-10-05T16:04:00.001-07:00

From For His Glory

Crossroads Community Church, South Carolina

2008-10-05T15:51:00.001-07:00

A team of 23 visited our area for a week and set to work right away! This team, from South Carolina, had been to the lakeside area before, but this was the first time they were hosted by Shepherd's Heart. It was a good partnership! The team went in several directions for work projects each day. During only one week this team tiled the entire Church of the Holy Spirit in Chapala, did haircuts for our boys home, prepared the new house for the boys by sealing the roof, working on the grounds and doing various wiring projects. They held prayer walks in several cities, helped to establish our Thrift Shop and took the boys from Hope House and children from Love in Action to Tobolandia water park for a day of fun.
We are hoping for a long term partnership with this church and are anticipating many teams to come and serve in Mexico.
Our intern, Lydia Hopkins, is from CRCC.

Tennessee Team

2008-10-05T15:34:00.001-07:00

This is our first mission team from the summer. What a great group of people for Rich and I to meet, know and have for our maiden voyage of hosting teams.
All are from Tennessee. The group included Doctor Ken Turner and his family, two nurses, several teens and Nikki Bowie, who is now on the board for Shepherd's Heart Ministry.
We were able to complete several projects, including: medical clinics,preparation work on the new grounds for the church in Ixtlahuacan; ministry to the kids at Love in Action and a trip to a water park for the orphanage as well. Everyone left feeling that they had accomplished much for the Lord. We look forward to the return of some of the team in the future!

A Slideshow of various places in Ixtlahuacan, where Rich and I live

2008-10-05T14:52:00.000-07:00

The Thrift Store

2008-10-04T22:54:00.000-07:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Rich Preaching and Teaching

2008-10-03T22:37:00.001-07:00

For two Sundays, September 21st and 28th, Rich once again spoke at The Little Chapel near Ajijic. I so enjoy being there when he preaches. It is interesting watching this man that I love standing in front of a group of people and teaching the Word of God. He speaks so well. He can project his voice to the back of the room, he speaks clearly and with great diction, he does not stammer or say "uh". This gentle, quiet man becomes a powerful force, speaking with passion and authority. I learn something new every time, and he makes you want to get into the Word. I admit, I am his biggest fan and cheerleader, but those that hear him confirm these things.
He started teaching a new Bible Study to a group of English speakers from all around Ajijic, and from various churches. He was asked to take over an existing group whose teacher had to move back to the US. The first day, he explained that he was not taking anyone's place, but that he would teach the Word. He knows that some will want to stay, but others may want to leave. He is not offended by people's choices, but has a confidence that God will use him for what He wants, and for who He wants. I marvel and Rich's correct understanding of who he is in Christ.
I see this as a time for Rich to grow into the calling that has always been on his life. Keep him in your prayers!

2008-09-29T16:46:00.000-07:00

Our best friends in Mexico, Walt and Nancy, had their only daughter's wedding in their garden this past weekend. It was a wonderful event, full of love, color and joy. Small by most wedding standards, we marveled how they put together a garden wedding for 70 with guests from US, Thailand and Mexico! Our mutual friend, Pastor Moises did the ceremony in Spanish. It was translated for the benefit of all.
Kirsty, the bride, had her flower girls drop peacock feathers in lieu of rose petals. Her dog, Fossil, was the ring bearer! The dog was amazing! The wedding was video casted over the web to onlookers in the states that did not come down. How cool is that? I am never ceased to be amazed at those with technological genius.
Rich and I helped pick up people at the airport. It was fun to meet the friends and family of the wedding couple.
The day was beautiful. We had been having lots of rain and overcast days, but God answered the prayers of all with a glorious sun filled day. The fountains gurgeled, the air was filled with the aroma of Arranchera (skirt steak -- a Mexican specialty and oh so yummy!), music and laughter. During the meal at just the right moment, Mariachis strolled in playing "Guadalajara". What a delight to hear their music. The bride's brother and his band played for a few hours as well, a soft, contemporary light jazz sound that was the perfect background for the day.
I cried of course as vows were spoken.
It was a thrill to share this special time with our close friends. We had talked and planned with them for months for this.
Mexico...it is a unique place, full of romance and joy.
Congratulations to Kirsty and Will!!!

Time to communicate more

2008-09-26T21:18:00.001-07:00

I opened this blog months ago hoping to keep updates going for anyone interested. Then, summer hit and it was crazy!!! It was a lot of fun. We welcomed two interns (one of them is our daughter Havilah!). The girls have been great fun. We had two teams come down for mission trips. Rich and I had a great time
hosting them and "learning by experience" how to put together short term programs. More about them later.
To the right is a photo of one of the boys from Hope House, Mario. Mario is one of my many new "mijos" (a slang for "mi hijo", or "my son". The Hope House home for boys is now a reality after months of preparation. We took the boys out most every Saturday for swim outings or other adventures. It was a labor of love!

2008-02-25T19:27:00.001-08:00

The "Madres" (mothers) of Mexico are everywhere. Their weathered faces, their eyes reflecting the wisdom learned from daily life and their wrinkled hands that have lovingly worked to care for their families create a picture that indicate a thousand fascinating stories.
This particular woman is found each day in a local corner store.

From Mexico with Love

2007-10-29T19:28:00.000-07:00

Six months and counting.

We have been in Mexico that long. I think we are just getting our footing! It has been a time of joy, sorrow, change and grieving. I don't think either Rich or I understood the intensity of the call to missions until being in it full time. We have had to grieve the losses of our previous lives and leaving our children behind. We are learning to live with less conveniences, bumpy roads, scorpions, the laid back lifestyle of Mexicans and being together 24-7! These things are all adjustments.
Add to that new food, new climate (5100 feet elevation here), new language, new way to do everything (from shopping to bill paying)...well the list goes on.
Language school is arduous and time-consuming. We are speaking at about kindergarten level! It is hard not to be able to express yourself fully. However, I can shop at the tiangues (out door market), answer most questions and ask for directions. That counts for something!
Finances have been a strain, our support has dwindled, along with our savings. I have lost a nephew unexpectedly, a friend has passed away, and my sister had major surgery. Being in another country during all that is tough!

However, we are here, preserving with God's grace and growing in Him. Both of us are being refined and though it is painful, we are more grateful for that than words can express.

In an effort to share our life here, I have created this blog spot. This old dog is indeed learning new tricks!