Christmas & Things Bsides

Hello All!

I thought I would add a bit to Derek's post (You know I always like the last word!). We had a great Christmas together. It was very different being away from friends, family, and snow!

We spent Christmas at the beach...and a day at the beach is not complete without someone getting pooped on by all of the seagulls....well, guess who was the lucky winner? Merry Christmas to me!

















And for those of you who wonder about some of the regular day-to-day things we do while working in Mexico...this picture's for you!

This picture was taken while we were in line yesterday to cross the us border. We waited in line for about 1 1/2 hours! We were in Mexico visiting some families who are in the mustard seed program. I think we waited in line almost as long as we were working...at least it felt like it!

The border lines are generally not this long, but we do spend alot of time waiting!

CHRISTMAS IN THE HEAT

It has been a new Christmas for us this year. We have found it to be a good experience for us. Although without snow it was difficult to make it feel like Christmas. On the 24th we were invited to Timoteo's and Pastor Ana's for supper. We went expecting to get some good mexican food that we really like, like tomalis, Kaldo, and beans, but we were surprised. We got turkey, gravy, and spegetti, and of coasre pop.

Then on the 25th we did our gift thing in the morning and then went and spent the day on South Padre Island on the beach.

It was a great Christmas, but we missed our families and friends.

(Jo wouldn't let me put a pic. of her in a swimsuit)

This is our Christmas dinner american style

The mystery of the sweater!

Hello all!

I am wondering if you can solve this mystery for me...We received a great package from Derek's Mom the other day. She put some of my warm clothes in it. You won't believe me, but it is cold here, and we didn't pack warm enough clothes...

Anyways, In the box was this great sweater, the only thing is...it's not mine...I've never seen it before, but I really like it!!

I'll keep it unless I've stolen someone else's sweater! So if it's yours and you need it back speak now or forever be without your sweater!!

THANKS EVERYONE FOR BLESSING US OVER AND OVER (even with great sweaters!)!!!
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU!!

Feliz Navidad

Wow! It's been too long since I updated everyone on the happenings in our life! We have returned to Brownsville/Matamoros for Christmas, and to help with the Christmas fiesta for the mustard seed program. We just had it today....It was terribly cold, but otherwise a very successful Day!

We have had a busy week preparing for this big event...



We made over 200 candy bags on Tuesday night. Some help from Phil & Karen's church arrived, so we made an assembly line and had a lot of fun!










Then we had to wrap over 60 gifts. Good thing Janet showed up to help, or I think we'd still be wrapping! She was a big help!







Well, all the hard work paid off because the fiesta today was great! The prepared a program for their parents, showing them all the things they are learning through the Mustard Seed Program.

(By the way, I'm not biased, but the little guy in the middle row with the blue jacket is the cutest! He's Urias - Our sponsor child!)



We served a great meal for the families. All the food was provided by a church in Brownsville. We had about 200 people there.

They really enjoyed it!


















We distributed a whole bunch of presents!!

I think that everyone had a really great time today!!

Interesting? Facts:

On my way to class today I saw: 1 cat 3 turkeys 7 chickens 10 dogs and 1 goat... and I`m only 1/2 way there! (I made an email pitstop) Betcha can`t beat that!

What to call it?

Hello all!

Sorry for taking so long to update our blog! We have really enjoyed spending a few days in the usa. We spent American Thanksgiving with family friends of Phil & Karen's. Turkey and stuffing was a really great treat for us!

Karen & I have been busy this week. We shopped for Christmas gifts for 51 children (and you thought buying for your own kids was tough!). We bought gifts for each child in the Mustard Seed child sponsorship program. They have a Christmas party coming up in December...next item on the agenda: Wrap presents for 51 children!

We also had an opportunity to prepare for the 2nd semester of the ISOM Bible School (check out: www.ISOM.ORG). Derek and I are trying very hard to get caught up. We have been putting off writing our mid-term exam, but the final is coming quickly...so we'd best get at it!

We are heading back to Aldama tomorrow so we can get back to class!

Here are a few pictures from our last trip into the interior. Check the previous post for info:

We continue trying to take a picture that actually captures how amazingly beautiful it is here! We have not yet done it, but it gives you a bit of an idea?

We also got to see these guys from a place called Papantla. They dive off this really tall pole. Check this link: http://www.johntoddjr.com/37%20Voladores/voltest.htm





This is Samuel. He is a pastor we visited in Veracruz. He and his family will be relocating to Aldama to attend the bible school.



A pit-stop along the road. We stopped for a beverage...fresh coconut milk (mmm!) The guy just hacked off the top and stuck a straw in for me. Derek opted for the coconut cookies in the jars. Coconuts were 5 pesos (about 50 cents)

This is the bonus picture for this post...Derek on the hunt for a HUGE cockroach that was in our bedroom...He's still getting to hunt this season (although he's a bit jumpy)! We are not seasoned veterens yet, so cannot sleep until they are caught!

This week in Mexico...

Hello All,

We had a busy week this week! I was kind of having a rough week, so God knows what we need & when we need it!

We got an email from Phil & Karen saying they were coming to Aldama to visit. When they arrived they had different plans, so we left about 1/2 hour later heading off on a trip to visit some pastors etc.

We did alot of driving! Visited a pastor in a small city called Tamuin. We are bringing a group there in February, so wanted to discuss plans, etc.

We headed from there into the tropical part of mexico. It´s so beautiful! There were banana orchards, and coconut palms everywhere, while we wound through the mountains!

We arrived in a place called Matlapa, where we visited with a lady called Esther. Her husband is a MP for the Federal government in Mexico. He is under their president. Karen & Phil have been friends for a long time. They shared with her about the idea of the Bible School. She began to cry and said that she was begging God to allow her to take bible school training. This was not possible for her. God had showed her a dream and in the dream had said to her "It´s harvest time". She was so excited when we brought the bible school that she couldn´t go to right to her door! Interesting enough...it´s called Harvest Field Bible School!!
She is very excited about the posibility of getting the bible school up and running in her area. Because of her husband´s position in politics, they have a lot of connections, and will promoting the school to those around them! It´s exciting how God works things out!

From there we travelled down the Emerald coast of the Gulf of Mexico. It´s beautiful. We arrived at Vera Cruz, the largest sea port in Mexico. It´s the place that the spanish people arrived when they came to Mexico, where Cortez burned his ships! We got to see the place. It´s beautiful, with huge ships coming and going!

We travelled to Vera Cruz because there is a pastor there that is planning on coming to Aldama to attend Bible school. What a sacrifice for him! He has 4 children, and they have nothing. Their house is very run down, and they only had a small jar of mayonaise, some tortillas, and a jar of jalepeños in their fridge! we are praying that we can find a church who will support Samuel and his family while they move to Aldama for 6 months to take their training. We are now in the process of finding them a place to live and trying to get their kids into school in Aldama.

So...that was our week! We are heading to the USA this wednesday. Karen & Phil are needing some help, and we will spend Thanksgiving with them. It should be fun!

Sorry for my blabbing...Hope you enjoy it! We´ll maybe post a picture of our trip later!

jo

Yesterday was the first day Derek said "I kind of miss home". It`s strange the things that you miss when you are away. Here is the top items on the list:

1. Hanging out with friends and family (people who actually understand what we are saying!)
2. Pasta (derek)
3. Our own bed (amen - our backs are both sore!)
4. A couch to sit on

This is my third and last attempt at pictures from the mountain trip we took:

Derek & Victor loading rocks into the back of the van so we can get up the first part of the mountain. If you remember from our previous post - 3 hours for 24 kms!








This is a view from the front of the home of the family we stayed with. The village was called via verde.






We parked our van beside this vehicle for the night. I`m glad that he wasn`t our mode of transportation up the mountain...although it may not have been such a bumpy ride!

If you don`t know what we did in the mountains, check our previous post!

The Pictures (I`ll try!)

Here are some pictures of life in Aldama


Jo doing laundry al fresco. We have a great new washer and dryer...only thing is that they`re outside in the backyard!















Derek finally got a canadian meal! hamburgers! mmm....hamburgers! The only bad thing is they eat "catsup", not ketchup...close enough. Beggars can`t be choosers right!






And our new little shadow Abbey, Victor & Lorena`s little girl










You`ve all been waiting for it, so here it is. The unveiling of Elmer, derek`s truck, complete with his Maguiver`d truck topper! It hinges in 2 spots, and keeps out mexicans (aka. locks) but not rain! - Derek

Roughing it in Mexico

We came to the cafe today to put some pictures of our trip to the mountains on our blog, but we forgot the camera cord - so it´ll have to wait for another day!

Yesterday after our bible school classes were over we all hopped in the car and went to the beach. It´s only 40 minutes from our house.

The beach here is a little different than slimy killarney lake. The gulf of Mexico is great! The kids (Victor & Lorena´s) played in the ocean & derek found me a sand dollar on the beach. We also had fresh empanadas made with fresh crab from the ocean...I think i´m in heaven! They were sooo good!

Victor´s whole family came along, so we got to travel with his brother and sister who speak no english. We held our own (barely) and managed to talk on the way there and back! We also got to meet a few of his 12 siblings and his mother. We had a fun day!

I´ll post some pictures next time - if I remember to bring the cord!!

jo

La confecion de la pollo (the confession of the chicken)

Hello all!

As you know we are still ajusting to Mexican cuisine. I have a confession to make...

Yesterday at lunch we had pollo con arroz (chicken with rice). Yeah....a normal lunch!

I dished up my plate...got some rice and some chicken. After I got it onto my plate I realized that my "chicken" was really the gizard. I pushed it around on my plate for the whole meal, all the while thinking "I need to eat this because I put it on my plate (if only I hadn´t put it on my plate!)" "I think I can eat this...no, I cannot eat this" If I do I will puke all over the dinner table" Not a pretty thought! I felt so guilty, but I couldn´t do it. So I ate everything else, wiped my mouth with my napkin, carefully placed my napkin over the gizard, and quickly began clearing the table, starting with my plate!!

I guess we´re not full-blooded Mexicans yet!

Let the Adventures Begin!

While Phil and Karen were in Aldama they wanted to take a scouting trip (to look for possible areas of need for groups/evangelism & and areas of need for bible school training). We headed into some villages in the mountains by Aldama (about 2-3 hours away). It was quite the trek.

It started with us having to pile rocks into the back of the van to give it more weight to get up the mountain. We then proceeded to bump up the mountain. It took us over 3 hours to go 24 miles!! The "roads" were absolutely nuts, winding along the edge of the mountain.

Victor has been taking regular trips into these mountains because there is a big need!

The first village we stopped at we visited a church - a very nice/big size church (for mexico of course!) building, but there was only 5 people there, including the pastor and his wife!

The next village was exactly the same, except the guy who was preaching was not the pastor, he just did it because there was noone. We spent the night in the mountains with a family from this church.

There is a great need in these areas. They are able to sustain themselves better because they can farm/ranch, etc. but spiritually there is great need. None of the pastors have any training whatsoever, and their congregations are not growing (in numbers or spiritually) because of this.

We past a number of villages where there is absolutely nothing happening at all.

The people seemed very discouraged. They face a lot of persecution. There is alot of witchcraft in these areas. It is mixed with the catholic church, which is very different. They sacrifice to idols, etc. Please pray for these areas - they need to be reached! Also pray for direction for Phil & Karen as they decide how to help these areas of need.

It was a very big adventure. We can´t even describe or take pictures that do justice to how beautiful it was. We got to stay in a tiny house and eat...you guessed it beans with the family! It was pretty awesome!

Mi casa es su casa

We have arrived in Aldama. Phil and Karen brought us so we could ease into this new culture. We are staying with a Mexican family - Victor & Lorena Cruz and their 3 children.

They have moved to Aldama to work under Phil and Karen. They are running the "ISOM" Bible School (see link) in Aldama. They are training Mexican nationals to be pastors and they are gracious enough to let us stay with them! They have a beautiful home, as you can see!

Beans, Beans, Beans

Recipie for a crash course in mexican cuisine...

1. beans for lunch
2. beans for breakfast
3. beans for supper
4. Repeat steps 1-3 EVERYDAY!
5. If you are feeling like a little adventure - add tamales to steps 2 & 3
6. Repeat, again - EVERYDAY!

So far beans & tortillas at 8:00 am is kind of a stretch, but we´ll adjust!

deep thoughts by Derek

We decided to build a home made top for our truck, so it was off to home depot for wood. Now, I like home depot, but phill was like a kid in a candy store. Apparantly He likes home depot. And I here that there is a place called Tampico one hour away from our language school with a home depot. Anyway it is time to go to bed, but i just learned how to use this blog thing and i thought i would try it.

Derek

This One's for Scott

Apparently there's no pictures of me on our blog. Scott Mason was getting concerned that I was actually in Mexico, so I thought I'd better put one up for him! This is me preparing the freezing needles for the dentists...me with a needle - scary huh!

Medical Team

We survived the weekend! The medical team went very well! We saw over 1200 patients in 2 days.

The people had access to doctors, dentists, chiropractors, nurses and a pharmacy - as well as an opportunity to hear about the best doctor of all...Jesus!

I assisted the dentists on day 2, sterilizing their equipment. A far cry from the KCI office! I even had the "privilege" of assisting one of the dentists. a little girl (maybe 4 years old) had completely rotten and broken teeth in the front. they were bleeding and hurting her...but she was not all that impressed at the thought of having them pulled out. It took a few of us to hold her so the doctor could work. I'm not too brave because I could hold, but I certainly couldn't look! I don't think I'll become a dentist!

Derek had the important job of chief bagger, labeller and counter for all of the medication for the pharmacy...as well as 100 other jobs that needed to be done.

It was really great!

Pictures...I think i did this right?

Derek packaging vitamins with Brent & Tracy (from Winnipeg).













The River Walk (San Antonio) was amazing!

Are we there yet?

Well we have finally arrived in Brownsville! It is definately not a short trip! We had a chance to stop and visit a cousin of my dad's. They are missionaries who work in the prisons of San Antonio...it was very interesting!

They showed us around San Antonio, which was awesome. I'll post some pics later. We visited the alamo and saw the river walk.

We arrived at Phil and Karen's to find a small group from Winnipeg (a dentist and his crew)! It's nice to have company from home! We headed into mexico this morning and spent the day preparing for the medical clinic. Tomorrow am we will begin a 2 day clinic and see 800-1200 people...We're tired already, I don't know if we'll still be standing after that!

We will be here until next Thursday (oct. 27), when we will head to Aldama to begin our language training.

Our phone number is: 956-350-8804 and our email address is: joderek@mts.net

Please email us so we can get your email addresses into our address book, and then keep you updated about what we're up to!

On The Road Again

We'll be updating this shortly...stay tuned