We're Back!! Here's Some Pictures!

Some Pics From Matlapa...More info. to come about Bible School...



Some of the students...hard at it already!!




















The View from here...it's so beautiful...pictures don't do justice!















Jo doing laundry...with the efficient washing machine!







We were so blessed to have FRIENDS!!! God always is faithful to take care of what we need...but also what we really want (and really miss from home!!)

We are hoping to learn how to put our photo albums online...so you can just go there and check all of them out...anyone who has a hot clue how to do this...or knows a good place to do it should email and help me out!!

Try again!

Hello!

We thought we´d better give you an update of how the bible school is progressing here in Matlapa. We were to have our first class last Friday...

We had alot of students show up (about 12 altogether, which is great!). We weren´t able to have class because...

The pastor who is running the school´s wife is pregnant. She had some major complications with the baby and ended up going to another city to the hospital. Her blood pressure was very high, and she was not doing well. They ended up having to send her to another hospital 3 hrs. away by ambulance. We spoke to the doctor, who said that it was not looking good for the mother, Doris, or the baby. Needless to say we did alot of praying that night!!

Our time here has been full of miracles...which is pretty amazing! Doris is doing amazingly well. She was actually released from the hospital yesterday. They had to deliver the baby for her to live...so the baby is very small and premature, but healthy. The baby, Abram, will stay in the hospital for a couple weeks. That´s pretty amazing, considering that the doctor´s were expecting her to die.

Anyways...the school did not begin. All of the teaching materials were in the pastor´s house, and he left in a big hurry! The school will begin this Friday at 5pm.

If you think of it, you can pray. We really feel that God will use this school greatly...considering all of the opposition, and great miracles!

Thanks for your prayers...again, they do matter and make a difference!

This week in Mexico

It`s great to be able to connect with friends and family around the world...despite of a very slow internet connection!

Thought I`d share some highlights of our week in Mexico...

• Heard great news that our friends Grant & Corrie are expecting a baby - congrats guys!!
• Went to Tamuzanchali (neighboring city) with friends! You can`t even imagine how fun it was to just hang out! They took us out to eat some great mexican cuisine - platano frito (fried bananas), and elote (corn on the cob with mayo, chilì`s and cheese). We had a great time!

The greatest highlight is a story I`ll share with you briefly...

The bible school begins this Friday. Thank you to all who have been praying. we ask you to continue to do so, because your prayers have power (James 5:16)! We asked you to pray that the people here would find the $$ they need to attend bible school...

A lady got up in church on Sunday morning and shared this. She attended the meeting we had last week about the bible school. She payed the first part of her tuition right away, because she really wants to attend. What we didn`t know was that she used all of her money. She needed it for other things, but knew that God was faithful to provide her needs. The next day she needed to use the money. She opened her purse and there was more money in it...the amount she needed! The next day her husband came to her and said that he needed the money to go and buy something they needed (not sure what...I didn`t understand the spanish!). Anyways...all the money that he needed was there!!

Isn`t that amazingly awesome! God is so cool sometimes isn`t he! That story makes me excited because it is just a taste of what is to come, as these students begin to study the word of God! Please keep praying!

A Day in the Life

Well, we have arrived in Matlapa. The first days have been, well, interesting!

Derek has been quite nervous these days...we are a long ways away from anyone who speaks english...and we have alot of cochroaches living with us in our room! The first night he was sitting at the end of the bed, rubbing his forhead...and a cochroach landed right on his head! That really helped alot!

The family we are living with has been great, and has made us feel very much at home, so Derek´s nerves have calmed! They have a beautiful home and we even have our own little apartment. Benjamin is a part of the federal government of Mexico, so there is always lots of people around the house.

I, on the other hand have been showing them how graceful I am. Yesterday I was helping Esther in the kitchen. Benjamin was also in the house....

You have to get a mental picture of this because it´s just too ridiculous!

I was walking from the dining room to the kitchen when I stepped on a chicken (a live chicken). I guess i´m not used to having to look out for wildlife in the house!

Anyways...the rest is slow motion...the chicken is squawking like mad, and flapping it´s wings...I am trying to get off the chicken and lose my balance on the cement floor and go flying...

I am headed straight for a really graceful face-plant right into their kitchen counter...Benjamin has to step in and get in front of me....I just about took him out with me!

This one definately has to rank with one of my most embarassing moments...not only did I tramautize the family chicken...I just about took out a member of the Mexican government...all in one "fowl" swoop (okay...really bad joke!)

We did however redeem the day, as we had an opportunity to visit some pastors and invite them to come to the Bible school. We also celebrated a mexican holiday - day of the kings? They celebrate when the 3 wisemen came to visit baby Jesus. It was definately a full day!

On The Road Again...Jo's Ramblings

Hello all!

We've had a very busy 2 weeks in Brownsville!

• We've continued our spanish classes over the holidays. Our teacher, Miguel (those who have been here remember him - our faithful translater) has been absolutely awesome!
• Visiting families in the child sponsorship program.
• LOTS of office work! Derek copied 2 whole copies of the bible school curriculum - He copied over 250 cd's!!

We had a chance to visit with John & Malvina Heide from Killarney. They even came along with us to Mexico for an afternoon. It was really nice to see some friendly MB faces! & Eunice Buhler just arrived as well, how fun...they will come along to take us to Matlapa!

Some people who know the real meaning of Christmas donated some $$ instead of buying gifts! We met a family who was really in need...they are pastors who live in Vera Cruz (another state). Samuel and his family (wife and 4 kids) are moving to Matamoros to attend the ISOM bible school (which begins next week...). We visited their home in Vera Cruz. They had absolutely nothing (that means nothing...not like in Canada!) Their fridge had a jar of mayo and some tortillas in it...that was it! They didn't even own a knife to spread the mayo on...they had 1 spoon and spread the mayo on with the back of the spoon...and they have 4 kids to feed!!

Anyways...the gist of all this rambling is...We used the money to buy all of the supplies Samuel and his family will need. They will be moving here next week. We went to their new house today and cleaned it all up (I won't even go there...I had to clean the bathroom, which was a completely different adventure...one I won't share! I also got to chase some pretty huge spiders!). It was sooo awesome today to get this home ready for the family. We were able to buy all of their kitchen supplies, food, blankets & sheets for the beds...even a new bunk-bed for the kids and new matresses! I can't wait to see their faces when they see their home!!

It just doesn't feel like work when you have opportunities to bless people like that....thank you for being so faithful with your finances! I had fun today preparing this home...but I'm just being your hands extended...what a great job!!

Now onto the next adventure...

Derek and I are leaving tomorrow morning (early) to go to Matlapa...where is Matlapa? Good question...it doesn't exist on a map (as you can see by Derek's careful studying of the map!). It is in the state of San Luis Potosi about 8 hours south of here. It is a community that is in the mountains. If you look on a map (for those interested?) you will see the city of Valles and a bit farther south, the city of Tamazuchali...we're in between those 2 somewhere!

We are really pumped to have an opportunity to start a bible school in this area (how cool is our job!)! Our role will be to help Esther (the lady who will run the school) learn how the school works, and help her with the beginning classes. We will probably have an opportunity to visit the neighboring villages further into the mountains, bringing the message of the bible school to the pastors.

So that's the next adventure in a nutshell...If you are thinking of us you can remember us in your prayers...we'd really appreciate it! You can pray that:

• God would bring the students
• That he would also provide the finances for the students to attend school
• That we will be able to communicate effectively with the people (God will need to multiply our language!)
• For protection as we travel on some pretty crazy roads!

Thanks for reading/listening and praying!...I sure miss talking to all of you in person!!! I think we'll have a phone this time...and I think we have internet there as well (it's weird...in the middle of nowhere, but there's a ciber cafe!), so we'll post our phone number for those interested!

Have a good one...

jo