more of our life

For any of you that have seen those horse drawn carts that are made in the mountains of mexico that we have curculated around, this is the man who builds them. The village name is, believe it or not, San Fransisco. We just got back from visiting this village to inquire about bringing a medical team. So in two weeks we are heading up this mountain with a team of dentists and doctors.






You think that mantoba roads are bad you should try going up the mountain with us. We drove 10 km in two hours. This guy was thinking and put about 10 people in the back for traction. This is why we do the trips with a one ton van. A ford van at that. Phil says that people that do a lot in Mexico use for vans. The reason being is that when you show up at the border in a chevy van it just sits there and shakes with fear.







This is one of the perks of mission work. We started a bible shool in a fishing village about five hours into mexico, right on the gulf of mexico. The pastors husband just happens to be a fisherman, so he invited us for supper. Fresh grouper we ate. It tasted like chicken. Phil told me a story about going fishing with this man. One time they went out in the ocean for the day, just he and phil. Later on in the day a really heavy fog rolled in and they were miles away from the village. Phil being very worried, did not say anything. You have to realize that this boat is also just a row boat out in the ocean. At the end of day the man just turned started driving in the fog(that you could not see your hand in front of your face) and a few hours later they were on shore right at the village. Phil with absoulute amazment and respect for this old school fisherman thought with all his experience he just has a keen sense of direction. So Phil told the man, how in the world did you get us back to the shore, and the man proudly replied "GPS". Just goes to show you that sometimes technology reaches third world countries aswell.

all in a day's work

Nobody ever gets to see what I do every day! Derek gets to go into Mexico, building homes for families, and building relationships....

I get stuck in the office!! Well I guess we both do different, but equally important things right!

There is so much behind the scenes stuff that happens...like any ministry!

Preparing bible school material, recording grades, planning a graduation for June (sometimes I feel like I'm still at Killarney School!!)

Besides all of the work that comes along with the child sponsorship program and all of the other parts of harvest Field Ministries...

HFM Newsletters...ready to mail FINALLY!!

Stacks of material waiting to be distributed (thanks to Derek's mom for helping me putting them all together)

My little space in the world...my desk in Brownsville!

Unfortunately (or fortunately?) there is a lot of preparation and work that goes into each trip into Mexico! Now you're so enlightened about what we do everyday! Just in case you ever wondered!

Home Again!!

After 2 very full weeks...we're home again! Last night Derek and I realized the last time we spent more than 1 or 2 days in a row alone together was 1 1/2 months ago!! WOW!

It's been fun, but very busy!

Last week we were in the interior:

• We were able to visit 2 of our existing bible schools, and start another 2 schools! The students are sooo excited and learning so much.
• We also went to check out the location of our May Medical clinic into the mountains. We travelled 14 miles in 1 1/2 hours...so the group will be in for an adventure!! There is a lot of needs in the area where we will be working, so it should be a very worthwhile trip!
• We stopped to visit and encourage a pastor in Tamuin (where our group was in February)

Pastor Samuel and his wife, Sofia in their home in Tamuin.

A view of Matlapa (where we lived in January) from up farther in the mountains...our medical team will be in these mountains.

Karen, speaking to the students in our newest bible school...located in a small fishing village called Barra Del Tordo

This plaque is located in San Fransisco, the village where we will have our medical clinic. The plaque is to commemerate electricity coming to their village...in 1995!

This is the youth group from church of the rock in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was nice for us to work with youth agian. They were wonderful to have, they worked very hard...three days of cementing! The group stayed with us at a camp in the city of Matomoros. We had a great time...besides the fact that they had to learn to put there toilet paper in the garbage! Some of them tried to wait the whole week to go to the washroom...welcome to missions! They did a great job!