Coming Home for a Visit

One week from today we'll be back in Illinois for a visit. We'll be in the States for just short of a month, but we'll be on the move constantly. Our flight arrives at O'Hare in the early AM Sunday morning so we'll be napping on the couches there until the first bus departs for Rockford. The plan is to make it to the 10 AM service at Rockford First. We might be a little travel-weary, but we're anxious to see everyone none the less. From there we'll be doing Poplar Grove, Big Sandy, Montana, Elgin, Lake Zurich, Rockford, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, McHenry, Woodstock and Nashville, Tennessee.


We've only been here in Huatulco for three months, but it feels like a lot longer. We have made many friends. We have to say that even though we miss the folks at home and we are really anxious to see you all, we are already missing things (the people) here. We look forward to the many regular visits, English classes and church services we attend. We are now doing English two times per week at the Red Cross. The doctor, nurse, dentist, lab tech and two paramedics are in regular attendance. Bernardo, the cab driver who comes to our house twice a week is becoming a good friend. He is really special. This morning we recieved many sincere sentiments from our friends at the Sunday morning church. It was almost sad. We will especially miss Art and Betty our special Christian friends. They have been such an encouragement.


Exciting things are happening. Last week, Pastor Damian, the missionary, asked me to preach the services at his Huatulco mission church on Thursday and Sunday nights. He has gotten so busy (TOO BUSY) that he is not able to cover everything and sleep too. I am praying about how to talk to him about not being so busy that he isn't any good to anyone. I sure don't want to contribute to his downfall by freeing up time so he can fill it with something else. 


Last Thursday was my first time in his pulpit. I was a little nervous speaking in Spanish to a non-English speaking group of about 20 people. I had been able to use Google Translate to put the message into Spanish and I had the help of a young fellow with translation. It was a simple message about God's unconditional love from the perspective of His perfect foreknoweldge. All in all, it seemed to go pretty well. Donna said they were all on the edge of their seats. I'm not sure if that was because the message was so good, my Spanish was so bad or because of the novelty of a "Gringo" preacher. I know they liked that I only spoke for about 30 minutes instead of the usual hour plus they are used to. Tonight (Sunday) is my second night. We'll see how many show up. It is really a stretch for me, but God has given me a sense of peace and confidence in the fact that it is all on Him and not on me.

We've had only a couple of good rains so far this season. When it rains here, it doesn't just rain, IT RAINS!!! In a matter of a couple of days everything turned green. It is beautiful. Everyone says it will get cooler soon. We hope so. The humidity is really oppressive. We are looking forward to the cold (under 90 degrees) weather back in the States.