Shine on!!

  This week was another hot one in Huatulco in several ways. Actually, we got a little relief from the warm temperatures compliments of Hurricane Hillary when she was still a tropical storm. It was so cold and rainy on Wednesday that we came home after our classes and made hot chocolate. Brrrrr!! It must have been in the low 70’s. Saturday on the other hand, it was so uncomfortably warm that Donna took at least 4 or 5 showers within two hours. It was beyond humid. Today (Sunday) is another scorcher.

Speaking of classes, we drew a whole lot of encouragement from our students this week because of the progress they are making. Teaching can be very rewarding in itself as some of you know. That is especially important when there is no paycheck. Often we do receive fruit, fish and homemade deserts as gifts. That is very special to us. We have also picked up a couple of new adult students and a family.

Friday morning at about 4:39 we were both awake when we heard a low rumbling sound which was followed by the bump, bump, bump of a 4.3 earthquake. A rhythmic mild shaking continued for a minute or so and stopped. The epicenter was pretty close and out in the ocean where there is a large subduction zone just off the coast. Because this is a seismic area, most of the buildings are engineered to be earthquake resistant. We are also on what is essentially solid rock so the waves don’t get amplified. In other words, we are reasonably safe.

Later in the day on Friday, we “found” two beaches which are all but inaccessible to tourists and most others. They are in an area which is closed off to vehicles and we had to climb down rugged paths on steep hills to get to them. They are close to where we live. Perks like this make it a lot easier to be away from family and friends. Two more grandchildren are due next spring. We do miss being close to family, but, we are also so very blessed to have made many wonderful friends. There is going to be a difficult day of reckoning if/when we have to leave. Only God knows when it will be time to go. I can relate to the apostle Paul's dilema in wanting to depart to be with the Lord but also to remain on to serve those he loved. A lot depends on finances. We have to develop a stronger support base sooner than later. Please consider being a part of that.

Sunday night I am scheduled to preach at Pastor Solomon’s church. The message is about suffering. I am going to say that the horrible suffering Jesus endured on the cross was not His only suffering. Jesus suffered for us, but we are also called to suffer. We are instructed to follow His example. But to suffer what? He said we are to deny self, take up our cross daily, and follow Him. He certainly wasn’t telling us to be crucified. When He washed the disciples’ feet, He told them they ought to do the same for each other. Not just to wash feet, but to lower themselves beneath others to serve them. Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you.” He was demonstrating agape love. Agape is self-denial. Philippians 2:5-8 tells us that He voluntarily denied His own rights to His position in heaven and to all of His rights as a man to serve us. This is the example we are to follow. It can be very difficult when we are wronged or when will not even be recognized much less be repaid. Service to others can be difficult. But from the moment He left His throne until He returned, He suffered the loss of all of His rights on our behalf. Should we do any less? I am challenged because I fall short. It is very difficult to crucify the flesh but, I believe that the light generated by our agape is the light from the city set on a hill which beckons into the darkness to draw people to Him. Shine on!

Mexican Independance Day

Sindicato Class

Mexican Independence Day was this past Friday. This is a very significant holiday here, perhaps as big as or bigger than our 4^th of July celebration. Nearly everyone celebrates the beginning of the revolution which freed Mexico from Spanish rule. Friday morning there was huge parade. In spite of the blazing sun, nearly every schoolchild of any age marched in uniform by school along the main boulevard. It was quite a sight. One of the groups was from the Sindicato where we teach an English class. The group included many of our students. We were encouraged by how many folks recognized us and greeted us as we watched.

The week really zipped by. We kept very busy. Much of our time seemed to be spent trying to beat the heat. The sun has been very strong this week even through the occasional cloud. We escaped to the beach on Monday and found some relief for a while. However, in three short hours, we got more than a little too much sun in spite of the numerous clouds which (we thought) had provided some shade. The sunburn has made the heat all that much more enjoyable-NOT! It is the first time since we came here that we have gotten burned. 

It hardly seems like we have been here for seven months. It feels more as if we have been in Huatulco for a very long time. Our busy schedule, the many relationships we have formed and our acceptance, recognition and inclusion in the community makes it feel as though we have been here for years. As we look back, we see many divine appointments. It is still amazing where these encounters have led. God is most certainly in control. I wish I could boast that our wise strategy and careful planning are the reason but we would be fools to take any credit. We have learned to stop planning and go with the flow by keeping our commitments fulfilled and our eyes open. When something falls through, there almost always seems to be another appointment we couldn’t have foreseen to take its place. If not, we coast. God always has His reasons. I hope I never stop being amazed.

Because our income is not sufficient yet to satisfy the Immigration requirements for a more permanent status, we are still on tourist visas. (Sixteen months to Social Security) We need to time our visits so that we do not come home in winter. We did not keep warm clothing. Besides the fact that we are not fans of the cold, the additional difficulties of a winter visit can be avoided. Also, airline tickets are much more expensive in the cold months and we are on a very tight budget. We also miss everyone and long for a visit. We will be in Rockford from morning service at Rockford First on Nov. 13^th until Saturday morning November 26^th. We look forward to seeing as many people as possible.

Small World

The world here in Huatulco is becoming smaller by the day. One of our neighbors asked us if we could help her and her two daughters with their English. We began meeting with them last week. It has been great relationship building time and very enjoyable. I got to share my testimony and the Gospel with her this week. She listened and asked good questions. She also asked if we’d be willing to take one of her long time friends as another adult student in our home. We agreed. A couple of days later, she came by with her. The friend turned out to be a lady who attends the Nazarene church with us and who is a fairly new believer herself. Small world!

Tuesday morning, we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at the Red Cross which was provided by our students there. After class, they asked us if we would join them every Tuesday. This is also a great opportunity to get to know each other more personally. We will really enjoy it.

Saturday night, we attended a quinceanera party at Solomon’s church. I got to meet the pastor of one of the local addiction recovery ministries. I wanted to wait to meet him until my Spanish is better, but God must have decided  that now is the time. We'll be getting together soon. Another guest was Memo, the pastor of a small church which meets near our neighborhood. He also operates a one-stall hand car wash during the day. Last night, (Sunday) we went to a baby dedication celebration. Art and Betty were also there and we had a great time. I get to use my photography. These parties are a blessing. Besides all of the people we get to meet, we get some really awesome food.

Another little adventure entered our lives (temporarily) this week. About a week ago we were treated to an all night session of a cat meowing. In the morning we discovered the racket was coming from our neighbor/friend’s house across the street. Donna went to investigate. It turned out to have been a tiny kitten which had been abandoned. It could barely hold up its head or walk and it would not eat from an eye dropper. We think it was about 3 weeks old. Donna adopted it and she has been nursing it back to health. It is now eating solid food and displays ALL of the characteristics of a normal kitten. It is very affectionate and demands constant attention except for when it is sleeping. Donna named it Meow-zer. It will be leaving soon!!

I shared my idea that our obedience is not what pleases God in a sermon last Sunday night at one of the local churches. I was a bit concerned about sharing such a concept in an environment that sometimes seems to be a little legalistic. It went over very well and I was told that even the pastor was deeply touched. Estamos muy agradecidos de que Dios nos da tantas oportunidades de compartir nuestra fe.

Missing in Action

We were missing in action to the rest of the world for the last eleven days due to lack of an internet connection at home. We are now settled in to our new quarters, a two-bedroom, second floor apartment in a new building a block from the old house. Internet came on yesterday. It seems we missed a lot of exciting news with hurricanes and earthquakes and such. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for those like Hudson Taylor who got on a ship, sailed for months then hiked into the interior of some remote country to preach the Gospel.

 Our move to the new apartment went well. We have a great landlord who allowed us access ahead of the start of the lease. We had help with the move from friends and most of the finishing touches are in process. Our only issue so far besides the phone line, is the lack of an air conditioner. It will be put in, but we have to wait for the Federal Electricity Commission to upgrade the lines. In the meantime, we are living in an oven. The roof, which is concrete like the rest of the house, is painted with a water sealant of a dark red color. Needless to say, it collects a little heat when the sun is strong, which it almost always is. To give you an idea, the ceiling (inside) gets almost too hot to touch. It radiates that heat onto everything under it. We have been fortunate to have a little rain the last few days to cool things off and to hide the sun. Just so you don’t feel too badly, I am writing this under a fan in a hammock hung in our sala de estar (living room).

We were really blessed this week. Our friends at the Red Cross stayed in their seats at the end of class Thursday. They were looking at each other as if something was up. It seems they wanted to find a way to compensate us for our time and effort with them. They appreciate us and they don’t want us to quit. We told them that their friendship was more than adequate payment. They seemed somehow surprised, but pleased with that. They know we are Christians even though we haven’t preached at them. They know other people to whom we are connected. We get the sense that we are being talked about a lot around town. In many ways, it is a small community here. We pray that people are seeing Christ in us. If the warm acceptance we receive in so many places is any indication, they are.

Our friend and new brother, Bernardo the taxi driver, made a special trip to our house Saturday because he found out I had been a little under the weather from a cold. He was concerned and wanted to check in on me. I can’t begin to describe how that felt. He has been asking questions about the Bible. We have experienced several other encouragements and special blessings this week. There isn’t room to share them all. Suffice to say that God is a God of encouragement.

This continues to be a season of spiritual insight for me. I have finally begun to understand that God is not pleased by my obedience. I don’t mean that I am not obedient enough. I confess that I am not. I am saying that obedience in general is not what God is looking for. Obedience doesn’t cause God to love us more. He already loves us with an infinite love. Obedience doesn’t make us more acceptable to God. We are incapable of sufficient obedience to stand righteous before Him. However, we are already the righteousness of God in Christ if we have accepted His gift of salvation through His death (for us) on the cross. Jesus paid it all.

God is not looking for our obedience as much as He is looking for the result of our obedience. The obedient behavior itself is what produces the blessing. God is pleased when we are blessed. He doesn’t hand out blessings as a reward for obedient behavior and curses for disobedience. God, as the ultimate loving Father, wants to see His children blessed. He gave us the rules so that we can be blessed. His disappointment comes from seeing us suffer the consequences of our disobedience. Our ultimate blessing is fellowship with God. God’s ultimate desire is our fellowship with Him.

I am experiencing an increasing sense of freedom and rest from striving to be obedient. I am finding a desire to be obedient replacing the struggle to choose rightly. Praise God!! I was blessed to be able to share this message in Pastor Solomon’s church Sunday night. It was very well received.  

A Very Interesting Week

This has been a pretty interesting week. Last Sunday seems like months ago, yet I feel like the week flew by. Besides the mundane routine tasks like laundry, cleaning and taking showers thrice a day, we kept very busy. Donna entered the week a little sick with body aches, no energy and all of the symptoms of intestinal issues which keep you close to the facilities. That means I got to fly solo for most of our classes. I missed having my partner by my side. On Tuesday, she was able to make it to the Red Cross with me. After class, the doctor, one of our students, did a free exam, including a blood test for Dengue Fever (also called Bone Crusher Disease). Praise God, the result was negative. The doctor gave her some antibiotics. She is better now, but still not up to par.

We acquired a new student for Wednesday afternoons. He is eleven. We meet at his mother’s tiny restaurant. The initial task will be teaching him Spanish grammar. You don’t realize the importance of the patterns in a language until you try to learn a new one. The first class went really well. He is a bright boy even though his attention span was only about 30 minutes. I guess that’s good for a boy his age.

On Thursday, we were invited to a birthday party for two young men. I was hesitant about going because I had begun to develop some of the less convenient symptoms of Donna’s troubles. I had promised to take photos, so I decided to risk it. We arrived at the appointed time only to find that we were the first guests. The party started about an hour later. This is very normal for Mexican culture. We’ve gotten used to it and we usually enjoy the results. We could adopt the custom, but I fear we’ll always be the punctual westerners. The food was well worth the wait. It was some of the best eats we’ve experienced since being here. In spite of eating too much, I had no stomach issues. We were blessed by being able to experience a beautiful part (family) of the Mexican culture.

Bernardo

Friday is our designated Sabbath. This is our day to relax, have fun, or just lay around. This week we chose to spend the day at the beach with our good friends Arturo y Beatriz (Art & Betty). It was our first trip to the beach in over a month. The water was unusually calm making the snorkeling extra good. We arrived early before the crowds and saw several Manta Rays. I was thrilled with the site of several large ones swimming within a few yards of me. I did think of Steve Irwin as two of them headed right for me. They must have decided I was too big to eat because they turned aside about 10 feet ahead of me. The most exciting part of the day was the cab ride to the beach. The driver, our student, and friend became our brother. Betty obediently shared the Gospel with him and he accepted God’s gift of salvation.

Donna & Jessica

Saturday night, we attended a birthday celebration at Art and Betty’s house for their friends whose birthdays are in August. Jessica celebrated her 11^th birthday. Donna celebrated a few more than that. It was a great time of fellowship.

We should be able to begin moving to the new apartment this week. Most of the work is complete. A few things are being redone for the third time. We looked at washing machines today. Used ones are hard impossible to find. They don’t have Craig’s List here. We aren’t sure how much help moving we’ll have. Anyone want to come down to give us a hand??? We’ll feed you, put you up and show you the sights.

What Good Am I?

Sometimes I struggle with why we are in Mexico. What good purpose is being served that makes it so necessary for us to be here? Why are we living in unfamiliar surroundings thousands of miles from the people we love and the comforts and conveniences of home? God most assuredly doesn’t need us here. His whole plan (or even a small part of it) wouldn’t have fallen apart had we failed to come. Yet in spite of the overwhelming logic against it, I know that God called us here. I ask God daily to reveal to me the unique element we are contributing to the accomplishment of His purposes in this remote (to home) location.

I must confess that as the experience affords a deeper glimpse into my own heart, I see that part of my motivation for coming here lies in my quest to find personal significance in life. This is not a valid or commendable reason for coming here. It certainly doesn’t justify asking people to support us financially. Nevertheless, I see God at work using even our shortcomings and questionable motives to accomplish His will. One good example is the fact that I get invited to preach in churches. It is not because the leaders see some super-spiritual quality in me. It is mostly because we are Americans. As such, we are somewhat of a novelty. But it opens the door for the message of God’s amazing grace to be proclaimed.

We move forward daily with our eyes open for opportunities to share love and to make connections with people. We are often surprised. Last week in our English class at the union hall, a question was asked which threw the door wide open for me to share my testimony. The next day we were there as invited guests for another part of their training. Things were said that showed that they heard the message.  A cab driver pauses and calls us back to the taxi in response to ‘God bless you’ so he can ask questions about God. We may never see the result of many of our activities, but we pray that God is using them. It the meantime, we are very blessed by the relationships we have made here.

In about two weeks, we will be moving to our new apartment. It is less than one block from where we are now. We have the second floor, two-bedroom unit in a brand new building. The new landlord has been overwhelmingly accommodating. Although the lease doesn’t officially start until the 29^th of this month, he has given us the keys with permission to do what we need to do to make it home. He referred to the Bible when he saw a stencil Donna had put on the wall. He knows we are Christians. I wonder if he knows that he built the building for us.

I have been hanging shelves in the kitchen since they don’t do cabinets here. We now know why. The house we are currently in has American-type cabinets. When we first moved in, we were pleased. We now know that cabinets become habitations and hiding places (and bathrooms!!) for creatures. There is nothing like finding lizard poop in your cereal bowl.

Possibly the best part about the new place is that it is less than half the monthly rent. We are within sight of the end of our savings. I will be making an appeal soon for supporters. We still need to raise about $600 per month consistently for living expenses. I confess to being shy about asking, especially in these tough economic times. I’m also torn between the George Mueller approach and ‘Ye have not because ye ask not.’ However it comes, we are trusting God to supply.

I leave you this week with encouragement to move purposefully into your calling whatever it might be and don't worry about making a mistake. He already knows about it, has it covered and He is using it.

The Benefits of Stress

Sometimes life can be very uncomfortable here. Yes, it is a beautiful place. I love the food (although the variety is somewhat limited), the scenery and the beaches. Most of all, the people here are amazingly wonderful. Las Bahias de Huatulco could truly be described as paradise. In spite of all of those wonderful aspects, being here can be quite uncomfortable at times. And I am not talking about the heat and humidity.

Back in Rockford, we were quite comfortable. We lived in a nice house in a nice neighborhood with nice neighbors. We knew our way around and where to find whatever we might need. We were very comfortable being a part of our church, Rockford First. I was more than comfortable with my job at the Rescue Mission. All in all, we knew where we were, where we fit and, more or less, what to expect next. In other words, we felt a strong sense of comfort and security.

This is quite a different world. The culture here is very different. There are different customs, different taboos and in many ways, a different way of thinking. Add the different language,  the lack of familiarity with the physical surroundings and other issues and you have the makings of a very stressful life. We have a whole lot to learn.

Please don't get the idea that I am complaining or trying to get anyone to feel sorry for us.  I am actually very thankful for these circumstances. As I contrast the comfort back in Rockford with the stresses of living here, I have begun to realize that too much comfort is not always a good thing. In this setting, we always have to be paying attention. There is precious little room to allow our minds to wander. Living in this kind of environment tends to keep us alert and focused. We cannot afford to put life on cruise control and coast through our days.

What I am seeing clearly is that too much comfort can lead to complacency, laziness and a lack of appreciation for the blessings we enjoy. When we pretty much know what to expect next, we can navigate life on autopilot without having to really pay much attention. The worst result of this is that we can start to lose focus on how blessed we are and how much we need God's presence in our life.

In Illinois, I almost always knew where I was. I could get where I wanted to be without having to think too much about it. The problem with that kind of comfort is that it leads to drift. It happens little by little as we stop paying attention and get distracted. Before you know it, you've made a wrong turn or two and wind up where you didn't want to be. I don't think the Israelites turned away from God all at once. It happened one small deviation at a time. Imagine if a current TV show were to air back in 1960!

We thank God for the different challenges we face in life here and pray that we never become too comfortable. We are thankful because it keeps our focus and dependance on God.

In addition to the individuals we teach, we are now doing English classes at the Red Cross and at the hotel workers union hall. At the end of the class time at the union hall last Thursday, the students asked us to keep going. They didn't want to stop.

I was invited to preach at another local church this Sunday. God is opening doors to the message of grace. I pray that I am capable and obedient in delivering it. I have a great translator helping with both the delivery and the structure of the messages. I'm a little way yet from being able to speak adequate Spanish.

Thing Are Going Swimming-ly

On the way to church Thursday night it started to rain. No problem. I always carry an umbrella. Well, it rained so hard that in the short mile or so trip, even the underside of that umbrella was soaked. Needless to say, so was I. The only things not wet were my Bible, my notebook and the sermon I had prepared. (I think there's a message there.) It was actually nice to be dripping rain water instead of sweat. It has been so humid that we are able to go swimming without having to go to the beach.

I didn't get to preach even though I was prepared. The pastors wife delivered the message. I was astounded by how well it dovetailed with the messages I have delivered there so far. It actually fit nicely between those and the one I had ready, which I will deliver next week. The people here have a fervent devotion to God. I am excited that the Holy Spirit is opening their spiritual eyes to God's unconditional grace and love for them. I can see a huge potential for an historic move of God among the Mexican people.

We started the English class at the hotel workers union hall. It was set up to be a once per week class, but the students asked if we could come two times per week. It looks like we're starting with 5-7 students. All are eager to learn. After much searching, we found a textbook which we are busily transcribing and adapting to suit our needs. We are both getting a lot of computer time on the project. Donna transcribes and I adapt. Teamwork is sweet.

I was able to attend a missions conference this week in Santa Maria Huatulco a town about 40 minutes away. It was scheduled to start at 4 PM. The actual start time was about 5:30. Of course, the end time sailed way past the scheduled time as well. By the time it ended, the busses were no longer running. The only option was to take a collectivo (shared) cab. About two blocks after getting in the cab, we pulled into a tire repair shop. Soon a young boy, who appeared to be about 13 years old, began attempting to insert a plug into one of the front tires. It kept popping out. On the 4th or 5th try it finally stuck. It was a little unnerving since we were about to travel on the coastal highway which consists of continuous curves and hills with solid rock on one side and a cliff on the other. They don't use guardrails here either. We prayed. God answered.

The longer we are here, the more we appreciate so many aspects of life in the USA that we took for granted.

Hot and Humid with Rain!!

     From what we see in the news, you certainly are enjoying (?)some interesting weather. We are mostly in the high 80's to low 90's with 70%-80% humidity. The "feels like" temp is around 95 to 100. In between the rain it is bright and sunny. Our nights are dipping into the 70's, although the cooler temp drives the humidity right into the sheets and clothing.

     Our wash takes 2 days to dry on the line unless the sun is out. We are thankful that the thrift stores were so well stocked with clothing while we were home. One surprise was all of the potholes in the streets from the rain. They make Rockford look like new pavement by comparison. Another reason we're glad we don't have a car.

     It has been three weeks since we returned and we are getting back into the swing of things. We enjoyed the luxury of two great weeks with daughter Angela doing the beach and a few other touristy things. It was great to have the excuse to visit some of the local attractions. Thanks Ang!

     The entire experience of returning to the States for a month and then coming back here has been a very interesting one. Traversing cultures like we did can be a very traumatic yet revealing journey. One could say that it is a little like being the ball in a Chinese table tennis tournament. I'm not yet sure how to process all of it. I can say that values are tested, motives are exposed and attitudes have no place to hide as coping mechanisms and hiding places are stripped away. It is painful yet rewarding as it brings into clearer focus the immeasurability of God's love for us in spite of our weaknesses and our (my) need of Him.

     While in town a couple of days ago, we encountered a man named "Jose". Donna had started a conversation with him which came around to God because of a shirt he was wearing. It seems he had attended church when he lived in the USA, but no longer goes because he feels that the life he is living is not good enough to be acceptable to God. We were able to minister God's perfect love and explained that guilt and shame are the devil's two most effective weapons used to keep people from connecting with God. He received the message and seemed encouraged.

     This is a huge issue here. The expectation is that perfection is required for acceptance by God. If that were the case, I would most certainly be out of luck. We are finding that people are very interested that God knows everything about them and still loves them. We are blessed to be able to share the message of grace regularly in one of the small mission churches as well as with some of the individuals we know.

     All of our regular English classes are up and running. The hotel workers union classes are beginning this week. This seems to be getting us a lot of exposure leading to recognition and acceptance. We really enjoy getting to know people and teaching English accelerates the Spanish learning process.   

    

    

Back in Huatulco

     We arrived safely back home to Huatulco after a very enjoyable visit with so many special folks, both family and friends. In spite of the fact that the entire trip was spiced with problems and a couple of disappointments, the good far outweighed the bad. A huge thank you for all of the generous hospitality and warm greetings. Many personal and spiritual insights were gained through the experience. I plan to share a little on those at a later time.

     The trip back home was an adventure. Our transportation arrangements to the airport disintegrated at the last minute. Thank you God for teaching us to be flexible. It was a logistical miracle since we had six 50 lb. suitcases, three heavy carry-on bags and three "computer" bags. I'm thanking the inventor of wheels. My carry-on got a little lighter thanks to the TSA. A large jar of peanut butter was taken. Apparently it is a paste and therefore not allowed, even though it was sealed. Also, my BioFreez and some freezer pops were lost to security. My bad! Should have known better on those.

     When we arrived at Huatulco, we breezed through Customs only to find that our ride home did not show. Since the airport closes after everyone is processed, we wound up having to take a cab. I still don't know how that guy got all of that stuff plus us into that little vehicle. We were happy to find the house exactly as we left it. No insects or other creatures had taken up residence. This was especially surprising in view of our past experiences and the fact that it had rained for the last six days including three solid day and night downpours thanks to tropical storm Arlene.(?) The humidity was beyond humid. All we wanted to do was shower and get to bed. Final insult? NO WATER!! In the morning I discovered that someone had closed the rooftop valve.

     It is a little cooler now but a lot more humid. The cloudiness (relatively speaking) is giving a partial reprieve from the fierce sunshine. It is also very green here now. We have been enjoying doing fun things with daughter Angela. We went to see crocodiles in the wild on a river as well as to the Mazunte Sea Turtle sanctuary. At the Iguana Sanctuary, I got to be in a cage with over 300 iguanas of various sizes. Donna and Angela opted to stay outside.

     We have also been reconnecting with people here. It has been so very rewarding to receive such warm welcomes. God has blessed us more than I could describe. We've resumed about half of our regular English classes. The others will resume next week and we'll be starting with the local hotel workers syndicate (union) soon.

     On a business note, we have received a couple of donations. We are very thankful for them as we are very much in need of financial support. However, we do not know who sent them. We feel very strongly that prompt and proper acknowledgments should be given. We apologize.

    We ask that you consider helping to support our work here. Information about how to do so is written in the panel to the left of the body of this post. If you do, please email us to let us know. We don't want you to think that we are ungrateful.

Home for a Visit

Donna, the great organizer that she is, had this whole visit (28 days) scheduled almost to the minute. After an uncomfortable, cramped 5-hour plane trip and 3 cold hours at O'Hare waiting for the first bus to Rockford, we were warmly greeted by daughter Angela. The rigors of the trip and 27+ hours without sleep (minus two short naps) were soon overcome by the effects of the amazing time we experienced with our friends and family at the morning service at Rockford First. Thank you everyone.

One of the many trip highlights was to be an Amtrak train trip to Montana to visit son Ben and daughter-in-law Kehau. But alas, the flooding in the north is blocking the tracks and all trains are cancelled for now. It is a big disappointment to say the least. More thwarted plans! We've gotten quite used to this mode in Mexico. There we excitedly anticipate what God is going to do instead. At times it is like whitewater rafting without a boat or a paddle. It is exciting. Somehow, back here, we are finding it more difficult to take it in stride. We are having to remind ourselves that God has another purpose and use for our time. As yet, it remains to be revealed.  

Another seemingly major hurdle thrown is our path is the loss of my passport. Someone apparently lifted my computer bag (minus the computer) from the car. No great loss except that it contained my passport. In order to get it replaced right away, I cannot report it until two weeks before leaving. Then I have to keep an as yet unscheduled appointment in Chicago and wait an uspecified amount of time for the replacement. I put a sign in the driveway offering a no questions $50 reward for its return. That is a lot less than the $195 fees plus travel time and expense to get the new one. Again, GOD HAS A PLAN.

We have already spent some great time with family and friends and we are looking forward to more great connections. Maybe we'll get to do some garage sales this weekend. Meanwhile, we are enjoying the cooler weather here.

Playin' for All the Bolis

Last evening we visited with some friends who live in a large apartment complex. We were relaxing, talking and enjoying watching the neighborhood kids play a vigorous game of kickball in the parking lot between the buildings. It brought to mind our childhood when the whole neighborhood played games after dark while the parents visited.


Kids being what they are ( I mean my friend Juan and I) we challenged them to a game, adults against the kids. The stakes? The losers buy bolis for the winners. They accepted with more than enthusiasm. Bolis are a frozen concoction in a bag (bolsa) about the size and shape of a pushup. They are made with milk, sugar, fruit and spices. They are really easy to make and quite delicious. A family in the neighborhood makes and sells them for 5 pesos each.


Donna, Juan's wife Norma and another lady joined the fray. A couple of Juan's young boys rounded out our team. After the coin toss, the game was on. After about 30 minutes of kicking, running, dodging the ball and laughing hilariously, not to mention the heat and humidity, our team emerged victorious, 14 to 5.


While in our minds we may feel like kids, and for a few moments we were, our bodies are telling us something altogether different. Can you say sore? Even so, we wouldn't change it if we could. We are really blessed by the relationships here and we are torn because of family and friends back home. We are looking so forward to our visit and yet missing it here already.