Over the Horizon

nesting

Well, I finally got a chance to go shopping for the house to get things that I needed to really establish my little nest here. What a fun time that was for me and the girls! And it's been fun getting everything all unpacked and in its place.

Jay and Faith are loaning me a small extra fridge that they used to use when they lived in Mojocuautla (a Cora Indian village up in the mountains). They have also told me they are going to lend me their bed since they brought a new one down with them from Washington. However, that will come later since the kids are using it while they finish setting up their loft bedrooms. In the meantime, the house had an extra bed in it that has a broken support beam. So, I have a stack of rocks supporting the broken area, and although it's not very comfortable it's still a functioning bed until the other one becomes available.

On my shopping trip I was able to purchase dishes, cups, silverware, cooking utensils, a pantry to store food, a bookshelf, a couple of plastic chairs to be used for kitchen/office/living room seating, a shelf to hang in the bathroom, a shower curtain, and a myriad of other small odds and ends necessary for maintaining/decorating a house and a yard. As for the pantry I purchased, it's pretty simply wood finish, and I'm looking forward to decorating it with crayons to give it color, attitude, and texture. Then I want to finish it with a clear varnish to protect it against termites. I'm really looking forward to the homey craft project!

So, here I'm posting some pictures for you!

 

(left) My new kitchen; (right) My bedroom with the extra bed that came in the house.

 

(left) My kitchen sink...it's called a pila and it's used for washing pretty much anything from clothes to dishes. (right) My new dishes set!!

     

(left) My bathroom, small but complete with indoor plumbing and shower!; (right) My fridge-on-loan and my  new pantry cabinet. I plan to decorate it using crayons before varnishing it with a clear varnish!

the new house and swine flu

Ok, I've gotten a lot of questions about this, and I just want to state for the record that I DID NOT HAVE SWINE FLU! I may have had a regular flu, but I actually think it was just a nasty chest virus. I'm was fine before ever coming home, and I continue to recover quite nicely from the residual cough. No worries, but thank you for your prayers and concerns.

Ok, now on to more fun matters! The new house! Just before flying home, Sandy and packed all my stuff and moved it into the new house. I didn't have time to unpack and settle in, but I did take some pictures of the inside. SO, here they are. Once I am back in Mexico and all settled in, I will post the "after" pictures!

   

(left) The living room and kitchen from the front door; (right) the kitchen, note there is no indoor plumbing here or counter or storage space..interesting!

   

(left) Living room from the kitchen; (right) Hallway

 

(left) My bedroom!; (right) Bathroom (note, this room DOES have indoor plumbing! Praise the Lord!)

My Kitchen Sink...on my back patio! This is called a "pila". You can see it has a cement washboard on one side where you do dishes or any other kind of washing. Local women would use this water to do dishes, clean clothes, draw water for bathing children, etc.

Back in the Old Dominion

Well, I'm back safe and sound in Virginia with my family. I arrived on May 1 to find my dad, step-mom, and sister (Heather) waiting for me at the airport. It was a long day, but probably the easiest traveling I've had since I moved to Mexico! I was home with my family by 5:30 pm in time for dinner, catching up with everyone, unpacking without any hurry, and just relaxing for the evening! What a blessing!

That was Friday. Then Saturday I woke up with nasty allergies and spent the day sneezing while preparing a presentation for my church, which went really well! Now the week has started, and I'm at home spending my days playing catch up on all the administrative tasks I've let fall by the wayside the last couple of months. Reports are being written and sent out. Paperwork is getting caught up. And of course, the blog!

There have also been some great family moments this week! Can I just say that I LOVE MY FAMILY! The other day my sister Jenn and her son Jacob came over for a few brief moments. So, I was able to take advantage of those moments to give Jacob his gifts purchased while we were in Oaxaca: a woven mask and a "trompa" (a hand-carved wooden top that is all the rage right now among little Mexican boys). He love them! Here's a pic of the mask and a video of me teaching Jacob how to use the "trompa".

 

Then today, my step-mom, Kathy, walked into my room and said she wanted to treat me to a movie out! My choice! Well, that sounded fun, so I took her up on the offer! So, we saw The Soloist. It was a very interesting and thought-provoking movie. My understanding is that it is based on a true story, and I may just have to find whatever book the movie was based on!

Yesterday, my mom called me up. She had a doctor's appointment here in Richmond and wanted to have lunch. Well, I said yes, and she picked me up and we headed to Arby's. We haven't been there together since I was in high school. It wasn't until 8 pm that I realized we had been there talked for over FIVE HOURS! It was a great time!

I'm looking forward to Mother's Day weekend and seeing more family and having more fun and interesting experiences!

I HAVE A HOUSE!!!

I HAVE A HOUSE!! I HAVE A HOUSE!!!

And what a great story it is too! So, while we were in Oaxaca, I was really worried about my housing situation. Jay and Faith are coming back to Cofradia at the end of May, while I am in Virginia. This means I have to be moved out of their house before I leave for VA! I spent the last couple of weeks before leaving for Oaxaca trying to run down the owner of a cute little house about a half block from the base. I actually wanted to rent this house LAST YEAR when I was trying to move off of the base, but the owner was living in the US at the time and his mom was giving me the run-around. But I ended up living in Jay and Faith's house, so it worked out.

Well, now the owner of this other house is back here in Cofradia, and I just couldn't ever catch him at home. I left for Oaxaca rather worried because i knew that once I returned I would only have a couple of weeks to make the arrangements, move, pack up for Virginia while also getting Jay and Faith's house ready for their return. But while I was in Oaxaca I just felt this peace in my heart, and I kept hearing the Lord say, "Stop worrying. You have a home. It's waiting for you to get back." Well, I took this message with a grain of salt, although that was rather silly of me, and now I know better for the next time the Lord speaks so clearly!

We returned from Oaxaca in the wee hours on a Saturday. Well, Sunday on my way to church, I passed by the house where the owner lives. So, I decided I would grab Sandy and run over there right after the service ended. As we were walking out of the base at the end of the service, Luci (a local church member who knew I wanted to rent this house) pulled me aside and said, "Amber! Hector (the owner) has been looking for you for about five days and he's been saying he wants to make an arrangement with you!" Well, with an uplifted heart Sandy and I headed over to his house. Sure enough, he was home. He came out and said, "Well, I've decided I'd like to rent out my house. So, I want to take you over there and let you look around; I want to use one of the bedrooms for my furniture, but if you like what you see then we can talk about the arrangement."

THAT EASY!

We made arrangements to go see the house a few days later, and by the time we were done, the arrangement was made to rent the house for $500 pesos per month (about $40 USD), and he would move his furniture into the smaller bedroom and would maintain use of half the yard for his farming equipment.

WAHOO!!!

So, now I will be moving into a cute little house with a full bathroom (indoor plumbing though no hot water), tiled floors, a nice big bedroom, and a huge living room/dining room. The Kitchen has no indoor plumbing or sink, but there is a large pila in the back which will suffice. And it's only a half block from the base and my regular sphere of influence!!!

Of course I'll have to figure out how to furnish it, but I'm sure the Lord will provide!! Thanks for your prayers in this matter! The Lord has answered!

The prodigal camera returns...

Last year, on August 30 of 2008, my digital camera disappeared during our first night of THE CHALLENGE. It was my own fault for being careless with it. I left it on a window sill where the leaders were standing along with my soda can. I knew it was safe there with all the leaders around, and in the midst of activities for the Valley of Decisions, I forgot it was there. When it started raining, many of the youth, in an attempt to stay dry, jumped up onto the covered sidewalk right there by the window sill where my camera was located (in its bag, I might add). When the evening was over, I left it at the church having completely forgotten about it until I got home. The next morning I went over to the church to see if it was still there, and it was gone. Whoever took it, left my soda can however.

We made announcements asking for the responsible party to return the camera without fear of repercussions. We asked for those youth who might know something about it to please come and speak to us. But it was to no avail. We heard nothing, we saw no returns, and I gave my camera up for lost. I decided to see this as an opportunity. My camera served me well, but there were several things about it that were sub-par for my growing photographic and video needs. So, this was an opportunity to get a new one, right?!

Except while home in October and November 2008, I realized that I could not afford a new camera, not even one that was comparable to what I had lost, let alone a better one! So, I decided to simply live without the camera. Hence the reason for seeing fewer pictures in blogs dealing with every day life experiences here in the wilds of Mexico. Sandy was always very gracious to share her camera and her pictures with me when needed, but for the most part I left the photography up to her when she was around and did without the rest of the time.

However, just a few days ago a miracle occurred!

I don't remember how it came up, but I was talking about my camera, and one of the youth boys overheard the conversation. The next day he came to me and said, "Amber, you know that camera you lost? What did it look like?" I described it to him, and then he said, "Would you like to get it back?" I replied with a fervent "Absolutely!! But if I don't ever get it back, I'll still be alright." I asked him the reason for these questions, and he proceeded to explain that he thought he knew where the camera was, that there was a guy in Santa Fe who had one answering that description, and that if he could get it back he would but he just didn't want to have to rat the guy out. I told him I didn't need to know WHO took the camera. It would just be nice to have it back.

About 30 minutes later, the young lad was at my door handing me my camera! I'm not kidding, it was literally that fast! The memory card had been removed, and it was returned without the bag or batteries (which contained the spare rechargeable batteries), but I had my camera back. And when I put in some new batteries, I was overjoyed to discover IT STILL WORKS!!!!

So, 7 months later my prodigal camera has returned!!!! It needs a new bag, new rechargeable batteries, and a new memory card, but the total purchase prices for those items will be significantly cheaper than buying a whole new camera!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! It once was lost and now is found. Thank you, Lord!!

Yes, He even cares about stolen cameras!!

Lucy Alice Hall Crafton: July 7, 1916 - February 27, 2009

Lucy Alice Hall at approximately 25 years of age

Today, my precious Bamba passed away quietly and peacefully at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, VA. She was 92 and lived a good, long, full life.

There's a huge chasm in my heart right now. She was the most precious person in my life, and I just can't imagine not having her here. Her funeral will be on Wednesday, March 4, and I'll be flying home for the week to attend the services and be with family. But we do not grieve as those who have no hope, for we know that she is with Jesus dancing in Heaven and we will see her again one day and enjoy all eternity together in His presence!

She has earned her rest, and I am so thankful that she is no longer in pain and no longer constrained to the sufferings of old age. She fought the good fight and has crossed the finish line. She is free. Praise the Lord!

Me and Bamba in October at her house in Culpeper, she at age 92 and I at 29.

HOT WATER!!

Yea!!! I HAVE HOT WATER AGAIN!!!! Thank you, Jay!!

So, when I returned to Mexico in November, I discovered that the pilot on the hot water heater did not want to remain lit. As soon as I let go of the gas button, it would die out! So, ever since the middle of November, I have been having to heat water on the stove in order to take a hot "bucket shower". That is where you stand in the shower and scoop water over yourself using some sort of bowl or container, in my case Tupperware container in order to wash and rinse.

Now, this is the norm for most locals in this area. Whether they take a cold shower or a hot one, this is how a local person would normally bathe. However, I am not used to this, and man have I missed my hot showers!!!

Well, Jay is here in Cofradia for two weeks, helping to raise the rafters for the roof of the new church and then helping with a group from his home church in Washington (accompanied by Faith and baby Kai). So, the other day, he came to the house and fixed the pilot to the water heater!! It just needed a good cleaning, and now I have hot showers again!!

Nothing was ever so sweet as that first hot shower!!! Thank you Jay!!!!

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day..."

Ok, so I didn't hear any bells, but Christmas was GREAT! As Tiny Tim would say, "GOD BLESS US EVERY ONE!"

Christmas Eve was a lot of fun this year, and very unique. The past several years, I have spend Christmas Eve in Arrayanes with Mily and Sandy and their family (which is like half of the Arrayanes church body). This year, I did the same, but I SPENT THE NIGHT (Sandy was VERY excited about this..it was the first time!) and was blessed to be able to wake up Christmas morning with a family instead of alone. :)

Their family from Guadalajara was visiting, so the house and yard were PACKED! The evening started with Aide's birthday celebration since her birthday is Christmas Eve. She turned 14!!! Next year on Christmas Eve, we'll be celebrating her Quinceaneara! Wow! It's hard to believe that this girl who was a shy, quiet, 11-year-old when I first came to know her is now quite grown up and outgoing and bubly and beautiful..and turning into a beautiful young lady inside and out!

 
(Left) The birthday cake (made by Sandy), two sets of cookies (made by me), and jello fruit cups (made by her aunt); (Right) Aide blowing out her candles.

After Aide's birthday dinner and cake, we moved on to the Christmas celebration. In Mexico, the big day is Christmas Eve, not Christmas Day. So, they make their big meals and gather with the family and have their parties on that night. Ours was no different. We ate really great food, and enjoyed lots of loud music and fun fellowship.

All the women of the family 14 years and older participated in a gift exchange, and I was invited to take part in that as well. It was a lot of fun. Then right around midnight, the rest of us opened our Christmas gifts (the girls and I had gifts for each other and they as family had gifts for each other).

 
(Left) The women preparing for the gift exchange; (Right) Sandy and I with our matching braceletes & necklaces that her mom gave us for Christmas.

 
(Left) Aide with her birthday present from Sandy & I; (Right) The throw pillows the girls gave me for Christmas!!

We stayed up until almost 3 am around the camp fire outside, roasting marshmellows, laughing, and talking. Christmas morning we woke up and had breakfast together, extended family and all. Then we all piled in the truck and headed to Cofradia for the Christmas church service. It was a great service! The small children presented their poems and Christmas drama, and the older children sang "Angels We Have Heard on High" accompanied by one of them on the saxophone (he's a beginner, but doing VERY well). Then the adults were given the opportunity to share testimonies or praises and thanks. It was a really neat time as we all reflected on the last year and God's goodness to us in every moment of it!

When church was over, and I had a good time talking to my family on the phone. I always get a little melancholy later in the day because I miss them so much, but after talking and sharing about our days, it's always beter. :) One of these years "I'll be home for Christmas..." once again, but until then I hope you all enjoyed your own Christmas celebrations and that your 2009 will be full of the presence of the Risen Savior!

Christmas Dinner

This year Steve and Gena hosted a wonderful Christmas dinner for the youth leadership team. This included them and their daughters, Rebecka & Emma; Luis and Mari and their three kids, Carolina, Luis, and Angel; me, Sandy, Mily, and Martin. It was a lot of fun!

The evening started off with an American-style Christmas dinner. We ate turkey with mashed potatoes (provided by Sandy & I), a green bean casserole in cream of mushroom, cranberry sauce, cole slaw, and rolls. Then for dessert we enjoyed homemade pumpkin pie with whipped cream as well as some Swedish cookies that Sandy and I made that morning.

 
 

Of course there was also coffee in fun, festive, Christmas mugs! And their house was absolutely beautiful all decorated and lit up for Christmas! It simply glowed! And with Burl Ives playing quietly in the background, I seriously almost felt like I was back home!

After dinner, Steve and Gena gathered us all in the living room around the Christmas tree and shared that they had something for each of us! Rebecka and Emma played santa clause and passed out the gifts, waiting for each one to open theirs before passing out the next one. We all had a good time enjoying "the moment" together. :)

 

After that we all headed outside where we started a little camp fire and sat around chatting and roasting marshmellows. We told stories and laughed together and also talked a little bit about the sports tournaments that would start the day after Christmas. Then Gena's brother arrived. He lives in the states and I guess hasn't been back to visit in a while. So, he sat down and started telling us stories from things that have happened to him in the US or when he was growing up here in Mexico. He had us rolling with laughter for a good half hour at least..probably longer!

 

It was a really great night to just hang out and celebrate together and enjoy each other's company while celebrating together! It was so nice to have an evening that felt like "home for Christmas". That was my biggest Christmas gift from the Lord this year..a little taste of home.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!!

South of the Border

I'm back in Mexico again...safe and sound. My trip went amazing well and was quite stress-free and NOT exhausting! I was quite pleasantly surprised, in fact. I spent Monday packing. Tuesday was spent gathering up last-minute things and taking stuff back to storage, etc. I was actually able to watch a movie that night and get about 5 hours of sleep! Wednesday morning my dad and I were off to the Richmond airport at 8 am. We made one stop, and then he dropped me off at the airport around 9 am. I made it to my gate with plenty of time to do some emailing as well as some translations work before my flight took off for New York at 11 am. Again, in New York I was able to do more translating while I waited for my flight to Atlanta, and I did the same in Atlanta waiting for my flight to Guadalajara. Thanks to my new computer, which has a functioning screen, I was also able to do work on my flight to Guadalajara! It was magnificent! I arrived around 9 pm, and by 10 pm was safely at my friend Erika's house having a light snack and catching up before we drifted off to dreamland.

I spent Thursday, in Guadalajara with Erika and her family. We went to Harvest Language Center in the morning, where Erika and her mom both work. This is the language school I attended back in Sept-Oct 2006 and where I befriended Erika and her family. That night we went to church. Then on Friday morning, November 21, I boarded a bus around 9:30 am and headed home to Cofradia. I arrived around 2:30 pm CDT. Sandy was waiting for me, having opened up and aired out the house. That was really nice. She helped me unload all my baggage, and that night we ate dinner at her house (I have no food here since I had to leave the fridge unplugged while I was gone). It was so great to get to see all her family and extended family the very first night I was home. She ended up spending the night and helping me to settle in and unpack, etc. She also stayed to help me clean up all the mold that had taken up residence in the house while I was gone. Thankfully, that is almost all taken care of now!

I jumped back into things pretty immediately. Saturday night was our youth event LIFE NIGHT, and Sunday was the church service as usual. Then Monday we headed into Tuxpan, the nearby town where we can shop and have our mailing address, where I took care of getting my phone turned back on and some other necessary tasks. Now, I'm settled back in and preparing for the impending Christmas festivities with the youth girls and trying to re-establish some daily routine. We'll see how long that takes.

In the meantime, know that I'm home, safe and sound. I'm not exhausted, and I'm not stressed!! What a miracle!! THANK YOU, LORD!!