i'm a missionary to rural Mexico who seeks to have a dynamic, vibrant life that testifies to and glorifies the God of the universe in everything I say and do!
What an awesome trip I just enjoyed in Idaho! I had the opportunity to take five days to visit my dear friend Audra who lives just west of Boise, ID, which I learned is nicknamed "The Gem State"! I enjoyed myself so much, and the state is just beaitful! I've decided I would totally live there!
I flew in to Boise International Airport on Thursday, September 1 around 7 pm local time. It was a long day of travel: 12 hours and three airports, but it was so worth it to see Audra and her darling 1-year-old daughter waiting for me as I came out of the terminal! The three of us picked up dinner and headed home where Audra and I had a great time catching up and just enjoying being together. It's been three years since the last time we saw each other, so this was a real treat!
Friday, we ran some errands and continued hanging out. Then when Kevin came home from work, Audra and I threw some supplies in a bag and headed north to McCall, ID all by ourselves for a girls night out! McCall is up in the Cascade Mountains, and is a totally different landscape than Boise down in the valley. There were some gorgeous vistas from the highway as we wound our way north to her aunt and uncle's house.
The view from a rest stop above Midvale, ID
A little Idaho history at the same rest stop!
We spent the night at Audra's aunt and uncle's house, and then in the morning we had breakfast at the camp where they live and work and then headed into McCall to see the town and some of their shopping attractions! What a quaint little town. Everyone says it's very expensive there because it's a total tourist town, but I still found it quaint and just the right size! I loved it!!
The town center of McCall, Idaho with a great view of Lake Payette
The FoggLifter, the coffee shop where we had our morning coffee. It was packed! But the coffee was so good!
Lake Payette and the recreational center on its shores
This town was so quaint that even their benches and public tras recepticles were picturesque!
After coffee and some time sitting by the lake enjoying the view, we set off to see the town and do some consignment shopping. We went into some really great little shops where we enjoyed oohing and ahhing at the trinkets and creativity. One of my favorites had a ton of little signs about coffee! Since I love coffee, I took pictures of them! If I ever own a coffee shop one day, I hope to have them all hanging around as part of the decor!
This one is my favorite!
We also checked out the farmer's market. While there we found a local coffee roaster who had an amazing Huckleberry coffee. I didn't have the luggage space to buy any at the time, but I'm so going to order some. It was amazing coffee!!! After that we headed to a really cute kids consignment shop called The Dandylion and then met Audra's aunt for her lunch break and headed over to a new thrift store in town whose profits go to support a Teen Mentoring program!
Finally, we packed up our stuff and our purchases and headed back down to the valley. This time we took a different route home so that I could see another fork of the Payette River and a different side of the mountains. It was a gorgeous drive!
On Sunday we went to the church where Audra grew up and also attended school. She grew up in the Friends faith (Quaker), and this was my first time attending a Friends church. I really enjoyed it and everyone was very freindly. After church, we headed home to change and then sipped over to her brother-in-law's house for a South Carolina-style Labor Day picnic. It was really cool to meet some of Audra's husband's family and their daughter had a good time with her cousins. The food was really amazing as well. It was a lovely day, and I do think we all had a really good time!
(left) Audra and little Haiden having fun at the picnic; (right) In the South, they deepfry everything...even Oreos!!!
Monday was Labor Day. Everyone was off from work, so we just lounged around the house and relaxed. It was a lazy day and oh so enjoyable! I flew home very early the next morning and arrived just in time for dinner, unpacking, and unwinding from my trip before heading to work bright and early Wednesday morning. I didn't want to leave Idaho, but at least now I have that much more incentive to get back out there and visit again soon! What a blast! If you've never been to the Gem State, make sure you put it on your list of places to see! It is definitely a gem and totally worth the trip!!
(left) Audra & Haiden; (right) Me & Haiden
The girls: Two generations of Lilies! Praise the Lord for Dear Friends!!!
I have family in Minnesota, just outside of Minneapolis. My aunt, uncle, and cousins moved there in 1991 (I believe!), and starting in 1992, my grandmother took my sister and I out there to spend the whole summer every year until we were almost out of high school. Those were wonderful summers...truly some of my happiest growing-up memories!
My last summer was 1996. I was 16 yearls old, and my sister was just turning 15. I did not go back until September 2007, which was after my grandmother had moved out there to live with my aunt, uncle, and youngest cousin. My older cousin was engaged, and I had the opportunity that visit to meet and get to know his future wife. It was a wonderful week that I spent with everyone, and especially after a 12 absence. My cousin married in August of 2008, and I was unable to go to the wedding. However, this month I had the opportunity to go back once again...
....only this time my sister went too!
This is the first time that the two of us have been in Minnesota together since 1996. Yes, that's 15 YEARS!!!! Oh, we had so much fun! My cousin and his wife had their first child in February of this year. So, this post is first of all a birth announement to welcome....
Tristan Gerald Arnett on February 12, 2011 5:51 p.m. 7 lbs. 15 oz., 20.75 in.
This past weekend they baptized him into the Roman Catholic Church. They waited a few months so that his auntie (my youngest cousin) would be home from college here in Virginia, and the Lord worked it out so that both my sister and I could get out there for the event!! We flew in on Friday morning, me on the flight I'd purchased and she on standby. My aunt and cousin picked us up from the aiprot together and then we headed out to run some errands and do some window shopping before meeting Jennie and Tristan for lunch at The Rainforest Cafe at The Mall of America. That used to be one of our favorite places to go eat, so it was definitely a walk down memory lane. A lot has changed at that mall in 15 years, but that restaurant has not!
After lunch, we all headed over to Jennie and Chris's house where Heather and I were going to stay for the weekend. We hung out for a little while and then all had dinner together there at the house along with Jennie's brother. Then we hung out some more and headed to bed....at which time I set about continuing to work on my gift for Tristan's baptism.
Saturday, May 21, was the baptism. That morning we had a wonderful breakfast prepared by my cousin Chris, and we enjoyed a relaxing morning. Then the four of us and Tristan headed out for a driving tour of the chain of lakes on the other side of the city, a sight that my grandmother used to enjoy often with Chris and Jennie. Then it was home to get ready for the baptism at 4 pm. Tristan did very well. He is such a content baby and was not bothered in the least by all the fuss made over him or even by the water that was poured over his head. Not a fuss. Not a peep. And he posed beautifully for all the pictures!
(left) Tristan being baptized by Deacon Al, who married Chris and Jennie; (right) Chris, Jennie, and Tristan
(left) Deacon Al, Tristan, and Chris after the ceremony; (right) Tristan with his maternal cousins
(left) Tristan with Heather & I, his parternal cousins once removed; (right) The four of us cousins, together again (Heather, Lindsay, me, Chris)! Lindsay was only 6 the last time we were all together in MN!
(left) Tristan with his dad's family: (L-R) paternal grandparents, me, his parents, his auntie Lindsay, and Heather; (right) Tristan with his mom's family: (L-R) great aunt, uncle Matt (Jennie's brother), Uncle Joey & Aunt Christine (Jennie's sister) and their four kids, Chris & Jennie, and maternal grandparents
Tristan, his parents, and his godparents: (L-R) Lindsay (Chris's little sister), Chris & Jennie & Trista, Matt (Jennie's brother), Christine (Jennie's sister)
After the ceremony and pictures, we all headed to an amazing Italian restaurant for a truly Italian feast! We even got to sit at a table with the Pope's head in the center! We enjoyed some amazing food and family time celebrating together. Then it was back home again to relax and rest up for Sunday!
On Sunday, we all headed to Christine & Joey's church to celebrate with their oldest daugheter Elizabeth who received her first communion that morning.
Elizabeth with her family on the event of her First Communion
After church we stopped at the house to get all our stuff packed up, loaded up the car, and then headed over to Christine & Joey's house which was just around the corner from Chris and Jennie's. They hosted a big Baptism/First Communion celebration party for Elizabeth and Tristan, and we had a wonderful time visiting with everyone.
Speaking of parties, I will insert here a little scenic overlook concerning my gift to Tristan for his baptism. It was a bib. But not just any bib. Last spring, when Aunt Susie, Lindsay, Heather, and I were going through some of my garndmother's things and deciding who would receive what, we found a set of three bibs in her dresser drawers. They were stamped with designs so that one could embroider them. I asked to have them thinking I would make them for Chris and Jennie's first child, which was not even on the way yet! Time being what it was, it got away from me, and I was only able to complete one of the three. I finished it while we were in Minnesota for the baptism and was able to give it to Tristan before I left. I'm really glad that I was able to complete it because I really wanted Tristan to have something from our grandmother, who would have just adored him had she been here to meet him. Heather also made him a gift: an adorable little stuffed elephant that she made from a pattern.
Tristan with the Bamba's bib stitched by me and the elepant that Heather made him
Heather and I left straight from the party for the airport. She was able to fly standby straight to Richmond. I, however, had a purchased ticket through Washington, DC. I arrived around 9:30 p.m., after a delayed daparture from Minneapolis. Then I grabbed by baggage, hopped on the metro and headed to where I'd left my car all weekend. Finally, I hit the road for my two-hour drive home. I arrived home just before 1 a.m. and hit the sack since I had work the next morning.
It was a wonderful weekend! I don't think it could have been any better!!! Yea for family and the blessing of being present with them!
Oh what a most GLORIOUS trip I had to Mexico!!! Oh it was superb, wonderful, perfect!!! I soaked up every moment of it, and came home completely satisfied!!!! There is nothing I wanted to do that I did not get to do, and that is very rare when you only get 1 week :) So, I praise and thank the Lord for such a wonderful blessing and for the joy and encouragement He has poured into my heart and life through it!
I arrived in Mexico on Friday, Feb 25 at the Guadalajara airport. There were some hiccups in figuring out which bus to take to get to Cofradía, but after a few hours of waiting and a bus change in Tepic, I made it to the small town of Las Peñas around 7 pm MDT where all the bus drop-offs are. This was the first time I have ever been able to make the trip through Guadalajara in one day! Thankfully, in the last year Delta has added a second arriving and a second departing flight through Guadalajara, which meant I was able to make the whole trip in one day and have an extra day IN Cofradía.
Peñas is about 20 minutes from Cofradía, and Faith was waiting there for me! Oh what a joy to see her and hug her again. We became friends during my very first STM trip down there during Christas 2005, and we continued in our friendship after I joined the staff. We've always enjoyed good fellowship and the ability to challenge each other and encourage each other and pray together, so it was so great for her to be the first one to greet me upon my arrival!
She drove me to the base in Cofradía where I proceeded to dump my stuff and go in serach of some friends who I was supposed to find as soon as I arrived. They had already gone home since I arrived so late, but I discovered that Kathy was hosting a kids movie night at Toña's house. I went in and had some joyousness in greeting Toña, Kathy, Favi, and a few others who were there with their kids. It was hard not to interrup the movie with our joy, but we did our best.
Then I went in search of dinner at the restaurant I always enjoyed when I lived there, Restaurant Heidy. It's just down the street from the base and is owned by one of the church elders and his wife. Rosa & Everardo became good friends while I was there, as did Beto, one of the teens that works with them. It was such a joy to spend some time visiting with them and enjoying Rosa's great cooking! Then it was on to settle in and get some sleep!
Rosa & Everardo (center) in their restaurant/store with their neice Concha (right) and their friend Lupe (left) who help them in the restaurant. Beto is not pictured here.
On Saturday I went to see Ana and her baby Milan who was just turning 8 months old. She was born last year, after my last visit, so this was the first time I was getting to meet and hold little Milan. Ana, her mother, and I visited and caught up, and I got to hold and play with Milan. What a sweetie!!
Ana, Milan, and I at the inauguration during lunch. Milan is wearing a dress I took down for her!!!
Then it was on to get ready and head out to Arrayanes. I agreed to pick up all the youth for youth group, but I went early so I could have lunch with Sandy and her family. Oh the joyous greetings that went on in their yard! They all hid, so when I went in they tried to surprise me. It was awesome! We ate one of my favorite meals: enfrijoladas. It was one of the foods on my list of things to eat while in Mexico, and Sandy's mom, Flavia, makes them the best! Then Sandy and I stopped to see Gabriela and Diana and their parents Erika & Gabriel and Pola & Juan Luis. I also got to meet baby Isaac for the first time, who was born in November. Oh, it was wonderful!
(left) Me with holding baby Isaac and flanked by Gabriela (left) and her parents, Erika & Gabriel (right); (right) Me with Pola (left), Noé, and Diana (right)
Noé (English = Noah) and I...he calls me his girlfriend and sends me kisses over the phone!
Then we headed off to youth group which was not a normal youth group. The youth group had signed up to clean the church up for the service the next day, so that's what they did, and they did a good job of it. I helped my good friend Mari and Sandy and the other girls set out tables and figure out how to arrange them in the sanctuary. Then it was off to take the Arrayanes girls home, spend a little more time with the family, and then head back to the base for some fellowship with the Canadian team that was there and some more great food from Rosa's restaurant.
Sunday was the service, which I blogged about here. Check out the post and watch the video. It was GLORIOUS!!! After the service, I drove the Arrayanes folks home, and then spent some more time visiting with Sandy and Mily and having some much-needed heart-to-heart discussions.
The sanctuary full of people!
I had the privilege of singing with the worship team for Worship and Ministry Time
We had lots of congregation participation includine a word of encouragement from Brad Pembleton (left) from Texas and John Ruben from Canada (right) and a song sund by a Hichol indian woman in her own language (bottom)!
Magdaleno and his young assitant graced us with some of his own compositions in the Ranchero style. They are full of good stuff and yet they are quite humerous!
One of my favorite kids, Eva, came and sat with me during lunch. She and I enjoyed bopping along to Magdaleno's music!
All our sunday school classes have their own real classrooms now! (left) "Welcome Grades 4, 5, & 6"; (right) The class with their teachers Geña & Faith (front right) and aids Aidé & Julio (front left)
(left) "Welcome Grades 1, 2, & 3"; (right) The class singing with their teachers Toña (in pink) and Favi (in white)
The Preschoolers used to be in with grades 1-3, and now they have thier own classroom! (left) "Welcome Preschool/Kingergarten"; (right) The class sininging with their teacher Kathy
The nursery and preschool rooms have their own doors into this enclosed play area. Here are the nursery kids having fun with Matilde (white), Gabriela (jeans), and Josefina (far right)
Lunch is served! We had beef birria with rice and pasta, beans, tortillas, and lemonade!
(left) Servers carrying food to the tables and (right) serving it!
Favi & Erika's families all enjoying lunch together...Provecho!
On Monday, I headed back to Arrayanes, and Sandy I did our second study of Stepping Up by Beth Moore. The rest of the day we spent visiting all my beloved friends in Arrayanes. Tuesday through Firday I spent visiting with all the folks in Cofradía and Santa Fe! I was able to watch a movie with Toña and Kathy, like old times. Faith and I had one of our old fashioned coffee dates. Sandy and I went to Santa Fe for dinner with Luis & Mari (other youth leaders) to celebrate Luis's birthday (Mari, Sandy, and I were like the three muskateers on Saturdays!). Jazmin came and hung out with me numerous times throughout the week, and I got quality time with both Gabriela and Diana, which never really ocurred even when I was living there! And I was able to visit with Luci in her new home built by Dwellings last summer.
(left) Toña and I; (right) Me with Luci and her two youngest sons
(left) Pastor Gollo, his wife Mati, and I; (right) Me with Mirna and her son José. Mirna is Diana's older sister.
Also, Sandy and Mily's birthdays (March 8 & 12) were right after my trip, while their little brother's was at the end of my trip (March 5), and their dad's was at the end of the month (March 21). So, we had planned to do a family dinner/party for all their birthdays. I went down loaded with presents for all four of them (among others), and I expected just a family dinner night. Sandy had spent the night the night before, and when we were talking with her mom that morning to see if we needed to take anything with us, she made a point of telling us to make sure we got gussied up. It struck me as odd, but I went along with no reason to insist otherwise. Then when Sandy and I arrived, there were tables in the yard and it appeared that they had planend something a little bigger. At this point, Flavia came out to greet me and explained that the party was actually for ME! She had told everyone that since they didn't get to celebrate with me for my birthday back in November, she was throwing me a birthday party NOW, and so folks were coming for MY birthday party rather than that of the girls, Diego, and their dad. I was floored! They were thrilled! They had finally successfully pulled off an Amber-style suprise on me! It was awesome. Flavia's sisters and their families were all present and we had an awesome meal of POZOLE!!!!! That is another one of my favorite authentic Mexican meals that was on my list of TO-EATs while in Mexico. Oh, it was so much fun!
The arrangement was that we would have the party and I would spend the night. So, when everyone left, we all got in our pajamas, piled into Mily and Aidé's room and began doing presents. There was soemthing for everone, including me to my surprise! We had such a blast openeing presents, yelling with delight, eating up the anticipation, and celebrating with each one! It was AWESOME!
My birthday presents
Diego and his birthday present fun! It is the custom to always give the birthday person a hug when you give them their present!
Benito and his birthday fun!
Flavia and her just-for-the-heck-of-it fun!!
Aidé and her fun from me and her US godmother!!
Mily and her most exciting birthday fun!!!
Sandy and her most excellent birthday fun!!!
Sister of the heart on our birthday fun day!!!
On Friday Veronica came from Ruiz to spend the day with me and Sandy since it was the last time we would get to do so before her wedding and move to Guadlajara. We had some great one-on-one time catching up and talking about wedding plans and looking forward to marriage. Then we ended up taking a walk that afternoon back down to the where the new church is to see this huge house that has been constructed right across the street. When I say huge, I mean palace huge! Luckily for us, we were able to find the guy who is taking care of it since it's owners are still living in the US, and he let us look around inside! WOW!!!
This is the huge, two-story house from outside its perimeter gate. It has two drvie-in entrances, and the one seen here is the actual driveway that leads into an enclosed US-style garage!
(left) The front door...yes, it's actually a beautiful cedar wood door, unheard of in these parts!; (right) Garage; (bottom) Birds-eye view of front yard
(left) Stairs going to second floor in the entry foyer; (right) Waterfall wall in the entry/foyer...yes it really works! (bottom) Looking down to entrance/foyer from upstairs landing
(left) The American-style kitchen!!!; (right) Living room with fireplace!!!
Upstairs landing. There are five bedrooms upstairs and one guest bedroom/office on the first floor
Four upstairs upstairs bedrooms! All had balconies and built-in closets!
The master suite
Master bathroom and shower. In the left picture you can see my arm at the very back checking out the massive walk-in closet!
Master bath jacuzzi tub!!!!
Back terrace! There's space in the back yard for an inground pool, and I believe they are considering that at some point!
Then that evening the three of us went back to Mari's in Santa Fe to learn to make flour tortillas! What a BLAST that was! She spent the night with me that night and we left Cofradía together the next morning.
By the time the week was over, I was sad to say goobye, but I was most content with the trip as a whole. I left on Satruday, March 5 and headed to Guadalajara to stay with my good friend Erika and her family before flying out on Sunday morning. I arrived just in time to leave with her to go to youth group for her new church! It was so great to meet her new church family and pitch in to help them clean up their new home for their first service the next morning. It was truly an Inauguration Weekend! After youth group, Erika and I headed back to her house to make dinner: Molletes!!!! The final food item on my list. We always eat Molletes when I visit her, so it was fun to relive old traditions. We started talking and catching up while making dinner, when suddenly there was a knock on the door. To our surprise, all her friends from youth group had decided to come and hang out with us at her house. What a blast! They were all so fun, and we had a good time eating and laughing and hanging out. After they left, we hit the sack and talked until the wee hours catching up on all that had gone on since we saw each other a year ago. PHEW!!! It was a marathon conversation, but so worth it!
I flew out early on Sunday morning. The same taxi guy who ferried me to and from the airport the last couple years I was in Mexico was able to deliver me once again, so it was nice to catch up with him as well. My flights went well, and I arrived in DC safe and sound with a 2-hour drive ahead of me. But it went off without a hitch, and I was back to work the next day with the triplets.
As I meditated on my trip the last day I was in Cofradía, Sandy commented that the week had gone by so quickly and she couldn't believe it was already time for me to leave. I agreed with her, but I also shared that at the beginning of my trip I had prayed for the Lord to multiply my time there so that even though it was only a few days, it would not FEEL like a whilrwind trip but be quality time with my Mexican loved ones. He answered that prayer most faithfully! By the time I flew home, I had seen everyone I wanted to see and spent quality time with them, not just greetings in passing. In fact, I'd even seen and visited with some I had not expected to see and visit with! I had eaten and drank everything I had wanted to eat or drink while in Mexico. I had soaked up every moment, and though my mind knew I had only been there 1 week, my experience felt like it had been 2. I never felt rushed or gipped or like there wasn't enough time. God is truly faithful, and I can't imagine this trip having been any better! It was truly perfect. PRAISE THE LORD!!!
PHEW!!! What a whirlwind trip I had! So much fun, but packed, and the time just seemed to fly until before I knew it I was packing for home.
I'm sorry I didn't post more while I was there, but we were having trouble with the internet, and there just wasn't enough time. In between the preparing for the Southside team, executing the Southside team outreach, and preparing for and executing the worship workshops, I was working on Sandy's computer, which turned out to be far more time-consuming and difficult than I imagined. Turned out the system was too old for the software, so it's not functioning very well for her. It's something, but we'll have to be on the hunt for something a little more up-to-date.
Anyway, I flew home on the 13th, and WOW what a trip I had!!! I arrived at the airport around 6 am in Guadalajara, checked in for my flight, grabbed my morning coffee and a muffin, and then headed to my gate to await boarding. When the boarding call started, they called a bunch of the passengers up including me. As I was standing in line, I noticed they were giving all the passengers ahead of me seat assignments...but I already had my seats assigned!
Finally, my turn came, and I explained to the guy at the computer that they had called my name, but I already had seats assigned to me. So, he clicked around in his computer and then told me I had a new seat for this flight...
Well, these flights are always packed and I make sure to get an exit seat so that I can be comfortable and I did not want to give that up. So, I explained that my seat had been booked for months. He then proceeded to say, "No no, you don't understand. Your new seat is 2A. See we overbooked the coach cabin and you have been bumped up to business class." Well that that point my response was, "Oh, ok, thank you!" and I quickly shut up and proceeded out onto the plane!
SO I FLEW BUSINESS CLASS ALL THE WAY FROM GUADALAJARA TO ATLANTA, THE LONGEST LEG OF MY TRIP HOME!!!!!!
Oh, MAN, was that posh!!! I boarded the plane and found my seat, and as I was buckling in, the man next to me pointed out that there were little bottles of water there at each of our seats awaiting us. He said, "I always fly coach and usually I have to fight just to get a dinky cup of water. So, I brought my own water this time. And then I sit down and what do you know but there's a whole bottle just sitting here waiting for me!" Needless to say, we were both in awe at such luxury!
Now, 2A was the blukhead seat. Usually, I can't sit there because I can't stretch my legs out and my knees and hips get excruciatingly stiff. But not in business class....there was more than enough room for me to stretch my legs all the way out! AND the seat was big enough for one and a half of me...so comfortable!
Then, WHILE THEY WERE STILL BOARDING, the flight attendant comes to each of us with a tray of GLASSES full of orange juice and offers us each a glass of OJ while we wait for take off....WHAT?!?!?!? and it was in real glasses!!!
Once we were in the air at our cruising altitude, the flight attendant came back with a passenger list and proceeded to say, "Miss Crafton, would you like to order breakfast this morning?" Well, I was a little taken aback that she would address me by my name, but I did quickly remember that meals are included in business class. So, with some effort I was able to resist the automatic reaction to ask how much it would cost. I asked what they were having and then said, "Sure, that would be nice...but can I get it without the cornflakes?" And she adapted my order accordingly..wow!
When she came back, she had my breakfast all laid out on my own tray!!! All the food was on REAL CERAMIC DISHES! My coffee was in a full-sized ceramic coffee mug! My breakfast consisted of FRESH fruit (watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes the size of my hand, and mango), a croissant with butter and jelly on the side, and of course my coffee. And I was able to eat my food with REAL SILVERWARE...not some useless flimsy plastic stuff!! And the napkin was even real also!!
She refilled my coffee when she took my tray away, and I spent time reading their Earth Day edition of the Delta magazine....interesting stuff in there! Then about an hour later, she came back and asked if I'd like a snack!!! Now, I was totally unprepared for this. She thrust toward me a lovely HUGE wicker basket stuffed with different candy bars, bags of chips, crackers, etc. I felt flustered cuz I didn't know what was in there but felt like I was holding her up and looking like an idiot, so I just grabbed the first thing I could recognize, which was a bag of Sun Chips. Then she asked if I wanted a drink. Shortly thereafter she brought me my soda IN A REAL GLASS...again..
When we finally arrived in Atlanta, I was of course one of the first ones off the plane, since I was in the second row of the plane. Man, let me tell you, I thought I was in heaven for that flight!!! I understand why folks pay so much for business class! I wish I could do the same, cuz coach just doesn't compare. What a treat that was for me! Now, I am content to fly whatever the Lord provides the finances for me to afford, but that day I felt like the Lord was pampering me just this once, and it was truly heavenly!
I will work on getting reports on teams and stuff posted soon! Thanks for your patience!
For those who don't know, I flew down to Mexico on March 18. I didn't tell anyone though because it was a surprise for almost everyone down here in Cofradia! Originally my plan was to arrive around the 27th, but I found cheaper tickets for earlier dates and decided to surprise most everybody. A few stealthy secret-keepers knew of the plan, but everyone else was very surprised, and I had a good time giving them that shock!
I will be here about 3.5 weeks (returning April 13), and I flew down to help out with a few activities, most namely the Southside Youth Team that will be here at the end of the month. They are coming with 42 people, and the staff needs the extra person to help keep things running smoothly...so, here I am!
The weather is quite warm, and so is the time spent catching up with all my friends and Mexican family. I'll do my best to keep this blog updated, but things are pretty busy and internet service is intermittent. So, we shall see how frequently I can post.
When I arrived, I spent a couple of days with my friend Erika in Guadalajara, and the two of us met up with the Cy-Fair youth team from Houston, TX at their team banquet downtown! It was great to see them all before they flew home, even if I couldn't be in Cofradia with them for their outreach. Hopefully Steve will post a blog about their outreach soon, but as soon as he does, I will make sure to post it here!
I'm looking forward to the Southside outreach, and we'll also be doing a worship workshop while I'm here with two other pastors from the Cy-Fair church in Houston. That is going to be a great time! In addition, I'll be working setting up a computer for Sandy so that she'll have her own to use to work on her photography, now that she no longer has access to mine. Pray that it all works cuz it's an older system, and I'm not sure how it's going to turn out!
I arrived here in Cofradia today in the early afternoon. Faith met me at the bus station in Penas to drive me back to the base, and then we went to visit Ana and take her some baby clothes! In case I hadn't told you yet, she's pregnant. The baby is due at the beginning of July just after the school year is set to close. So, please pray that she is able to finish out her school year before the baby comes.
Then I went back to the base and got ready so that I could head over to youth group...that is where I surprised everyone. I arrived right as the truck from Arrayanes was arriving with the youth from that town, including Sandy, Gabriela, Diana, and Aide who all thought I would be arriving NEXT week. Aide came running down the road to give me a bear hug, and Sandy just stood there with her mouth hanging open!
Sandy of course started trying to put all the pieces together. It was fun to watch her over the course of the next few hours put all the pieces together in her head about things that I had said or random occurrences that seemed unrelated at the time but now are all connecting as pieces in the grand scheme of my surprise puzzle!
Mily wasn't there because she had an academic competition in Tepic, but she arrived later, after the Bible study had started. I was standing outside the youth room at the top of the stairs when she came around the corner. I turned around right at that moment and her mouth just hit the floor in surprise. We quickly scurried outside the church so we could greet each other, but she was definitely the most surprised of anyone! It was a ton of fun!!
After youth group, I drove everyone home...reminiscent of my old driving days! I stayed and had dinner with the girls and greeted their parents and family members that were there. It was so fun to catch up with everyone! Tomorrow is church, and that is going to be wonderful!!! I have missed the services and the people here, and I'm looking forward to soaking it all up! Then on Monday, we'll be having a birthday party for Mily, Sandy, and their dad since all three had birthdays this month and have not yet celebrated...they were waiting for me. I'll try and post pictures from that when I can!
Yes, I'm back in the US. I can't really believe it yet. I don't think it's really sunk in. I'm exhausted
The last couple of weeks have been full of packing, moving all my furniture and most of my belongings to other peroples' homes, packing up what was left, kicking off the start of our first 2010 STM team, and then flying back to Virginia.
Sandy and Mily did so much to help me in my moving process. They pretty much lived with me for the two weeks leading up to my departure, helping me clean, sort, pack, and then move all my furniture. It took several days to finally empty out the house, but we got it done. Much of my furniture was inherited by Sandy and/or her family member, though I tried to leave something for "everyone" (that I was friends with or who had a need for something that I had in my possession). It was really cool to be able to bless people with my possessions. In a way it felt a lot like the description of the New Testament Church in Acts, where it says that they kept nothing for themselves but shared everything as people had needs. This was the first time I had ever experienced anything remotely close to that, and it was truly amazing.
Anyway, as a result of leaving my printer and desk to Sandy for her photography "business", she was given her own room and Aide took her place sharing a room with Mily. As a result, I left a lot of other things with Sandy so that she could really create a refuge place for herself. She is a bit of an introvert (though a social one), and I wanted to help her create a place where she can recharge as that is something she has felt an extreme lack of when at home with her family. She has promised me pictures, so when she sends them I will post them. :)
The first couple of days after arriving in Virginia were spent sleeping, and finally unpacking and settling in. In the midst of all this, I've also started my first seminary class through Dallas Theological Seminary's online Certificate of Graduate Studies. It's amazing, and I'm LOVING it....but it just makes for a whole lot of transition and adjustment all at the same time. So, I'm staying pretty low and under the radar for right now as I get my bearings about me. Soon I shall emerge from my hermit hole, but for now it is serving me well :)
I'm living with my parents in Richmond, and once I'm settled in and re-oriented to this new stage in my life, I'm sure I'll be spending time up in the Fredericksburg/Stafford area as well, enjoying my church family, small group studies and fellowship, working with my florist friend Amy (Beautiful Flowers By Amy), and reconnecting with friends and "family" in the NOVA area. I'm also looking forward to re-rooting myself in my family! With one sister living at home, one sister and nephew nearby, and my sister-in-law and her three kids a short drive away, there will be plenty of opportunity to invest more directly once again in the well-being of my family. So, be forewarned, be you family or friend: if you live in either of these areas, I fully plan to get back involved in regular life with you again...I hope you're as excited as I am!
Of course, the most common thought on everyone's mind, including my own, is "how long?" and "what are the goals for this time?"
Well, I don't know how long the Lord will have me here, but I know I need a break, and I think my absence is a necessary thing in Cofradia...
I need this time to re-orient, recharge, be further trained and equipped and prepared for what's to come, etc. The girls in Cofradia, as well as the staff there, need to not have me there to depend on in certain areas so that others, primarily locals (the girls and other up-and-coming leaders) may have the opportunity to grow in their God-given leadership and gifts and talents, all in roles I was filling before.
So, on that note, I am asking God for:
*Direction
*Growth
*Rest
*And a few other things I prefer not to mention here :)
I truly believe that my seminary class will be a primary tool in the fulfillment of these requests/goals. The class is called "Pastoral Ministries 101: Spiritual Life", and it's all about the disciplines of living the spiritual life individually/personally....This is always a struggle area for me, so I'm looking forward to having my butt kicked!
Anyway, I am anticipating that 2010 will be an interesting year!
I do just want to put a plug here for my financial needs. Please know that I am still on staff with Alternative Missions Cofradia as their Short-Term Missions Coordinator. I will also continue to provide administrative support in general, and I will still be actively discipling Sandy and Mily by phone and internet as we continue in our Ladies Discipleship Study ("Discipleship Essentials", by Greg Ogden). Because of this continued missionary role, my seminary studies, and several other priorities I believe the Lord has ordained for me at this time, I believe He has made clear that a "normal" job is not prudent. This means that I am continuing to live off of faith-based financial support.
During this transitional period of moving home and primarily due to economic reasons, my monthly support has dropped by about 30%. Now, I was not at full budget before, so I am certainly nowhere near now. I am praying for the Lord to bring along the financial provision I need in the form of monthly support. If you are already supporting me, would you consider an increase? If you are interested in supporting me, please just drop me an email and let me know. I would love to include you in a more active manner in the ministry and Kingdom growth going on in Cofradia. Thank you for considering this request and for praying over how the Lord might be asking you to respond.
Well, this post is just to let you know that I arrived safe and sound in Cofradia on December 9! Jay and Faith were in Tepic that day, and they were kind enough to give me a ride from there to Cofradia saving me a bunch of money in bus fare and taxis! Thanks guys!
I arrived home, and the girls and I immediately started finalizing plans and shopping lists for the Tree Party. Then the next day, Sandy and I headed back to Tepic to do our shopping for the event! After that we spent the following day and a half preparing, and Saturday, December 12, was the Tree Party. It was a smashing success...but I'll save that for its own post. It's coming soon, I promise! So, keep checking back for pictures and great details...and maybe I'll get a video made!
Well, I'm on my way to Mexico once again! My flight leaves at 10:53 ET, and I will arrive in Guadalajara (barring any flight problems) at 10 pm CT. Then on Wednesday morning bright and early I will catch a bus to go home to Cofradia. Hopefully I'll be home by mid afternoon at the latest to hit the ground running for all the Christmas festivities!
So, check back here soon to see a few posts from my last couple of days in Virginia, and eventually to see the post for my Christmas Tree Party!!
Alright! I'm back in Virginia...now that isn't news to many because I've been here for almost two weeks, and have been looking many of you up at church, on the phone, on your doorsteps (surprise!), and so on. But, I realized the other day that I forgot to post something here to let you know that I'm home safe and sound!
My trip home was wonderfully smooth and without incident. I spent a great day in Guadalajara with Ericka and her family. Ericka and I ventured into the city center to do some shopping, and I was able to purchase a bunch of stuff needed for Aide's 15th birthday party in December. That was exciting! Then I flew home on October 21, arriving around 4:15 pm. All my luggage arrived safe and sound, and I wasn't charged a single cent for overweight baggage! It was definitely my day!
I unpacked that night...completely, and now I'm working on catching up with administrative work that got ignored for a couple of weeks while I packed. I'm also trying to touch base with folks and fill my calendar with visiting and catching up! I've also found some part-time work with a friend, Amy Hittle, who just opened her own florist business online. I'll be helping in her shop and helping with deliveries, and she'll be training to do arrangements too! Check out her website: www.BeautifulFlowersByAmy.com. And if you're in the Fredericksburg/Stafford area of Virginia, order your flowers from her! You never know! You might get ME as your delivery girl!!
So, if you're around for the month of November, then please send me an email or give me a call! I would LOVE to visit, have coffee, chat, catch up, share about Cofradia and changes that are going on, and find out what life is like for you!
Yes, that's right! It's time once again for me to make the cross-continental trek back home! I will arrive into Richmond International Airport at 4:38 on Wednesday, October 21!!!! I cannot wait to see everyone and be with my friends and family once again!
This trip holds much excitement for me: winter weather, sweaters, the need for down comforters, Friends & Family Thanksgiving, Christmas movies and music, MY 30TH BIRTHDAY, and my first Thanksgiving since 2005!!!! I'm looking forward to it all!!
If you'd like to get together while I'm home, please just send me an email or leave a comment here on my blog, and we'll make plans!
OH Edition 1 "Over the Horizons," actually started in february of 2006 using blogger, but my blogging needs outgrew that service. so, i have migrated to typepad. however, if you'd like to check out blogs prior to april 2008, just click on the link above.
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