Saying Farwell

What a busy month we have had wrapping things up here in Mexico in order to return to the States for our year furlough time. We have completed all of our medical that can be done here in Mexico and got it all sent off to where it needs to go. We also celebrated Evie's 6th birthday this month as well. She asked to have a swimming party here at our house and wouldn't you know it was hot and sunny the day before and the day after but rainy and cold on the day of. But it all worked out that they could swim for a bit, it was just a little chilly. This past weekend was a busy one with the Regional Baptist Convention taking place close by. It was a wonderful time saying our goodbyes to the different pastors we have encountered in our term. We also had the privilege of hosting some of our fellow Missourians here in Mexico for the convention: The Executive Director of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Dr. John Yeats and the Partnership Missions Specialist with the MBC, Dr. Rick Hedger, along with their wives. They came to talk about a partnership between our two conventions in order to help the Puebla State Convention with their vision to plant 100 new churches by the year 2020. We are very excited to see where God will take this partnership in the future. Another big event that happened at our church was a little graduation they had for the kids for completing the Great Adventure curriculum that comes with the Samaritan's Purse Christmas Shoeboxes. Since this was also our last Sunday to attend before we leave they had a little prayer time for us. It was very encouraging to us to hear their sweet words to us about how God has used us in their life. Click on the picture below to see pictures from these events and a few others from the months of April and May. Thanks for visiting!

Easter, Birthday, Convention, and Goodbye

Ending Strong

This past week we, as a family, went to Veracruz where Aaron has been working on the well. It was a little hard in the fact that we had to rough it a bit with there not being any running water to bathe with but we all adapted well. Sadly, Aaron was unable to salvage the well that he started. He couldn't get the bit out because it was so deep in mud. So he just tried to work around it. However there was so much mud from sitting so long before he was able to get back that it just clogged the filter up. Then to make matters worse the sides caved in on it and we couldn't get the filter out to clean it. This happened Sunday before we were to leave on Monday, which left no time to start over again. So the hole was filled in before we left. We have no idea why (spiritually speaking) the well didn't work. But we know that God's ways aren't always our ways and He has something greater for us down the road. It is in these times that we just trust Him only. But we did see God work in other ways through this project. There are two local Baptist Churches, 20 and 40 minutes away from the village, that have taken this little village under their wing and are very close to having a church plant meeting in the cabin we stayed in. Through this project God was able to bring a village together for a common purpose: water. Even though it may seem like a failed project we can't call it that. There were just too many things that was learned from the experience from Aaron's view point like what to do differently next time to adapt it to work here in Mexico. Below is the link to a few pictures from the weekend of how the girls entertained themselves away from their toys and technology! It was a great weekend for all of us.

Cabin in Veracruz

He is Risen!

What a busy and difficult April we have had! Where has the month gone? This month we have dealt with a lot of sickness. Aaron had an intestinal infection that is hopefully now under control as well as back troubles that put him flat on the floor for a couple of days. He said that all the back massages the girls gave him really helped him heal quicker :). We also had our first bout of head lice. We found it on both girls and boy was this a nightmare. We have never dealt with it before and never want to have it again. For a week we were washing everything everyday and nit picking for hours upon hours. The other bad part about this is that Brie was asked the week before to give the Easter early service devotional for the church. But because of the work it took to get rid of the lice she wasn't able to prepare very well. She was able to get it done but pretty much had to read what she wrote in Spanish with the lack of time to know the devotional better. But it all worked out. The early service was held at 6am with the emphasis on the women that came to the tomb in the early morning on the day of the Resurrection. Because of this emphasis a lot of Baptist churches here allow the women to lead the Sunday services on Easter Sunday, which is why Brie was asked to give the devotional. Also on this Sunday the women all wear white. Brie and Mylee were able to attend a 15th birthday party that was held at the church as well this month. Aaron was sick on the day of the party and was unable to attend and Evie stayed home to take care of her Daddy :). This was the first one we have attended since being in Mexico and was surprised at how much time and money were put into this celebration (picture a wedding and reception). Below are a few pictures from this month including Easter and the 15th Birthday and a few other fun pictures of the girls. Enjoy!

Easter and 15th Birthday Party

First Well Trip-February

I wanted to give you all a visual of what Aaron is doing this weekend and some of the helpers that may be back to help. As you are looking at these please be praying that they will be able to find water and complete the first well. Thank you for taking the time to lay this project at the feet of Jesus.

Feb Well Pictures

Mylee's Birthday and Monte Alban

A few weeks ago we went and visited our new teammates Karen and Jimmy and their family to make sure they were settling in well. While there we were able to go and explore some Zapotec indigenous people ruins called Monte (Mount) Alban. We had a great time getting to know our new teammates and are very excited to see how God will work through us as a team. There are also pictures of Mylee's 8th birthday party and an UNWANTED house guest! Enjoy.

Mylee's Birthday and Monte Alban

Well Drilling

Aaron just got back from his first well drilling trip absolutely exhausted and sore from the labor intensive work that has to be done to drill wells. However, none of this matters compared to the great success that came from the trip. Did they get the well done and functioning before they left? No. So you ask "well where is the success in the trip?" The success was in the fact that Aaron had all the tools he needed and everything worked like it should when drilling the well. They were able to go down about 5.5 meters this time before they had to leave. But even more was the success in the relationships that were made this week while there. They have found a great Man of Peace in the vice president of the town, who worked along side Aaron listening and learning. One of the main obstacles this time around was the lack of laborers that it takes to get the well done. They have tentative plans to return in a couple weeks and finish what they started. We will be praying for the word that will be spreading around the town about the crazy "gringo" and his big contraptions, and that many more will come to help and see Christ demonstrated through our actions and then in the future receive the real Living Water. This comment from our teammate Jimmy kind of sums up the success of the week: "When we drove into the town, we were met with hard stares and expressionless faces...when we drove out at the end of the week we were seeing smiling faces and waving hands in our mirrors as we said goodbye." Below is a video of the well technique that Aaron is using. The gentleman speaking in the video is the actual one who came up with this technique and whom Aaron learned it from in Texas. Please be praying for this continued project that God would move in a mighty way.

New Year's Day

Kitchen Hand towel update:  In the neighborhood we handed the towels out a few weeks ago a lot has happened.  The church was no longer able to meet in the home they were in, so the pastor set out to find a new place.  He came upon a lady whom he began talking with but she was a bit stand-of-ish until he mentioned the "kitchen hand towel" that she had receive a few weeks earlier.  At this, she smiled real big and agreed to open her home up for the new "church".  Two weeks ago our friends decided to visit the church and what they saw amazed them.  There were 20 adults and 18 children attending the service, all of whom received a "kitchen hand towel" a few weeks ago!  God really is using these towels for His purpose.  In the next couple months we have plans to go into 3 other towns to distribute them.  We can't wait to see what God will do.

New years day this year we were invited to partake of the feast they have in the village to bring in the new year.  It consists of smoked goat and enchiladas.  They also had a chicken for those not accustomed to eating goat.  It was a great day among friends and really enjoyed bringing in the new year learning more about a wonderful people.

Jan 2012

Honduras

Aaron had an opportunity to visit an Agricultural Center in Copan Ruinas, Honduras. He visited a training center that trains extension agents to train local farmers how to implement soil conservation practices. The goal is to help farmers with the basic need of conserving their soil but also giving the extension agents and local pastors the opportunity to share stories from the Bible. Most everything he learned he will be able to teach farmers of indigenous villages orally (to those who do not know how to read). Please pray that he would effectively use these methods and train others to implement them. Also please pray that this training would lead to the planting of house churches among indigenous villages. Acts 2:46-47. Click on the link below to see pictures of this beautiful country. Enjoy!

Honduras Trip Chorti Project

Operation Shoebox

Posted as promised, are the photos taken at two locations of where Operation Shoeboxes were given.  First was in a village where the church we attend is planting a church.  The other location was the actual church.  They had enough boxes to give to each child at the church as well as those who were invited and a few from the neighborhood.  It was a wonderful opportunity to see the receiving end of these boxes and we are thankful we are able to share our pictures with you.  Only God knows if one of these boxes was donated by you and we thank you for that.  It truly put a smile on a child's face this Christmas season.  Enjoy the pics!

Operation Shoebox

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering video

This is a Lottie Moon Christmas Offering promotional video we made for our home church in Independence, MO.  It is never too late to support international missions through LMCO.  Thank you!