Back in Mexico

It was almost a year ago that we last posted. After being on Stateside for the past year, it is so good to be back "home" in Mexico. We had a great year in the states which included many opportunities to speak at new churches, a family vacation to Disney world and the most exciting news, Aaron graduated from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with his Master of Divinity. We are so proud of Aaron and the hard work he put into his studies. So what is next? We will be making a move back to the area of Puebla, which is the area we started our first term. So our home search will begin tomorrow. Our position has not changed as we will still be working on the Human Needs Team, offering villages Agricultural help where needed. So Aaron will be working out of the city. We are already exploring some different options where we can begin as soon as we are settled. Thank you so much to all who prayed us here safely. It was a wonderful travel day for all of us with no hiccups and ALL of our luggage made it with us. Praise God! We look forward to watching God work through us with you all working right along side of us with your prayers and giving to the Lottie Moon Offering. You can begin checking the blog on a more regular basis as I will try to post about every couple weeks keeping you updated on how you can be praying for us. May your days be blessed!

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