US/Mexico

What a transition it has been back into Mexico from our year in the states. It hasn't been an issue getting back into the slower lifestyle but it is very different than that of the states. For example, we stopped by McDonalds one day to get a quick something to eat. What would've been a 5 minute stop in the states was about 15 minutes here. As I stood there and watched them move very slowly and laid back, I remember thinking about the last time I was in McDonalds in the states and how fast everyone was moving. It is the difference between the tortoise and the hare. Neither way is wrong...just different. Getting used to the drivers in Mexico has been another thing to get used to again. This is one thing that I do miss from the states: how orderly everyone is and obeying all the traffic laws and signs. But I have gotten back into the swing of driving and fitting right in with everyone else :). As I am writing this, we are waiting for the signed contracts sent by DHL from Mexico City to deliver to the landlord. They were supposed to be here by 10:30am but it is 10:33 so we will see. I have included a link below of pictures of our last couple days in the US and the first couple of weeks in Mexico.  Our teammates arrived to Mexico a few days before us and so we were asked to show them around Puebla.  So we have a few pictures of where we took them.  Hoping to be in our new home when we post the next blog. Enjoy!

(Written by Brie)

https://plus.google.com/photos/117017194470550391778/albums/5893462300354221009?authkey=CKCdlaqJ3f6txAE

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