Apologies

To all who are faithful in checking this blog and to all who gave up weeks or even months ago.  My apologies.  Turns out that I am really not very good with keeping up the blog.

Here is an update for the last month or month and a half:

April ended with a bang.  The eye clinic and the wedding.  There was lots going on and everyone was busy.  Since then things have slowed down considerably.  May was the month of finishing up my afternoon and evening English classes and catching up on all the other stuff going on right now.  So, now it's June and I have about a month before I come home to visit.  I know the real reason that everyone checks this site is the random chance that there will be a picture.  So here you go.

First: This was a first for me. A mango/avacado sandwich with cilantro.  Sounds strange and possible disgusting, but actually quite tasty.

Here are some pictures from the school...

Here are the kids messing around taking a picture.  It's really neat to see how they have connected throughout the year and get along so well now.

Jose Carlos with Armando and Mauricio in the background on Dia del Nino.  Jose Carlos and Mauricio are brothers and their family rents out these trampolines, so they were lucky enough to get this one for the celebrations.

Leslie and Litzy with Milagros in the background.  The three girls.  Also on Dia del Nino.  Matt had the bright idea to involve water balloons on this day.  The purpose was to toss them back and forth with towels, but I think most of them ended being thrown at me.  hmmmm. 

The school year ends on July 9th, but I am coming home on the 2nd of July.  Ben Stoller will be spending some time here this summer and I am going to talk him into being my substitute for the las week.  He doesn't know that yet though.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone then and getting a lot of work done between now and then.

Keep praying for the church here in Ixtlan as well as Barra Vieja, Morelia, and Queretaro.  Also, keep praying for the school.  We already have 10 students enrolled for next year's first grade class and expect to fill up to the 15 student limit by the time school starts in August.  Hopefully our second grade (this years class) class will fill up too. Next year we will have both first and second grade and will continue to add a grade each year. 

Anyway.  I'll be in touch later.

So much for that New Year's Resolution

Yeah, every week didn't happen at all.  So you will get a big update at once here and I'll see what kinds of pictures I can find.

Grant and company:

Grant Hermann came to visit with his brother Greg and his Grandpa Marvin Leman.  They spent about a week here and helped with several different things.  Grant has spent two summers here helping out, and came to visit over his spring break.  It was nice to have the visitors around and someone else to drive.  Thanks, Grant, for all the driving you did while here.  We like to take advantage of those who know the routes when they visit.

Jeff and Barra: 

Jeff came down at the end of March and we went and spent a week in Barra Vieja.  It was a great time to enjoy some hot weather, the ocean, and the church members there in Barra.  It's hard to explain everything that goes on there in Barra.  We did studies several of the afternoons we were there and we also spent time with other people in the community that we, or other people, have met.  The weather was beautiful and we even saw some pretty interesting animals around the house this time.  Julie Beer and Elise Maller were able to spend a couple of days in Ixltan as well right when we got back.  It was great to catch up with them and have them be able to see where I live. 

Here is a frog that was camping out in the yard.  It was about the size of my hand.

This big old lizard came around the first day but then never came back.  I think it didn't like Jeff sticking the broom in its face. 

Here are a bunch of fish that Esteban caught when he took us fishing.  Jeff and I weren't so lucky.  We aren't yet experts in using a net to fish. 

Here is a picture of Marco gettting Coconuts down from the tree.  He has a really sharp knife attached to the end of that pole.  They fall really hard too.  You have to watch out.

Loren's Eye Clinic:

Loren Shrenk came down from the 10th to the 11th of April for an eye clinic.  He did 14 operations this time.  Since Loren and Betsy come down more often with Julie Heorr, it is a lot of fun to spend time with them again and to see them.  I always enjoy a bunch of good food and time to sit around and talke while they are around.  Praise God that the eye clinic went well.  Pray that all the glory goes to God and Him alone.  Pray also that those hearts would be softened to the gospel.

WEDDING!!!!!

Yeah, we had a wedding in Ixtlan.  Jonathan Aupperle and Berenice Navarro were married this weekend.  It was a great weekend.  Mike and Deb Leman arrived on Wednesday, so I was able to spend some time with them before the Magdalena crew arrived.  All the Secondaria kids, middle school kids, came down for the wedding along with several of the teachers, Bill and Joan, and some staff.  Todd Stoller, the three middle school kids, and Ben Shick stayed here at the guest house with me.  We had a blast getting to know each other.  Saturday was full of keeping the kids, all the boys and girls, entertained with breakfast and a trip to the Geyser.  Now everyone has left and peace once again reigns in this house but it is really quiet. 

I have to say.  It is sad that I don't have more pictures, especially from this weekend, maybe I can get someone to send me some to post later. 

Keep praying.  We need the prayers and appreciate them so much.  I think visitor season is officially ending now.  It will be nice to get back into my routine, but it will be very quiet.  Pray for us as we get back to normal.  Pray that new opportunities would open up here, and that we would be able to serve and glorify God effectively here.

Visitor season begins...

Thank you to Angie for being true to her word when she said she would keep me accountable for posting.

I keep meaning to write something, enough stuff has happened, but when it comes time to sit down to do it, I think of something else to do...hmm. So here I sit being properly held to my word and needing to blog.

So in the month of Febuary we recieved over 6 inches of rain, a complete mystery to Mexico as it isn't supposed to rain until the end of May, maybe. It was the middle of June last year. Anyway, it stopped raining in time for Jodi and I to climb a mountain two weeks ago. We had a great time as I found out how out of shape I am. It was great to get away and have some brother/sister time on the trail. Takes me back to those Colorado day hikes we used to take. Anyway, here is a picture that Jodi and I took at the top. If it looks familiar, it is because I took it from her blog. Thanks, Jodi.



So, the Saturday that Jodi and I climbed the mountain, a group of guys came for a visit. Evan Schmidgall, Jaylin Taibel, and Colin Knapp spent about a week here and on Monday we climbed the same mountain, La Mula, again. I found that I was in much better shape and the climb went much better. It was great to have some time with a group of brothers since we don't get groups like that very often down here.

Here is another picture of us, triumphant at the top of the mountain.



It was a fast week full of good fellowship and lots of tacos.

The school year is passing fast, but it is exciting to see how far we have come in what seems like so few months. The kids are now reading and adding and behaving so much better. They have grow so much in these months. They love being together even come to play together when the parents have to come for meetings. It is exciting to see all that growth. The other day at recess they were running around singing "He decidido seguir a Cristo" (I have decided to follow Jesus) and it made me smile. I can't wait to see them after 6 years. They all have so much potential for growth and understanding. Keep praying for the kids. Litz, Landon, Leslie Daniela, Milagros, Jose Carlos, Mauricio, Juan Diego, and Armando. Keep praying for the families. Pray that they will be touched by the truth of who Jesus is and what He did for us. Pray for the teachers and staff. Pray that we will always show the love of God and Christ in our actions and teaching.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6

Sunny South?????

So, it may be the south, but this week hasn't been so sunny. If you have been following Jodi's blog, you already know this. I think I could probably count the hours since Sunday night sometime (I really don't know when I was asleep, I think) through Thursday at about 2:30 when water wasn't falling from the sky on one hand.

Marshall, the official recorder for rain accumulation, reported over five inches of rain. I know that isn't the biggest amount of rain ever recorded for a day span, but you really have to take into consideration that the average rain accumulation for the month of February is bordering on nothing (Marshall said less than a half inch, but I don't think we got a drop in February last year). It was just plain weird to get that much rain in February. Now we have farmers trying to pump water out of the fields and the river appears to have almost gone over its banks. On top of the rain, it has been COLD. Marshall recorded 41 this morning. REALLY COLD when you don't have a heater. It makes me anxious for the hot May and June days to come when I will be wishing for just an hour of this kind of cold weather. NOT that I am complaining. I am surviving just fine and am just thankful that God has brought me here in life, thankful to be a part of the church here in Ixtlan. If I have to be a little cold for a week, so be it.

We did go to the geyser on Monday. It was a nice opportunity to get out and do something different. We even had a couple of hours (probably the only hours since then when it wasn't raining) to play some volleyball, but then it started raining a lot. (See below) We had fresh made tortillas and some good Mexican food. That is always a plus. I made the guacamole. Everyone graciously ate it, even if I didn't put enough chiles in it. Oh, well. Check out some of the action.



Claudia and Elsa preparing the masa for tortillas.



Rudy and Maria trying to get the fire going. It's hard when everything is just a tad bit damp.



Rudy and I enjoying a little bit of guisado. Yum, yum.



And then the rain came...and kept coming...and kept coming.



The group. Charming, aren't we.

Thanks for your prayers that have been offered. Keep them coming. The community here in Ixtlan and the country of Mexico needs your prayers. Mexico is waiting for a return to the truth of Jesus Christ and prayer is the most powerful tool we have to partner with God to help that change come about. Beg to the Father for the souls and hearts of the Mexican people.

Babies

When you are part of a small church, things like babies make a big difference. Not only are services a little more disrupted, in a good way, but it puts a new hope for the future in the church. Especially when the babies are all boys.

Since August, four boys have been born in the Ixtlan Church.

Esteban is the son of Efrain and Ana. They also have two other children David and Liliana.

Caleb is the son of Matt and Ruth. He is their first child and has been keeping them super busy (and tired).

Andres is the son of Javier and Rosi. He is their second child. Sarahi is his older sister.

Alejandro Isai is the son of Alejandro and Rosa. He is bringing them special joy as they lost their first child in childbirth.

Pray for these boys and all the kids of the church. Pray that they would grow up to be stong leaders of the church and that they would be firmly grounded in the word of God. Pray for the Spirit's work to keep them from the evil of the world and that they can grow like Samuel, "in favor with both the Lord and men."

Also, in other news. Tomorrow is an official holiday. We are going to the geiser for volleyball and to eat. Hopefully I will remember my camera and be able to post some.

Back into the grind

I am officially back into the grind. All the English classes are again up and running and things feel a little more normal. I wonder sometimes how I ever get things done. If I'm not busy doing one thing, I'm doing something else. Yet I have decided something. I really need to do a better job posting. I really need to keep you better updated about what is going on here. So, I am going to do better.

Notice: I am going to do better, NOT I am going to try to do better. Two different things. That being said, on to other things.

I will start with an update about the Americans here in Ixtlan.

Marshall and Jan have just completed their 15th year ministering to the people of Ixtlan. They came down all those years ago to a small two bedroom house with kitchen/living room (that doubled as the church) and a porch. Since then the church as grown and matured. They have seen the construction of the church, the guest house and the school. More importantly they have seen the conversion of hearts.

Caleb Alan Gerber just celebrated one month. He is growing and healthy. I say he's a happy boy. His parents might say different. He is keeping Matt and Ruth busy, but they are very happy to be parents. Matt is a minister here in Ixtlan, along with Marshall. Matt is also the Administrator of the school and he teaches the values class every morning in school.

I continue teaching English. I have four classes and it takes some time to prepare and teach each class and also takes a large chunk out of my afternoon since none of my classes start before noon. I also help with church activities and take part in several studies.

The work here in Ixtlan is a thing of perserverence, but it is much more a thing of hope. Mexico is waiting for a revival. The people are searching and soon they will be found. I invite all of you to lift up the people of Mexico in prayer to God, the only One who can find and save His people. Pray that God's Church would shine brightly in the darkness of Mexico. Pray for huge things. Pray that Mexico comes to Christ.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

There are times in life...

There are times in life when one has to eat his own words. They usually don't taste very good either. There is typically a bitter taste that goes along with them.

I am now in this situation. For all my ridicule of Warsaw Community Schools for their MANY canceled days of school, I now stand ridiculed myself. School was officially cancelled on Thursday and Friday because of, yes I'm really going to say it, the cold.

For what it's worth it didn't hardly get out of the 50's both days and was probably in the lower 40's through the night. While I always enjoy and appreciate days off, there is something almost embarrasing for me, a Hoosier, to accept the fact that school was cancelled for 50 degree weather.

So, you can all pray that we don't get sick down here, we don't have heat and it is cold in the morning. Pray that we can get a good start on the rest of the school year on Monday.

Also, congrats to Matt and Ruth. Caleb Alan Gerber was born December 22. Pray for Caleb's healthy growth and for Matt and Ruth as they begin this new stage of their life with much less sleep.