A Trip Down Memory Lane

Today I have been busy packing our suitcases and getting ready for our trip to Sonora, Mexico. As I have been packing I can't help but think about my first trip to Sonora. Seven years ago, at the age of nineteen, I went with my church for the first time on their annual mission trip to Sonora. It never crossed my mind that I would meet my husband in Mexico on this very trip.
The first time I saw Beto was right before we crossed the border to Mexico. His cousin, Mandi Moncivais, had asked Beto to come along with another church group. I didn't pay him much attention then mostly because of his long hair. He didn't pay me any attention either, because he says he doesn't even remember seeing me at that time.
I immediately fell in love with village, La Nariz. The Hispanic people and the children were all too sweet. During the day we would do some type of construction work to the church and at night have a church service and VBS for the kids.
The second day we were there my friend Stephanie and I were mopping the Sanctuary. I noticed Beto and another guy standing at the door talking in Spanish with little grins on their faces. After several minutes I finally got the courage to ask what they were talking about. Without hesitation Beto told me that I did not know how to mop correctly. I smiled, knowing that he was right, and then handed him the mop. Since he knew how to mop better than I then he could do it himself. After just a couple of minutes of talking I could see past his long hair and I noticed how nice looking he really was. I started paying more attention to him and watching from a distance. I loved watching him work with the people and from time to time I would find an excuse for him to come translate something for me.
It came time to leave La Nariz and my heart was broken. You can ask anyone who goes on this trip that it is a special place with special people. On the way back we had to stop for the night at a hotel. I still felt like a piece of me had been left in Mexico. Then I saw Beto walk through the hotel doors and my heart was lifted. Seeing him made me feel as if we had brought a piece of Mexico with us. That night I asked him if he would like to go to church with me once we got back home. Thankfully he said yes and seven months later we were married.
Tomorrow we leave for San Antonio (where my mom is meeting us!) and then on Friday we meet up with our church to head towards Sonora, Mexico. I am looking forward to going back to the place where it all began. Beto will be the translator for the sermons every night and I am so thankful to see how far the Lord has brought him in his English and his walk with the Lord. Please be praying for us as we travel and for Beto as he translates.

One of our very first pictures in La Nariz.

Why am I Here?

This is not the first time in my life that I have asked myself this question. There have been several points in my life that I have wondered, “What is my purpose?" Now I am beginning to ask that very question here in Mexico. We have been here a little over two months and we are getting into the routine of daily life. Beto has been looking for a job and I guess that is what has brought up this very important question. He could easily get a job at a factory working ten-hour days six days a week for a whopping five hundred dollars a month. Those circumstances are not ideal for anyone but it is especially not ideal for us because that would mean that the kids and I would be shut in until Beto got home. By the time he would get home, he would then be too tired to take us anywhere or do anything with us. At this time, I just do not feel like God has led us here for Beto to work endless hours in a factory and for us to feel shut out from the rest of the world. Of course, Beto needs a job so that we can have a means to live our daily life.
So why has God led us here? What is our purpose? I do not want this opportunity to live in Mexico to go by and we not take every chance to show Christ’s love and forgiveness. I do not want a year to go by and ask myself what good I did here. Therefore, I guess I am writing this so that everyone will be in prayer with us on what is our next move. Asking God to continue to provide physically for us and provide a way for us to minister to others.

Dear Lord, lead us in the right direction and help us to hear your voice.

"El Día Del Niño"

Children's Day is celebrated on April 30 here in Mexico. Children’s Day has been a big deal in Mexico with parties, piñatas, outings, and gifts since it’s 1925 inception. The last Wal-Mart advertising flier devoted the center 6-8 pages to Christmas-like displays of toys and games – this in a country where most children in working families receive just a couple of gifts for Christmas instead of the mountain of presents north of the border kids have come to expect.
Some families give their kids presents like what we do for Christmas and some just have lots of candy and piñatas. The schools have little parties with music and the teachers let the kids dance, play, and give no school work.
Our family celebrated Dia Del Niño today at Beto's abuelito's house with a piñata, food, and cupcakes. They even had a little party for the kids at church this morning. It was fun celebrating a different holiday. I will definitely incorporate this into "our" traditions when we move back to the states.