Plaza Sesamo

Today we went to the Sesame Street Amusement Park in Monterrey. When we first moved to Monterrey we bought season passes to the park for us to use during the hot months. We haven't been in a couple of months because of trips and other stuff. So today we put on our swimsuits, packed our backpack, and had a day of fun. It felt so nice and carefree to get out of the house. Sofia loves seeing "Melmo" as she calls him and Isaac loves to play in the swimming pools. It really is a nice place.

Weddings and Bodas

The past two weekends I have had the privilege to experience two beautiful weddings in different countries. I was able to attend my dear friends‘, Hope Newsome and Jonathan Staples, wedding in Mississippi and Beto's cousin’s, Merary Monsivais, wedding here in Monterrey. It was a lot of fun to see the difference between an American wedding and a Mexican Wedding.
Hope's wedding was such a sweet and special occasion. She had so many unique touches that incorporated her style, tastes, and family heirlooms. The reception was a lot of fun and had a ton of food, buffet style. My favorite was the corndogs. Instead of a large cake she had cupcakes in different flavors with little umbrellas that adorned the top of them. Jonathan had a candy bar that was full of bright colored candy and sweets. There was a DJ that played fun oldies and everyone had a good time dancing. The atmosphere was casual but with elegant touches everywhere.
Merary's wedding was just as special but totally different. In Mexico, weddings are another excuse for a party. The reception lasts all night and well into the early morning hours. The women and girls wear very formal dresses and hairstyles. The entertainment included two different live bands, a Mariachi band, and plenty of dancing. A plate of white spaghetti, chicken, and mashed potatoes was served to all the guests. There was also an endless amount of Coca Cola and cerveza that was constantly brought to you. This wedding had a formal atmosphere that incorporated fun Mexican traditions.

Feliz Dia Del Padre

Sunday's have quickly become my favorite day of the week. I love going to the church here called, "Jerico Baptist Church," and then eating at Abuelito's house with the whole family and of course, a nice long nap. Today was an extra special day, because it is also Father's Day here in Mexico. Mexicans have a party for everything and today was no exception. There was great food, lots of playing children, and loud music. I am finally getting a little more comfortable speaking Spanish, but I am far from being fluent and need LOTS more practice. I can answer a few questions and comfortable enough to mingle on my own with all the women in the family. I had been a little homesick this past week, but today lifted my spirits (it may have something to do with going home in 2 days for several days).

Happy Fathers Day!

Homemade cake cooked on top of a fire. Tasted... interesting

Making Guacamole

 

Preparing chicken tacos

 

Beto's brother, Cruz and his son William

 

My love

 

 

My sweet familia

 

Daddy and his baby girl dancing

Beto's brother, Morgan and his son Yael

The brothers and their little ones

La Nariz

It is always so humbling to visit a place that has so little, but the people that live there still have smiles on their faces. This year’s mission trip to La Nariz in Sonora, Mexico was a wonderful experience. La Nariz is a small village in the middle of the desert. It is only about 20 miles from the Arizona border but feels as if it is a whole world away.
While we are in La Nariz we do a number of things for the people living there. We try to help with physical needs by going to the surrounding villages and passing out large bags of food and flour. We meet their spiritual needs by having church services every night and have Vacation Bible School for the children.  I know that we all feel a blessing from their presence and our souls feels lifted every time we hug them, talk to them, and listen to their testimonies.
There are so many stories that I could tell you about how the Lord works while we are in La Nariz. One that truly touched my heart is when we were passing out groceries and a young lady was eagerly waiting for us. She very gratefully took the bag of groceries and explained to us that the day before they had run out of groceries. She had no milk or anything to feed her children. She said the Lord had sent us just in time and provided for their needs. Can you imagine sending your kids to bed hungry? Passing out the food is one of my favorite things that we do in La Nariz and now I realize how important it really is.
Every year that our church goes to La Nariz there is a man named Emmanuel and his family that likes to cook a goat or a sheep for the group. It is such a sacrifice for them to do this but they insist on feeding us this special meal. Their living conditions are some of the worst I have ever seen, but they humbly and proudly open their home to us. Emmanuel's health is quickly diminishing and we soak up every minute with him while visiting because we know that this could possibly be the last time we see him. Emmanuel's wife insisted that she wanted a picture of them on their prize horse. She said she wanted a picture of him before it was too late. They do not have a camera or very many pictures of them and their family because that is a luxury. So his sons lifted him up and sat him on this beautiful horse. He put on his chaps and Cowboy hat and rode around knowing that this would probably be his last time to ride. It brought tears to everyone's eyes as he rode around with a smile on his face. Pray that God will heal his body and that we can see his sweet face next year.
I could go on and on about the awesome things that happened in La Nariz. Needless to say, I am so thankful for the opportunity that we had and be blessed by the wonderful people in La Nariz.

 Beto translating the sermon

 The cutest little lady ever

Beto and I after meeting 7 years ago

Isaac and Sofia with their new amigos

Some of the families we deliver food to

Mom with a sweet lady named Victoria

 

Everything the Lord creates is Beautiful

A little girl the same age as Sofia

Isaac with a grateful little amigo

An elementary school

 

Passing out food

A happy family receiving food

 

Pastor Pedro and his family

Emmanuel's House

 

His house is mostly made of pallets and scrap wood

One of Emmanuel's grandbabies sleeping in a crate.

Emmanuel riding his horse proudly

Emmanuel and his family.

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.