Feliz Año Nuevo!

 Planting my little garden

Christmas Time
I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas season. We certainly did. There was a whirlwind of Christmas parties, programs, and celebrations.

 Pastor Abel, Daniela, & Oliver in the living nativity (note the donkey in the foreground)

 Watching the Christmas Program

 My group of kids dancing

 Fili, a friend, at the Christmas Program

We had a Christmas program on the 18th of December with a choir, dances, and drama. I taught some of the La Fuente children, including several kids from the nearby orphanage, a simple dance, and we performed it that night. The kids were so sweet before the show. They were shaky and nervous. They probably had never been on a stage before. I asked one of the boys if he had butterflies in his stomach. Although I am positive that the phrase doesn’t make sense in Spanish, he gave me a funny look and nodded his head. They did really well, and the audience loved it.

I miss teaching my weekly dance class. The whole thing was in Spanish, which really tested my Spanish skills. Though there were times we didn’t understand each other (or they would pretend they didn’t understand so they wouldn’t have to listen to me), they understood me most of the time. I learned a lot from them.

Marking the kids who recieved a hygine pack on Christmas morning

 

Waiting in line for clothes and linens, Christmas morning

Christmas weekend was, as I’m sure you can imagine, very full. We had mission Saturday morning. That afternoon, we had dinner at Pastor Keith and Maya’s with their extended family from the Baja. We ate turkey, mash potatoes, posole, and tamales- all excellent. That night, we went caroling in the town square (downtown) and passed out hot chocolate and Mexican sweet bread. We were joined by several tourists and locals. It was really fun. We skyped with my family late that night, conferencing with my sister and brother-in-law in Texas and the rest of my family in California. It was cozy, loud, and crowded, just like Christmas is when we are all together.

Christmas morning, we had church followed by a program for the neighborhood kids. We had several piñatas, toys, cloths, and hygiene products to give away. The mothers also received linens donated from a local hotel. That afternoon, we went to our friends’, the Forgets’, house. We spend the day chatting, cooking, and playing Just Dance on the Wii. I made eggnog from scratch, a first for me. I am please to say that it turned out great. John and I had a fantastic day. We were surrounded by wonderful people at church and at dinner who feel like a second family. We didn’t have a tree, or presents (which were still en route from the states), but we had maybe the best Christmas we’ve ever had.

This is what we did with most of our time off

Market
We had several days off last week in celebration of Christmas. On one of those days, John and I went up to Guayabitos (g-why-ah-bee-toes) with some friends to the Thursday Market. Every week, they close off 10 blocks and vendors move in with makeshift tarps and tents to sell things. You could buy anything from local produce, to painted ceramic sinks, to vintage milkshake makers, clothes, and tacos. The worst thing I saw was a box of live chicks that had been dyed bright colors. Children were buying them for 10 pesos each and carrying them home in plastic bags. Apparently, the vendors have been known to super glue mini plastic sombreros and cowboy boots to the chicks. Because of all the toxins they have ingested through the dye and the glue, the chicks don’t live longer than a day. So so so so sad.

 Green, red, yellow, and blue chicks waiting to be sold

 Fruit stand in Guayabitos

 Star fruit at a stand on the way home on Highway 200

Fruit stand on Highway 200 (coconuts, pineapples, jack fruit, and bananas)

Because the market is much cheaper than Puerto Vallarta or Bucerías, I had been waiting to get some things, like a folk art painting on coconut paper, and a table cloth. At one point, I needed to break a bill, but none of the vendors would take it. I was so thirsty (I hadn't drank anything yet that day) and wanted to buy a limeade (6 pesos), but I only had 5 pesos. The fruit stand had been doing brisk business all morning, so I thought for sure they would have change. I picked out some tangerines and told the guy that I only had a 100 peso bill, and did he have change for it (all in Spanish!!). He assured me he did. He ran around the back, asking his co workers if they had change. None of them did. He returned a little sheepish and handed the bill back to me. I went to return the tangerines, but he insisted that I take them and wished me a good day. I laughed pretty hard: all I wanted was the change, but I got four beautiful tangerines for free instead.

 At the market

Later that afternoon, John and I played with the coolest puppy I have ever met. All in all, a really great day.

Pastors’ Prayer
On Friday, we met with the other pastors for a time of prayer and worship. It was w o n d e r f u l. Maybe my favorite thing we have done since we arrived in Mexico. It was so nice to be with people whom I have come to greatly love and respect. The time of worship was very refreshing.

Cartolandia – Cardboard Town
That afternoon, we loaded up the rest of the sheets and blankets that had been donated to us. About twenty of us headed east to an area called Villas del Miramar (Villas of the Ocean View). This is a shanty town on an abandoned piece of property. There are no villas or ocean views nearby. It is huge, much bigger than I expected. All of the people live in houses that have been cobbled together from tarps, cast off bricks, and asbestos sheeting. We had a program for the kids while 400 or so adults received care packages of bed linens, towels, etc. We also gave out some gifts and clothes for the kids. It was really humbling to meet these families who had so little. Many of them heard about the nearby La Fuente mission in San Vicente for the first time. Some of them seemed very interested in coming to the mission. It was an amazing experience and I’m grateful that we got to be a part of it. John Mark is responsible for editing the footage for a short video. I’ll post it once it is ready.

 People from the shanty town

 400 people lining up to receive something

AJ and Misha leading the kids'program

Waiting to give out bags of linens

Playing in the Park
Last week, we were in San Ignacio, playing with the kids at the park. It was dark and one of the boys playing soccer ran into one of the little girls playing jump rope. She started crying and I tried to comfort her for a minute or two before Misha, the pastor’s daughter, took her from my arms and tried to calm her down. Misha asked her what happened, and the little girl told her. Misha threatened idly, “he ran you over? I’m going to punch him.” The little girl was surprised and stopped crying. “Can you punch him?” she asked. “No, of course not. It isn’t good to hit people.” Misha responded. “I see my mommy and daddy hit each other all the time”, the little girl replied. I see this little girl twice a week. She is super sweet and seems so innocent. None of us had any idea her home life was like that. When Misha told me that story, it broke my heart. It reminded me why what we do is important. I can’t change her home life, but I can love on her. Teach her that Jesus is with her no matter what is happening in her life. Pastor Keith and Maya used to teach classes about Jesus to kids in their neighborhood on their front porch. Many of those kids have grown up to be pastors and church leaders. Instead of following their parent’s legacy of poverty, unemployment, teen pregnancy, and broken families, those kids are living healthy, meaningful lives. I met one of them today. That is why what we do in San Ignacio matters. God can use it to change these kids’ lives. I pray that he does.

 Our weekly stop at the churro stand in Centro

 Being silly at the grocery store with AJ

New Year’s Eve
We went to a bonfire party on the beach on New Year’s Eve. At midnight, hotels all around the bay lit off their own fireworks display. We could see fireworks from here to Vallarta. We lit a few fireworks of our own and a friend tried to write 2012 in the sand with gasoline, but the fire just looked smeared. The hotel nearest us released over 50 Chinese floating lanterns after the fireworks, lighting the sky with bright, ever-changing constellations. Later, we moved inside, calling some of our friends in California to wish them a happy new year. After a couple rounds of Wii dancing, we headed home.

By firelight, New Year's Eve

The next morning we had church, and I was scheduled for my first time as a side singer on the worship team for the English service. I haven’t sung on a worship team in a long time, like 6 years. It was really really fun. I didn’t realized how much I missed it.

Dr. John Mark

Tepic
Yesterday, we left Bucerías early to be in Tepic for a pastors meeting. We drove through field after field of blooming sugar cane. I had no idea that sugar cane could bloom, but it was lovely. After we arrived, we stopped at a taco stand for breakfast, and I had goat meat for the first time. It was very good. We spent the rest of the day in meetings (and eating more amazing food.)

John and I are staying here tonight. Tomorrow, we are getting extra training on the new website template. One thing about being in an all Spanish speaking environment is I am realizing how much I still have to learn. Small talk is the hardest, especially in a noisy room where other people are having small talk.

What a Year
John and I have had an amazing, crazy, tragic, beautiful year. We lost our house to a short sale, decided to move to Haiti, God switched the flip and we ended up in Mexico. We left the states, endured humidity, made dear friends, began preaching and ministering, went scuba diving, lost a friend in a construction accident, started learning Spanish, watched monsoon lightening, had our first Christmas away from family, and decided to make a two year commitment to La Fuente. Pastora Maya said it best “If you feel a little terrified, that’s a good thing.” This year has surprised us at every turn, but honestly we wouldn’t want it any differently.

Thank you for all of your love, prayers, and support. We absolutely know that we couldn’t be here without you. We are humbled by the sacrifices that our friends and family at home have made for us. We are so grateful. May God richly bless you, surprise you, and be near to you this year.

Love,
Moorea and John Mark

Also, we recieved a huge donation of sheets, blankets, towels, and other linens yesterday. Here is a clip of unloading the truck. (I get to see these people every day!)

See it here

John Mark spoke at church last night. Here is a recording of the bilingual sermon he gave. The introduction is in spanish and ends around 1:55. Enjoy!
Ir a descargar

John Mark lost his wallet last week. We haven't been able to find it, so now he is going through the process of canceling cards and so forth, but we don't know how he is going to be able to get a new drivers license. Please pray that we either find the driver's license or that he can get a new one before we visit the states in May.

Also,our computer is starting to act up. The weather and dust are hard on computers down here, and we are thinking that we are going to have to replace it sooner than we had hoped. Most of what I do for the church is on this computer, so it is not really optional. Please pray that the computer will last until we can go to the states for a new one and that we will be able to afford it.

Thank yo for your prayers!
love,
Moorea

 To Tepic

Hello,

Things feel a little more christmasy around here. John and I went to Tepic with some friends on Sunday evening for a Christmas service at La Fuente Tepic. We hadn’t been to Tepic yet. It was interesting to leave our little area and see a different part of Mexico. Tepic is about 3 hours away by car in dry climate at a higher altitude. The city itself was also very different. The atmosphere was a little more intense as it is not as isolate from the cartel issues as we are in Bucerías. It was a fun, spur of the moment trip to see several aquaintences at the Christmas show. 

 La Fuente Tepic Christmas Service

Yesterday, we had a Posada, or Christmas party, in San Ignacio. We had 100 kids and 30 adults attend our potluck and piñata party. We had ponche (a traditional Mexican Christmas drink with fruit and chunks of sugar cane in it), posole (a pre-columbian Mexican corn soup), and tamales. So good. It was very crowded with all those people trying to fit on our small porch. Thankfully, we had just enough food for everyone. 

Last Tuesday, John Mark spoke at San Ignacio. He gave his testimony and talked about God’s goodness. The crows was very small, but he felt confident. I was upstairs teaching kids’class to the little ones, so I didn’t get the hear it, but my friend said it went well. John also had an opportunity to speak at the junior high youth group a while ago. He has a lot of opportunities this month to speak, and he is learning a lot. 

 Youth Group: using the stage for the first time

 

 

 Ladies' Group Christmas Party

We have several Christmas parties, programs, and outreaches still to come this month. Please pray with us that the Holy Spirit will prepare people’s hearts to receive him. John and I are doing well. We are excited about the things that we are involved with. Please continue to pray that we will continue to be healthy and learn Spanish. God has provided for us in unexpected ways. Please continue to pray that he will give us everything we need to do his will here in Mexcio.

God bless you & Merry Christmas

Moorea

This is what happens when we forget to bring the guitar to the San Ignacio Mission.

Good Morning,

Happy belated Thanksgiving. I hope you had a wonderful day with family and friends. John and I celebrated Thanksgiving twice, which seems to be the Mexican way (even though Thanksgiving isn’t a Mexican holiday! Any excuse to celebrate is a good one.) We enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving a few days before hand at our pastor’s house and an nontraditional one on the day of at a restaurant on the beach.

 Thanksgiving Dinner: fish for me, pork ribs for him

John and I have been sick this week, so we have been moving a little slower than usual. I just had a cold, but John Mark had an attack of allergies due to a wind storm we had a few days ago. He is allergic to dust, which there is a lot of around here now that the rains have stopped for the winter. We are both beginning to feel normal again, thankfully.

The top floor of the new building at the church is finally partially inhabitable. They completed several offices and a storage room to replace the unit they had been renting. Last week, John Mark helped them more out of the storage unit and reorganizes their things upstairs. Sound equipment, craft supplies, medical gear, etc are now upstairs. 

 Preparing to pour the sanctuary floor

Freshly poured sanctuary floor

Last week in San Ignacio, we had Kilo x Kilo which is a work for food program. Several kids from the church also came out to help us. Several families came to work and received bags of food in return. There was also a lunch to say thank you to the volunteers who work at the mission. We ate at the main La Fuente church in Bucerias, which is the town John and I live in. It was fun to hang out and eat good food together.

 Cutting weeds beside the highway

 Twirling

 washing the tables

 Reading her new Bible

Kilo x Kilo food for work

I was asked to preach at the San Ignacio mission this week. I gave a short talk, my first ever, on Tuesday to about 10 adults. Misha, the pastor’s daughter and regular volunteer at the San Ignacio mission, translated for me. It went pretty well; I definitely have a lot to learn about preaching. I am really glad for the opportunity to try. John Mark is preaching three times this month. He is teaching at Eklektos, the jr. high age youth group, tomorrow. He is teaching again next Tuesday in San Ignacio, and again on the 21^st for the Spanish service at La Fuente. I think I am more nervous than he is. He is looking forward to it, I think.

 Me speaking in San Ignacio

Yesterday, I was responsible to bring refreshments for the English Adult Bible Study. My “oven” at home is actually a large toaster oven. It works great, and I am happy to have it, but it only makes very small batches at a time. I only own one oven safe pan, and it was not large enough for the brownies I was making. I decided to cook the brownies at the church since I was sure they would have larger baking dishes and a functional oven. You would think that I would have learned by now: nothing is easy here. I found a couple baking dishes that would work, but were far from ideal, and preheated the oven. When I went to put the brownies in the oven, I realized that it was cold.  A friend suggested that the pilot light needed to be lit. After ten minute of trying to light the thing, it was suggested that the propane to the oven had been turned off. John went to check and sure enough it was. Now, the propane was on, the pilot light was lit, and the oven was preheating. Suddenly, there was a flash of light and a small explosion in the oven. John rushed over and turned it off. We consulted our friend who reassured us, “oh yeah, it does that.” Not sure whether to be comforted or not, we relit the oven and cooked the brownies without further incident.

Today, one of the pastors from La Fuente’s parent church is coming down from Tepic to teach John, another pastor, and I about the new website design. Our site desperately needs some renovation. I am pretty happy about the change. It sounds like John will be the one primarily charge of the new templates. He is looking forward to doing some techie/design work.

This afternoon, I will also be teaching dance for the Christmas program this month. I choreographed a dance for the kids, and we have been practicing on Fridays. We only had two girls coming for a little while, then some of the kids from a nearby orphanage started coming. I am expecting between 8-10 kids to dance with us on December 18^th. I have really enjoyed teaching them, and I am thinking about offering to teach at the orphanage a few times a month.

Tomorrow is breakfast at the missions, so we will bring a typical Mexican breakfast food, sandwiches or tortas, out to San Ignacio with us. The Canadian volunteers are here at the church now preparing the sandwich fixings. They come at 6am on Saturdays, before sunrise, to prepare 200 tortas for all the mission locations. It is a huge help for those who work at the missions to have the tortas pre-made.

Cutting onions for tomorrow's tortas

Even though the weather has started to cool off (we finally need more than a sheet to sleep with at night), it doesn’t feel like the Christmas season at all. I don’t miss home as much as I would if it did feel Christmasy, so it is not a bad thing, I guess. We are staying here for Christmas, though beyond that we don’t have any holiday plans. Although, I should mention that the church has about 10 Christmas parties planned between now and then, so we will certainly be celebrating.

Thank you for all of your prayers. We would appreciate continued prayers for our health; we have been sick more in the months that we have been down here than we are used too, but I’m sure part of that is due to the time we spend with kids. We also need more teachers at the mission. Please pray that we will find reliable people who have a heart for kids and for Jesus. (Matthew 9:37-38 – He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”)

Blessings in Christ,

Moorea