What's on the agenda for July?

VBS! I've been toying with the idea for months....not sure whether to attempt it when I wasn't really sure of where my help was going to come from. Michael and Crystal are studying over in Guanajuato, so of course their time would be limited. Some of those who used to really get behind and help carry the load are gone now.....so while I knew it was something I really wanted to do, I wasn't sure if I could.

Then, an email slipped into our inbox from Miss Marjorie Alexander, wanting to come visit this summer....and I jumped at the offer.

Marjorie's parents, Paul and Linda, are fellow-missionaries who aren't on the field now...but who will never lose their heartbeat for missions. Marjorie is the youngest of three siblings, and was only a very small gal when her parents changed fields of ministry. She is excited about helping me do this VBS, and I have also garnered the help of another dear friend (also a grown-up MK)...Margaret (Eversole) Velazquez! She and her husband Juan are great friends and their sons have through the years helped my girls learn to deal with not having brothers! (I won't say more lest I get in trouble!) Anyway, Margaret and her youngest son Jared (14) are going to accompany Marjorie and will be spending two weeks here...finally! I say that because we have wanted them to visit Salamanca for forever. It will be great.

So...........I am busy planning this thing out. Fortunately I was able to talk to some of the church ladies who will help with the prop preparation and decorating (I'm no artist) The program I am using calls for a daily puppet skit (my team is coming together slowly), music (Michael and Crystal's dept), a Bible story (I guess that will be mine) memorization and crafts (yet to be assigned!) and finally crowd-control, sound-system, projector prompting, yelling over the top of kids, etc will be Philip's job! (Not really the last thing I mentioned, I hope.....but I am telling you, it will be challenging!) Anyway, this week we got the banner designed and at the printers. Crystal is working on the flyer we are going to pass out in a couple weeks, and I doing the worrying that it will all come together! We can use plenty of prayers right about now.

Here's the banner! We'll get it hung this next week. I think it turned out pretty nice.
Oh yeah, when is this event? Not until July 23-27th---but I need all the time I can get.

Some pics I wanted to post....

Here are two of our little church tykes....Taylor, the Mason's littlest guy, and Galilea, the daughter of Grace, one of the young women who attends. These two steal the show weekly!

While visiting in NC in May, we stayed with our friends, Robb and Veda Kaufman. Through the years we have watch their seven children grown from babies to young adults....and lucky for them they still have some at home! Here are two of theirs, Josh (12) and Catrina (7). Josh is someday going to come see me in Mexico!

Monica is a neighbor girl who likes to come by and have me give her an English class. I think by teaching her for awhile I might actually get up the nerve to advertise for a bigger class. I would only have to put out my sign out front and I'm sure before the day would be over I could have a roomful. Have to get my nerve up first, though.....so that's why I teach Monica!

Oh, brother!

I am just about ready to give up on this whole blogging thing! I looked at the last time I posted, and cannot believe my eyes. So much for all my repentance of the past and my good intentions. I really wish it were possible for you all to listen to all the good posts that I create in my head and never get around to posting.....you'd be impressed!

I'm not kidding, this morning I came awake with blogging on my mind and immediately launched (mentally of course) into the longest blog yet. I was getting all excited about getting up and posting. But ....it was a bit early, the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak! The rest is history.

On a brighter note, we had a great Bible Study last night, the women and I did...can't speak for the men, but they were in their room longer than the rest of us, so I assume it was interesting. Anyway, I love it when the ladies participate and feel free to ask questions, share their own struggles/prayer requests/victories. Last night a young couple that Philip visited last Saturday showed up for Bible Study. This couple has been struggling for sometime with their marriage and debt and other issues....and we had been praying for their situation now for several months. They have two adorable children who have been to church with their grandparents in the past and are super-intelligent and a handful! I had heard through their family members that the children were missing coming to Sunday School and were begging to come back. Well, I wish I could have taped the entrance of those kids as they ran up the stairs to where I was and came to greet me! Cristal (4) got to me first shouting out my name and giving me a big hug. Victor (6) came right on her heels and being the most expressive little guy you ever saw, gave me an even tighter and longer hug, all the while trying to out-talk his sister. Of course, I love kids and like to squeeze them back, and as I did he looked me right in the face and said, "Hermana, do you know why I hugged you so hard?" "Why?" I asked. "Hermana, porque a mi me da TANTO GUSTO verte!" (Hermana, because it gives me SUCH JOY to see you!)

I know MY face registered my delight at his vibrancy!

Back to the parents. Philip and I compared notes later and found out that they have both come back to the Lord and have been attending on Sundays the church they grew up in. Cristal (yep, that's the mother's name as well) told me that even though she had read the Bible since she was in her early teens, it has only now become real to her and speaks to her right where she has needed it. Victor (yep, that's the dad's name as well....no baby book of fancy names for this couple) shared much the same story with Philip and the guys, adding that God has recently supplied him a job after 6 months of no work and tons of late payments. We are rejoicing that these young people are seeking God and finding that He really and truly is the answer.

On the other hand, we still have some struggling hearts who are still not ready to give God his rightful place. They need His help, His blessing...but they still want things their way and it is taking its toll on their families. Philip has gone over to one home tonight to pray with this family who is facing major difficulties. I'm praying the visit will go well...