Walking About

I(Erin) have noticed that I am not driving nearly as much…really at all since we have moved to La Mision. We go for a walk to the beach in the mornings, which is about 40 min. On Fridays we walk to the La Panederia (bakery) for breakfast. We walk to church Tuesday night, Thursday night, and Sunday morning (as the building is just next door). We walk to the local store to get some tortillas but try to avoid it because the prices are so much higher than compared to the grocery stores in Rosarito. The only place close by we can’t walk to is the Orphanage, which is just on the other side of town. Anywhere else takes some planning and time. For example, it usually takes about 30 minutes to get to Rosarito and that is only if one takes the toll roads (where you pay $1.95/26 pesos each way). In Seattle we had a grocery store three blocks from our house, so I would usually pick something up on the way home.

Now however, it is fun event for us to go to the Comercial Mexicana. But we haven’t had to spend too much money on food which has been a blessing because we eat at least one meal a day with the Pachecos. The family eats the largest meal of the day at lunch, generally around 1 or 2 pm, and then has a light dinner around 8 or 9pm. Elizabeth and Rosa make delicious food. I am excited because Elizabeth said she is going to teach me how to make homemade tortillas soon. Yesterday we had nopales (prickly pear cactus chopped and boiled) with breaded fried fish, and today I think she is making her famous chile rellenos…so not to worry we are definitely eating well and enjoying new foods.

Peace

I woke up this morning and we made it through another cold night. But as I went outside, the winds were hot. Santa Ana's were what we called them in California. I think down here they are called Santana winds.

And right as I walked out of my door and looked at the beautiful mountains, I saw a white dove flying right over me and proceed toward the ocean.

This sign gave me great peace that I am supposed to be here.

My family had this happen to us on a vacation once. We couldn't get a window shut or something and we were panicking and so we prayed and a dove flew right passed our windshield and the window went directly up. It wasn't a big deal but our whole family still remembers that as a significant sign from God.

Now, as I continue to seek God and what He could possibly want us to be doing down here, I treasure the sign of that dove and how comforting to know that God's peace is here in my heart and wants to be here in the lives of His children in Mexico.

Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement. We can feel it!

Brrrrrrr!

We survived another night. We have all of the blankets that we own and still are barely warm enough. I say survived because 31 people have died in Mexico according to the news since October. There is no central heating in Mexico and therefore many people will start a fire or a gas grill inside and then the Carbon Monoxide gets 'em.
Not having heat makes for having long cold nights. But hopefully it will warm up a little more today. The sun is out and as I sat outside reading my Bible, I felt the warmth of the sun and it started to warm up my core.
I really feel God preparing Erin and I to do something that we don't really understand yet. We already know that we are here to pray for Sofi. She was born with some irregular veins in her head that are bleeding still and have made her life the last couple of years, very difficult. She had a pretty big anheurism and lost some of her ability to use the right side of her body. She does physical therapy every day to help this. She is an amazingly kind and sweet 17-year-old and we depend on her for translating. She also has a beautiful voice (she is the one who sang at our wedding).
We feel honored to be here still and I (Chad) really feel such a peace that this is where we are supposed to be. Its a funny thing to take such a giant step (for me) and now that I have taken it, I don't know any other place that I would want to be.
God is so good.

Getting settled

Here is a picture of my first band practice. This occurred on Monday night. Of course, I had already played in the band the day before...without much practice at all. It was a little tough to follow. Being a part of the band is so great. I get to know some people better, like Elvira who sings, and her 19 year-old daughter Angelica. The bass player is an older man who really knows his stuff. It is difficult to be a part of since they speak and sing in Spanish so I am trying to learn as fast as I can and it is a big challenge. I look forward to the day when I can just sing in Spanish and they are my words...rather than just mouthing the words and trying to pronounce them correctly.

Times are very good here. We went into Ensenada yesterday with the Pachecos. Pastor Gustavo drove and took us to the right spots. Erin and I bought a fridge and were able to have them deliver it for 10 bucks. (30 miles away!) We thought that was a pretty good deal! They also took us to the best fish tacos I have ever had. Apparently that was a special occasion since we were along for the ride.
We are happy to be here. Erin is going to be helping out at the clinic tomorrow which is here at the church. The clinic is run by an amazing woman who has one child and another on the way. She is a Physicians Assistant and her and her husband will be fun to get to know. I met the man who runs the rehab center for men who are dealing with drug and alcohol. He asked me to preach to them. Elisabeth said that I have to hit them hard with the Gospel since they are so tough! But that I should then bring the love after that. I am excited about that challenge.
We are continually grateful for all that God is doing in our lives and the wonderful challenge it is to live in Mexico. We are learning so much and really having to change some of the habits that we have gotten into in the states. For example, they have a big meal for lunch and then just whatever is leftover for dinner. We like that but it is very different from eating whatever at lunch and then looking forward to a big dinner. Maybe that will change when we get a refridgerator!

Here we are!

I am writing this from my bed. It is a strange thing to be using a laptop computer with wi-fi on the floor of a room because we have no bed.

But such is our life. We have so many things that we didn't expect and so many things that we don't.

Erin, my wife, and I arrived here in La Mision on Thursday, January 15th, at 3pm. It was a beautiful day and we were glad to be done with our long road trip from Seattle. We had such a good trip but it was tough because our truck was so full and we were starting to dread being in the car.

The Pachecos, (who are our landlords, pastors, and friends), greeted us warmly and we were so glad to be with them. Sofi, the seventeen-year-old girl, who sang at our wedding, is here and is showing us around and is so fun to be with.

Erin is picking up Spanish quickly and I hope that she doesn't get better than me (is that wrong?). They asked me to play in the band for worship on Sunday morning and I am very happy about that.

We are excited about all that is happening....including the fact that our non-profit went through so we are able to take donations under the name La Mision Ministries. We feel so blessed that that happened and so we can proceed with our fundraising efforts.

Thanks for supporting us in prayer and whatever other way you can. We can truly feel the prayers!