Scenes from Mexico Trip March 14-28

5:30 a.m. At the Airport - Headed to San Antonio, TX


Hours and hours in the van


Geologists go crazy here since they can't explain their evolutionary theories with these layered mountains


Mary's Sunday School class for a day


Sophia and Bro. Duane Schendel teaming up for a chalk art talk


Out Ridin'


Gotta go? That will be three pesos.


Young people at the church in Iguala


Gemelas (twins)


There's no good way to eat a Mango on a stick - except with everything ya got!


Marcelina - who walked two miles to bring us sandwiches she had made


A sweet reunion for Sophia - nine years is a long time to wait to see friends again


Cactus Tree


The Doorkeeper - he makes his living by making sure people pay their pesos before entering el bano. He's reading a track I gave him.


One of the fancier altars along the street





Pastor Pablo and family


Breakfast with Pastor Pablo and Sylvia


El Burro with his master - this is the lady who sent her daughter to go buy pop for us


Making a living - Xalitla is well known for the 'happy' art work. The reason? The artists are believers and so they paint happy faces








The embroidered work that she gave me, but could have sold at the market


Our sunrise service in the mountains


Chow Time


Daniel and Sarah - missionaries sent out from the 'mother' church to help start another church







Celia preparing our food - generously providing piles of meat that she really couldn't afford to buy


Pedro and Celia's family


Money Exchange - heading home


Our flight home - a reminder that our lives are in God's hands

THE LAST FIVE MONTHS

My last entry on this site left you all in MI. But for the past five months I’ve been serving here in my home church in Dryhill, KY – with a few, quick trips to spend some time with friends. Speaking of trips…my trips to the library have been few and far between – thus explains why this blog does not get updated more often. I had a worker at the new company in town (which boasts of wonderful promises like “Bringing Wireless Home”) tell me to call her back in six weeks. She plans to send a technician the nine miles to our house to see if he can find a signal on our mountain from the tower in town. I sure hope they can ‘Bring Wireless Home’ to ME!

SEPTEMBER ‘07

Brian & Katherine Schaadt - New Tribes Mission Aviation

September 2nd was a special, Sunday evening in that a group of us from our church made the hour and a half trip to Bethanna Baptist Church in Cornettsville, KY to see missionary friends of mine. Brian and Katherine Schaadt serve with New Tribes Mission in the Aviation program. They blessed all their listeners with what they shared. As they were sharing, I asked God, “Lord, when is it my turn?!” It’s coming – in His timing.


Alexio and the Dino bush

Since the Creation Museum (near Cincinnati) has opened, a group from our church has gone twice. I have walked away from it both times saying, “God, You’re so big. I’m so little. I’m glad I can trust You.” Check out their site www.answersingenesis.org


OCTOBER ‘07

Alethea & Jonathan Getz


"Aunt Sonya, where are the bird eggs?"

Anytime seeing my sister and her kids is a good time, but especially when we’re together outdoors. Bambie and the children came to KY for a quick visit. The kids might have grown up in Michigan, but they love the mountains with just about as much passion as their aunt.


Road Rage Winners - I mean, Road Rally Winners

Thanks to the hard work and planning of my brother and Sis-in Law (Sam and Jess) a Fall Retreat gave spiritual encouragement for all 9th-12th grade campers, and college-age, used-to-be-campers. Our camp cook was kind enough to let us use her house for our weekend of challenge, fantastic eating, and the fierce competition of a Road Rally – which our team won. =)


Fran & Oscar Jones

“Short and very Sweet – and made me feel like a million dollars”. That’s how I would describe Fran and Oscar Jones’ visit with me. They came from MO bringing me a gift – their presence. Fran and Oscar serve faithfully in the church I attended when I was going to the Language Institute in MO. They took me under their wing while I was there.

NOVEMBER ‘07


Taking a breather from our hike up the mountain

Dedicated friends – gotta love ‘em! Jenny Slay (one of ‘my campers’ who now has some of her own campers!) came from Lexington to spend a weekend with me. The weather was fantastic and we were outdoors enjoying the mountains in various ways.


An early Christmas - Daniel and his Sudoku game


Daniel and Lizzy's playdough robot


Jonathan - and...something!


Lizzy practicing her culinary skills with knife and playdough


Lydia "Liddy", taking a breather on her handicapped aunt

If you had come to my house at Thanksgiving, you would’ve barely found a place to sleep or sit down, but you would’ve found lots of grandchildren, heard lots of noise, plenty of laughter – but never would’ve you found a dull moment.


The Mackeys


Until next time, friends!


No more had I say goodbye to all my siblings (except for my twin) when I had the delight of welcoming Ginger and Chris Mackey to my house. They graduated with me in May ‘07 from the New Tribes Mission training. Don’t tell Chris I’m writing this about him…but in Ginger’s single years, she and I had plans to work in a tribe together in Brazil – until he got in the way and stole her heart. I was left alone to deal with my loss. They make a fantastic team and I am blessed to be a friend!

DECEMBER ‘07

Happy Birthday, Lois!

There are not too many times in life that I get to help long-distance friends celebrate birthdays, but I did this time when I went for a visit to Southland Bible Institute where I graduated in 2003.


At El Azul Grande


Goodbye Alvarados!

Sophia and I enjoyed the challenge of helping and participating in our Christmas play this year. The young actors were our bus children and each did a fantastic job. During this same time, we had Sophia’s Mexican friends from Michigan visiting with us. Omar, Mary, and Miriam Alvarado came to help Sophia present the Gospel to our friends at the two Mexican restaurants in Hazard – the next county over from ours. The mangers in both restaurants allowed us to come in after they had closed for the night and Omar preached while Sophia used her chalk art drawing skills. Several men were saved and some even came to our New Year’s Eve party. The ones who did get saved are experiencing some persecution from the ones who didn’t believe. Pray for them.

As is my family’s custom, we went north for Christmas to spend time with my extended family in PA.

My personal bodyguards - I mean first cousins! Joe & Roger


My second cousin - My hats off to you Joey for serving our country!


Aunt Shirley, Dad, Aunt Sandy and Grandma

JANUARY-FEBRUARY ‘08

Welcome Home Billie!



My good friend and fellow prayer partner, Billie, has had three hip surgeries since August. I've been blessed to 'pitch in' for her and her daughter, Taylor, until life could get back on track. During my recovery ordeal, so many people made my load lighter. I was privileged to give something back in return.


Our Little Girls


Our 'Big' Girls


Breakfast at our house


“I don’t know why we call it a ‘sleepover’ when no one gets any sleep.” That’s what Sophia told me as we planned two slumber parties for the young girls in our church. What we did plan on was having fun – and that we did!

A Week of Day Camp - the first of more to come

SCENES FROM DAY CAMP


My nephew Benjamin and his friend


Sophia and "her girls"


Smores and More


Volunteers - Mary & Omar and his sister Miriam, Sophia, Bambie, Betsy


50 kids - plus craft time = a big challenge!





Unfortunately for Sophia, the children were good at their aim

I ended the month in Michigan by helping Sophia, Dad, Mom, Mark and Bambie and several other volunteers put on a week of Day Camp for the Mexican migrant children. Officially, the hours were from 1:00-4:30 p.m., but the "off" hours were given to preparation for the next day. Part of this kind of preparation had to do with the fact that it rained every day and our activities had to be scrambled around accordingly (but, might I add that it never rained while the children were there - only before they arrived, or on their way home!). We all know that wasn't coincidence!

The other part had to do with the fact that this week of camp was a fledgling "vision" that was brought to reality by the power of God and the help of many volunteers. We asked God for wisdom as we went along and continually made changes to how we were doing things.

Friday night was parent night and the parents enjoyed a program put on by the children and a chalk-art drawing by Sophia. Two of our Mexican, bi-lingual friends gave the message while Sophia drew the picture. One of them said to me later that it was obvious that Sophia had done a lot of work with the families over the last four years. Mexican families are very close-knit and seldom allow their children to go places or attend events without the watchful care of another family member or trusted friend. Sophia has won their trust, and now, many of them are trusting in Jesus.

Gatherings of Another Kind

One of Our Zapoteco Friends


The Soup in Progress

A birthday party is in full swing. Accordian music is blaring from a radio someone set outside on the ground. A recently slaughtered pig is being cooked and all his parts have carefully been utilized - including his intestines for a special soup. Children are running around - in and out of the open doors of the surrounding little houses of their aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, brothers and sisters. Hours ago, a blue tarp was strung up in the yard to provide some sort of shelter. After the food is ready, most of the action will take place under this tarp. A Pinata will be hung up later on - as in several hours later on.

The party has been going on for six hours and the cake has not yet been served. But no one is in a hurry. It is dark now. And did I mention that torrential rains have been beating down on the whole scene much of this time? The blue tarp is whipping about in the wind. Still, the party continues -unabated. No ones' spirits are dampened; but we are drenched.

Where am I? I am in Michigan with my sister, Sophia, but the language I hear around me is mostly Spanish - and sometimes Zapoteco. The migrant family I have come to join in this full-blown party is from Oaxaca, Mexico. I watch. I listen. My thoughts jump back to a few days before this.

This time I am standing with this same family beside the grave of their father who passed away a few months ago. They have numerous candles which they light and put at the head of the grave. Each takes a can of pop, drinks some, then pours the remaining contents on the grave - anywhere - the head, the foot, the middle, the sides. They do this several times while making sure the candles are still lit - no easy task, because, once again, it is raining. I watch. I listen. My heart is heavy within me. What are they thinking when they do this? Their ritual means something to them, but what?

All the training with New Tribes Mission that I have had these last two years comes to slap me in the face. I am no longer in a classroom. I am in reality. This dear family needs the truth. "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes unto the Father except by me." Even with the heaviness in my heart, a pained-joyfulness surges within me. This is the cause for which I have given my life. Praise God for the friendship Sophia has with them. It is opening up a door of opportunity for them to hear and understand the Gospel.

Going to the Fair - A First For Me!

Where I live, we have festivals - not fairs. But for the last month I've been in Michigan, not Kentucky. So, to my delight, I had a 'fair experience' when I went to visit my sister and her family. I think I was more excited about it than Bambie's five children! I also did something at the fair that I've always wanted to do. I went Hang Gliding! Well, almost. Does it count if it's going in circles, and a man beneath us has the controls that determine how high we go and when we stop? Oh well. Maybe next time.


Pausing for a treat - Daniel, Alethea, Benjamin, Victoria, and Jonathon in the front (who was too tired to walk anymore)



Alethea - a horse lover like her Aunt Sonya!


Benjamin enjoying the bumper cars


A train ride for Jonathan



This rock climbing business is fun stuff!

A Flight to Maryland

Brandy has her work cut out for her with her job at a Women's Correctional Institute


Teacher Sandy tangles with kids who love her at a Grace Brethren Christian School

Hey Friends! My last week in July was spent with two friends of mine in Maryland - Sandy and Brandy. No, they are not twins - just friends. Sandy and I were roommates for one semester while I was going to Southland Bible Institute in Ashland, KY. During my time in Maryland, I joined the ranks with millions of other Americans and had my first Starbucks experience (you just sucked in your breath in astonishment, didn't you?!). Thanks, Sandy!