Settling In

 Just one week after we arrived back from Texas, we had to pack again to attend the "OGM" which stands for "Occasional General Meeting" with all of the Mexico missionaries that work with the IMB. After traveling so much, we really didn't want to pack again but it was such a blessing to spend the week with such special people. The girls were reunited with their precious little friend Avalyn and were able to be in the same VBS class with her each day.

 This is a picture of the girls, Avalyn and sweet Evie.

 You might be wondering what kind of sport this is? Well....it is "Burro Polo", no it is not a real sport here in Mexico but all of the participants had lots of fun....of course...not as much fun as we spectators had watching them!  It was so hilarious watching the players try to get the burro to go where they wanted him to so they could get the ball. Each of the players had a broom to hit the ball with and the teams were Mexico vs. Puebla. Greg played on the Puebla team and scored two goals!!!

 He had just scored a goal here. He actually scored a goal and while he was hitting the ball with all of his might the ball went into the goal and Greg fell off of the burro. I wasn't quick enough with my camera but I know he is probably happy about that:)

 The same time the adults and the youth were playing Burro Polo, the younger children were riding a mechanical bull. Lottie watched for a long time and then really wanted to ride it. There was an employee at the hotel who was doing the controls so she asked me at least 50 times to remind him to do it slowly. She kept telling me in Spanish as if I didn't know how to say it:) After she rode it one time she kept jumping in line to ride it some more. The last time she rode it he made it go a little faster and then she began squealing for him to stop. She had lots of fun!

 Just look at that precious smile:)

 An amazing team of people from the states came and did VBS with all of our kids. At the end of the week, the children did their program with us with the message of salvation and lots of fun songs with of course...movements to go with them. Lottie was a little stressed out that morning because she is so shy and didn't want to be in front of all the parents. As soon as the children filed in, Lottie bolted under a table in front of the group and began crying. Poor little thing. Honestly, our family is full of outgoing extroverts.....I don't think any of us really know what it is like to be so painfully shy. I took her back with me to my seat and she watched Emma and her friends. Of course, since Lottie was out....Emma was just still and never did the hand motions to the song. I think she would have felt better if Lottie was with her.  But she did sing AND she did stay for the whole program and we were all very proud of her.

 This is Avalyn's sweet baby sister who just couldn't stand it any longer....she needed to be up front with her sister! It was too cute! One of the VBS workers led her back to the parents and I was a little disappointed, I wish she could have stayed because this girl can dance!

 This was the last song they sang and as you can tell all of the kids loved it! Even Emma turned to her friends and was smiling and very into the song.

 My sweet Emma

These are all of the VBS workers, these people brought so many supplies for Vacation Bible School that I am not sure where they had room for their clothes. They were all such a special blessing to all of the children. As I was watching the program I began to cry because I had been watching all of the youth hanging out together all week. They never even ate meals with their parents, they had all waited so long to see each other and they were finally together again. What a very special week this is and it is all because of you guys who give to the Lottie Moon offering each Christmas. Without your donations, things like this are not possible. Meetings like this are necessary. We left that week feeling very refreshed spiritually and loved hearing stories from seasoned missionary families. When you live this far away from family and some missionaries live in places where there are no other missionaries and their children have no missionary friends....well....you just had to be there....you just had to see the children's faces and all of the hugs and the squealing that went on.  They were all so comfortable with each other...they are family....and this was a reunion. We are so blessed to work for a sending agency that takes the time to not just do ministry with nationals but to minister to their own missionaries as well.

We were just connected to the internet today so I was finally able to call my Mom. My Dad came home from the hospital today! He is still having to do dialysis but oh what a miracle that he is home! It turns out that when he had his angiogram a little while back, the cholesterol particles loosened during the procedure and settled in the kidneys. I know my Mom is so thankful that he is finally home. He has lost almost 40 pounds and trust me....he didn't need to lose any weight. So hopefully after some good home cooking, he will get stronger each day.  My parents were so touched by all of the praying nurses and doctors that they encountered in this difficult journey. I love how God places His people around you when you need encouragement!

As for us, we are settling into our new home. We love the house! I have never lived in a two story house and with my fatigue find myself leaving little piles of things at the bottom of the stairs to take up...whenever. Soon the girls swingset will be put together and life will be awesome. We have started homeschooling and I already tell there is a different attitude this year. Praise Jesus! Last year was really a struggle and I think by the end of the year none of us wanted to do this anymore. But after a time of rest it seems our attitudes have changed. We really enjoyed our time in Texas with family and friends.  I think this time at home was good for us. The girls and I haven't talked about it yet but I think no matter where we went while we were "home" we never felt like it was "our home". It was different....much of the time I was in a mental fog and just couldn't adjust. I think I experienced culture shock and I have lived in Texas all my life. It seemed that everything was so different and I had only been gone two short years.  The people, the restaurants, the rushed way of life....that is all so different here in Mexico. Our friends didn't change and we were smothered in love, hugs, kisses and our little Allie Boo spoiled us with popsicles while we swam at her house each day. I will gather my thoughts about it and write a different post but I think this is part of the reason school and life here in Mexico feels a little different now. Don't get me wrong....we are already counting the days we go back for Elisabeth's wedding but God has given us a peace that passes all understanding. We feel content and I know that tough times will still be in our future but we have been reminded that this is where we are supposed to be and God will continue to provide:)