So tonight I get my first shot at preaching here this round through Mexico. I'll be speaking through a translator (Charlie, Assoc. Pastor). I'm hoping it goes well. It can be pretty tough speaking with a translator until you get used to it.
We went out today and have been taking some pics and videos for a little video presentation for my upcoming deputation trips back to Canada. I borrowed a digital camera from a friend that has decent video with audio on it. I hope to get enough footage that makes sense together to give folks back home a chance to see what's up here.
Speaking of back home, I'm coming back for 2 weeks to Southern Ontario from October 11-24th and then to Saskatchewan from Oct. 31 - Nov 14th. We just got phone and internet up and going and I'm hoping to get some appointments in Ontario especially with churches, home groups, families etc to give an opportunity to hear about missions and see who God has called to be our partners in ministry. If you can help by setting up a home group meeting or a church one, we'd be appreciative! I have some possibilities in Saskatchewan for those 2 weeks, but Ontario is pretty free as of yet. We didn't get a chance to connect with some folks we know from Wasaga Beach area and some of my relatives last time we went back, that I'd like to this time... Lord willing!
Could you be praying for Sharlene during that time? She still hasn't gotten enough nerve to drive here yet (it's pretty whacky at times- and it's tough to find your way around...and she has a greater than normal tendency to get misplaced...) and her language acquisition has been pretty slow. I'm going to be talking to a fellow tonight about tutoring us some, but just getting by here without Spanish will be tough here for Shar without me ( I speak a bit more and can fake my way through some things...). Thanks!
We are possibly looking at a language school in Ensenada for 1 week for Shar before I go so she can get immersed and hopefully get to a point where she c an get by. Please pray for the finances to come through and any other logistics needed to work out.
Thanks for reading, not much new stuff happening in out lives, we are settling into some routines just in time to get them disturbed with me being gone for some time!
Until next time,
Mike, Shar and boys.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
I have more pics!!
This is Jacob on his 2nd day at kindergarten at Escuele Xochiaztlan. In Mexico, pre-school / kindergarten is mandatory before Grade 1.
This is a picture of the living room side of our house. Caleb and Elijah are hard at work in Homeschool. They have not been able to go to public school yet because of red tape we're working through. If and when they do go, we'll still be doing homeschool to make sure they are keeping up to date- espescially seeing as they won't know the language well enough to learn the concepts for quite some time.
Close up of Jakey in his school uniform. ALL schools have uniforms here. Our school uniform is blue pants and white shirt for boys- with a blue sweater for cool days. The girls wear a tartan dress over a white dress shirt.
This is our Cucaracha. It doesn't look nearly as big here to me as it did when we killed it, but that is a quarter beside it.
Rosie the boy cat keeping Elijah company while Elijah does his homeschol work. Elijah's classes are all on the computer- which he loves!
These are the boys playing with Daddy's bubbles across the road from our place.
This is the kitchen section of the apartment. We had almost everyhting here donated via yugo- apartments in Mexico rarely come furnished (not even with a fridge or stove!)
This is the bionicle van outside the apartment. Upstairs are 2 apartments and on th ebottom is one apartment and a store (abarrotes). We are on the bottom floor beside the van.
Elijah and Caleb hard at work on homeschool.
Caleb at work...
This is my 2nd post today- there is another after this one --- feel free to browse on down!
Blessings until next time,
Mike Shar and boys
Where Did The Spider legs Go?
Yesterday afternoon Shar found a large black spider in our bedroom while I was out. She did the right thing and stomped on it until it was nothing more than a smear on the concrete floor. Surprisingly enough, after she did that, the legs kept moving, even though separated from the spiders body!
She was not nearly as impressed with that then I would have been, so she left the room. An hour or so later she went back to see it and to show me. The spider legs, however, were missing! Moments later we found them again, mysteriously moving along our kitchen wall. The ants were "harvesting" them and taking them back to their home (which may be closer to us than we want to know...). After getting a little creeped out we went to the circus. It was the first time any of our kids had been to one. The kids loved it even though there were no lions, tigers, elephants trapeeze artist or really even clowns. They and the 30+ other people under the big top enjoyed the horses (a big one and a mini-horse) the llama and the circus goats! These coupled with the man powered pulley that lifted the acrobat belly dancers up into the air, was really too much to describe. It brought tears to my eyes!
Our little home is too small for a washing machine and there is no hook-up outside for one (which is where most people here put them if they have them) so we go to the lavamatica to do ours. I went yesterday (while Shar was spider-hunting) and had a good opportunity to share Jesus with the lady at the counter and her husband. She spoke very good English and translated for her husband. They were asking about some folks they know who go to church and are very separate from everybody else around them- no TV, no radio, no school for the kids, they keep to themselves and avoid most contact with others not of their kind. They wanted to know if that was what Christianity was about. So I talked to them about the freedom that Jesus gives us and how He was involved in the community with people as the Light Of The World. It didn't go too deep at first, but they are interested and I'm looking forward to more opportunities to share Jesus with them!
I'm glad for the opportunity to share even before we know the language. It is obvious that God is at work here with folks searching for meaning and searching for Jesus- they want more than a religion, they want to experience Jesus. Please continue to pray that we'll continue to have these opportunities as we learn Spanish!
Until next time,
Mike and Shar
She was not nearly as impressed with that then I would have been, so she left the room. An hour or so later she went back to see it and to show me. The spider legs, however, were missing! Moments later we found them again, mysteriously moving along our kitchen wall. The ants were "harvesting" them and taking them back to their home (which may be closer to us than we want to know...). After getting a little creeped out we went to the circus. It was the first time any of our kids had been to one. The kids loved it even though there were no lions, tigers, elephants trapeeze artist or really even clowns. They and the 30+ other people under the big top enjoyed the horses (a big one and a mini-horse) the llama and the circus goats! These coupled with the man powered pulley that lifted the acrobat belly dancers up into the air, was really too much to describe. It brought tears to my eyes!
Our little home is too small for a washing machine and there is no hook-up outside for one (which is where most people here put them if they have them) so we go to the lavamatica to do ours. I went yesterday (while Shar was spider-hunting) and had a good opportunity to share Jesus with the lady at the counter and her husband. She spoke very good English and translated for her husband. They were asking about some folks they know who go to church and are very separate from everybody else around them- no TV, no radio, no school for the kids, they keep to themselves and avoid most contact with others not of their kind. They wanted to know if that was what Christianity was about. So I talked to them about the freedom that Jesus gives us and how He was involved in the community with people as the Light Of The World. It didn't go too deep at first, but they are interested and I'm looking forward to more opportunities to share Jesus with them!
I'm glad for the opportunity to share even before we know the language. It is obvious that God is at work here with folks searching for meaning and searching for Jesus- they want more than a religion, they want to experience Jesus. Please continue to pray that we'll continue to have these opportunities as we learn Spanish!
Until next time,
Mike and Shar
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Refrigeration, hot AND cold indoor plumbing, telephone, tomorrow the internet… it’s like living in luxury….
Except for the Rats…
Yup, we’ve moved into the new place as of last Friday. We are almost completely moved in, but after having to search for parts and install them for the propane stove and water heater, wait for the plumber, the telephone guy and registering for school, we’ve not been able to completely move our old stuff out of the motor home and into our very stationary cement apartment….
Finally today the plumber came to repair the kitchen sink (leaks and first no hot water, then no cold water) the bathroom sink (leaks and not hot or cold water- only a mix of hot and cold, depending on the mood of the sink…) the toilet, (accepts deposits, but does not “send them on”) and the huge leak of hot water from our pipes into the store next door. Hopefully after all is said and done, it’ll be done, but in
The telephone guy came to install the line today- he had to drill through the solid concrete wall to get in, but it’s in… we just need to find a phone that is packed among our stuff either at the motor home or in storage on the US side. So, Lord willing, tomorrow we’ll have internet access and then our US phone with unlimited long distance to US and Canada… that’ll be nice... it’ll be like living in the lap of luxury.
We’re making some good contacts for being so early in the place and so limited in the language. Our landlord speaks a little English, as does his son-in-law. I’ve been able to learn more Spanish by talking with them, and when I’m stuck on a word, they help me out.
Our new home has 4 rooms- 2 bedrooms (1 for the kids and 1 for the parents!) a small bathroom with a tile laden shower (no bathtub, seems to be very few of those here) and a living room/kitchen/dining room. It’s a pretty nice place in a relatively quiet neighbourhood. Being next to the corner store, people drive by and walk by a lot, which gives a chance to be seen in the neighbourhood, which is nice. I get the feeling sometimes, that there is kind of a “there goes the neighbourhood” feeling amongst some folks when they see a family of gringos move in. The
Oh yeah, I almost forgot about the rat…yup, the rat. The other night we were putting the kids to bed when Jacob said to Shar… “I just saw a squirrel in the window”. The window he was referring to opens up from the bedroom into the store in the same building. “A squirrel? Are you sure?” Shar said. After looking at a looooonnnnnngg skinny, bald tail, it was ascertained that the “squirrel” was indeed a rat.
We’re thankful for the place to stay and are doubly thankful that some of the glitches are being worked out. We’ll post pics soon of the place and the donated furniture, etc. that fills our place! Praise God!
Blessings,
Until next time, may all your rats be next door (and stay there!)
Mike and Shar
Friday, September 15, 2006
A Good Day in Mexico is When You Call the Police and Noone Gets Shot!
But it WAS close...
Thursday we had gone over to the states to get a few of our things that were in storage and to help bring some of the donations for us across. It went well, if not uneventful (which is nice for a change) until we got home to our new apartment. after opening up the box with our dishes in it, Sharlene found (and evidently tried to deafen via screaming) a cockroach. IT WAS HUGE! the kind you see at the zoo or on TV. So the boys and I emptied the box, and found the critter and whacked him until he was (we thought...) dead. So then we emptied him out of the box and placed him on the floor next to a quarter for a picture opportunity (pic coming soon...) and the the little cucaracha started to pull himself away using th eonly leg he had left that worked. Shar was not impressed, though the boys and I thought it was pretty cool.. tough little feller... So I used a bit of foot power and finished him off... hopefully he didn'y lay and eggs in the box... HE WAS HUGE!!!
After getting supper and going to the store for extra strong cleaning supplies, we arrived back aqt our motor home property after dark. At the top of the hill was a van we'd never seen before just sitting there with the open gate. There has never been anyone at th eplace after dark, so it freaked us out and we drove on for a while.. as we drove by we could see down the hill and it was obvious that someone was creeping around with flashlights. Ok.... Now what do we do? Turns out my cell phon eis restricted form calling US numbers so I can't call the people who own the place to tel them, so I called the assoc. pastor at the church we go to and he calls the police. 15 minutes later, while we're watching lights move around, truck lights go on and of down there and lots of suspiscious activity, the police show up. they decide to go down and send Charlie (the assoc. pastor) in first I suppose as ashiled in case there is trouble. I followed down 3rd and got out to walk with them after I got a call saying that the people down there might be friends of the owners of the property. The police drew and cocked their guns and went in to see what was up- we found a romanian fella in his truck and the police told him to come out and show both hands- through charlie the translator (Romanian fella spoke english as does charlie..) he came out and explained that they were just sleeping there for the night... the police after some intense questioning uncocked the gunns, emptied and reloaded them to get ready for their next assignment.
It's a good day in Mexico when you call the police and noone gets shot...
but it was very close...
Blessings, on th ejourney,,
Until next time,
Mike and Shar and kids...
PS- TODAY IS MOVING DAY TO THE NEW CASA!!! PRAISE GOD!!
Thursday we had gone over to the states to get a few of our things that were in storage and to help bring some of the donations for us across. It went well, if not uneventful (which is nice for a change) until we got home to our new apartment. after opening up the box with our dishes in it, Sharlene found (and evidently tried to deafen via screaming) a cockroach. IT WAS HUGE! the kind you see at the zoo or on TV. So the boys and I emptied the box, and found the critter and whacked him until he was (we thought...) dead. So then we emptied him out of the box and placed him on the floor next to a quarter for a picture opportunity (pic coming soon...) and the the little cucaracha started to pull himself away using th eonly leg he had left that worked. Shar was not impressed, though the boys and I thought it was pretty cool.. tough little feller... So I used a bit of foot power and finished him off... hopefully he didn'y lay and eggs in the box... HE WAS HUGE!!!
After getting supper and going to the store for extra strong cleaning supplies, we arrived back aqt our motor home property after dark. At the top of the hill was a van we'd never seen before just sitting there with the open gate. There has never been anyone at th eplace after dark, so it freaked us out and we drove on for a while.. as we drove by we could see down the hill and it was obvious that someone was creeping around with flashlights. Ok.... Now what do we do? Turns out my cell phon eis restricted form calling US numbers so I can't call the people who own the place to tel them, so I called the assoc. pastor at the church we go to and he calls the police. 15 minutes later, while we're watching lights move around, truck lights go on and of down there and lots of suspiscious activity, the police show up. they decide to go down and send Charlie (the assoc. pastor) in first I suppose as ashiled in case there is trouble. I followed down 3rd and got out to walk with them after I got a call saying that the people down there might be friends of the owners of the property. The police drew and cocked their guns and went in to see what was up- we found a romanian fella in his truck and the police told him to come out and show both hands- through charlie the translator (Romanian fella spoke english as does charlie..) he came out and explained that they were just sleeping there for the night... the police after some intense questioning uncocked the gunns, emptied and reloaded them to get ready for their next assignment.
It's a good day in Mexico when you call the police and noone gets shot...
but it was very close...
Blessings, on th ejourney,,
Until next time,
Mike and Shar and kids...
PS- TODAY IS MOVING DAY TO THE NEW CASA!!! PRAISE GOD!!
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
God is Good
I know when we told people we were selling or giving away the majority of our stuff, that folks were thinking that was a bit strange. Some of the folks we spoke to would say "You mean you're gonna have to start all over again?". We just kept thinking that God would take care of us, and that He was our providor and that the acquisition of more stuff was not the goal of our lives.
Well on Thursday I am going over to the States because 2 or 3 entire households of furniture has been donated to YUGO Ministries. So we are loading up a trailer and a van with beds, fridge, stove, dressers, pots and pans, a TV and stand, dressers and whatever else we need to live relatively comfortably!
God is Good!
Thanks for praying for us! God is answering your prayers in abundant ways!
Friday we move in and hopefully soon afterwards (or before!) we'll have a phone and internet connection too! After that I'm going to print out our newsletters and send those off...
A couple of dates for you to be aware of, praying for and (for those who are willing and able) to help with!
October 11-24 Mike will be in Ontario- primarily around the Barrie, Wasaga Beach area. this trip is for vision sharing and support raising. I will be staying at my mom's place on her couch and borrowing her car when needed (Thanks mom!). I am looking for churches and / or home groups to share the vision with. If you have any means of getting a group together I'll have a short video and small presentation about the need and work in Mexico- no high pressure stuff, just asking folks to ask God if and how they can be involved.
October 31-Nov 15 I'll be in the Saskatoon area for the same reasons and with the same goals. I'll be needing a place to rest my weary head (friends I had planned on staying with moved to Manitoba!). I'll need to borrow a vehicle to get around in- possibly for long distance driving. I'll also need home groups / churches to share the vision with. I'd like to reconnect at our sending church, Martensville Baptist- so they have first priority, but I can be flexible for the rest of the time.
I will not use these meetings to pressure anyone into signing anything, or in getting involved- I'm just looking for God to show us who the partners are that he has called. I'll give info, try to make it interesting, and give opportunity to repond, but no pressure to do so.
THANKS!
Life is settling into a bit of a routine, but not one that will last. We find out wednesday if the kids can be registered in school here, we get our funrniture on Thursday and on Friday move in. After that we'll look for some ways to formally learn the language and get ourselves involved with folks in the community.
Thanks for your prayers and partnership! You are a blessing to us!
Until next time,
Mike and Shar
Well on Thursday I am going over to the States because 2 or 3 entire households of furniture has been donated to YUGO Ministries. So we are loading up a trailer and a van with beds, fridge, stove, dressers, pots and pans, a TV and stand, dressers and whatever else we need to live relatively comfortably!
God is Good!
Thanks for praying for us! God is answering your prayers in abundant ways!
Friday we move in and hopefully soon afterwards (or before!) we'll have a phone and internet connection too! After that I'm going to print out our newsletters and send those off...
A couple of dates for you to be aware of, praying for and (for those who are willing and able) to help with!
October 11-24 Mike will be in Ontario- primarily around the Barrie, Wasaga Beach area. this trip is for vision sharing and support raising. I will be staying at my mom's place on her couch and borrowing her car when needed (Thanks mom!). I am looking for churches and / or home groups to share the vision with. If you have any means of getting a group together I'll have a short video and small presentation about the need and work in Mexico- no high pressure stuff, just asking folks to ask God if and how they can be involved.
October 31-Nov 15 I'll be in the Saskatoon area for the same reasons and with the same goals. I'll be needing a place to rest my weary head (friends I had planned on staying with moved to Manitoba!). I'll need to borrow a vehicle to get around in- possibly for long distance driving. I'll also need home groups / churches to share the vision with. I'd like to reconnect at our sending church, Martensville Baptist- so they have first priority, but I can be flexible for the rest of the time.
I will not use these meetings to pressure anyone into signing anything, or in getting involved- I'm just looking for God to show us who the partners are that he has called. I'll give info, try to make it interesting, and give opportunity to repond, but no pressure to do so.
THANKS!
Life is settling into a bit of a routine, but not one that will last. We find out wednesday if the kids can be registered in school here, we get our funrniture on Thursday and on Friday move in. After that we'll look for some ways to formally learn the language and get ourselves involved with folks in the community.
Thanks for your prayers and partnership! You are a blessing to us!
Until next time,
Mike and Shar
God is Good
I know when we told people we were selling or giving away the majority of our stuff, that folks were thinking that was a bit strange. Some of the folks we spoke to would say "You mean you're gonna have to start all over again?". We just kept thinking that God would take care of us, and that He was our providor and that the acquisition of more stuff was not the goal of our lives.
Well on Thursday I am going over to the States because 2 or 3 entire households of furniture has been donated to YUGO Ministries. So we are loading up a trailer and a van with beds, fridge, stove, dressers, pots and pans, a TV and stand, dressers and whatever else we need to live relatively comfortably!
God is Good!
Thanks for praying for us! God is answering your prayers in abundant ways!
Friday we move in and hopefully soon afterwards (or before!) we'll have a phone and internet connection too! After that I'm going to print out our newsletters and send those off...
A couple of dates for you to be aware of, praying for and (for those who are willing and able) to help with!
October 11-24 Mike will be in Ontario- primarily around the Barrie, Wasaga Beach area. this trip is for vision sharing and support raising. I will be staying at my mom's place on her couch and borrowing her car when needed (Thanks mom!). I am looking for churches and / or home groups to share the vision with. If you have any means of getting a group together I'll have a short video and small presentation about the need and work in Mexico- no high pressure stuff, just asking folks to ask God if and how they can be involved.
October 31-Nov 15 I'll be in the Saskatoon area for the same reasons and with the same goals. I'll be needing a place to rest my weary head (friends I had planned on staying with moved to Manitoba!). I'll need to borrow a vehicle to get around in- possibly for long distance driving. I'll also need home groups / churches to share the vision with. I'd like to reconnect at our sending church, Martensville Baptist- so they have first priority, but I can be flexible for the rest of the time.
I will not use these meetings to pressure anyone into signing anything, or in getting involved- I'm just looking for God to show us who the partners are that he has called. I'll give info, try to make it interesting, and give opportunity to repond, but no pressure to do so.
THANKS!
Life is settling into a bit of a routine, but not one that will last. We find out wednesday if the kids can be registered in school here, we get our funrniture on Thursday and on Friday move in. After that we'll look for some ways to formally learn the language and get ourselves involved with folks in the community.
Thanks for your prayers and partnership! You are a blessing to us!
Until next time,
Mike and Shar
Well on Thursday I am going over to the States because 2 or 3 entire households of furniture has been donated to YUGO Ministries. So we are loading up a trailer and a van with beds, fridge, stove, dressers, pots and pans, a TV and stand, dressers and whatever else we need to live relatively comfortably!
God is Good!
Thanks for praying for us! God is answering your prayers in abundant ways!
Friday we move in and hopefully soon afterwards (or before!) we'll have a phone and internet connection too! After that I'm going to print out our newsletters and send those off...
A couple of dates for you to be aware of, praying for and (for those who are willing and able) to help with!
October 11-24 Mike will be in Ontario- primarily around the Barrie, Wasaga Beach area. this trip is for vision sharing and support raising. I will be staying at my mom's place on her couch and borrowing her car when needed (Thanks mom!). I am looking for churches and / or home groups to share the vision with. If you have any means of getting a group together I'll have a short video and small presentation about the need and work in Mexico- no high pressure stuff, just asking folks to ask God if and how they can be involved.
October 31-Nov 15 I'll be in the Saskatoon area for the same reasons and with the same goals. I'll be needing a place to rest my weary head (friends I had planned on staying with moved to Manitoba!). I'll need to borrow a vehicle to get around in- possibly for long distance driving. I'll also need home groups / churches to share the vision with. I'd like to reconnect at our sending church, Martensville Baptist- so they have first priority, but I can be flexible for the rest of the time.
I will not use these meetings to pressure anyone into signing anything, or in getting involved- I'm just looking for God to show us who the partners are that he has called. I'll give info, try to make it interesting, and give opportunity to repond, but no pressure to do so.
THANKS!
Life is settling into a bit of a routine, but not one that will last. We find out wednesday if the kids can be registered in school here, we get our funrniture on Thursday and on Friday move in. After that we'll look for some ways to formally learn the language and get ourselves involved with folks in the community.
Thanks for your prayers and partnership! You are a blessing to us!
Until next time,
Mike and Shar
Sunday, September 10, 2006
How would we describe church in Mexico?
Loud!!
If there is one word that sums up for us a church service here, it's loud. everythign seems to be at top decibles. They like it loud!
We've been to the church a few times so far this week. Wednesday Night is midweek service with about 25 people or so, lots of singing and a message.
friday night is youth and Ladies study. Youth is alot like wednesday night with lots of loud music and a message by one of the young leaders at the church.
Sunday morning is different from any other service I've ever been at. It starts at 10-ish AM. It looks alot like a Sunday school opening with Memory verses etc. they have some loud music (for about 25 minutes) then the kids go down to their classes and adults to theirs. We have a Bible study, everyone comes back together- and every class does their memory verse together (or read the Passage they were taught from) and gives a brief description of what they learned. After that at about 11:30-ish, we're dismissed. No real worship service. In our church- i think it happens at 6pm Sunday night. We'll find out in a little over an hour when we go.
The kids are starting school at the local school tomorrow or Tuesday. Tomorrow we register them. They'll go half days (all 3) and do some homescholing the other half of the day. That will give Shar and I some time to pursue some classes or tutouring and they get the full immersion experience. It'll help them immensly learn the language. We know of another family here that put their kids in a school and the kids were almost fluent after 5 months.
I (Mike) am in a bit of a quandry. In my past ministries, I've had a vision for what i wanted to accomplish in that place for that time. Here, as far as minsitry goes, I'm not sure how or where I fit or what can be accomplished with limited language or even what I'm supposed to be doing minstry-wise. It seems as if, right now, my main goal (same for the whole family) is to acculturate ourselves and learn Spanish. I know it sounds simple and obvious that that would be our goal, but there is a desire to be more involved, but am hampered by language. Pray that we'd be diligent!
Thanks for reading and for many of your emails, good to hear that there are a few of you reading, it makes it worthwhile ot jot my thoughts down if it assists you in praying for us intelligently!
Bless you and thank you,
Until next time...
If there is one word that sums up for us a church service here, it's loud. everythign seems to be at top decibles. They like it loud!
We've been to the church a few times so far this week. Wednesday Night is midweek service with about 25 people or so, lots of singing and a message.
friday night is youth and Ladies study. Youth is alot like wednesday night with lots of loud music and a message by one of the young leaders at the church.
Sunday morning is different from any other service I've ever been at. It starts at 10-ish AM. It looks alot like a Sunday school opening with Memory verses etc. they have some loud music (for about 25 minutes) then the kids go down to their classes and adults to theirs. We have a Bible study, everyone comes back together- and every class does their memory verse together (or read the Passage they were taught from) and gives a brief description of what they learned. After that at about 11:30-ish, we're dismissed. No real worship service. In our church- i think it happens at 6pm Sunday night. We'll find out in a little over an hour when we go.
The kids are starting school at the local school tomorrow or Tuesday. Tomorrow we register them. They'll go half days (all 3) and do some homescholing the other half of the day. That will give Shar and I some time to pursue some classes or tutouring and they get the full immersion experience. It'll help them immensly learn the language. We know of another family here that put their kids in a school and the kids were almost fluent after 5 months.
I (Mike) am in a bit of a quandry. In my past ministries, I've had a vision for what i wanted to accomplish in that place for that time. Here, as far as minsitry goes, I'm not sure how or where I fit or what can be accomplished with limited language or even what I'm supposed to be doing minstry-wise. It seems as if, right now, my main goal (same for the whole family) is to acculturate ourselves and learn Spanish. I know it sounds simple and obvious that that would be our goal, but there is a desire to be more involved, but am hampered by language. Pray that we'd be diligent!
Thanks for reading and for many of your emails, good to hear that there are a few of you reading, it makes it worthwhile ot jot my thoughts down if it assists you in praying for us intelligently!
Bless you and thank you,
Until next time...
Friday, September 08, 2006
La Casa de mi Suenos...
The house of my dreams...
Thank you for praying, we've found a place to rent temporarily. It provides us with some added security, closeness to Mexican people for contacts and language acquisition and it is close to Pastor Martin Castro with whom we're working. It's a pretty small place, 2 bedrooms a kitchen / dining room and a bathroom. It has water, electricity, kitchen sinks, cupboards, an indoor bathroom! All the comforts you could ever need! It is an apartment attached to an abarrotes ( corner store ) and the "backyard" will need a bit of a garbage pickup before it'll be "play-in-able" for the kids. It'll be good for now and when we know what our support looks like, we may try to move into something with a yard and maybe even a living room. Praise God!!
Another praise item is that YUGO just received a fridge and stove (most rentals don't even come with the basics...) a bedroom suite and another bed for the kids... It's a blessing for sure, because we came down with so little stuff. God really is our provider! We move in on the 15th of September. Hopefully we'll have a telephone too at that time. We plan on getting a Vonage VOIP phone with unlimited calling to Canada and USA. We may even get a Canadian phone number with it too. We're looking forward to being able to communicate from our home again!
PRAYER ITEMS:
Kids schooling...
We are praying about sending the kids to the local school where Pastor Martins kids and the children's home kids go, primarily for language learning and acculturation. It is only 1/2 days, so we'd likely homeschool the other half of the day especially while the kids are learning Spanish. That will give us a better idea the comparison between the 2 systems...
Language Training...
Immersion is about the best way to learn a language, I'm told. So that's what we are doing, but it takes an effort here in our area because of the abundance of English speakers. Pray that we would be diligent to immerse ourselves.
It can be very draining and taxing to learn a language by immersion. For the last 30 years or so that part of communication has been on "automatic pilot". We communicate without thinking a lot. Now though every thought, every request, most of our reading, every transaction with someone outside the home is a mind numbing experience. So it often becomes difficult to do much of anything because you brain is sapped by the end of the day. We realize that our primary job the next little while is to acquire a new language, but there are always temptations and inner and outer pushings to "do more". Please pray for us in this regard.
THANKS FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP!!!
We appreciate each and every one of you who have been partners with us. We have sensed your prayers for us almost continually. The last week in a trailer has been stressful, but for the most part we have met each other with patience, longsuffering and grace- an answer to your prayers!
God has been very good to us and we are thankful! Scott and Jennifer Pepito ( fellow missionaries ) were generous enough to open up their property to us, and that's the reason we were able to come down=- we are very thankful for their hospitality and their giving spirits. They are in the process of building a ministry home (and a second in the future) where families can come down to Mexico and minister in the nearby communities and be ministered to by the Pepitos- so if your are looking for something like that, let us know and we'll hook you up!
Thanks again!
Blessings until next time,
Mike and Shar
Thank you for praying, we've found a place to rent temporarily. It provides us with some added security, closeness to Mexican people for contacts and language acquisition and it is close to Pastor Martin Castro with whom we're working. It's a pretty small place, 2 bedrooms a kitchen / dining room and a bathroom. It has water, electricity, kitchen sinks, cupboards, an indoor bathroom! All the comforts you could ever need! It is an apartment attached to an abarrotes ( corner store ) and the "backyard" will need a bit of a garbage pickup before it'll be "play-in-able" for the kids. It'll be good for now and when we know what our support looks like, we may try to move into something with a yard and maybe even a living room. Praise God!!
Another praise item is that YUGO just received a fridge and stove (most rentals don't even come with the basics...) a bedroom suite and another bed for the kids... It's a blessing for sure, because we came down with so little stuff. God really is our provider! We move in on the 15th of September. Hopefully we'll have a telephone too at that time. We plan on getting a Vonage VOIP phone with unlimited calling to Canada and USA. We may even get a Canadian phone number with it too. We're looking forward to being able to communicate from our home again!
PRAYER ITEMS:
Kids schooling...
We are praying about sending the kids to the local school where Pastor Martins kids and the children's home kids go, primarily for language learning and acculturation. It is only 1/2 days, so we'd likely homeschool the other half of the day especially while the kids are learning Spanish. That will give us a better idea the comparison between the 2 systems...
Language Training...
Immersion is about the best way to learn a language, I'm told. So that's what we are doing, but it takes an effort here in our area because of the abundance of English speakers. Pray that we would be diligent to immerse ourselves.
It can be very draining and taxing to learn a language by immersion. For the last 30 years or so that part of communication has been on "automatic pilot". We communicate without thinking a lot. Now though every thought, every request, most of our reading, every transaction with someone outside the home is a mind numbing experience. So it often becomes difficult to do much of anything because you brain is sapped by the end of the day. We realize that our primary job the next little while is to acquire a new language, but there are always temptations and inner and outer pushings to "do more". Please pray for us in this regard.
THANKS FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP!!!
We appreciate each and every one of you who have been partners with us. We have sensed your prayers for us almost continually. The last week in a trailer has been stressful, but for the most part we have met each other with patience, longsuffering and grace- an answer to your prayers!
God has been very good to us and we are thankful! Scott and Jennifer Pepito ( fellow missionaries ) were generous enough to open up their property to us, and that's the reason we were able to come down=- we are very thankful for their hospitality and their giving spirits. They are in the process of building a ministry home (and a second in the future) where families can come down to Mexico and minister in the nearby communities and be ministered to by the Pepitos- so if your are looking for something like that, let us know and we'll hook you up!
Thanks again!
Blessings until next time,
Mike and Shar
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Wednesday Day and night
Nearly a week in Mexico- and no "Montezuma's Revenge"... yet.
I had heard of a "market on wheels" that took place on one of the streets close to where we are staying that goes on Sundays, Wednesdays and Friday's. So at 7:30am Elijah and I left the rest of the family snoring in the camper and off we went to check it out. You can get almost anything there. It was incredible.
It's similar to a swap meet/ flea market only it takes place on the sides of an operating street. There are cars passing by the whole time, slowly mind you, and the stalls are not set up on sidewalks- just on the side of the road. You can get shoes, watches, fruit, vegetables, raw chicken, pork or fish... Tacos, gorditas (little pancake-like snacks mad with corn flour and cinnamon and sugar, pizza ( at 7:30am- and people were eating it for breakfast...) Chicharronn. Yup Chicharronn. I don't know if I'll ever get a taste for this Mexican delicacy. You take the entire skin of a butchered pig, and deep fry it till it bubbles and gets crispy. Then you eat it. mmmmmm... hardens arteries in 30 minutes or less! I tried a bit and he gave me some cooked pork meat too. Parts of it resembled pigs feet, I hoped he didn't pick that for me- and he didn't!
We bought a pack of gorditas and tried a Mexican donut (BEST Donut I ever had... warm, cinnamon sugar coated...mmmmmmm) and a package of socks for Elijah. We'll be going back soon. You can also get used clothing there and new clothing, electronic items, tools I couldn't believe the selection- it seemed though that it's also a "hang-out" spot for folks to come for coffee, tacos, pizza and pig skin.
We've made a contact with a Mexican fella who owns a fish taco place (Best in Rosarito he says...)He was a part of the 7th day Adventist church but has left churches altogether and his wife is not so interested, though he seemed interested enough to carry on a pretty good conversation. Luckily he has really good fish tacos ($1.00/ taco- and 2 fills you up) and it's the slow season coming up. We are looking for some good conversations- his English is good so he may be able to help us with our Spanish too. Pray that this relationship develops in such a way that he become receptive to Jesus. Pastor Harvey in Martensville calls it Co-op gas bar ministry. In Mexico we do it at the taco shop...
we've been looking at a few places to live in a colonia (neighbourhood) close to YUGO ranch and pastor Martin's house (church planting pastor we're working with). Pray that something comes available soon that we can afford until we know what our support level will be. Pray that we'll make good contacts for language training in the colonia and that some of those friendships will develop into opportunities to share Jesus as well...
Thanks for you're prayers! In this time of transition, we're going to need them more than even normally!
Until next time...
Mike and shar
I had heard of a "market on wheels" that took place on one of the streets close to where we are staying that goes on Sundays, Wednesdays and Friday's. So at 7:30am Elijah and I left the rest of the family snoring in the camper and off we went to check it out. You can get almost anything there. It was incredible.
It's similar to a swap meet/ flea market only it takes place on the sides of an operating street. There are cars passing by the whole time, slowly mind you, and the stalls are not set up on sidewalks- just on the side of the road. You can get shoes, watches, fruit, vegetables, raw chicken, pork or fish... Tacos, gorditas (little pancake-like snacks mad with corn flour and cinnamon and sugar, pizza ( at 7:30am- and people were eating it for breakfast...) Chicharronn. Yup Chicharronn. I don't know if I'll ever get a taste for this Mexican delicacy. You take the entire skin of a butchered pig, and deep fry it till it bubbles and gets crispy. Then you eat it. mmmmmm... hardens arteries in 30 minutes or less! I tried a bit and he gave me some cooked pork meat too. Parts of it resembled pigs feet, I hoped he didn't pick that for me- and he didn't!
We bought a pack of gorditas and tried a Mexican donut (BEST Donut I ever had... warm, cinnamon sugar coated...mmmmmmm) and a package of socks for Elijah. We'll be going back soon. You can also get used clothing there and new clothing, electronic items, tools I couldn't believe the selection- it seemed though that it's also a "hang-out" spot for folks to come for coffee, tacos, pizza and pig skin.
We've made a contact with a Mexican fella who owns a fish taco place (Best in Rosarito he says...)He was a part of the 7th day Adventist church but has left churches altogether and his wife is not so interested, though he seemed interested enough to carry on a pretty good conversation. Luckily he has really good fish tacos ($1.00/ taco- and 2 fills you up) and it's the slow season coming up. We are looking for some good conversations- his English is good so he may be able to help us with our Spanish too. Pray that this relationship develops in such a way that he become receptive to Jesus. Pastor Harvey in Martensville calls it Co-op gas bar ministry. In Mexico we do it at the taco shop...
we've been looking at a few places to live in a colonia (neighbourhood) close to YUGO ranch and pastor Martin's house (church planting pastor we're working with). Pray that something comes available soon that we can afford until we know what our support level will be. Pray that we'll make good contacts for language training in the colonia and that some of those friendships will develop into opportunities to share Jesus as well...
Thanks for you're prayers! In this time of transition, we're going to need them more than even normally!
Until next time...
Mike and shar
Monday, September 04, 2006
New Happenings...
Yesterday seemed like a lost day. Mostly because we spent most of it that way...lost. I found out that I'm lost in spanish is "estoy perdido". that is a helpful phrase to know! We got lost going in several different directions, we got lost at different times of the day and we got lost, even at night. On a positive note, we got to know the city a bit better!
We went to church at 11:00am only to find out that the church was at a retreat in Tecate and would be meeting at 6:00pm. So we filled our day with various and sundry activities (like getting lost...) and came back to Rancho Yugo to make a call to confirm church starting time for that evening. We found out that there was no church, so we drove off and got lost again! After finding food ( and getting lost once more) we finally made it to our villa overlooking the ocean. And lost the key to the chain that locks our gate.
We looked high and low, then low and high... then in the camper, and in the van and in the dirt and in the bushes... to no avail. Our Key is more lost than we were last night.
So we looked left- then right and thought we ought to search for an open gate somehwere on this huge tract of hilly land (that incidentally is covered with cows- they come right up to our camper and eat around it [among other things]- that's pretty cool!) Left took us to a cow trail that better resembled a cliff side, so we went right. We got out, eventually after bottoming out once or twice.
This evening found us at Rancho Yugo again at a pastor's supper for lots of the pastors that YUGO works with. The theme (as far as I could understand the Spanish and connect that with the folks we met who were presenters) was Missions. Not so much missions TO Mexico, but Missions FROM Mexico. There seems to be a move afoot to send more Mexicans overseas as missionaries. I readily concur. I would love to be a part of the training of Mexican young folks to send them as effective missionaries to the world! It was exciting to hear of this movement coming around!
We also had a good chance ot meet agian with Martin Castro- the pastor we'l be working with. We meet wiht them tomorow night for supper and to make some plans for the future. They have a fmaily in the community we're church planting in interested in meeting for Bible studies, that may start as early as next weekend. So we're on the move, things are coming into place and God is moving and providing!!
Please pray for our support levels, That we'd br up to par soon, pray that we will learn spanish well and that we'd be effective!
Thanks for your partnership!!!
Mike
We went to church at 11:00am only to find out that the church was at a retreat in Tecate and would be meeting at 6:00pm. So we filled our day with various and sundry activities (like getting lost...) and came back to Rancho Yugo to make a call to confirm church starting time for that evening. We found out that there was no church, so we drove off and got lost again! After finding food ( and getting lost once more) we finally made it to our villa overlooking the ocean. And lost the key to the chain that locks our gate.
We looked high and low, then low and high... then in the camper, and in the van and in the dirt and in the bushes... to no avail. Our Key is more lost than we were last night.
So we looked left- then right and thought we ought to search for an open gate somehwere on this huge tract of hilly land (that incidentally is covered with cows- they come right up to our camper and eat around it [among other things]- that's pretty cool!) Left took us to a cow trail that better resembled a cliff side, so we went right. We got out, eventually after bottoming out once or twice.
This evening found us at Rancho Yugo again at a pastor's supper for lots of the pastors that YUGO works with. The theme (as far as I could understand the Spanish and connect that with the folks we met who were presenters) was Missions. Not so much missions TO Mexico, but Missions FROM Mexico. There seems to be a move afoot to send more Mexicans overseas as missionaries. I readily concur. I would love to be a part of the training of Mexican young folks to send them as effective missionaries to the world! It was exciting to hear of this movement coming around!
We also had a good chance ot meet agian with Martin Castro- the pastor we'l be working with. We meet wiht them tomorow night for supper and to make some plans for the future. They have a fmaily in the community we're church planting in interested in meeting for Bible studies, that may start as early as next weekend. So we're on the move, things are coming into place and God is moving and providing!!
Please pray for our support levels, That we'd br up to par soon, pray that we will learn spanish well and that we'd be effective!
Thanks for your partnership!!!
Mike
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Beach Day
Being a rare combination of Great-Lakes and northern prairie people, we decided to take an hour or two and explore the beach whle we were in Rosarito looking for shoes for Elijah. His Sandals exploded and his shoes got left behind in Canada- so he's almost footwearless. Unfortunately we have no idea where to find shoes in Rosarito and the few places we tried, were busts. So off to the beach we go!
It was a nice day- about 30C and the ocean water seemed freezing cold when we first got there. But after a few minutes of playing in the waves, it wal all good. A Mexican fellow asked us if we wanted to borrow his "BoogieBoard". I've never had a stranger come up to me and do that before, so it tookme off guard, but told Elijah if he wanted to try it he could ask the guy. So he did and off to the waves he went. The waves were pretty big for an almost windless day and he and Caleb caught some good ones.
After that a Mexican family were catching little creatures out of the sand about calf deep in water. We watched them until the kids came and showed us how to catch these little crab-like things. They called them Cochinitas del agua- which to me seems to translate as little water pigs... As soon as they hit the sand- they dig dig dig to get back down- but to no avail- we caught dozens of them. I asked if they were food and sure enough they are! How and with what I have no idea- and couldn't understand them well enough to figure it out. When we were about to leave they were insistent that we take some home for us- seeing as we helped- When I repeated that I did not know how to cook them and they figured we could not understand there instructions, they relented... I was half expecting an invitation to their home to eat with them!
Todays major dilemma so far is cleanliness. In the motorhome- they have running water- though only luke-warm, but the shower/ bath does not work. It;s been too long since most of us have bathed, and the epitaph for lazarus seems to fit. We "stinketh". So the quest for a bath or shower before tomorrow awaits us, hopefully we'll end this quest successfully so we'll be welcome back at church.
Until next time,
Dios Bendiga and have a great Sunday!
It was a nice day- about 30C and the ocean water seemed freezing cold when we first got there. But after a few minutes of playing in the waves, it wal all good. A Mexican fellow asked us if we wanted to borrow his "BoogieBoard". I've never had a stranger come up to me and do that before, so it tookme off guard, but told Elijah if he wanted to try it he could ask the guy. So he did and off to the waves he went. The waves were pretty big for an almost windless day and he and Caleb caught some good ones.
After that a Mexican family were catching little creatures out of the sand about calf deep in water. We watched them until the kids came and showed us how to catch these little crab-like things. They called them Cochinitas del agua- which to me seems to translate as little water pigs... As soon as they hit the sand- they dig dig dig to get back down- but to no avail- we caught dozens of them. I asked if they were food and sure enough they are! How and with what I have no idea- and couldn't understand them well enough to figure it out. When we were about to leave they were insistent that we take some home for us- seeing as we helped- When I repeated that I did not know how to cook them and they figured we could not understand there instructions, they relented... I was half expecting an invitation to their home to eat with them!
Todays major dilemma so far is cleanliness. In the motorhome- they have running water- though only luke-warm, but the shower/ bath does not work. It;s been too long since most of us have bathed, and the epitaph for lazarus seems to fit. We "stinketh". So the quest for a bath or shower before tomorrow awaits us, hopefully we'll end this quest successfully so we'll be welcome back at church.
Until next time,
Dios Bendiga and have a great Sunday!
Friday, September 01, 2006
I HAVE PICS
The view from our new house... that's the ocean out there...
This is on the "FREE ROAD" through Tijuana.
This is our power source.
Wookie the Dog- lives at our new home...
Boys and their Toys beside two barrel cacti (Beside Elijah...) The HUGE Shadow is Mike...I'm actually taller in Mexico!
Our Executive bathroom- complete with a bucket of water to wash away the...uh... stuff.
Home Sweet Home...
Our new Back Window!!
Elijah and Rosie the Boy Cat. Settling in for the long drive.
The blown tire... Day 1. 27km from Langham
Our First Trailer... side of the Road... 3km from Saskatoon!
Joshua Trees- Mojave desert- between Las Vegas and Los Angeles
3 minutes left on Cell Phone... Calling Sharon Sawatsky to Call Tow Truck...
Boys in front of Palm Tree at Motel 6 in St. george, Utah. 100F out...lotsa pics-- here they are:
tacos, wrestlers and groceries.
Hola Amigos!
Today we needed to run some errands. So off we wnt to Rosarito to get groceries, have lunch and explore the downtown area. It's been a good day so far.
This morning started off a bit sour as we found out that our propane gas valve has a major leak. So after almost blowing us up, I turned it off and effectively shut down our fridge and our stove. So the question becomes now, how do we lead a normal life without a fridge and stove? We have a camp stove, but no LP gas to use with it. we'll have to go to the USA to get some of the small camp-size propane tanks- or get some sort of a st up so that we can use the large tanks with it. For now we have a huge coleman cooler ( the 5 day keep ice cold type- which actually works for 2-3 days) in which we put our meat and milk etc.
Speaking of meat and milk. We had a great time at the grocery store. It took us about 2 hours to buy $60.00 worth of groceries! Some of the items were the same brands as Canada, most were not. So we had to try to figure out what stuff was first before we could buy it! The one store we were in has a teortelleria- which makes tortillas. I stood there looking around the place ofr the tortillas for about 10 minutes...could not find one single tortilla in the place. so we sat back and watched as a lady came in to get some. She ligted up some blankets and presto! there were dozens of paper-wrapped tortillas, warm and waiting. So in I went for the taking and our first item was found! Halway through our excursion Caleb and Jacob had to "go pee". So I mustered up my best spanish to find out where the bathroom is- hoping for a grunt and a point. Unfortunately I got detailed directions outside the store - down the alley and in th back of something. So off we went- under the 4'5" tall tent that protects the shopping carts ( didn't know I could go around) around a corner and down the plaza to a large "BANOS" sign. Sweet relief.
Caleb found out he had more than pee to do and took some time. I gently reminded him that We wanted to get out of there before nightfall ( it was 1pm) and then to put the toilet paper in the wastebasket- not the toilet. Caleb replied- "Dad... there is no toilet paper... not even a roll thingy to put toilet paper on!! " I panicked for him, went outside the bano to find a young man with two stacks of 4pieces of serviettes. for3 pesos or 25 cents/stack. saved by a quarter! these folks will do anythign to make a living!
Downtown Rosarito the boys were overwhelmed at the sight of dozens of people hawking silver everything, earrings, wrestling masks, bracelets etc. etc. Yup... wrestling masks. Caleb and Jacob were really taken with a wrestling mask/cape and so each bought one with their garage sale/ birthday money... Wrestlers are big in Mexico- now 2 of the 3 boys are acculturated somewhat more now then yesterday...
Before shopping we had real genuine mexican carne asada tacos. There is just no substitute for a real taco. it is the perfect food.
So now we are at a fellow missionaries house, waiting for him to come home to see if he has another valve for the propane. But today is almost over and we'll need to find supper soon. Not sure where nor how!
(update-- he's back and we're having hamburguesas- hamburgers in Mexico!- he may also have a bar fridge for us coming tomorrow!! woohoo praise God!)
Pray for things to work out with our cooking and food strorage situation. It is slightly comforting to know that many misisonaries before us have had not dissimilar experiences. God is perhaps refining us somewhat.
Personally, I could use a bit of that.
Blessings to all- looking forward to seeing some of you down here sometime!
until next time...
Mike, shar, kids
Today we needed to run some errands. So off we wnt to Rosarito to get groceries, have lunch and explore the downtown area. It's been a good day so far.
This morning started off a bit sour as we found out that our propane gas valve has a major leak. So after almost blowing us up, I turned it off and effectively shut down our fridge and our stove. So the question becomes now, how do we lead a normal life without a fridge and stove? We have a camp stove, but no LP gas to use with it. we'll have to go to the USA to get some of the small camp-size propane tanks- or get some sort of a st up so that we can use the large tanks with it. For now we have a huge coleman cooler ( the 5 day keep ice cold type- which actually works for 2-3 days) in which we put our meat and milk etc.
Speaking of meat and milk. We had a great time at the grocery store. It took us about 2 hours to buy $60.00 worth of groceries! Some of the items were the same brands as Canada, most were not. So we had to try to figure out what stuff was first before we could buy it! The one store we were in has a teortelleria- which makes tortillas. I stood there looking around the place ofr the tortillas for about 10 minutes...could not find one single tortilla in the place. so we sat back and watched as a lady came in to get some. She ligted up some blankets and presto! there were dozens of paper-wrapped tortillas, warm and waiting. So in I went for the taking and our first item was found! Halway through our excursion Caleb and Jacob had to "go pee". So I mustered up my best spanish to find out where the bathroom is- hoping for a grunt and a point. Unfortunately I got detailed directions outside the store - down the alley and in th back of something. So off we went- under the 4'5" tall tent that protects the shopping carts ( didn't know I could go around) around a corner and down the plaza to a large "BANOS" sign. Sweet relief.
Caleb found out he had more than pee to do and took some time. I gently reminded him that We wanted to get out of there before nightfall ( it was 1pm) and then to put the toilet paper in the wastebasket- not the toilet. Caleb replied- "Dad... there is no toilet paper... not even a roll thingy to put toilet paper on!! " I panicked for him, went outside the bano to find a young man with two stacks of 4pieces of serviettes. for3 pesos or 25 cents/stack. saved by a quarter! these folks will do anythign to make a living!
Downtown Rosarito the boys were overwhelmed at the sight of dozens of people hawking silver everything, earrings, wrestling masks, bracelets etc. etc. Yup... wrestling masks. Caleb and Jacob were really taken with a wrestling mask/cape and so each bought one with their garage sale/ birthday money... Wrestlers are big in Mexico- now 2 of the 3 boys are acculturated somewhat more now then yesterday...
Before shopping we had real genuine mexican carne asada tacos. There is just no substitute for a real taco. it is the perfect food.
So now we are at a fellow missionaries house, waiting for him to come home to see if he has another valve for the propane. But today is almost over and we'll need to find supper soon. Not sure where nor how!
(update-- he's back and we're having hamburguesas- hamburgers in Mexico!- he may also have a bar fridge for us coming tomorrow!! woohoo praise God!)
Pray for things to work out with our cooking and food strorage situation. It is slightly comforting to know that many misisonaries before us have had not dissimilar experiences. God is perhaps refining us somewhat.
Personally, I could use a bit of that.
Blessings to all- looking forward to seeing some of you down here sometime!
until next time...
Mike, shar, kids
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