Where to start?...

We began week 3 of homeschool today. Jaynie seems to be understanding her new books, classes; however, we had a bit of a setback last week in English. I tend to think it is my failure to explain the material well AND her lack of paying attention to the questions asked. It's a good thing that I have 4th grade English worksheets, and Jaynie is working on those for the next couple of days. She is doing really well in Saxon Math - it is very different from last year's Modern Curriculum Math.

As a bonus today, Henk's sister Ida came and taught us the basics of knitting. I took a class back when I was just a little girl, but haven't knitted much since. Then in March, when we were visiting Claremore, OK, Jaynie & I attended a 1-hour craft class and I learned knitting again. Well, with the first slipped stitch, I was stuck and didn't know what to do. So I took all of my stitches out, but I forgot how to start again. What a blessing that Ida took time to teach us! Ida makes beautiful sweaters - maybe next year we can graduate to knitting sweaters. But first, we will master the basics.
On a down note, while Jaynie and I were grocery shopping in Creel, someone lightened my load, so to speak. As I was getting ready to pay, I realized that my money bag (aka coin purse) was gone! Ooh, I do not like the feeling of being robbed! But, I am thankful that whoever took it, did not take my billfold with my important id's, etc. We are getting ready to go to El Paso for a few days next week, and we really couldn't afford to lose the $200 pesos and change, but I know that the Lord will provide what we need. I just need to keep my eyes on Him and not on my circumstances.

Finally, keep Jose Luis in your prayers. He leaves for Samachike bright and early in the morning for translation committee work. The committee has been translating the book of Acts last week, and they hope to continue that work this week. Jose Luis is also learning a new program by SIL on adapting a translation of the Bible into a variation of that language.





This is a view of the mountains with a rainbow that Jose Luis took on his way to Choguita of Norogachi to pick up another member of the translation committee.

Purpose & Party

At first it seemed hard to believe that over 2 weeks have passed since I last posted something, then I remembered what happened from Sept. 6-11. We hosted a team that worked with another ministry in Creel, but they stayed at our base and Edith & I cooked 3 meals a day for them. It was such a good time - a little opportunity for me to remember why I am here. This was and is a lesson that God has been teaching me for the past 11 years. I am here to serve Him however and whenever the opportunity arises. In other words, every day I pray to glorify God in all I do and say. I must admit that I do not always succeed - I say something that is not very uplifting, or I lose my patience, or I chose to ignore someone - but I strive to be better and the Lord, in His mercy, patiently corrects and encourages me.

Then last Sat., we celebrated the birthdays of 2 of Crucita's children in Los Manzanos; Jose and Maribel both have birthdays on Sept. 15. I made a chocolate sheet cake (from my mother's recipe) and we took a large bottle of soda. Now, I was thinking that we would just have a bit of cake and then continue with our study. Little did I know that Crucita had called on her mother and one of her sisters to help get ready for the party. They killed and butchered some chickens and made chicken soup with fresh tortillas and beans. Crucita said that it was the first time that they had celebrated the birthdays of any of her children and her husband David said that he was very happy that we came to join in the festivities. It is so awesome to be a part of what the Lord is doing in the hearts of this family!

Let it snow!

Last winter was very mild with very little snow, and now we are feeling or seeing the effects of that mildness. We are inundated with caterpillars of every size and color. We saw some huge, hot-dog size caterpillars near our grape vines. However, we have seen many orange ones.

As a result, Jaynie has a new hobby - picking the caterpillars off of plants and giving them to the chickens for dinner.