DTS Workshop in Mazatlan, Mexico

We went to Mazatlan last week for a 3-day workshop about Discipleship Training Schools (DTS) with Youth With A Mission (YWAM). We spent 6-8 hours each day in class, but we were also able to enjoy the beach in the evenings. Here are a few photos.

The YWAM Mazatlan base used to be a hotel. It is in a great location and the staff is active in reaching out to the surrounding neighbors with different activities. Keep them in your prayers as they continue to make payments on this property - it was not cheap. May the Lord bless this base, the staff, and the directors, Brent & Heather.

The view from our room - not bad for a YWAM base! We had our own little balcony complete with table and 2 chairs. Jose Luis enjoyed sitting outside hoping for a breeze. I stayed inside to hide from the mosquitos and the heat, while Jaynie moved back and forth.

Lunch time - Jaynie and I are on the left and Dwayne, who is on staff with us in Creel, is on the right (along with Daniel who serves at the Guadalajara base and was one of our teachers).

Can you see who is lurking in this tree just outside the classroom where we met?

An Iguana!!

The sand was really coarsely crushed seashells. Jaynie brought back so many seashells and I am just remembering that I need to wash them out and let them dry in the sun - not good considering that we left Mazatlan with the shells tightly wrapped up exactly 4 days ago!

Such beautiful sunset over the waters - although we were ready to leave the heat and humidity, we will miss this awesome display of God!

14 Years!

On September 25th, Jose Luis and I celebrated our anniversary. It is amazing how fast the years go by. We were on the way back from a week-long course at the YWAM base in Mazatlan, Mexico. We spent the day in a train from Los Mochis to Creel - sleeping most of the morning and watching the scenery change as we left the tropics behind and returned to the cool, dry air of the mountains.

I praise God for my husband! It is not always easy being married, but it is always a blessing. I've learned so much over the years and I pray that the Lord will grant us many years to come.

August?

This summer it has been difficult for me to keep up with the blog - how's that for stating the obvious? August came and went and I did not post a thing! So I'll list some of the highlights.
Jose Luis worked with the translation committee the first week of Aug. They continue to work in the New Testament. The next week we received a short-term mission team from Baja California - what a blessing to see that the Lord is raising up mission teams in Mexican churches. This group worked hard in the town of San Rafael. Of course, I was able to serve them by cooking meals.
On the homefront, Jaynie worked really hard with 5th grade homeschool and we finished on Aug. 17, the day before her birthday. Then she began 6th grade on Aug. 19 with the California Achievement Test. It seems impossible that Jaynie is now 11 years old. She stands 5 feet 3 inches tall and does not look her age. But she is beautiful. Jaynie has really developed a flair for drawing, coloring, and writing. She loves to read and to research subjects.
The 4th week of Aug. we spent a couple of days in El Paso - mailing school papers back to Christian Liberty Academy, getting everything in order so that we could renew Jaynie's US passport, and doing a little shopping. It was our first time out to the US since Memorial Day weekend. It provided us with a much needed break and some major family time. For most of July and the first half of Aug. Jose Luis went one direction and I went another. It is very difficult to keep a marriage healthy when you don't spend time together!
Reading through my list it doesn't seem too busy, but it sure felt crazy in the midst of it. I did not mention that I began homeschool classes with Carolina (now a Sr. in HS), Michael(Freshman in HS), and Yoshiah (1st grade) Kaemingk. It is such a privilege for me to participate in their education. I never imagined that God would use me to teach children - may He fill them with His wisdom each day!
As soon as I can locate photos from Jaynie's birthday, I will post them here.