Ah, the memories. Here’s another decade-old picture for you. Shari and I were visiting Cuernavaca 10 years ago this month, preparing for our eventual move to Mexico. Here we are at the Cascada Salto de San Antón.
Sometimes you’re encouraged, sometimes you’re discouraged. But there are some interesting things happening at the new community centre, so I thought I’d share a little encouraging news.
Some of the classes have been well attended – some not. This Tuesday my keyboard class was one of the not-well-attended ones, and I thought I’d be packing up early because there were no students.
Then a few junior high boys stopped by. One of them asked me if playing the keyboard was anything like playing the melodica.
I didn’t even know what that was – and in case you don’t, here’s a picture.
And it’s used in the schools here for music education! Which means there are hundreds of junior highers who are already becoming familiar with the keyboard.
So this guy came back and showed me his melodica. And I asked if he wanted to take a keyboard class. And he did.
Because he was already familiar with the keyboard concept, I taught him some chords – 96 chords in all. And it was a blast to see his eyes light up as he realized how many chords he had learned in only a few minutes. And I flipped through a music book and showed him – “Look, now you know all the chords for this song. And this song. And this song. And…”
I guess I gotta get me a melodica to add to my class.
Shari has been handing out cookies – a “demonstration” of her upcoming baking class. Well, the class was today, and four women came! A great improvement from zero last time.
And Shari too was reminded of the joys of teaching something new. When you’ve never baked before, and you realize that yes, you can bake cookies – WOW! 😉
So Shari really enjoyed her time at the class today. Teresa helped out too, but escaped from the camera lens.
Speaking of Teresa, she apparently had a good time in her English class today. Shari said that the students seem to really like her. Teresa is getting a lot of English teaching in, and she’s making friends and connections which I’m sure will yield fruit in the future!
And activities continue with Tina, and Rod and Mayra Fry as well. Lots going on!
Yes, there has been plenty to be discouraged about. But God is working, and it’s gracious of Him to give us some encouragement along the way.
Reminds me of the verses we memorized in Sunday School a while ago. We were talking about how the Spirit is Someone who goes with us on the journey, encouraging and exhorting us.
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. (Philipians 2:1-2)
The last three weeks or so have been pretty … “interesting”.
So Nathanael had a pretty bad cold, which means he missed some school (not too much) and some other activities. But slowly, he started to get better.
Then, of course, Shari was diagnosed with tennis elbow, and got her sling.
For some reason my back and neck suddenly went crazy, and I could hardly sleep and for a day or two and I could hardly move around the house. That also meant more migraine attacks. I think it’s starting to get better – I hope so – some sleep would be great, and the pain is actually pretty bad.
But there’s nothing like someone else’s pain to make you forget yours, right? Hannah had a major wipe-out on her bike. Thankfully, her face and head were untouched, but she got 7 pretty significant scrapes all down one side of her body. So Shari has been faithfully changing bandages every day to try to make sure everything heals properly. But there’s a long way to go.
So – why not start the cycle again? Nathanael got hit in the head with a soccer ball today, and after that his skateboard was stolen.
Ok, I think it’s time for the cycle of disaster to end. A little recovery time would be great…
But there have been some great times of ministry lately too. Please pray for those who are hearing the Gospel in these days – may great things happen!
A little while ago we had a muffin-making bonanza. For our family time together, we decided to invent our own muffin recipes and bake them.
I promised to share those recipes with you. So – ladies first – we’ll start with Shari’s recipe. The rest will follow later today.
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375F.
Whisk eggs together with granulated sugar. Whisk in melted butter. Whisk in milk.
Stir in vanilla extract and cinnamon. Stir in grated orange zest until mixture is smooth.
In a separate bown, combine flours, oatmeal, baking powder, baking soda, salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients briefly until just incorporated.
Fold in blueberries.
Spoon into prepared muffin cups or loaf pan(s). Optional: cook another 224g of blueberries, along with a little sugar down to make a jam. Divide the jam among the muffins or loaves and swirl a bit with a toothpick of chopstick. Sprinkle with a little brown sugar mixed with cinnamon to taste.
Bake at 375F until a toothpick comes away dry or with a few moist crumbs when inserted in the center (typically 15-25 minutes for muffins, longer for loaves).
To create this recipe, Shari used the “Muffinator”. All who tried these muffins thought they were yummy. 🙂
Naw, of course not. Well, ok, maybe a little.
With less than 27 days to go before our trip to Ontario, preparations are in full swing. And no matter how organized we are, no matter how far ahead we plan, we’re still surprised at just how much work we have to do between now and then.
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For example, today I was absorbed for quite some time in some legal subtleties related to our upcoming border crossings. *sigh* …and I thought it would be simple.
Yesterday I was working with Hannah and Nathanael as we try to get their school responsibilities taken care of. And while we’re at it, we’re trying to figure out what we’re doing next year and how to get the materials. When we get back to Mexico, it will be almost time to start school again!
Meanwhile we’re preparing for ministry that we’ll be doing on our trip, making sure we have places to stay…
Oh! I really need to change the battery in our van today. Don’t let me forget.
To add to the fun, Shari has her arm in a sling. Apparently she has a little thing called lateral epicondylitis (otherwise known as tennis elbow). So if she can’t do it with one hand – the rest of the family needs to pitch in and help! However, she’s been learning a whole new medical vocabulary in Spanish as everyone asks her “What happened?!”
Leaving for three and a half months, in most ways, might as well be a year. We have to take everything we need, except the Christmas decorations. So, I’d better get back to work!
In the picture: Nathanael made that shield for history class (he was learning about King Richard the Lion-Heart). Getting into the spirit is his friend Ian.
Let’s face it – the last three weeks in particular have been pretty difficult. Both Shari and I have been sick off and on – well, in Shari’s case, pretty much “on”. So it’s made me reflect – what have I learned? Or maybe I should say, what should I have learned – or what do I want to learn?
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Maybe this is only a small trial – or maybe it really doesn’t count as a “trial” – but still these words of Peter seem to apply:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1Peter 1:3-7