Life Is Hard, But God Is Good

Tonight I sit here with a heavy, but joyful heart. The kids are all in bed, goodbyes have been said and a few hours of packing and a few hours of sleep are ahead of me. Bright and early, I leave CVE, everything that has become my home for the past year and a half, but I can rejoice, because I am going home, to the place where God has now called me. For such a time is this, God blessed me with the opportunity to serve here in Magdalena. I don't know why. I know He could have raised up a stone and the stone would have been more obedient! ;) However; in all His Goodness, I have been blessed to work alongside a staff that follows hard after God, to mentor beautiful children and watch as they come to know God, to love ten little girls with everything in me and to meet an amazing community and church family in Magdalena. Now, in all His Goodness, God has called me on to partner with Jon, an incredible man of Him.

I am blessed beyond what I can put into words and far beyond what I deserve. I thank each one of you who have supported me through my time here. I have been stretched to new lengths and know the only reason I didn't snap through those hard times were because of God's Grace given to me in abundance as a result of your many prayers and words of encouragement.

I will end where I started...

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

A Sunday of Goodbyes

7-8 year old Sunday School Class
Another crazy made up game played after services
One last farewell to the kids on the bus

Saturday in the Park and More Family Pictures

The girls and I loaded up this afternoon for one last afternoon at the plaza. We proceeded to eat at the many places that we normally avoid because the food is so amazingly good, but so ridiculously bad for you. We enjoyed it all with "extra butter." ;)

We browsed around the plaza while stuffing our faces. What a great time.

House Pictures: Today was the day the members of our house united to take house Christmas pictures. There are currently eleven living in the casa and all were around, besides Hilda. My housemates Jenna and Steph are amazing friends and have kept me sane through times of near insanity. ;)

Before we began the photo session, Jenna instructed us, "no matter what, don't worry about the kids' expressions, just look at the camera and smile." We did a really good job about not worrying about the kids' expressions. ;)

Any picture not requiring us looking at the camera was a huge benefit.

Pollo had enough, even after the blatant bribery of cookies...Oops, I mean, positive reinforcement...

Dinner Party With the Single Staff

Tonight the single staff celebrated my departure with an amazing meal whipped up by the virtuous women of CVE. We missed Joel but still had a great time!

Obviously the guys loved the whole group picture idea. Aren't you glad we are blessed with such mature men?

Thanks to everyone for all the work they did!

Also, I need to correct a previous blog post...I am not the only PU grad here! I don't know how I forgot about Nicole! She graduated before me and we had class together and we lived in the same apartment building. ;) Nicole, chalk it up to lack of sleep? Sorry Nicole!

An Interview With Eli

How are you Eli? I am really well.

Are you cold? Yes!

So, what is your favorite part of third grade? I like math and to play with friends in my class.

What is your least favorite part of school? Getting up in the cold to get ready for school.

What would you most like for Christmas? A lot of things...hmm...which should I choose? Christmas boots, they are really warm.

What is your favorite color? Blue

Favorite Bible story? When Baby Jesus was born because many people came to worship Him.

How old do you think you will be when you get married? I don't know, when God tells me.

What do you look for in a future husband? Umm...He needs to be a man of God. (...after some prompting into more specifics) He is a blonde and he needs to know how to make his own food, because if I am not home, he will have to know how to cook.

What makes you scared? Nothing.

What makes you laugh? (Edited)

What makes you sad? That my family never comes and visits.

What do you like to do most in your free time? I like to ride bikes and play Monopoly.

How can people pray for you? That I can behave and that I can obey.

A Blessed Thanksgiving

Hey everyone! I am back! I had an amazing time with my family and Jon as they were down for a nice, long weekend. It was such a blessing to watch them interact with my CVE family as well. I don't have anything profound to post...especially being severely sleep deficient. ;)


In regard to questions wondering about future plans for Jon and I, we are planning to live in Auburn, IN and attend church in Leo. I have my one-way plane ticket home bought for December 4th. So...one more week of the blog. I will do my best to update daily!

love to all,

amy

I Am Thankful For...

Tonight before bedtime, the girls started to talk about "The Day of Chicken." They actually meant to say turkey and were talking about Thanksgiving. They obviously don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Mexico and we talked about what the day of Thanksgiving originally meant. This inspired me to be thankful for the big and the small and I wanted to share a few special blessings in my life.

I am thankful for...

Wound up little boys after bathtime

Little girls and little dogs

Fede, an amazing kid with a soft heart, compassionate spirit and dramatic flair.

Little boys in cowboy hats

The CVE Board

(From Left to Right: Bill, Jerry, Wayne, Jon, Tom, Marshall)

Afternoons games of "Sandwich" on the lawn

And there is so much more, but now it is your turn. I would love to hear what you are thankful for...so...comment. ;)

I am going to be gone from Wednesday-Sunday, so I will catch you then.

I am also thankful that my family and Jon are coming down! Yeah!

The Parade of the Revolutionaries

November 20th is an important day in Mexican history as they celebrate the Mexican Revolution, led by peasants in a grassroots uprising against dictatorship. If interested in a the quick history, http://www.inside-mexico.com/revolucion.htm. The kids were in parades today to commemorate the Revolution and they were cute!

The Revolutionaries, Daniel, Yaneli and Poncho

Ezequiel with some of his family after the parade

Yaneli shows me how it was done!

Poncho shares his sombrero with his little brother, Aaron.

The older kids went and marched in their uniforms. Franc and Fede finished and were a little tired and grouchy. :)

The 7th graders had a parade in the morning. They also just marched in uniform and Uriel went, too cool to march, but just to hang out. ;)

Parades are so different in Mexico. No candy, no firetrucks or sirens, just lots of kids, dressed up and marching around the block. I missed the candy. ;)

Spreading Purdue Cheer

When Jeff returned to Milford last February, he left me the only Purdue grad/PYGer living at CVE. Occasionally people get in their jabs about PU (I don't want to mention any names...BILL!). I am trying to right this wrong by gifting t-shirts that say Boilers or Purdue to various staff and kids.

Yes, Estefania has only been living with us a few days, but they are never too young to "be trained up in the way they should go."

To Mr. Jeff Bahr, yes, Purdue is more than a boarding school. ;)

Weekend News:

Thanks to all for your prayers! This weekend truly was a sharp contrast to last weekend bringing much joy as Elizabeth shared her testimony and was baptized today. Church was packed as the workteam joined us and we saw many new faces that had been friends of Trini and family. The kids sat up front and eagerly watched on as Elizabeth was "bathed." D. P., have you ever had to preach with children sitting on your feet before?

A few women who have been attending church also expressed a desire to turn their lives over to Christ, repent and be baptized. Please be prayerful. God has been glorified!

On Friday night we had our "Teen Night" and played the "Balloon Game." We had a large turnout for the event and were thankful to meet some new kids from town.

In rough news this weekend, Pollito's mom brought a letter from DIF today, explaining that in about two weeks, he would go and live with his family. This feels like another "ouch" but we trust that God loves him so much more than we ever have and He will continue to hold His little Pollito under His Wing. Deuteronomy 32:10-12. Please be prayerful, especially for Steph as she has done an incredible job as his primary caretaker.

Today in the kitchen we were talking about how life here can seem like a giant revolving door, you love, you lose and then you pray God empowers you to love again. Of our own love, we can't continue, we can't open our hearts again, but praise to God, we simply need to pour out the love He gives us. Romans 5:5

Does the pain of separation ever diminish?

To not finish things on such a heavy note, here is an adorable picture of one very amazing boy, Diego.

Wow...the last few posts have brought with them a very serious tone. Life is hard, but God is Good. All the time.

Thanks to all for their support and prayers.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Elizabeth's Big Weekend

This weekend there are plans for Elizabeth to give her testimony of how God has changed her life, followed by baptisms on Sunday. Elizabeth began following Christ earlier this year and her Spirit-filled life has been a testimony to all.

Joan and Eli serve lunch

Please pray for our upcoming weekend. Hopefully this weekend will provide joy and rejoicing in sharp contrast to last weekend. Eli has been an amazing example to her mom and four sisters and please pray with us that she has the strength, wisdom and endurance to continue.

Also, the Denver/Altadena team is joining us on Saturday, please pray for their safe travels.

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." Isaiah 61:3

love to all,

amy

Trini's Funeral

Funerals in Mexico are very different from those in the states...None of the priest in town were available to have a mass for Trini, so José stood up in front of her casket and read a Psalm and then Bill had a prayer for Trini and the family. The hearse pulled in and the mourning processional left the house were the wake had taken place to walk to the cemetery.Because we had Trini's kids with us, we drove so we could meet the procession as they arrived. In the morning, Trini's brothers, Jesús and José had dug her grave in the cemetery.
Julisa loved her floral kleenex on the way to the cemetery.

Ezequiel

The mourners passed the casket for one last time and then her brothers and brother-in-law mixed cement on-site to bury Trini.

Through this very difficult time, there have been moments of joy. The other night we didn't have any p.j.s that would fit Julisa, so she put on one of my tank tops, crawled into bed and just giggled and giggled.

Thanks for all the prayers for the family and for our CVE family. God has been Good and we trust His Goodness will continue to sustain us.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

A Time to Weep

In the past, there have been posts on the Guerrero Leon family. (If interested refer to the archives, May 2007) Lili, who lives here, is the youngest sibling of seven. Both of their parents passed away years ago. Her brother, José, now lives and works with us at CVE. Within the last month, he has made the decision to become a Christian and it has been amazing to watch the Lord work in his life.

Sunday afternoon, the oldest sister, Trini (25), went home from church and took her own life. She leaves four children. Jazzany (8), Ezequiel (7), Julisa (5), and Estefania (3). Jazzany and Hilda (a sister of Trini, José and Lili) are now staying with us at CVE. It appears that within the next few days DIF will place the rest of the family with us. Tonight as the siblings gathered in the back room of the house, José told his family to fold their hands because "it is time this family prays." He proceeded to lead them in prayer.

This picture was taken a few months back after Trini and her kids and I went to watch Lili in a parade. Trini is holding Estefania, Jazzany is in front of her with Ezequiel at her side. I am not sure why Julisa didn't make the picture.

Please pray for:


-Jazzany, Ezequiel, Julisa and Estefania


-Trini's remaining siblings, Javier, Jesus, Sulema, José, Hilda and Lili


-José's faith would only be strengthened and his siblings could see the drastic change God has brought in his life.


-Strength and wisdom for CVE staff



-That God would use this for His Good and satan would not have room to attack anyone involved.

Psalm 31

A Day at the Ranch

On Saturday we went to the ranch for a picnic (thanks Joan!) and a great day of just enjoying the beautiful outdoors and each other's company.

José guards his prisoners.

We played all kinds of cool games. :)

Armando and Uriel show off their strength as they lugged the thermos through several fields to arrive at our perfect picnic spot. Armando immediately began working to build a bridge across a rushing river. :)
Yaneli and Lili guard their flag (doubles as Blanca's hat) with much attitude. Who would dare go close to those two?
Blanca eats her marshmallow...she likes it crispy.
After our walk/hike/climb through the dry riverbed, we all came back, exhausted, dirty, a little sore, but laughing at all of the day's activities.

An Interview with Jaqueline

Hey Jaq, how are you? I am good.

Ready? Yeah...

What is your favorite thing to do? I like to color and draw.

Do you like school and what is your favorite subject? Yes, I like school, my favorite subject is Spanish.

What makes you laugh? When the girls are mischievous.

What makes you cry? That my family isn't here with me.

What makes you scared? When I am by myself.

What is your favorite Bible story? When Jesus rose up after he died on the cross because it shows He is God.

When you are older, what do you want to do for a job? I think a veterinarian.

Hmm...and your recent allergies to animals don't change that? No, I still want to do it.

Where did you learn to do your Pink Panther impression? I watched him in a cartoon.





If people come to visit, would you show them how you do it? (giggles) Yeahhh...





Is there anything else you would like to tell people who read the blog? We should all remember to take care of the kids that don't have any family and we should teach them about God, so when they are bigger, they know the truth.

One Very Angry Kitty