Greetings from México (April 10, 2007)

Dear All, Sorry for the group e-mail thing, but my time on the computer is limited and I am still adjusting to everything, soon, I hope to address everyone individually. Thanks for understanding. I have figured out how to share an on-line photo album. You will get an e-mail following this one with instructions to view it. I think that you can just click on the photo box that is included in the e-mail and it will take you to a site to view the complete album. Once I have this down, I plan to take lots of pictures and put them on line. It will give you a better understanding of our life.

It is warm and dusty here. The heat is intense in the sun, but the houses remain cool because of the tile everywhere. However, because of the tile everywhere there is a lot of dust and the floors must be swept and mopped at least every other day. We only have a screen on two windows, and right now there is a big gap at the bottom of each of our doors. We are planning on getting flaps to cover that. It will cut down on the dirt. I mopped this morning and by after noon I had seed pods from outside blowing in through the back door. Going barefoot here is not as easy, and your feet are constantly dirty.

We do love our house. It is roomy and bright. It is painted lime green throughout, but I hope to do so better painting in the future. Who knows, I am used to it! We still do not have a stove. We have been looking for one. Shopping is a real task. At this time, we are really dependent on Kina and Rodney. One of them drives us and interprets for us. Yesterday was quite a day. In the morning we had planned on Rich watching the girls while Kina and I went to Guadalajara to her doctor appt. and some shopping at Sam's Club. Well, by the time we got to their house, plans had to be changed several times. The girls have been sick, but Zion had a fever in the night. Kina called the doctor (on her personal cell phone mind you!), and the doctor insisted on seeing all the girls. They had set an appointment for 4pm. Then, Rich and Rodney were asked to help Juan deliver a granite counter top to Chapala. After that, they went with Jaun into Guad. themselves and picked up two huge slabs of granite for him to work on later. Rich was able to check out some stoves there. He found out that if we ay cash, then we can save about $50.00 US. He will borrow Juan's truck and we will also save on delivery fee. We just have to wait our turn on getting there to get a stove. Maybe later this week. The culture is very laid back and things change all the time. We are becoming disciples of flexibility!! Anyway, back to Kina and I. With 3 children under the age of 7, nothing is simple. We made it to a mall to check out some maternity needs for Kina, have a bite to eat and them to the doctor for the girls. The city is huge and takes at least a half hour to get from one place to the next. We waited for the doctor. She spent about 2 hours with the girls. After, I found out that this was her day off, she came in just for them!!! What difference from our medical system. The charge was only $30.00 for the whole thing. I was impressed. We then headed on to her OB doctor. By then, the youngest was asleep, so I stayed in the van with her and the next youngest to wait. This was around 7pm! We ended up getting home about 9pm.....a long exhausting day.

Today, Rich is working on some chores around the house for the Dutro's. He is removing a ceiling fan and placing a light. They need to move rooms before the baby arrives. Rich is sure a blessing to have around. Rodney is busy each day with the Love in Action Center. He is the assistant director for now, and helping with the children and organizing the administrative things. For this season, that is a big task for him.

Rich and I are straining to understand the language. Sunday, we were at church all day. Service began at 10:30 and lasted until about 1. Everyone stayed after to have fellowship and food. We had to pick up chickens and extras for everyone. The children from the Center were there that day, an extra 25 or so. I walked to the outdoor market and got a watermelon. I bought some peanuts for a snack and am sure I was ripped off...oh well, I hope the extra money was a blessing to the man.

The folks at church are having us use our Spanish, however limited and they will speak what English they know. Most conversations are full of laughter. Kina's girls are helping us also. It will come. I am fairly bold, but know so little vocabulary.

It is quite a culture shock and adjustment. We do feel God's grace and love. It is only by His mercy we live and move and have our being!!! It is a great adventure. I do miss my children so much. It is difficult to communicate, we have access to the internet, but do not want to take advantage of Kina and Rodney too much. We have a cell phone, but can't talk to anyone but the Dutro's! With out a home phone, I have not been able to make calls. they have had an extended holiday, so the first time we were able to get a phone card was yesterday. It is hard not to feel a little cut off. However, we are encouraging each other and are seeing each day getting easier.

I am going to eat something now, grated Jicama, Beets and carrots with lime juice and salt. Yum!!!