Gilmore Girls Season 7

This is IT! The final season of Gilmore Girls!

Here in Mexico, I don't have cable, nor do I have an antenna. Honestly, I'm glad I don't have either. There's really not much on TV that I wish to watch nor feel that it would be beneficial for me to see. The fact that regular programming isn't even available to me also makes it much easier to avoid issues over the TV when I have girls over to hang out. We HAVE to figure out something else to do, whether together or individually, because rotting our brains with the TV isn't an option.

However, I do have a DVD player, so I have a movie collection, and I've been collecting seasons of some favorite TV programs back home....or borrowing them from those here who have them. One that I'm collecting is Gilmore Girls. I got into this program in college with my girlfriends of the Lilypad, and I got hooked. I very much enjoy the characters and the witty, fast-paced banter of the show. Anyway, season 7 aired in the states while I was here in Mexico, which means I never saw a single episode. Well, it was released about a month ago on DVD! It's the FINAL season, and HEATHER BOUGHT IT FOR ME FOR CHRISTMAS!!! Since, both of us enjoy the show, we're watching it in the evenings to try and finish it before she heads home at New Years! This is so great! I finally have the complete collection! Mily and Sandy have begun to watch it as well, and really enjoy it! So much fun to share a little of my home culture with them! Anyway, off to watch more Season 7!!

Christmas Youth Soccer Tournament

Today, we started our Christmas soccer tournament with the youth. This is the second year we have done this, and the youth really enjoy it, even those who sit on the sidelines and watch! It's a fun time to fellowship and reach out, which part of it's purpose: to draw new kids in. The team leaders are encouraged to be leaders not just in soccer but also spiritually among their teams, and they do a good job of it!

We got off to a good start today. This year Steve is not here, so he left Chuy and Martin in charge. They have been in charge of registration, and then just before Christmas they took care of picking team leaders and drafting the five teams that will participate. I'm so out of my league with something like this, so it's really refreshing to have these two student leaders stepping up to the plate on this. They have made this part of "running" things in Steve's absence SO much easier.

There are five teams, and they play 7 games of speed soccer each day today and tomorrow. Then Friday they will play 6, by the end of which one team will be eliminated. Finally, on Saturday they will play the semi-final (2 games) and the championship games. We're also having a whole-church pot-luck gathering on Saturday to watch not only our youth semi-finals and championship but also to watch the championship game for the adult men's soccer tournament that has been going on every Saturday this month. So, Saturday should be a really fun day! At the end of those games, we'll hand out trophies and awards for winning teams, best goalies (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) and most goals (1st, 2nd, and third place). This is a blast! Yea for fun during Christmas vacation.

Heather had a good time at the games today, too. She spent time hanging out and chatting with the girls, and it was so fun to watch her building friendships with them. It's such a blessing to have a part of my family here to experience this first hand! Yea God!

I'm posting some pictures. Keep in mind there were seven games played by five teams (Red, Black, Yellow, Blue, & White). I'm not posting pics from ALL the games, because pictures of boys playing soccer are going to all look fairly similar. So, although I have about 30 pictures from today, I'll only post some highlights here! Enjoy!

Red Team vs. Black Team

Heather and the girls on the sidewall watching the game

Goal!

Red Team vs. White Team

Yellow Team vs. Blue Team

Family Christmas

After the Christmas service, Heather and I welcomed Favi and her son Joan, Lupe and her son Angel, Sandy, and Mily for a "family Christmas morning." Granted, it wasn't morning, but that didn't matter! We had it all except the pajamas! Yesterday, I spent the morning baking goodies to eat today, and of course we had the signature Crafton apple cider!

We spent a little while snacking and settling the babies before we moved into the living room for the festivities. The girls eyes just all lit up when they saw their stockings; they didn't even notice the presents under the tree. They had so much fun unpacking those stockings, and there were explanations with every little wrapped trinket. There were hair do-dads, makeup, pacifiers for the babies, lotions, lip glosses, and of course candy! It was fun.

Then came the gifts. Mily received some much-needed school supplies, but fun ones! Heather brought her a ton of fun, colored pens and pencils, a really cute pen pouch, erasers, pencil sharpener, etc. She also received my old scientific calculator and geometry set since she will need them for her upcoming math classes. Sandy received a pocket Bible like mine. From the first time she saw it when I brought it back with me, she has wanted one like it. Her study Bible, though useful, is quite bulky and heavy. With all the traveling she does now between towns (due to being a student youth leader), she wanted something easier and lighter to carry around. She's LOVING it! Favi and Lupe both received clothes for the babies that they really liked.

A couple of the girls gave us gifts as well. Heather received some really beautiful jewelry, and I received a stuff animal and a travel coffee mug! When it was all over, we popped in one of the Love Comes Softly movies and enjoyed a feel-good movie with a gospel message. It was great. Then we loaded up the truck and took the girls home. From there, Heather and I headed straight to Jan and Doug's house for the staff Christmas dinner. Everyone contributed something, and it was a feast for sure! We ate so well, and just enjoyed each other's company with no agenda's or questions about work or ministry. It was just a really nice, relaxing time of friends and family!

It was such an amazing day! But I have to admit that my favorite part was watching the girls as they opened their gifts. Sandy and Mily were close to tears with theirs, and Favi and Lupe were beaming. Heather and I had such a blast holding the babies and watching them. There really are no words to express how full-to-busting my heart was to be able to share with them some of our Christmas traditions, and even better, to give to them. We all know that Christmas isn't about receiving presents, but Christmas IS about giving. Christ gave Himself to us that first Christmas without restraint or condition. He gave up His throne to be with us and like us and to save us. If my heart was so bursting with joy at the ability to shower good gifts on my precious friends, I cannot even imagine how bursting with joy God's heart was to share His Son with us, despite the pain it would cause, simply because He is THAT good.

Merry Christmas to every one of you!!! And may you know the JOY in your hearts that is Christ our Lord!

Presents under the tree and you can see one of the stockings there next to it as well.

Me and Angel...what a cutie!

Mily opening her stocking

Sandy opening her stocking

Lupe opening her stocking

Favi opening her stocking..I think it's a pacifier!

Heather and Joan...he really enjoyed her! No fussing all day..it was a first, and a wonderful Christmas present for his mommy!

Sandy, Joan, and I watching the movie...he was sound asleep!

Christmas Church Service

!!!!MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Yea! It's Christmas! And what a Christmas Day this has been!!! I can't imagine a better one. The church service was so great! The praise & worship was beautiful, and that was followed by all the Christmas programs.

First the kids did their stuff. They did a couple of songs and a small skit in which numerous of them repeated lines about different people in different jobs and how they can offer what they do and are to Jesus. It was so cute!

Singing Away in a Manger

Luis reciting his lines before he gives his gift to the baby Jesus. Daniela is playing Mary

Then the older kids recited a Christmas poem. They each took a stanza and did a wonderful job with it.

The older kids reciting their Christmas poem

Sandy and I watching and waiting for our cue to send in the youth

The last program was the youth drama. As I said a couple of posts ago, God pulled something marvelous out of his hat! Everyone showed up ON TIME, LINES MEMORIZED, and ready to go! The play went great, and it ended with the whole church singing Away in a Manger together while the youth stayed posed in the nativity scene. It gave me goose bumps at the end, and I was so proud of them despite the headaches they gave me along the way! I just love these teens to death, and I'm so thankful for them!

Getting into costume and last minute review of lines

Mily and Julio, the angel narrators

Julio announces Jesus birth to Cecilia who is playing Mary

Ruben, the donkey, giving Mary a piggyback ride to Bethlehem

The shepherds and their sheep worshiping the baby Jesus

The Living Nativity

The service ended with a short message from the Arrayanes pastor, Horacio, and then everyone had a good time greeting each other and chitchatting for a few minutes before they headed home! What a precious morning, and a beautiful way to celebrate the Lord's birth!

Christmas Eve

Today, was Christmas Eve, and Heather and I spent it in Arrayanes! Today was also Aide's 13th birthday (she's Sandy and Mily's little sister), and Heather and I were invited to the party! The morning was spent tying up some loose ends, and relaxing a little bit. But then just after lunch we started getting ready and gathering up all that we were to take with us, and we headed to Sandy and Mily's house around 4:30. I took stuff to make my dad's apple cider since that was requested. They made dinner for the birthday party, which was pozole (my favorite!). Then for the family Christmas Eve celebration they had grilled beef and some other typical foods. We drank apple cider and just had a good time!

We were there until around 11 pm, and it was a ton of fun! Aide LOVED her birthday present, and I gave Mily and Sandy their birthday presents early...very early, since their birthday's are in March. I bought them each their own copies of My Utmost for His Highest in Spanish, and I didn't want them to miss out on the first three months of devotions just for the sake of giving it to them on their birthdays. So, they all got something on Christmas Eve! Heather was very warmly received by the family. Flavia and her sisters all took to her right away! Everyone says that we don't look very much alike, but I think it's because of Heather's new hair cut. It's changed her look quite a bit!

But we had a really great time just hanging out with the family, laughing, talking, and getting to know each other. Flavia's sister Marta and her family were also there since they are visiting from Guadalajara, so it was an all out party-hardy night!

Now we're home, and the presents are under the tree for tomorrow, and the stockings are all stuffed! We had a good time going through all the stuff Heather brought with her for this event. We invited Mily, Sandy, Favi and her baby (Joan), and Lupe and her baby (Angel) to stay here after church tomorrow. I've made a ton of dessert foods and some lunch type foods, and we'll have more cider and soda to drink. And then we're going to give them a taste of what an American Family Christmas is like! They have no clue what's coming, but Heather and I are biting our nails off in excitement and anticipation!

Merry Christmas Eve!!

Sandy and I Christmas Eve afternoon

The Birthday Girl: Aide, now 13!

Sandy, Heather, Mily

Heather and Flavia

Mily, Ana, & Sandy checking out all of Aide's presents

Sandy, Me, Mily

Heather, Me

Cooking the meat! Yum!

Birthday cake!

Mordida!!

Heather...

MY SISTER IS HERE!! MY SISTER IS HERE!!!

Heather is visiting me for Christmas! She arrived yesterday, and we were supposed to get back here last night. However, while she was waiting for her connecting flight in Dallas, about 10 minutes before they were supposed to board, her plane was declared "unfit to fly"!!!! So, they had to find a different plane, prep it, clean it, load it, etc. Then after they boarded the plane, they sat on it for quite a while waiting for permission to taxi and take off. Apparently, the winds were a little wacko, so they were using only one runway which meant all flights were taking off and landing from the same runway, which caused huge delays. In the end, she landed in Guadalajara about 3-4 hours after her original arrival time, but she landed safe and sound. Then we loaded into the taxi and headed to the bus station. However, all the buses had filled up until the last one which was to leave at 7 pm. However, it's a 4.5 hour trip to get back to Cofradia from Guadalajara, and no one was going to pick us up at midnight! So, we loaded back into a taxi and headed to La Carpa, which is the church I attended when I was living in Guadalajara. There we met up with my friend Erika and her family at their youth group Christmas party with the plan to stay with them and get on a bus early this morning.

The Christmas party was a ton of fun. There was a group of Americans visiting from Pensylvania, and of course all the youth from La Carpa. We ate tamales for dinner, and got to watch the youth group do their christmas gift exchange...everyone had to buy slippers for the person they picked. It was so fun to see all the different kinds of slippers they found! I think next year we should try something like that with our youth group gift exchange! There was worship and a short message, and then the pinata! So much fun. When it was all over, we headed to Erika's house and hit the sack around 11 pm. My poor sister didn't go to bed the night before her flight because she had to leave the house at 2 am to get to the airport by 4 am for her 6:30 am flight! So, she was totally wiped out! We slept quite well, and then this morning we loaded on a bus at 8 am.

The bus trip was uneventful, and we arrived here in Cofradia around 10:30, just as the worship was ending in the church service. Heather headed in for a nap, and I went straight to my seat in church. What a trip! After church, Sandy and Mily hung out for the afternoon to get some time to get to know Heather. We had a ton of fun! It was so great!!

While I was gone, I left Sandy in charge of the last youth drama rehearsal for the Christmas service on Tuesday, and the youth also had their gift exchange that night. Sandy and Mili were filling me in. Apparently the drama rehearsal didn't go very well at all, so we'll see how the drama goes in church on Tuesday. Of course, God has a track record for pulling amazing things out of that hat of his, so it won't surprise me if on Tuesday everyone shows up on time (for the first time!) with all their lines memorized (for the first time!) and everything goes off perfect! That's just the kind of God we serve!

I'm told the gift exchange went really well. When it was over, the youth leaders put on Superman Returns, and they watched about half the movie before Ian took them home. I'm told that ride was an interesting experience, but in the end everyone had fun and got home safe and sound! Thanks for driving, Ian!

Anyway, now Heather is here, and we have a busy week ahead of us, but it's going to be so fun, and I'm so excited to have family with me for Christmas for the first time in several years! Tonight, Heather unpacked and re-wrapped all the Christmas presents that people sent me. We put them under the tree, and I had so much fun opening them with her there taking pictures! They were all SO BEAUTIFUL and wonderful! I was so touched by the thought that obviously went into each and every gift! How precious they all are! Here are some highlights!

New PJs from Nana and Dick!

The ring my mom promised me! I picked the stone out when I was home this summer. She made the entire thing herself and by hand! I wish the picture was better, because you can't see the intricate metal work she did. There are silver leaves all around the setting! Beautiful!

Thomas Kinkaid coffee table book and calendar from my parents! They know I love his work! So exciting!

This necklace is made of rice pearls (I think), and it's the perfect color green! I love it! Thanks Alan & Susan!

This jewelry was from my step-mom. She is now working the jewelry counter at Penney's and I'm told she spent many hours finding just the right set for me. I love them! So beautiful, and the colors of my birthstone!

This snow globe has three penguins ice skating inside it. It's from my brother & sister-in-law and their 3 kids. Heather told me that when Courtney asked Logan (who's 5) what she should get Auntie for Christmas, he promptly replied "a snow globe". So she got me this one, and told my sister the three penguins represent the three kids: Logan (5), Caroline (3), and Allison (2). It's a favorite in my house!!

Tomorrow night, we'll get all the presents ready for our "Family Christmas" with the girls on Tuesday after church. I'm looking forward to all the stuff we're going to get to do this week. Keep checking back for reports!

Book Review

So, I've been trying to discipline myself to do more reading...of various types of genres. I'm not the best at maintaining more than one book at a time. But, I've realized the lack in my life that different types of books provide, so I'm trying to diversify.

One book I recently finished is called Coming Home to Myself. It is Wynonna Judd's memoirs. Now, I'm a big fan of the Judds before Wy went solo, and I read Naomi's autobiography when that came out in the 90s. But that book ended with the end of the Judds as a group and the start of Wy's solo career. So, when I saw this book in the airport bookstore back in June, I was excited because I wanted to know more about what happened once she went solo, and also I wanted to read about her perspective of all that's happened in her life, both professionally and personally!

I recently finished this book, and I really liked it! Because it's memoirs, instead of an autobiography, it reads very much like a conversation. I really like that she goes chronologically through her life yet periodically inserts reflexions or thoughts or evaluations of her experiences or of life in general, etc. It was a very easy read, and it was very pleasant. She has experienced a lot in life, and the Lord has definitely taught her and grown her a lot as well! I definitely recommend this book! It was enjoyable and informative and definitely provided a lot of food for thought!

I'm currently reading Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, which is about maintaining "Living Room Intimacy" with the Lord while participating in "Kitchen Service". It's about learning how to have both simultaneously and in proper proportions, rather than having simply one or the other, which is not healthy nor is it really what the Lord wants. It's about learning how to choose "the better part" and how to let the rest flow from that choice.

Being on the mission field, it's very easy to let the service and to-do lists take over life and not take sufficient care of the intimacy part of my life. When I was living in the states, I certainly experienced effects in my job when there was a lack of intimacy with the Lord, but they were the same effects I experienced in any other area of life, and those effects didn't hinder me from at least being able to complete my job and meet my goals. However, being a missionary, all of a sudden my personal relationship with the Lord plays a much larger role in actually being able to do my job. So, I'm really enjoying it, but I'm taking my time so that the principles can sink in well and take root in my own life! I'm trying to avoid the whole "burnout" phenomena, and I believe that these principles will go a long way in helping me with that!

And for fun, I've decided to dive into some serious literature. I've picked up Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. I've never read any of the classic Russian literature, and I just have this idea that my literary sensibilities are not well-rounded enough for that lack. So, I'm trying to fill in the gaps of my literary education! I am also trying to keep my critical thinking skills sharp, and reading the classics is always a good way for me.

And in the end, I've picked back up with My Utmost for His Highest. This is such a precious devotional for me. I go through phases with this one where I spend days and weeks reading it regularly, and then I'll go months without using it. But it's the only devotional that I've ever found that works for me. It challenges me, and it brings conviction; yet at the same time I find comfort and encouragement for the journey in the midst of it all. I'm enjoying soaking up the Scripture he points to, and the prayer time is always sweet!

So, these are my picks for now! If you have any good book recommendations of varying genres, please let me know! I'm always keeping a list, and I'm really trying to be better disciplined in my reading, so post away with your thoughts and recommendations!

November Update

Season’s Greetings!!!

The holiday season has indeed arrived, and we are gearing up for our Christmas celebration here in Cofradía! This time of year is always rather hectic, but it’s all worth it. Each activity and rehearsal is just another reminder of why we are celebrating, and I’m thankful that those reminders are present daily! November was a great month as well and full of celebrations and challenge! Check it out…

Evangelism Crusade

We started the month of November with a bang! Pastor Rafael Gradilla from Washington state came to preach for a weekend-long evangelism crusade. This was such a blessing to all of us as members of the church and staff, but it was also an exciting opportunity to reach out to those who are just starting to know Christ or who have not yet heard the good news. Many church members invited their unsaved family members, and we had groups of people come from Pilas, Paso Real, Mojocuautla, and Sand Diego! Most of these towns, though close by, have remained on the fringes of our outreach for quite some time. However, the local church members have caught the fire of outreach and evangelism and have begun to visit and minister in all four towns weekly. They are seeing fruits of their labors as there are a couple of families in each of them who receive them and the Word and have received Christ into their lives. This evangelism crusade weekend was very encouraging for all of these new attenders, and provided even more opportunities for our local body to reach out to those in need.

On Friday, November 9, Pastor Rafael gave a message intended for our church body that focused on leadership. He spoke about being faithful in the little things and how the Lord will eventually increase the responsibilities and sphere of influence to those who remain faithful and willing. We looked at the lives of Stephen and Philip, the first martyr and the first missionary, and all were encouraged to open their eyes and see the opportunities awaiting us for faithful service right in our own church.

On Saturday, November 10, Pastor Rafael spoke on the excellence of the name of Jesus Christ! This service took place in our new church facility. Though the facility is nowhere near completion, we were excited to make this happen, and how excellent that the very first sermon preached in the new facility was about the excellence of the name of our Savior!! Praise the Lord that it all came together quite nicely. Electricity was hooked up the week before the service and we were able to rent chairs and move all our sound equipment over to the new church sanctuary! As the band rehearsed that afternoon and the rest of us were setting up chairs, we all looked around in awe with the realization that we were witnessing the first fulfillment of a great dream and promise as we filled that sanctuary for that evening’s service! Pastor Rafael spoke with power and conviction, and many came forward to receive prayer and to give their lives to Christ. It was a wonderful time of unity and power!

Then on Sunday morning, November 11, Pastor Rafael gave the sermon for the normal weekly service speaking on the blessing of living under the authority and filling of the Holy Spirit. Again, it was a powerful message that left its mark. Many came forward again to be ministered to, and I know I left the service that day with renewed conviction in my heart. What a blessing the entire weekend was! We are still reaping its fruits and continue to pray that the Lord will bring forth even more!

On Turning 28…

On November 16, I turned 28!!! I’m still having a hard time believing it. Thirty continues to get closer and closer, and I can’t wrap my mind around it! Mili and Sandy’s mom, Flavia, made a birthday dinner for me again this year, and the all her sisters and their families as well as all the staff families were invited. We had a wonderful meal of chicken birria with rice, and Pola made me a cake as my birthday present. It was absolutely mouth-watering!! My birthday was on a Friday this year, and Sunday night Mili and Sandy spent the night for my birthday PJ party. We had dinner in the town center at the taco stand and then bought churros for dessert afterwards. We opened my presents and just had a good time hanging out! It was a lot of fun.

I found myself much more pensive this year as I mulled over turning yet another year older. Age means nothing without maturity. I continue to see how the Lord desires to mature me more as well as how I have grown already. My prayer for this next year of life is that the Lord will keep me moldable, teachable, and open to His direction rather than getting stuck in my own ways. I pray that this 29^th year of my life will be a refining year!

Mentor Gazette…

I continue to meet with both Sandy and Ana weekly. Sandy and I started studying through Stomping Out the Darkness by Neil T. Anderson and Dave Park about three weeks ago, and Ana and I will begin the same book this week. This book deals with understanding and walking confidently in our true identity in Christ rather than in the lies we are fed by the world about who we are and where our value lies. Although this seems a very basic issue in the Christian faith, it is often overlooked, even among mature believers. Both Sandy and I are finding it refreshing to be reminded of the truths we already know and are finding that the Lord continues to dig deeper and challenge us more as He uncovers even deeper issues that root themselves in what we believe about who we are. God is certainly wonderful!

Sandy continues to do research in regards to the “Life Chats” idea that the Lord has put in her heart. In addition to Stomping Out the Darkness, she is also reading The Purity Principle by Randy Alcorn and a devotional adaptation of The Power of Forgiveness by Joyce Meyers. In addition she has read bits of Without a Hint by Joshua Harris. In recent conversations she shared with me how she’s beginning to see how all of these issues (forgiveness, purity, healing, etc.) are all bound up together and much of what motivates us to make certain decisions or participate in certain behaviors finds its roots in the identity we believe about ourselves (what we’re studying in Stomping Out the Darkness). The Lord is definitely revealing a lot of truth to her that is not only useful for developing this purpose He has put in her heart but also to continue to mature her and mold her into the woman He created her to be for the purposes He longs to fulfill in and through her! It’s definitely an exciting journey, and I constantly am in awe of the Lord that He has blessed me with the ability to watch and partner with her in it! Please continue to keep this in your prayers.

Anticipation..

The Christmas holiday is upon us!! We are in the midst of preparations for the Christmas service and holiday activities. The youth are rehearsing their drama of the Christmas story, the kids are rehearsing their songs and recitations. The adults are preparing for Christmas worship and Christmas sermons. In addition there is a men’s weekend soccer tournament going on every Saturday in December, and the youth Christmas soccer tournament beings December 26. Both tournaments will end the same day with their finals, and the two winning teams will play each other to see who will be the ultimate winner. Afterwards, there are plans in the making for a huge church potluck. We’ll be killing a pig for this event and enjoying a ton of other yummy Mexican dishes for the Holiday Potluck!

In addition, I’m anticipating the arrival of my sister, Heather, on December 22! Everyone here is excited to meet her and get to know her, especially the girls. Heather and I are planning an “American Family Christmas” on Christmas Day after the service for my girlfriends here. The girls know about it, but they don’t know that they will be receiving gifts. Heather and I are both very excited about this and have spent much time talking and planning and gathering. This will be complete with presents under the tree and stockings as well as yummy Christmas-morning foods we grew up with!! It’s exciting!

Please Pray…

Ministry Finances: we are in desperate need to increase the funding for our ministry right now. Things are usually pretty tight at the end of the year, but especially so this year. Please pray that the Lord will give us wisdom in how to cut down on expenses where we can as well as provide the financing that we need to keep everything running and running well.

Christmas Harvest: we have a lot of new folks coming to Sunday services now that the local body has begun to reach out to the surrounding towns. This Christmas as they hear about how God came to this earth to make a way for them to know Him personally and the peace He wants to bring them, please pray that the Lord will give them ears to hear, minds to understand, and hearts to receive him truly!

Sanity: please pray that as we the staff continue to aid in planning and executing various activities that the Lord will fill our hearts and minds with clarity, organization, and most of all peace! It is so easy for the activity to lose its heart and become pure hecticness in our lives. Pray that we hold tight to the reason that we do all of this….to know Him better and to make Him known!

Happy Holidays to each one of you! I hope you are enjoying your traditions and the spirit of the season. More than that, I hope you are enjoying the Joy we have in Christ as we celebrate in our hearts the real meaning of Christmas…the birth of our Savior and the fullness of a personal relationship with the Father!