19th WEEK (or 17th)

Our Chinese Laundry when the rains were here

A Sunset shot of the Bougainvillea on our balcony

Hello Everyone-
My mom has pointed out that we have not posted a blog in a while. I bet you are are wondering what we have been up to...
I titled this blog Week 19 because we first flew in the 9th of February and it has been 19 weeks since we arrived. If you minus the 2 weeks we were in Washington, it would be the 17th week in Mexico.
Friday after school we went to Costco and tried to use a “Costco Card” to buy the remainder of the swim suits. Unfortunately, they do not accept US cards in Mexico. That meant we had to spend $100 of our own money to round out the final 7 suits. Saturday we found out that they will not be going to the water park (which was the whole reason to buy the suits in the first place). Pastor Luis said the contact at the water park has changed from past years, and they can not do it when they expected. If they do end up going, it will be at the end of summer after we are gone. I am sad that I wont be there during that fun time especially since Leslie worked so hard to get those suits.
Saturday, we had a really great discussion with our kids about the Lords Prayer. Our neighbor Armando had given me a book mark in Spanish about :: “Don’t say the OUR FATHER”. It breaks down line by line the Prayer that so many people have memorized. In English a few of the lines might go like this: don’t say OUR if you are only concerned with yourself, don’t say FATHER if you don’t act like his son, don’t say WHO ART IN HEAVEN if your mind is only on earthly things... and so on. Of all the craft projects we have done on Saturday morning, I feel this was the best at actually discussing spiritual things with our students. We had done the Romans Road, the Fruit of the Spirit, the Plan of Salvation and every week they seemed only shallowly interested. This last week they really were writing down and understanding what we were sharing.
The previous week we learned that there is only one name under heaven that men must be saved, the name Jesus. Our craft project was the reverse Jesus seen Below


Typically people make this with wood, but we did it with construction paper.
*if you cant see it just stare at the screen for a while, the JESUS appears in the white space.

Ceci’s 8th birthday was also on Saturday and we bought her a Costco cake. It was decorated with Sun and flowers. We did not bring our camera to take pictures, it was a beautiful and delicious treat for everyone at the school.

Saturday afternoon we had our first sunny day at the beach in over a month. We were unable to go to the water since my surgery May 9. When we did go to Sayulita last Sunday when I lost my ring, it was cloudy. Saturday was a very nice day. Good sun, nice waves and a great break from the rain and routine. For dinner we ate at the SIRLOIN STOCKADE. It is sort of like an Old Country Buffett. Afterwards we were able to buy a new camera cord for only $7.

Sunday was very different at church. Ric is always early and has everything set up by the time I arrive. This last Sunday was much more un-organized for the pre-church time. We did get everything set up and Randy did a good job covering for Ric. The sermon was on the importance of the Holy Spirit in the new testament. Starting with the Conception of Jesus, to his Baptism, to the promise of the coming for his disciples. The same Spirit that allowed Jesus to work miracles is given and working today. He shared of some healings he witnessed as he has traveled around some 3rd world countries.

Monday Leslie and I both worked very hard. She cleaned, and did laundry. I worked for fine designs and put all of my completed events on the server for the past 3 months. It took a while but needed to be done.

Tuesday we again went to Sayulita and witnessed "agua sucia" which means dirty water. There were several Jellyfish that were stinging several people around us. Leslie was very frightened and did not even try body boarding for fear of being stung. I was out for a while but witnessed 4 stingings myself. God protected me from any stings. The Jellyfish were small and washed up on to shore they were mostly clear with a blue/purple center. Again I am sorry we do not have any pictures of the jellyfish.

For those of you who read everything, Here is a posting of a June Bug that was on the floor of the apartment. It is so crazy the diversity of insect life here in Vallarta. Just think something so small running/flying around for hours without any batteries!


God bless you all-

Joel and Leslie