Well, I've escaped the country of Mexico briefly. It's the first time that I've been out of the country since mid July or so when I brought Jody to the Phoenix airport. Can't say that I've missed a whole lot, though - it's the same crazy, materialistic world that I had left behind...It took me a little bit of time, though, to realize that I didn't have to speak Spanish to everyone that I came across in stores or at restaurants.

We've taken a brief trip into the states to do some shopping. We spent the last week or so in a town called Arizpe, about 4 hours northeast of San Carlos up in the Sonora River valley. Being at an elevation of about 5500 feet, the nights got down to about 10 degrees and made me wonder how I was ever going to be able to handle the -30 degree weather that will be awaiting me at Christmas! I can't tell you how cold I actually was!!

The past two weeks have been an incredible blessing, connecting with the groups that have come. The last group was the Cross Current group from WBC. We spent our time in Arizpe doing some digging, painting, as well as ministering through song, drama, testimonies and soccer to the youth in Arizpe and some surrounding villages. It's neat to be a part of their lives for a brief time and to be able to watch God work in their lives and through them.

For the rest of the year things will be a bit slower as we do some work around the house. I'm looking forward to coming home and seeing everyone back there!

An Update Overdue....

You don't have to tell me...slack doesn't even describe my blogging lately but here I am finally getting you an update. To be fair, though, it has been a crazy but wonderful stretch. Two weeks ago we had a group come in from Phoenix, about 25 people or so who came to build a house for a pastor in Guaymas. Then, last week Sunday (8 days ago...) the CrossCurrent group from WBC came. They overlapped the Phoenix group until last week Wednesday giving us a total of about 50 people to cook for for those 4 days. During those 4 days, the Phoenix group though moved out of the house into some hotel rooms close to our house.

The Cross Current group ran a basketball camp in San Carlos as well as doing some various construction projects including digging two septic tanks for families who had no real plumbing in their houses. On Friday we head out to a town about five hours north east up in the mountains called Arizpe which is where I am now. The team has been doing a bunch of outreach with music, dramas, testimonies and soccer games and now some painting and digging for a new basketball court in a neighbouring community.

It's neat to look back and realize that it was only 10 months ago that I first set foot here in Mexico with the last Cross Current group...what an adventure it has been since then! I have to admit that at first I wasn't looking forward to having the groups here just because of the routine that had been developed...it was that old, stubborn, selfish part of me but as it often goes, God shows up in the unexpected places and blesses the socks off of us when we least expect it. It has been a privilege to be apart of the lives of the people in the teams that have come here and to be a part of their ministry and the things God is doing in them and through them.

Of Paths and Possibilities...

Is it really November the first?? I've probably said it before but the only thing that keeps me on track as far as time goes is that my computer keeps telling me what date it really is. The "seasons" and the weather out here have offered little help in keeping track of time. I'd be waiting for a long time for the first frost, never mind the first snowfall to tell me that yes, winter was coming. Of course, none of you want to be hearing that, but don't worry, I'll be paying my dues as I make the journey back home mid-December.

But the question still remains, what's beyond this aventura Mexicana (Mexican adventure)? A number of possibilties have presented themselves to remain here (or come back here after Christmas) from staying longer with Brenda, to working at an orphanage, or even just teaching English in a school. It seems that the possibilities are often limitless, but what is the path that God wants me to take? And am I willing to go down that path?

These thoughts have been on my mind a lot over the past while and I would greatly appreciate your continued prayers in listening and discerning what God would have me do next. For now though, life is good - it's always good to be in the place where you know God wants you to be. Brenda is coming back in two days and also will a number of groups from Canada and the US (including the CrossCurrent group from WBC...) This morning I picked up a guy from the bus depot who is from MacGregor, MB and will be spending the next 6 weeks or so here at the center on a practicum for his CMU degree. So, life is changing out here but all is well!