Fun Stuff!!

Judith being Judith....that is cute
Asha and Zuri

Living here in Mexico has afforded us the opportunity to be apart of some really great spiritual blessings but along with that we also have lots of FUN! This past weekend we were invited by a sister and her family to go to the beach along with some brothers from Tuxtla and Shelly from here. We traveled just 2.5 hours to get to a small beach town on the Pacific called Puerto Arista. We started off the day at a small cove called Santa Brigida where the water was calm and shallow, but regretably not refreshing because the water was hot. So after having lunch, practicing our swing dance moves in the water (see photo), riding on a tube behind a boat, and eating the most delicious type of shaved ice called glorias (which is covered with sweetened condensed milk, bananas, strawberries and a cookie) we moved on to Puerto Arista. Here the water was really refreshing and we spent the afternoon having mud fights and swimming, all in a days work right :). Then we spend the night under a palapa hut outside, some slept in hammocks and the rest of us girls on an air mattress in the sand, it was inexpensive and fun. The next day although we only stayed till noon we still had time to do a human pyramid :) Then we drove back chiapanecan style with the windows down and music blaring because the air conditioning had stopped working. Other than that, it was a great and fun weekend!

Also for entertainment we have movie night with the Youngs on Tuesday night. Every week we watch a classic movie, from musicals to hitchcock, we are being schooled on it all. Along with a great movie, Irving provides gourmet popcorn, each week it is different, some weeks its salty sweet other weeks with a cajun kick but whatever the case each time it is absolutely DELICIOUS! Also free of charge we get to hear our own "turner classic movie" commentary on the movie, usually Irving is talking while Claudia is shushing him, its really funny but we've learned alot. So far we have watched, 7 brides for 7 brothers, North by Northwest, Till the Clouds Roll By, and Show Boat. Next weeks movie is Philadelphia Story and the week after that its remake into a musical High Society. Should be fun!

A few experiences

I thought I would include a few recent experiences I have had....Before I left to the states a few months ago, I was walking home from service in a hugely predominant Tzotzil area. As I was walking I heard this rough little kid voice say "Hey, you speak english?" I turned and it was a kid about 11 or 12 years old, spoke perfect english! He told me he was staying with his dad's family here because his mom had to go back to the states to bury her dad. I learned that he had been in a few foster homes in the states as well. When I offered him the magazines he declined, but then when I showed him the section for young people and an article on animals he took them quite readily. Well, his name was Joe and he pointed out his house for me down the road. I told him that I was gonna be gone for a few weeks but that I would visit him when I got back if he hadn't returned home by then. Well, I did. I went to that big log house and knocked, all the while a ton of Tzotzil people in the neighborhood were staring at me and Sum. Nobody came, and then one of the locals told me they would knock. They not only knocked but they yelled for the owner to come on out, they had someone out here waiting! I was surprised when a blonde woman with green eyes came to the door and said "Can I help you?" This was Joe's mom, Tanya, from Texas. She was so pleasant and even gave me her number to text her and see if Joe could come to the Sunday meeting. When I returned I offered her a study from the BT book which she accepted as well as a Bible. As we were sitting there in her little front room we met the other children, all 6 of them :) We are supposed to start the study this week, and I'm very excited because she already has questions. The whole experience was exciting to me because it was an unexpected area to find someone (or for them to find me), as well as that I remembered Joe and returned :)

The next experience is brief, but it reminded me to always be thinking of kingdom interests, no matter where we are. I had to take a sprinter bus to Tuxtla last week (45 minutes away). I was in the very back seat and then a woman and her child and husband squeezed in. I was so cramped for room, but I ignored it. Then on the road right out of town the little girl vomited, and so then I was cramped and smelling not so good stuff. I wanted to tell the woman to give me more space or something, but I kept quiet. I decided to say a prayer for that morning of field service. As soon as I said amen, I looked and the woman had pulled out a spanish BT book and was highlighting in it. I just thought to myself "Thank you Jehovah, I see..." So I started a conversation with her in spanish. Turns out she was in chapter 3, and was in between teachers as she was moving to Tuxtla for her husband's work. Her grandparents were witnesses as well as various aunts and uncles. She told me that her husband wasn't interested and also expressed concern to the effect that she was worried of being alone. I assured her with Jesus words that we gain brothers and sisters and family many times over when we put Jehovah first. We continued an encouraging conversation until her stop. I was reminded by that experience to always be on the alert for opportunities to witness or encourage someone...

Catch up :)

Well, I thought I would finally sit down and update part of this blog when things slowed down, after the memorial, after the C.O. visit, after the circuit assembly.....But things just keep moving along quite rapidly, and happily so :) Lots of good things have been going on and I wish I could write it chronologically or in some outlined manner, but my brain just doesn't work that way....so here goes...Our C.O. visit was great, Larry and Provi Klein, the second set of english C.O.'s ever in Mexico (now there are more, 5 circuits). They were energetic and encouraging, so nice having them. Brother Klein gave us helpful suggestions to improve the quality of our ministry like MAF (make a friend), BIG (Before I go), OIF--sounds yiddish :) but its the "Oh I forgot" tactic, and there were many others. They have a very self-sacrificing spirit and love for the ministry, it was nice to get to know them a little better this time around. As for our circuit assembly, it was in Merida in the the Yucatan. That means it was a looong ways away from San Cris (16 hours). We hired a van that fit 14 of us. And although the trip itself wasn't first class, the company was. Even with swollen feet, sweaty bodies, cramped legs, and a touch of nausea our group was in good spirits laughing and singing (we all sang the kingdom melodies were gonna use at the assembly). Also, Summer stepped up to the plate and did an impromptu interview for our pioneer meeting. I believe there were close to 150 present at the meeting, so that was encouraging. Also, a funny story...after the meeting I began talking to a sister serving in Cozumel who was also interviewed with Summer. During her interview she said that while in the states she did lighthouse work, 8-10 hours. So I asked her where she originally was from, Arkansas she told me. Then I said "So they have lighthouses in Arkansas?" thinking how strange that was. She then graciously said, "No dear, I do light house work, around the house." Needless to say, the conversation ended shortly thereafter :) No, she was very nice about my blonde moment :) As for the assembly, it was incredible, sooo encouraging. There was a newly baptized sister initially found in informal witnessing in Playa del Carmen, from Britain and about in her 60s. Its so nice to see new ones added to Jehovah's organization. Makes us want to work harder than before, seeing each person we call on or study with as our potential brother or sister. One experience I found especially encouraging was a married couple serving in Playa del Carmen who have been serving here in Mexico close to 10 years. They spoke of certain difficulties like not being able to find sufficient work or being away from family. The brother then said that while there were many tears shed during those especially difficult times that Jehovah always gave them a reason to be joyful and they never went without a meal during those times. It was nice to see that perspective, especially when you may feel discouraged. Well, thats just a quick, real quick, overview....

Circuit Assembly in Merida

Last week we attended the circuit assembly in Merida, Yucatan. It was the theme "Safeguard your Spirituality". What great talks! We really enjoyed the information. There were three baptized and one was a woman from Britain that was found in the informal witnessing work, she also had an interview and reinactment with her bible teacher in the afternoon part. That was very encouraging to have a foreigner baptized.

Also it was announced that starting the new service year we will have assemblies in Tuxtla. They are likely to be a little smaller since we will lose the congregations in the Yucatan but we will gain some new congregations and groups from Oaxaca, the neighboring state to Chiapas. We are so excited to have a circuit assembly so close. As for our district conventions we will either be assigned to Queretaro or Merida, we are waiting to get our assignment. As for this last trip to Merida for a circuit assembly is concerned we definitely went out with a bang. Meaning it was a memorable trip. We left on Thursday morning at 3:30am. It took 16 hours to get to Merida. There were 16 of us riding in a van, needless to say we all got a little closer :). On the way we stopped at Misol ha, a waterfall, to swim and eat, then we traveled to Campeche and stopped there again to have dinner, then on to Merida. To entertain ourselves, we sang songs in the van and considered the daily text together. Everyone I can say honestly was quite uncomfortable but it was worth the drive to hear such an awesome assembly.

Memorial

Sum is wearing heels, I just can't do it here :) I'm always shorter that way :)

The memorial this year was incredible. We had 69 in attendance. Last year at the very first english memorial in San Cris there were about 5 new ones present. But this year....wait for it....we had 13!!! It was so exciting for us. A brother from Mexico City came to give the talk and it was excellent. He gave a really nice and very understandable illustration about being in credit card debt up to our ears and only being able to make a minimum payment for the rest of our lives, meaning we would never be able to pay it off. But then one day a benefactor pays off your debt for you, how thankful you would be and what a weight off your shoulders. Of course we would want to show our appreciation! Using this illustration it made it simple for us to grasp on a small scale what enormous thing Jehovah did for us by providing his son. A bible student from New York was present and I overheard him tell the brother over and over how amazed he was at the talk and how much he enjoyed it. This man incidentally just the day before broke the world record for bending 7 in. nails, thats right you can check him out on youtube and he lives right here in San Cris and is studying the Bible, go figure! A bible student of Lacey's attended and also two of the ones I invited came. One was a girl named Karla, I had been texting her all day and reminding her about the memorial but she sounded unsure if she would come. Then about 15 minutes into the talk she came in! I was so happy, she listened intently and afterwards said to me, "I know I havent had time to study with you and I have been so busy, but I really do want to learn. " I dont plan on giving up on such an appreciative attitude! Also the woman I mentioned early that was found in informal witnessing has been studying regularly ever week, Sis Young told me that she hasnt ever had a bible student that so readily accepted bible truth. We are excited to see how her study progresses.

It was a great Memorial!!