Do not try this at home

Ok we are just totally bored we feel like we are on house arrest! All the stores, schools, restaurants and today banks were closed to. The President asked that people cooperate and stay home to try to contain the virus. Hence We are totally having cabin fever. If we did not have Internet I am not sure how sane we would be. Did I mention that the girls have been home since last week and we heard today that the schools could be closed till May 11, Oh my deep breathes.........If you can suggest anything good to watch we would appreciate it!!! The other good things that I now have time for is search for seat sales to Canada this August. None to speak of yet but I am sure there is one on the way I can feel it :)

love a very bored Sandra

I couldn't resist the picture from my lovely Darla Pauls, love that girl.

A Slower Pace For Mexico City

I am sure everyone has heard the News about Mexico City, with Swine Flu flooding the news. That latest we have heard is 86 deaths and 1400 being affected. It sure feels strange to see empty streets and the only people we see have mask covering their mouths. All of the schools, large gatherings such as soccer games even churches have been suspended till at least May 6 which means we will be trying to keep the girls busy for another week and a half. We so appreciate your prayers in times like this. Inspite of the news we do not feel anxious but calm and full of God's peace. We pray that this may be one more situation that will draw the beautiful heart of Mexican's to Himself, where they can experience God's faithfulness, peace and healing power.
The picture below is of the girls waiting to get picked up for school. The next picture is my MIL choosing some jewelry that a friend of mine Diana makes for a living, to bring back to Canada. If you live in Abbotsford you should check them out!!! The third picture is our latest family picture taken at the MC office.

Easter in Mexico City

It is our very first Easter here in Mexico City and I would have to say that....it just doesn't feel like Easter. It is kind of a strange feeling. We are far removed from any connection to "Black Friday" and Resurrection Sunday in Canada, we came here to meet people and build relationships to lead a group of people to become Christ followers, and so we have no people to remember and celebrate this weekend with...yet. But we will have our own little thing today and Sunday with the girls to reflect a little and talk about the importance of Easter......

But what is even more interesting is you would think that Easter would be a huge event here in Mexico City and we would have some exposure to it. Well...there isn't!!! It is celebrated among the Catholic circles but here in the City there is not a lot going on. The rise in nominal catholicism here in Mexico City(in name only...they are only catholic by name and do not practice it) has led to Holy Week/Easter Weekend becoming more an opportunity to bask in the sun at the beach than to rest in the presence of the resurrected Savior. You will hear facts about Mexico that this is a very important holiday, which may be true in other parts of Mexico but there is literally no visual presence of Easter here in the area we live in right now and it feels like a Ghost town here as everyone has left, mostly to the beach or some other nice vacation spot. If we didn't know different, we could easily have forgotten or not even known what was going on this weekend.

Our prayer is that, through one person at a time, people will experience a real, living relationship with Jesus and will recognize the real meaning of Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

March Sunshine

Hearing about a snowstorm in Calgary really makes me wonder how in the world will we ever adjust to Calgary weather again!! We have had a busy March and are thankful for all of the ways that we are hoping and seeing God working around us. These are some pictures of a family party we attended. We feel so fortunate to be so welcomed into the lives of our friends and their families. Another pleasure is fresh ripe mango's!! The girls just peel them and enjoy them. Its a little messy but I don't think the girls even notice :) We are looking at our schedules and excited about the things to come this year including getting two more team members!!! Who we have already had the privilege of meeting, they are amazing women that we are honored to learn from and just enjoy being with. Please pray for them as they begin to transition this summer. We are dreaming of new ways to serve here in Del Valle and are fasting and praying about how to move forward. We are filled with peace and joy as we walk the steps that have been prepared for us and wait expectantly for the fruit in its proper time.

Can you imagine anything more exciting than this!!!

Culture Exchange Party

We had a great time at our Culture Exchange party we had close to 60 people out! With the help of our team from Innisfail Alliance it was a great success! We eat different cultural foods from Canada (Naniamo bars, clam chowder, pasta salad and Shepherds pie)sang, played games, learned about each others flag, watched dancers and enjoyed a Mariachi band and live music what else could we have wanted!!

Piñatas Piñatas and More Parties!

We had a week full of parties! It began with Julia's 3rd Birthday on Thursday with 2 parties one at school and one with friends after school. We ended the week with another party that we were invited to with some friends from our english group! We had a great time and had the opportunity to meet some new friends Please pray that our relationships will grow deeper and that we will be sensitive to the ways God is wanting us to express His love.

Nathan looking into the eyes of a
"champoline" (small grasshopper)
before devouring them.

A delicious grasshopper delicacy.
They are just dried and seasoned
with salt. You can eat them with
chile seasoning or covered in
chocolate as well. Also good
with Tacos.

Nathan and Rick playing for
our Mexican friends

Sandra and her Mexican
friends talking and having
fun coming up with different
hair-do's