Hurricane?
Mood:  a-ok

DEAN Who?  .....no, we have not been visited by Dean, though we may get some of the rain.  Actually, it was overcast and intermittently showery today, and more of the same is expected.  We did not, however, that Dean should score a direct hit on Pozo Rico, the town where the crooked cops shook us down.  Hmmmm..!

We finally got our pick-up back.  Nice to have wheels, again.  Will be taking a load of folks from church to the Centennial Camp where our friends are working.  We'll have a service there, then a picnic and games this weekend.  Many folks looking forward to it.  So few get out of town, and then only on a chicken bus.  The level of poverty is high, but these folks are not complainers.  They work hard and make the most of what God has given.  A real lesson for us.  There is a special couple with four kids we are especially trying to help. Noe is the husband/father, and is a real strong belivever in our little church, and I am sure would jump at the chance to take classes at the seminary, but the means just aren't there.  He has been doing the devotional at the end of our ESL classes, the attendance of which remains great!

Full house at the facility this week, and I've been working on water systems.  Electricity been real unstable the last two weeks, and most days we've been down for a couple hours.  During these time I must fire up the ol' generator, which only services the pump motors for the  water.  Struggled thru anothe Spanish lesson today..just need to take more time to memorize..so keep praying!  niel.

I know, I know...just blogged yesterday, but got a sweet return note from my neat neice Jenna, and was encouraged to do one again.   (She has a really cool blog, so if you want to see how its done right, log in..)

  We're realy learning why they call this "Invierno" (Rainy season.)  Got mildew growing between my toes.  It does keep the streets clean, though.  AND, I've been able to run (a whole 1.5 miles) most mornings to keep the ticker in shape and the cholesterol moving around. 

We've begun teaching an ESL class at a local church with really great response.  Almost thirty students, and ove half men!  (Really amazing in this culture.)  Diana really shines as a teacher, and I'm trhying to keep up as a helper.  BUT, my main objective is to form relationships w/ the guys to begin discipleship groups in tghe near future.

More soon..time fordinner!  niel.
 

Good evening, everyone.  Hope you guys are out there, and are just to shy to reply!  Our recent guests left Sunday (Fletcher, Hunter, and Scott) and it was really good to see them.  WSe are still convinced of God's leading Fletcher and Kassie into missions, so we're praying that Fletch would yeild to that same call. (Kassie already has!)  We hope they learned about the country and some of the needs here, but are sorry we could not show them more in that the govt. still has not completed the paperwork to release the Toyota...maybe next week!

Have a group here from Dallas or a short termer, working in some small communities north of Pana.  Was able to lead in devotions with them tonight and provide some insight to the area.  It's always neat to have folks stay here as they bring anticipation and excitement  with them. Of particular blessing, a couple of people they were helping do construction accecpted our Lord as Saviour, and I will try to link these folks up with a good nearby church. It was helpful, as I spent much of the day helping dig a new septic tank we needed.  Should complete it tomarrow, hopefully before our Spanish teacher comes at one.  I'm falling behind on my memorization, and need uplifting prayer to make all these verbs, irregulars, and tenses stick in this old brain.  Diana is doing so well...!

Thanks to all you guys and your committment to us.  We will soon be sending out by snail mail out news/prayer letter, but you have a heads up on us by rfeading this blog!  God bless, everyone!  Til next time,  niel. 

 

Aaron & Ruth Back Home

This is a separate blog written by Aaron & Ruth.

We are back home in South Carolina. The trip to see my parents went very fast. Their ministry there is quite amazing. They definitely have been called by God to actively minister to visiting missionaries and guests through hospitality, encouragement and evangelism. We were blessed to have come. Hopefully many more of you will partner with them and maybe even visit. It is beautiful! Mom and Dad keep it up. God has you exactly where He wants you.

 Love, Aaron & Ruth

Mood:  chillin'

We’ve been gone almost two months now, and I often stop and pray for you guys, our faithful supporters.   I know I’ll be missing Bulldawgs football, so I’ll need your reporting on how they are doing! 

We have instituted several new things here at Las Buenas Nuevas, and have had some excellent feedback from the visitors we serve.  Often have the opportunity right here to witness to individuals in groups who are along for the ride, but don’t know our God.  We are working with the board here toward upgrading some buildings here, and I have also been kept busy with maintenance in the eight buildings on campus.  Glad Ecolab taught me well in this area.  Diana has gotten involved with Sunday School for kids in a poor indigenous church we have been attending.  We have been able to get to Patzun to help with a fledgling church and school taking root !there.  We plan to do more as soon as the pickup is finally legal per all the hoops and funds we have committed.  It certainly would have been easier to buy a vehicle down here, but then we wouldn’t have been able to bring the boxes of stuff for ministry down, nor would we have had the fun experience of driving through Mexico! It was a real interesting and educational trip, and except for one major "shake-down" in one city, it was a positive one. 

Our first real visitors left Wednesday (Mirercules), and it was real good to have Aaron and Ruth here for a week.  Pleanty of room to have other visitors, so check your calenders!    One trip we took was to a rain forest preserve which was fastenating, lush, beautiful, etc.  It’s really worth the trip her just to see it!  It is the “rainy season”, and we have a short shower many evenings.  We have not reached 80 degrees yet here in Panajachel, nor temps under 55, and I expect we won’t. 

On top of our responsibilities, we began our Spanish instruction three weeks ago.  I’m a real slow learner…just glad it’s not Greek!

We just listened to a recent on line sermon by Bob McAndrews, our home church pastor.  It is a real blessing to hear and to keep up with the teaching.  Only wish our Sunday Schol teaching could be recorded and broadcast as well.  Any possibility, Harvey?

There is so much stuff that we take for granted in the U.S. as being able to obain.  I've been tgrying for three weeks to get staples for my stapelgun with no success.  I think Fletcher is bringing me some when he visitgs next week.  Diana frequently tries to substitute stuff when cooking instead of using stuff easily found at Kroger.  It would be so neat to have a Wal Mart and Home Depot nearby!!

We have hosted many interesting people here, and I am trying to keep notes on them and will share some stuff in a future blog.  I pray that we have bee half the blessing to them as they are  to us!

That's it for now.  Maybe later we'll attempt to re-publish photos without loosing everything again!  Thanks again for your prfayers and your patience.  For the Glory of our God,  niel.

Oh No!!!!!
O.K. everyone...appears in attempting to alter a recent blog due to some picture post problems, I deleted all previously written blogs.  So sorry...but perhaps I maintained our address.  I'll try to post some updates if this works.  Thanks for logging in!  Comments are really appreciated, the we know that it is being seen.  Will write later if this gets posted o.k.!  Blessing to all, and much thanks for your prayers and support!  niel.