School's Out!

Okay... well, sorta. Sam and Zach both finished up their "official" school year in the past few weeks. We are still doing some type of school each day - some spelling, science projects, art, typing, and spanish. So, I guess we aren't technically out of school! But, now we can relax a little more and really take our time.

Lizzy & Zach working on a science project

In the past few weeks, we have collected toads, beetles, and lizards. It's beetle season here and they are all over. Some of us think they are disgusting, but our budding scientists think they are great fun (especially to throw at girls). We have planted flowers, picked fresh lettuce, beans, and cucumbers (we tried to make our own pickles, but they didn't quite turn out the same!), and we have tried to hatch some sea monkeys.

Zach & his beetle friend

Beetles are everywhere!!

Today, we went to a town called San Martin Huamalupan. It has some ruins from 400 bc. The summer interns all went, too, to learn more about Oaxaca and the culture here. We had a great time in the museum - we learned some interesting things. The kids all enjoyed playing make believe in the passageway of the ruins while some of the staff and interns had a cultural orientation meeting.

Sam in the museum at the ruins

All the kids from the base at the ruins

mountaintop meeting

Our anniversary is coming up this Saturday, June 14th. It's hard to believe that has been 11 years since we walked down that aisle. I remember the sheer joy I had, knowing that I was becoming Dan's wife. What sweet and precious memories I have from that day! I am grateful each day that God gives me with Dan. He has been an awesome husband, best friend, and daddy. Who would have thought on that wonderful day in 1997 that we'd be here in Mexico 11 years later? It's amazing! We've been through a lot of hard times, but God has been so merciful to us and has always been our source of strength. Each time we face something new that we don't quite think we can handle, it is when God whispers to us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness" or "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power." Oh, how precious are His words! It is truly only His strength that has gotten us here.

.

June 14, 1997

Random Photos

Since we haven't updated this for awhile, we thought we'd just show you what our last few months have been like through pictures. During the last few months, I thought often about adding in a story on our blog and I even thought of some great titles, like: "I Went to Hierve de Agua and Survived!" or "Desperation - Garage Sale Shopping In The Snow". But, alas, none of those stories made it on here. Life is so much busier than I plan it to be. So, anyways, here are our last few months:

In February, we moved to Oaxaca City for language school and lived there until the end of March. Here is the house we lived in (our place was on the bottom)

Hanging out with Seve in the Zocalo (main center of Oaxaca)

Sam, Zach & Lizzy at Monte Alban (Zapotec Ruins)

Hierve de Agua - petrified waterfalls

The kids enjoying the view & water at Hierve de Agua

The road to Hierve de Agua - it barely fit more than one car.

It was one of the scariest times of my (Kelly) life. It was

over 6 miles up and across steep mountains. But, we

made it safely up and back - God is good!

This is a very common site all around Oaxaca.

These women are amazing!

A "puesto" at a town near Oaxaca

This is the bouncy that GFM rented for the MTS graduation. The kids

enjoyed playing in it while the graduation ceremony was going on,

and the adults enjoyed playing in it, too. The adults had it for

about an hour - the result? People walked away with torn ligaments,

bruises, and a broken rib. Next year, people will have to sign

waivers before they get into it. :)

So, that is our last few months, not including the 4 weeks we had in the States. We're back in Tlaxiaco now, preparing for our short-term teams to come within the month. More pictures and stories to come...

Our New Adventure - Oaxaca

Here we go again...

Back to language school in Oaxaca City. We have moved here again until the end of March. We found an awesome place to stay - God worked out every detail. We are very blessed with abundant water, a backyard, our washing machine, and a park down the block from us.

Yesterday afternoon, we went in to the zocalo (main square). It is amazing how different it is here now than it was when we were here in August of 2006. It is quite the hotspot for tourists from all over the world. The zocalo was filled with them yesterday. Dan started his class on Thursday, and in his class, there are people from Canada, Switzerland, and Germany. It is so different than where we live in Tlaxiaco that I felt totally out of place. I have to admit, I was a little annoyed at all the tourists (don't ask me why, it just felt that were invading my "home") until I remembered how important tourism is for Oaxaca's economy, so then I praised God for the many visitors that are here right now. Back in August, 2006, we were one of the few foreigners left with the teacher strike going on, and so many businesses were suffering. It is really cool to see Oaxaca's tourism thriving now.

Pictures to come...

Psalm 36:5-9
Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.
How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men
find refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.