Visitors and Updates

It has been a very long time since our last blog. I had was off of school for a week and a half becuase of mono, then we were busy with Jenny and Casey's wonderful visit, and now are preparing for the Reimann's visit! Here is an update of what's been going on:

School:
Things are continuing to be wonderful at school. Tim is doing a great job teaching – his students absolutely adore him and love how fun and energetic he is in the classroom. He is continuing with piano and guitar lessons and is now tutoring 2 adults in English as well. He is a busy and talent guy and is very involved in the school and church.

As far as me, things are going well and discipline is going much better. In my class we are continuing with our prayer partner project and the kids absolutely love it and get very excited every time letters arrive from the US. This past week we worked on “video letters” where they were recorded reading their letters to their prayer partners. They had fun and it really motivated them to work on speaking. If you are interested in watching here are the links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNUGdh144Rw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI-ipQ26RiA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-6bUOvmro8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM-rXjndn1k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEQymeM8JGU

Hocoba:
Hocoba is a wonderful blessing in our lives. We are in love with the town, the people, and the relaxed attitude of everyone there. We are now going every Tuesday from 330 till about 9. Tuesdays we teach bible study to a group of 10-12 boys ages 8-13. It is a challenging group, but is getting better and better each week.

A couple weeks ago, when we drove up, two of our kids were fighting. And I mean fighting, they were punching to hurt, not just playing. So, Tim runs over yelling at them in English to stop fighting. One of them ended up with a bloody lip. Not a good start to the day. But when we started there were about 8 kids. We started the lesson and literally 2 mins into it some of the kids just started messing around and talking. Within 5 mins 3 of them had left and a couple minutes later all were gone except the pastors 8 year old son and his cousin. We gave up and asked the kids what they wanted – they didn’t respond. So we told them why we are hear, because we believe that what we have to teach them about Jesus is the most important thing in the world and we want them to be saved too. And we told them we are not going to force them to listen but if they want to hear what we have to say or if they have questions that we’d be sitting in the bleachers for the next couple hours. So they all started playing soccer. And Tim and I were praying and talking to the pastor. An hour later, with no promoting or invitation, all of them came and sat down and said “now we are ready to listen”. And they did. They asked a lot of great questions like: Why don’t you worship the idols we have? How did you choose your religion? Who was Jesus’ dad? Is the world really going to end in 2012? So we talked about all their questions and had great discussions.

It was just as much an important lesson for the kids to hear as it was a lesson for Tim and I in patience, God’s timing, and trusting Him. We are going to Hocoba twice a week to honor God and to do His command in Matthew of telling the nations about salvation through Christ. It is not for us, but for Him and His glory. When we got discouraged that they weren’t listening and really prayed to God pleading for Him to lead us and to lead the kids to listen – He answered. It was a much needed lesson in trusting God in everything. Since that day, all the lessons have gone so much better and the kids have a different attitude and Tim and I are giving it all to God!

In other Hocoba news… Hilliard United Methodist church donated $800 dollars towards the church in Hocoba. That money is being used to put up more blocks on the new sanctuary that is much needed, seeing as their current stick and tar paper one is quickly deteriorating. Also, the money provided electricity to the Sunday school rooms and the pastors house. Thank you all for your financial blessing!

Visitors:
Jenny and Casey came to visit for a week! We had an amazing time! Tim and I took a bus to meet them in Piste, to go to Chichen Itza (one of the 7 wonders of the world):

Then, we headed to Cenote Ik Kil and jumped into the 150 feet deep water! It was beautiful and
refreshing after a day in the sun:

The following day we headed off to go caving with Fernando:

It was very difficult, we certainly got a work out and got pretty dirty too:

After a 3 hour caving adventure we headed to cool off in Cenote San Ignacio:

Monday Jenny and Casey came to school and meet all of our students:

Jenny even got to meet her two prayer partners. Here is one, Miguel! How precious:

Tuesday we headed to Hocoba for Bible study after school. Casey taught all the kids a very fun game called Woah and after bible study Casey and Tim played soccer with the kids while Jenny and I went to visit an old lady who I know there named Nancy. Hocoba was a great experience for all of us:

Wednesday we explored downtown Merida, including the huge and crazy market there:

Thursday we went to the horse-drawn truc that took us to 3 different gorgeous cenotes before coming home for Bible study at Jeff’s house. Here is Casey and I jumping into one of the 3 cenotes.

Friday we went to Uxmal which is another Mayan ruin – which we all thought was way better than Chichen Itza. We looked around and sat on top of the pyramid for a long time just enjoying the weather and marveling at how all of it was built so long ago and trying to picture what life would have been like.

After Uxmal we stopped at Cenote Kankaninche:

It was such a wonderful week having Jenny and Casey here. It is a blessing to have such wonderful Christian friends. And it made Tim and I so excited to go back to Ohio and spend time with Jenny and Casey and all of our other friends!

Prayer Requests:

1. Please pray for Hocoba. The the bible studies are effective and that the kids hearts are opened to accept Christ. And that Tim and I will be really letting the Holy Spirit guide our words and actions while we are there.

2. Prayers for decisions. That God really leads us and shows us what He would have us do next year - staying in MX, returing home for school, and where in Ohio He would want us. Prayers for clarity and wisdom.

3. Prayers for the Reimann's safe travels and safe visit as they are coming March 20-30.

4. Prayers for my family as the are continuing to cope with my Grandma's death in February.

5. Prayers for patience, wisdom and love to be the best teachers we can be!

6. Prayers for health as Kari continues to have swollen glands and has been sick off and on since getting mono