Prayer Request

It has been so surreal being home and reuniting with our family, friends, the church, and our old life here in Minnesota. We have found it difficult returning as changed people who are trying to fit back in to where we used to be before we left for Mexico 7 months ago. God has deeply worked in our character and molded us, and we don't want to lose what we experienced.

We have been back now for a 2 1/2 weeks and have been constantly seeking God's will in our lives. We are sort of in limbo right now because initially the plan was to start the base in Cuernavaca, Mexico in January 09'. Unfortunately, those plans have been postponed and we will not be taking part in pioneering that base.

We have many different opportunities in Mexico, The United States, and Minnesota. Right now while we are praying about which path God wants us to take we will be participating in some local ministries, such as working with autistic children, inner city programs, car ministry, starting a new celebrate recovery, and helping our local churches. 

We are asking for lots of prayer from our friends and family to ask God to speak clearly. Our heart is to do His will and we are open to what that is in our lives.

Home Sweet Home

Hey Everyone!!

We just arrived to MN this evening!! It was weird seeing our old apartment building, old streets we use to drive on, our cats, etc. We can't seem to grasp really being here, in the flesh, and then sometimes it really hits us with a flood of emotions. Today, I found myself laughing with our family and getting excited about being home but then within in minutes I would be in tears for no reason. Culture shock is intense but so unpredictable, and hard to put into words.

(Levi really excited filling up for the first time in 7 months in TX on our way home (In Mexico it's full service at gas stations))

We are also unsure how to feel about returning home earlier than expected. Of course, it's human nature to try and plan out our life but God has his perfect way of rewriting the script. We are really seeking the Lord as to what our next move is. We have a slight tugging in a certain direction but have tons of options and are open and willing to do whatever God wants for our lives. We plan on spending some days in prayer and truly seeking His direction.

We appreciate all of our supporters, financially and in prayer! We love you all, and ask to keep us in your prayers especially these upcoming weeks.

• CULTURE SHOCK
• HEARING GOD'S VOICE
• FINANCES
• SPIRITUAL ATTACK

DTS Lecture Phase

This is a slideshow of our experience of our first 3 months of DTS. Classroom, teachers, teachings, and our mini outreach to the landfill in Monterrey and to the west coast in Tepic. We are working on the other slideshow that will show our 6 six week outreach to southern Mexico. We would love to hear comments and hope you enjoy!

Last weeks construction video

Hey Everyone! Thanks for checking out our blog! Last week we worked with a team from Virginia and had such a blast! Kelly made a video of the pictures taken from the construction site. For the past few years they have taken groups of people and have built this church from the ground up, and they plan to keep coming to YWAM Monterrey until they are finished.

To the Virginia team- Thank you guys for the blessing of being able to work with you. You really show teamwork and a servant's heart. We love you, and God Bless!

Wild Week of Changes...

This past week we had the opportunity to help a construction team from Virginia to put a roof onto a church. We had a blast and feel very blessed to have been able to work with them.

Wow, have we been going through lots of changes here in Monterrey!

Our plan is to be back around Easter Sunday. We have a lot of mixed emotions on returning, especially earlier than we had planned. Sometimes, we get excited about the thought of seeing our families, friends, church (a new one too!) and even the streets we used to drive on. (The roads here are crazy!) But at the same time, we feel nervous about experiencing the intense culture shock that every missionary goes through during re-entry. We are scared of possible rejection and worried we won't fit in where we used to because we have grown SO much! Most of the worries are from the enemy but I think some is natural too.

We have lots of ministry options in southern Mexico from all of the relationships established during our outreach. Even while we will be back in Minnesota, we have options for ministry. We have an opportunity in RVC South to help in starting a Celebrate Recovery ministry there. We will be able to focus on ministry while we are back in the States, and it will better equip us for leadership for our future. Levi will be working on his pastoral credentials too.

We believe God has orchestrated all of this to happen. We are going to use this time to seek His will, to pray, to heal, work on selling the rest of our things, raise finances, and to regroup while spending time with family and friends.

Please pray for us:

• Preparation for re-entry


• A safe drive home


• Kelly's family
  

God's Blessings

Friday, we flew out of Monterrey to Acapulco. We were a little nervous because we were meeting a family who we never had met. During our outreach to Cuernavaca we stayed with a great couple that had good friends on Acapulco and arranged for us to stay with him for a few days. We ended up connecting very well with the whole family. They had two sons around our age and it was fun spending time with them as well.

Saturday, we picked up Levi's parents from the airport and that was a thrill to re-connect with them after months apart. We all attended the family's church and met some missionaries that worked at an orphanage in Acapulco. It was nice seeing other missionaries in Mexico.

One day we drove to Cuernavaca, which is about 2 1/2 hours N of Acapulco. We really wanted to show them the "real" Mexico, experience where we did some of our ministry during outreach, and where our possible home might be.

The last few days we spent staying in Paul and Kammi's hotel room. We enjoyed spending quality time on the beach and lounging by the pool. Except I think we got a little too much sun because we are definetly feeling it now.

Overall, we felt very blessed to have the chance to relax after our very busy and intesne 5 months of DTS. We thank God for the way He worked out all the details to make it possible to see Levi's parents as well making new friendships.

P.S.- Our winter newsletter should be out soon!

Bittersweet Ending...

This last week of DTS has been bittersweet. Friday was graduation night and it was a lot of fun and rewarding. It was so weird to hold the certificate in our hands because it felt so surreal. Thinking back to the beginning of the school year, it feels like years ago, but at the same time, it has been slow too.

Then we had a nice dinner after the program. We had tomales and beans, yummy! Then, to our surprise 6 Mexican mariachi men came into the room and started to play their instruments! It was so fun!! After a few songs, they started to get a little wild and started to dance. It was really funny. We all had a really nice time. The next day we hung out with the group and we all went to the River downtown. It was a nice way to spend our last days with them. They all left Monday morning back to their hometowns.

A worship team from the states arrived tonight and they will be here for a month. This week there is not much work to be done so we will be doing little things here and there. On Friday we leave to Acapulco to celebrate finishing DTS and also as a way to see Levi's parents. We are using all of our Christmas money and Kelly's birthday money to go. We are so excited to see his parents and show them Mexico. One of the days we arranged to go to Cuernavaca (3 hours north) so they can see where we will be moving too. God really orchestrated everything to fall into place so nicely.

Thank you Jesus for all the blessings you have showered us with.