WERE BAAAACK

Hola; we will get some pictures up as soon as we slow down. The missions conf at Moraine was awsome and we hit the ground running back here Monday morning with the Carpenters Crew from La Harpe, Il building two houses in the colonia. Both houses are almost done, after just two days. Today we will finish a few things and then dedicate them to the Lord tommorrow. Thanks to all in Chgo for blessing us. ADIOS

HERE AM I SEND SOMEONE ELSE, IT'S COLD IN CHGO

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IN CHGO AS I WRITE, BUT FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS LEFT US HERE IN THE WARMTH FOR TWO MORE DAYS. WE LEAVE IN THE MORNING. I'M SPEAKING SATURDAY AT THE MENS BREAKFAST AT MORAINE VALLEY CHURCH 8:00 am 6300 W. 127th Street, Palos Heights, Il Come join us. ANYHOW, THE FLIGHTS ARE CANCELLED, THE COMPUTER CRASHES WITH MY NOTES, AND WE SPENT THE LAST TWO DAYS GETTING READY TO GO, AND I BELIEVE WERE READY. MOST OF THE PLANS WE HAD ARE GONE BECAUSE OF THE DELAY, BUT THATS OK GOD IS IN CONTROL. PRAY FOR US WE TRAVEL, PRAY FOR THE MISSIONS CONF. AND ME AS I SPEAK SAT AND AGAIN ON SUNDAY. WE REALLY JUST WANT TO RAISE THE TEMPERATURE IN THE BODY TO HAVE A PASSION FOR MISSIONS AND THE HELPING OF THE POOR. ADIOS AND SEE YOU IN THE WINDY CITY.

JOSHUA CALEB TURNS TWO!!!!!

While we were at Paula's moms little Caleb turned two and they waited until we returned to have a little party for the chamako ( little boy). We had chicken, mole' and tres leches cake. Carmelo made a piniata out of a box and it really held up much longer than a real piniata. He filled it with candy and everyone had at least two turns trying to get the candy out. We cane figure out how long we have been working in the colonia by the age of Caleb, he was born a month before we arrived. Carmelo had shared with me about a dream he had , that God was going to do more with their lives in the colonia because of their faithfulness in helping us and that blessings are going to overtake us. The next day, his brother in law sold a truck that they had bought and fixed and they took some of money and purchased sugar for everyone that came for the beans and rice that we had purchased and they distributed while we were gone. He quoted the verses from Isaiah 58 that the Lord gave him about feeding the hungry and helping the poor, and couldn't help but give. How awesome is that? Teras filled our eyes as we thanked God for bringing us all together to be Jesus with skin on. He also said that many came forward for prayer on Sat. The beautiful sunset is down by Paulas' moms, at a nephews house, and we couldn't help but take a picture. I had taken a picture of the table full of fresh made tamales and hand ground corn tortillas but only Ernie would appreciate that photo.

HOW LONG O LORD ?

I hate to ask that question of God, but sometimes, just the suffering aspect of your wifes Mom has you questioning Gods timing. But then I look back at the last ten days of watching Paula interact selflessly with her sick Mom and all the open doors to share with her family about Christ, I realize that God is working out a plan in her family. They all need him and He longs to be the one they worship, so we just have to wait, so Moms not going anywhere until the One who holds her life in His hand says OK your time on earth is done. We drove all day yesterday and into the evening and made it home by 9:00 last night. It rained the whole way, 15 hours of driving in the rain, and we had to stop at the colonia and drop off all the plants and food we can't bring across the border. Carmelo brought Ruth and the kids and met us at the entrance and Caleb was excited to see us. He calls me Teen cause he can't say Marteen. It was good to hold him, if only for a moment. It's so good to be home, if only for a few days and then off to Chgo for five and then back here to build two houses the 15th.