If it's Friday, this must be Mexico

This morning, Friday May 22 I woke up in Mexico City! Last Sunday morning I spoke to a church in Kansas. It was an exciting time to see this new church blossom. I then drove through Oklahoma heading back to Arkansas to spend a bit more time with my younger sister and her family. I've been in 11 States since returning to the US on March 17th.

It is so good to be home again though a little weird as we don't have a house. We are staying with our friends the Agnews, who are in the UK right now. We can't wait til they return next week. We will be here til next Saturday.

Tomorrow is the wedding of our first friend here in Mexico's daughter. Miss Chela's daughter is tying the knot and it is a joy to be able to be here for that. We worked with Chela at the school and would not have survived the first few years without her.

Then next Friday is graduation for MCCA, the school where both Robin and I taught. Since we are already here we are staying as Julian will be graduating. We didn't think Julian would live to see 7th grade much less graduate so it is a joy to be able to go and cheer for him. Yes, we plan on thoroughly embarrassing him

Happenings

So much has happened since my last post. Thursday evening I got a call from our Mexican family to ask for prayer for their cousin's family. Benji was killed in a car accident and they were on their way to the all night vigil. Benji was a newlywed and not a believer.

Currently I am in New York state staying with Robin's pastor as her mom's house doesn't have room for me. Friday morning Pastor Kathleen came into the room to tell me her 91 yr old mother had passed away during the night.

Then Saturday evening, I prayed on the phone with my dearest friend from college, Dee, as her younger brother lay dying of cancer. Not 30 minutes later she called again to say that Michael was with Jesus.

All I can say right now is WOW! I'm overwhelmed, sad, joyful and humbled. As I read the Word today I was again humbled that the God of the Universe loves us so much that he gave His Son for us that we might have hope in these situations.

I'm off to Arkansas tomorrow to see my sister and her two children and speak in a church in Kansas on Sunday. Robin is headed to Massachusetts with her mom and then to a different church here in New York. We will meet up again in Texas on May 20th and head to Mexico on the 21st. More about that later.

Thank you for standing in pray with me. Ask the Lord for comfort for these dear people.

Latest Happenings

Well it has been some time since I updated this blog. I have put it on my calendar to do every other week from now on.

Today we are in Kentucky where Robin and I have shared at the OMS Student Center and with the OMS retirees in the area. It has been fun. Robin and I have been traveling in Oklahoma, New York, West Virginia and Kentucky.

Mexico has been much in the news these days and I’d like to give you an update on that news from my perspective and the perspective of friends and family in Mexico.

First the violence – it is mainly on the border and does not directly affect us. It indirectly affects us because those we work with and live alongside have family and friends who are affected.

Second the swine flu – Robin and I left Mexico on March 17^th and began our traveling here in the US so we have not been infected. Currently our churches, the pastors, workers and missionaries are healthy, which we praise God for! While normally I would say that the media exaggerates the situation, in this case, they are under-reporting. The Mexican government is not letting the true numbers out of those infected. Part of the problem is that the Latin people are so relational. When we greet one another we do it with a handshake and a kiss so something like the flu is going to spread faster. We need your prayers!

We did read in the news today that it is on the decline in Mexico! Praise the Lord and keep praying. This could be a real time of harvest!

Dolls, Dolls, and more Dolls

Greetings in this new year! I trust your year has started out with a BANG! I saw the new year in quietly at my aunt's house - personally I like something a little more lively but she went to bed early and so I skyped a bunch of friends. (Skype is an internet communication program which enables you to talk free computer to computer)

I spent New Year's Day and almost every day after that working on the dolls at my Aunt Royetta's house. She loved her antique dolls and there are many!!!! I wouldn't venture a guess as to how many but now they are organized! I labeled a box "body parts" today and then thought I'd better put "Doll" on the front of that so no one thinks there is anything sinister in there! It is a good thing I have never watched those horror movies!

I head for Mexico on Thursday and am ready to return and sleep in my own bed! More than that I am ready to return to my beloved people and to the work I love. Stay tuned next week for an update on the ministry and the people.

That's all for now! Margaret

PS I have some great pics but can't figure out how to download them on Aunt Beth's computer so there will be pictures of me and the dolls next week. :)

Merry Christmas!

It is Christmas Eve and I am sitting at my aunt's in southern California. Hardly seems possible that she is the last one left of her generation. Tomorrow we will be a small bunch with just 4 of us. Aunt Royetta was such a spark and she will be missed but she is spending Christmas with Jesus. Vonda Mom too is spending her first Christmas in heaven. Makes me a little jealous.

On the other hand, life continues here and there is much work to be done. I got a note from one of my English students on Sunday after the choir concert, which was, by the way, MAGNIFICENT... Cata wrote that when she came to English classes she had a hole in her heart and it was very sad. Now she is happy and her heart is whole because she met the Saviour through her funny, joyful teacher! I'm so thankful that God is faithful and is able to use me and work through me to encourage others!

Pray for Laura and Jorge. They returned from their honeymoon to find that Jorge had been released from his job. Pray for a new job and God's peace for them as they start their life together.

I love you and ask the Lord to give you a blessed Christmas!

The MK's

We have six BEAUTIFUL MK's (missionary kids) on our field and I couldn't resist sharing this picture with you...it was a challange to get them all smiling and looking in the same direction but I think we did pretty well! (from Left to Right - Oscar, Madeline, Ethan, Joshua, Tabitha and Amelia.) Merry Christmas everyone!

Wedding bells

Laura and Jorge's wedding came off without a hitch and it was a beautiful wedding. Rather than say more - I'll let a few pictures say a a thousand words.
The tradition is to pin money to the groom's shirt and write a message on it. Here is the happy couple just before they left on their honeymoon!