Lala “issues”and a tour...

Anyone who knows us, knows that Dennis and I enjoy good coffee in the mornings and  since we have been here, we have really grown to love our coffee and our cream - which leads me to share a funny story. 

Dennis and I were shopping and buying some groceries when we first arrived, being avid coffee drinkers (with cream) we began our hunt of the Soriana store! We found many coffee cream like packages in the middle aisles (non refrigerated) and creamers, but no real cream. As we searched the store we figured we would be enjoying our Looney Bean coffee black for the month! But God knew we would enjoy our morning coffees SO much more if we had actual cream! (Isn’t he amazing to think of even the small, crazy, insignificant things?!)  As we searched we found the refrigeration area and low and behold CREAM! So we bought a small bottle and found it is so thick it is the same idea as Clotted Cream in the UK. It is the most delicious addition to our morning coffee... oh my!  So fast forward to the next week where at Ley’s (a smaller grocery chain - similar to an IGA) we found the same Lala brand but in a bigger bottle AND in a tub (since it’s so thick it would be easier to use in the mornings!) 

We buy both, take them home and the next morning I open the tub and taste it... this is NOT cream... it is sour cream! which I had enjoyed a few days before with my tostados at breakfast... at the base. Good thing I had tasted it first... but if you look at the picture you can see why we would be confused ... lol to say the least the kitchen staff got a good giggle from my sour cream/coffee cream story... and yet no one could explain the labeling to me! So long story short, when in Mexico and wanting to really enjoy your coffee, always buy the BOTTLE of crema fresca. 

Tonight is our last night of Carnaval and we will be out until 1am, then back to the base and I have to dump my photos for media, Dennis will be bringing back the cafe things (because they tear it all down each night), so it will be a very late night for us again! Tomorrow we hope to get some basic house needs done, a bit of time in the sun and gearing up for packing for home! 

So this morning I did a quick video of the base, and I need to apologize to Sebastian! I introduced him as Chino (insert eye roll here)... not sure why I did that! Lol can I beg late night, little sleep and early mornings?! lo siento, Sebastian! I am still working on my video-ing skills but you’ll get the idea of it all and see where we have spent our last month! There have been some big changes in the last year and it is still changing daily! Enjoy  the tour! 

a week to go!

goodness time sure is weird... speeding along at break neck paces some days and slower than molasses in January on others! My days are snails pace it seems and yet I can't believe we are here at this time already!

We've read so many books and learned so many things n our walk with God in preparation for this journey, we have a basic knowledge of Spanish (which we will get to try out in Mexico City for 13 hours on a layover before we have our final flight to Mazatlan! I think we are as ready as we will ever be!
SO...
We are one week away from leaving for Mazatlan (we should be in Toronto waiting for our connecting flight this time next Monday!) and we are ready and yet there is still so much for us to do! (packing being the biggest I think!)There are still some appointments we need to go to, a bit of shopping still to do, a fridge to clean out (meaning meals), laundry, house cleaning and I know there is still farm stuff to get done by Friday!  I know it will all get done and that there is no sense worrying about it (not that I am worrying per se...) just typical travel concerns of forgetting something or not packing or overpacking. Until this afternoon we had a few concerns over the finalities of things with YWAM but they were all sorted today ... see not worrying!
All in Gods time, right!?

Here are a few prayer requests for this coming week:

~ Protection  (not just for our travels and time in Mazatlan but for family at home) of our minds and hearts

~ To see what God is putting on our hearts when meeting with the people of Mazatlan and those at YWAM

~ Open hearts (ourselves and others) to the leading of the Holy Spirit as he sees fit

~ Prayers for the unknown as we embark on this God adventure

These are pretty general prayers it seems, but the power of prayer is amazing and we know how important fervent prayers are! 

I have a feeling this next week (and beyond) Philippians 4:6-7 will be not only on my arm (it is a tattoo) but on my heart:  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

With this said, please know that we truly thank you for your prayers and concerns and it does give such peace to be going to Mexico with your prayers before us! 

Please drop a line (comment box or email) if you have any questions! 

Until next week our friends!!

Blessings to you!

Hola a nuestros queridos amigos!!

Welcome and Hello! 

Bienvenido y Hola

We are so excited to be only 116 days (ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN!!!!) away from our mission trip to Mazatlan, Mexico to volunteer at YWAM, serving and loving on the staff, students and people of the city -- wherever God takes us we are ready!

So YES, this is us right now:

quietly,
patiently,
expectantly,
WAITING!

We have our tickets booked, arrangements made with YWAM, in the process of making farm plans for while we are away(where will cattle be, who will look after cats and dogs, chickens, etc) ...


... and waiting... and waiting.

We both feel like we want to leave RIGHT NOW! But we also know that in this time of waiting, we are preparing and learning so much through our personal studies, church services, reading books, talking to friends who have been on missions. This time is so precious as well, we are learning and growing in relationship with our Father; to me it is time that is very much like when your babes are small and your midnight feedings ... there is no one else - just you and the baby BONDING, growing in love and understanding - Precious and so needed! as we wait we are resting in this knowledge that He is with us and helping us to grow in so many ways!

We have also both been doing some bible studies (Dennis has just completed James and I am into Galatians!). We are waiting on actual Spanish lessons to begin on Oct 22 - so we continue to use the Duo Lingo app for Spanish;

Estamos aprendiendo más y más palabras y podemos formar oraciones pequeñas! (este no era uno de ellos) (still using a translator for some... ok many!)

{TRANSLATION: We are learning more and more words and can form small sentences! (this was not one of them) haha}

...And we try to use what words and phrases we know as often as possible!


We have also been reading a few books and a have few books that are on our TO READ lists:

Dennis:

Strategic Compassion By Barry Slauenwhite

Kingdom Man By Tony Evans

The Invisible War By Chip Ingram

Now is the Time By Angus Buchan



Jodi:

Fervent - A Woman's Battle Plan for Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer By Priscilla Shirer

Discerning the voice of God By Priscilla Shirer

Is that really You, God? By Loren Cunningham

Love Does By Bob Goff

ROOTED- The Hidden Places Where God Develops You By Banning Liebscher



TO READ LIST:

Everybody always By Bob Goff

We died before we came here By Emily Foreman

The Book that Transforms Nations By Loren Cunningham

Tortured for Christ By Richard Wurmbrand

Kingdom Woman By Tony Evans & Chrystal Evans Hurst


Some of these books were suggested by staff at YWAM Mazatlán and others are reading for personal growth and interest! Is there any books you think would be a good read for either interest sake or a good read for those thinking about (or already on) Mission?

There is not too much else to share right now, except to finish up with prayers:

We know that your prayers are so important for us as we prepare our selves, body, mind and spirit for this trip and we THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts and praise God for y'all!
We asking for prayers (have a look at the prayer request list on the top right of the page) for us but we also would like to know how  we can pray for you as well! If there are any requests of prayer that we can intercede on your behalf, please DO NOT hesitate to ask!

So until next time, our friends!

Que el señor te bendiga y te guarde!

Dennis & Jodi

The beginning of the beginning...

Dennis and I know the power of prayer and how important it is for all walks of life! We have had many, many times in our years together, where we have gone to our church family for prayers and have prayed for others who have asked (and even when they aren't asked!).  So that is why we knew we had to start this journey with prayers not only from ourselves but from YOU - our family and friends! The bible says:

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

And so this is where we begin with our beginning -  with prayer requests:

1. The finalizing of the sale of a parcel of land we feel that God was asking us to sell and use the money to pay off some farming debt and use the rest for possible future missions and/ or for other missions that He puts on our hearts! The ability to farm again was a gift from God and we have been trying to use it for His glory from the beginning and we want to make sure to continue to do so. We have already had such an amazing journey in this area!! We put our land up for sale and within DAYS, we had 3 offers and we accepted one of them. Now we wait to see that the sale goes through!











2. How are we getting to Mazatlan? Do we drive? Do we fly? Whatever the plans will be, we pray we BOTH hear the same thing.










3. Pray for our farm - the logistics of it day to day operating (feeding, weaning, vaccinating, etc.) while we are away and the future for the rest of our farm, when we return.










4.  Dennis and I also are working on learning Latino Spanish. We have an app we have been using and our prayer is that with all the other things going on with planning for our trip, the farm (and planning for next years grazing, feeding etc), our family, bible studies that we are investing in ... that we will not only find time for learning the new language but that the basic lessons will "stick".

5. Prayers for Dennis and I to keep handing things to God, to not hold onto what we need to let go of and to not pick up baggage we don't need to pick up. And that as we are on this new God adventure we both hear the same things from our Father.





We want to take this time to thank you, sincerely we thank you. We pray for each of you and love you!


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