Pablo and a new puppy who wandered here. Silly puppy...
The new puppy quickly found Gary's lap. That might be the eye problem...
Armondo found a new friend!!!
FBC group...get ready for this fun place to eat!!! The food is great!
More Fruit!!! Melons...
apples...
cactus...it's yummy!
and tangerines. Enough for everyone to have fruit all week. This donation from a Michigan church has been wonderful. The children love the fruit!!! We were also able to buy more bananas!
Both Maria Elenas enjoying a water fight!!!
Katy gathering cups.
Jackie and Mary Ellen
Johana soaking in Tio Gary's hugs! When he was gone at the men's conference...she kept track of the hours until he would be back!
Saying goodbye to these boys was hard. I told them that I wanted them to remember Jesus and all that they've learned about Him. And I also said that if they become a Christian, we will be together again someday...forever! They promised me that they would remember my words.
My last kiss from them...it will never be forgotten! They are going to live with their grandmother in southern Mexico who is a believer. That made it easier to let go.
Lupita and Nico...sister and brother.
Vito and his smallest shadow...Antonio.
Lupita and tio Gary
Mareyla and Brenda
Juanita and Luce
Vito and one of his fans...taking a break.
Pre-kin enjoying an ice cream snack after school. We were lucky enough to have tio Gary with us...and he always has money for ice cream!!! The crazy...or should I say smart vendors always stand outside the school entrance.
Marcella and Ruby
Karelly shoing off her schoolwork!
Alondra and her new haircut. She likes it...I'm glad. We have been battling more lice and ringworms lately. It makes me itch just to think about it!
There is a darkness here in Mexico that is very obvious. Some days you encounter it's ugliness only 1 or 2 times throughout the day and other days it is continual. We have gotten used to that. But, the last two days have been darker than normal. Yesterday, Gary and Vito were driving to Chihuahua in seperate vehicles. Gary, who was in the lead heard gun shots go off (about 5). Vito who was right behind Gary saw the car next to him pull out a rifle and shoot a police officer in a parking lot by a building that looked like a government building. At the time, Vito did not know it was a police officer (which would have shook him even more, since he is one himself). The vehicle then quickly sped off on a side road. There is some type of a protest that is going on in governmental buildings where people aren't allowed in or out of the buildings and we can't seem to find out any info about this. If any of you can find out any information...please let us know. There is a spiritual warfare going on and we are feeling the ripples. It is especially obvious when I am working on adoption information. The internet is always interupted several times when I'm trying to get crucial information to people. My 2-way phone somehow loses service during those times as well. Gary and I just shake our heads...it is so obvious. Satan does not want these kids adopted...but we are determined...with the Lord's help and protection. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world!
I just talked with Christi and she said things are going great. The passport for Ramon is not going to be a one day ordeal like we originally thought. I don't know if it is because of the protest or not. So, they are meeting with officials today and tomorrow to see what can be done to expedite this process. Our faithful God has provided a safe place for them during this waiting period. It is with the Naverrete family who are missionaries in Mexico City. They are great servants of God and they have opened their home to them. Their children are teenagers and they have been so good with Marta and Ramon...telling them about all the cool things to expect in Michigan. Thank you, Jesus!
Please pray for Gary as he gives the Wednesday evening devotional. This morning he woke up with his left eye swollen shut. We ended up taking him to the 'rich peoples hospital' in Chihuahua this early morning to the E.R. room. They gave us excellent service and Gary is now on antibiotics by pill and eye drops...along with some eye washes. Anyway, to make a long story short...the whole thing cost only $80.00...which included all the medicine since we had it filled in their pharmacy. You can afford medical treatment down here! Apparently he has a severe eye infection...who knows how it happened...but thank the Lord, he's on the road to recovery.
We have a group from our church coming down this Friday evening. The kids are so excited whenever people come. Also, I believe there is a group of 3 from Mass. coming on Sunday. If the Mass. group knows their arrival time, please let me know. Will you need picked up at the airport or are you renting a car?
It is windy and cooler today...right around 70 degrees. The rest of the week it is supposed to warm up again to the 80's. Don't I sound spoiled?!!!
Gary and I are trying to focus our attention on the 'bad' boys and girls and give them more positive attention. Sometimes it is hard to love the naughty kids...just more work...but they need even more hugs and kisses than the good kids. I am glad that Jesus has shown His love to me all the time...and I've never deserved any of His love. It's just grace. We want to share this grace.
7 comments:
Hi Linda, Love your commentary. God is faithful and when we are out of our normal circumstances it seems easier to depend on him. I pray I can see that everyday and allow Him to rule by life. Mi muy anxiouso.....2 mas dias
See you soon.
Gracious God we are thankful you are looking after Martha and Ramon so well....perhaps they need an adjustment time with their new families is a culture more familiar to them. Only you know the reason and have the answers.
We have been thinking for some time that the Devl definitely does NOT want children to be taken into a loving Christian home and turned into a Kingdom soldier who marches to the drumbeat of the KING OF KINGS!
Tenacious faith and prayer are what is needed.
I am half way through with reading the biograph of Adoniram Judson (first American missionary to minister in another country) He set sail for Burma in 1811. The obstacles and set backs he and his wife encountered take my breath away. They were willing to spend their lives: die young, bury children, endure incredible obstacles... all the sake of making just a little bit of Gospel progress. As it turned out they got a lot accomplished-- but they were willing.
FBC people who read this... Thank you for being missionaries. Thank you for praying. Be tough-minded. Serve the King.
I rejoice to serve with you.
Pastor Mark
Am I the first from the prayer chain today to read this blog????
How timely a post on spiritual oppresion! We are praying fervently for an answer for Fekkens on their I600.
We spent the ENTIRE High School program last night talking about how to envelop Ramon, Marta and subsequent Lily kids(and others) into our fold. We prayed and the high schoolers brain stormed. They will find a welcoming and excited group upon their arrival.
We must believe now and NEVER doubt that our God reigns. And HE is faithful. Faithful to me, faithful to the children at Lily, faithful to the Beggs, and HE is faithful to our adopters and adoptees. Whatever that looks like, whatever the road, HE IS FAITHFUL.
Let us fix our eyes again on you, Sweet Jesus, and walk forward in trust. Satan may have a hay day today, but our God WINS in eternity and can win in my life today as I surrender more of myself, my hopes and my dreams for HIS appointment.
We love you, BEGGS, FEKKENS, and HUIZENGAS.
Godspeed, and bring those kids home.
Gary and Linda-
Well the bags are packed and weighed and the next crew is ready to roll! Sorry we couldn't get the fridge and big stuff to you. I was hoping Eric and Ever DeBrot would be driving down to Oaxaca ( very southern Mexico) and could drop it off but they are flying. We are so excited to see how God is at work. Maggie sent a few gift bags with candy and trinkets. It would greatly encourage her if you could post a picture of the girls that get them. We pray for you continually. Al Moul
God is Good!
First we went to the US embassy and got bad news. 1) The papers Fekkens filed will not be good enough, since the right documents were not with them. 2) We have to wait for the passports and he said it would take over a week to get it. 3) We could not file the correct papers here in mexico city and had to go to juarez but not until we have the passports. 4) When we explained about the time deadline he said "Ya...you really dont have enough time."
We went back to the passport agency on a whim to check and they had Ramons done. A miracle since they said monday or tuesday and they also had that protest/evacuation for half a day. And on top of that they are going to try to get Marthas done for tomorrow.
>>>>>please pray for that<<<<<<<
it is huge to have ramons and Fekkens will be in juarez first thing monday morning with or without the Huizengas, but we would all feel safer if we could still travel together. All of the embassys and government buildings are experiencing political protests.
Also praise that we have been housing with a missionary family and their kids have been working with ours explaining things about america. We thought that this would be a bad thing to house with someone but we see now that it was all part of Gods plan.
UPDATE
The Huizenga / Fekken families are now headed to Juarez for a monday 8am appointment at the embassy. There flight is schedualed for sat about 10am mexico city to juarez. they both have passports and all the other papper work that is required to file the I-600 and to complete the final leg of this journey. they ask for continuing prayers and thanks for all the prayers so far.
Dear Fekkens,
Please let Linda, the adoption agency, and us know what docs were not right and what should have been done differently.
This may enable those of us who follow in your footsteps to avoid the same trouble.
Many thanks,
The Yoders
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