We are settled in to our new home in Boca del Rio.  Boca del Rio looks like a tropical paradise- with palm trees, sand, s ome thatched roofs, and the ocean down the street.  It is a tiny fishing village with a slow-paced lifestyle (especially times like now when it is not fishing season).  Quite a change for us from the city of Queretaro!  

The weather is hot and humid, and apparently it will be even more so in August and September.  We are blessed to have a window air-conditioning unit in our room to survive the heat, though we do spend a lot of time sweaty.

We are living in a dorm room in the school of ministry building at the church, which will be occupied by other students as well when classes start in October.  Paco built shelves, put up hooks, and arranged until everything (bed, bath, kitchen things) fit into our single room.  We use the shared bathroom down the hall, and wash dishes in a bucket on our porch. Water and electricity in the town are not reliable, and we have already experienced a couple afternoons without these luxuries. 

I am still getting used to the many critters that inhabit the church with us- geckos, frogs, mosquitoes, and, worst of all cockroaches (my nightmare!). Paco has to get up in the middle of the night to scare away the roaches from the bathroom for me.  We had another critter surprise when we turned on our air conditioner and, after a strange clicking sound, a dead mouse was forced out! Eww!

The church staff and congregations have received us with love. We have already had dinner with multiple families in both congregations where we minister!

God is truly taking careof us for our new home in Boca del Rio!  

 Our trip from Rancho Santa Margarita, California to Boca del Rio, Sinaloa: 23 hours, 1000 miles, 1 loaded van, and lots of prayer for God’s safety… and God blessed us!  During the two day trip we did not have a single problem or difficulty!  Our minivan drove without any mechanical failure (our first trip in our vehicle),our luggage was protected from falling or theft, we had no difficulties with permits or customs at the border, Paco never once felt sleepy driving, and were not bothered by corrupt police or drug cartel violence on Mexican highways.  What a list of God’s blessing over our trip! 

At one point, a suspicious un-uniformed police stopped us to ask questions about our work and income, but in the middle of the questioning he was distracted with a phone call and waved us on without further delay.  The Lord’s divine protection, perhaps?  Either way, the Lord’s hand was obviously over us!

During the drive, a radio program mentioned a verse that perfectly described our trip: Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  Thank you for your prayers, because God responded and went before us!

 Our discipleship time in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, though only 6 months long, has forever impacted us. We met so many people who truly seek to glorify God and follow the direction of the Holy Spirit with their whole lives. 

 Our time included classes at the school of ministry, assistance of both Spanish and English Bible studies, observation of daily church activities, homework assignments from Scripture, and evangelism and discipleship practices.

Through the wisdom and examples of the Calvary Chapel RSM staff, the loving Spanish congregation of Amor y Verdad, fellow school of ministry students, Bible study companions and home family, we learned to dedicate time to prayer, use every situation and opportunity to evangelize, and seek the Spirit in every decision.  We thank God for everyone that God used to make this discipleship experience possible for us!

 Paco and I experienced the true beauty of California on a weekend camping trip to Onion Valley of the Sierra Nevada.  Though we are not experienced campers, our loving host family equipped and cared for us with their extensive camping knowledge.  The weekend was perfect- the weather, the peace, the views…  It was stunning!  We hiked through the mountains to see a waterfall and a couple lakes- more than 10,000 feet elevation.   The best part of the trip was our fellowship with our host family- making smores, hiking, even fishing together!  It was a truly memorable experience- we thank God for His amazing creation of nature and abundant love for us, shown through this special family.  

 After a month and a halfof tedious used car shopping, Paco and I are now the proud owners of a 2000 Toyota Sienna! 

 This new car purchase wasquite a surprise for us; just two month ago we had no intention of purchasinganother vehicle (though evidently the Lord had different plans J). My sister and brother-in-law had given us their 2000 Honda CRV inJanuary when we arrived in California, which we had planned on driving for years.  However, as we investigated the importationlaws of vehicles into Mexico, we unfortunately discovered that the car did not fitthe importation standards. 

 With so little time tocar shop before our return to Mexico, the search was frustrating and stressful.  But the Lord knew our needs and blessed uswith exactly the car we sought- even with the little extras, like a luggage rack,tow hitch, and cd player.  The mechanicsaid the car is even in better mechanical shape than most its age.  Thanks to the financial help of my lovingparents, and negotiating expertise of our friend here in California, the minivanwas exactly in our budget!  Already, Godis providing for our return trip to Mexico next month!

         Special friends and partners in ministry in Kentucky invited us to visit their home and church in beautiful Louisville.  (Paco especially loved the open, green areas of the state!)  We had a wonderful time- everything from a ladies´ tea (prepared by the guys for the girls!) and dress-up to backyard soccer and croquet!  We also enjoyed visiting their local church body, Sojourn Church, and sharing our testimony and God´s plans for our ministry at their home Bible study group.  We were received with much love, and thank God for our family and ministry partners even as far away as Kentucky!

Memorial Day was celebrated by our Spanish ministry with a Mexican-style-barbeque and potluck day in the park!  The day was perfect- sunny, volleyball and soccer, lots of families and children, and TONS of food… a couple of the sisters just kept grilling steak after steak. J The event also offered the opportunity to testify our faith, as we worshipped and shared a Bible message on true freedom in Christ in the middle of the park.  Afterwards, we prayed and thanked the Lord for the men and women in our ministry who have served with the armed forces.  The day was a time of special fellowship with our Spanish church family and celebration of our freedom!

           The women of our church, Calvary Chapel Rancho Santa Margarita, enjoyed a three-day retreat to Big Bear, California in the mountains.  Besides awesome fellowship, the retreat was a time of prayer and Bible study, with the theme of the weekend “Joy in Trials” from James 1- a message we all need to remember .  I was so blessed by my sisters´ love, and especially by the Lord´s messages for me! I was impacted by Exodus 6:2 by God´s simple response to Moses´ worries: “I am the LORD”; by Psalm 40:1 which reads “Patiently, I will wait on the LORD”, and finally by  J esus´ nearness in the disciples´ time of distress to calm the waters in the storm in Matthew 8:24-26. With God for us, who can be against us in times of trials?!!

  One of our School of Ministry professors, Pastor Fausto, invited us to share our testimony and vision for missions with his church, Calvary Chapel Pomona Gardens, for a weekend.  Not only did he and his wife Josie treat us like treasured guests, the whole congregation also received us like kings!-they invited us over for dinner, stood in line to meet us, and prayed for us and our ministry! We were overwhelmed by the love of our family in Christ.  It was a joyful (though a little nerve-racking) experience  to testify of God´s work and plans in our lives seven times over the course of the weekend- at the couple´s Bible study, men´s breakfast, leadership devotional, youth service, two Spanish services, and an English service.  We are blessed to have such a loving group interested in and praying for our ministry in Mexico. 

 “Amor Y Verdad”, the Spanish ministry of our church, held a car wash to raise funds for the Spanish men´s, women´s, and youth retreats being planned for this summer.  It was a very thorough wash!- some of the members professionally buff headlights and others brought good vacuums and soaps, so the cars all left spotless and the customers happy.  God provided about 50 cars to wash in just one day!  We pray that the ministry will have funds to send everyone on retreats this summer!