This is my third attempt at blogging since we've been here! Our internet connection is sketchy at best which can be a tad frustrating..so here we go again..maybe the third time's a charm?

Nathan and Deacon are currently suffering from a mysterious stomach bug. By mysterious, I mean that we are on day five of throwing up *sometimes* with no other symptoms. So, tomorrow we have our first appointment with the pediatrician and also a family dr. in Guadalajara. I'll report on that when we find out what's going on. Nathan has long suspected that he has some type of amoeba or parasite, so he will most likely have that looked into as well.

Our (aprox.) 550 sq ft. is all decorated now!  It is really a cute little place and other than a lack of storage has been a perfect fit. The boys have the run of the whole base since it is walled in, so when they start bouncing off the walls, I have a place to send them! We have two bedrooms, a bathroom and a combined kitchen/living area. We had to buy plug in electric burners and a separate oven, and that has been fine as well considering I don't have to cook to often here. (The base food is excellent!)

Nathan came home a week and  half ago with four parakeets! Mine is "Ladybird", Ben's is "Squeaky" Averic's is "Hip-Hip-Hooray" and Nathan's is no-name-bird for now. His is a pitiful creature that he says he chose because "it needs discipleship." (He always has been mercy hearted!) We are enjoying their morning chirpy-ness and they really are beautiful to look at. We have also enjoyed the local plant nursery stocked with exotic plants and cactus' we've never seen in the states. Look at our pics and you can see our newest additions to the front porch. The plant nursery is so inexpensive here comparitively speaking and we've had a great time being "plant people" for the first time ever!

Nathan has been assigned to work in the communications dept. He is responsible for creating a database and developing a newsletter for the base as well as improving communications in-house. Last week he shared about fundraising in our staff meeting and gave insight on how to develop better communication with supporters and ministry partners. He is helping the staff with their newsletter formats and bringing alot of computer "know-how" to the table. He is also now part of the worship team and really enjoying doing that for the first time as part of an actual team. Nathan is also coordinating the Short term teams that come through. We will also be working with the DTS schools and are hoping to offer English classes to the community as an outreach.

Homeschool is going great. We are back in the swing of things now that we have settled in! In Bible we are learning about wicked king Ahab and the story of Jehoshaphat. Reading a children's Bible is really a great way to understand the Old Testament! Benjamin's reading is taking off and he started Spanish class last week. He has been trying out his "Como te llamas?" on everyone and singing the Spanish vowels song everywhere he goes! Last week we learned the history of the Mexican Flag and how Mexico City was founded. I think I'm learning just as much as he is! In math we are working on addition, small fractions and learning money values. We just finished up "My Father's Dragon" for our read aloud this week and are making a lapbook to go along. Lapbook: A file folder made into a little book with drawings about the story, child's dictation or re-telling of the story, and things we drew from the story such as the difference between wild and domestic animals, the definitions of an author and an illustrator and how an island is formed. Can I just say I love teaching?!

We have had some humorous moments since we've been here..discovering that ALL the chicken in the grocery store is "pre-flattened" what?! And then there was the day we got stuck in the mall parking lot because we couldn't understand the spanish speaking lady on the automated voice recording when we were trying to exit. Oh..and who can forget being offered tequila shots at WAL-MART!! But, it has been a wonderful experience so far. The staff have been very welcoming and we are starting to feel like part of the family here. The work day here starts at 7:30 am with an hour of prayer and quitting time is 6:00 pm. We have had to set some boundaries, being the first family on staff here, but we have been met with graciousness each time. Everyone is learning!

I will close now before I try my luck anymore! I don't want to loose everything I've written yet again! We miss you all and think of home often! (Especially our beloved coffee creamer!) Don't forget to look at our new pics!!

In Him, Amey