Be strong and courageous!

We're back and although I don't have time to go into everything (the Christmas play looms...), I wanted to give a brief update.

The trip was amazing. God showed up in amazing ways - ways that I haven't ever seen before.

A few highlights:

There were over 50 murders in Juarez the week we were there, some close to where we were, but we were safe the entire week. It was a little disconcerting to take my kids into a military zone, complete with machine gun stationed on either side of several roads we were on and full military convoys with men in full swat gear but God kept us safe and in good spirits all week.

We fed over 1000 people through out the week. One meal, God provided food until the very last person in line was fed with the very last of the food. We didn't count food or people but God knew.

Being the first customers of ladies that have been taught by missionaries to sew and emboider dish towels, aprons, and purses to help provide food for their families. I have never seen "hope" and "pride" in a more tangible way.

We had 100 bags of food and various items and God provided us with exactly 100 women. Again, we didn't count, God did.

Seeing Connor read a pamphlet of salvation to a little girl - in Spanish. Caileigh knocking on doors to invite people to church with as much Spanish as she could remember. Collin escorting an older lady who was a translator with us around the colonia so that she would be safe.

Scott was amazing as always, never quitting and helping all the rest of us translate. He makes me so proud.

I loved being able to teach children whether in English or Spanish and it was one of my favorite things to do along with playing with legos with the children in the orphange. You should have seen me trying to understand their directions as to what piece they needed. My Spanish was stretched to the limit.

So much for a little update. I get so excited by what God did in their lives and in our own. Thanks for all of you who prayed and helped us to get there. We could tell that our loved ones were praying and God answered your prayers in absolutely amazing ways.

Here's a link to some pictures...
http://picasaweb.google.com/shudson310/Mexico2008#

Categories: parenting