TULTEPEC IS HOME!

Hello everyone and welcome to the Carpenter’s Brief.

Many of us have taken in a bit of the Olympics. Perhaps it was a volleyball or basketball game, someone lifting more than twice their weight or a diver trying to complete their routine with as little splash as possible. Usually we are amazed and sometimes dumbfounded by the ability of the human body to rise to the occassion. In the end every effort, win or lose, represents a great deal of discipline, patience, effort and persitence. The giving of their best makes them a winner.

Lately we have felt like we have been running in our own olympics. First it was getting ready for moving to a new house. We knew that the new house was considerably smaller, like – try eight feet nine inches wide by 33 feet long! So we started down sizing. We packed what was not absolutely necessary and we moved into storage or sold what was not wanted or would not fit. It almost felt like lossing weight! Well, sort of.

Then a wonderful ministry team from the Outlook Christian Church in Indianapolis arrived to help with the Eagles Church VBS. Packing ceased while crafts, recreation, singing, eating, Bible stories, sleeping (too little) and projects took over.  The team was super and the children loved having them. Overall it was a great week, but it did take it’s toll on our energy. Sunday morning the team was at the airport and ready to depart and by shortly after noon we were in full packing mode again. Early on the 30th a team of youth and two men from the Eagles Church arrived at the house to help with the move. And then the Kings Movers arrived with two trucks. One truck took items to storage while the other was packed for Tultepec. The first truck returned and was also packed for Tultepec. Hmmmm, two trucks for a house that is only nine feet wide!

Well, as it turned out we had maked each box for the room it needed to go to. This distributed the caos effectively enough that no one space was overwhelmed. When the trucks pulled out we clearly had a “tiradero” on our hands. That would mean, BIG MESS!

Every day since has been filled with ministry activity and organizing the house little by little. The night of the move at least our bed was set up and ready to be slept in. With boxes everywhere it became a matter of priorities. First the bathroom, Kay’s office, closet and guest bedroom (temporary storage area). Next our bedroom, the living room and patio (tool room) and living room. And finally the kitchen area. OK, we’re not quite finished yet, but making progress.

Ministry and other activities vary widely. While in the first days of our BIG MESS we received a call from a lady we did not know asking if Steve could talk at her birthday. WHAT! We don’t have talks at birthdays. It turns out that her name is Norma and she is Tonya’s aunt. Tonya is one of the young mothers that we are doing a Bible study with. Norma is a Christian and wanted to use her birthday party as a means of sharing the Gospel with her family and friends that are not Christians. Enter Steve. So, we traveled to Toluca, the capitol of the State of Mexico (not the country) and Steve shared about the importance of birthdays and especially of having a second birthday that is eternal. It was a really interesting time. The only down side was that the cooler air and wind furthered Kay’s throat infection.

Monday was more working in the house. I would be glad to tell more about that but it is a blur. Tuesday was Steve renewing his drivers liscence, renewing the car permit, taking another load of house items to storage and making a trip to the bank, WalMart and Home Depot. Kay went to the doctor and worked in her office. Wednesday started earlier when we got a call from the plumber saying he was twenty minutes away. WHAT! That would mean he was arriving an hour early. Thats not suppose to happen in Mexico. Nobody arrives early! Oh well. Steve scrambled and Kay hid in her office. Together the plumber and Steve removed the small hot water heater and installed a new one that heats the water as it passes through the tank meaning an unlimited flow of hot water. After that Steve did some more sealing of the roof over the patio, drilled holes in the bathroom walls for the shower curtain and organizing some. In the evening we had a huge break through with one of our studies. Tonya and Luis have two boys. Although not married they share the same home. By using the word “share” you can guess that at this time they are not really a couple. Well, Steve was asked to do a child dedication for their youngest who will be turning one later this month. We talked to them on Wednesday night about this and shared with them what they as parents will need to be prepared to commit themselves to. This opened the door for a conversation about their own convictions. Tonya has made a profession of faith and is growing through our study. Luis struggles in this area. He really does want his kids to receive the best training and to know Jesus, but has his doubts about himself. By the end of the evening Luis had agreed to enter into a time of study with Steve.  Please be in prayer for Luis and for our study. By this time Kay was not the only sick one in the house. Steve will not go into detail but was not feeling real chipper. Non-the-less, the next morning he was out playing futbol (soccer) and meeting a few new guys. When the game ended he showered and went to bed, again. In the afternoon we had an invitation to a bistesis, or a cookout. It was in another part of the neighborhoodat the home of Carlos and Yeri. The rain tried to interfere but in the end it was a success. Steve offered our grill to help with the cooking and they took him up on his offer. It was good that Steve had played soccer in the morning since the main cook was Juan Hernandez whom Steve met playing soccer that morning. We also met Juan’s wife and little boy Diego and Pedro’s wife and little girl Jasmin. Pedro is one the guys that works at the taco restaurant. Both of these families are within walking distance. It is certainly our prayer that these new contacts will lead to new opportunities to lead people to a new or deeper relationship with Jesus in the future.

This morning (Friday, August 10th) has started with telephone calls, internet activity and more plans to organize the house. We wish you a great day and may the Lord bless you and yours.

Steve and Kay

 

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