"New Year Resolutions" by Ashleigh

I'm not very big into celebrating New Years. I never really have been. I think it is because somewhere deep inside always resented the push for "New Years resolutions" and "starting new in a new year". Change should be able to happen any day of the year and it always seemed silly to me to wait until a certain date on the calendar. The things that should change are faced in the day-to-day parts of life.

New Years has always been much more important for me in a solemn and reflective kind of way. I usually spend some time thinking over the last year and what life was like one year ago as I was looking forward into a new year. Remembering the spiritual triumphs that I had by the grace of God, the trials by fire that I was not expecting, and the areas that I did not have the strength to stand firm.

As I was looking forward into 2009 I prayed that God would allow a season of spiritual rest and refreshment as there had been, what a appeared to me, a long period of spiritual attacks and stretching lessons. I longed for a reprieve, for a spiritual plateau and time of rest. The prayer and the hope for that faded on January 2nd when I got a call informing me that my grandmother had had a heart attack, was taken to the hospital and then went into cardiac arrest. (She had double bypass surgery and by God's grace is doing fine now.) This last year has been much of the same for me with lesson and testing upon temptation and trial it seems. Lots of refining fires and tests to reveal my true self. It wasn't the year that I prayed for and it wasn't a spiritual plateau like I had desired but through it all God has been more then sufficient.

So, as I am peering into the beginning of 2010 I wonder what kind of year it will be. I decided not to ask for the same request this year as I did last year. This year my heart is asking of the Lord for the ability to be steadfast and faithful. In every day and every moment that my eyes would be turned heavenward and that whatever my physical position my soul will rest in the Lord. There are a lot of unknowns for me this year. My two year commitment with Fishers of Men will be up in March. Although I feel like God is calling me to stay until at least May what lies beyond that is still a mystery that is veiled from sight. But, no matter, God knows and I can rest in that.

I challenge you to also look back and remember. Remember God's faithfulness to you during this last year. Remember His mercy and grace that has been poured out on you. However, also be willing to remember where you did not stand strong or perhaps were not faithful. Remember God's mercy to you in those times. Rejoice that you have lived to see another year completed and that you have more opportunities stretched before you to continue climbing higher. I encourage you to spend some time really meditating on the words to the song "Higher Ground".

I'm pressing on the upward way

New heights I'm gaining every day,

Still praying as I'm onward bound,

"Lord plant my feet on higher ground".

My heart has no desire to stay,

Where doubts arise and fears dismay.

Tho' some may dwell where these abound,

My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

I want to live above the world,

Tho' Satan's darts at me are hurled;

For faith has caught the joyful sounds,

The song of saints on higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height,

And catch a gleam of glory bright;

But still I'll pray till heaven I've found,

"Lord, lead me on to higher ground".

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,

By faith on heaven's table-land.

A higher plain than I have found,

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Christmas Carrots....by Lucy

Well, it’s our turn to write again. I hope you are not too tired of hearing about Christmas yet because we’ve had a lot of people ask us how our first Christmas in Mexico was. I thought we would share about our day here. Actually Christmas Eve is where I will start because that is when our celebration began. Ashleigh spent the day preparing a feast of lasagna, garlic bread, and ...carrots. You might ask, “Why carrots?” Well, this is sidetracking just a bit, but let me share a quick story about carrots.

Here where we live, sometimes when fruits and vegetables are in season, you can purchase them for next to nothing. Earlier in the week, Victor had found a deal on carrots. They were about $1.50 for a bag that held more than a bushel of carrots! What that means for everyone here is that we will be eating carrots in many ways for a while. Victor bought 10 bags of carrots! We gave most of the bags away to friends, but still had 3 bags to deal with. We have had cream of carrot soup, stir fried carrots, raw carrots, vegetable soup, and carrot cake (Thanks to Kim Roller’s recipe!). We also froze some of the carrots, and have a few left to figure out what to do with.

Anyway, back to Christmas. I pointed out the carrots to show that it was different here than back home in Indiana. After supper, we had 3 piñatas for the “kids” to break open, from the youngest (Daniel) to the oldest (Mark). It was fun to watch the big kids get blindfolded, spun around, and hunt for the elusive piñata being controlled by Victor from on top of the slide! Later after dark, Victor set off fireworks. Since Mark was a volunteer fireman, I figured he might help, but he chose to stay out of Victor’s way! At one point, a firework landed in one of the trees, lighting it up like a Christmas tree. Mark said, “He thought maybe it was the burning bush from Moses’ story, and that God would be speaking with us soon! Anyway, nothing caught on fire, and we enjoyed fireworks for the rest of the night and next day since everyone celebrates with fireworks here (The big booming firecracker kind!).

Christmas morning we slept in till 8 a.m. I went down to put our sausage casserole in the oven, then came back to the school to have “Christmas” with our family and Ashleigh (the unofficial member of our family here in the basement!). We opened stocking stuffers and got to try some new Mexican candy. Then we had our breakfast of sausage casserole and cinnamon rolls. By this time, the Zaragoza family had already finished opening gifts and were playing with their toys. Victor even had to go on a scavenger hunt to find his gift! We opened our gifts from each other, and a few sent by family and friends back home. It was fun, and we enjoyed watching each other open gifts. Joanna has already made a hat on her Nifty Knitter, and is starting a blanket. Aaron will soon be enjoying his punching bag in his own room in our apartment, and some music from I Tunes. We were lazy most of the day, just enjoying each other’s company and no responsibility (although I think if I had let him, Mark would have been back working in the apartment to try to finish it soon!).

It was a different kind of day than we are used to in the States, but it was a good day. It came without the Christmas programs at school, all the Christmas goodies in the teachers’ lounge, the extended family Christmases, the decorations and lights on all the homes we passed, the turkey with all the trimmings, and Christmas caroling (although we did try to carol to the Zaragoza family and Cirino’s family earlier in the week) in the snow and cold.

It reminds me of the story, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” He tried to take away their Christmas by taking all the stuff away that he thought was Christmas to them. Instead, he found out that “Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!” Despite being without our normal Christmas routine, Christmas came just the same. The story didn’t change. Jesus came. Praise God!

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

Daniel with one of his brother's gifts

Fidel riding his go-cart

Martha's turn with the pinata

Ana bringing the pinata home

"Appologies" by Ashleigh

I know you all were expecting Julie to post today but the day finds Julie in bed with a rather nasty cold and energy levels close to nil. Please pray for a quick recovery and strength to return to everyday activities!

I first off want to apologize for the lack of posting last Friday. I had every intention of posting Christmas evening but life had other ideas. :) I had an airport run that I had to make Christmas Day. I left around 3:20pm and was thinking that I would be back by 6 or 7, with plenty of time to post. The flight was canceled, changed airlines, changed terminals, and then didn't ship the baggage until the next flight from Miami. So, we finally arrived back at the Ranch at around 11pm! By that time my bed had been calling my name for quite some time.

Saturday Victor and Julie were gone most of the day and so I ended up at the house working on some project that had gotten out of control (aka-laundry, refrigerator, bushels of carrots). When Magda and Rosa leave there is a lot that piles up rather quickly! :) Plus, Victor had found bushel bags of carrots on sale for a little over a dollar each so he brought a bunch home. We had almost two bags left on the porch but they were starting to turn black because it had gotten below freezing the other night. Thanks to Lucy and Joanna's help we were able to get those peeled, sliced and frozen for future use. So, by Saturday night I wasn't feeling like blogging either. (I have been fighting a cold for the last week myself but it hasn't gotten as bad as Julie's)

And as for Sunday, I refused to work on needed responsibilities on the day of rest. I spent an hour and a half sitting out in the sun with the Marshalls for a devotional time. As I am not usually out in the sun in the middle of the day for that long I even got a sunburn! (Hey, someone has to "suffer for Jesus"!) We ran to the grocery store, ate lunch, and then I tackled cleaning up Julie and Victor's room as a surprise. No one like to be sick, have no energy and have a messy room that you can't relax in.

As penance for not posting on Friday I am posting a video clip of the staff singing "The Gift Goes On" last Sunday at the Christmas service at church. The sound isn't the greatest as it just picked up what it could but I think it will give you a taste of what we did as a group at church for the Christmas this year.

More Than a Gift, by Mark

It has been difficult for me to get into the "spirit of the season" this year. I have read and reread scripture about the birth of our Savior, including Old Testament prophecy. I don't know if I am missing the cold Indiana weather, the lights and decorations, the goodies that I love to devour this time of year, all the Christmas celebrations, or a combination of them all. But it doesn't "feel" like Christmas. This past Sunday I got a little of each of the possible missing elements. Our church service was moved to 4:00pm and included Christmas music, a Christmas play, and a carry-in dinner.

One of the special musical numbers was the song "The Gift Goes On" sung by the Refuge Ranch Singers. Julie led the group and played the piano. Josiah played the drums. Diana played the violin. Joanna played the flute. Lucy and Ashleigh were featured with solos and Martita, Angie, Joci, Lolis, Fidel, Aaron, Martha, and Erika joined in singing in English and Spanish. I had been listening to this group practice for several days. I was amazed the first time I heard them because I was in our apartment, building walls. I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised. (I can often hear the children playing inside, from outside.) With all those voices singing together, one might think they could be heard in Mexico City!

The Refuge Ranch Singers

"The Father gave the Son,
The Son gave the Spirit,
The Spirit Gives us life
So we can give the gift of love."

The words of the song have continued to play in my mind since Sunday. It is funny to me to see how different events in our lives affect later parts of our lives. Several years ago, (I think before Aaron was born) I was working on our house and asked a friend to give me some pointers on how to finish the seams on my new drywall. He gladly came over, brought new tools and supplies, and taught me the fine art of drywall finishing. Since that time, I have lived in two other houses, one of which I did a major remodel to and got to use the skills Roger taught me. Today I was thinking about Roger again. Who would have thought 17 years ago that I was learning a skill I would put to use in Mexico? Lucy, the kids, and I have been working on the walls of our apartment. We are to the point of taping the seams, so I have been thinking about the gift Roger gave me. It is a gift that continues to go on.

Apartment walls in progress

We have been shopping for Christmas gifts, looking for some way to express our feelings of love and appreciation for those on our gift lists. The amazing thing is that we have this opportunity everyday. There are just a lot of days that I don't take it. Everyday has a chance to give the gift of love. Whether it is teaching a new skill or sharing a smile to let some one know you care, the Gift can go on.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Bringing Lolis Home!

Martita and Lolis - together at last!

First of all, sorry for being a day late on this blog. I promised it to you on Monday, but we lost electricity on Sunday night until nearly noon on Monday, which means we also lost internet service because our router needs electrical power. By the time the electricity came back on, Victor and I had left on our once-a-year-marathon-Christmas-shopping-session! But, here is the story you have been waiting for!

Victor and I enjoyed nearly four hours on the road alone with Martita on our way to our state capital, the city of Toluca, early Thursday morning. With twelve children, we relish the one-on-one time that we get with each child! Martita's younger sister is named Maria Dolores, after the girls' birth mother who passed away shortly after the infant Maria Dolores was born. However, now, Maria Dolores likes to be called "Lolis", pronounced "Lo-lees". She has been living for the last two years with an uncle and aunt and their three boys. The uncle is one of the girls' father's 15 siblings!

We arrived at the family flower shop, which was still closed and, as we were turning the van around to go and look for the uncle and aunt's home, one of the girls' cousins came walking up to the shop. So, he got in the van and took us to their home. We had to park a little ways away from the aunt and uncle's home and walk through some paved alleyways and up some steps to get to their home. As we were walking through the alleys, Lolis came around a corner and nearly ran straight into Martita! They both stopped dead in their tracks and stared at each other for a bit, trying to believe that they were really seeing one another! Then, they quickly engulfed each other in a huge hug! They had not seen each other for nearly two years! Needless to say, tears of joy were shed, even by Victor! (I kept myself busy taking pictures or I would have been sopping wet in my own tears!)

Martita and Lolis hugging each other for the first time in nearly two years!

Lolis was dressed in an old pair of jeans, shoes too big for her and had on an old skirt on top of the jeans. This is typical dress for handwashing laundry, where we assume she had just come from. We all climbed up to the aunt and uncle's home and were welcomed by the girls' aunt. Lolis quickly went to take a bucket shower while we visited in the small living room.

Martita and us have been trying to convince this aunt and uncle to let Lolis come and live with us for the last two years and they have never been willing to do so. However, on this visit the aunt's attitude was totally different! In fact, she kept praising herself and her husband for all they have done for Lolis and how much they were going to miss her, but that it would be selfish of them to keep her when they know that the girls really want to be together! Despite the fact that this attitude and even what she was saying did not coincide with all that Lolis had told Martita by phone (that she would be doing laundry until 9:30 p.m. for her cousins, outdoors and in the cold; that she didn't go to school for a long time after living with them, etc.), we went along with all the aunt was saying so as not to rock the boat and be able to get Lolis out of there as soon as possible.

Within an hour we had left the aunt's home, with Lolis, and all of her personal belongings. They all fit in a plastic grocery store bag! As we were walking back to the car, I gave Lolis a side hug, not wanting to overwhelm her with a front hug, and she immediately wrapped her arm around me and locked on! I told her how we had loved her even before we knew her and how happy we were that she was a part of our family. She did not let go of me until we got to the van and even then I had to unwrap her arm from around me so that she could get in!

Martita giving Lolis make-up tips within an hour of being together!

From there, we drove about an hour to the girls' home town, where their grandfather, uncles and aunts live, including the uncle with whom Lolis had been living. (He and his wife, the girls' aunt, have been having some marital problems and he is back in his hometown, rather than in Toluca with his wife and boys. However, it is these marital problems that drove them to their willingness to let Lolis go. Truly the Lord works out all things for the good of those who love Him!)

After meeting several family members at a local flower shop, we drove down a dirt road and stopped alongside it in an area where several more family members live. Soon, we were having an impromptu family reunion in a ditch between the dirt road and a cornfield! Several aunts, cousins, the uncle and grandfather were all present. As soon as we got out of the van, Lolis came to my side, put her arm around me and laid her head down on my shoulder. Ever since her first hug and first look into my eyes I got the feeling that her heart was saying: "Where have you been my whole life? You are finally here! I finally have a family again!" Martita and Lolis ran off to visit another aunt's house nearby as Victor and I continued our conversation with the rest of the family members. Within a few minutes, the girls' uncle (with whom Lolis had been living) was praying to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Quite a few of the girls' family members are Christians and this uncle knew about Jesus, but had never wanted to make a decision to follow Him. However, his life circumstances had driven him to utter desperation and his realization that he truly needed Christ!

Martita and Lolis with some of their extended family members.

Before leaving, this same uncle signed over informal guardianship of the girls to us, as he was the one with guardianship of them. In a little bit we were back on the road heading home!


When we got back to the city of Toluca we splurged and ate at Applebee's! We had seen the Applebee's on the way into Toluca and decided to eat their on the way home. There are only about 5 Applebee's in the whole country and it had been YEARS since Victor and I had eaten at one.


Martita ordered baby back ribs with french fries and Lolis decided on a hamburger with french fries. (I think because there was a picture of one in the menu, and trying to read the menu was a bit overwhelming.) Martita ate her french fries first, so Lolis did too! Then, Lolis said something to Martita that I couldn't hear, but Martita responded: "That's your food, too! Eat it!" Lolis was asking about what to do with her hamburger! She didn't know how to eat a hamburger! So, we showed her how to pick it up and bite into it.

Martita, Lolis, Julie and Victor in Applebee's

Our experiences on Thursday reminded me a bit of Jesus Christ coming to earth as God in human flesh. He was seated at the right hand of God Almighty on his Heavenly throne and then came to be born as a helpless baby in a dirty stable. During Jesus' stay on earth, he was as comfortable among fisherman and shepherds, as around religious leaders and the elite of the city! We experienced a small glimpse of that on Thursday as we sat in a cornfield visiting with the girls' relatives and then, within two hours, were seated in Applebees with the elite of Toluca. (Applebees is an upper class restaurant here.) What a contrast! Yet God's presence, power and peace remain the same wherever we are and there are people in both places that are thirsting to have a drink of the true Living Water.

We got home around 9 p.m. on Thursday night and Lolis was greeted by very eager young siblings and rather hesitant older siblings. But, praise the Lord, by the next morning the Zaragoza family ship had begun to settle once again. Friday morning, Lolis went to open air market with Victor and Angie (our family fashion consultant) to buy some clothing and Friday night she got a new haircut by Angie (also our family hair stylist!).

Angie giving Lolis a haircut.

Lolis is a huge bundle of energy that bounds around everywhere! She tussles with the younger ones and doesn't stop hugging EVERYBODY! She wants hugs, hugs, hugs and kisses, kisses, kisses. Although Lolis is 12 years old, she has the social and emotional maturity of about a 7 year old! From what Martita has told me, she repeated first grade two or three times and was sent to third grade based on her age. So, next week I will spend some time evaluating her educational needs to see what grade we will start her in.


In the meantime, she gets to spend her first Christmas with her new family! Rosa has gone to buy material to sew her stocking and Victor went to go purchase her Christmas present - a new bicycle!

Christmas began with the gift of life - the gift of Jesus' life! So, it is only fitting that our family receive the gift of a human life this year - Lolis' life!

"Nativities and Additions" by Ashleigh

I had the perfect idea for this post and was all prepared to type it out. I was going to tell you about art class this afternoon and the fun that we had. I still plan on telling you all about it but something else is pressing in on my thoughts even more. Martita's little sister who arrived last night.

You see, many of you will remember a little girl (Poula) that we were going to bring home from church one Sunday and it all fell through last minute? I was so anxious and nervous the two weeks before while the plans were being made. How do you love someone who is a complete stranger? How do you communicate that you love them (through a language barrier no less) without scarring them to death. To the world, loving someone you don't know is impossible and they cannot see the God factor in the equation. It doesn't enter their minds that God pours forth so much love that if we are willing to receive it, then it spills out onto other people. Especially in this situation. On top of that everything is new and overwhelming to them. You are strange and American. You don't speak Spanish well and what you do speak you have an accent that they are not use to hearing and in the end they understand very little. You don't want to come across as distant or uninterested in them as a person either. So many doubts, fears, question, so many unknowns. I was sick to my stomach with nervousness the day that Poula was suppose to come home with the family.

Getting Martita's sister happened rather quickly (as most things happen around here). I spent the day at the house and yesterday evening until Julie and Victor got back. I have made it a personal guideline to disappear when a new child arrives. The other little kids are usually really excited and kind of pounce when they get home, the new child is scared and overwhelmed, and they need some time connecting as a family without the addition of staff. They can meet me in the morning is my thinking. That's soon enough.

So, when Victor and Julie walked in I gave Julie a very short run down and said goodnight right as Martita and her sister were walking through the door. I wanted to so badly to walk over and just give her a big hug. I can't really express to you the emotions that I was/am feeling but they bring tears to my eyes. My heart wants so badly to share with her that everything is going to be ok now and somehow say it in such a way that she will believe me. But I know that only time and Christ can truly teach that truth.

As I got to my room and got ready for a hot shower a thought stopped me in my tracks, literally. "Where is the fear, the questions, and the doubts that I had about new kids coming? Where is the wondering if I will be able to love them? Where is the anxiousness in my spirit?" Gone...actually, it never existed with the prospect of getting Martita's sister. I know I was here when Daniel came but a toddler and a 12 year old are totally different. By the grace of God and the lessons He has taught me about living in the moment and loving fully, without restraint or fear, are paying off apparently. It is the only thing that my lack of nervousness can be attributed too. I have nothing to lose and a heart full of love to give. What a wonderful place to be in! What an assurance that God is molding me! I can't wait to share stories with all of you about getting to know Martita's sister and learning how best to show her God's love.

As for art class...that seems rather anti-climatic having shared the other stuff. However, it's rather cool also! Back in June Emy brought down a ceramic nativity set that was not painted. Being the art teacher, I will admit to hording it until the Christmas season and using it as a fun art project. I didn't know if the kids would get into it or not (seeing that it had to do with Christmas) but I was pleasantly surprised! They all seemed to really enjoy themselves and do their best. Part way through I turned on some of the Christmas music in Spanish that I had bought and it was well received! I even had some of the kids humming along! We had great fun! So, I thought I would include a couple of pictures of the kids working on their projects. I wanted to include a picture of the finished nativity but it isn't quite ready. I have two more pieces that need painting (one being baby Jesus). I was thinking that would be a good project for Martita and her sister to work on in the next couple of days. (Thank you Emy so much for bringing that down and providing me with an art class as well as an opportunity to create some good Christmas memories with each one of the kids!)

Fidel painting a shepherd

Joanna painting a goat

Josiah painting a wise man

The Search by Lucy

A few days ago, Mark and I went shopping for the perfect Christmas gifts for Aaron and Joanna. We ventured off on our own to see if we could even find Walmart! Luckily, the directions we were given were good (Look for the yellow sign that is higher than all the rest, and turn right between the two Coke signs!), and we arrived at the Walmart in Cuautla. Then it was off to find the perfect gifts for our kids. Four hours later, we finally left Walmart, tired, hungry, and happy to be leaving. We searched high and low for the things on our list. Some we found. Some we did not. Where do you think they stock coffee filters? With the coffee? No. With the paper products? No. Maybe we'll never know. We tried to ask with no success. We were pointed to the instant coffee, an instant fix. But we left Walmart without coffee filters (Sorry Ashleigh!).

The adventure reminded me of the magi, searching for the newborn king. Their directions were very different from ours (Follow the brightest star in the sky.), and they had a much longer journey to endure (and I felt like 4 hours in Walmart was an eternity!). But they had the star to lead the way, and faith that their search would end with a meeting with the king!

Sometimes people find themselves searching, feeling lost (like in Walmart), and not even knowing what they are searching for. Sometimes we find something that we think is the perfect fit, or an instant fix (like instant coffee), and we buy it. But after we get it home, it is not quite right, or it wears out, or we use it up, and we are off on the search again.

The magi found the perfect gift. Their search ended the day they found the little boy, the king of the universe. May we never stop searching until we find Him too, and may we recognize Him for who He is, the perfect gift, sent to save the world.

The star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down to worship Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, and of incense, and of myrrh. Matthew 2:9b-11