Wanna Serve This Summer?

We are looking for some amazing people who want to sacrifice their summer to come visit us for 4, 6, or 8 weeks this summer!

If you are looking to do something different and want to make an eternal impact, consider hanging out with us (or any other Camino Global field)!

If you are interested, Karin wants to talk to you!

Camino Global Team Video

Our "team" for Camino Global is so much bigger than what is happening in Ixtapaluca... take a look!

Camino Mexico!!

Just got home (last night) from a conference with all the missionaries in Camino Global.

It was a BEAUTIFUL water park with warm spring water....

the problem was that it was... cold outside!
This was the typical look of worship time....

It was a good time catching up with friends who serve all over Mexico with great teachings, fun games, lots of food and relaxation.

Please pray for all of us here in Mexico! 

What you learn at a hospital in Mexico

For the record: I was not the patient, just the person WITH the patient ;)

1.  Never, ever take for granted the technological advanced-ness that the hospitals in the States have.
There were stone age type writers, x-ray machines and ways of taking blood.

2. Sometimes you have to question if the nurse is old enough to drive let alone have gone to college to be a nurse.

3. If they take a part of you out (during surgery) they will give you that piece (as a keepsake?) after surgery.

4. Coffee. Where is it? Seriously lacking in the coffee department

5. If you take someone to the hospital, be prepared to sign a million forms. Sign that you will be responsible for meds, payment, sign a paper every time you talk to the doctors etc. I probably signed my name 100 times.

6. You have to pay a deductible before they will even do emergency surgery, and finish paying before you leave the hospital.

7. You need to keep an eye on IV's. They will run out and you need to find someone to switch it... or it will be empty for hours.

8. Sometimes you have to be willing to argue and go to the people ten times to get the care that is needed. (even when they look at you like your crazy or annoyed at you)

9. ONE person to be in the patients room at a time. They have a guard sitting at the bottom of the steps. Sometimes I was able to outsmart him, sometimes I got yelled at ;)

10. Very different sanitation rules... Clean but not as clean.... needles just in trash cans, walls scuffed up, floors needing mopped etc.

11. (observation from Jessica) Surgery rooms is not a room like in the states. There were lots of people, no prep room, and not much privacy for patient.
There is also no room for recovery. They just put you in your room!

12. Never believe what the first person says.... always ask at least three. That goes for doctors AND nurses.

13. Nurses can give meds behind the doctors back *and you will probably be thankful for that*

14. Not a super organized chart keeping system.

15. The average cost for an appendectomy in the US, $27,000 *without insurance* plus medicines
The cost for one in Ixtapaluca Mexico, $900 plus medicines



All and all, good experience at the hospital. Pretty good care, just not what you would expect in the good 'ol U S of A. But hey, can't be the price really.
Remember, just bring your own coffee.

Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving dinner is one of the absolute best meals of the entire year. Seriously, there is turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, salads, pies.... ok ok the list goes on.

But as people sit around the house, or table smelling ALL the great food (i am pretty sure that is torture), there are other traditions... Giving thanks.
You often hear people talk about thanking God for a house, freedom, family, friends, the dog. But, it is pretty rare that we are actually giving thanks for the ONE person who actually gives us all the stuff.

I am just as guilty as the next person. I am really good about thanking God for all He has done for me, but somehow in all these things, I forget to give thanks FOR God who blesses me immensely every single day.

It probably has something to do with saying 'thanks' for things that you see is just easy.

This year, I want to reteach myself to be thankful for God.

I want to "give thank for the Lord, for He is good; his love endures forever" (Psalm 106:1)
I want to give Him thanks and praise for His glorious name (1 Chronicles 29:13)
I want my hear tot leap for joy and sing songs of thanksgiving to Him (Psalm 28:7)

God loves to bless us with the things....the families, friends, house, education. But before He gave us any of the stuff we have, He gave us Himself. And so this Thanksgiving, I want to acknowledge God and praise His name.

team meetings, big church services, and new houses

Last Friday we enjoyed some sights and sounds of Puebla with our camino team. Lots of food, presents, farris wheel and a ride in Chalo's 1922 car!

Sunday we had a circuit church service. Bible churches all over the city got together to worship and hang out together-- 400+ people! After lunch a couple of us went up to Paso de Cortes because it was a clear day and we were close! 

 And finally, we found a house to rent (for me) in Las Palmas. The entire first floor is going to be the new Tiempo de Vivir Community Center. I will move there at the beginning of January. Right now repairs are going on. You can be praying for this new place!

Back in the Wheel Chair Business!

Finally, we are receiving more wheelchairs--- 50 actually! We have been privileged to be able to aid the community in giving the gift of mobility!  Rod wrote a blog about it today, check it out!  

Please pray for us as we use these wheelchairs to share the Love of God in Ixtapaluca!

The End of the Year is coming!

Looking to give a year end gift to something? Well, I have 

some very fabulous options for you. 

In no particular order:

1. I am trying to buy a car here in Mexico. It will allow me to get around easier, save time, be safer at night and haul around all the groups and interns that visit. Click here if you are interested in helping me with this need.

2. My personal Camino account, which helps me live day to day in Mexico. All donations are tax deductible! Click here!

3. Our community Center in Mexico is part of the Christmas at Camino Campaign. We are starting a new community center in January and will have lots of needs (sports equipment,  office supplies, etc etc). Click here. All donations are tax deductible!

Questions, send me an e-mail!

The Middle

This week marks the middle of our community center classes for this block. I can hardly believe that is half over already.

It is fun to see new people and the same faces coming to our community center in Jesus Maria, the great connections we are seeing in the new neighborhood in Las Palmas, getting to know ladies in Acozac and having the opportunity to get to work in one of the Gov't buildings in Ixtapaluca.

We have something for everyone in our classes... baking, guitar, lots of english, dance, crafts, etc. Fun for the whole family!

Please continue to pray for all the craziness happening here, we sure appreciate it!

Fair in Palmas

November 1st is the normal day when all the kiddos dress up and go door to day asking for candy, it is also the Day of the dead where people set up alters to their friends and family who have passed on.

But, since Friday is our normal day to have the kids bible club in Las Palmas, we had a little fair. Games (don't tell him i told you this, but Rod's game fish game was a huge hit) , candy, a small devotional, more candy.... =)
We had a pretty good turn out. Most of the kiddos that come to our english classes came, the normal kids club peeps, and some kiddos that we didn't know.

Good Night.