What a Sunday!

We had an awesome Sunday - we were privileged to visit the two Bible Methodist Churches that are within driving distance of Salamanca: our churches in Pedregales and Cuchicuato. (say those 3 times) We had really good services in both places. Marc preached tonight in Cuchicuato. We enjoyed delicious meals with both pastors and their families. They were so kind to host us and so patient with our stumbling,bumbling Spanish. Here's a few photos:

Marc and Pastor Manuel Navarro, Pedregales

Sis. Macedonia and I, Pedregales

Dinner Conversation

The little "chickies" that enjoyed lunch right along with us

Marc preaching in Cuchicuato

My boys were too busy playing and exploring after the services to get too many pictures of them. They are not at all shy, but after a very interesting after-church experience tonight, I found myself wishing they were a little more that way. But that's another story for another post...

I hope your Sunday was blessed, also.

Logan's friends

Logan loves to play Uno...in any language. It was so cute to watch him with his little Mexican friends. He is probably speaking the least Spanish of all our kids, but already acts like he was "born and raised" here. He loves tacos al pastor and totally gobbles las tortillas de harina (flour tortillas).....

January 2007 Newsletter

Good afternoon......We have just completed and sent out our first "real" newsletter. Thanks, Marci, for an awesome job - you're hired! (but without a paycheck...smiles...) Seriously, thank you, Marci - your work is fantastic. If some of you do not receive our monthly newsletter and would like to read it, you can find it at this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bible_methodist_missions/files/MISSIONARY%20NEWSLETTERS%20/ entitled "January 2007 Mexico Newsletter". Please feel free to print a copy and post it on your church bulletin board or wherever people will have an opportunity to read it.

One week from today we will be leaving home to travel to Mexico City, stay overnight and depart early Wednesday morning for Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to participate in Sea Breeze Camp 2007. This will be my first time to fly on a foreign airline - just a little nervous.

Hey, maybe we'll see you there....

Happy Birthday, Myranda

Dear Myranda, my baby sister.....I won't be able to be as eloquent as you were on my birthday but please know that although we are far apart, you are close in thought to me today. I'm sorry you had to experience a loss with your husband and family on your special day. I love you so much and hope there are many wonderful birthdays to come...... ~ Melodie

Back Home in Salamanca

We made it home safely yesterday afternoon around 5 pm. We had a good time in Texas (I LOVED my birthday dinner at Outback) and the chance to relax a little was very needed.
We sang and Marc preached at our church in Soledad (or 28, as they call it) Sunday morning and we sang, he dedicated a baby and preached at Saltillo Sunday night.

We stayed with Jose and Anna Correa and their family after enjoying a meal with the Saltillo pastor and people and also those from La Boca who had come to Saltillo for the joint-service. I might add that during this meal I actually tried fried grasshoppers that Bro. Dolores had brought back from Oaxaca. They were absolutely putrid and disgusting, especially when I sat there looking at their crisp little bodies with the legs fried off.....But I told the people who were ALL watching: "Now I am really a missionary!" I probably said it wrong but they got the point and cracked up anyway.....

We stopped by San Rafael on our way home to visit a moment with Eli's parents who own and operate a tortilleria there in the village. We needed to nail down some details about this upcoming youth convention. It's hard enough for me to hear, process, think and respond in Spanish when the situation is perfect....but when there are machines running in the building so loudly that I can hardly hear anything at all - well, it was quite a challenge. But I must have not botched it completely - we talked for 15 minutes or so...and I left with 4 hot packages of tortillas de maiz!

Well, I need to get moving. Today it's laundry and back to homeschool - and trying to get ready for the work team coming in a few days.

Love you all,
Melodie

p.s. oh yeah, and I went by myself (well, with Logan) to buy lots of groceries last night at the Soriana store. I know...isn't it about time....but for me, it was huge. I didn't get lost and made it back home in one piece, gracias a Dios.

My Birthday

As most of you know, I celebrated my 35th birthday a couple days ago....I know - I'm getting old. It's kinda hard to believe because I definitely don't feel 35, however that may feel...

I received many "felicidades" - warm wishes for a very happy birthday. Thanks to those who sent me ecards...they made my day.

A family from the church here stopped by to bring me flowers and chocolate and wish me a happy birthday.....another family took us out to a nearby coffee shop for some delicious mocha...that's what I chose anyway....I received phone calls and emails.....

I was very remembered on my birthday - thanks........my first in Mexico, and a very happy one indeed.

Morelia

Our family took a really neat trip to Morelia, Michoacan, MX several days ago. Morelia is a beautiful historic town about 2 hours south of Salamanca. Our friends, the Burches, were our tour guides since we had never been there before.

There is so much to see and do - we loved the mountains, the old church and rectory that we toured, the plaza, the coffee shop - guess what? it even has a Burger King...

We also made our way up the side of a huge volcano and stood on the rim to see the huge interior which actually contains an entire village! It was amazing and we were totally impressed.

This is just one of the awesome things about being missionaries - getting to visit these exciting places! We're blessed.........

Jordan Cameron and Logan

Feliz Navidad a Todos!!

Our December Newsletter - Merry Christmas!

December 2006 Newsletter
Bible Methodist Missions in Mexico

Dear Family and Friends,

We want to wish each of you a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! Surely God has been so good to us this year - we have never needed Him more and His presence has never been closer to us. His mercies are new every morning and we have proved it to be true over and over during this past year.

This year of language learning has been intense but profitable for us. Now as we culminate this year with our move into Mexico, we believe God will be faithful to help us just as He has in the past.

Our thanks to our Missions Director, John Parker, for keeping you informed while we were in the process of moving. He was a tremendous blessing to our family as he helped us pack, move, and unpack. Thank you, Uncle John!

Thanks also to so many of you who have sent beautiful Christmas cards and gifts to our family. The Beach City, OH Bible Methodist Church sent a big box of wrapped gifts which are now under our tree here in Salamanca. (The customs officials only opened a couple at the checkpoint). We are so blessed by your kindness and love.

We could not have made it through this past week without the wonderful help of fellow misisonaries, Philip, Collette, and Alicia Burch. They have been an immense support to us, cleaning and readying our home for our arrival, hosting us and feeding us delicious meals, and much more. Thank you, Burches! Also thanks to our Bible Institute President, Eli and Isela Balderas and their boys for helping make us welcome and working to prepare our home.

Our home here in Salamanca is beautiful and we already love it.

We have interesting stories to tell of our first week - but suffice it to say that my new title is "Field Superintendent/Rat Slayer" - in a battle between BB guns and rats, the guns always win......

We certainly have many challenges ahead of us, adjusting to the culture here and progressing in the Spanish language. Please pray that God will give us special strength during these days.

We love you all.
Merry Christmas!

Marc and Melodie Sankey
Jordan, Cameron, and Logan
msankey@bmmissions.org
melodiesankey@yahoo.com