Viva Mexico!

This was the "grito" - the shout - that was heard last night at sundown in Dolores Hidalgo (a central Mexican city named for the hero of Mexican independence from Spain) and Mexican citizens throughout the country began to celebrate at that moment, continuing through the night and all day today - their day of Independence, 16 de septiembre. Mexico is 199 years old today!

We are giving the boys the day off homeschool and are heading to the centro in a few minutes to see the festivities...

Viva Mexico!

Happy Grandparents Day!!

Marc and I are wishing our parents, Henry and Jan Miller and Leonard and Janet Sankey a wonderful Grandparents Day! Our children are so blessed to have your footsteps to follow. We love you!

Fall 2009 Bible Institute Classes

Announcing the Fall 2009 Mexico Bible Methodist Institute Classes

in Salamanca, Guanajuato, Mexico

October 19 - 23, 2009: Monday - Friday

Visiting Professors will be:

• Heartland BM Conference President G. Clair Sams and his wife, Melba, teaching classes on Church Leadership and Sis. Sams will be speaking to the ladies.

• Hope International Missions Director Sidney Grant will be teaching classes on Eschatology and Hermeneutics.

Bible Institute President Eliezer Balderas will be teaching classes on Christian Education and Homiletics. Field Director Marc Sankey will be conducting Pastoral Mentoring Sessions. HIM Pastor Abel (Salamanca) will be teaching classes on Christian Life. The Sankeys will be teaching English Classes.

This promises to be a very full week of Biblical training and mentoring. Please help us pray for safety for our professors and pastors/families who will be traveling to the classes and for God's Spirit to rest on us during this special week.

Friend Time in the Afternoon

Jazhiel and Marlene (Pastor Dolores and Sylvia's 2 middle children) go to school in the morning. So this afternoon, while the rain amazingly held off and when Logan was finished with his schoolwork, Jazhiel and Marlene brought their bikes over and had a great time playing together.

Off to the park!

3 cute kids...Logan loves his friends. I think he thinks he's one of them. :-) and in most ways, he is.

(Our house and Sequoia in the background)

High Water

It has rained so much in Saltillo lately...here's the "lake" we have to cross to get to church. This is one of the main roads where HEB (our nice grocery store) is located. The drainage system on the roads obviously leaves alot to be desired. And really this picture doesn't do it justice at all; right, Beth?

New Friends and "arepas"

We have recently made some wonderful new friends in our colonia! Quite by accident, I might say. Our boys, while playing with the neighborhood kids in the park, had kicked their soccer ball over the wall of the neighboring house. :-( Anyway...we met Jason and Aurora when we went to retrieve the ball. Imagine our surprise to meet English-speaking neighbors!

We have so much enjoyed getting to know them. They invited us to their home last Saturday for dinner - Venezuelan arepas. Aurora is from Venezuela.

They were so delicious - thanks, Aurora and Jason!

You can see the arepas on Marc's plate. They are similar to gorditas (if you know what those are), made with white corn meal, fried in a skillet, and then stuffed with delicious steak, peppers, onions, and cheese - so good!

Aurora and I have enjoyed walking around the colonia together and hope to do it again soon. If this rain will ever go away!

Special Song by the Men

The men of the Saltillo Church sang a special song tonight in the service. They did so good!

Marc and Bro. Jose Correa sang a duet on part of the song.

The easiest donuts ever...

If you're in the mood for fresh donuts and only have a can of refrigerated biscuits on hand, you're in luck! :-)

Cut them in pieces, fry them in oil until lightly browned, roll in white sugar (or sugar and cinnamon) and eat while warm....yumm! delicious!

Marlene and her new bike

The Auburn Bible Methodist Church (Heartland) has sent 12 brand new bikes to Mexico as gifts for our Mexican children. Marlene, our pastor's daughter, was the first to receive one. Her smile says it all!

English Tutor Sessions with Melisa

Melisa's afternoon school schedule doesn't allow her to come to the Monday evening English classes, so I am tutoring her in my home on Saturday mornings. In exchange for the class, she's helping me with housework when we're finished with the lesson. I'm loving it. :-)

That day, Tere also came and helped me out in the house and with the yard work. Love these girls!

First Day of School

Yes, I know, I'm late. Our first day of homeschool was 2 weeks ago and I'm just now blogging about it. I have my excuses but..... :-)

Jordan has made the transition into High School - he's in 9th grade this year.

Cameron is in 7th and Logan is in 5th.

The English Class Learning Matthew 4:19

Back to School Project

Thanks to Pam Wilson and the wonderful people at the Bible Methodist Church in Fairmont, WV (Heartland) for their contribution of items for this Back to School Project. They sent notebooks, glue, pencils and crayons. The children and youth go back to school tomorrow morning so these supplies are a very timely blessing! Thanks, Pam and the Fairmont people! We were able to not only give these supplies out today in Saltillo, but have already given a big box to the 4 pastors in the border region - they were to give out the supplies to their church children today.

Miguel, Cameron's friend in his SS Class. Sis. Ana Correa is their teacher.

Melisa Correa

Kevin, one of the students in my SS Class - he's such a sweetie! He keeps us laughing in SS with the witty things he says.

Diana Hdz.

Kevin's twin, Dariela..also in my SS class. Such an angel.

Institute Planning Session

This past week we met with Institute President Eli Balderas, his wife Isela and their two boys at the guest house at RGBI to discuss and plan the next session of Bible Institute Classes coming up in October in Salamanca, Mexico. We visited the wonderful bookstore there on the campus, full of resources and books in Spanish and were able to purchase all the books for the upcoming classes. We're so excited to announce the details of this next Bible Institute session - watch for those details coming soon!

Checking out books and resources in the bookstore.

Another exciting thing happened recently...I was telling my good friend Isela (pictured here) about our ladies meetings/scrapbook classes here in Saltillo. She told me that for some time she has been wanting to organize Ladies' Activities in their church in Rio Bravo. I brought a "starter kit" box full of things for her to get started with this new venture. She has done some SBing in the past and will be able to help the ladies work with their photos. I am so excited about this expanding ministry to our Mexican ladies!

Afterwards we went to Denny's to enjoy a good American meal! Here are their two boys, Irving and Ervin.

Jordan and Ervin - good friends for almost 4 years now.

We thank God for our dedicated Bible Institute President and family. Please continue to keep them in your prayers!

Youth Activity

Last Saturday evening, Marc and I were in charge of the Saturday Youth Activity. We met at the church for a devotional and choir practice, then brought everyone here to our house for nachos and games. We taught them how to play Dutch Blitz. They had never played it before - it was hilarious! But they did a great job. Love our young people - they're the best!

Jordan's borrowed shades crack me up!