Our Family in Mexico

So now that I have verbalized my thoughts about Mexico and our experience there I thought it would be vital for me to update in the form of pictures. While in Mexico Hallie learned to crawl, talk a lot more, learned to sit up, and ate baby food for the first time. It was a very exciting time as far as Miss Hallie Lou goes. She also was a major barrier breaker and we met lots of people because of our cute little girl with blue eyes, blonde hair, and pale skin. My favorite moments were when someone we really knew well held Hallie. That was awesome. Pablo, Eva, Inocenta, Miguel, etc. Those moments were wonderful because even though I didn't speak their language that well, it was like we could enjoy the wonder of new life together...and we could start with marveling at God's creation.

We enjoy two wonderful sunrises looking out at the Pacific Ocean, and ocean that I had never seen before. You might be asking how we could see the sunrise on the Pacific...it's because we were in a cove like part of the southern tip of Mexico that faces the east.
Shane and I learned a lot about each other, and watched as both of us grew in our relationship with Christ. It was amazing to see how close we felt when we had nothing else to distract us like we do in the States. We learned more about depending on the Lord and each other, rather than our own strength. I learned to trust the Lord for every moment, and was taught to have faith in God's future Grace that is in Christ Jesus. We grew together as a family as we all to had to be patient with each other.When we left La Barra, we felt like the Lord had given us direction...Missions. We don't know when, or where, or even how...but we know that God has given us that direction for now. Perhaps that direction is merely to teach us to trust Him and live as missionaries...which is what all of us should be doing. Perhaps it is to teach us to trust God wholeheartedly with our lives. Truly, ONLY the LORD knows. We will trust in Him with our lives...we have no other option.

We are so grateful that God gave us a special blessing on this trip...Cara Bebee. We love you Hermana en Jesus! Have we ever told you that we were glad you were there!? May the blessing return to you a hundredfold...(sound familiar!) You will constantly be in our prayers as you trust the Lord with your life, and live as a missionary in this world. We praise the Lord for all that we learned together on our great adventure...and marvel at what He is still teaching us. Praise the Lord that He had answered prayers in a way that we never would have thought of.
Our trip taught us more than what missionaries do, we learned about fatherhood, motherhood, married life, the Body of Christ, the Gospel, God's grace, and the faith the He gives us to trust in Him.
2 Timothy 2:1 says "Be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus" and we definitely learned more about how to do that. Praise the Lord.