Christmas Cookies and Goodies

The last two days, Erin and I have been making cookies and other goodies. 

It is really beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. 

Erin making Peanut Butter Kiss cookies.

These turned out perfect!

Muddy Buddies or Puppy Chow, depending on what you know them as.

Can I try one now?

Chocolate Chip cookies

Chocolate No-Bake cookies

The Snickerdoodles didn't turn out too well at first.  I ended up having to add a lot of flour because of the high altitude, but once we did, they turned out very well.

After adding about two extra cups of flour.

Fun Times

Yesterday, we went to see the movie Avitar.  La Viña (the ministry school at Esperanza Viva) did a fund raiser to raise funds for the the Living Hope Community.  They sold all of the tickets so Esperanza Viva had the whole theater.  They sold tickets to the community also which made the community more aware of what Esperanza Viva is and what the plans are for the move out to the land and that the money was going to build a permanent home for them. The movie was very good and had some awesome special effects.  It was in 3-D and was the best 3-D movie we had ever seen. 

Jonathan and Erin in front of a snowman display at the entrance to the mall.

Erin with another snowman.

Erin and Leysi, one of her friends from La Viña.

Waiting to enter the movie theater.

Jim and Jonathan waiting.

The crowd in the movie theater.

After the movie, we were walking out of the mall and there was a petting zoo that had been set up.

 Of course, Erin had to stop and see the bunnies, chicks, duckings, and a lamb.  It was pretty interesting to see a petting zoo in a vacant store area of the mall.

In the evening we went to the 14th graduation for La Viña.  It was a wonderful time of sharing the accomplishments of the fine young men and women who attended the four month intensive ministry school.

Here is Joshua talking to the graduates.

This is from one of the performances/dances that some of the La Viña students did.

Erin with Naomi.  I was trying out the black and white setting on our camera.

Erin and Leysi, one of the La Viña students.

Erin, Leysi and some of her family.

So, we had a very busy day yesterday but a very good day.  The kids are now counting the days until Christmas.  Only five more days.  This year, we will be celebrating a bit different.  We are doing our celebrations on Christmas Eve.  Although we have always done our big Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve, this will be the first year that we will be opening all our presents on Christmas Eve also.  On Christmas morning, the kids will have stockings to open and we will have our traditional breakfast of breakfast burritos, then we will be going in to Esperanza Viva and will spend Christmas day with the kids and staff.  We are really looking forward to the week.

Today, we had a wonderful Christmas service at church.  We sang a couple of familiar songs, in Spanish of course.  The kids did some dances to Christmas music and then all the kids from Esperanza Viva received gifts from people who sponsored them for Christmas gifts.  After church we went with two other families for a very special treat.  We went to Chili's for lunch.  It was such a nice lunch and we enjoyed the fellowship and the food.

Here is a picture of Jonathan and Erin with the Nielsen kids.

Molly and Lydiah.  Lydiah has adopted me as a sort of grandma.  She is just a few months younger than our little grandaughter, Brooklyn. 

We started our meal with a bottomless plate of chips and salsa.  Now, I know we live in Mexico and that should be no big thing, but you just don't get chips and salsa here like in the states.  They were so good and the fact that it was a bottomless plate of them, made them even better.

We found out that Ryan has many talents.  The forks are being held in the air by two toothpicks.  Everyone was quite amazed.  Rene was able to make it work also.  It's amazing what you do while waiting for food.  The other things that made the meal so good was that we had the most amazing waitress.  She was so helpful, especially for a large group.  We had 12 people there. 

Decorating Christmas Cookies

Yesterday we were invited over to the Nielsen's, another missionray family here, to decorate Christmas cookies. We had a great time and I brought enchiladas and Mexican rice for dinner. We are thankful for this family and being able to get the kids together to play. Molly had made a Swedish braided bread which my mom makes every year. It turned out really good!  Yummm...

Next week, we will start making some Christmas cookies at our house.  I haven't ventured to make too many cookies here yet.  So far they have only been chocolate chip cookies from a mix.  We are at 7,000 feet in altitude so baking is a little different.  We have mastered brownies and cakes so cookies are the next step. 

Redemption and Transformation

Jesus is in the business of redeeming and transforming lives. In September we posted a blog about a kitten we found on the streets. This little cat, Sandy, was in very bad shape. She couldn't purr and she couldn't meow, most likely because of abuse. If she had not been picked up off the streets, she would have been lost forever. On the streets, there was no hope for this little kitten.  

This is a picture of Sandy when she first came to our house. 

We work with kids that are left out on the streets or have no place to go. Without help, there is no hope for them.  They are abused and neglected. We heard a story of one girl that came to Esperanza Viva years ago, who could not even speak, she had been so tramatized.

Galatians 3:18 says, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

You see, as the children come to Esperanza Viva, they are introduced to a redeeming and transforming Savior. Today, the girl who could not speak, can now speak. God has redeemed and transformed her life and brought healing to her as well as many other children we work with.

I thought of this the other morning when I was getting ready for the day. I was by the closet and I heard this tiny meow. When I looked down, it was Sandy. She was actually meowing and purring. Then again this morning, she was accidentally locked in the laundry room, but I heard her meow through a closed door. I was able to go to her and let her out.  It seems that she is being healed the longer she is here. 

This is a picture of Sandy today.

Lord, I thank you for your redeeming love and your transforming power.  I thank you that we can turn to you with our hurts and you heal us.  Please touch those that need your redeeming love and transforming power today. 

Think About Such Things

I have recently been battling my negative thought life. Have you ever noticed, when discouragement comes, how easy it is to focus on the negative? It is not a place I like to be. So lately, I have been praying and asking God to help me in this area. We have been through so many changes in this past year. With the holidays approaching and being so far away from our children, grandchildren, family and friends, it's easy to get down. But what does God's word tell us?

Philippians 4:8 tells us, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

If the circumstances around you are not as you would like, think about what is good. God is good, all the time. No matter where we are or what we are going through, He is good. The truth is, He loves us, O how He loves us. When I think of not being with my children and grandchildren for Christmas, I start thinking of how good it is that our technology today allows me to talk to them on the phone and that things like e-mail and blogs allow me see pictures of my grandchildren growing. What a wonderful thing. I am so blessed.

We serve an awesome God who loves us so much that he sent his Son to come to earth as a baby. How many of us would send our one and only son away? But God did, and Jesus knew and felt all the things that we do. So, when discouraging thoughts come, I know my Savior has been there and what did he do? He went to the Father. When times are hard, I am realizing how much more we need to run to the Father just as Jesus did.

So, today, if the holidays are hard for you, remember to think on the good things, the excellent things and the praiseworthy things. If you think you can't, start telling God out loud your thoughts about him. "God, you love me and you are worthy of my praise. Thank you for sending your Son to me. You are good, all the time." When I do this, and I do it out loud, it is very hard to continue thinking the discouraging thoughts. When we verbalize it, it is also something that the enemy cannot stand and he won't want to stick around. Try it and see what happens.

Lord, I pray today that you would help those that have difficulty through the holidays. Be close to them and help them to see the good things. Let them see that you love them so much and that you are right there with them. I pray blessings on them today, throughout this season and into the new year. Amen.