It's Official Folks

Well I booked my tickets to return to Mozambique. Lord willing I leave Canada October 27th and I arrive in Mozambique on the 29th. I will be going to the city of Beira for the first month and a half to study Portuguese which is the official language there. I have been looking forward to this for quite some time now. The count down is on with a little less then one month to go till take off.

I never really filled you in on my time in Wisconsin so here are some pictures of my few days there. I spent from Friday afternoon till Saturday noon with John Boies aka John Boy. I got to know John Boy and his family back in 2003 when I had the privilege of staying with them for a week when I was on a mission trip. It had been over four years since I had seen his family so it was great to spend a few days with them in Wisconsin.

John Boy is going to University so I stayed with him in his dorm Friday. I got to be at his basket ball practice and after practice we went Disc Golfing with a friend of his before catching supper at Pizza Hut.

John Boy with his hot wheels on the court.

As he applies the brakes.

The players have amazing stamina to play for five hours a day.

And he shoots

This is John Boy's friend Tim.

Saturday John Boy took me to his parents place and they took me to this cool place called House on the Rock built by Alex Jordan. He built in in the 1950's, he wanted a place that he could retreat to so that he could draw because he was an artist. When he was a young boy he saw this rock cliff and would often go and have lunch on it. When he got older he was able to buy the land and started to build his house up there. As he built people we so intrigued to see someone building so high on a rock cliff that people flocking in to just watch. He thought if people want to see what i am doing here so badly i am going to charge an admission fee of $.50 which people gladly paid. This money helped him to fund the work. He finished the house in the early 60's and people we still coming to see it he thought if people like it this much then i am going to just open it up for tourists. That is what he did he only lived in the house for four nights and it is still being viewed to this day.

The ceilings are very low which puzzled us because Alex himself was over six feet tall.

The rooms just follow the rocks and so they are different shapes and at different levels.

All of these instruments were played mechanically.

This is the infinite room. It extends out into mid air at least fifty feet above the ground.

The view out the windows.

More unique shaped rooms

They had the area done up very nice outside.

This is Dave and Crystal Boie, John's parents.

Crystal and I they are kind of like parents to me at least they treat me as if i was their son.

In amongst the flowers

The three of us before we left.

Saturday night Dave and I went out deer watching. Dave saw one deer from the stand where he was but all I saw was three raccoons. I almost fell a sleep while I was sitting there for an hour.

That about sums it up for now.

I Am Home.

Sorry I haven't updated here lately I arrived home Monday evening. I am trying to get some pictures together to put on here from my last few days away.

VIVA MEXICO!

Today Mexico celebrates 189 years since it's independence from Spain. On August 13, 1521 Spain took control of this country from the Aztec Indians. They ruled till 1810 when finally the Mexican people thought it was finally time for them to rule their own country. They fought with the Spaniards for ten years when on September 16, 1820 they were finally an independent nation.

On that day all the Mexican Soldiers shouted VIVA MEXICO! Every years since at 11pm on the 15th of September people will gather in city squares all across this country and shout VIVA MEXICO, which means more or less Long Live Mexico. It almost looks like Christmas time around here because there is so much red, white and green around.

When Andrew first saw me when I arrived in Puerto Vallarta the week before last, the first thing he asked me was can you build me a stool. I didn't know what he was talking about at first. Then I remembered that last time I was here Simon had out grown his high chair but wasn't big enough to sit on a regular chair yet so I made him a little wooden boxes to use as a booster seat. Andrew has gotten too big for his high chair and wanted a stool as well. Saturday afternoon the boys and I went out in the garage and got out the tools and made Andrew a little wooden box. When we were all done Andrew said to me, "Uncle Andrew you are going to have to come back and make Natalia a stool when she out grows here high chair." I guess that is part of my job detail here now, but I think Levi might be big enough by then so Natalia can use his.

All of us boys hard at work. Andrew is the one with the glasses hanging around his neck.

Daddy's little girl

On Sunday night the neighbours from across the road came over for tacos. James BBQed some amazing meat.

The boys enjoyed getting rides around the back yards on this piece of cardboard.

The neighbour lady made fresh tortillas. Nothing like tacos with fresh tortillas.

Monday evening we all went down town to the square so that the boys could have lots of room to ride their bikes.

On the way Natalia came up with a bright idea that she would like to drive.

Is this how it is done mom?

Why do they put these steering wheels so high how's a girl like me supposed to see?

Natalia is blessed with nice brothers who give here rides on their bikes since she doesn't have her own.

Andrew is even able to take her with him.

Levi was enjoying showing me how fast he can go and all the cool tricks he can do.

What are brothers for?

What better way to finish a nice evening then to enjoy some tacos together.

These have got to be the best tacos ever.

Yesterday afternoon James, Louise and I did some repair and painting on the walls in the hall.

James painting.

Louise and James patching holes in the wall.

Last night we went to Tepic to do a little shopping. We went into Wal Mart and as we passed the produce section I thought it was funny that someone had done a little taste testing with the apples.

Levi, Simon, Andrew, Natalia in the cart with James and Nelly in the back ground.

We finished our evening out in Tepic by getting a few tacos. These were excellent although I got sick after eating them. I have eaten here plenty of times before and never had any problem. I will probably eat them again if I ever get the chance.

Just so you know tacos are not the only thing we eat around here, I thought from the pictures I have posted you might be thinking that.

It is hard to believe that I am leaving tomorrow already. My time here has been very nice it has been a little slower pace then normal which is nice for a change. I have had lots of good times with the whole family. I hope they might all come and visit me in Mozambique some time Hint Hint.

Tomorrow morning James will drive me down to Puerto Vallarta to catch my 12 noon flight. Lord willing I will fly to Detroit and over night in the airport and Friday morning catch a flight to Madison Wisconsin. I have some friends in Wisconsin who have been wanting me to come visit them for a while so I am finally working it in. I will be with them for three days and then return back to Canada on Sept 21.

The Blind Man Can See

Half my time here in Mexico is already gone. It has been a busy week but full of excitement and blessing as you will see. James picked me up at the airport in Puerto Vallarta. We were very blessed to be able to stay in a nice condo in which the owner allowed us to stay for free. It was such a nice place and we spent one day they before returning to Santiago Saturday afternoon.

This pool seemed like it was half a km long it was the biggest one we had ever seen.

James has a water proof camera so we had some fun with it.

This is the pool that never ends.

Andrew, Levi and Simon

Natalia looking cute she doesn't even have to try.

The whole crew.

We arrived in Santiago to a very warm/hot welcome. I was expecting it to be warmer at least I had remembered it being warmer the last time I was here in September but we didn't have air conditioners then so maybe that is why. Thankfully we have a couple air conditioners in the house to make in a little more comfortable.It is nice to be back here with James, Nelly and the kids. Levi, Simon and Andrew were happy to see me but Natalia is still not too sure if she likes me or not, I am still trying to convince her.

Sunday we were together with the Christians a couple of times. It was good to see so many familiar faces as I have gotten to know some of the Christians a little during my previous visits. Monday James and I decided that we would set out for Hermosillo. There were one hundred chairs up there that he has wanted to pick up for quite sometime. We set out Monday morning at 11am. We stopped into Obregon which is about 3 hours south of Hermosillo. We had supper there and picked up Nathan he lives in Hermosillo but was down there helping with gospel meeting. We finally arrived in Hermosillo at about 1:30 Tuesday morning. Some of you may remember that just over a year ago I drove to Hermosillo with my brother and his wife and kids. They are missionaries here but right now are back in Canada for two months. While I was here last time I was helping with some work on a new building for the church. While we were here and since James has a lot of experience in painting parking lot lines we brought the painter and he painted the lines on the new church parking lot Tuesday morning. We had hoped to have the painting all done and have the chairs all packed up and leave by 10am and be back in Santiago Tuesday evening. Little did we know what all God had in store for us over the next few days.

We didn't leave Hermosillo till about 1:30pm because the painting took longer then was expected and then they made lunch for us. We had hoped to stop in to see Duncan in Obregon by 1pm but obviously that didn't happen. Driving from Hermosillo to Obregon usually takes about 3 hours but it took us almost five, because they had a hurricane come through about two weeks ago and it washed out large sections of road and washed out a couple of bridges so we had to take a detour and got held up for a long time.


We finally met up with Duncan for supper. We had planned to just eat supper and keep driving and hopefully be back sometime Wednesday morning, but once again the Lord changed our plans. We were reminded how true Proverbs 16:9 is "A man’s heart devises his way: but the LORD directs his steps." We met Duncan (He is a missionary from Canada that has been working in Obregon for about a year) at Subway and while we were eating our subs he mentioned that he had just come from visiting one of the Christian men and that this man was almost totally blind. This man who's name in Mario was a brick layer and about 15 years ago while mixing up some mortar had gotten some lime in his eye and didn't get it washed out so he lost complete sight in his left eye. His right eye was still ok, but about a year and a half ago he fell backwards down some stairs and hit the back of his head which made his retina come loss from his eye. This man didn't have the money to go to the doctor so nothing was ever done and he had pretty much lost all sight in that eye except for if he was out in bright light he could see very little. Duncan and another missionary had take Mario to the hospital a couple of months ago but the doctor there said nothing could be done. Mario had no hope that he would ever see again, try to imagine what that must have been like.

After hearing this James thought to call one of Mexico's best eye doctors in Guadalajara about a 12 hour drive from Obregon. James and Nelly had taken their son to this doctor back in April of last year and found he was very good at what he did. James called the doctor and he asked how long ago his retina had come off he said if it was with in fifteen days then it could be put back on and he should have complete vision. When he heard that it had been a year and a half he said he wasn't sure that they could give him more sight but they could keep what he still had and he said God still does miracles. This doctor was supposed to be in Culiacan the next day which is about five hours south of Obregon and he said that he wanted to see Mario. We were all very excited to see what God was going to do. We went and visited Mario and asked him if he would like to go and see the doctor to see if anything could be done. He was so happy he said he wasn't sure if he should cry, laugh or jump but he wanted to go. We stayed the night with Duncan and Wednesday we drove to Culiacan. We arrived at 12:30 and were able to see the doctor just before he went for lunch. He was able to look in the eye and see that the retina was seventy percent off and it was folded over so it no longer reflected light and that is why Mario couldn't see. We were referred to an eye specialist there in Culiacan and after several hours of sitting and waiting and going from this office to that office and going back to that one, the doctor told us he could operate on Mario the next day which was Thursday at 1pm. We were so thankful that it could be done so soon.

All of us out for supper Wednesday night.

Beto, Duncan, Mario, Me and James

Thursday we went a did some shopping in the morning before taking Mario to the clinic at 12 and then got him checked in and in his nice hospital dress and booties. They told us we could come back in about four hours to pick him up. We went and had lunch and visited for a while and then went and picked up Mario. They had a patch on his eye after the operation so we didn't know if he could see or not because the doctors were not sure if his sight would improve.

At the clinic Thursday afternoon just before the operation.

All suited up.

While Mario was in having his surgery Duncan had his stick and he said he had always wanted one.

Then we decided that he should make it look like he was blind and go and drive so that is what these next pictures are about.

Mario just after his surgery.

We went to the hotel and got Mario resting and then got supper, but we were all kind of in suspense to know just how this was all going to turn out for Mario. Friday morning at 10:30 we took him back to the doctor so that he could take a look at the eye. While we were sitting in the waiting room a nurse removed the patch and put some drops in his eye and he saw for the first time in a long time. There was a young boy Beto that came with Mario, Beto helps him and leads him around and Mario knew Beto before he lost his sight. After having the patch removed he pointed out Beto and said there he is and then he looked at James, Duncan and I and he saw us for the first time. It was such a cool moment. He was all smiles as he started pointing out what he could see and what color things were. We then went in and the doctor examined him and he said it all looks good and he wants to see him in two weeks. Mario's vision is not perfect things are still blurry but we trust the Lord that as his eye heals his sight will continue to improve. Mario has had to have someone to lead him around but it was so awesome to see him walk on his own for the firt time as he left the doctor's office by himself and he would point out the curbs that he would step up on instead of someone else having to tell him where they were. He continued to tell us what he could see and we were all so thankful for what the Lord has done.

Friday morning when the doc was examining his work.

The doc and Mario with his new glasses that he needs to wear for the next while.

Everyone happy for Mario's new sight.

We heard from Duncan and he said the trip back was very exciting as Mario was reading every sign he possibly could he was so happy that he could now read.

As James and I were driving home we were just thinking about this whole trip . James was saying how when we first started out on this trip he was thinking why am I driving 12 hours to pick up some chairs it isn't worth it. Then Tuesday had we left Hermosillo at 1pm when we wanted to we would have met up with Duncan before he had visited Mario and God only knows if he would have come up in the conversation. Then how over a year ago James had already make contact with and had a good friendship with the doctor in Guadalajara and how he was going to be in Culiacan the next day and then how soon Mario was able to have surgery. God was going before us and making all the arrangements and we just got to be there to see Him at work. Although we didn't get back as soon as we had first hoped we would, we got back Friday evening and Friday is James birthday. We had a birthday celebration for him tonight.

It is cute James leans his head over and Natalia leans on him but I caught her in mid yawn.

Celebrating James big day.

Levi took these last three pics.

Uncle Andrew
Little Andrew