Turkey Dinners & Pole-Vaulting

Saturday Albert, James and I went to the water fall that James, Nelly, the kids and I hiked to back a couple weeks ago. It was a little faster getting in this time because we had two motorbikes. James rode one and Albert and I rode the other one. After we rode as far as we could we had to park the bikes and then hike the last kilometer or so. I was going to park the bike a little in the bushes so that it wouldn't be as much of a temptation to someone to take. As I was riding in to the bush I didn't realize that it had thorns, I mean big thorns about an inch long and lots of them. Three of them caught me right across the face. The hiking part went a little fast as well not having little kids on our shoulders. We had a nice time we left at about 8 in the morning and when we got there the water was very refreshing, AKA cold.

A little water fall along the way while getting to the bigger one.

James and Albert admiring the cliff.

Here Albert is taking the big plunge (I think this is the first video I have ever put on here, I hope it works)

We swam and jumped for about 40 minutes and then took a little ride up another mountain to this little village out in the middle of no where and we found another water fall but this time we were at the top and not the bottom of it. We couldn't stay and enjoy it for very long because we had to get back to the house.

Looking out off the top of the falls.

Looking down at the falls, there is not much water at this time of year because it hasn't rain in quite a while.

We had been invited to Don and Berna's place in Tepic for a Turkey dinner and we never turn down an invitation like that. I have just hit it right, I have been here for two months and got in on three turkey dinners while being here. One at the Wahl's for American Thanksgiving, Nelly made one here last Tuesday I think for a belated Christmas dinner I think and then this one and No I am not Turkeyed out yet. We had a good time at Don and Berna's, they also had the Wahls and the Cains over for dinner as well.

The wonderful feast.

After some of us had eaten way too much Nelly, Albert and I took all the kids down the street to a park to try to burn off some turkey. We played around and try to knock oranges down out of the tree and then found some giant grapefruits. On our way back I found this long quite straight tree branch. I had this "great" idea that I would try to pole-vault. My first attempt I forgot that I was supposed to swing both my legs on the same side of the pull and also there was a low tree branch that the top of my pole-vaulting branch caught on and broke off. You might think I had learned my lesson after one bad attempt but unfortunately not. I figured now since the end broke off the branch would be lighter and I should be able to do it better the second time. I went back and lined up for round two. I did learn something from my first attempt both legs need to go on the same side of the pole when I swing through the air. I ran and jumped I was doing great I had both legs going on the right side of the pole I was getting quite high the spectators said but I forgot one very important thing. I was supposed land on my feet, in trying to get both feet on the same side of the pole I swung them up so I high that there was no way for them to come down before my elbow and lip. I am sure a video would have made this all much clearer but I think you get the picture my landing wasn't very pretty. I split my lip open a bit and scratch up my elbow. I am thinking that I will reconsider my future in pole vaulting. I look a little bet up now with my scratched face and slip lip and scraped elbow, but other then all that I think I am alright.

If you are not sure what pole vaulting is here as a little info about it and a picture that show how is should be done. Pole-vaulting was not one of the original Olympic sports in ancient Greece. Some think that the sport was derived from the Dutch habit of dyke-jumping, although one of the earliest pole-vaulting stands was built in Germany in 1791. The objective is, obviously, to get the athlete's centre of mass over the highest bar possible. However, today's pole-vaulters use a quite different technique to that used 100 years ago, when athletes went over the bar with their feet pointing downwards. Athletes now do a complex gymnastic manoeuvre, turning upside down as the jump takes place.

So I guess I was doing the right thing in getting my feet up high, just not in bring them down. It also shows what a pole should be made of, a little different then a branch I guess.

Tonight James and Nelly left for Guadalajara, till Monday night. Albert and I volunteered to keep the boys while they are gone. We just got back from meeting and then I went and picked up tacos for supper. When I got back Albert let me know that Andrew smelled like he needed a diaper change. So one diaper change down and who knows how many to go. I also have to make the milk and feed the little goat that lives in the back yard because it wouldn't nurse. I think we are going to have a good time together, the goat and I, no just kidding we will all be fine.

Well Albert is up putting the boys to bed and I think he and I will be following them shortly there after. Good night all.

Trip to Veracruz

Ok I will try to fill you in on our week in Veracruz. It seems like a long time ago already. We got to the hotel Sunday night which was the 21st. we got in relatively early in comparison to some people who got in at about 3am from the states. Monday morning we got to sleep in because so many people came in so late the night before. Every morning we have devotions together with everyone which would have been about 190 people including parents and some children. There were about 150 people who were helping with the seed sower distribution. We had to do a lot of stuffing the texts into bags. Everyday some people had to stay back and continue bagging. We were divided into groups of about eight people and given a section of the map of Veracruz and we would go and deliver texts to every single house in that area.

We used the conference room in the hotel for devotions and bagging and sometimes eating.

In all those white boxes there are 150,000 texts.

The ladies did an amazing job of keeping us all feed up.

This is the building that they have in Veracruz that they are having Gospel meetings in.

This is inside the building mentioned above

They had a fleet of fifteen vehicles most of which were full size vans for moving us all around to deliver and go for meals.

One night a group of about 30 of us went to Dominos pizza for supper. It tastes the same here.

Pizza Hut makes crust less pizza and Dominos makes pizza less crust.

Here we sat for our as we bagged texts.

On Christmas Day John and Rebekah Nesbit(they are the missionaries that are working there in Veracruz) provided supper for us. Here we are feeling a little hungry as we wait for our turn to go and get food.

For dessert we had these meringue things that were really hard. I am trying to cut it with my knife. Well maybe they weren't that hard but it was really hard to brake it with a plastic fork.

On Friday night we decided it was time to find a really steak, which are quite hard to find down here. John Nesbit told us of a nice resturant. They give you a menu but to help you see just what you are getting they have a rolling cart with all the different cuts of meat in it and they bring it to your table and show it to you. It was kind of different but a not bad idea.

Here is my meal very tender meat, they did a great job on all of our steaks, if we had been in Veracruz longer we probably would have found ourselves there again.

Already to eat as soon as we get some food.

Andrew, Natalia, Nelly, James, Me, Levi, Albert and Simon. I am sorry I forgot to mention that Albert is Nelly's brother he flew into Veracruz on Wednesday from Ontario. He and I will be flying back on the 8th.

We left early Saturday morning the 27th from Veracruz and we got back to Santiago at about 10:30pm. Since then we have been working on a few projects. We didn't stay up to bring in the new year we decided that sleep was more important. On New Years day Albert and I went out for a ride on the motorbikes for a few hours. Then we all went to the beach in the afternoon. I must say this is another first for me I have never gone swimming on New Years day much less at the beach. It was nice though I could maybe get usto it with a little more practice.

Our last site at the beach.

Sorry that this post was so long in coming. I will try to keep this updated a little better.

Merry Christmas / Happy New Year

I hope each of you had a good Christmas, I know this is a little late but better late then never. 2009 is just a round the corner. At times the future seems so uncertain but as we look ahead to 2009 let us remember we serve a faithful God and when it seems all around us is falling apart, He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Ok, let me back up a little here to Saturday Dec 20. We left Santiago at 5:30am and started our 12 hour drive to Pachuca. Saturday evening we stayed with Harry and Rebekah Rodriguez. They are a missionary couple that have been working there for a few years. They have a very nice home there in Pachuca. We were surprised at how cold it gets there because they are at a much higher altitude. Sunday morning there was ice on the bumper of the van. We almost that we were back in Canada because it was so cold.

This is the building where they gather with other Christians on Sundays.

We left right after the meeting Sunday morning with Harry, Rebekah, there three children, Rebekah's mother and several of the Christians from Pachuca to drive to Veracruz. It was a very scenic drive through the mountains and curvy roads.

Pico de Orizaba, is the highest mountain in Mexico. I am not sure if it has snow on it all year round or not but it sure does have a lot on it now.

It stands 5636 m or 18,491 feet above sea level.

We came across this accident we weren't sure what happened but there were three vehicles involved. we

At one point we got held up by a long line of traffic at a toll both we probably waited for about 45 minutes. There is a lot of traffic at this time of year.

A little bit of the scenery along they way.

Just about 45 minutes outside of Veracruz we stopped in Cotaxla. Harry was supposed to speak at the gospel meeting there but because we got held up in traffic we didn't make it till the meeting was almost over. The Christian out reach there was started by a Mexican who went up and worked in Iowa got saved.

I will try to post again with more info on our week in Veracruz, but I am very sorry but you are going to have to wait till next year though. Happy New Year to one and all.

I'm an Uncle Again

I am so sorry I forgot to make mention of my new niece. Wednesday at 4:30 am my sister Joia and here husband Philip had a little girl, Moriah Joy. We are all very excited for them and looking forward to seeing her soon. To see some cute pictures of her go here http://pjknews.blogspot.com/2008/12/our-tiny-package-has-arrived.html

Congratulations Philip, Joia and Keenan

Being Mr. Dad

Read the post below this one first. I have blogged twice in one day and I know that will throw you all off.

So they had me playing the role of Dad. Levi said if any of them were bad I was supposed to spank them and send them to bad. They were good and we didn't have to do it too many times, JK. Then we played hide and seek.

After playing for a while I decided that Me and the Boys (I am aware that is not correct grammar) could all work together and fix the ironing board. It was broken a couple weeks ago when a door fell on it. We got all our tools out and went to work. I held the drill and they had a blast pulling the trigger and taking the screws out and then we made a splint for the bottom to hold it all together again. Again I held the drill and they pulled the trigger to put the screws all back in. I am not sure who had more fun me or them but we all had a good time.

The Ironing Board repair crew

The like new board. I asked them all to look tough and strong.

I think Andrew is imagining "Boy you guys sure don't look very tough."

"This is how you do it you see my six pack here man."

After our repair work we all piled on the motor bike and went for a ride into town. First we went up on the mountain in the center of town and took a few pictures.

Looking over there big town of Santiago.

Best friends for life.

Then we went to the town square and wandered around there and took a few pictures. They wanted me to buy them a balloon from a man that was selling them but being on the motor bike I figured it would blow away. Ya I know I am such a spoil sport.



Before coming home we stopped by the burger stand for supper. We had a good night out on the town.

The person taking the picture kind of cut Simon off.

Now we are back home, I read a couple stories to the boys and put them in bed. I figured they would have come out several times like they normally do saying someone was kicking them or they needed some water or something. I guess all the fresh air tired them right out because they have been down for an hour and I haven't heard from them once. I am very surprised. My night as Mr. Dad didn't go to bad and I didn't even have to change a diaper, sweet deal. No, I don't think I put anyone to bed with a dirty diaper, at least not on purpose. Well I had better go and get some clothes pack for our trip to Veracruz.

Monday James, Tim and I went to El Cora a small town about an hour and a half from here. There is a gospel outreach there and they have gospel meetings Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. James and Tim both spoke. They meet in a little house made of mud bricks. There were about 20 people out. The way of life is very simple and laid back in El Cora. The drive there is very beautiful if you can stomach the road which has many hair pin curves. There are rolling hills covered with Mango orchards, that words cannot describe. I would have taken pictures but I left my camera at the house. These two pictures I did get I took with my cell phone sorry about the poor quality.

The mud brick building.

Tim preaching, this was just the third time he has preached since being in Mexico, because he is still working on getting a good grasp of the language.

Wednesday afternoon we all went up to Tepic. We went to Burger King for lunch and then went to a large park. It was very nice with lots of things for the kids to do, like slides, swings and a fair few different real animals to look at.

Andrew & Simon

This monkey was really enjoying himself by just swing by one arm and his tail and then he would keep himself swing by pushing with his feet on the ground every once and a while.

Andrew flying a helicopter

Kyla & Tim enjoying a stroll in the park.

I can still hardly believe she is walking.

Shaelyn wanted to ride on every animal in the park.

Simon, Levi and Andrew with Bigfoot

Kyla, Shaelyn and Mika riding on Aslan

I have just agree to watch the boys while James, Nelly and Natalia go to Tepic to get some supplies for the burger stand for the next week while we are gone to Veracruz. I hope I haven't got myself in to deep here. I am sure all of us boys will have a great time while they are gone and hopefully the house isn't in too big of a mess when they get back.

We are getting packed up, because Lord willing we will be leaving early Saturday morning on a 16 hour trip to Veracruz. We will do it in two days. We will be joining a group of about 180 people there from Mexico, U.S. and Canada. We will be delivering Seed Sowers.

This is what the Seed Sower looks like. It has John 3:16 on it.

I think there are about 150,000 to be delivered so we will have a busy four or five days to get that done. Albert Nelly's brother is going to fly into Veracruz on Wednesday the 24th and help with the delivery for the last two days and then come back here to Santiago with us and stay here till Jan 8 when we will both fly back home.

The boys have just informed me that they are playing Mom and Dad. Simon is the mom, Andrew is the dad and Levi is the brother. Oh they have just informed me that I need to get off the computer and be the dad and Andrew and Levi will be the boys. I guess I had better go then and take care of my "family."