Who went to the iste' and the freshmarket today

I did, I did. The ISTE' is like the local supermarket but more like a Walgreens without the photo center. I've only been there a couple times because I don't have to make any major purchases all I really buy on a regular basis is yogurt and bananas or eggs. This is really nothing new for me I've been to them before but I knew exactly what I was looking for. I went to the ISTE' today because I was running out of shampoo, soap, bananas, and batteries.

Supermarkets in the states are huge. Down here they are small, smaller, and smallest. Most of the time they are the smallest. They don't have 600 flood lights to keep all the products well lite and visible. The ISTE' has about 1 or 2 florescent tubes for each aisle. I say 1 or 2 because half of them don't work or are in that flickering / going out stage. Not exactly like the states.

Kind of a random shopping list. So I went to the ISTE' and was completely lost. Can you remember the months when you had to readjust you shopping patterns because a Safeway, Albertsons, Fred Meyers did a remodel and you didn't know where anything was. That is how I felt today but 3x's worse. Fist of all do you know how Wal-mart leaves a giant pallet of their big sale item in the middle of the shopping floor. They do that here except it's not just one item. Its 20 of this 30 of that, 5 of these, 5 other randoms objects tossed in the pile. It's not 300 new lawn chairs that didn't sell in the summer, it's more of the variety pallet. Also try going to buy soap and want to know what smell you are going to end up with. That is also a little bit of a mystery, because I don't know all the descriptive words on the bottle or can. Let me give you an example.
So do you think Elote is noodle, chicken noodle, cream of mushroom, cream corn. That is the battle I face everyday. Why does this language kick your butt right when you are starting to feel confident.

So be thankful for you Costco that is 35 minutes away because the closest thing I have is a Sam's Club this is 3 hours away in Acapulco. The interesting thing down here is when you buy in bulk you don't actually pay less you just get more in one large bottle. You still have to pay for the 20% free. That is why everyone just buys the personal sizes because they really don't improve much if you but the 80 gallon container of mayo.

Scott Ekstrom

Salsa Verde

So give you a little clue to what this Blog post would be about in my last post. If you look down you will see a picture of a Tomatillos. Everyone down here has been calling them green tomatoes. Which has made it difficult for my mom to actually find the correct fruit or vegetable. Because everyone was calling it a Green tomatoe. Not a Mexican Green Tomatoe or a Tomatillo. So I sent mi madre running around town trying to find this special tomatoe. The fresh market gave her the wrong tomatoes. She thought it was right but then I called her and asked if came in a little case or sack. It wasn't so I made here run around looking for the correct one. WHERE could they be. Guess: Fred Meyers actaully has them but they are a little small. Food 4 Less has them and they are just right. I'm still in shock that I made my mom run around town looking when she would have just walked right into them in one of her many trips to Fred Meyers. SORRY MOM !!!!! I'm actually not sure what you would classify it as. It's not a common day fruit like an apple or banana, but then it doesn't grow in the ground like potatoes. Who really knows and cares enough to do the research. All I know is it makes a delicious green salsa. I mean this was something to write home about. So I had Pati show me how to make it. I guess I should explain who Pati is.

Pati is probably my most favorite person in the world right now and since I've gotten down actually. She speaks 2 languages, of those 2, neither are English. She speaks Musco and Spanish. She's indian so Musco is her native tongue. I've actually learned a Musco word down here, too. In English we'd say Water, in Spanish we'd say Agua, in Musco we'd say Tatios. If your a nerd you'd say H2O. Thank you for the lesson, Pati. Here is a picture of Pati teaching me a few things in the kitchen. This is here actually teaching me how to make Salsa verde which I'm going to try and teach you today.
1 Peel the skins off the Tomatillo (4 to 5 depending on size).
2 Cook 1 jalapeno and the tomatillos for 6 minutes in little bit of water.
(until tomatillos are soft) (half a jalapeno is fine for less heat)
3 Let it cool for just a minute or 2.
4 Put it water and all in the blender and liquify.
5 Add water if necessary.
6 Add 2 heads of Cilantro and liquify.
(it's a Mexican salsa don't be stingy).
7 Stop there it you want.
8 Pour out into a bowl and add a little salt to taste.
(Possibly add more water you don't want it to be thick)
OR Continue and add in 1 Avacado (M to L).
9 Add to blender if you want to no chucks or mix by hand for lager avocado chucks.
10 Add more water because the avocado will thicken the salsa.
(Possibly more salt if necessary)

Enjoy.

I love it on eggs on toast, taquitos, Mexican Lasagna, nachos, and more.


Scott Ekstrom

Random Post

So as you probably know I've really enjoyed doing these posts. I apologize for doing such a long post a couple days ago so I will keep this one extremely short. But I've been doing some reading in my book club and wanted also to share some reading that I've been doing out side the book club.

The book is facts you should know about Washington. With election building more and more I thought you might like to know 2 facts that may influence you decision.

1. What do all the Potomac Bridges have in common?


Answer: No overhead construction.


2. What tune did the U.S. Marine Band strike up as President Ford led Queen Elizabeth of England to the dance floor?



Answer: The Lady Is A Tramp


I just want to keep you all informed. Also want to inform you of a future blog post. Who has ever eaten a Mexican green tomatoes. If you have you know what I mean when I say delicious. Just wanted to inform you know so I could keep my other posts short. :)


Here is your clue

I'm not Mr. Mom but I'm as close as I can get

So my hem in my pants fell out last week. I haven't been looking forward to trying to repair my pants by hand. Then I asked Barb if they had a sewing machine. She said yes and Susi used it a couple days ago putting some finishing touches on Andy's mariachi outfit for Independence Day. Perfect timing. Because if I screw my pants up at least I knew Susi could fix what ever mistake I made.

So the first battle I face in sewing my pants is I had no real idea what I was supposed to do. So I use google, it was very helpful. Because I don't know if I would have figured it out to turn my pants inside out.

Battle number two was not know how to thread the machine. I feel like that is one of the hardest parts so I called in the reinforcements. Thank you Susi.

Battle number three was trying to get an even hemi line because I didn't have all the same pins, It was tough because I was using safety pin, normal pins, and super super tiny nails. Only in Mexico.

Battle number four was trying to build up enough courage to actually touch the peddle to make it go. I got that thing going so fast I almost wet my self. Then I got in a groove until Susi walked in and said Scott "I think you made a mistake." Luckly I had only gone about 3 inches into my groove. Because I sewed my pants together(2 inches max. I promise). I was also using the wrong stitching partern. I already knew to start and back up for a strong stitch. THANK YOU GOOGLE.

Battle number 5 was doing steps 1-10 over again. The machine may have won the battle but I won the war because I don't have a needle piercing in my finger and I have some really nice hemed pants. Check them out for yourself.

Scott

Sorry things have been busy.

Sorry it's been four days since my last post I'm trying to keep you guys informed of what's happening down here. I figured I made enough back to back postings during Independence Day. But don't worry I'm back and ready to go. Special note to MOM. Thanks for finally figuring out how to comment on my posts. Glad to see you've figured out how to open a Blog account. But I think you all would like to hear what I've been up to since I only had teach 3 days of school because of the holiday.

I was thinking I would get a chance to really recharge the batteries but it was work, work, work and and prep, prep, prep. I created a bunch of exams for the kids in the coming weeks. But when ever you create and exam for the week, that means you also have to correct an exam that week. But that is alright because we have to check were these kids are at. I have gotten frustrated in the last couple days because a select group of kids in each class don't seem to care to do their homework or don't want to come in for help when tutoring is openly announced and invited. It really drives me a little crazy to have to pull a kids teeth just to get him to speak English for 20 minutes or less. Or when they don't do their homework and you make them stay in for recess and they know the word "BYE" better then any else they can speak in English.

So that was the work, work, work, portion of my long week. The prep, prep, prep, part was finishing the schools construction project so we could move 2 of the 3 classes up into the new portion of the building. I will try to give you the quick history of this school so you understand why the kids need to move upstairs into the new rooms. Originally the building was 1 level and was used as a girls dormitory for nursing students at the hospital a half block away. It was then converted into a school but still had the remnants of a dormitory. The sleeping area was turned into class rooms so they still have bars on the windows, and only 1 electrical socket in the entire room. It's got 1 ceiling fan light combination and that is it. That description doesn't even explain the size. We pack about 20 to 23 kids in the classrooms with decks. Once the teachers very small work space is added and a dry eraser board is added the space to actually teach and move about the kids is very compact. But now grades 2 and 3 have moved upstairs poor 1st grade is still on ground level for most of the day.The class looks kinds like this (JOKING) I know this is long just keep reading you gonna make it. I'm sorry about the length. I will try to spread it out over more a longer period next time

Thursday was the big move. We anounced to the kids first thing that they would be moving in the middle of their first class. The excitement was brewing real thick. So after a homework check and quick lesson we release the first row of kids in our classroom. With all the excitement the built the kids all just picked up thier desks and walked up stairs. I was great to have a little space to interact with kids. I have finally met and interacted with the back row. In the rooms down stairs we had about 3 inches between each desk front to back. Side to side wasn't that much better we had about 10 inches. Now that we've move up stairs have have about 16 to 20 inches front to back and 18 to 22 inches side to side. The added bonus that no one really expect was that it's about 15 degrees cooler upstairs then down down. The rooms get a ton more air circulation and even the ceiling tile I put in over the last 35 days have really brought the temperature way down. I feel way better but I'm having trouble not laughing when I see kids coming to school in jacket in sweatshirt. The first part of the day is the best. It's about 75 to 80 degrees and they are all shivering. This is the first time I've actually be comfortable without AC since I've been here. It's great to be upstairs but it didn't come without a lot of work from the free labor(ME). That was the work, work, work, side of the coin.

I put in and finished the entire ceiling tile system on Monday. It took an extra half day because we had a hole in the roof and no one knew where. The rain was coming in and ruining tiles so I had to silicon a giant section of roof tiles because 2 giant mystery water spots. After the ceiling tile system was done it was time to finish the electrical. I am not the electrial expert at home and neither am I here, but I'm learning :) . I helped Andy wire plugs for the computer lab, 14 plugs and then wire light switches into the the class rooms halways. I'm also getting real good at running back and forth from the break. Once you've gotten a little tingle once you learn to turn of the breaker. I'm not expert but I'm learning.

Scott

Pictures from today at the parade

More about the Parade So I will try explain some of these photos because you might be interest to know a bit about them. The parade is almost all the public schools in the area. The kids who aren't in the band just walk behind their band. Most schools also had a school banner and a Mexican flag. It is Independence Day.
I guess this is like the home coming court. Although they aren't actually put into a pageant to earn the honor of being on the float. They are actually just selected by the governor. He just picks them and they stand up on the float and look all pretty. Which is good their up on the float because right behind them are about 30 greased up guys fallowing the float.

I don't really know how to explain this on but 30 jovencitos ( Little Boys) cover themselves in black grease and fallow the parade. They have bow and arrows and run up and down in a little pattern. But when one of them sees a guy wearing white or someone they know they break formation. They collect their prey then dance and grind as much of the grease on to their victim. I definitely made myself a non-visible as possible because the Wood's warned me that they would love to get the new white guy all greasey. That is why the photos is so far away I was hiding in a street market store.

The greasey guys were still in visual range so I was still hanging out in the story so I really don't know why this guy isn't wearing alot of clothes. But they waved the flag and everyone seemed to love them

So I had a busy day

This is a best Outfit and Mexican Hat competition.
This is me being a music stand while Andy and Cesar sang a song.



Like I said earlier in yesterdays post Mexico is celebrating it's independence. We had as great time down here. The whole church came together and did what every church does when bring people together. They eat, eat, and eat. Most of the food I had already tried in my last 5 weeks of being here but I tried some new sweet breads that were kinda fun. The stand out winner was "Pan Gringo" I have no idea why it's called that but it's a big round loaf cut into slices and has pink swirls throughout it. It was good.

That was at the church then the college age and high school aged kids took me out to the "Grito". Gritar is to shout or to yell. So I did a lot of yelling last night and alot of hanging out at a real mexican street party. I also learned a lot about how to do an "authentic" Spanish holler or yell or call. (Whatever) I think you get the point. I think everyone found it very entertaining that a white guy could holler just about as good as most of the real Mexicans.

Sorry the picture is so dark but I wanted to at least get a picture so I could explain it better. Those guys are climbing a pole in the middle of one of the town squares. The white stuff you can't really see is the all slippery and the guys have to remove all the slippery material before they can make it to the top and claim their prizes. The slippery stuff is actually animal fat. As I talked with the locals they explained to me that it was Goat fat. Apparently they don't waste a thing down here. Even the fat has a use. So it was disgusting. The guys would start climbing and get into the new stuff they hadn't reached yet and fling the goat fat into the crowd watching below. I didn't get involved, sorry, I know you all would have enjoyed that story but no one told me so I couldn't dress properly to climb a goat fat pole.

Independence Day

No I'm not talking about the film that launched Will Smith into Hollywood Star Status. Although a film about the world being taken over by aliens and being saved at the last second by a crazy nerd and a military man would be an interesting Blog post. But if I was going to talk about Will Smith as an actor I would talk about "The Prince of Bel-Air" before "Independence Day". Thank you Will Smith for you cineamatic contributions to society.

I could talk about the 4th of July. But would that really be fitting considering we are in the middle of September. No, no, no lets try and think this out. Where am I living right now. Oh yeah MEXICO. Today is the start of the Mexican Independence Day. Personally I almost feel like Mexico gets more excited about gaining their freedom from Spain than American do about gaining their freedom from Britain, but who am I to judge. So everyone has been asking me what I'm going to be wearing to the celebration and what am I going to do. I said nothing special because I'm an American. I'm still going to go but I'm definitely not dressing up in all the clothes they've tried to convince me "I need to wear" since they think this is the only way I will "truly experience the "REAL MEXICO."" Sorry not going to happen, I would get more crap for looking like a gringo who is trying too hard, then actually learning about the "Real Mexico." But being the American that I am, I wanted to show them what Americans do on days they celebrate independence.

Can you guess how I displayed my patriotic spirit. Guess it's going to be fun, Guess.

What does every red blooded american do when they want to display their patriotic heritage. What is the first sound you hear the morning of the 4th of July. What are the first smells that will permeate the smog layer and contribute to the giant hole in the O-Zone. Why will every American run out to Sear, Home Depot, Lowes, or Starbucks. Because they need to do one thing to show their Red-White-and-Blue. Guess just Guess. I did it this afternoon and I wasn't even in the US. Maybe you aren't True American like I am, but I was so proud of myself.


Yep, I smashed a big ANT HILL can you believe it only took these ant's 6 day's to build this. We crush it every so often to give them something to do. The life of ant must be boring so why not give their life a little more spice by making them rebuilding what you've been constructing for the last 6 days.

Ok. that isn't what I did to show my patriotic spirit, I just wanted to show you the giant Ant hill.

No, I'm such a joker in these Blogs, I actually moed the lawn. I started around 11 and then ran out gas at 11:30. After that I had to go get more gas because the gas can was empty. It cost me a $160 pesos at the PEMEX or about $16 US to fill a 5 gallon can. I don't know how many liters that is, sorry. Then I got right back to moeing. Cause the lawn is really big. I didn't finish until about 2:45 when lunch was getting put on the table. I must say I felt like a real American Patriot moeing my lawn even though it was in Mexico celebrating Mexican Independence. As they say in Rome, "Viva Mexico."

Scott Ekstrom

Does anyone want to join my club

So I don't know if my goat started looking like this
Or LIke this

But what I do know is he ended up looking more like this
I was thinking I might form a club of people who had eaten Goat. It wasn't bad, I guess if you can look past all the gristle. I don't know maybe I just got the piece that had an absurd amount but the parts that didn't have massive amounts and had a legitimate amount of meat were good. Especially wrapped in a warm tortilla and drizzled in a spicy green salsa. I'm still working out the kinks so I can post the recipe for that salsa. But I want everyone first authentic green tomatoe salsa to be a success so you'll have to wait just a little longer. But if it can make a goat taste good then you know it must be the salsa. Honestly the salsa made the Goat 100X better. Please, please, please wait, I don't want everyone going out and killing their neighbors goat for dinner just because they want to join my elite club of goat meat eaters.

Hope your dining experiences have all been great in the last week cause my menu selections have been getting stranger and stranger. Maybe I'm getting too adventurous but I do have my limits, nothing on my plate will roll or still be flapping.Especially anything that starts with a "B" and end with "rain". I've decided that I'm not going to bite into anything that anyone or anything has been thinking with. :)


Scott

May the Weddings Continue

I feel bad that I'm missing so of my favorite people's weddings. Especially these 2 up coming weddings, but that could also be partly because the bride and groom will be looking so fly. But Bri is also going to be in both upcoming weddings. John and Mandy are nearing, but I've got time to send my congrats later. Today I'd like to give a special announcement to the Wads and Lo Wedding. It's begining very quickly, and by the time anyone involved with that wedding reads this, it will be over. But I just wanted to say congrats and be the first one to say it in the digital world. I'm proud of you guys. You've waited along time and it's incredible to have watched you both grow together. Lo we've always had a special wedding bond because I've already walked down the aisle with you. As Ring Bearer and Flower Girl. I'm guessing Wads won't ever let us do that again. HAHA. Special comment to Wads. It sure seems like an eternity since you guys have been dating but you devotion to Lo has never been in question. I'm proud of you and am shocked that you turned into more then just a silly BMX nut. Sorry this is all I know about the Bike you ride, Sorry Wads You turned into a man and can wear those shoes, way to go. You may have some skills on a bike but, your even better at taking care of your lady. You guys have fun and I'll see you when I get back.




Scott Ekstrom

September 11th

Wow things don't get as widely broadcasted about September 11th down here in Mexico. But I just wanted to say don't forget to Thank you reserve or national military forces. Thank you guys for protecting and serving our nation and doing it with such perseverance. Thanks Troy D./ Reed P./ all the people that signed rocks under my mom's flag pole and whoever else I forgot. I'd also like to thank our Fire and Police and Medical serves. Now that I'm getting a bit older I'm finding more and more of my friends working in that field. Thanks Gentry(Gresham Police), Taylor and AJ (Portland Fire), Gavin(Police Academy), Darin Knott(Clackamas Fire), Ryan (AMR). Thank you all. Even though I'm not experiencing any of those services at the moment I want to thank you for serving.


Although I may sound like Tiny Tim. "God bless us everyone"



Scott Ekstrom

Moving into the next chapter

Sorry if my title is a bit confusing. No, I'm not making any major life altering announcements. I'm still down here in Mexico. I'm still trying to speak as much Spanish as possible. I'm still learning how to cook(I'll tell you more on Saturday). I'm still I love with Bri. I'm still taking lots of pills for Lymes Disease. I'm still putting my pants on one leg at a time.

The next chapter I'm talking about is that I've finished Dynamics of Faith. Paul Tillich has way too much packed into his huge brain. I'd say it was very similar to me trying to listen to Stu Weber on a 100 degree day. HAHA. Just kidding Stu. I just don't understand the words you use sometime. But I finished the book. It was very hard and I can't believe I still have all brains; for the last week I thought my brains melting away. I'd say I have a grasp of the surface layer of what the Dynamics of Faith is, but I have not mastered it in anyway. It's a very difficult book to read. I don't know why Bri put that in my suggested reading for this trip but I appreciated the challenge.

So I've started my next book and I wanted to let you in on what it is. Just to see if anyone wanted to joy in the fun. It's John Pipers Future Grace. I've got a good vibe from this book and I don't think it will have the same sensation as Paul Tillich. John suggested in the preface to read it over a 31 day span because it has 31 chapters but I might end up doing in in 2 or 3 weeks. You more then welcome to join me and Comment on the blog if you've read it or are reading it.

This is an appology to friends and family who have been keeping up with the blog. I realize my editing skills are lacking and my writing isn't always as graceful as it could be. I get distracted very easily and rabbit trails abound. But mainly I want to appologies for my bad proof reading. In my head I read exactly what I thought I written not what I actually written on the screen. So sorry, I haven't gotten everything edited extremely well in the last couple post. Bri helped me last night and repaired my posts. So now they may read just a little better. Sorry again you may just have to grid you way through the rough spots or just wait until Bri can help me proof read. Be sure to thank Bri if you had to rack you brain trying to understand my poorly written post. Thanks babe for helping and helping everyone get a clearer picture of my trip.


Scott Ekstrom

P.S. (Uncorrected by Bri but throughly read by me 3x)

Can't forget the kiddies

I mentioned this in my last few posts but I've been coaching soccer and having a blast. I don't think I'm as strict as my dad was when he was coaching me as a kid. But we're going to blame that on the occasional language barrier. But last Saturday we played in the championship game. We had won our last 4 games which I think was partially do to the big man upstairs because the only reason we won 2 of those 4 games was because of a giant puddle in front of the goal. But we made it the finals and we almost went to a shoot out again. We won the last game by shoot out and we were about 6 minutes away from going to another shoot out in the finals. But I'll try and give you a quick break down of the game; it was rather stressful. First half the ball spent 25 minutes of a 30 minute half on our side. We were getting crushed; it was all defense, all the time. We only had 2 shots on goal the first half and both were outside the box. But the defense did great! The other team didn't score, but it wasn't out of a lack of shooting, it was our lucky puddle and balls hitting the post. Multiple balls bounced off the post and into our goalies hands, one even hit the cross bar. My heart stopped multiple times.
Second half, after a good pep talk from Paulee, the kids started playing like a team and we actually got another 2 shots on goal. Lets be honest, we still hadn't gotten the ball in the penalty box. But a shots a shot. With 6 minutes left I was beginning to think we could actually be going to a shootout. But then a foul was called and they had a "long" free kick. The team was much larger then my team in general and their kicks were just as large. The kids bombed it all the way to my goalie who batted it down and right into the opposing team. They drilled a lazer into goal before I had time to say "GETTTT THHEE BBBAAALLLLLLLLL". It was too late. They scored, but the kids tried hard to move the ball forward but the other team was just kicking it out. We couldn't make any progress and then the game was over.

It was a great game and we had a great season. Second place is nothing to shake a stick at, besides we are starting an older kids tournament in 2 weeks. So I'll be busy. Soccer Soccer Soccer.

Side note: I went running yesterday and after I ran 2.5 miles some guy invited me to play arena soccer with a bunch of his friends. Needless to say it was 6 on 6 but my team was playing with only .5 of a soccer player. They are really good and trying to do what they were telling me to do is difficult when I'm still translating things in my head. I'm getting better and the Woods were very impressed that I would put my pride on the line like that. I think I'll try and practice a little bit more with the little kids before I go play with the grown-ups again.

Scott

Was that 9/04/08 really my last post

Wow I'm sorry guys it's been such a busy time and so much has been happening that I didn't get around to posting. I've been teaching as usual, I've been doing construction, I finished my first round of coaching soccer, I've been practicing my Spanish, and I've been busy with the many other projects that arise when doing ministry. I will try to keep the Blog post short. I'm almost done with construction at the school so I'll save that one for later.

So I'm in my fourth week of teaching English. It's been great. I think the kids really enjoy having someone in their class that isn't exactly the person giving them a passing grade. Even though I'm the one that creates their tests and corrects all their tests and homework. Yes it's official, I will be a farmer when I get back because I'm not going back to school to become a teacher. Sorry dad I know that was a pocket dream of having Dan, Brittany, and me becomong teachers. Looks like Brittany will be the one that follows that bloodline. So here is the funny story about teaching last week. We took a dictated exam in the 2nd. year class. The first 2 questions were #1. What does Scott look like? #2. What is Scott like? Needless to say I've developed quite a complex about my body and my personality. Imagine all these 8th. graders dissecting you when you've only know them for 3 weeks. I'm not sure if I'm tall or short or medium. I'm not sure if I'm skinny, fat but not too fat, or average. I'm not even sure what my hair color is. Do I have black, brown, or blonde hair? I've had my eyes for the last 22 years but now I'm not so sure. I've told the government my eyes are hazel but now I wonder because this 8th grade girl says I have blue eyes.

Now let me tell you about question #2. So kids think I'm nice. Some kids think I'm strict but not super strict, some think I'm shy, and one of the more advanced kids in the class said I was approachable. I'm a little confused. As the assistant teacher am I supposed to be an authority figure or a friend, nice but still assertive, warm and welcoming or unfriendly and unsympathetic. I've developed a complex and it's only the 4th week.

Did I tell you that the head teacher, Barb Wood, who is also my house mom is very excited to have gotten a stack of the purity principle books in Spanish? She wanted to again thank Randy for the books. She teaches an ethics class and she tried to buy the book for the graduating class last year when she went up to Acapulco. No luck last year but this year she now has a giant stack. She is now going to use it as one of the main books for her curiculm in that class. She got the books 9 days ago and she hasn't stopped talking about how excited she is and how God provided Randy's neighbor as her source to getting that book. Needless to say, she's near hysteria. I'll post the rest of my stories later.


Scott

Welcome to the book club

I say Book Club because if you want your more than welcome to read with me. I have quite a bit of free time down here the TV is emotionally and mentally draining so I set in a hammock and read. So if you've got time I will try to keep every up to date.


So I just finished my second book of the trip. This one took a little longer because I didn't have a 6 hour plane ride to fill. Also the fact that it is John Piper make it a little difficult to blast away 50 pages in one sitting. After about 30 pages my eyes were beginning to drop out of there sockets. Although it was very good, it's a large amount of information that is very well written and explained but not exactly a "See Spot Run" type of read. Also I had never heard of the term a "Christian Hedonist" so I was trying to grasp a new concept. I feel like Piper has just created a phrase that can really explain the depth of what it means to fully commit your life to feasting on Gods glory and finding not only joy in the good time but joy in the hard times as well. Which the only reason a person would honestly be able to do that would be if they were more concerned about glorifying God then about their own personal comfort.

Very Good Book interesting read


The next book I'm starting is Paul Tillich. I didn't know who this guy was but Bri had it in her little library of books. Look up the guy on Google and man is her old but regardless of that I'm looking forward to the read. Maybe he can answer some questions of "what is and what isn't faith" or "How do I define True Faith". It' a little shorter read then Piper so I'll be sure to tell you how the read was in a week or so.


God Bless to every

The Lord Provides

Before PIllS arrive I had about a maximum of 12 pills in any one of those bottle












So I've got an answer to pray. If you've been keeping up with things I was having trouble getting my much needed medication across the boarder. Mexico customs will kick your butt unless you are flying with your medication. This for me might have been a little ridiculous. Since I'm here for 4.5 months I would have been carrying more medication then clothes. Which I could have done but wearing clothes seemed like the best choice.

So I was on the verge of run out of 3 very important bottles of meds. Some of that medication was stuck at the board and having UPS send the package back to my parents would have been more than the actual value of what was in the package. Gods timing made everything come together, not exactly at the perfect or prefered time but God did provide at the correct time. I would have like my meds earlier but I didn't need them. I wasn't dying, I wasn't out of anything. But on the Lords time Tim Wood just happened to have a trip planned month before I even got to Ometepec. He was going to be in Cali. for 2 weeks and coming back 3 days before I ran out of my first bottle of pills. 4 days after Tim got back I ran out of two other bottles of pills. I didn't exactly plan to run out of that date when I packed for my trip. I think the Lord knew anyways.

Now my cabinet is overflowing with meds. What a blessing. Maybe one day I won't have to take them at all but for right now I'm grateful for good health.









How great it is to have the heavenly father watching over his flock. I was definately worried for part of it because you never know what can happen in between Meds being shipped to Cali, Meds being stopped/lost on the plane, Meds being stopped at the Mexican Boarder, Meds being destroyed from poor handling. But after I realized that so many piece were coming together at the last second I found relief in the fact that God had to be involved, he would decide if I really needed the Meds or not.

Side Note: Thank you Randy Alcorn for printing Purity Principle in spanish. It is being added to the cutriculum down here at the christian school I'm teaching at. It's great because some of these kids aren't engrained with some of these basic principles. It makes it easy for the kids to read it in their own language. Thank you. WE also pick up another book in the same weekend.

Scott Ekstrom