. . . Our week so far . . . .

We already had some things to share so we decided to go ahead and update the blog with a few pictures from our adventures so far this week. Monday, we decided to do some exlploring around town. We went to Zocalo square and saw the Cathedral Metroplitana as well as the National Palace. The square is surrounded by gorgeous old buildings and was a really neat place to see.





According to my internet history lessons, construction began on the Cathedral in 1563 when Hernan Cortes destroyed the Aztec temples and had the Cathedral built in the exact same location.
Here are a couple of pictures from inside the Cathedral. (And you thought your church had a large organ!)

Here is a picture of the National Palace.

Monday evening, after a day filled with exploring, we met our missionary friends to go the home of one of their house church members whose father is elderly and very ill. We went and prayed, sang songs, and shared some scripture with the family.

Today, we had to go back to the opposite side of the city for some more immigration stuff. Since we were on that side of town, we decided to go see the Basilica of Guadalupe after we finished with immigration. It was definitely a site to see. The legend of the Virgin of Guadalupe is very intersting. I would challenge to you search it on the internet and learn more about it.

Here are some pictures just from driving around town. Mexico City is a very unique place with some very beautiful sites to see.

I just had to take a picture of this store sign. Literal translation: Clothing for little fat girls . . .

I am sure we have mentioned it before but Mexico City has 28 million people who live here. I really think all of them were downtown with us today.

We just wanted to share with you what is going on with us so far this week. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Pray for us as we travel and learn our way about the city. Pray that we would continue to make contacts with people and that we would find ways to minister. Also pray for us as we are working to line up short term mission teams to come help us in our work here in the city. Also pray for the Mexican people. As we looked around at the beautiful architecture we were also reminded of how lost the Mexican people are in their worship of Mary and the Saints. Pray that they will see that Jesus is the only one worthy of our adoration. We appreciate you all so much!

Disclaimer: if some of the pictures of the old buildings look crooked, it is not the photographer, Mexico City was built on an old lake bed and the old buildings are literally sinking into the ground. As you stand in front of them it is very obvious that they lean to one side or the other.

What a week!

Travis and I have both said all along that we wanted to hit the ground running when we arrived in Mexico City and boy have we ever! Here is a little play by play just to show you what we have been up to since we arrived:

Sunday - We had the wonderful opportunity in participating in a house church begun by another missionary couple in the city. After house church, we enjoyed a wonderful pot luck lunch with the group and were able to get to know some of the people. After lunch, Travis and I went with David (one of the missionaries) and Luis ( a local ministry partner) to visit another house church group and show the movie "Fireproof" in Spanish where afterwards Luis presented the gospel message.

Monday - We used this day to set up our home and get to know our neighborhood a little. We have met almost all of our neighbors and are looking forward to getting to know them.

Tuesday - Early in the morning, we left for immigration on the opposite side of the city to finish our visa paperwork. After immigration, we enjoyed lunch with other missionaries from the mission office and had our "missionary orientation" for the city.

Wednesday - Wednesday, we spent time exploring the city - checking out the local grocery stores and finding our way around. We arrived home by 5:00 because our living room furniture was supposed to be delivered - however, it never came so we went out again after dinner to do some more exploring and to get some much needed Starbucks.

Thursday - We had the opportunity to participate in some ministry things that another missionary couple has going on in the city. I went to another missionary ladies house where she has a quilting class and bible study once a week on Thursdays. It was an amazing time for me where I was able to meet the ladies and get to know some of them much better. A few promised to teach me to cook Mexican food if I would teach them some American dishes and one lady promised me that they would be my friends and family in the city. Several of the ladies in the group do not know the Lord and come mainly for the quilting class. I hope that I will be able to continue to attend this Bible Study and maybe pursue further relationships with these ladies. While I was working with the ladies quilting group, Travis was off to help with a vacation Bible school. There are groups of indigenous people in the city whom make furniture out of tents on the sides of streets and roads in and around the city. The tents also serve as their homes. For the majority of these groups, Spanish is their second language their primary language being the indigeous language. David is trying to build relationships with these groups and decided to have one night of Bible School for their children last week. David, Travis, Luis, and another partner in ministry, Roberto went to help in the children's Bible School. They left at 4:00 in the afternoon but didn't get back until around 11:00 at night after travel time and delays.

Friday - Friday morning, I woke up and had plans to bake all morning in preparation for an event with house churches on Saturday afternoon. Travis and I were to leave the house at 2:30 to meet David and his wife Anne to go to another indigeonous group in the city for another Bible School. I need to preface this part by letting you know that all of our appliances in our house are run on gas - water, oven/stove, dryer, etc. We have two big propane tanks on the roof that we keep filled so we can have these wonderful luxuries. I got up on Friday morning, and when I went to turn the oven on I couldn't get it to work. At the same time, Travis was getting ready to take a shower and couldn't get the hot water to come on. After some exploration, we discovered that both propane tanks were empty. Travis went downstairs to talk to the lady in the little store beneath our apartment and she let him know that the gas company comes every day at 1:00. We waited as long as we could and finally both took cold showers so we wouldn't be late for Bible School. Finally, at 2:15 the gas truck pulled up and were able to get our propane! So, we left at 2:30 to go to our missionary friends home to meet them to leave for Bible school. We arrived around 3:00 and the left to pick up Luis and Roberto and head out into the country. We arrived at the site around 5:00 but the people we were going to work with said they were busy working on some things so could we come back around 7:00. We agreed to return later. We went around and visited some people in the area that David is trying to minister to. Along our way, we encountered the ruins of an old hacienda and stopped to take a look. The original plan was to have Bible School with the indigeounous group from 5:00 - 7:00 and then house church with another group in the area at 7:00. However, since the indigeounous group couldn't meet until 7:00, we had to divide the group and David, Travis, and I went to do the Bible School for the children while Luis and Roberto led the house church. We didn't get home until very late in the evening but it was a very rewarding day.

Saturday - Saturday, our missionary friends were having a get together with all the house churches that they work with. We met near the river in a little pavilion sort of thing and there was lots of praise music, food, and fellowship.

What a wonderful week! We are praising the Lord for all the opportunities He gave us last week and are praying that He will continue to use us here in Mexico City.

. . . our new home . . . .

So, after many months of training and language school - we are finally here!

As we flew in to Mexico City on Friday morning, we couldn't even talk we were so stunned looking out the window. All you could see for what seemed like forever were buildings. I think the gravity of what we were getting ourselves into had just begun to sink in.

What did I see almost immediately after stepping off the plane?! A STARBUCKS!!!! My mouth was watering for a Java Chip Frappacinno or a Caramel Machiato. However, we didn't have time to stop so I have yet to resample my favorite coffee chain.

Thankfully, our flight went amazingly smooth and all our baggage arrived and with everything in it - a definite praize to the Lord!



So far, our time in the city has been amazing.



We haven't received our car yet so we have mostly been relying on some very kind missionaries in the city to chaffeur us around. Because of this, we haven't seen much but are looking forward to exploring in the near future. Some very exciting sites we have seen so far in the city - Chili's, Krispy Kreme ( who knew!), TGIFriday's, Starbucks ( of course ), and Walmart.

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to take part in the house church they began in their neighborhood and afterwards enjoyed a wonderful pot luck meal with the group. Later that afternoon, we were able to go with one of the missionaries and locals to showing of the Fireproof film in Spanish to another houeschurch group in the city.



So far we have found the people here to be SO friendly. We have been able to meet several of our neighbors already and are looking forward to developing closer relationships with them.



Please pray for us as we get our bearings in this VERY LARGE city and as we learn more about this new culture. Pray for us that God would show us exactly how He wants to use us and that we would quickly build relationships with our neighbors. Thanks so much for your prayers!

We´re here...

Just wanted to write a quick note to say that we got to Mexico City safe and sound. We couldn´t have asked for a better flight. We went right through customs with no problem. The Boyter´s, another missionary couple that has been in Mexico for 18 years met us at the airport and got us to our apartment. We thank all of you for your prayers. We know that it was your prayers that mede this move so smooth. Once weget settled in we will write more, but for know thanks for the prayers so far in this move...keep ém comin´.

We have them!

Finally, after much prayer and support from friends, we have our visas AND our plane tickets! We are flying out first thing Friday morning at 7:30am. Please pray for us as we are packing up and heading out. Pray for safety on our flight as well as for our luggage - we hope everything makes it through customs! We appreciate so much all the prayers that have been lifted up on our behalf!

Visa Day #4

Today, we were supposed to get our visas. Everyone involved worked very hard to get our paperwork sent to the Mexican Embassy here in Costa Rica. I talked with someone at the embassy and they told me everything was fine and that we should receive our visas this afternoon. She said she would call me if there was a problem. We never received a phone call and went down to the embassy this afternoon and were the first in line before the embassy reopened after lunch. We sat down to wait and were told it would be just a few minutes. Over an hour and a half later, we were called back to someone's office where we were told that there was a problem and we need one more thing before we can receive our visas. We left the embassy yet again with no visas. . . . Please continue to pray for us as our patience is tried . . . .

Visa Day #3

Today, we received a call from the embassy here in Costa Rica. They told us that there were a couple things they needed from us still to process our visas. We were told that if we get everything in by tomorrow morning, we should be able to have the visas tomorrow afternoon. Please continue to pray . . . . .

Visa Day #2

We went to the embassy today. However, our visas were not ready. They said they might be ready Monday . . . or it might be Tuesday . . . . We went out to a celebratory dinner tonight. . . We were celebrating: Our lessons in patience . . . . Keep praying for us . . . .

. . . La Casa de Restoracion. . . .

Today was my time to be with the ladies at the House of Restoration. It was bitter sweet as we said our goodbyes for the last time.

The ladies at the House were so sweett - they had a cake for us and one of them had made us cute little ceramic piggy banks. As were were leaving, I thought about how I had thought the Lord led me there to bless them but they ended up blessing me as well.

Please remember the ladies at the House of Restoration in your prayers this week.

Visa Day #1

We were able to go to the Mexican consulate today and turn in our paperwork for our visas. Please pray with us that everything will be ready by 3:00 tomorrow which is what time they instructed us to return tomorrow.

We appreciate so much your prayers and support!

We have visa paperwork!!!!!!!

Yes! We received our correct visa paperwork today and are ready to go to the Mexican consulate on Thursday. We pray that all goes well on Thursday so that we can return to the consulate to pick up our visas on Friday. Please continue to pray as we work our way through this process! We are right now praising the Lord for his provision in this situation!

Travis and Danielle

Update on visas . . .

We would like to ask from all of you that you please pray for our current visa situation. We had an update from Mexico yesterday. The mixup was with the Mexican embassy and so, hopefully, it will be an easy and a quick fix. The prayer is that the paperwork can be fixed and faxed to us by tomorrow so we can go to the Mexican embassy here in Costa Rica on Tuesday, receive our visas on Thursday, and get the plane tickets to fly out the following Friday. Whew! Busy couple of weeks huh?!

We appreciate all of your prayers and support! God Bless!