Coming Home to Mexico With The Dogs

We had a wonderful time visiting Brandon and Jessica and little Abi for Christmas, but it was hard to leave. We hope we’ll get to see them again in the next few months, Lord willing.

On our way to Aspermont, we stopped to visit Dr. Wayne and Yuvi, and met their children and grandchildren. It was nice to visit with them and to meet their family.

Laura watched our dogs in Aspermont so we got to visit her a few minutes when we picked them up. They seemed to be very happy to see us again and we appreciated Laura’s willingness to keep them while we went to the Metroplex.

We stopped and had a meal with Greg and Robin in Anson on our way through, and they blessed us with lots of goodies for Mexico. We look forward to seeing them in the coming year when they visit Mexico again.

When we got to San Angelo, we drove from there to Carlsbad to pick up the dogs Brandon Alldredge gave us. He gave us two 8-week old male Anatolian Shepherd puppies and one five month old female Anatolian/Great Pyrenees mix and one three month old Great Pyrenees male. He donated them to the ministry and we were so grateful for that answer to prayer.

We were able to bring the dogs and lots of dog food to their new owners. Rito and his family named their dogs “Rey” and “Princessa.” Amadeo hasn’t given his dogs names yet. The dogs are all doing well and adapting to their new homes. They are drinking goat’s milk and living with the goats and sheep. It’s amazing to see the instincts they already have for that lifestyle. They are working dogs, and are very content in their environments.

Our border crossing was amazing. We came across at the Del Rio/Acuna crossing about 2 am on Tuesday and absolutely nobody was there! It was the first time I’ve ever seen that. Between Acuna and Tepeyac, we might have seen 6 vehicles, which made for a pleasant drive home. We slept a few hours, and at 9:30 a.m. we went to bring our “tuning fork” to the doctor. She didn’t come for consultations that day, though. We will see her next week when she comes back.

My son, Brandon, purchased the tuning fork online while we were visiting and had it delivered on Saturday, which delighted Bill tremendously. The doctor needs it for a better diagnosis of Guillermo, and hopefully it will enable him to get the help he needs.

We enjoyed the Bible study at Lupita’s house on Wednesday. Her husband was sitting up in the chair during the study. Nena and her daughters were there, also, and we brought Maria, Socorro and the children. Blas came but Paula spent the evening with her mother, who has been having a hard time since her husband died Friday before Christmas. Paula and her family are healing slowly from the loss of her father. He died of pneumonia, but had been struggling with Alzheimer’s for the past 5 years.

This morning, Paula and Blas brought two of their nieces, Alexis and Angela, and we made sugar cookies in the trailer. It was fun, and the girls had a great time, cutting the “masa” with the cookie cutters and putting sprinkles on them. We made dozens of cookies but only a few made it home with them!!! I know they had fun, and Paula probably enjoyed it most of all! Alexis is 5 and Angela is 3. They are cousins.

Alexis was born in Del Rio and speaks English and Spanish and is quite a character. While we were making our cookies, Bill came in to ask me where the cordless drill charger was and I told him what he needed to know. Alexis said, “Why are you talking to him in English? HE doesn’t speak English!!!”  I guess she thought his Texas drawl didn’t sound like English to her. I couldn’t help but laugh! Too funny!

While we made cookies, Alexis decided to tell the story (in English) of the 3 little pigs. I told her we should speak Spanish so everyone could know what we’re saying. She asked me to tell the story, and I ended up telling it nearly 10 times….Alexis wanted me to tell it over and over and over again.

Have you ever thought of that story in Spanish? I don’t guess I ever did before today. Of course, it got better and better the more times I told it…in they end, the puerquitos cried “Gloria Dios! Alleluia!!!” porque el lobo se murio en la hoya de agua hirbiendo en la chiminea. (my spelling is probably way off, but you get the jist!) I had to remember soplo in place of respiro (blow in place of breathe) Maybe I could write a Spanish children’s book about it, giving God the glory! Paula had never heard the story before. When my children were small, we had a Christian tape from Hosanna that told the story with a Christian flavor to it. It would be fun to do that in Spanish.

After we made cookies, I drove Blas and Paula to San Carlos to pay their electric bill. When we came back through Palmira, we stopped at Blas’ brother, Reymundo’s house and had a meal with them. They had just killed their pig this morning and made a wonderful meal of it and we stopped to visit with them.

We ate outside at a big wooden table made from an electrical wire spool, sitting near the fire where the meal was still being cooked, and tortillas were warming on the grill. The only thing out of place (probably only to me) was the pig’s head in the middle of the table, eyes fixed, looking at me. He had white whiskers. All I could think of while I ate was that saying Jerry Coplen and Greg Goza say, “Happier than a dead pig in the sunshine.” The sun was shining brightly on this beautiful afternoon, and that pig actually looked happy. I know that’s strange, but it’s true. He had just the slightest smile across his lips…

Well, it’s getting late and I want to get this posted to the blog. I have lots of children coming for Art class in the morning, and am looking forward to seeing them all again. Our weather has been beautiful the past few days, and I hope it will continue tomorrow so we can have a good turnout for out class.

Bill and the dogs are waiting for us to drive to Jimenez. It’s their outing for the day.

We covet your prayers. God has protected us, provided for us, given us boldness, and kept us healthy because of the prayers of the saints. We greatly appreciate your prayers for us.

May God bless you richly this coming year, and may He use your life for His glory. I pray that you realize how truly blessed you are. We all have so much to be thankful for.

Psalm 84:10-12    For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper  in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield, the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

In His service,

Toni and Bill