An online web journal (weblog) of Mike & Vanessa Allbutt.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Now on Facebook
Today I got onto Facebook.
[ 3:39 PM ] Read...
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
End of the rainy season
Family News
They say that time flies when you're having fun. Well, we are not sure if it's all been fun, but the past two years have flown by. We still have vivid memories of arriving home from hospital with a new bundle of joy. And the other weekend we got to celebrate that bundle's second birthday. We did it in style, having a traditional aussie BBQ on the day Mexicans celebrate their shout for Independence. We had snags in bread with onions, kebabs and salads, and the necessary fruit salad with ice-cream and pavlova. We even set up an inflatable pool for the kids to swim in. It was great fun, especially for young Joel who turned 2.
Mike has well and truly dived into Spanish and the conjugation of it's verbs. Not always fun, but we trust it won't be long before we see (or hear) the fruits of his labour.
The school year started in October, and with it started Priscila. She began first year of kinder at a public school. It has taken her a while to get used to it. We think she feels a bit lost in a large class of Spanish speaking children. But her Spanish is certainly coming along, as well as her English! We are continually surprised with the things she remembers and says.
There are only about a month left until we have baby number three. Although looking back, it seems this pregnancy has flown by, it hasn't been the easiest. And it is getting a little harder for Vanessa. She is feeling more uncomfortable and sore, and not enjoying the humidity or lack of sleep. But things are coming together. We have been blessed with what we need, having borrowed most baby items. We have also found a doctor to attend the birth, so Vanessa is feeling more settled with the approaching labour.
Our visas seem to be a very drawn out process. We are currently awaiting our original certificates (which seem to be lost in the world postal system) to be authenticated. We have missed the deadline for these documents, and may have to pay a fine, but we are trusting the ball will get rolling again quickly, to finalize the process.
Current Ministry
Mike has just finished taking a 4 week bible study on the book of Jonah at the weekly Bible study we attend. He continues to go to the beach each morning, and seeks to spend time with the locals, encouraging them in their walk with God. We continue to see young men in the surfing community who fluctuate with their commitment to God, or simply hold out from making a decision to follow him.
Vanessa has taken on the preparation of the ladies Bible study every Monday night. In the past few months we have seen that while young men fluctuate in their walk, it's the wives who have drawn closer to God. The ladies began a book 'The Power of a Praying Wife' and have been encouraged to faithfully pray for their husbands, accepting that as women they cannot change them, only seek the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Future Ministry
It's almost a year since we have arrived in Puerto Escondido. We feel settled into life here, and as the year comes to a speedy end, we have been thinking and praying about our ministry with Christian Surfers, it's purpose and involvement here.
These are some ideas of what we'd like to see next year:
- The board of directors for Christian Surfers Mexico to be set up and running (initially based in the US with the view to a fully Mexican run and owned organization in due time). This board overseas the ministry decisions and effectiveness here in Puerto Escondido, and eventually, Mexico.
- A weekly surfer's outreach event at the local beach, involving some food, surf videos, plenty of interaction with surfers and a simple message of hope. We hope to see this as a contact point to invite young surfers to the weekly Bible study and/or church.
- A weekly Mother's Group or Playgroup, hosted at our home, as an outlet to build relationships with the mothers and wives in the community (we recently sent out a document outlining the purpose and needs for this ministry. If you did not receive it and would like to know how to get involved, please download the Playgroup document).
Praise
- For a year of protection, health and settlement in Puerto Esondido
- For an uneventful and safe pregnancy
- For the possibility of Vanessa's parents being able to visit in November
- We killed the 1.9m snake before it did any harm to us :)
Prayer
- For safety in upcoming labor and birth
- For a special time as a family, as the dynamics change with the arrival of a new family member
- That the visa process will be completed quickly
- For wisdom and guidance with plans for next year's ministry opportunities
- For speedy sale of Mike's website business, that we might finalize payment of the land we're purchasing
Thanks again for taking the time to read our newsletter. The next one should be a month away and include news of our next baby.
We are keen and able to talk with friends over skype for free. Our skype id is mvallbutt or mikeallbutt.
[ 6:43 AM ] Read...
I trust that this Allbutt Journalings helps bring you up to date with what I have been up to recently. If you want to contact me then click here. Thanks for reading some of my thoughts. If you want to read some of the older files then they have been stored in the archives here.
