May Newsletter

We have now been in Oaxaca City for 1 month. We are working at improving our Spanish so we are better able to communicate with people here. We have also been enjoying learning more about the culture. On April 30, Mexicans celebrate Día del Niño (Day of the Child.) It is a big holiday here with most neighborhoods having a fiesta for the children. The fiesta we attended in our neighborhood included 3 piñatas, soccer games, food and gifts! They served all the children an open-faced torta (sandwich) with beans and cheese, jello, and cake. All children also received a toy.



Día del Niño Celebration "Enjoying lunch!!!"




An interesting cultural fact: Cinco de Mayo is not a big holiday here in Mexico. It is a holiday to commemorate a battle victory over the French in 1862 in the state of Puebla. It is celebrated mainly in Puebla and in the United States as a heritage celebration.


God opened doors for us to begin a Kid's Club Bible Study here in our neighborhood. A local pastor and his wife opened their home to us to have a bible study for children. We have invited many children from the neighborhood and have had 17-18 children attend each week (including our 4!) Children here are used to very strict, traditional teaching, so it is taking time for them to open up and join in our hands-on activities! They have been memorizing bible verses and learning bible stories from the book of Genesis. A puppet named Timí introduces the lesson each week.

Lacy with "Timí" and Lisa teaching at Kid's Club.

Lisa's friend, Alma, is introducing her to the art of Mexican cooking! She also gave us a Mexican cookbook. We are enoying going to the local mercados (markets) to buy our cheese and fruits and vegetables and the tortilleria to buy our tortillas! So far, entomatadas (tortillas in a tomato and chile sauce, topped with onion, Oaxacan cheese, and parsley) have been a favorite!



A day at the zoo with the Haynes Family.

While we are house-sitting in Oaxaca City we have access to internet-based phone line with a US phone number. We would love to hear from you. (The number is an Arkansas phone number- so long distance charges to Arkansas will apply.) The phone number is 1-479-439-1018.

Also, a church in Florida has made quilts to donate to us to distribute here in Oaxaca. We are trying to find an affordable way of getting them mailed to us. If anyone knows the best way to do this - please let us know. Thanks!

For His Glory,

The Norton Family