Relationships!

God is always teaching us - we need only to stop and listen to what He is saying. During the month of May God has been showing us the importance of relationships. "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." (Ephesians 1:4-6) In Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren states, "Because God is love, he treasures relationships. His very nature is relational, and he identifies himself in family terms; Father, Son, and the Spirit." We were created for relationships!

Lisa has been meeting with a friend, Dulce, once a week to practice language. Dulce practices English while Lisa works on Spanish. They have begun using the bible as their textbook to practice pronunciation. Please be in prayer that God will open the door for Dulce and her husband to begin to study the bible with us.

Kid's Club is continuing to attract new children. The kids are enjoying role playing, games, and other activities to learn bible stories. Several children have already earned surprises for memorizing 5 bible verses! We are feeling more confident each week teaching the stories and playing games in Spanish.

Playing games - Which cup is Rebekah hiding in?

Lacy telling the story of the search for Isaac's wife

- from the point of view of the camel!!

Story Time!

Lacy, Alia, and Noah have completed their school year. They are now enjoying spending more time with their new friends. Lacy and Alia continue to amaze us with their mastery of Spanish. (We think they have surpassed us!) Noah has met two little boys around his age. The three of them immensely enjoy Kid's Club together - they'll even participate in the activities when we can actually catch them!! The game of chase definitely crosses cultures!!

Basketball in our driveway.

A picnic with friends!

Molly and Gracia!

Carl is continuing to improve his Spanish by meeting with Porfirio, our friend who is a pastor here. Carl is also opening the church service each week with a welcome, bible passage, and prayer in Spanish.

We are enjoying visiting with Lisa's parents this month. We are busy introducing them to our friends, new foods, and Spanish! Lacy, Alia, Noah, and Molly are enjoying Grammy and Papa being here!

Thank you for all your prayers and support! "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1

For His Glory,

Carl, Lisa, Lacy, Alia, Noah and Molly

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