Our little Ax is learning how to stand and speak Spanish at the same time. What a kid!
Ax Is Quite The Student
My Friend Joaquin
Me and Joaquin (I'm the one on the left)With tears welling up in my eyes, I listened intently as Joaquin shared his testimony at our dinner table Sunday night. When Joaquin was six years old, his father began to search out deep spiritual matters. He really wanted to know who the true God was. The village spiritual leader had pointed him to a variety of different idols, but he knew in his heart of hearts that wasn’t the answer.
Shortly into his spiritual quest, some missionaries from Oregon showed up in his village to share the gospel of Jesus. Most of the villagers rejected their message out right however, when Joaquin’s father heard them speak, he understood that he was hearing the truth for the first time in his life. He asked Jesus into his heart and was radically changed. He endured many threats and great persecution for his new beliefs, but never wavered from the faith.
Three years later, Joaquin, his three brothers, and his father were walking over a mountain on their way to do some work. His father was having some issues with his feet and needed to stop for a break. He sent his boys on ahead promising to catch up with them shortly. That was the last time they would see their father alive.
On March 9th, 1952, the boys were to find their father in a crucified position with several stabs wounds all over his body. He had been murdered for his belief in Jesus.
Now at the age of 66, Joaquin daily lights up the camp here with his ear to ear smile. I asked him if it was hard to forgive the men that had killed his father. He said that for a long time it was. There came a point as he was growing up that he began to ask the same spiritual questions that his father had asked years before. He began to question what it was that his father had been willing to die for. This is when he found forgiveness through Jesus and was able to forgive. At the age of 18, he enrolled in a Bible school and began his studies to become a pastor. For this decision he was excommunicated by all of his friends and also had to endure great persecution. Through it all, he was able to successfully pastor several churches throughout Mexico up until he retired to take care of his ailing wife a few years ago.
Joaquin was only the age of my oldest son Smith when his father was cruelly stripped out of his life. As he shared his story, our whole family sat in silence, which doesn’t happen too often, and relished in the fact that we were in the presence of such a great unsung hero of the faith.
Before he left for the night, he prayed over Rachel and me, and then we prayed for him. It was a wonderful experience. It’s an honor to call this man my friend.
Please pray for Joaquin’s wife as she continues to recover from a broken femur and a broken tail bone. Please also be in prayer for Joaquin’s Uncle Opie that has been fighting pneumonia for quite some time now.
Shortly into his spiritual quest, some missionaries from Oregon showed up in his village to share the gospel of Jesus. Most of the villagers rejected their message out right however, when Joaquin’s father heard them speak, he understood that he was hearing the truth for the first time in his life. He asked Jesus into his heart and was radically changed. He endured many threats and great persecution for his new beliefs, but never wavered from the faith.
Three years later, Joaquin, his three brothers, and his father were walking over a mountain on their way to do some work. His father was having some issues with his feet and needed to stop for a break. He sent his boys on ahead promising to catch up with them shortly. That was the last time they would see their father alive.
On March 9th, 1952, the boys were to find their father in a crucified position with several stabs wounds all over his body. He had been murdered for his belief in Jesus.
Now at the age of 66, Joaquin daily lights up the camp here with his ear to ear smile. I asked him if it was hard to forgive the men that had killed his father. He said that for a long time it was. There came a point as he was growing up that he began to ask the same spiritual questions that his father had asked years before. He began to question what it was that his father had been willing to die for. This is when he found forgiveness through Jesus and was able to forgive. At the age of 18, he enrolled in a Bible school and began his studies to become a pastor. For this decision he was excommunicated by all of his friends and also had to endure great persecution. Through it all, he was able to successfully pastor several churches throughout Mexico up until he retired to take care of his ailing wife a few years ago.
Joaquin was only the age of my oldest son Smith when his father was cruelly stripped out of his life. As he shared his story, our whole family sat in silence, which doesn’t happen too often, and relished in the fact that we were in the presence of such a great unsung hero of the faith.
Before he left for the night, he prayed over Rachel and me, and then we prayed for him. It was a wonderful experience. It’s an honor to call this man my friend.
Please pray for Joaquin’s wife as she continues to recover from a broken femur and a broken tail bone. Please also be in prayer for Joaquin’s Uncle Opie that has been fighting pneumonia for quite some time now.
Women's Retreat
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!
Sarah helping out with Ax.
Sylvia with snake
Barbara Lee
Hooray for second place!
Spiritual Scavenger Hunt
Jenna
Ladies
Free TimeLast week I got invited to a women’s retreat for missionary women in the area. I was a stand-in for a lady who was unable to come. So, with less than 24 hours notice and not wanting to waste someone’s non-refundable fee, I packed a bag for Ax and myself. Jon carried my stuff to the car and kissed me goodbye. In a way it was strange to be alone with people I barely knew headed deeper into Mexico with only a backpack and a baby. I knew that it wouldn’t be my friends, but I half expected a bunch of boring old ladies and some goofy-spiritually minded people who desperately needed a furlough back to the States. I spent the next 48 hours pretty much dumbfounded.
I’m going to try to explain to you guys how amazing it was to be with these women:
I was the only one there with a baby, which seemed to make me memorable to them. I kept trying to find a congruity amongst these ladies. The only thing I could settle on is Jesus. There were women who grew up in Mexico as missionary kids, women retiring after 45 years of ministry, young girls from the US who just got here a few months ago, women who got saved within the last couple of years, some there with their spiritual moms. I was blown away at their maturity. One lady got saved in jail when a prostitute told her to pray to Jesus. There were a lot of multi generational missionaries—very mature women all totally serving the Lord. Every so often they would all slip into Spanish, with no hitch at all, and they’d laugh as I sat there clueless. Here were the people doing really well what I had only just begun.
These women convene annually to refresh, reconnect, and share skills and tips on anything from cake decorating to entertaining for parties. I was amazed at how well done this retreat was. Everywhere we went there were lotion samples or lip gloss gifts or chocolates to savor. One thing I think I’ll never forget is the evening the animals came out. Tracey owns a local zoo-safari and shared with everyone her love for animals by demonstrating the beauty in God’s creation of the frog, lizard, rat, scorpion, and, of course the snake. Not a garden snake, mind you, but a ten foot boa constrictor.
I left for this retreat with nothing but a blank page, and came back with a whole world of encouraging encounters and relationships. Thank you Lord for that experience! I’m already planning for next year.
Our Oasis in Mexico!
The top of the building with the windows is our apartment.
You don't see these much in America anymore, but they seem to be the most popular playground equipment in Mexico.
The camp backs up right to a beautiful lakeshore--not any good for fishing, but awfully pretty!
This is where the kids and I usually have our morning Bible study.
Some of our laundry hanging out to dry.
An early morning shot of the pool where we've been teaching the kids swimming lessons.
The quiet street in front of the camp where we are currently living.
"Oasis of Living Water"...we love Coke.
The Metric system!...enough said
The back walkway to our apartment
We have been very blessed this month to stay as guests at the "Oasis Campamento." This camp caters to kids and youth that come here for a "summer camp" type setting all-year long. Our kids have loved interacting with all the other children and it's been a great chance for them to practice their Spanish. Rachel and I have enjoyed interacting with the staff on a daily basis and it's been a good chance for us to see how far we have to go with our language studies.
I've had the chance to fill in and serve as the night-time and early morning watchman. That status comes complete with walkie-talkie and keys. Basically, I work from 5PM to 11PM, starting again at 6Am to about 9AM. I am the gate bouncer, making sure that everyone coming or going is supposed to be doing so. I haven't had to pound or kill anyone yet, but I'm looking foreward to some good hand to hand combat. All this so that our friend can have a much-needed little break. And it's a good reason for me to practice getting up early.
One interesting fact is that this camp has many pianos throughout the grounds. The one best tuned I stumbled upon yesterday in a storage/workroom located underneath our apartment. That makes the count at five. I wonder how long it's been since they've been really loved on. So I play them all.
Love from Mexico!
the Nagels
Trip to San Francisco
We took a vacation to San Francisco the other day. That’s the name of the closest village to where we live right now.
We walked around the main town square, mostly deserted. Directly across from that was a beautiful church, totally empty, and we found this sign posted in the foyer. Losely translated I think it says, “To talk to God, you don’t need a cell phone. Turn it off before entering.”
It was fun walking around letting all the people stare at the gringos. Good times.
Feliz Cumpleanos A Mi!
Yesterday I turned 32 years old. Being in Mexico I didn’t expect a whole lot for my birthday. So, my number one birthday wish came true when I got to take a shower all by myself with just me a tank of hot water and the spiders. After that I was greeted with a birthday table runner decorated by the kids, and a plate full of chocolate-chip pancakes a la Jon. Then it was off to the Miracle Mobile for a birthday adventure run into town.
So far we’d only gone into town as far as the Walmart-like store called Bodega Aurrera. It’s not Walmart, but it’s way better than a Wyoming Pamida. Jon was driving further into town in search of Puebla’s centro. After about an hour of driving around, we realized that Puebla is A LOT bigger than we thought. We passed a Carl’s Jr. burger place, a Burger King, couldn’t find the alleged Starbuck’s, but Jon bought me a Mocha Frio from The Italian Coffee Company. Super yummy-oso!
Jon found this hole-in-the-wall restaurant and with his suave Spanish ordered our family three specials. I think this might be my favorite restaurant in Mexico. This guy brought mango juice in a carafe, a four course meal of bread, rice, soup, delicious chicken, salad, and a rice pudding dessert. All of that only cost $12. It was the beest! Then Jon used his super internal navigational system and somehow found our way home. I was very impressed.
The past few days Jon had been telling me that he himself would make my birthday cake. I laughed when I saw it…can you see why? It sure did taste good though. Then I was presented with a small stack of creatively wrapped presents. So sweet! We ended the day by snuggling up together to watch the movie “Encantada.” That was my big present…luckily you can watch it in English. It was a little too scary for Diego but the rest of us enjoyed it thoroughly.
It was a great day! (much better than last year!)
So far we’d only gone into town as far as the Walmart-like store called Bodega Aurrera. It’s not Walmart, but it’s way better than a Wyoming Pamida. Jon was driving further into town in search of Puebla’s centro. After about an hour of driving around, we realized that Puebla is A LOT bigger than we thought. We passed a Carl’s Jr. burger place, a Burger King, couldn’t find the alleged Starbuck’s, but Jon bought me a Mocha Frio from The Italian Coffee Company. Super yummy-oso!
Jon found this hole-in-the-wall restaurant and with his suave Spanish ordered our family three specials. I think this might be my favorite restaurant in Mexico. This guy brought mango juice in a carafe, a four course meal of bread, rice, soup, delicious chicken, salad, and a rice pudding dessert. All of that only cost $12. It was the beest! Then Jon used his super internal navigational system and somehow found our way home. I was very impressed.
The past few days Jon had been telling me that he himself would make my birthday cake. I laughed when I saw it…can you see why? It sure did taste good though. Then I was presented with a small stack of creatively wrapped presents. So sweet! We ended the day by snuggling up together to watch the movie “Encantada.” That was my big present…luckily you can watch it in English. It was a little too scary for Diego but the rest of us enjoyed it thoroughly.
It was a great day! (much better than last year!)
Some People We’ve Met Along The Way
Don & Ginger SmithDon & Ginger Smith retired from Houston and moved down to Mexico about 24 years ago. Many think of retirement as rest and relaxation. That’s not exactly what they got. They bought a 2,500 acre ranch and Don figured since he had a college degree he was smart enough to know how to run it. He now laughs about that and says he’s still learning every day.
Ginger is one of the sweetest, toughest ladies we’ve ever met. Though she still has the beauty, it’s hard to imagine that she use to be a beautician. She’s not afraid of spiders or scorpions and she’s definitely not afraid to get her hands dirty doing a hard days work.
Rancho "El Rayo" is an amazing place to visit. It’s just about 4 hours south of the border and they are currently setting it up as a place where hunters can come and stalk all the wild turkey they can dream of. Let us know if you’re ever in northern Mexico and we’ll help you connect with them. The days we spent there becoming friends with Don and Ginger will never be forgotten.
Ginger is one of the sweetest, toughest ladies we’ve ever met. Though she still has the beauty, it’s hard to imagine that she use to be a beautician. She’s not afraid of spiders or scorpions and she’s definitely not afraid to get her hands dirty doing a hard days work.
Rancho "El Rayo" is an amazing place to visit. It’s just about 4 hours south of the border and they are currently setting it up as a place where hunters can come and stalk all the wild turkey they can dream of. Let us know if you’re ever in northern Mexico and we’ll help you connect with them. The days we spent there becoming friends with Don and Ginger will never be forgotten.
Super Cream BreakfastThe morning we left Aldama we had breakfast at a popular restaurant called Super Cream. As we were finishing up the manager, David came over and started a conversation. Once he found out we were missionaries, he openly shared with us about how his grandparents had been missionaries. His mother also had been a missionary and in her day she would walk for days only to reach a village and have her message rejected, and be chased out of town.
David admitted to us that he too felt a call of God on his life, but he was afraid to respond. As far as Mexican standards go, he has a pretty cush job and three young sons to provide for. We shared with David about how long we had fought against and struggled with the idea of being missionaries. We shared with him about the fear we had to overcome and about how faithfully the Lord had met us along the way. Please pray for David that he would be released into the ministry that the Lord has waiting for him.
About an hour outside of Puebla, we ended up staying the night at a motel that normally caters to a more questionable clientele. Let’s just say, you can rent the rooms by the hour. The manager, Fernando and his staff seemed thrilled to have a family stay with them and went out of their way to make our stay comfortable. Fernando took us on a tour of his private garden and was very proud of the fact that he came over from northern Spain.
Davis and I took a walk before bed and prayed over the grounds of the motel. We asked the Lord to move mightily in that place and in Fernando’s family.
As we were pulling out in the morning, Fernando sent one of his workers running after us. We thought he may want more money or something. As it turns out, he was so glad to have us as his guests that he wanted to give us a parting gift of some glasses and some ash trays. We were humbled by his gift. Please lift Fernando and his family up in prayer that they would come to know the Lord.
Grandpa Jim with Diego
Grandpa Carol with Zaisy
Finally, but certainly not least, we got to know a couple that we’ve known for years. Jim and Carol Nowlin. We’ve always known them as the quiet servant-hearted parents of my good friend Jim. In Mexico, we got to see another side of them and enjoyed every minute of it. They shared with us from their great wealth of wisdom, though they’ll never admit they’re wise. They delighted us with their humor and blessed us not only financially, but with fellowship and in many other ways they’ll never know. They treated us as if we were their own children.
Thanks Jim and Carol for everything! You’re the best!
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