So the weather is finally changing here in Mexico, and the temperature is dropping in the mornings, while it stays in the 70’s & 80’s during the day. I’m ready for it to be cooler so I can wear sweaters & my cowboy boots. 🙂
The above picture is of the two missionary teams that work in Baja California, their children, the 8 consultants and myself. I really enjoyed my time in Baja, visiting the missionaries, getting to know them better, seeing what life is like over there, and getting a different picture of how they are doing church planting. Please continue to pray for me as I work on planning an exploratory trip to visit the Tepehuan people. We thought it would work out to visit in November, but that didn’t happen. So hopefully next year I’ll be able to make a trip with one of the student couples in the Ranch, and then I can start taking some decisions.
After getting back from Baja at the beginning of October, things changed drastically at the Ranch. First thing, our director, Edwin, injured his back and has been in bed since (8 weeks)! At the beginning of November he was able to get an MRI, and they found out that Edwin has two herrniated disks and a bulging one, which is putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. He’s not been able to drive, so myself along with the other teachers, and some students have been helping with getting the kids to school, or getting Edwin to doctor’s appointments. Edwin has had such bad pain, that when we take him to docto’rs appointments or the city, he has to lay down the whole trip. And he’s only been able to teach a few classes from his house, but he’s in pain the whole time.
The plan as of last week, was that he would go in for a back surgery on Tuesday, but that didn’t happen. Edwin has never wanted a back surgery (since there aren’t good results for back surgeries), so after a lot of prayer, and that morning he was all prepped for surgery, God allowed the x-ray machine to break. God cancelled his surgery! So the next plan was/is for Edwin and Anita to head to El Paso, TX and have daily appointments with a chiropractor. Edwin and Anita don’t know English, so as a part of a team decision, I was selected to bring them to Texas and because they already have visas to the states it was an easy decision for us all to make. We have plans of being in El Paso for two weeks, and then returning to Mexico. I’m helping them out with translating for all the doctor’s appointments and in general living down here. Their three teen boys stayed in Mexico with one of the other staff families (the Grangers) at the Ranch, and then next week some teachers will go out to the Ranch and stay with them. Then we shall all be reunited after that. These appointments have already helped Edwin out so much already in just 4 days.
Please be praying for Edwin & Anita while we are here in El Paso, and for me as I’m constantly translating. God has given me constant reminders of what it means to be on a missionary team and why we work in teams. Here is a picture of me with Edwin & Anita.
I’m excited to be able to spend another Christmas at home with my parents & siblings! If you will be in the Baker City, Oregon area between Dec. 19-Jan. 2, let me know and we can hang out! 🙂
Blessings to you and your family during this holiday season,
Crystal Pierce
Here is a picture of me with Edwin & Anita.