Settled and Settling

Greetings from Chihuahua, Mexico! Sheri and I are so thankful for so much and absolutely awed at what God has done so far to get us here and help us with the settling in process in the midst of the ministry already! We finished the first official week of classes in the Bible Institute amidst adjustments that you would not believe.

In review, for those who may not know, after making the move to El Paso and storing all our stuff in a storage facility we headed for Maine and spent a month in meetings in churches and visiting friends and family. Our trip back from Maine was anything BUT uneventful; we lost our transmission in Massachusetts and were delayed 4 extra days there; got a flat tire in Ohio, lost our A/C compressor in Missouri, and are still nursing a leaky power steering pump that started leaving puddles somewhere in Oklahoma.

Once we finally made it back to El Paso we started making trips down here into Mexico on the 25th of July. It took a few days of searching but we finally found a house to live in and started moving in on the 4th of August. We are so thankful that it’s located close to the Bible institute and school property (for the kids). On the second trip we had problems with the car running rough and overheating. Come to find out, it was just our timing belt which was recently replaced and simply put on wrong, causing the car to eventually run on only 3 cylinders. That, once again, really cost us and caused another delay.

As we planned a third trip to El Paso to bring down more stuff a fellow missionary offered to help us by hauling their trailer (bigger than ours) behind their full size van (taking out some rear seats to fit even more of our stuff) as they had to go up to El Paso anyway in order to pick up their daughter. Between us we were able to empty out our storage and bring all the rest of our stuff down! That was just 5 days before classes were to start up. Needless to say, we’ve been trying to settle in, adjust to a new country (and new bacteria, which is the NOT fun part!), new food and the availability of items, meet and adjust to a new team of missionaries to work with and prepare for and jump into studies and classes.

We only see our students during class hours which presents a challenge in drawing along side of them and being available to get to know them.

It has been very encouraging to see God working in the student’s lives, though our exposure to them is limited. We have a devotional / chapel time each day and today was an opportunity for some of the students to share a little of what God has done and is doing in their lives, what brought them into the training, etc. Their response in class has been great. Ultimately it is God’s job to work in the hearts of these missionary candidates and to prepare them for the work He has for them in the future, as we are just colaborers with Him. Pray that we would not lose our focus and need for dependence on Him and that we would be faithful in all areas of our lives.

The kids are doing great settling into their new school with new everything (friends, teachers, places to go, things to do).

I think we had mentioned concerns about differences in the language, having been used to Colombian and Venezuelan Spanish. While vocabulary differences are big we have enjoyed learning as we get out among the people and have been relieved to find in class that even when I say something they would not say here in Mexico, they understand. There is a lot of "sharing" of TV programs between countries which makes them at least aware of the differences and very understanding.

Our biggest personal prayer request continues to be our financial situation. As we look at the expenses of living here and compare it with what we take in, all Sheri and I can say to each other is, "we’re in trouble". We are so thankful for all the extra gifts we received that got us here and we have settled in trusting that God will somehow continue to touch hearts as our regular financial support remains unchanged and way too low. Also, both of our boys REALLY need braces, and we are praying that we can get them started with that very soon. Please keep praying with us concerning these needs. Thank you to those of you who have given so faithfully and to all who partner with us in prayer.

Together In His Service,
Earle, Sheri, Kaitlin, Jordan, & Ryan Myers